Director of
Religious Education Job Description
Revised July 2008
Position Type: one-quarter time (app. 10-12 hours/week)
Role:
To provide leadership, inspiration and practical assistance
to coordinate, administer and implement religious education programs for
children and youth throughout the regular church year.
Education/Experience:
- Experience
teaching children and working with parents and volunteers.
- Skills
in organizational development, leadership and administration
- Good
communication skills in writing and speaking English.
- Ability
to work cooperatively with staff, R.E. Committee, Board Members, members
of the congregation and the minister
- Knowledge
of child development, teaching strategies and current religious education
curriculum
- Willingness
to improve and expand knowledge and skills as necessary and appropriate
Working Conditions
and Environment:
- Program
is conducted on Sunday morning between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m. in The
Gathering Place in Port Coquitlam
- RE
business is conducted on the phone and on e-mail from the DRE’s home or office and with personal contacts made
at church as appropriate.
- Monthly
RE Committee meetings are held at an agreed upon Committee member’s home
- Evaluation
of the RE program and the DRE will be conducted by the Personnel Committee
of the Board annually in May.
- Training
and meetings are held at annual Regional meetings in the province and
annual General Meetings throughout the country as financial resources
allow.
Description of
Duties:
- Oversee
RE program on Sunday mornings, being available to fill in as a teacher or
intervene in behaviour management as needed.
- Recruit,
organize, train and support volunteer teachers from the congregation.
- Be
available to consult with teachers and parents regarding RE classroom
management.
- Develop
and oversee a system for the acquisition and distribution of up-to-date
curriculum and classroom materials to teachers in advance of their Sunday
morning assignments.
- Ensure
the maintenance of RE records, including registration and attendance records
and curriculum materials.
- Attend
monthly meetings of the RE Committee.
- Communicate
with minister, parents and members of the congregation, keeping them
informed of RE goals and activities via monthly newsletter items, etc.
- Pursue
professional development through RE leadership training, networking with
other church school leaders, reading journals and other professional
literature.
- Share
appropriate information with teachers, Committee members and parents.
- Work
in cooperation with the RE Committee and delegate duties that can be
performed by members of the RE Committee or other volunteers where
possible.
- Perform
other duties as assigned by the Personnel Committee.
Shared
responsibilities with the RE Committee
- Help
formulate the philosophy, policy and goals of the RE program; make
decisions regarding class groupings and curriculum; evaluate the RE
program; and prepare an annual RE budget to be submitted to the Board by
September and an annual report by April.
- Assist
with preparation of RE brochure in consultation with the Communications
Committee.
- Track
RE accounts and RE collections and fundraisers in consultation with the
Treasurer or designate.
- Be an
advocate for children and their families within the Beacon community.
- Find
creative ways to involve the larger church community in the RE program.
- Facilitate
seasonal celebrations and ensure good congregational communications by
making announcements of activities, parenting information and workshops.
- Greet
and meet visiting parents and children on Sunday morning.
- Help
the Board to create and implement a Safe Congregation policy.
Beacon Unitarian Church,
Port Coquitlam, B.C.