Meets Mondays, 6-8 PM Central Time. Regardless of the context in which they serve, whether in parish or community settings, religious professionals are expected to "do it all." Along with the call to provide moral, ethical, and pastoral leadership, we are also asked to meet the demand to manage and administer the organizations that we lead. Indeed, an Auburn Center study of new parish ministers found that they felt underprepared to meet the complex management skills of a congregation. Leaders of secular nonprofits are similarly rarely chosen primarily for their administrative skills. And yet, whether one is ordained as a minister or leads as a trained layperson, these are the skills that are necessary for the fulfillment of an organization's mission and vision.

Congregations and non-profits require many of the same administrative skills, but they also differ in some key respects. In recognition of this fact, this three-credit course will, at appropriate times, split into two sections; one section for students aiming toward congregational leadership and one section for those aiming toward non-profit leadership.

Practical skills covered in the course include volunteer recruitment and supervision, personnel hiring and supervision, financial administration and budget preparation, building and property needs, technology oversight, culture-change, conflict engagement, and working with lay leaders.

Because it is a key factor in determining the success of administrative religious leadership, a significant portion of the course will be devoted to the theories and practices of fundraising in a faith-based context.

The course will allow students to focus on administrative practices as a means for dismantling white supremacy culture.

This is a required course for students seeking UU ministerial fellowship.