Taking a Leap of Faith: The Emerson AIMS Cycle
The Leap of Faith (LoF) team presented its report to the Board of
Trustees in December. The report has three recommendations to address the LoF
challenge to make the UU faith more explicit in our congregation and in our
daily lives. The team obtained ideas from interviews with church committees and
through its partnership with Cedar Lane UU Church in Bethesda. A few
fundamental changes are recommended in the way Emerson operates and governs
itself that will help us to grow. The changes involve philosophical, structural
and personnel changes.
1. Adopt the Emerson AIMS cycle in congregational activities.
2. Advance the committee structure of Emerson.
3. Increase part-time staff.
In addition to these major thematic changes, the LoF team uncovered a wide variety of incremental changes that can help us be more
explicit in our faith. Those ideas have been turned over to relevant committees, many of which have already begun implementing these
ideas. The major recommendations are discussed in linked pages on this Web site. These pages will be highlighted weekly in the eBlast, but they are all posted here so you can examine them at your own pace.
What can you do to implement this roadmap?
There is a fundamental action that each of us can take. That is to be explicit in your faith. Many UUs find it difficult to explain the faith to
others, falling back on an explanation of what UUs DON’T believe. Develop a short, positive statement about what brought you to the church (either Emerson specifically or UUism in general) or what keeps you coming. Then use that statement when the subject of what you do on Sunday (or at that committee meeting last night) arises.
Trustees in December. The report has three recommendations to address the LoF
challenge to make the UU faith more explicit in our congregation and in our
daily lives. The team obtained ideas from interviews with church committees and
through its partnership with Cedar Lane UU Church in Bethesda. A few
fundamental changes are recommended in the way Emerson operates and governs
itself that will help us to grow. The changes involve philosophical, structural
and personnel changes.
1. Adopt the Emerson AIMS cycle in congregational activities.
2. Advance the committee structure of Emerson.
3. Increase part-time staff.
In addition to these major thematic changes, the LoF team uncovered a wide variety of incremental changes that can help us be more
explicit in our faith. Those ideas have been turned over to relevant committees, many of which have already begun implementing these
ideas. The major recommendations are discussed in linked pages on this Web site. These pages will be highlighted weekly in the eBlast, but they are all posted here so you can examine them at your own pace.
What can you do to implement this roadmap?
There is a fundamental action that each of us can take. That is to be explicit in your faith. Many UUs find it difficult to explain the faith to
others, falling back on an explanation of what UUs DON’T believe. Develop a short, positive statement about what brought you to the church (either Emerson specifically or UUism in general) or what keeps you coming. Then use that statement when the subject of what you do on Sunday (or at that committee meeting last night) arises.
