Procedures, Forms and Resources
The Religious Education (RE) Credentialing Program Plan (PDF, 21 pages) gives an overview of the program, as well as an outline of requirements for each of the three Religious Education Credentialing levels.
Applying to the Religious Education Credentialing Program
- File the Statement of
Intent form (PDF, 1 page) (Word) with
the Religious Education Credentialing Office in the Ministry and
Professional Leadership staff group. The Statement of Intent should
include attachments of a resume and a brief statement of goals
and aspirations for the Religious Education Credentialing Program.
- Submit Endorsement
Forms (PDF, 3 pages) (Word) from
those individuals specified in the Program Plan. The Endorsement
should indicate the individual's potential and suitability for participation
in the Religious Education Credentialing Program.
- Submit the Criminal Offense Disclosure Form (PDF, 2 pages) (Word).
Completing the Religious Education Credentialing Program
- Request any equivalency fulfillment of RE Credentialing
requirements (PDF, 26 pages).
- Complete
the required reading for your Credentialing Level, as detailed in the Annotated Reading and Resource List (PDF, 19 pages). Submit the Reading Check
List (PDF, 4 pages) (Word) with
your completion materials.
- Submit a portfolio
of life and learning experiences that demonstrates competencies in,
and commitments to, religious education leadership. Requirements
for Creating Your RE Credentialing Portfolio
(PDF, 5 pages)
These samples of an Associate Level (PDF, 143 pages), a Credentialed Level (PDF, 293 pages), and a Master's Level (PDF, 329 pages) portfolio may give you a clearer idea of what a portfolio entails. Please consult the Program Plan and Requirements for Creating your RE Credentialing Portfolio for current content and formatting requirements.
The following table outlines the scope of competencies required for each level of credentialing. It describes the scope of knowledge and skill expected by the Religious Education Credentialing Committee for each competency area and at each credentialing level, as well as examples of how the knowledge and skill might be demonstrated. Candidates will find it useful for guiding their professional development, creating their RE Credentialing Portfolio, planning for their interview with the Religious Education Credentialing Committee, and strengthening their professional practice in and beyond the congregation. Continuum of Competencies (PDF, 12 pages)
The following grids are organizational tools to help identify which of your structured learning experiences (academic and otherwise), leadership experiences, and materials or work samples you would like to include in your Religious Education Credentialing portfolio. It is not a program requirement to complete these forms or use these resources as a reference. If you do not find them helpful, then skip them!
- Credentialed, Associate Level
- Learning and Leadership Experiences and Work Products Grid—Blank Form (PDF, 25 pages) (Word)
- Credentialed Level
- Learning and Leadership Experiences and Work Products Grid—Blank Form (PDF, 43 pages) (Word)
- Credentialed, Masters Level
- Learning and Leadership Experiences and Work Products Grid—Blank Form (PDF, 55 pages) (Word)
- Submit the RE Credentialing Information Cover Sheet (PDF, 1 page) of basic information about you, your current congregation or organization, and your Unitarian Universalist (UU) affiliation.
- Submit a Statement of Personal Theology or Religious Philosophy. Choose the form that corresponds to your Religious Education Credentialing Program level.
- Credentialed Religious Educator, Associate Level: Statement of Personal Theology or Religious Philosophy Form (PDF, 2 pages) (Word)
- Credentialed Religious Educator and Credentialed Religious Educator, Masters Level: Statement of Pedagogy, and Personal Theology or Religious Philosophy Form (PDF, 3 pages) (Word)
- Credentialed Religious Educator, Associate Level: Statement of Personal Theology or Religious Philosophy Form (PDF, 2 pages) (Word)
- Submit a two to three page Professional Context (PDF, 2 pages) (Word) statement, which provides detailed information about the congregation, organization, program, or clients that you serve.
- Complete and submit the Self-Assessment of Competencies (PDF, 2 pages) (Word) Form, a self-evaluation of your relative strengths in the competencies. For your continuing professional development, list three to five competencies you want to strengthen over the next three years and provide a brief rationale for each.
- Submit Recommendation Forms (PDF, 5 pages) (Word) from those individuals specified in the Program Plan. The Recommendation should indicate the individual's competency in each of the many program areas of religious education leadership as required by the Religious Education Credentialing Program, and a general readiness to receive the Religious Education Credentialing Program status that is sought.
- Meet with the Religious Education Credentialing Committee (RECC) for an Evaluation Interview (Credentialed Religious Educator and Credentialed Religious Educator, Masters Level), or have your portfolio evaluated by the RE Credentialing Director (Credentialed Religious Educator, Associate Level).
- An overview of the meeting may be found in this document: What to Expect from the RECC Interview Meeting (PDF, 4 pages).
- Please note that your RE Credentialing Committee Meeting Request Form (PDF, 1 pages) (Word) must be received by the Office of Religious Education Credentialing at least twelve months before the requested RECC meeting date.
The following table explains how a religious educator at a particular credentialing level can be expected to function in and beyond a congregation. Stages of Formation for Credentialed Religious Educators (PDF, 2 pages)
For more information contact recredentialing @ uua.org.
Last updated on Thursday, May 1, 2008.
