Religious Professionals Advocacy Team
The Religious Professionals Advocacy Team advocates for the needs of all religious professionals. We want all religious professionals to have sustainable, supportive and successful work environments. We work with the UU Professional Associations to identify and understand the needs of both religious professionals and their employers. We’re pleased to partner with the UUA Benefit Plans & Services (BPS) office to ensure the thriving of staff and their ministries.
The Association of UU Administrators (AUUA) is a group of over 300 professionals who work in areas of administration for Unitarian Universalism, both in congregations and other UU organizations. Membership is open to both current and retired administrators. Dues are based on a sliding scale ($25 – $125), and scholarships are available to those whose congregations have not provided for professional development.
Members benefit from:
- The combined knowledge and support of those working in this field through Facebook Groups, listserve, and our Breeze Directory
- Monthly online gatherings
- Professional development opportunities (including ProDays)
- Soul Matters groups with other AUUA members
- A Good Offices program
- Online Resource Library
- Organizational voting rights
Visit auua.org for more information.
The Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM) supports music and worship arts professionals, leaders, and those they serve through advocacy, education, and inspiration.
Since 1985, AUUMM has been connecting Unitarian Universalist music leaders throughout the United States and Canada with the resources they need and to colleagues who bring new insights to their work. Through enthusiastic online discussions and a robust annual (summer) conference, AUUMM provides resources for musicians who wish to create transformative worship.
If you have ideas to share or are seeking answers to musical questions, AUUMM will be an invaluable resource. Some of the benefits of AUUMM membership:
- Forums for sharing information and resources among members
- A variety of communication circles for special interest groups
- Relational Advocates Program for personnel or professional problems related to work.
- The support and encouragement of a 550+ strong body of UU musicians and music supporters who work together to promote the values and invigorate the mission and ministry of music in our congregations and UU communities
- Lists and catalogs of music resources, music by UU composers, and network publications, including choral music, music for children and youth, and hymns and songs for services and gathering
- Organizational voting rights
- Access to Music Leadership Certification Program of the UUA
Regular and Associate memberships at different levels (voting) and Affiliate membership (non-voting) are available; for more information visit https://www.auumm.org/page/Join. For more information or to respond to questions: admin@auumm.org.
The Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) supports those working in UU Religious Education, and membership is open to anyone interested in UU Faith Development.
Benefits of Membership:
- Connections with colleagues through regular newsletters, meetings, events, and our private covenanted Facebook group.
- Local chapters for training, collegiality, and support.
- Good Officer support when you need confidential advice.
- Access to LREDA’s Resources Portal, a collection of stories, curricula, worship services, forms, and templates to support your Faith Development program, all shared by other members.
- Financial support for training, attending conferences, and through our CARES fund help for non-professional expenses.
- The LREDA Fall Conference and Professional Day at General Assembly allow for further professional development and collegial support.
We have lots of membership categories; find out more at https://lreda.org/Membership. Reduced or waived dues are available for those with limited means or professional expenses. Email Juliet Donaldson, LREDA’s Executive Director, at admin@lreda.org with questions.
The UU Association of Membership Professionals (UUAMP) is comprised of both paid staff and volunteers serving UU congregations, who have membership as one of the main components of their ministry. Membership is just $75* a year and includes:
- Educational opportunities such as Book Discussion Groups and Webinars, Best Practice Seminars, and workshops including our ProDays.
- An organization which advocates for your position and visibility within the UUA as well as giving you the tools to advocate for yourself in your congregation.
- Opportunities for interacting with others doing work around belonging, through access to our members-only UUAMP Facebook Group and through our weekly Monday Membership as Ministry zoom chats. In these venues, members can network, discuss our challenges and triumphs, swap resources, and enjoy a sense of community, fellowship and support from colleagues who share your vision and goal.
- A website full of practical and immediately usable tools and resources.
- Opportunities for all members to connect through Facebook, email or phone for problem solving and support.
We also welcome UUA staff and the heads of the other UU Professional Groups to join us in supporting our mission and growing Unitarian Universalism as part of shared ministry. Learn more and sign up at uuamp.org. Please send any questions to uuampboard@gmail.com. *Scholarships are available.
Why does the UUMA exist? This is our statement of purpose:
We, the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, understand the purpose of the UUMA to be:
The Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association
Calling forth courageous and transformative ministries
empowered by love
committed to collective liberation
…because we need one another.
What does the UUMA do? This is our statement of what we offer:
The Why and How statements are the work of the UUMA Board as a whole. The Executive Team holds primary responsibility for identifying the What, with the input of the whole Board, of course. You can think about the What as our Executive Team strategic plan for advancing the Why through our programs, ministries and operations. The major headings for this plan are below:
- We Promote Lifelong Growth and Learning in Ministry
- We Support ministers in all stages and settings
- We Maintain Guidelines and offer accountability processes
- We Work to dismantle systems and structures of racism and oppression
- We Conduct our operations in alignment with our values
- We Provide spiritual, theological, and religious leadership throughout Unitarian Universalism.
Learn more at uuma.org.