The SGM Journal
The SGM Journal, the
UU Small Group Ministry Network journal, is distributed to members of
the UU SGM Network twice a year (formerally four times per year). Issues are added to the web site after the
subsequent issue has been sent to members. The SGM Journal contains articles, tips and
other resources on Unitarian Universalist small group ministry and covenant groups.
Submit articles for the Journal via e-mail at journaleditor@smallgroupministry.net.
Special thanks to our
members. You make this community, our website, publications and advocacy for this
ministry possible! Not a member yet? Join us!
Receive the Electronic Edition of the SGM Journal Newsletter
With the Winter 2009 issue, the UU SGM Network will launch the e-newsletter, available to members directly via e-mail. If you would like to receive your newsletter electronically instead of by mail, please e-mail
journaleditor@smallgroupministry.net
It's eco-friendly and cost-effective, too!
CURRENT ISSUE
The Summer Journal has been sent electronically and via mail to UU Small Group Ministry Network members. This edition includes:
Connecting Through Small Group Ministry
Small Group Ministry By The Numbers
Starting Small Group Ministry In A Lay-Led Congregation
Growing Your Covenant Group Program
Small Group Ministry Today
Observations And Reflections On Twenty Years Of Small Group Ministry
SGM At General Assembly 2018
Join the Network to get your Journal as it is published.
PREVIOUS ISSUES
The previous issues are on this site in entirety. When editions are added here, the
individual articles are listed in the Online Resource Directory and can be
accessed individually from that site, some as pdf and some as word documents.
Summer 2018 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2017 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Spring 2016 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Reflections On Covenant
By Jim McCrae, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham, NC
The Role of the Minister in Small Group Ministry
By Alan Backler, Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Covenant Groups - A Gym For the Soul
By Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford, Live Oak UU Congregation, Austin, TX
Small Group Ministry Survey: Early Patterns Emerge
By Anne Gero, Publications Team, UU Small Group Ministry Network
The Impact of Small Group Ministry on Ministers
From Anne Gero, SGM Journal Editorial Team
Knoxville SGM Institute: Truly a Partnership!
SMALL GROUP MINISTRY SUPPORT
By Rev. Helen Zidowecki, UU SGM Network Board
The Making of a Homegrown Small Group Ministry Institute
By Linda Randolph, Judy Ann Langston, Lorraine Smith, Toni Powell, and Suzanne Brown,
Tennesssee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Knoxville, TN
Fall 2015 / Winter 2016 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
The Significance of SGM: A Reminder
By David Tucker, Eno River Unitarian Univeralist Fellowship, Durham, NC
A Covenant Group Success Story
By Bonnie Shelton and Jen Sutton, Unitarian
Learning by Training New Small Group Leaders at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge
By Suzanne Besse, Branches Co-coordinator
Chalice Circle Samplers
By Marilyn Eanet, Small Group Ministry Steering Team, First Unitarian Church of Providence, Rhode Island
A New Paradigm for Social Justice Work
By Karen Clemmensen, High Plains Church Unitarian Universalist, Colorado Springs, CO
History and Evolution Of Small Group Ministry
By Rev. Helen Zidowecki, President, UU SGM Network
Spring 2015 / Summer 2015 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2014 / Winter 2015 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Changing Culture Through Small Group Ministry By Mary Alice Smith, Channing Memorial Church, Newport , RI
Small Group Ministry in a Community of Seniors By Rev. Michelle Collins, First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, DE
Welcoming New Members By Rebekah Feeser, UUs of the Cumberland Valley, Boiling Springs, PA
Marking Significant Group - Events and Milestones By Alan Backler, UU Church of Bloomington, IN
Roots & Branches at Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, LA By Connections Director Dottie Kelly and Branches Coordinator Joanna Wilson Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, LA
Short-term Small Group Ministry By Pauline Broberg, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, Pennsylvania
Taste of Small Group Ministry By Kathryn Ellis Moore and Ginny Koslow, First Parish Church of Groton, MA
Spring 2014 / Summer 2014 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Deep Listening, By Mary-Elizabeth Cotton, UU Fellowship of the Peninsula, Newport News, VA
Giving Life the Shape of Justice: Small Group Ministry as Missional Religious Community By Rev. Nathan Alan Hollister, Mutual Aid, Carrboro, North Carolina; Sacred Fire Unitarian Universalist
