Grants Help Boost the Pay of Religious Educators

One of the most successful grant programs to congregations is turning out to be the LREDA Grant Program to raise compensation of religious educators. In the last three years 34 congregations have received incentive checks from LREDA, the Liberal Religious Educators Association, to help bring pay levels up to UUA guidelines.

Eligible congregations receive up to $15,000 over three years. The program, begun in 1998, continues until 2003. Funds for the program come from an $800,000 grant from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, NY. "These grants really are making a difference," says the Rev. Norma Veridan, LREDA grant committee chair.

At the Henry David Thoreau Congregation, Houston, TX, the $15,000 enabled a 40 percent pay increase for religious education director Rhoda Everett and inspired the congregation, organized in 1996, to use other funds to buy curricula, furniture, "and begin to function as a full-service church earlier than we could have otherwise," says Everett. The number of children and youth rose from 55 to 77 over the grant period, in a congregation of 114 adults.

On July 1 Everett went from half to three-quarter time. A financial plan has been approved to continue her salary at the higher level after the grant runs out.

Congregations that have received grants range from 88 to 426 members. No congregation has been declined for lack of grant money, says Veridan. Some have had to delay their applications while they complete the requirements, which are:

• completion of a written covenant between the congregation and the educator

• DRE must be at least half-time without expectation of volunteering additional hours

• presentation of congregational budget showing plans to reach, within three years, fair compensation in salary, benefits, and professional expense provisions within UUA guidelines. See guidelines at: www.uua.org/ministry/ocsf/grid.html

• paid membership in LREDA for the educator

• evidence of congregational support for antiracism and Welcoming Congregation initiatives: www.uua.org/faithinaction/antiracist.html and www.uua.org/obgtlc

• positive recommendation from district field staff and payment of district dues

• contribute Fair Share to the UUA Annual Program Fund

When First Unitarian Church of Honolulu (171), received the first part of its $15,000 grant in 1999, it enabled religious educator Nan Kleiber to go from half to three-quarter time. "The job was always more than half-time," says Kleiber. "The congregation didn't mean it to be but that's the way the budget fell. Applying for the grant meant the congregation, the leadership, and I all were taking the job, and compensation, more seriously. For me, the grant has freed me to do what I need to do as a religious educator without feeling that my work is undervalued."

The grant and an accompanying boost in enthusiasm helped children's RE enrollment grow by 30 percent. Attendance and retention also increased. An active youth group formed and adult education is expanding. "The LREDA grant has helped us create excitement in, and about religious education," says Kleiber.

RESOURCES

Contact the LREDA Grant Administrative assistant, lgcaa@uua.org; (617) 948-4624. See also: www.uua.org/re/reach/fall00/leadership/lreda_grant.html. Next application deadline is November 1.