Choose one:

Family Ministry

Definition: Understanding the multiple meanings of “family”—related household members as family, and ones’ chosen family, and congregation as family—in order to move family to the center of congregational life.

Description: A lens to use to focus on the philosophical and theological development of family in congregational life. To use in considering ministry to, within, and by families.

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Congregation-family relationships
• UU identity development at home, utilizing full week faith and appropriate technological use
• Support for family life-cycle changes
• Support for the diversity of families present (or yet-to-be present) in your community (e.g., single, two-parent, poly- , extended family, LGBTQ couples, biological, adoptive, foster, interracial, interfaith, etc.)
• Family-friendly scheduling; and relationship-strengthening both within families and between families.

Examples

• Creating opportunities for relationship building between and within families by: holding regular potlucks/ picnics/ gatherings, celebrating milestones, etc.
• Curating, creating, posting, and distributing resources (handouts, newsletter articles, blogs, etc.) to help families connect to UU values at home
• In collaboration with ministers, staff, and lay leaders, creating and implementing policies and procedures to support families within the larger structure of the congregation’s life
• Creating opportunities for families to be known by, and minister to, the congregation as a whole

History & Philosophy of RE

“Understanding RE—where we come from and where we’re going”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Educational philosophy of key figures in U, U, and UU histories
• Exploration of Religious Education (RE) broadly; within and beyond UU circles
• History and theories of Religious Education
• Important persons in the development of Religious Education and types of Religious Education (RE) instruction (curricula, models)

Examples

• Exposure to or use of curricula or models from non-UU circles
• Collaborating with the RE Committee to articulate an overarching RE philosophy and vision for your community
• Interacting in community with children, youth, or adults in interfaith settings

Educational Leadership & Leadership Development

Definition: Leading Unitarian Universalist faith development into the future as you embrace your power within the larger system

Description: Demonstrated leadership in your congregation or program

• Coherently and consistently apply professional knowledge
• Develop leaders
• Manage change
• Develop conflict skills

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Development of management and leadership skills in others
• Communications skills
• Change and conflict skill
• Leadership in the wider UU community
• Development of resources for effective use in faith development Programs outside your own congregation or particular setting
• Demonstrated ability to apply coherent educational philosophy and best practices in educational leadership and leadership development
• Development of knowledge, and skill of application, of AR/AO/MC human interaction and media resources
• Ability to use various technologies and platforms to utilize modern resources.

Examples

• Serving in regional or national LREDA or UUA leadership
• Leading Faith Development trainings or workshops for colleagues beyond your own congregation or immediate setting
• Generating resources for the dissemination of helpful information or wisdom for Religious Educators or to further the practice of Faith Development
• Creating new curricula or Religious Education methodology for use in UU congregations or settings
• Designing curricula and programs for developing children, youth, and adults as leaders
• Attending or participating in leadership training or leadership school
• Establishing structures to develop volunteers to take ownership and leadership in the congregation and/or community
• Demonstrating a variety of ways to communicate, especially in cases of conflict or change

Multigenerational Program Planning

Definition: Congregational programming that actively engages multiple generations in meaningful ways.

Description: ability to plan and adapt programs for individual ages and stages as well as across ages and stages.

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Basics of generational theory, with awareness of critiques of this theory
• Understanding of age-based bias
• Ability to use a wide variety of AR/AO/MC resources in order to avoid limiting programs’ perspectives.
• Facility with group dynamics
• Ability to communicate across a range of ages using technology and platforms appropriate to each
• Skill in growing leaders of all ages
• Skill in creating and/or adapting existing curricula for multigenerational use

Examples

• Creating and/or adapting ways for people of different generations to interact, such as:
  • Supporting multigenerational community service trips or service projects
  • Supporting a church-wide off-site retreat
  • Creating a multigenerational book or movie club
  • Helping to bridge the technology gap with the different generations
• Planning and implementing multigenerational worship experiences
• Providing multigenerational educational opportunities
• Supporting age/stage-based or generation-based cohort groups

Spiritual Care

“Caring with wisdom and intention”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Emotional support of people in pain, grief, fear, as well as joy, gratitude and strength
• Helping children, youth, and others respond to peers in need of care and concern
• Consultation with and support of ministers and lay caregivers
• Recognition of boundaries in Spiritual Care and when to utilize professional ministry or counseling services

Examples

• Creating caring networks among young families, adolescents, etc.
• Demonstrating awareness of resources in the community, books/media, etc.
• Participating in lay spiritual care team activities, when appropriate
• Collaborating with ministers and lay caregivers with regard to spiritual care issues unique to children, youth, and families

Small Group Ministry

“Sharing leadership for our UU village”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Support for small, lay-led groups
• Community-building
• Covenant creation and implementation
• Deepening of group relationships
• Deepening of spiritual exploration within a group.

Examples

• Creating a structured process for starting covenant groups
• Supporting and advertising affinity groups (such as Young Families Group; Black Folks’ Potluck; Senior’s Group; Military Families; etc.)

Social Justice Theory & Practice

“Changing the world, one community at a time”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Promotion of equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities
• Dismantling systems of oppression
• Promotion of environmental sustainability
• Public witness and education
• Theological and philosophical foundations of social justice
• Involvement in congregational study/action issues and issues of immediate witness passed by the UUA General Assembly
• Partnering with other groups and/or faith traditions in justice work

Examples

• Creating a multigenerational campaign with other congregations in the district to address a specific environmental justice hazard
• Helping to sustain a prison ministry
• Creating a family or youth-based Program to address an issue of immediate witness from General Assembly

Stewardship

“Nurturing a 7th Generation perspective”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Nurturing generosity in children, youth
• Appropriate support of stewardship campaigns and fundraising

Examples

• Creating themed annual campaigns for various age groups
• Designing curriculum regarding generosity and stewardship
• Encouraging offerings in RE for children’s giving

Teaching Methods & Learning Theories

“Embracing a conscious identity as a professional educator”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• Theories of various researchers regarding learning
• Historical and current methods of teaching
• Effects of stages of human development on pedagogy

Examples

• Redesigning curriculum content for various age groups
• Creating teacher training that addresses age-appropriate pedagogy

Youth & Young Adult Ministry (Advanced Level Only)

“Expanding our faith’s ministry and energy”

Scope of Knowledge and Skills

• UU faith formation for youth & young adults
• Youth & young adult groups
• Inclusion of youth & young adults into the wider congregation

Examples

• Forming or hiring staff for supporting a Youth or Young Adults group
• Creating outreach and Programming with RE alumni of your congregation
• Offering leadership training for youth or young adults for board of trustees
• Creating off-site worship opportunities
• Working with local colleges or universities to create campus ministry programs