An Introduction to the

Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City

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Contents Greetings from the minister 3

UUSIC: Past, Present and Future 4 Mission Statement 4 Vision Statement 4 Religious Belief at UUSIC 4 Past, Present, Future Homes 4

Belonging: Congregational Life 6 Shared Ministries at the UUSIC 6 Lifespan Religious Education 6 Inclusivity 6

Belonging: Membership Activities 7 Membership Associates 7 Hospitality Teams 7 Pathway to Membership 7 Future Directions 8

Our Local Communities 8 Three Cities Strong 8 Coralville 8 Iowa City 8 North Liberty 9

Application Materials 11 Letter to Applicants 11 Job Description 13

Minister – Rev. Steven Protzman

Lifespan Religious Education Director – Jessica Zimmer-Saltzman

Office Administrator – Emma Barnum Congregational Life Coordinator – Carol Throckmorton

Music Director – Gloria L. Corbin Accompanist – Jonathan Tauscheck

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF IOWA CITY 1 10 S. GILBERT STREET WWW.UUSIC.ORG

IOWA CITY IA 52240 319.337.3443

June, 2016

Dear Candidate for Director of Congregational Life,

We are delighted that you are interested in serving the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa

City as our next Director of Congregational Life (DCL).

I have been the settled minister since August of 2011 and I very much enjoy serving a

congregation that is vibrant, growing rapidly, and passionate about its ministries, including social

justice, stewardship of the earth, and religious education for all ages. Typical of a UU

congregation, we have many different theologies and world views, but we are able to gather in a

spirit of community and mutual respect, recognizing that our diversity is a strength. It's also an

exciting time in the life of this congregation. In a year we're going to have a beautiful new

building, the culmination of many years of work and our commitment to a future that is ours to

create. With a facility that meets our needs for space, accessibility, flexibility and the beautiful

property on which it will reside, the only real limits to what we can do will be our energy, our

vision, our imagination and our commitment to help Unitarian Universalism and UUSIC thrive

in the next 100 years of its history. Our next DCL will play a crucial role in helping us grow our

membership, expand our ministries both within and beyond the congregation, and guide us in

offering radical hospitality and inclusiveness to every person who walks through our doors.

If you’re not already familiar with Iowa City, it is a vibrant, diverse community that is home to

the University of Iowa and a hospital that is one of the best in the nation. The city is a hotspot

for culture, offering lots of art, music, sports, and nightlife, and it's a beautiful natural setting

(you'll see deer, wild turkeys and bald eagles in town), with bike and hiking trails, lots of parks,

and plenty of places close by for outdoor recreation. With its central location in the Midwest,

Iowa City also offers access to major cities that include Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, St.

Louis, and Chicago. Iowa is also a surprisingly progressive state and yet is strong in its

commitment to traditional values of family, home and community.

I look forward to working with our next DCL in a mutually collaborative and supportive

environment where we will experiment, learn and grow together as we help our congregation

to expand its ministries and continue to be a vibrant, thriving spiritual community that touches

hearts, changes lives, and transforms the world. We look forward to meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Steven

Rev. Steven A. Protzman

Minister, UUSIC

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UUSIC: Past, Present, and Future

Mission Statement

We are a diverse spiritual community that touches hearts, changes lives, and transforms the world.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to be a loving, inclusive, and growing spiritual community. We celebrate life and a liberal tradition that leads to social justice work, heals the earth, and nurtures the lifelong journey of mind and spirit.

Religious Belief at UUSIC

The Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith was formed through the merger of two liberal religious traditions with Christian origins. Today, UU beliefs are diverse and inclusive. We have no shared creed but our shared covenant (our Seven Principles) calls for “the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” At UUSIC we are a diverse congregation. We include amongst ourselves theists, agnostics, and atheists, and include affinity groups interested in humanism, Buddhism, pagan beliefs, and universal dances of peace.

Our weekly services and religious education programs draw upon both Eastern and Western religious traditions, and often emphasize aspects of our Seven Principles, including the dignity and worth of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.

Past, Present, and Future Homes

Our congregation’s origins lie in the founding of an Iowa City Universalist Church in 1841 and the later merger of local Unitarian and Universalist congregations. From 1908 to 2015 our home was a modest brick building at 10 South Gilbert St., in downtown Iowa. It was there that we grew into a mid-sized congregation in the late twentieth century.