Resurrecting Small Group Ministry: The Story Continues By Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, Connecticut
VISIBILITY FOR VITALITY: Small Group Ministry Brochures From the Publications Team of the UU Small Group Ministry Network
Bringing SGM Growth Into Our Practical Lives By Rae Ramsey, All Souls Unitarian Church, New York City, New York
The 2014 Journal Reader Survey
Healthy Small Groups By Rev. Michelle Collins, First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, Delaware
Fall 2013 / Winter 2014 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Small Group Ministry As Spiritual Practice From the sermon "This is the Real Life," by The Reverend Nathan Ryan
Ministerial Search Commitee as Covenant Group By Ted Lau, Chair, Ministerial Search Committee, Eliot Unitarian Chapel, Kirkwood, Missouri
The Impact of Small Group Ministry on Ministry
Resurrecting Small Group Ministry: A Story Unfolding By Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, Unitarian Universalist Church in Meriden, Connecticut
Keeping Small Group Ministry Programs Vital By Rev. Dr. M'ellen Kennedy, Lincoln, Vermont, Revised 10/09
Multi-Generational Small Group Ministry By Reverend Jim Magaw, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Theme-Based Ministry and Small Group Ministry
Spring 2013 / Summer 2013 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Evolving Small Group Ministry: Beyond the Congregation By Rev. Helen Zidowecki, Board President, UU Small Group Ministry Network
Sticky Groups: Small Groups That Work By Paul Pinson, First Unitarian Society in Wilmington, Delaware
Celebrating Our Tenth Year of Covenant Groups By Arlene Miles, Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, New York
Inviting People into Small Groups By Brooke B. Collison, Alban Institute
SGM Introductory Sessions at MLUC By Sue Drummond, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon,Pennsylvania
Fall 2012 / Winter 2013 SGM Journal
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Newcomer Covenant Groups From the SGM Journal Editors
10 Things They Never Told You About Being a SGM Facilitator From Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, Media, Pennsylvania
Family Covenant Groups By Susannah Krug, UU Community Church of Washington County, Hillsboro, Oregon
Small Groups for Children - A Covenant By From Kathy Cronin, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Preparing to Experience By Wendy Sapp, Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, Tennessee
A Good Method for Assigning Groups By Simon Kaplan, Eno River UU Fellowship, Durham, North Carolina
Summer 2012 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
When Good Facilitators Become Artists By Margaret Edwards, Chalice Circle Coordinator
Transition and Growth as a Facilitator By Cindy Evans, D.O.M., R.N., M.S.Ed.
Weathering Change Through Small Group Ministry By Reverend Robin Tanner
How to Increase Deep Sharing and Listening in Covenant Groups, Part III By Alicia Hawkins, Albuquerque, NM, and Susan Hollister, Durham, NC
Spring 2012 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Winter 2012 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2011 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Summer 2011 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Spring 2011 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Winter 2011 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2010 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Summer 2010 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
How to Host a Successful SGM Training Session
By the Small Group Ministry Steering Committee of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Knoxville, TN
Facilitator's Toolbox: Role Play As a Training Tool
By Susan Hollister, UU Small Group Ministry Network Board Member
MINISTER'S PAGE: Ministry Through Listening
By Rev. Dr. Justin Osterman, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, Pennsylvania
Program Notes: Small Group Ministry and Assessment: Supportive Partners
Alan Backler, Chair, Chalice Circles Executive Committee, UU Church of Bloomington, IN
Spotlight On: The Role of Group Members in Small Group Ministry
By Beth Tiewater, Editor of the SGM Quarterly Journal
Spring 2010 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Articles
Connections: End of the Year Program Evaluation
By Steve Becker, President, Small Group Ministry Network
Spotlight On: How Small Group Ministry Enriches My Congregation
By Cynthia W. Corboy, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, PA
Facilitator's Toolbox: In the Face of Grief
By Rev. Craig Roshaven, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, PA
From Our Members: Ministerial Involvement and Small Group Ministry Success
By Linda Thompson, Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist
Program Notes: On-Going or Time-Limited Groups--Which is Better?
