In the last few months, the way we come together has had to change. Finding new ways to connect isn’t always easy, but sometimes, the digital space allows people to use their platform, support others, and reach new hearts and minds. That’s why when the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was forced to move their events online, they did so with an emphasis on community.
The UUA is a progressive religious denomination comprised of individuals with varying religious and spiritual beliefs, all united by their commitment to the Seven Principles. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, UUA has utilized video in a host of different ways to engage with and empower their community. Marcháe Grair, the UUA’s Head of PR and Outreach, spoke with us about how they’re using video to build a sense of togetherness, and shared some tips for other organizations looking to do the same.
Create resources for community leaders
When it comes to moving such a large organization online, it can be impossible to equip every single member of the community with new digital resources. It’s more important to make sure the organization’s leaders have the tools they need to support their individual congregations — which is exactly what the UUA did. “We made sure our congregational leaders had resources so they could be supportive employers and spiritual leaders,” says Marcháe.
“We made our webinars and organizational videos available on Vimeo for use by our congregational leaders. They could then re-share our videos within their congregations or embed them on their websites as outreach tools.” These training videos not only made the leaders feel supported and equipped to handle the transition, but also made them better able to support the larger Unitarian Universalist community.
Keep your congregation feeling connected
In times of great transition and unrest, it’s important to make sure your community feels seen and supported. In addition to equipping their leaders with resources, the UUA is also equipping its members with information, updates, and encouragement through video.
“We use Vimeo to share videos about our work in climate justice, immigration justice, electoral justice, and LGBTQIA+ and gender equality,” Marcháe says. “Vimeo is also one of the key places we share videos from our president, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. Pastoral leadership and spiritual encouragement are always important, but they’re especially important in these times.”
Even if you can’t connect with your congregation in person, reminding them of your ongoing efforts, especially through immersive videos, can go a long way in making them feel more involved.
Pro tip: Pay attention to your video metrics. Video performance is a great indicator of what content is and isn’t working, and can help direct your video strategy.
Turn services into live streams
Video is a great way to connect with and support your community, but don’t be afraid to take it one step further. With live video, a group of people can share an experience in real time — and, with Vimeo Live, can even engage with each other in a live chat.
The UUA has been harnessing the power of live video to stream worship services and host virtual events. Live events not only foster a much-needed sense of community, but they also return a sense of normalcy to congregants’ lives — having to tune in to a service at a specific time creates structure and routine, and can make an event feel that much more immediate.
“Live streaming a worship service makes it possible for anyone with a smartphone, or tablet, or computer to view worship from wherever they are,” says Marcháe. “It also provides the benefits of communal worship while protecting our congregants and the larger community against the spread of the novel coronavirus.”
