Growing Together Through Religious Education
What does a religious educator do? It's about much more than choosing a curriculum and planning Sunday morning activities! A religious educator helps create an environment where children and youth can explore life's big questions, develop their own spiritual understanding, build meaningful relationships, and discover how our Unitarian Universalist values guide us in the world.
As I continue working toward my UUA religious educator credential, I'm learning more about both the practical responsibilities of leading a religious education program and the deeper questions at the heart of our faith community. Through my study of Cindy Leitner's RE Road Map and Administrative Guidebook for Religious Educators and the UU Institute's module Theological Plurality in Our Congregations, I'm exploring how we build strong programs while making room for the many ways people understand spirituality, meaning, and life's big questions.
These ideas connect directly to our work in CYRE. Whether children are exploring the wonders of our world, embarking on imaginative Journeys of Deeper Joy, or working together on community service projects, we want them to know they belong, their questions matter, and they can learn from people whose beliefs and experiences differ from their own.
Religious education helps us nurture not only the next generation of Unitarian Universalists, but also a community where curiosity, compassion, and respect can flourish. I'm grateful to be growing in this work alongside our congregation!
Warmly,
Joan Harris
Director of Religious Education