For many years the Society grappled with the fact that it had outgrown in its South Gilbert Street building. By the early 21st century two services were needed on Sundays; the fellowship hall could comfortably seat only a third of the congregation on formal occasions; meeting space was limited; and the Society’s property did not allow for easy onsite expansion. 10SouthGilbertStreet

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Efforts to address our needs began in earnest three years ago. This led to consensus decisions first to explore an array of building options, including rebuilding at the same location, and then to focus exclusively on relocating elsewhere. In May 2015 we successfully purchased an eight-acre site in adjacent Coralville. This led in quick succession to the sale of 10 S. Gilbert; the design of an exceedingly “green” new structure on our new property; and a Capital Campaign that our UUA consultant declared as one of the most successful he’d advised.

The Society’s decision to build a new structure was accompanied by formal commitments to growth. A three-year Strategic Plan in 2013 identified growth as one of our members’ top concerns, and called for growth on many fronts: in social activism; in adult spirituality and educational offerings; and in membership. We hired a part-time membership coordinator in 2012, and have increased our size from 240 to 290 members in the past four years.

In recent months, as impending staff openings have been announced, we have redefined our religious education and membership positions to better serve our aspirations. This has involved expanding the membership position to full-time, and redefining both positions to give more emphasis to leadership responsibilities. Together, the Minister, Director of Lifespan Religious Education, and Director of Congregational Life will form a senior staff leadership team.

Currently we are a temporarily displaced congregation, eight months into an estimated nineteen-month sojourn before our new doors open. We rent space from a local Christian church to hold Sunday afternoon services and evening programming; and use a house on our construction site for temporary offices. We’ve tried to follow a motto of “thrive, not survive.” Moving forward with our plans for the future is keeping with this spirit.

We are excited about using the next year as a year to begin the planning, design, and implementation of the new expanded ministries we’ve envisioned related to membership, adult spirituality, social justice, and more. Our goal is to hit the floor running when our new facilities open in 2017. We’d like to be well on our way to becoming the more robust congregation we envision as we begin the next chapter in our Society’s journey.

New home at 2355 Oakdale Road

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Belonging: Congregational Life

Shared Ministries at the UUSIC

UUSIC practices shared ministry —sharing our gifts to achieve more, to assume leadership roles, and to more deeply support our vision of working for social justice, caring for the earth, and sharing the lifelong journey of our minds and spirits. These diverse ministries include the Buddhist Sangha, Interweave, the Covenant of UU Pagans, Secular Humanists, Unicare, Free Lunch Program, Social Justice Coordinating Committee, Circle of Friends, Pastoral Care, Grief Group, Covenant Groups, Dances of Universal Peace, Girls’ Night Out, and Racial Justice Study/Action Circle. While a number of groups have flourished on a continuing basis for many years, others have formed more recently as interest has arisen. Occasionally groups disband as interest wanes. Such is the pattern of vitality of our ever-evolving shared vision and mission. For a comprehensive overview of all the shared ministries and details of their activities visit http://www.uusic.org/about-us/groups-activities/.

Lifespan Religious Education

The many and varied Lifespan Religious Education programs available at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City are a dynamic and integral part of this congregation. Under the leadership and guidance of our Director of Lifespan Religious Education and with the support of dedicated volunteers, UUSIC provides classes and learning experiences for all ages—children, youth, young adults and adults. To learn more about UUSIC’s Lifespan Religious Education programs go to http://www.uusic.org/about-us/groups-activities/religious-education/.

Inclusivity

UUSIC takes seriously its commitment to be a welcoming, inclusive spiritual community that practices radical hospitality. During fellowship hour, classes and social events, we initiate conversations with newcomers and guests. In 2013 a Special Needs Committee was established to support the church in becoming a more inclusive community for people of all abilities.

UUSIC has been a Welcoming Congregation, open to members of the gay and transgender communities, since 1997. We have an active Interweave Chapter and have long participated in Iowa City’s annual Pride Parade. Our support for same-sex marriage has been widely recognized. In the years immediately after Iowa legalized same-sex marriage in 2009, we hosted nearly two hundred such weddings, many involving couples from Illinois and Missouri, where such unions were prohibited. We are pleased to be an integral part of Iowa City’s open and accepting LGBTQ culture.

