Annapolis Interconnections

I received my Interconnections today and read the great review about UU Annapolis. I wish I lived there. I’d like to be a member of that kind of congregation. But it sounds way beyond the reach of any ordinary congregation. The kind that get stuck around 100 or 150 or 250 or 350 – take your pick. It is almost discouraging to read about a church like Annapolis.

But I have a different perspective. I knew Annapolis when it was just an ordinary congregation. When I joined UUCA in 1994, I brought the membership number to 350. The revolving door worked quite well during the next six years. The 2000 number about the same.  In 2006, Annapolis was approaching 600.

So what happened in Annapolis in 2000?

And more importantly is it achievable elsewhere? After reading the Interconnection article, I’d  feel like I need to encourage folks that it is possible.  If it can happen in Annapolis, it can happen anywhere.

CHANGE IN ANNAPOLIS DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE:

• Everybody voted to grow.
• We had the perfect minister.
• Every decision was right
• Every program was successful
• We were conflict free
• We hired the right consultant

CHANGE IN ANNAPOLIS HAPPENED BECAUSE:

• Ok, we did have the perfect minister
• But we also had a small group of lay leaders committed to the idea of growing Unitarian Universalism, come hell or highwater or apathy or frustration.   
• We were UU Evangelist.
• We believed in professional ministry and in professional laity.
• We read Alice Mann and studied congregational growth. [Take growth barriers seriously. Don’t make excuses. Be creative in finding solutions.]
• We had a plan and we kept focused
• We did something. [Do it slowly if you have to, but do something.]
• Changed the things that didn't cost any money first.
• We guarded the trust of the congregation very carefully. 

Peter Morales pointed out that the combination of grace and intent that made good worship. I miss Annapolis. The same holds true for congregational growth. Expect Grace. Practice Intent.

I miss UU Annapolis a great deal. What I love most about Annapolis are the gifts of spirit and soul I still carry with me.

Nancy

Comments

[ck]

I grew up in Annapolis and went to the PCA church down the street from the UU church. My best friend in high school went to Annapolis UU (she is now a Catholic). Since leaving home, I've begun attending First UU in St. Louis--and when I was back home on vacation stopped by Annapolis UU (in 2005). I wished I'd been able to be part of that growing up. It would have saved me quite a bit of struggle in adolescence. But then again, that's helped me grow.

Anyway, it's good reading about the church even though I have no real connections to it. It's encouraging to hear about growth in a UU church in general, and to hear that's happening in my hometown.

So thanks:)