Religious Activities and Education Director jobs in Massachusetts

The Melrose UU Church seeks a Director of Lifespan Religious Education who will nourish and support the spiritual enrichment and growth of our children, youth, and adults.

Goals: The DLRE will support the following religious education goals for MUUC for the church year 2024-2025:

• Develop age-appropriate activities for infants through Pre-K during church service on Sunday morning; supervise the nursery staff and coordinate volunteer coverage
• Lead programming for children and youth, grades K-12
• Provide opportunities for spiritual enrichment and growth for adults

Who We Are:

We are a passionate, vibrant, and friendly congregation of approximately 130 members. We value community and fellowship and are committed to equity and inclusiveness, and we are guided by our mission and vision in the work we do within our congregation, our community, and the wider world.

Statement of Accountability

The DLRE will report to the Minister on a day-to-day basis and will work collaboratively as a member of the MUUC staff team. The DLRE is expected to seek and receive guidance and advice from the Religious Education Committee and, as appropriate, the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

The DLRE will assess, research, and develop an approach to lifespan education that will nourish and support children, youth, and adult programming at MUUC, and will be achieved by attending to the following:

Worship

• Collaborate with the Minister to choose a Story for All Ages appropriate for each week’s Worship theme and read story during Sunday morning worship
• Collaborate with the Minister and Religious Education Committee to create multigenerational worship services throughout the church year

Infant through 3.5 years

• Develop age-appropriate activities for infants through Pre-K during church service on Sunday morning; supervise the nursery staff and coordinate volunteer coverage
• Support MUUC’s weekly Storytime event by advertising to the community, coordinating volunteers and attending the event as the second CORI’d adult, as needed

Pre-K through 5th grade

• Design and lead Sunday morning religious education programming
• Recruit, train, support, and supervise volunteers
• Prepare and arrange curriculum, supplies, and classrooms, as needed
• Coordinate periodic field trips or service projects

6th through 8th grade

• Create infrastructure and lead programming for middle school youth development
• Program and help build transitions between child and youth programs (e.g., coming of age)
• Manage and sustain biennial OWL program for middle school youth

9th through 12th grade

• Build infrastructure and lead programming for high school youth development
• Coordinate periodic field trips or service projects
• Program and help build transitions between youth and young adulthood (e.g., Bridging Ceremony)

Adult Spiritual Enrichment

• Organize and facilitate adult covenant groups
• Plan, organize and facilitate one adult spiritual enrichment event per month, Sept. - June

Administration

• Continually develop and implement long-term planning for the growth and strengthening of religious education programs
• Support the Minister and committees in creating a vital intergenerational congregation with children and youth integrated into all parts of congregational life (e.g., worship involvement time for all ages, multi-generational worship, annual Youth and RE services).
• Coordinate with minister and church staff for seamless connection of religious education activities with ministerial, congregant, and community activities of church life (annual calendar, themes, weekly sermons, child and youth centered services, intergenerational services, time for all ages, etc.)
• Meet and coordinate with RE Committee, Church Council, and Board monthly, as well as coordinate with other committees engaged with RE programming activities
• Manage and report on church school and youth group attendance trends; build to include additional life span learning opportunities as developed. Coordinate annual church school and youth school registration and volunteer outreach
• Communicate with the congregation (e.g., newsletters, congregational emails) and parents;
• Collaborate with the RE Committee to prepare the annual RE budget and annual report
• Service to the wider UU RE Community; represent Melrose UU at professional DRE events and trainings
• Cultivate opportunities to collaborate with other local UU churches on RE programs and activities
• Collaborate with the RE Committee to plan, organize & facilitate (4) congregation-wide, seasonal RE-inspired events over the course of the church year

Experience, Knowledge Skills, and Abilities

A successful candidate will have:

• A commitment to UUA Principles and the mission and vision of Melrose UU Church
• Strong interest in youth programming and development; familiarity with youth curriculum options including OWL; experience with youth transition programs a plus (e.g., coming of age and bridging)
• Hold an RE philosophy that is supportive of lifespan learning; interest in engaging children, youth, and adult congregants across the life span
• Ability to work collaboratively with other staff, congregational leaders, and volunteers
• Sensitivity to the pastoral concerns of the congregation
• Demonstrated planning, organizational, and administrative skills
• Prior experience organizing and managing volunteers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office & Google docs
• Energetic and creative; personable and patient.

How to apply:

Interested candidates should email their resume and statement of interest to dresearch@melroseuu.org. Visit Melroseuu.org for more information.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $35,800.00 per year

Expected hours: 32 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Melrose, MA 02176: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person