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What is a Connections Coordinator?

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"My role is all about developing relationships, which strengthens everything we do.  In addition, I am able to maintain systems which consistently support programs that provide space for relationships to deepen. It is such a vital role." -- Tina Lewis


Tina Lewis, Unity Temple, Oak Park, IL
Our new mission statement declares that “connecting with each other” is one of our core aspirations. The Prudential Committee has turned this aspiration into a goal for the coming years: ensure that newcomers, new members and established members report higher levels of welcome and connection.

 A Connections Coordinator is a membership professional. Currently, more than 80 UUA congregations have a membership professional on staff.  They are known by a number of names:  Connections Coordinator,  Congregational Life Director, Coordinator of Member Programs, etc. What all membership professionals share in common is the goal to grow the congregation in terms of numbers, depth of relationship and engagement in congregational life.

 Consider the case of Tina Lewis, the Membership Director at Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois.  The membership staff position began as part-time in the year 2000.  At that time, Unity Temple had 350 members.   Tina was hired full-time in 2010. Today, Unity Temple has more than 600 members.

 Tina's accomplishments at Unity Temple are exemplary, but they are not unique.  In 2014 the UUA reported a net growth in membership of over 2000.  Most interesting, nearly all of this increase came from congregations which had a membership professional on staff.  

This year’s Stewardship Campaign has the ambitious goal of raising $310,000. If we achieve our goal, one of the new expenditures that will be within reach is a part-time Connections Coordinator position.  If those who are able can increase their pledge by 20%, and others can increase by 10%, we should reach all our goals.

Membership professionals enhance congregational life by more than growing the number of members in the congregation   They also strengthen the depth of engagement by all members.  Here are some of the quantifiable results they have observed:
  • Increase in the average service attendance
  • Increase in the average children’s religious education attendance, and the number of adults that teach
  • Increase in the number of adult religious education classes, attendance numbers of the adult education classes, and diversity of adult facilitators
  • Increase in program involvement such as small group ministry, caring ministry, and hospitality services
  • Increase in shared leaders, which include leadership rotations and succession planning in place
  • Increase in leaders representing the congregation in the wider community

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