Consulting Services are offered by experienced leaders, both District Staff, OMD/UUA Consultants and Adjunct Consultants, with expertise in many areas.
These services are partially underwritten by the District and may require cost sharing by contracting congregations or clusters. Fees vary according to the type of service provided and the time commitment involved. Congregations which are “Full Fair Share” in their contributions to the District and the UUA receive a 33% discount on Adjunct Consulting fees (see list). To read detailed information on the fee schedule, please read the fee schedule page.
Congregations in severe financial circumstances may speak to the District Executive about fee adjustments or a good faith payment plan.
Congregations are urged to think about inviting other congregations nearby to jointly request some of these services. Joint services enable cost sharing among congregations and may provide a better learning experience as different congregations learn from each other as well as the presenter.
For Scheduling or Further Information
- Plan ahead for an available date and have alternative dates in mind.
- Clarify your goals for the event.
- Contact Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, District Executive or Karen LoBracco, Lifespan Faith Development Consultant or others as noted in the List of Services to make the necessary arrangements.
Service and Consultation Topics
Annual Program Fund
The UUA and OMD appoint representatives for the UUA's Annual Program Fund in the OMD. Our current co-chairs are Rev. Chris Neilson and Jeff Norris. These representatives are available to answer questions about the Annual Program Fund and educate them about what the Annual Program Fund does. They can also assist with stewardship strategies and resources. Contact Rev. Neilson and Jeff Norris at apf at ohiomeadville.org
Board Retreat Facilitators
These consultants facilitate congregational board/leadership retreats and assists with communication issues, board mission and vision work, or other issues as requested. Please contact the District Executive.
Compensation Issues
Compensation Consultants are available in the region to work with congregations around issues of personnel compensation and benefits. They also work to determine if congregations meet the requirements for the Fair Compensation Designation. Please contact the District Executive to connect with a regional Compensation Consultant.
Emergency Preparedness
Helps congregations develop fire safety, tornado and other emergency plans. Please contact the District Executive
Future Work (Vision, Mission, Planning)
Assists congregations in articulating their core mission and vision for the future. Assists with long range and strategic planning work. Please contact the District Executive
Healthy Congregations Work
(Right Relations, Behavioral Covenants, Communications, Mediation, Healthy Congregations Workshops)
Provides training, consultation and assessment for congregations who wish to embrace healthy communications and proactively deal with conflict. Assists in the creation of congregational Right Relations or Behavioral Covenants. Congregations in extreme financial circumstances may have all or part of the fees waived to ensure that consultation services are available. Please contact the District Executive
Ministerial Settlement Representative (Full Time Ministry)
Rev. Daniel Budd currently serves as our MSR. He assists and advices congregations who are in search for full-time ministry. If you are searching for part-time ministry, please contact the District Executive. You can contact Rev. Budd at msr at ohiomeadville.org
Ministerial Settlement Assistance (Part Time Ministry)
Assists congregations in the search process for a part-time minister. Please contact the District Executive
Professional Transitions
Facilitates ministerial and religious educator search committee retreats. Conducts exit interviews with departing ministers or religious educators and congregational leadership in transition. Facilitates start-up workshops for new ministers and religious educators. These services sometimes require cost-sharing by congregations. Congregations in extreme financial circumstances may have all or part of the fees waived to ensure that consultation services are available. Please contact the District Executive concerning ministerial support. Please contact the Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development concerning DRE start-up support and exit interviews.
Leadership Development
- Basic leadership skills: running effective meetings, agenda setting, etc.
- Pastoral care associate skills: creating a team with skills in basic pastoral care
- Worship associate skills: training Sunday service facilitators in basic public presentation skills, hymn and reading selection, etc.
- Policy governance: the basics of Policy Governance, with case studies, and analysis of your congregational systems
- Organizational development: study of your congregational system and insights, analysis and suggestions on future direction
- Appreciative inquiry: using appreciative inquiry for long range planning and stewardship work
- Radical hospitality: practical advice about how to transform your congregation from one of being nice to newcomers to an attitude of "Sunday is for Company."
- Volunteer recruiting and coordination: the recruiting, care and nurturing of those all-important volunteers.
Please contact the District Executive for referrals.
Lifespan Faith Development and Congregational Safety Policies
Provides training, consultation and assessment for congregations who wish strengthen their Lifespan Faith Development programming. Consultants are available in areas such as Lifespan Faith Development program start up and administration, DRE transitions, visioning, teacher training, committee planning, and congregational safety policy work. Some of these services may require a fee depending on the nature of the need and the length of time required. Congregations in extreme financial circumstances may have all or part of the fees waived to ensure that consultation services are available. Please contact the Program Consultant for Lifespan Faith Development.
Pulpit Supply (Sermons/Guest in Your Pulpit)
The District has a list of ministers and lay speakers available to congregations. Please visit the Guest in Your Pulpit Page to see the current list of speakers, contact information and fees for pulpit supply. A typical honorarium for a sermon is $200 plus mileage ($250 plus mileage if there are two services on Sunday morning.)
Small Congregation Consultants
If your congregation is under 200 members, particularly if you have no minister, these volunteers are available at no charge for phone or email consultation. On-site consultation may require a fee. They are ready to help when a congregation needs a quick answer or help identifying specific resources for a wide range of situations that are common in UU congregations. Please contact the District Executive
Stewardship
Offers consultation and training to congregations wishing to learn new and different ways of approaching stewardship. Please contact the District Executive
Website Assistance
Assists congregations in reviewing their website options for hosting the site and sources for simple web templates. Please contact the District Administrator.
Youth Ministry Consulting
Please contact our Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Intern.
Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consulting
Please contact our Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Intern.