FreeLunch

UUSICatPrideParade

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The Special Needs Committee UUSIC follow its mission of being a "caring, inclusive community" by proactively welcoming children, families, and individuals with special needs and to support teachers to provide a meaningful, enriching LRE experience for all students. We train our RE teachers in working with a variety of learning styles in the classroom.

Belonging: Membership Programming Our retiring Congregational Life Coordinator has done remarkable, pioneering work as our first paid membership professional. Through her leadership we have made great strides with our overall membership program. Since her arrival in 2012 the Society has had over one hundred new members sign our membership book.

Membership Associates

Our CLC has been assisted in her work through a Membership Associates (MA) Committee. The group’s mission has been to “create a loving and inclusive community through the practice of radical hospitality.” MAs greet everyone each Sunday, invite newcomers to visit our Welcome Table, and answer questions regarding UUSIC as well as Unitarian Universalism. Other duties include assisting with membership classes, new-member ceremonies, and congregational meetings.

Hospitality Teams

Over the past several years, the CLC has implemented the Hospitality Team concept to allow members to share the responsibility of providing radical hospitality both as ushers during services and afterwards providing refreshment during our after-service social hour. Each team includes a leader and eight to twelve members who function together as a combined group several times per year. Currently nearly seventy-five congregation members participate in the Hospitality program.

Pathway to Membership

Visitors and prospective new members are provided frequent opportunities to learn more about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. Monthly we offer brief overview of both topics in an after service program, Welcome to the Journey. The class offers an opportunity to meet our Minister and other church leaders, and to ask questions.

Three to four times per year a more in-depth Journey of Discovery course is offered for prospective new members. Currently the course is comprised of three consecutive after-service sessions. Topics include the Seven Principles of the UUA; Unitarian Universalist history and governance; UUSIC’s mission and vision; participation in the life of the congregation; and supporting the church through skills, talents, and financial resources.

SigningtheUUSICMembershipBook

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Participation in the Journey of Discovery course is required prior to becoming a member.

Future Directions.

Over the past year a taskforce has explored new directions for the membership program, in anticipation of broadening the scope of visitor and new member assistance. Towards that end, work has begun on new assessment measures, a mentorship program for new members, and increased social opportunities for prospective and new members to meet church leaders and other congregants. Several of these initiatives are being piloted or are scheduled for introduction in Fall 2016.

Our Local Communities

Three Cities Strong

UUSIC’s new location puts us in the center of three thriving vibrant communities, Coralville, Iowa City and North Liberty, contributing to a combined Johnson County population of 144,000. These contingent cities receive frequent citations on criteria as diverse as outdoor recreation and secure retirement, for their wealth of cultural and recreational opportunities, their range of educational opportunities and for first-rate health care.

Coralville

Our new church home is located in Coralville, a small city that grew by 18% between 2000 and 2015 with a current population of 20,000. Our church is adjacent to the University of Iowa’s 190-acre Oakdale Research Park and associated business incubators, which supply a steady source of new employment in biotechnology, information solutions, and the preparation and management of educational materials and date. Coralville is also the home to Coral Ridge Mall, a 1.2 million –square foot enclosed retail setting, as well as to many smaller shops in the more intimate, redevelopment area of the Town Center district that includes a newly renovated and expanded spacious public library. The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, a nearly 500-seat, state-of-the-art community venue, is located in the heart of the community. New Pioneer Co-op is a popular natural foods grocery store located in both Coralville and Iowa City.

Iowa City

Iowa City is a college town with many of the amenities of big city living. Home to a major university, it offers a vibrant art scene, a major medical center and Big Ten sporting events. Known for its appeal to various local artist and musicians, City Plaza (commonly called the Ped Mall) serves as a gathering place for locals and students, drawing large crowds for its summertime events such as the Friday Night Concert

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Series and the annual Iowa City Jazz Festival. A recent addition is Film Scene, an independent movie theater, and the Englert Theater, providing live performances are located here. Among the community’s varied cultural opportunities are the programs tied to its strong literary history. In 2008 UNESCO designated Iowa City as the world’s third City of Literature, making it part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Two

new University buildings dedicated to the arts are opening in the fall 0f 2016; the 1800 seat Hancher Auditorium, a multidisciplinary performing arts center presenting world class music, theater and dance and the Voxman Music Building located at a main downtown intersection embracing both the academic and the urban experiences.

