The Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham (UUCB) is seeking a 3/4 time Director of Religious Education (DRE). We are a 200+ member congregation in Birmingham, Alabama that greatly values its religious education program. The program serves more than 120 children and youth from preschool through high school. More than 30 adults volunteer with the program each year. We also have adult religious education classes. Our church is vibrant and growing, serving as an oasis of liberal religion in the metropolitan community. Three years ago we built a new building that provides beautiful and functional space for services and programs. This past year we welcomed our new minister, the Reverend Bill Leggett, from Portland, Maine.

We would like to continue our tradition of outstanding leadership by the DRE position. Our current DRE is leaving, after six years of service in the position, to serve the denomination in a youth curriculum development position. Her predecessor left to become a full time lead minister of another Unitarian Universalist congregation. We have a solid religious education program that includes Our Whole Lives programming for all grade levels, a comprehensive child and youth protection policy, strong volunteer support from parents and non-parents in the congregation, and a tradition of annual intergenerational activities.

We seek a candidate with a thorough understanding of and enthusiasm for UU principles. He or she should have strong organizational and planning skills, demonstrated by prior work or volunteer experience. Responsibilities include:

I. Program Planning and Implementation

• Develop and implement age–appropriate religious education curricula for the children and youth of the church.
• Work with our religious education committee (called SEEC), parents and minister to develop church-wide RE goals.
• Coordinate and oversee youth, adult and family programs.
• Collaborate with and supervise youth advisors.
• Work collaboratively with the minister and worship committee on intergenerational Sunday services.
• Work with minister and worship committee on intergenerational services.
• Regularly participate in other Sunday services including Time For All Ages.
• Plan special church and other intergenerational events in cooperation with SEEC and minister.

II. Volunteer and Staff Recruitment and Training.

• Work with SEEC to recruit teachers for RE classes on Sunday mornings.
• Organize and implement RE teacher training and youth advisor training.
• Work with Childcare Coordinator to provide childcare during RE classes on Sunday.
• Organize and implement RE teacher training and youth advisor training.
• Facilitate parent education programs.
• Be available as a resource for lifespan programming.

III. Oversight

• Manage space available to the RE Program.
• Assume primary responsibility for scheduling teachers for Sunday morning RE classes.
• Be available at the church on scheduled Sunday mornings from 9:30am - 12:30pm.
• Maintain regular church office hours.
• Maintain records of RE program classes.
• Implement church policies concerning children and youth safety.
• Work with the SEEC to prepare an annual budget for the RE Program.
• Work with the church secretary to keep RE budget, expenses, files and records current.

IV. Communications

• Report to the Minister who serves as the immediate supervisor for the DRE.
• Meet regularly with the Minister and staff.
• Inform the congregation of regional and national UUA youth activities and conferences.
• Communicate to parents and the congregation information on RE Program activities.
• Act as an advocate for the RE Program; communicate concerns of children, youth, and parents to the congregation.
• Regularly attend meetings of and make reports to the Board of Trustees, the Annual Meeting of the Congregation, and meetings of the SEEC Committee.
• Represent church at community and interfaith functions, when requested by the board or minister.

V. Professional Development

• Pursue professional development opportunities (with church financial support according to allocated professional expenses).
• Participate in District and Regional activities for Religious Educators.