Director of Membership and Spiritual Life

07/25/2023

Reports to:  Wildflower Church Board of Trustees

Status:  Part-time, 20-30 hours/week

Pay:  $32,000 – $49,000 per year, depending on hours, education, and experience. Benefits included.

Start Date: Negotiable.

Overview:  The Director of Membership and Spiritual Life is an in-person position that engages with Wildflower members and the wider community to increase the church’s membership and financial sustainability.  They will also lead one or two worship services per month. 

Background:

Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church is seeking a Director of Membership and Spiritual Life.  

Unitarian Universalism is a theologically diverse religion that encourages people to seek their own spiritual path guided by our covenantal principles. We are united in our desire to make the most of our time on earth and to side with love and justice.

Our congregants have many different beliefs. We are committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression and have adopted the 8th Principle. Our mission is “Growing spiritually together, spreading love, justice and joy!” We are a social justice based community fighting oppression in all its forms.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Develops and implements a plan for growing the church’s membership, including but not limited to:
    • planning and assisting with special events;
    • connecting Wildflower with other Austin organizations;
    • expanding Wildflower’s presence in the community; and
    • collaborating with the Board, Teams, Music Director, Director of Children’s Religious Education, and Office Administrator.
  2. Leads one – two worship services per month, including but not limited to:
    • working with the Worship Team to develop monthly service themes that support Wildflower’s goals and support the spiritual engagement and growth of congregants; 
    • creating services with a sermon, hymns, readings, and Time for All Ages that fits that month’s theme and engages with Wildflower’s mission statement of growing spiritually together, spreading love, justice, and joy; 
    • connecting personally with Wildflowers after each worship service; and
    • collaborating with the Music Director and Director of Children’s Religious Education.
  3. Builds a strong team amongst, and provides spiritual guidance to, the staff. 
  4. Covenants with the Pastoral Care Chaplain and Community Minister.
  5. Provides a monthly update to the Wildflower Church Board of Trustees.

Desired Qualifications:

A good candidate will meet many of the following qualifications, but is not required to meet them all.

  • Commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including successful outcomes that demonstrate this commitment.
  • Experience attracting and retaining people through community outreach activities and relationship building.
  • Experience with public speaking, such as leading church services or  inspirational speaking.
  • Experience writing sermons or other inspirational work.
  • Experience working with children, young families, and young adults.
  • Experience as a community organizer, minister, chaplain, educator, or in another leadership role.
  • Working knowledge of and values alignment with Unitarian Universalism.

Qualifications may be met as a result of lived experience, volunteer work, professional experience, community engagement, and/or formal or informal training.   

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

For questions, contact hiring@wildflowerchurch.org.

To apply, fill out this form.

Director of Membership and Spiritual Life

04/07/2023

Reports to:  Wildflower Church Board of Trustees

Status:  Part-time, 20-30 hours/week

Pay:  $32,000 – $49,000 per year, depending on hours, education, and experience.

Overview:  The Director of Membership and Spiritual Life is an in-person position that engages with Wildflower members and the wider community to increase the church’s membership and financial sustainability.  They will also lead one or two worship services per month. 

Background:

Wildflower Unitarian Universalist Church is seeking a Director of Membership and Spiritual Life.  

Unitarian Universalism is a theologically diverse religion that encourages people to seek their own spiritual path guided by our covenantal principles. We are united in our desire to make the most of our time on earth and to side with love and justice.

Our congregants have many different beliefs. We are committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression and have adopted the 8th Principle. Our mission is “Growing spiritually together, spreading love, justice and joy!” We are a social justice based community fighting oppression in all its forms.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develops and implements a plan for growing the church’s membership, including but not limited to:
  • planning and assisting with special events;
    1. connecting Wildflower with other Austin organizations;
    2. expanding Wildflower’s presence in the community; and
    3. collaborating with the Board, Teams, Music Director, Director of Children’s Religious Education, and Office Administrator.
  • Leads one – two worship services per month, including but not limited to:
    1. working with the Worship Team to develop monthly service themes that support Wildflower’s goals and support the spiritual engagement and growth of congregants; 
    2. creating services with a sermon, hymns, readings, and Time for All Ages that fits that month’s theme and engages with Wildflower’s mission statement of growing spiritually together, spreading love, justice, and joy; 
    3. connecting personally with Wildflowers after each worship service; and
    4. collaborating with the Music Director and Director of Children’s Religious Education.
  • Builds a strong team amongst, and provides spiritual guidance to, the staff. 
  • Covenants with the Pastoral Care Chaplain and Community Minister.
  • Provides a monthly update to the Wildflower Church Board of Trustees.

Desired Qualifications:

A good candidate will meet many of the following qualifications, but is not required to meet them all.

  • Commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, including successful outcomes that demonstrate this commitment.
  • Experience attracting and retaining people through community outreach activities and relationship building.
  • Experience with leading church services, including writing and delivering sermons, or similar experience, such as inspirational speaking.
  • Experience with public speaking, such as leading church services or  inspirational speaking.
  • Experience writing sermons or other inspirational work.
  • Experience working with children, young families, and young adults.
  • Experience as a community organizer, minister, chaplain, educator, or in another leadership role.
  • Working knowledge of and values alignment with Unitarian Universalism.

Qualifications may be met as a result of lived experience, volunteer work, professional experience, community engagement, and/or formal or informal training.   

To apply, fill out this form.