By Dan Grandstaff and Carolyn Worthing, Covenant Groups Coordinators, Eno River UU Fellowship, Durham, NC
Minister's Page: Small Group Ministry Service Ventures: Congregation and Community
By Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull, with Dr. Jack Martin and Annie Spang, Circle Ministry Coordination Team, First Parish Unitarian Universalist, Cohasset, MA
Winter 2010 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2009 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Summer 2009 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Spring 2009 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Winter 2009 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2008 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Summer 2008 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Spring 2008 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Winter 2008 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2007 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Spring 2007 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Winter 2007 SGM QUARTERLY
Download as a PDF file.
Fall 2006 SGM QUARTERLY
The PDF of this issue is below.
Summer 2006 SGM QUARTERLY 6/2006
The PDF of this issue is below. This issue looks at Small Group Ministry in congregations of different sizes.
Spring 2006 SGM QUARTERLY 5/2006
The PDF of this issue is below. The theme of this issue is "The Language or Reverence."
Winter 2006 SGM QUARTERLY 3/2006
This issue of the SGM Quarterly has been posted as both a PDF file and as a web page. Below you will find links to the primary articles from this issue and the complete PDF file. This issue was mailed to members as of 3/22/06.
PDF Version
Web Version
Fall 2005 SGM QUARTERLY 11/2005
Electronic copy of our Fall journal. Mailed to members as of 10/31/05.
Summer 2005 SGM QUARTERLY 6/2005
Electronic copy of our Summer journal.
Spring 2005 SGM QUARTERLY 5/2005
Electronic copy of our Spring journal.
Winter 2005 SGM QUARTERLY 1/2005
Electronic copy of our Winter journal.
Fall 2004 SGM QUARTERLY 9/2004
Electronic copy of our Fall journal.
Summer 2004 SGM QUARTERLY 6/2004
Electronic copy of our Summer journal.
NOTES FROM THE EDITORS
The first editor of the SGM Quarterly was M'ellen Kennedy, from the first
edition in Summer 2004 through Spring 2008. She was succeeded as Editor by
Beth Tiewater with the Summer 2008 Edition.
Following are notations from the Editors that appeared in SGM Quarterly Summer 2008.
From M'ellen Kennedy:
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to serve these past four years as the first editor of the Quarterly. Our goal when we began was to provide practical, concrete, helpful and provocative information and assistance to folks like you who are working in the congregations. Our hope was to support healthy and dynamic Small Group Ministry programs through a high quality publication. With the help of so many volunteers, I think we have succeeded. Thanks to all who have contributed their enthusiasm and effort to the Quarterly and have made it happen.
Having done this work for four years, I am ready to move on from my position as editor. I continue to be involved in Small Group Ministry in the denomination, and am focusing on my work as a small group ministry consultant. Thanks to all who have supported my work with the Quarterly and the Network. I look forward to continuing to work with many of you in new ways, and in contributing to this vital ministry.
Rev. M'ellen Kennedy
From the New Editor, Beth Tiewater:
I am thrilled to be working with this incredible group of volunteers as we serve you, the members of the SGM Network. As a newer member of Main Line Unitarian Church in Devon, PA, being in a small group has helped me to feel a part of our large congregation. I serve on the session writing team for our small group ministry program, which has enriched my understanding of the role of SGM in our church community.
My professional background includes almost 10 years of editing and marketing. In recent years, I've been a stay-at-home mom to my nine-year old son. I also care for my husband, a dog, and two cats!
