Director of Pastoral Care

Summary: Provide leadership for the Pastoral Care Ministry of First Unitarian Church of Dallas, including triaging congregant care with ministers; guidance, support, and supervision of lay leadership and volunteers; organization and facilitation of pastoral care events; regular communication with congregants

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• • Recruit, train, and actively support pastoral care lay leadership and Care Team volunteers.
  • Refine current and create future pastoral care processes for the flow of information to caregivers.
  • Implement pastoral care procedures.
  • Develop and facilitate classes, including recruiting and training instructional faculty, for topics about care, including grief, caring for aging parents, marriage, religious trauma, etc.
  • Foster and maintain relationships with referral resources to meet the needs of the congregation.
  • Work with the Senior Minister and Executive Team to create a community of care by triaging the church’s response to pastoral care needs, including those dealing with illness, grief, and other life-changing situations.
  • Celebrating milestones and marking important pastoral anniversaries with care in the lives of congregants, including but not limited a significant card ministry (creation/circulation of greeting cards of care and support).
  • Maintain positive working relationships with staff to create a mutually supportive and efficient work environment.
  • Oversee and maintain pastoral care records in the church database.
  • Work effectively with Pastoral Care Assistant to delegate pastoral care needs

Other Responsibilities:

• • Attend weekly staff meetings and special events.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The Director of Pastoral Care must possess a deep understanding of Unitarian Universalism and how this liberal faith influences the practice of pastoral care with all prospective members, congregants, and spiritual seekers. Ability to interface with a diverse population of youth and adults is a must. Strong organizational and time-management skills, ability to multi-task and attention to detail are essential to success. Strong written and verbal communication skills are a must. Applicants must pass a criminal background check.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience: First Unitarian Church of Dallas believes that the lived experience of a person is often the best teacher. Education, degrees, and training in related fields is preferred, but a minimum of three years of pastoral care experience is also acceptable. Experience in a church or other faith-based organization, hospital or hospice chaplaincy, or social service agency providing care and counseling preferred. Experience managing volunteers, working with a senior community, and delegating authority to volunteers. Some experience in counseling one-on-one or hospital visitation required.

Language Ability: Ability to read and interpret instructions, budgets and schedules. Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from constituents; ability to interact appropriately with people of all ages. Ability to write reports or other materials as directed that conform to prescribed style and format using standard correct business English spelling and grammar.

Math Ability: Ability to work with mathematical concepts and apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and deal with both abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Publisher), Internet software and database software. Experience with ACS/Realm database a very strong plus.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position directly supervises a paid part-time assistant and volunteer staff. Management experience is strongly desired.

Work Environment: The noise level in the work environment during the M-F phase is usually low; if work is occasionally scheduled on Sunday morning during the usual worship hours of the church, the noise level in the office may be moderate at times (before and after services).

Physical Demands: The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit while using a computer; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Benefits

• Starting Salary Range $57,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience (3/4-time position)
• Health Insurance – the Church covers the full cost of the employee’s premium. Payroll deduction for the cost of coverage of eligible family members can be arranged.
• Optional dental and vision insurance
• Employer-paid group life, AD&D, and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Flex-Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• Employer contributions to retirement benefit account after 1 year of employment
• Paid time off (25 days), paid holidays (11 days)

How to Apply

People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ+ candidates are encouraged to apply. First Unitarian Church of Dallas is committed to ensuring its staff reflects the diversity of its congregation and of Dallas, because we believe diversity in communities of all kinds is a strength. If you are excited about this role, but are unsure whether you meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to inquire and/or apply. We know that skills evolve over time, so if you are willing to learn and evolve alongside us, we would love to receive your application. Please submit your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) references. Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check to work for this organization.

