Music Leadership Credentialing
This program was designed to help music leaders in our congregations develop a foundational understanding of three main areas of knowledge:
- Music Skills and Resources
- Unitarian Universalist (UU) Heritage and Values
- Leadership and Interpersonal Skills
The program helps to articulate standards in these areas of music leadership, provide a path to strengthen the skills and knowledge needed to meet these standards, and hold the candidate and credentialed music leader accountable to these standards. Its intent is to summon music leaders to their calling of music ministry and enhance their professional perspective and skills through professional development and credentialing in order to enrich their service to Unitarian Universalist congregations. By the end of the program the music leader will be expected to demonstrate:
- Competency in leading congregational singing as a singer, keyboard player or guitarist, or other instrumentalist.
- Competency in leading musical rehearsals for vocal and instrumental ensembles of all ages.
- Experience and skill with planning and conducting worship services.
- Familiarity with musical resources, including hymnody.
- Practical knowledge of how to build and organize a music program.
- Understanding of UU history and values.
- Familiarity with UU congregational structure and governance.
- Application of professional ethics and standards of conduct.
- Implementation of basic pastoral care.
- An understanding of congregations as emotional systems.
- Competency in collaborative leadership and church staff skills.
- Ability to clearly articulate a personal creative vision of music as ministry within Unitarian Universalism.
- An understanding of best practices in anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism.
The program is currently administered by the Leadership Development Board (LDB) of the UU Musicians Network (UUMN) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).
Documents:
- Music Leadership Credentialing Program Overview (PDF, 9 pages)
- Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 3 pages)
For more detailed information, please see these pages:
For more information contact mlcredentialing @ uua.org.
Last updated on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.
