Ponderings of our Spiritual Life Director
We are a kind and generous connected community- connected across theologies, genders, sexualities, races, ethnicities, and across the generations. We connect with one another by being generous with our time, talents, and treasures and creating a community that embraces our most deeply held values- the kind that can transform individuals and the world around us.
Are we just talking about adults, though, or does this generosity include our children and youth? What does being generous to our children look like? How intentional are we about including children and youth in our generosity?
For several years (eight, to be exact), I worked as the Director of Religious Exploration for UUCL. I started off at 10 hours a week, went to 15, then to 20 for a few years (and back to 10 when I started teaching full time). I always felt that the congregation was supportive of me, the kids, and the program. And because I was getting paid for a fair amount of hours, I was able to build a program that not only nourished our kids on Sunday mornings, but also during other events that we planned throughout the year- Social Justice activities and events, pajama parties, nature walks. Often, these events were multigenerational and gave the kids a chance to interact with the grown-ups, strengthening the bonds in our community. It also helped the kids to feel like they were an important part of the community.
At the end of my 8 years, I thought to write up a summary of what it is a DRE does for a congregation (below). It’s aspirational, really, because it was difficult to achieve even in 20 hours a week. But it gives us a vision of something we should strive for, something we might want to give more of our time, talent, and treasure to, and honestly, I’m not even sure it includes all it needs to! We need to keep in mind how important our children are- their inherent worth and dignity and their need for love and connection, the promise they hold for our future, and the many ways in which they can enrich our lives, too.
Fundamental Elements of a Lifespan Religious Educator’s Job for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland:
1. To ensure the occurrence of a consistent religious education program for all ages which provides varied experiences according to the needs of its participants.
2. To ensure that UUCL’s Religious Exploration program is deeply rooted in Unitarian Universalism history and values, our sources and principles.
3. To provide opportunities for multigenerational experiences which focus on building community and fulfilling UUCL’s vision.
4. To engage in conversation with members, friends, and newcomers alike for the purposes of promoting community and ensuring a deep understanding of a covenantal religion.
5. To engage in professional development and keep current with the practices and ideas of the UUA to ensure that religious education programing at UUCL stays fresh, engaging, and relevant.
6. To provide support for UUCL’s children, youth, and families that fosters a healthy perception of self and connection to the religious community.
Can you see how essential the DRE position and the RE program is to the church? It is a vital ministry of UUCL and I can’t imagine how we would even exist without it.
So, as I stated, the minimum amount of hours I worked was 10 per week, the most was 20, and even then, I couldn’t get it all done. Folks, we currently pay our DRE for 6 hours a week (at about $16/hour), and that includes about 3 hours on Sunday. How does this reflect our values? Can we increase our generosity and show our children and youth how much we value them? How can you give to the RE program of your time, talent, and treasure? Please, let our Stewardship Team know when they contact you! Or, contact our new DRE, Melissa Marshall, at re@uuclakeland.org and let her know you are ready to help out!
I offer you the following quotes for reflection:
“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” — Dr. Seuss
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” — Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson, Former First Lady of the United States
“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” — Stacia Tauscher, dancer and artist
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” — Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and statesman
“Children need models rather than critics.” — Joseph Joubert, French moralist
“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.” — Wess Stafford, President Emeritus of Compassion International
“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” — Anonymous
“The soul is healed by being with children.” — Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian novelist and philosopher
“Children make your life important.” — Erma Bombeck, American humorist
“Children are one third of our population and all of our future.” — Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” — John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States
Thank you for your commitment to this community– your community. We are doing great things together!