About First Unitarian Church of Dallas

First Unitarian Church of Dallas is a liberal religious community founded in 1899 and located in the University Park neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. Our congregation of more than 1,000 adult members and 300 children and youth is committed to genuine inclusion, depth and joy, reason and spirit. Love inspires us to be a voice of progressive religion working toward a more just and compassionate world. Unitarian Universalism puts love at the center of our commitments, which embrace the Shared Values of justice, equity, transformation, interdependence, pluralism and generosity. All Church staff members are expected to perform their job duties in accordance with the Church’s values, principles, and mission.

First Unitarian Church of Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all. As part of this commitment, the Church will ensure that applicants and staff with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us. For more information on the Church, visit us online at dallasuu.org.

General Competencies

The following key elements of performance are considered a part of every job description at the First Unitarian Church of Dallas. Performance evaluations will include a review of these elements.

Ethics: All employees are expected to treat others as they themselves would like to be treated. Each employee must demonstrate by their actions an understanding of the First Unitarian Church of Dallas’ Mission Statement. Confidentiality of the church’s information should be maintained.

Dependability: Employees should demonstrate they can be depended on. This includes following established procedures, taking responsibility for their own actions, keeping commitments, demonstrating consistent performance, being on time for work and scheduled activities, and meeting workload expectations, ensuring responsibilities are covered when absent, and achieving goals. Each should react well under the pressure and stress encountered. Each employee should work in a way that sets a good example for others.

Judgment: Employees should exhibit sound and accurate judgment within defined parameters in their area of expertise. They should make timely decisions which they can support and explain, and they should include appropriate people in the decision making process.

Change management: Employees must be adaptable to changes in the work environment and integrate such changes smoothly. They should be open to other people’s ideas and approaches and be able to change their approach to best fit the situation. Each should be able to manage competing demands.

Initiative: Employees should demonstrate initiative by seeking increased responsibility, looking for and taking advantage of opportunities, and volunteering for appropriate duties. Each should propose solutions when coming up with problems and seek agreement on these proposals. Each is expected to take reasonable independent action, and to ask for help when needed. Each should try to identify new methods or resources that could help them or others. Each should undertake self-development activities.

Job Knowledge: Employees should be competent in the required job skills and knowledge, exhibiting the ability to learn and apply new skills, and keeping abreast of current developments. Each should require minimal supervision while displaying an understanding of how one’s job relates to others. Each must also understand one’s own strengths and limitations.

Creativity: Employees are encouraged to display original thinking and creativity developing innovative approaches and ideas to apply to our work. Each should generate suggestions for improving work and meet challenges with resourcefulness.

Communications: Effective communications are essential to mutual understanding. To achieve this, employees should speak and write clearly, persuasively, and informatively editing writing for spelling and grammar. One should listen well and understand or get clarification. Each should keep others adequately informed, respond well to questions, participate in meetings, and demonstrate good group presentation skills. It is important to select and use appropriate communication methods. One must also maintain appropriate records and promptly submit information.

Teamwork: Employees are expected to work in a team setting and atmosphere. This includes establishing and maintaining effective relations, offering assistance and support to team members, and exhibiting tact, consideration, a positive outlook, and a pleasant manner. Team members (every employee at First Church) should work cooperatively in group situations and actively work to resolve conflicts. It is important to be available to team members, help others learn and do a better job, take responsibility for team decisions, and in other ways inspire respect and trust.

Problem Solving: Employees should be able to identify problems in a timely manner, gather and analyze information skillfully, develop alternate solutions, and resolve problems in early stages.

• Starting Salary Range $57,000–$60,000, commensurate with experience (3/4-time position)
• Health Insurance – the Church covers the full cost of the employee’s premium. Payroll deduction for the cost of coverage of eligible family members can be arranged.
• Optional dental and vision insurance
• Employer-paid group life, AD&D, and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Flex-Spending Accounts (FSA) for healthcare and dependent care
• Employer contributions to retirement benefit account after 1 year of employment
• Paid time off (25 days), paid holidays (11 days)

English; Spanish preferred