Religious Education
Lifespan Religious Ed.
We never outgrow religious education. It is the journey of a lifetime. A comprehensive faith development program for children, youth, and adults includes UU identity, world religions, ethics, leadership development, learning connected to social justice and anti-oppression, community building, spiritual growth, and more.
A holistic program will engage body, mind, and spirit. A relevant religious education program is also dynamic and responds to the changing needs of individuals and families over time.
I am blessed to have worked collaboratively with religious educators in the communities in which I have served. We are both religious professionals who minister across the lifespan and who lead in worship and faith development. While there are clear primary responsibilities, there are also overlapping responsibilities and synergistic possibilities.
When we meet in separate age categories, it provides an opportunity to be developmentally more specific. However, many activities are multigenerational with children, youth, and adults together at the same time. It is good to have both options.
Adult Religious Education
I have experience teaching classes and also facilitating a congregation-wide small group ministries/covenant circles. Some of the classes I’ve taught include “Getting to Know UU,” “Building Your Own Theology,” “Bible Classes for Skeptics,” “hUUmanism,” “The Jewish Liturgical Year,” “Liberation Theology,” and more.
In many ways, my involvement supporting and planning adult education started as a college student and a lay leader co-facilitating a campus ministry. I have a strong bias that we need to be mindful about serving people at every age. Today, I have been supporting a different kind of campus ministry for the end-of-life at continuous care retirement communities.
Children and Youth RE
As a minister, I am primarily involved in co-creating multigenerational worship and what we often call the “Time For All Ages,” as well as consulting when asked about youth worship or a separate children’s worship.
While I haven’t been in our children’s classrooms on a regular basis, I do try to visit classrooms and youth group from time to time.
An important role of mine is to support and partner with the Lifespan Religious Educator. I will also support the Children’s RE Committee and Youth Adult Committee if asked by my colleague to do so.