North Liberty

Located just north of Coralville and Iowa City and south of Cedar Rapids, North Liberty is an important part of the I-380 Corridor. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the state, attracting many young families, with a current population of 15,000. North Liberty serves as a gateway to the many recreational opportunities afforded by the Coralville Lake and Lake Macbride.

Cooperation Among Urban and Rural Areas

All three communities offer year round recreational opportunities with recreation centers with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, biking and hiking trails, golfing, and thriving libraries. There are interest groups, clubs and non-credit classes to meet every possible interest. Iowa City is the seat of Johnson County government, wand with the surround towns form a safe, liberal and open-minded community with competent and responsive local government, active and enlightened citizens and excellent school systems.

Demographics

Johnson County’s residents are 80% white (non-Latino), and 6% each Black, Latino and Asian.52% of our population have a BA degree or higher. Median household income is $55,000 and the unemployment rate stands at 2.9%

Despite many positive aspects of the three cities and Johnson County, we have our challenges. Low paying service jobs can make it difficult for workers to live in Iowa City and Coralville with 17% living below the poverty level. There is a significant racial disparity in contacts with the criminal justice system. Fourteen percent of Johnson County residents are food insecure. Socio-economic imbalance in the schools is an ongoing concern.

However, both governmental agencies and private organizations are committed to addressing these concerns. In 2015 the Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by January 2017, the first governmental body in

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Iowa to do so. The Iowa City School Board, which includes schools in all three cities, is redistricting to improve the socio-economic balance in the schools. The Center for Workers’ Justice, the Coalition for Racial Justice, the Crisis Center, Shelter House, and the Free Medical and Dental Clinics, are just a few of the many social justice and service agencies that provide services and advocacy in the community. Many of our members volunteer with these agencies and the congregation is a member of the Consultation of Religious Communities who work together to address some of these challenges.

New Home, 2355 Oakdale Road

Groundbreaking, Earth Day, April 22, 2016, 2355 Oakdale Road

Our Values in Action: Volunteering in the Community

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Director of Congregational Life Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City

Position Description

Position Overview

The Director of Congregational Life (DCL) is full-time member of the Society’s senior staff, responsible for leadership, strategic development, and implementation of the congregation’s comprehensive membership program, including allied efforts with public relations and volunteer management. In addition, the Director may assume a similar level of responsibility for other congregational programs over time. During the transition to the Society’s new, much larger Coralville home, the DCL will work with other senior staff to lead the expansion of the congregation’s internal and external ministries in accordance with our mission and our commitment to program growth.

The Director of Congregational Life’s membership responsibilities include promoting the Society and the Society’s membership in the greater Iowa City area; welcoming visitors; helping visitors and new members better understand Unitarian Universalism and the life of our congregation; guiding new members’ integration into our community at many levels; facilitating the strengthening of members’ commitment to Unitarian Universalism and the Society as their membership matures; and, ultimately, nurturing new members’ spiritual growth as well as their discovery of the place where their strongest passions and call to service meet the deeper needs of the world.

The Director works under the general supervision of the Minister in serving the Society’s mission, guided by broad policies established by the Board of Trustees. The DCL’s roles require intensive collaboration with the Minister, Director of Lifespan Religious Education, Administrator, other staff, and the Membership Council and its various subcommittees. The Director is supported by (and is supportive of) an administrative paid staff and office volunteers. He or she drafts the portions of the annual budget relative to the position’s activities and provides regular reports on Congregational Life activity, goals, and needs to the Minister and Board.

Major responsibilities

1. Collaborates with the Board, Minister and senior staff to establish and administer programs thatpromote, fulfill, and expand the Society’s mission.

2. Develops and manages a Membership Council and subcommittees to provide assistance andinput relative to the membership responsibilities that follow.

3. Directs public relations efforts to increase the Society’s overall visibility in surroundingcommunities; encourage membership in the Society; and promote major social and volunteer activities. Involves working closely and collaboratively with the Administrator and the Communications Committee, who manage the Society’s website, social media, and intra-congregational communications.