11/10/2021

Tentative Schedule for Upcoming Worship Services

November 14: Multi-platform (In person and on Zoom)

November 21: Zoom only

November 28: Zoom only

December 5: Multi-platform

 

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November 14: Multi-platform (In person and on Zoom)

November 21: Zoom only

November 28: Zoom only

December 5: Multi-platform

 

A Note of Goodbye

04/29/2020

Hello, I am Esmeralda. It has been an honor and privilege to work with Cathy, Tommy, Michelle, David, Laurie, and Libby. They are stellar. Sarah Skochko is an awesome person. Sarah is a great candidate that would be of outstanding benefit to Wildflower or wherever she may go. Wildflower has been a lovely spiritual home. It is time to move on from the MST, earlier than anticipated, because a truly inclusive culture doesn’t let a few people force the entire congregation or one ministerial candidate into a conversation about race framed by their particular view point.

Wildflower has room to grow in terms of centering the experiences of marginalized identities on certain matters. I have a favor to ask (on the way out, how rude.) When someone posts or references a work you find questionable, please question them publicly. It is important not just for your relationship with the person who posts but also for the Wildflowers on the sidelines. I have been disheartened by the lack of push back at harmful writing.

As a warning, I’m about to say the words white supremacy. Now you can’t tell but I am saying it out loud: WHITE SUPREMACY. I need to be at a church where I can describe my personal experiences of living within white supremacy culture without anyone clutching their pearls. Everyone is in a different place with social justice. I’m in a place where the need to feel safe and supported is paramount. I don’t feel that way at Wildflower.

Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Worship Services

03/12/2020

 10/28/22

On the recommendation of the Reopening Task Force, the Wildflower Board of Trustees announced that face masks and social distancing are no longer required in the Wildflower Community Room and classrooms, except for singing. Both are still required for singing. 

Both masks and social distancing are still required in the sanctuary.

The children and youth meet in person at the time of the service at blended services on the first, third and fourth Sundays. There are no CYRE classes on the second Zoom-only Sunday. The link to our Zoom services is here. When services are in person, the children and youth begin in the sanctuary for the Time for All Ages and then go to their classes either inside or outdoors. 

You may find some other description of our services or children and youth religious education on our website. However, this information is the most up-to-date as we are navigating the pandemic.

Below are details about what to expect at an in-person worship service.

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The Sanctuary

In-person attendance in the sanctuary will be limited to 70 people. If you are not vaccinated, feel uncomfortable with other risk factors, or prefer that modality, please continue to attend via Zoom. Our Zoom link is here.

Social distancing is expected. 

Children and Youth

Our Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE) program offers in-person indoor or outdoor classes during the time of the Sunday Service using masking and social distancing protocols that are appropriate for the situation. Children and youth begin in the worship service in the sanctuary and leave after the Time for All Ages to go to their classes. All of the RE classrooms have HEPA and UV air purifiers. 

Our home page description of the Sunday Service will indicate if the CYRE classes are meeting on that Sunday. The pattern will usually be that the second Sunday of the month is a Zoom-only service when there will be no CYRE classes.

Child Care

Childcare will be available for Sunday worship services from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for infants and children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old. There is an air purifier in the nursery, and the caregivers are vaccinated. 

Post-Service Conversation

After-service conversation may be in the courtyard or in the Community Room. The Community Room has a powerful HEPA/UV air purifier. Masks and social distancing are optional in the Community Room (except for singing; both are still required for singing). For outdoor seating, you are also welcome to bring your own chair or blanket from home, or bring chairs from the Community Room and sit outside on the concrete. We are not yet serving food or drinks but you are welcome to bring your own.

If you are attending on Zoom, the Zoom host will invite you to stay for conversation after the service.

Covid Notification

If you test positive for Covid-19 after attending a worship service in person, please notify reopenteam@wildflowerchurch.org immediately so that the other people who attended that service can be informed.

Feedback

Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about this plan. We are working hard to balance safety, inclusiveness, and our very real need to be together in person. You may reach the Reopening Task Force at reopenteam@wildflowerchurch.org. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 5/16/21, the Wildflower Board appointed a Task Force to develop a reopening plan. The Reopening Task Force members are Dee A., Paula V., and Cathy C.

The Reopening Task Force has set forth the following Promises and Values:

Our Promises

⬩ We will do all we can to not put people’s lives at risk while at Wildflower.

⬩ We will use only vetted up-to-date medical and public health information from reliable sources to make decisions.

⬩ Beyond science, we will base our decisions upon our mission, our values, and the Seven Principles.

 ⬩ We will obey the laws and guidelines set by the State of Texas and guidelines given by the CDC.

⬩ We will be transparent with the congregation and consider the congregation’s input.

⬩ We will apply all recommendations consistently, not making exceptions for individual desires, organizations who use our space, a person’s status at Wildflower, or a decision’s financial impact.

Our Values

Safety. We value the safety of everyone who attends and works at Wildflower, as well as the safety of every person that they are in contact with. In sum, we value the safety of everyone, everywhere, of any age, both inside and outside our congregation.

Inclusivity. We are committed to finding ways for all members/friends to be included, regardless of health status, health vulnerability, or disability. This may mean that we offer a multiplatform approach that reaches out to people in different ways. Many people may not be able to gather in person for quite some time due to various reasons. As a community that values inclusion, we don’t want to create in-person situations that inadvertently exclude those at higher risk or who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic, nor do we want to create situations that force those at higher risk to publicly identify themselves.

Transparency. We are committed to communicating clearly at all times with the congregation and visitors regarding what they can expect at any church gathering in terms of cleanliness policies, social distancing policies, mask policies, vaccination policies, and technological options.

Patience. We value patience over hurriedness. While many of us are eager to see our church friends again in person, we know that patiently examining the pros and cons of each option before implementation is more important than rushing things.