Inspiration

 

Charlie Wirene shares how he helped a congregation on the brink of closure reinvent itself into a thriving local hub by using a strategy called Asset Based Community Development.

Rev. Sue Phillips explains how her work helps to translate religious values into the secular business and non profit world, and how there’s room for many more innovators to make a similar impact.

Are you a lay leader looking to make an impact? Liz James shows us how making a difference and making people laugh aren’t mutually exclusive.

Are you innovating in a congregational context? Check out this interview with Rev. Christana Wille-McKnight to learn valuable lessons about how to succeed.

Are you a religious entrepreneur and creating something new? Rev. Jeremy Nickel has important advice that might save you time and headaches down the road.

Listen to a panel of experts including Rev. Brock Leach, Rev. Christana Wille-McKnight, Rev. Duncan Teague and Rev. Taryn Strauss, as they talk about how serving their communities has guided their innovation work.

 

 
Sacred Design Research Covers

Sacred Design Research

The structures of community and spirituality are rapidly changing. Learn about the innovative ideas, creative solutions, and emerging trends that are shaping our culture.

 

 
Faith Formation 2020 Cover

Faith Formation 2020

This book guides churches in imagining new directions for faith formation and engages leaders in designing faith formation for the second decade of the 21st century. It is written from a Christian context, but it has much wisdom to offer UU religious innovators. In particular, they present research on eight driving forces affecting the future of faith formation:

1) growing numbers of people with no religious affiliation

2) increasing number of people becoming more “spiritual” and less “religious”

3) declining participation in churches

4) increasing diversity and pluralism in American society

5) increasing influence of individualism

6) changing patterns of marriage and family life

7) declining family religious socialization

8) increasing impact of digital media and web technologies