– Jan Radoslovich, WUUC Board VP and Liaison to Ministry Council
“In the Soup” by Rev. Robert Walsh (Reading at the 10/23/22 Worship Service)
My dictionary says the word minister is etymologically related to the word minestrone. I am not making this up. They are both derived from a Latin root that means to serve.
The image of ministry as minestrone is particularly apt for the ministry church people do all together that makes us a ministering congregation. Each bean, each vegetable, each piece of macaroni or pinch of spice gives not only its substance to the soup but also its spirit, its texture and color, its flavor and aroma. Each person offers a unique set of gifts, and if we do our job of organizing well, each gift will be creatively matched with a need—so that the whole becomes a warm, nourishing, life-giving religious community.
All who serve the church and the principles and values we hold dear are ministers. If you are doing part of that work, you are doing ministry, no matter how unlikely that may seem. You are in the soup—the minestrone of ministry!
The “In the Soup” reading seemed like the perfect introduction to what the Ministry Council has been doing for the past several months. The Ministry Council works collaboratively with the Minister in the management and oversight of WUUC ministries and programs in accordance with the mission of the church while abiding by policies as specified by the Board and the congregation. The Ministry Council consists of Ministry Leads, Board Reps for meeting facilitation and notetaking, and the Minister.
For the past 7 years, the Ministry Council has been organized and operating under the “Three Umbrellas of our Ministry” – Community & Engagement, Transformation & Action, and Sustainability. The Ministry Council felt it was time to revisit this model, to literally spend some time “in the soup” of our work. How are the umbrella groupings working? What is our understanding of the Ministry Council mission? Is the Ministry Lead role effective in providing communication, collaboration, troubleshooting and oversight between ministries and with the Board and Minister? What changes need to be made to improve the functioning of Ministry Council in supporting the Ministry Leads and ministries of WUUC?
From April through August, 2022 the members of the Ministry Council focused their meeting time and efforts on addressing these and other questions about the Ministry Council model. We also sought and received input from Ministry Council alumni. A few outcomes of our work together:
We agreed that the Ministry Council model is working well, but that the Umbrella Groupings needed to be revisited.
We reviewed and clarified the mission of the Ministry Council and the roles/responsibilities of the Ministry Leads.
We reduced our meeting frequency to every other month, and will continue to meet virtually by Zoom.
We developed the “Seven Umbrellas of Ministry at WUUC” and confirmed or recruited Ministry Leads for each umbrella grouping.
Here are the new “Seven Umbrellas of Ministry” and Ministry Leads that were approved at the October, 2022 Board Meeting:
Sustainability – Ministry Lead: Marcia Sprang. Ministries include: Building and Grounds (BAG), Endowment, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Stewardship, Woodinville Country Day School, Building Rental, MarCom (Marketing/Communications)
Justice and Service – Ministry Co-Leads: Cora Goss-Grubbs/Pam Green (rotating)
Ministries include: Welcoming Congregation, Climate, Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF), Land Acknowledgment, Economic Justice, Blood Drive
Worship and Music – Ministry Lead: Donna Johnson. Ministries include: Worship Leaders, Zoomkeepers, Camera/Sound Techs, Choir/Special Music, Earth-based Services/Celebrations, December Labyrinth
Lifelong Learning – Ministry Co-Leads: Skylar Hopkins, Director of Religious Education/Rev. Dan Lillie. Ministries include: Nursery/Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Jr. and Sr. Youth Groups, Our Whole Lives (Lifespan Sexuality Education), Adult Religious Education, UU Identity Formation (Denominational Affairs Team yet to be formed)
Membership and Hospitality – Ministry Lead: Amy Genova, Membership Coordinator. Ministries include: Membership Team, ComCom (Internal Communications, E-mail Distribution Groups), Ushers and Greeters, Coffee/Social Hour Support
Social Connections – Ministry Lead: Tevina Flood. Ministries include: Engagement Groups, Social Events, Small Group Ministries, Pondering Groups, Connections Groups, Recurring Small Groups, Men’s and Women’s Retreats, Camping Trip
Care and Support – Ministry Lead: Rev. Dan Lillie. Ministries include: Lay Pastoral Associates, Care & Concerns Team, Support Groups
This Ministry model is an experiment and will continue to be evaluated as implementation progresses through the church year. If you have questions or feedback for the Ministry Council, please contact any of the Ministry Leads, Board Representative Jan Radoslovich or Rev. Dan Lillie.
As a congregation, we strive to build and maintain a safety culture to keep children, youth and adults safe from sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct while participating in congregational life. In response to the feedback and concerns expressed by congregational members during the September Town Hall and Zoom meetings as well as individual conversations with Board members and our Minister, the Board is forming a “Safer Congregation” Task Force to study and implement Safer Congregation best practices.
