UU Growth Lab members, I'm excited to share our March on-demand training Conversations that Grow Congregations!
If you are not a member of the UU Growth Lab, learn more about individual and team memberships here. If you'd prefer a private workshop with your staff and leadership, please contact me to discuss a training via Zoom.
A description of the training is below, after the resource links, because I want you to download and print the TAKE AWAY NOTES and WORKSHEET right now so you have a sense of what's in the training. Then you can watch or listen at your convenience. 😉
Watch The Training
Go to the video training in our UU Growth Lab member area.
Resource Downloads
This training includes three downloads:
Member Audio Podcast
The audio of this session is available via our member-only podcast.
If you haven't set up the podcast feed on your device, here are the instructions. Set up once and then episodes will be delivered automatically to your device.
Conversations That Grow Congregations
This training grew directly out of our March 2026 live session on "Stress Testing Membership Pathways."
After sharing a four layer framework for thinking about the newcomer membership journey during the live session and reflecing on the various live and email questions, I started mapping and problem solving.
Where are all the problems?
Why are visitors not returning?
What's going wrong?
I started mapping corresponding strategies to the gaps and a clear pattern emerged. At nearly ever points of failure I looked at had a fix in the form of structured newcomer friendly conversations.
In this training, I invite you to consider conversation as the primary mechanism that drives connection, belonging and growth!
And this is important -- many of you have a gap in your conversation architecture right where newcomers need it!
The this 75 minute training offers a practical system for designing conversation as the intentional engine for newcomer connection and belonging.
The training has three primary parts:
- A four layer member pathway leading to help you understand visitor dynamics and belonging
- A new "Congregational Conversation Capacity" scoring system
- Practical strategies, especially those designed for newcomers between their arrival and being ready to move into deeper participation.
If you attended the live session, this training goes significantly deeper. If you're coming to it fresh, everything you need is here!
Peter Bowden, The UU Growth Lab
Live Session Registration
- Register for our APRIL 14 Live Zoom Session at 1pm Eastern
Zoom Registration - Fast Tracking AI Community Conversations
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Save the Dates
Live session scheduled for May 12, 2026 at 1pm Eastern
Live session scheduled for June 9, 2026 at 1pm Eastern
Will be polling to consider new schedule after that.
Latest Member Content
- NEW Conversations that Grow Congregations!
Watch on-demand or Listen via our member-podcast. (75 minutes)
This session takes the material from our March 10 Zoom session "Stress Testing Membership Pathways" to a new level. - Creating a Collaborative Culture that Sustains Stewardship
Watch On-Demand Member Training (48 Minutes) or listen via podcast - Video Strategy for Thriving Congregations 2026
Watch On-Demand Member Training (67 Minutes) or listen via podcast
Know someone who would appreciate our UU Growth Lab training content and monthly live sessions? Please tell them about the UU Growth Lab! They may learn more and connect at http://www.uugrowthlab.com
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