About Theme-Based Ministry

Unitarian Universalist churches bring together people of diverse religious/spiritual backgrounds and practices.  Finding common ground for theological conversation can be challenging.  Many churches in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) have started using monthly themes as a way of focusing ongoing theological reflection and discussion among church members.  Sermons, music, small groups, and religious education all revolve around the monthly theme.  In most cases, the themes are structured on a three-year cycle, enabling members to return to the themes regularly and measure the shifts and changes in their spiritual growth and understanding over time.

This website is designed to be a collaborative resource both for those churches that are currently using theme-based ministry and those that are exploring the use of such an approach.  Readings, orders of worship, sermons, small group materials, religious education curriculum, and church publications are provided and will be added over time, allowing users to explore the varied ways in which churches have approached a variety of theological themes.

Explore the site.  Come back often.  New material will be added on a regular basis.

Project Plan

Phase One:  materials for all thirty themes in the three-year cycle at All Souls Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will be uploaded and made available.

Phase Two:  materials for themes from other churches using theme-based ministry will be uploaded.

Phase Three:  an interactive component will be added to the website with the implementation of a wiki that will enable users to submit their own materials and participate in discussion board conversations about the use of theme-based ministry in their churches.

Theme-Based Ministry ...

    Gives members a balanced diet of theological learning, spiritual practices, and core competencies

    Provides a balance of structure and freedom for clergy and laity to preach, teach, learn, grow, and be creative

    Helps members observe and mark their own spiritual and personal growth

    Offers members consistent exposure to liberal theology, biblical literacy, and religious ways of dealing with life issues

 

 

 

     

 

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Recent Updates

The Themes Wiki will be an area where users can submit their own material to the website.  The Wiki will be up by July 31, 2009.  In the meantime, please send your submissions for placement on the website to themebasedministry AT gmail DOT com (use @ in place AT and . in place of DOT).  Include your name, the church you are with, and information about how the material is used in your church.