34 episodes

Welcome to the Peter Bowden show! Raised a Unitarian Universalist, I'm an expert in small group spiritual exploration, community building, ministry, media and congregational life. Looking to lead and grow a congregation, program, ministry, justice effort or other community group? Subscribe for practical tips and strategies for leaders from a growing range of faith traditions and industries.

The Peter Bowden Show Peter Bowden

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

Welcome to the Peter Bowden show! Raised a Unitarian Universalist, I'm an expert in small group spiritual exploration, community building, ministry, media and congregational life. Looking to lead and grow a congregation, program, ministry, justice effort or other community group? Subscribe for practical tips and strategies for leaders from a growing range of faith traditions and industries.

    Holiday Outreach Strategy with Video Example Scripts

    Holiday Outreach Strategy with Video Example Scripts

    To inspire participation in congregational life this holiday season and New Year,  go beyond announcements!  
    Learn how to use simple video messages and optional ad campaigns to help newcomers and members alike choose connection, meaning and congregational life this season.
    See episode blog post for the Google Document with example scripts mentioned in this episode.

    • 17 min
    The AI Meaning Crisis and Congregations

    The AI Meaning Crisis and Congregations

    An AI driven meaning crisis is looming. This live stream audio replay explores the coming A.I. meaning crisis for community clergy and congregations.  With AI evolving at an exponential rate, artificial general intelligence (AGI) is coming fast.  What happens when AI can do any job a human with a computer can do?  That's not sci-fi, that's what companies are working on today.  As these systems are able to perform the tasks previously preformed by humans, a ‘meaning crisis’ looms, challenging our notions of value and identity. 

    • 16 min
    Tips on Rebuilding Programs in Congregations: Children, Youth, Families, Young Adults, Small Groups

    Tips on Rebuilding Programs in Congregations: Children, Youth, Families, Young Adults, Small Groups

    Do you need to relaunch, rebuild or start a new program this fall? If so, this is for you! I share tips and strategies for rebuilding programs and ministries in this strategy session. I've worked across areas of congregational life and have started many programs over the years. This session shares successful approaches plus the latest from my hands-on work with congregations.   Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKtXD8_CSyM
     

    • 40 min
    "First visits" are now Online and On-Demand!

    "First visits" are now Online and On-Demand!

    Growing your congregation requires that visitors have successful first visits. Today the "first visit" is the online and on-demand process people use to research, explorel, and discern if they want to connect with your congregation. The path to membership starts with the digital experience. We need to make sure it is a warm, friendly, relational, and helpful process.  In this episode,  getting oriented to this reality and some tips to get started!

    To get details on my new “Building a Digital Path to Membership” training, subscribe to my email list for congregational leaders at http://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe.  

    • 25 min
    Supercharge your congregation's map and review listings

    Supercharge your congregation's map and review listings

    Get my new free “Building a Digital Path to Membership” training when it is released. Subscribe to my email list for congregational leaders at https://www.peterbowden.live/congregations-subscribe. I'll send you link to access training as soon as it is ready. Thanks! 

    The first place many potential visitors see your congregation is on local MAP and REVIEW listings. If your listing doesn’t include compelling photos and great reviews, some people are going to pass based on that listing alone. Want more visitors?  Use your congregation's Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Yelp listings to showcase the best of congregational life! 
     

    • 21 min
    Budget Deficits? Communication Tips for Congregation

    Budget Deficits? Communication Tips for Congregation

     Are you vision-casting or manifesting a congregational death spiral? I’ve been reviewing congregational fundraising communications. Many communicators are so caught up in their challenges, the congregation’s vision has been lost. In this session, how gloom and doom communication can undermine your fundraising capacity especially with newomers and how you might approach it instead.

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
2 Ratings

2 Ratings

Jamie-Autumn ,

Perfect for these crazy times

When the quarantine gets me down, thinking of ways to take action to increase connection really helps. I like his podcast and I signed up for one of his courses with two friends from church.

It’s great to be exploring practical life skills that help me contribute to my community and add value in small but lasting ways.

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