The Task Force will include Board Members Leslie Morton and Jan Radoslovich, R&R Team Member Lori McConnell and at-large member Justin Gertler. The Task Force will work on a comprehensive Safety Policy that addresses sexual abuse, harassment, misconduct, and disruptive behaviors. The Board welcomes your suggestions and comments on this policy and other aspects of the Task Force work. Future communication will provide venues for this feedback. If you are interested in working with this Task Force, please contact Leslie Morton, Board President.
The Article II Study Commission’s outreach team will be hosting Zoom feedback sessions in the first half of November, along with gathering feedback through a forthcoming online form for individual comments. This is another opportunity to participate in the process and give your feedback.
Hinrin-yoku, is a Japanese phrase which translates to “forest bathing” or “absorbing the forest atmosphere.” The practice encourages people to simply spend time in nature, reducing blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in general, leaving one in a calmer state. It involves only going into a natural space and being mindfully present, breathing deeply and listening to the natural sounds.
While the Pacific Northwest is abundant in forested areas, there can be impediments to enjoying these spaces for many people. There is concern about being alone in a remote area, difficulty with parking access, challenges in moving on uneven ground, and cost of parking or access passes among them.
Adjacent to the parking lot – on the right as you enter from the driveway – is WUUC’s Meditation Grove, a small patch of native vegetation that permits a wonderful short “forest shower”.
You’ll see native plants like salal, snowberry, sword fern, native blackberry and bracken fern under the tall evergreens and big leaf maples. A huge cut tree and stump remain to decompose slowly back into the earth. There is a short, looping path with a bench at the midpoint, including an original art installation. You’ll also see the memorial monuments noting members who have died.
Listening, the wind in the trees and the birds are soothing (except when the stellar jays get excited about something!). Perhaps you’ll even see some hawk feathers in the shrubs.
In a stressful world, a few moments in this space can be peacefully grounding.
Look for a small opening in the wooden fence that runs along the east side of the parking lot. (While generally cleared and tended, use caution as weather may have dropped branches or made puddles.)
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) oversees the vision, planning, management, development and evaluation of religious education programs for children and youth in order to nurture religious and spiritual growth.
For more details about the duties and qualifications for this position, please see the position description here or below.
To apply for the Director of Religious Education position, please send your resume and a cover letter telling us why you’re interested in the position (and why you’d be good at it) to mjohnson@wuuc.org.
Open until filled; position begins in Fall 2022.
Director of Religious Education Position Description – Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church
Reports to: Minister
Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE)
FLSA: Non-exempt
Effective: July 2022
Compensation: $25 per hour, based on UUA fair compensation guidelines. Benefits include prorated health, retirement, and paid time off, study leave and professional development expenses.
Work Schedule
20 hours per week to include at least 3 Sunday mornings per month. The remainder of the time will be split between working from home, regular office hours (to be coordinated with the minister), attendance at meetings, events and training. Some limited travel may be required.
Job Summary
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) oversees the vision, planning, management, development and evaluation of religious education programs for children and youth in order to nurture religious and spiritual growth and encourage Unitarian Universalist identity formation.
The DRE will affirm the principles and values of Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church (WUUC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and abide by the WUUC Staff Covenant.
Essential Functions
Recruit, vet (including background check), train and lead a team of volunteer teachers, youth advisors and others who support the religious education program.
Supervise the Childcare Supervisor staff member.
Coordinate with the minister and the worship team to provide support for mini-worship services, weekly Time For All Ages messages during Sunday worship services, and occasionally lead other worship for children and youth.
Work with the Minister to develop and lead rites of passage for children and youth; assist with other ceremonies as requested.
Encourage and support the involvement of children and youth in all aspects of church life, including worship services.
Publicize the children and youth religious education program to the congregation and the community at large (when appropriate).
Integrate social justice learning opportunities for children and youth.
Coordinate and schedule special religious education programming and activities such as Our Whole Lives sexuality education, Coming of Age, and youth conferences and trips.
Manage RE program records and files. Maintain records for religious education activities, including attendance, field trips, background checks and program expenses. Manage budget for RE program.
Other Responsibilities
Attend staff meetings, Religious Education Committee meetings, and other meetings as requested by the Board or Minister.
Provide monthly reports to the Board, Ministry Council, and RE Committee.
Set goals and develop a plan for personal professional development.
Maintain the church’s resource library on religious education topics for the use of the congregation.
Coordinate planning for youth service trips every other year with youth input.
Minimum Qualifications
Ability to model appropriate, effective and welcoming behavior and attitudes toward the children, youth and volunteers under their supervision.
Working knowledge of the functions and philosophy of Unitarian Universalist religious education programs.
Skill in coordinating, leading, and delegating to volunteers and religious education staff.
Ability to work collaboratively with the minister and volunteers in planning creative programs, including worship, for children and youth.
Proficiency in English language communications, both written and verbal.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google applications, email, calendaring, social media and Zoom. Ability to learn membership database and other new programs as needed.
Ability to move and lift children’s furniture in order to set up classroom space. Reasonable accommodations will be made according to physical ability.
