Partners for Sacred Places

Partners for Sacred Places Listening Campaign

What is Partners for Sacred Places?

Partners for Sacred Places is a national nonprofit that helps congregations and others with a stake in older religious properties make the most of them as civic assets in ways that benefit people of all faiths and of no faith. We are national, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit.

 

Listening Report

Since the spring of 2014, the United Church of Underhill has been working with Partners for Sacred in partnership with 8 other UCC and Episcopal churches in Vermont.  The purpose of this work has been to learn tools for bringing resources and vitality to our church and to the wider community in which we minister.  

By the summer of 2015, we had come up with many ideas for possible programs and partnerships but it was not clear which ideas were most needed. So, during the winter of 2016, the United Church of Underhill engaged in a community “listening campaign.” During this time, 13 listeners, trained by Rev. Debbie Ingram of Vermont Interfaith Action conducted approximately 60 visits with individuals and families. The campaign was divided into two phases: 1) an “internal” campaign where visits were conducted with members and  friends of UCU , and 2) an “external” campaign where visits were conducted with members of the wider Jericho/Underhill community. 
 
LISTENING CAMPAIGN PURPOSE STATEMENT: Our hope and prayer is that the listening campaign will help us at UCU to clarify our call and find that sweet spot where what God wants for us, what we are capable of, and what the community needs most, meet to become good news for all.
 
The listening report can be accessed here:

 

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