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INVITATIONS TO LEAD PROGRAMMING FOR RELIGIOUS PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER GROUPS, SEMINARIES, AND CONFERENCES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

Contact Peter Bowden

A training for Unitarian Universalist congregational leaders (and interfaith friends) interested in congregational growth. Hosted by First Parish in Needham, MA.

Who should attend? Religious professionals, staff, and volunteers with communication, greeting & hospitality, community building, and membership development responsibilities.

UU Social Media and Membership Growth with Peter Bowden

Social media, smartphones, and constant access to the internet has changed how people are researching, exploring, and choosing congregations. These shifts are creating a gap between our traditional approaches to welcoming and orienting newcomers and the needs of people trying to connect with us online through a digital path to membership.

To help our most likely new members successfully connect with our congregations, we need to be welcoming, greeting, and orienting them ONLINE. This is where newcomers are trying to determine if a congregation is right for them. If we don't meet them there and support their process, they are unlikely to follow through with a visit.

How do we meet people online and support their process to connect with and join our congregations? This is the core of our training on February 2nd!

Join us and learn strategies to bring your social media, outreach, and membership development efforts in line with today's digital culture.

Peter Bowden:
Known nationally for his work with Unitarian Universalist small group ministry, social media, and congregational growth strategies, Peter has been an independent speaker, trainer, and coach since 2002. He has trained thousands of congregational leaders across the United States, including consulting with and training staff from the UUA, UU World, and UUSC. Peter maintains a very active UU social media presence at /UUPLANET:
Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Twitter, and Youtube.

Program Outline

8:00 Doors Open, Registration & Refreshments
9:00 Opening Worship & Welcome

Morning Session:
• The State of Today's Technology, Social Media, and the Impact on Congregations
• Addressing the Growing Gap Between Congregational and Digital Culture
• Social Media and the New Path to Membership

10:45 Break

• Helping Online Explorers Choose to Visit and Move Into Membership
• Welcoming, Orienting, and Educating Your Online Community
• Small Group Discussion / Submit Questions for Afternoon Session

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

Afternoon Session:
• Supporting a Digital Path to Membership in Your Congregations
• Going Deeper into Strategy Based on Submitted Questions
• Developing Action Plans / Small Group Exercise

2:00 Final Q & A

2:30 Formal Closing

Informal Q&A continues until approximately 3pm.NOTE: Because people travel from far away and need to return home for Sunday, I’ve found it good to wrap the structured content by 2pm then have a final Q&A and casual Q&A after the closing.