Building Together is a guide, toolkit, or reference manual created by UGLE to help Lodges and Chapters (let’s call them ‘Units’) to grow and thrive by finding new members and keeping the ones they already have. It gives everyone a clear way to plan for the future of Freemasonry.
It is the latest development from UGLE and Supreme Grand Chapter, and aims to take positive steps towards achieving our One Journey, One Organisation ambition by focussing on the completed journey of every individual Freemason within our tradition.
The Aim: To help Units attract, keep, and engage members - while staying true to our Masonic values
Building Together is designed to make every Masonic Unit stronger and more welcoming, and by doing so to make Freemasonry meaningful for today’s world.
It is not a directive or set of strict rules. It is a call to action providing a toolkit brimming with ideas we can adapt and use as they best suit particular circumstances. It is a harmonisation of Pathway for Lodges and Archway for Chapters – both proven to support creation of Units which are successful, happy, and growing.
The Foundation: Four Core Values
Everything in Building Together is built on our four main Masonic values. You’ll recognise that they’re not new, but Building Together shows them in action
Integrity - Doing the right thing even when no one is watching
Friendship - Building real, lasting relationships between members
Respect - Treating everyone fairly and valuing their differences
Service - Helping others and supporting our communities
The Five Elements of Building Together
Building Together has five connected parts, called elements or hubs. Each one looks at a different area of a Masonic Unit and its activities. They’re shown in the diagram below, and this link takes you to a video showing how the whole thing can be used.
Your steps to a successful future by Building Together
Form an effective Membership Care Team. Provincial Membership Officer Mike Clay can talk you through how to do that. Drop him an email at pmolincs@gmail.com.
Identify your Unit’s priorities
Create, agree, and implement your plan
Adopt the ‘Yes if’ approach rather than ‘No because’
Review your progress regularly
Consider working together as a Centre
And an offer of help
Members of the Provincial Building Together Team are happy to visit you to explain how to get the best from Building Together. To set that up, please email our Provincial Membership Officer Mike Clay on pmolincs@gmail.com.