Jan Gartner

Compensation and Staffing Practices Manager

Office of Church Staff Finances in Ministries and Faith Development

Email: jgartner@uua.org

Telephone: (617) 948-6424

Jan Gartner

Jan Gartner

Jan is passionate about helping congregations live their values within their walls! Her work is inspired by the mission of the UUA Office of Church Staff Finances: Guided by Unitarian Universalist values, we equip congregations for excellence as employers and their staff for financial competence and well-being.

In her role as Compensation and Staffing Practices Manager, Jan oversees the UUA Compensation Team and helps congregational leaders and staff with a wide variety of employment-related matters. She is the primary author of the monthly publication, Compensation and Staffing News. She serves on the Transitions Plus Team.

Special interests include productive professional transitions, robust staff teams, economic sustainability of congregations, and Polarity Thinking. Jan’s 2019 sabbatical project is entitled, Reimagining for Resilience: Evolving Reflections on Congregational Staffing and More.

Jan joined the UUA staff in 2011, moving to the Office of Church Staff Finances after 5 years in the Professional Development Office. A Credentialed Religious Educator, Jan previously worked in religious education at the congregational and district levels and served as a Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Good Officer and Board member. She strives to bring all of the skills and sensibilities of an educator to her current role!

Jan telecommutes from her home near Rochester, NY, where she lives with her husband, Mike. They have three young-adult children. Jan is an avid walker, a lover of word and number puzzles, and an enthusiastic soprano in the First Unitarian Church of Rochester choir.

From Jan Gartner

Displaying 11 - 20 of 54

Congregational traditions, governance structures, needs, and resources vary greatly among the approximately 1,100 UUA congregations. The model documents published here are intended to assist leaders in drafting agreements that meet the needs of congregations and their employees.

By Sean Griffin, Jan Gartner | April 27, 2022 | From LeaderLab

The Compensation and Staffing Survey results.

By Sean Griffin, Jan Gartner | April 18, 2022 | From LeaderLab

We live in such a "more is better" culture. Perhaps this is a time to be countercultural - to assess what's most important, and to determine what is in a congregation's capacity to do well with the resources (including human resources) they have.

By Jan Gartner, Lisa Presley | March 17, 2022 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: #COVID19

How can your congregation be a good employer during the COVID-19 outbreak? Caring for staff is an opportunity to model your values and spirit for the congregation, to demonstrate the kindness, creativity, and interdependence that these days ask of us....

By Jan Gartner | August 27, 2021 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: #COVID19, Benefits & Compensation for Congregations, Staffing & Supervision, Finance for Congregations

From exercising regularly, sticking with spiritual disciplines, and enjoying hobbies, to reading for pleasure, getting enough sleep, and spending time with those we love, caring for ourselves is hardest precisely when we most need to do it. Throw in the limitations of physical...

By Jan Gartner | August 5, 2021 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: #COVID19

What does this Multi-Platform era mean for staff? Once again, expectations are changing. We offer some considerations to help you live into our values of equity and compassion so that staff can do their best work in these challenging times.

Book | By Jan Gartner | April 6, 2021 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Building Community, Covenant

The departure of a staff team member provides a fruitful time for reflection, visioning, and change. Some UU professionals are equipped to work with congregations during transitions, providing specialized skills and tools that help a congregation prepare for robust new leadership....

By Jan Gartner | March 26, 2021 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Ministerial Transitions, Staffing & Supervision

In the months ahead, many congregations plan to offer a combination of online and in-person programming options. Will there be new budget items? How might staff hours or responsibilities be changing? Here are some considerations.

Book | By Jan Gartner | March 17, 2021 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: #COVID19, Staffing & Supervision, Finance for Congregations

With the onset of virtual operations and the ability to work from anywhere, we're seeing an increase in both employee- and congregation-initiated arrangements that result in one individual working for more than one UU congregation. As more shared staffing situations unfold, we have identified key...

Webinar | By Jan Gartner | October 30, 2020 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Staffing & Supervision

This page outlines various tax implications of insurance benefits (Health, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability). While references are made to UUA insurance plans, the information applies to insurance offered by other providers, as well.

By Jan Gartner | October 28, 2020 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Benefits & Compensation for Congregations, Finance for Congregations

For more information contact .