Faith Development Coordinator

First Parish Church in Beverly, Unitarian Universalist

Job Description: Faith Development Coordinator

First Parish Church in Beverly (FPC) is a vibrant, progressive religious community of 159 members. Founded in 1667, we are located in downtown Beverly, MA and continually seek to marry our rich history with our contemporary lives. 

Our Faith Development program is in continual development. We are grateful to have been served by an Acting Director of Religious Education since 2019, who has now planned her retirement. In her tenure, she has brought stability to our program and has set in place patterns and norms that invite our Faith Development Coordinator to build on what has worked while working with us to envision what may be.

The Faith Development Coordinator is a part-time position which plans, coordinates, and leads UU faith formation programming for children and youth. Our 10:30am service of about 60 adults and 10 children gathers in our historic sanctuary. Children begin the service in the sanctuary and then move to their one-room-schoolhouse model program in Hale Hall on our lower level.

People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ candidates are encouraged to apply. FPC is committed to developing a diverse and talented staff team. If you are excited about this role, but are unsure whether you meet 100% of the requirements, we encourage you to inquire and/or apply.   

Accessibility Our church sanctuary is accessible by ramp and Hale Hall (basement) is accessible by elevator. Our staff offices and meeting rooms are located on these two levels. There are four steps to reach our chancel and pulpit. Our balcony is used primarily for storage and is up a full flight of stairs. We are in the process of updating our sound system to include better access for those in our community who are hard of hearing.

Job Summary

The Faith Development Coordinator leads faith development programming for children and youth. The FDC will teach and guide the spiritual development of the youngest members of our congregation in alignment with our mission, vision, and values. The FDC will also collaborate with the Minister and Religious Education Committee in exploring systemic shifts in our Faith Development model as we respond to the needs of our community and new models for faith development.

This is a part-time, non-exempt, position, 15 hours a week during the church year (42 weeks) with reduced hours, vacation, and study leave during the summer. The Faith Development Coordinator will be on site for weekly staff meetings and faith development programming on Sunday mornings and other times as scheduled.

Accountability

The Faith Development Coordinator reports to and is supervised by the Minister.

Background

All employees must complete a SORI/CORI and have no disqualifying offenses*

*What constitutes a disqualifying offense will be determined by FPC’s leadership on a case-by-case basis in light of all the surrounding circumstances. Generally, convictions for an offense involving children and/or for offenses involving violence, dishonesty, indecency and any conduct contrary to our mission will preclude someone from working at FPC.

Physical Requirements

Able to move freely about the church.

Able to command the attention of groups both large and small and communicate effectively in person, over the phone or Zoom, and via email.

Able to escort children safely from the building in the event of an emergency.

Essential Functions

The Faith Development Coordinator has three major areas of responsibility: coordination of classes for children and youth, volunteer management, program management. Details follow:

Essential Functions:

  1. Coordinate the Sunday RE program on a weekly basis
    • Collaborate with the minister and RE Committee to identify and select appropriate curricula. 
    • Adapt available curricula to meet the needs of our children and program. 
    • With the assistance of the RE Committee, recruit, train, schedule and support volunteer teachers and youth advisors within our cooperative environment.
    • Use digital means, including but not limited to email and Zoom, to keep in contact with children and parents in the program and enhance the program as needed and/or where appropriate.
    • Welcome and orient new families and visitors with children to our congregation and the FD program.
  1. Coordinate the program for Middle and High School Youth Groups
    • Collaborate with the minister and RE Committee to identify and select appropriate curricula.  
    • Adapt available curricula to meet the needs of our children and program. 
    • With the assistance of the RE committee, recruit, train, schedule and support volunteer teachers and youth advisors within our cooperative environment.
    • Foster youth leadership, responsive to the needs and interests of each group.
  1. Publicize the FD program and special events to the congregation and community
    • Inform the congregation about our FD program and special events through our weekly newsletter, and other means of communication, including social media.
    • Work cooperatively with the administrator, minister, and RE Committee to publicize our FD program and special events to the wider community.
  2. Manage congregational volunteers and resources in support of the FD program
    • Administer the FD budget with support of the minister.
    • Maintain attendance records for children and volunteers.
    • Purchase supplies and curricula as needed and coordinate their storage and upkeep.
    • Submit information for and review the results of criminal background checks for volunteers, and maintain information in a secure location.
    • Ensure First Parish Beverly faith development program is in compliance with FPB safe congregation policy.
    • Arrange for coverage in event of planned FDC absence.
    • Prepare an annual report for the congregation.
  1. Collaborate with staff and congregational leaders
  • Attend regular staff and RE Committee meetings
  • Participate as needed at meetings of the Board and/or other committees or teams.
  • Attend coffee hour to foster relationships and casual interaction with the congregation.
  1. Pursue professional development
    • Participate in Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) sponsored programs.
    • Pursue other religious education training including credentialing.

