Associate Minister

Title: Associate Minister (Contract, not called)
Reports to: Senior Minister
Employment Status: Full Time

About The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA)

Located in the vibrant North Druid Hills neighborhood, UUCA is a flourishing community of 525 members. Our congregation recently relocated to a beautifully renovated $13.5 million campus, funded by a successful capital campaign. Under the thriving leadership of Senior Minister Rev. Taryn Strauss and an accomplished team of professionals, UUCA offers a rich program of arts, music, leadership development, social justice initiatives, and religious education, all supported by dedicated lay leadership. The addition of an Associate Minister is essential to sustain our growing membership and to further enhance our impactful social justice programs. UUCA ministers serve a multi-racial, multicultural congregation that is looking to deepen its impact in the city of Atlanta and the Southeast.

Our mission is to transform lives through courageous action and soulful connection

The Associate Minister will work closely with the senior minister, other staff, and volunteers to advance and foster deep engagement within our congregation to amplify our presence in the community, expand our membership, and deepen our community ties. This minister will provide leadership and organizational support to UUCA in the areas of Community Care, including pastoral care and membership ministry; Worship Support, including preaching 10-15 times per year, and Social Justice, including coordinating ministries and programming to address issues such as ending mass incarceration, climate action, immigrant action, and other social justice issues.

The ideal candidate will be experienced, with the following skills and abilities:

• Reflective and skillful communicator, demonstrated by strong preaching experience
• Organized, diligent, with the ability to consistently follow through on tasks
• Possesses and adheres to values consistent with Unitarian Universalism
• Trustworthy and authentic, and articulates a clear and consistent theology
• Demonstrates empathy and excellent active listening to build relationships, identify issues and motivate to action
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Shall be a minister in fellowship with the UUA or shall be a credentialed clergy in another tradition

Exceptional candidates will possess:

• Background in community organizing, program management, or volunteer management
• Proven project management skills and ability to motivate teams to successfully plan, track and complete their goals
• Action-oriented and enthusiastic toward challenges, with excellent team-building and collaboration skills
• Understand their personal needs and care and build structures to meet those needs outside of the congregation and staff
• Strong background in administration and supervision of others
• An energy of fun, a sense of humor, and easy laughter in all they do.

As a visible and regular participant in the life of the congregation, the primary areas of focus for the minister will be:

Community Care

• Ensure that our community’s well-being is holistically supported and creating organized systems for pastoral care that will carry into the future
• Oversee pastoral care that responds to congregational needs such as bereavement, health crises, life transitions, and spiritual inquiries
• Partner with the lay ministry team through organizational and devotional guidance
• Provide ministerial support for membership development
• Coordinate with our Director of Religious Education to teach RE courses twice a year related to spiritual development in membership and congregational life

Social Justice

• Lead social justice efforts in collaboration within the congregation, including providing organizational and structural support for the following programs, among others: Immigrant Action Team, Climate Action Team, Ending Mass Incarceration
• Work with staff and lay leaders to promote congregational generosity and liaise with community stakeholders on fundraising and giving for social justice efforts
• Develop and implement a two-year strategy in collaboration with staff and lay leaders to increase social justice efforts and develop a visible, intentional role for UUCA within the Atlanta social justice community
• Coordinate with social justice leaders within and outside of the congregation to deepen UUCA’s impact on the needs of the Atlanta community

Worship and Governance Support

• Preach between 10 and 15 times per year
• Comfort with high energy, arts-based, embodied worship and celebration preaching style
• Attend meetings of the Board of Trustees as requested by the Senior Minister or the Board
• Provide updates for the Senior Minister’s monthly reports to the Board of Trustees
• Participate in weekly Staff meetings and Worship team meetings as a minister

Additional Duties of Ministry

• Lead memorial services and weddings if the Senior Minister is unavailable
• Attend staff supervision meetings and coordinating meetings with staff as needed
• Supervise 1-3 staff members as appropriate to programming needs
• Serve as liturgist in worship when not preaching
• Attend UU collegial workshops and conferences in our region and nationally

Compensation

Contract Term: March 2025 - March 2026, with option to renew the one-year term
Schedule: Full-time
Salary: $90-99K, Negotiable and commensurate with experience
Benefits: Retirement plan, Health & Dental Plan, Disability coverage, Term life insurance, Professional Expense allowance

Selection Process

To apply, please submit your curriculum vitae and a cover letter to search@uuca.org by December 20, 2024.

In your cover letter, include links to three (3) videos of sermons you have preached. Additionally, please provide three writing samples addressing the following topics:

1. Personal Theology
2. Personal Ecclesiology
3. Philosophy of Pastoral Care

Interviews will take place in January 2025, with an offer extended by March 2025.