Director of Religious Exploration- Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County

General Description

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County (Indiana) seeks a 15-20 hour/week Director of Religious Exploration (DRE) to support the spiritual and religious growth of children and youth in our growing Congregation. We currently have close to 20 children and youth in our RE program; this a decline from pre-COVID numbers. The DRE develops, implements, administers and evaluates programs that nurture the Unitarian Universalist identity and spiritual growth of our children and youth. The DRE is expected to be a reliable, energetic, creative, flexible person who takes initiative, works independently, sets priorities, and manages work time efficiently. The DRE will conduct themselves and all professional activities in accordance with the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Code of Professional Practices. Weekly hours may vary through the year but availability requirements include Sunday morning worship (with one Sunday off every six weeks and a floating Sunday off each year), weekly office hours, weekly staff meetings, monthly committee meetings, and flexibility to work from home. An information packet about our church can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/UUCDREinfo.

RE Program Mission Statement: To provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment for the UUCTC community to explore and celebrate Unitarian Universalist principles and values. We provide opportunities and programs that support spiritual growth, affirm diversity of belief systems, and promote learning.

Qualifications:

At least 25 years of age with high school degree or equivalent.

A commitment to and knowledge of Unitarian Universalist principles (values,

history and theology).

Relates well to children and adults in a warm, professional and caring manner.

Ability to determine priorities, handle a wide variety of tasks efficiently, and work both independently and in collaboration with professionals and volunteers to implement program goals and objectives.

Awareness of, or willingness to learn procedures and practices of, and to commit to UUA Safe Congregations standards and follow UUCTC Safe Congregations Policy.

Strong ethical character, including respect for personal and professional boundaries and the established confidentiality policies of the church.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Familiarity with technology including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Enthusiasm for working with and recruiting volunteer teachers.

Knowledge of various learning styles and methods of teaching that engage children of all ages.

Membership in, or willingness to become a member of, the LREDA and its regional chapter, and commitment to ongoing participation in professional development activities and programs.

Preference to candidates with knowledge of UU curriculum and training in Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Education Programming. Support for training offered for interested candidates.

Required to pass a background check.

Primary Job Responsibilities include:

Program Planning and Administration:

Collaborate with lay leaders and Minister to establish, maintain and/or update RE program vision, mission, and policies as needed.

Select, review and evaluate age-appropriate materials to maintain cohesive programming that enriches and furthers the spiritual development and growth of participants. This should be done with the support and partnership of RE Committee and Minister.

Prepare and organize weekly lessons and classroom supplies in preparation for volunteer teachers at various grade levels.

Ensure that there are child-appropriate plans for every Sunday of the year (this could include all-ages services).

Participate in our commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity within our congregation and in the community at large. We encourage BIPOC applicants, people who speak more than one language, and/or those who are open to learning about personal and institutional change related to racial justice.

Work with lay leaders to recruit and support volunteer teachers, assistants, and substitutes for our Nursery, RE classes, and Youth Group programming while adhering to our Safe Congregation guidelines. Conduct annual teacher orientation. Coordinate programming and staffing for OWL

Plan Coming of Age celebrations and other celebrations, as appropriate.

Ensure appropriate background checks are performed on each person working with the children and youth, including childcare providers

Create the RE calendar in collaboration with the lay leaders and staff for all children and youth related activities.

Participate in the planning and execution of periodic multigenerational services

In collaboration with the Minister or worship associates, coordinate (and occasionally lead) a "Time for All Ages" on a regular basis during our regular Sunday Worship Service.

Oversee church school registration and keep weekly attendance records of all children participating.

Ensure classrooms are supplied with materials/supplies needed for weekly RE classes.

Maintain the RE supply area, including RE library resources and curricula.

Track expenses for necessary supplies and manage the overall RE Program budget

Supervise nursery coordinator.

Other duties as assigned by Minister.

Outreach and Communication:

Represent the RE program to visitors and members in collaboration with lay leaders. Distribute information for new/visiting families including the registration information.

Meet with participants of RE programs and parents as needed.

Identify families in need of pastoral care and communicate to the minister areas of concerns and requests for counseling and guidance.

Consult with the Safe Congregation committee as well as Board members to ensure Sunday Morning Safety guidelines are in place for children, RE teachers, and volunteers. Conduct periodic fire drills and other emergency response drills and trainings as deemed appropriate.

Coordinate communication about all RE programs and events through a variety of church communications such as bulletins; social media; announcements; e-mail, etc.

Provide updated RE content for the church website and monthly newsletter as needed.

Create an annual RE report to be included in the Annual Report for review at the Annual Meeting.

Attend regular staff, Program Council, and other church committee meetings and provide program reports as needed to the Board and others. Lead the RE Committee and meet with them monthly.

Professional Development

Attend local, regional and continental events, gatherings and trainings for religious education professionals offered by LREDA and the UUA. A budget is provided for professional development expenses.

Supervision:

The DRE is a member of the UUCTC staff team and reports to and is supervised by the Minister. The DRE is responsible for supervising the Nursery Coordinator.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience and credentials. The UUCTC is a fair compensation congregation and will pay $20,800-$24,960. The position comes with benefits as outlined in the UUCTC Personnel Manual.

To Apply:

Please read through our Search Packet here, then  submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to [email protected].