Core Competencies

Ministry With Children and Youth: Captures and holds children’s attention; demonstrates ability to improvise; makes children feel welcome; communicates clear behavioral expectations to children and adult volunteers; effectively and developmentally-appropriately manages children’s behavior so that they are able to participate in learning activities; designs effective lesson plans and facilitates meaningful learning experiences; maintains appropriate boundaries.

Worship Leadership: Collaborates with Minister in planning Faith Development worship services, including celebration of milestones; brings perspectives of child development and family life into worship collaboration.

​Developing and motivating volunteers: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; empowers others; invites shared input and decision making; makes each individual feel that their work is important; communicates expectations clearly; maintains open and active dialogue with volunteers; thinks strategically about the continual need for a next generation of leaders and works to build the volunteer base.

Mission Ownership: Demonstrates understanding and full support of the mission, vision, values and beliefs of the congregation; can demonstrate those values to others; consistently behaves in a manner congruent with the mission, vision, and values.

Integrity and Trust: Practices direct, honest and transparent communication; avoids communication triangles; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t operate with hidden agendas; responds to situations with constancy and reliability.

Professionalism: Prioritizes key tasks and ignores or minimizes distractions; demonstrates focus; follows through on assigned tasks; follows up on missing or out of balance items; is able to deliver a message clearly, articulately and with appropriate emotion in a variety of settings.

Interpersonal Skills: Establishes good working relationships with all others who are relevant to the completion of work; works well with people at all levels of the congregation; considers the impact of their actions on others; uses diplomacy and tact; is approachable; is collaborative.

Personal Resilience: Can effectively cope with change and uncertainty; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; is able to function when things are up in the air; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty; is flexible.

Self-Development: Sets appropriate personal work objectives, measures own progress, identifies personal gaps in knowledge, understanding and skill; undertakes appropriate activities to develop needed skills; seeks regular feedback on performance; knows personal strengths and weaknesses, is sensitive to changing personal and organizational requirements and changes accordingly.

Anti-Oppression in Family Ministry: Demonstrates understanding of systemic racism and other forms of oppression; works well with children & families of diverse abilities and racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds; evaluates programs & resources through lens of anti-oppression; promotes multicultural approaches to family ministry; connects families with relevant identity-specific resources; educates congregation on effective ministry to/with children & youth of color.​

Qualifications

  • Two years of instructional experience with children and youth in group settings. Two years supporting children, youth, and their families as an education professional.
  • Priority will be given to candidates who have experience with children of diverse abilities, neurotypes, and racial/cultural backgrounds.
  • Prior experiences, with references, in implementing curricula, including modifying lessons for diverse learners and for time and space requirements in the classroom.
  • Experience in faith development, or religious education, knowledge of faith development principles and practices, and a strong understanding of and commitment to Unitarian Universalist values.
  • Experience recruiting, cultivating, and inspiring volunteers.

Pay and Benefits

  • Minimum salary $20,000. Salary is based on UUA fair compensation guidelines for a Manager Level position, Geo Index 5, Size B.
  • This position is salaried, non-exempt.
  • Benefits include vacation time, study leave, parental leave, sick leave, and professional development support, including LREDA membership. 

How to apply

Send resume, letter of interest, and references: minister@firstparishbeverly.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2025.