Basic Information
1.1 What is the Religious Education Credentialing Program?
The Religious Education Credentialing Program is a three level
program of professional development, standards, mentoring, accountability, and
recognition. It is intended for religious education professionals who serve
Unitarian Universalist congregations or the larger Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA). It encourages in depth study and requires demonstrated competency
in the many facets of life span religious education, primarily through the
portfolio method. It has replaced the UUA Religious Education Leadership
Landscape Options program. Application to the program was made available to all
religious educators on June 3, 2003.
1.2 Who is responsible for the program?
It is a program
of the UUA and is the responsibility of the Religious Education Credentialing
Committee (RECC), which is a standing committee of the UUA and is appointed by
the UUA Board. The administrative support of the program is primarily through
the Religious Education Credentialing Office of the UUA Ministry and
Professional Leadership Staff group. The mentoring program is administered by
the Committee on Mentoring of the Liberal Religious Educators Association
(LREDA).
1.3 What is the history of the program?
The program
design for the RE Credentialing Program was created by the UUA and LREDA Joint
Task Force for Professional Standards in 2001. The design was based on work on
professional standards done independently by both LREDA and the UUA. The UUA was
given responsibility for the program in 2002, with the intent that it would
replace the UUA Religious Education Leadership Landscape Options program. At
that time a full-time Religious Education Credentialing Director was hired by
the UUA to administer the program. The hiring of a part-time Religious Education
Credentialing Assistant soon followed. The Joint Task force evolved into an
Religious Education Credentialing Advisory Committee to give guidance to the
Religious Education Credentialing Director in further developing the program.
Members of the Committee included: Laurel Amabile, Rev. Ellen Brandenburg, Pat
Ellenwood, Judith Frediani, Rev. Betty Jo Middleton, and Rev. Makanah Morriss.
During this time, eleven religious educators who were credentialed under the
Religious Education Leadership Landscape Options program were transitioned into
this status in the Religious Education Credentialing program. The Religious
Education Credentialing Advisory Committee was replaced in 2003 by the UUA Board
appointed Religious Education Credentialing Committee. Application to the
program was made available to all religious educators on June 3, 2003. The
Religious Education Credentialing Committee met for the first time in October
2003 and evaluated candidates for the first time in February 2004. The 2004
General Assembly of the UUA voted to modify the UUA Bylaws to specify the
Religious Education Credentialing Committee as a Standing Committee of the
Association.
1.4 Is this a mandatory program?
No, it is an optional
program. Both the UUA and LREDA encourage professional development and adherence
to professional standards for religious educators. The UUA recognizes that there
are different ways to achieve this—but hopes that many will choose the RE
Credentialing Program because of its comprehensive scope.
For more information contact recredentialing @ uua.org.
Last updated on Wednesday, May 16, 2007.
