There are several professional organizations for UU professionals. These organizations provide continuing education programs, support credentialling programs for some of the groups, peer support, good officers and more for the UU professionals they serve. Congregations realize great benefits by their staff joining the appropriate professional organization and should budget the membership dues accordingly. Congregational leaders can learn more about the profession's standards and expectations by visiting the organization's websites.
UUMA - UU Minister Association. www.uuma.org - For ministers and student ministers. Most districts have a chapter of UUMA for the ministers in the area.
LREDA - Liberal Religious Educators Association. www.lreda.org - A professional organization open to liberal religious educators and those supportive of religious education. LREDA promotes the religious growth and learning of people of all ages and advocates for and supports religious educators and the field of liberal religious education. Members include DREs, youth advisors, those involved in youth ministry, ministers of religious education and congregations and individuals interested in supporting liberal religious education.
UUMN - UU Musician's Network. www.uumn.org - UUMN encompasses both professional and volunteer musicians, largely from North America. As a network, they welcome all musicians, including ministers and religious educators, who support music ministry in Unitarian Universalist congregations and institutions. UUMN members include music directors, conductors, singers, instrumentalists, composers, ministers, music committee members, as well as individual members of congregations. The membership also includes congregations who support the UUMN's work and purposes.
AUUA - Association of UU Administrators. www.auua.org - A continental network of people working as paid administrators in local Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations, district offices, or UU affiliated organizations, and who have primary or supervisory responsibility in one or more of the following areas: Finances and/or Fund Raising, Facility Management, Personnel Management, Food Service Management, Office Management, or Computer Systems Management.
UUAMP - UU Association of Membership Professionals. www.uuamp.org - A professional organization for those paid staff at the congregational and district level who work with membership issues. This is a new organization founded in 2011.