4. Develops, leads, and manages procedures and processes to welcome and engage first-time andother early visitors in Society activities at both Sunday services and beyond. Serves as point-of-contact for visitors, responds to questions and concerns, monitors their engagement, and works intentionally and individually with each to integrate them into the life of the community. Includes close work with assisting greeters, the Director of Lifespan Religious Education, the Minister, and other church members towards these ends.

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5. Develops, leads, and teaches regularly scheduled pathway-to-membership course forprospective members three or four times per year.

6. Develops, oversees, and participates in an active schedule of social programs designed to serveas a bridge between new and established members.

7. In collaboration with the Director of Lifespan Education, develops and oversees educationalprograms consistent with the Society’s mission that fall outside the domain of religious education. Includes programs related to social justice and the environment.

8. Develops, implements, and oversees a new volunteer recruitment and management initiative, inpart through use of the Society’s Realm church management program. (Technical support provided by congregation volunteers.) Efforts will include designing better measures to make members’ talents and interests information more accessible to the congregation; better matching volunteers with opportunities; and tracking volunteer engagement to assist with efforts to monitor new member integration and identify potential new leaders.

9. Develops and implements ongoing surveys and other instruments to measure, assess, andimprove members’ experiences related to congregational engagement, spiritual development, and defining personal ministries. Includes assessments of experiences of continuing visitors, new members, and departing members.

10. Participates actively in ongoing professional development through reflective reading,membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association of Membership Professionals (UUAMP), and participation in related online, regional, and national workshops and meetings.

Note: The above is intended to describe the Major Responsibilities for this position. It is not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.

Essential work behaviors

• Works professionally and in accordance with Unitarian Universalist Principles, the Society’sMission and Vision statements, and the Society’s Policies and Bylaws.

• Works collegially with the Board of Trustees, Minister, Staff, Membership Council, andvolunteers.

• Applies vision, strategic thought, and other leadership skills necessary to develop andimplement new initiatives.

• Maintains high standards of confidentiality and discretion.

• Engages well with prospective visitors, visitors, and new members of all ages and identities.

• Acts as the Society’s primary point-of-contact for visitors at three-quarters or more of Sundayservices.

• Maintains regular weekly office hours as arranged with the Minister and senior staff.

• Attends regular staff meetings as called by the Minister.

• Applies Unitarian Universalist Association and UUAMP best practices and regularassessment measures to improve membership practices on an intentional, ongoing basis.

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Qualifications

• Understanding of, and commitment to liberal religion generally and Unitarian Universalism specifically—principles, purposes, polity, theology, commitment to social justice. Current or prior Unitarian Universalist membership desired.

• B.A. or equivalent required, advanced work in relevant field is desired.

• Managerial work experience in a church, other volunteer-management, or comparable setting. Additional experience working in a collaborative staff setting desired.

• Strong interpersonal skills including personal warmth, approachability, effective listening, and compassion.

• Strong writing, speaking, and other communication skills.

• Strong leadership, planning, and program implementation skills. • Interest in and commitment to the processes by which prospective members are welcomed,

become members, and are assimilated into congregational life. Strong demonstrated interest desired.

• Ability to work independently and successfully with a church-management database to input and manage records related to visitors, new members, volunteers, and other membership-focused functions. Advanced database management skills desired

• Knowledge of and ability to use social media for publicity and new member outreach. Applied experience strongly desired.

Compensation

UUSIC offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits that meet the UUA’s Fair Compensation Guidelines. This position corresponds to a full-time Membership Director as defined in the “2016/17 UUA Capsule Job Descriptions.” Adjusted for the Society’s location, the salary range begins at $44,750. Application Procedure Submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references by July 18, 2016 to DCLsearch.UUSIC@gmail.com. Electronic submissions only. Questions pertaining to this job may be sent to the same email address. No phone calls to the Society’s office, please. Statement of Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination The Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, IA, is fully committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We consider applicants based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability or other perceived differences that do not relate to ability, performance and contribution at work. Qualified applicants with criminal histories are not automatically disqualified from employment. Factors such as job-relatedness of the conviction, age and time of occurrence, and the seriousness and nature of the circumstances will be considered.