Paying the RE Director A Responsible Wage

Wanted: An experienced person to be responsible for our children and youth on Sunday morning, choose curricula, recruit teachers, do PR, handle discipline, sweep and lock up. Hours: As many as you have. Pay: We're a little tight right now. Benefits: Hopefully, your spouse has them.

Sound familiar? Most of us want a director of religious education in our midst, but the position often becomes a revolving door because we're unable or unwilling to pay enough. With long hours and low pay our DREs burn out.

But for many congregations, paying the DRE responsibly is becoming a social justice issue. As they take on social action projects in their own communities it seems important to put their own houses in order. And now, for congregations trying to do the right thing, help is on the way in the form of a major grant program.

A DRE who has not burned out is Jennifer Evans, who recently celebrated her 10th year as DRE at First Unitarian Society, Milwaukee, WI (525 members). Ten years ago she was working half-time for $9,000 and no benefits. Now she makes $30,000 for fulltime work plus an expense account, health insurance, and retirement plan. Her compensation meets guidelines established by the UUA in its report Clergy and Church Staff Compensation (June 1997) available from Ralph Mero, UUA director of church staff finances, (617) 742-2100, ext. 404.

Evans credits her raise in compensation to the following factors:

• creating the best RE program possible and continually making church leaders and the congregation aware of its costs and valuable benefits through intergenerational activities, newsletter articles and special RE events
• a move to two services which made it apparent she would have more work to do.
• suggesting names of RE supporters with leadership skills to the nominating committee
• having strong personnel and canvass committees that support RE by advocating adequate compensation and encouraging responsible giving
• being DRE long enough to develop good relationships within the congregation

Bonnie Penfold, DRE at First Parish UU, Milton, MA (193), makes $23,850 for 30 hours per week. "I keep educating people, telling them exactly what I do and how I'm compensated. Some DREs work 30 hours but only get paid for 10 and then the church comes to expect that. You have to be really clear about what you'll do in the amount of time they want to pay you for."

Another tip: Have someone other than the DRE make the case for higher compensation. They may be more forceful. The Rev. Mary Moore, at the Abraham Lincoln UU Congregation, Springfield, IL (168), credits the RE committee with making a strong case for DRE Traci Somers, who now makes $6,840 for quarter-time work. "They wouldn't give up," Moore said. "We'd held two capital campaigns and it wasn't the best time to ask, but it was a matter of social justice, because she in many ways is responsible for the success of the congregation."

Kirsten Kunz, halftime-plus DRE at First Parish in Bedford, MA (317), asks parents to  compare RE to other services. "People were paying $25 a week for piano lessons, but only $200 a year for RE," said Kunz, who earns $23,000 plus benefits.

Small congregations can also improve. Martha Lloyd-Reilley, quarter-time DRE at the UU Church of Corpus Christi, TX (102) was hired four years ago for $1,500. Next year she'll make $5,000–if the canvass is successful. She regularly educates the congregation as to her duties and the accomplishments of the program.

Sometimes a journey of a few thousand dollars starts with a small step. The White Bear UU Church, Mahtomedi, MN (285) was short on money, but devised a five-year plan to raise DRE Janet Hanson's income each year by a dollar an hour and gradually increase her hours. This year she's making $14/hr. (up from $10)  working halftime. The next goal is 3/4 time. "Some feel if they can't do the UUA guidelines there's no alternative," said Hanson, "but you don't have to make giant leaps."

Resources

For information on the LREDA/Shelter Rock grant program contact LREDA Grant Committee c/o Cynthia Breen, UUA, 25 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02108; (617) 742-2100 ext. 376.