Chaplain Application: Intergenerational Spring Seminar

Quote from Maggie Young, Youth Chaplain, 2020 & 2021 Seminar Planning Committee, shown with a smiling photo of Maggie over a blue wood textured background. In a dark red box, the text reads: "A vital facet of UU events is the importance placed on having avenues available to get assistance in navigating your emotions. I love serving in that capacity (as a youth chaplain) for other people because I know I am helping them have a good experience and letting them enjoy the event to its fullest."

Applications are now being accepted for Youth and Adult Chaplain positions on the 2023 Spring Seminar staff.

The Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations Seminar Team members are seeking passionate, enthusiastic, creative youth and adults to serve as Chaplains to create a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring Spring Seminar online next April.

The Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations’ Intergenerational Spring Seminar is a 3-day gathering of committed youth and adults from all over North America. Through workshops, peer and expert-led panel discussions, community building activities, keynote speeches, and worship services, participants undergo a transformative process of learning, reflection, and growth as we explore some of the most challenging issues facing humanity today. The dates, theme, and format of the 2023 Seminar are to be determined.

All UU youth and adults are encouraged to apply. You do not need to have attended a previous Spring Seminar. Read on for more information about the position, including the responsibilities and application requirements.

Position Description

Spring Seminar staff will attend bi-weekly planning phone calls/video conferences and be present at the Spring Seminar in New York City (or online if fully virtual) during the entire event. Applicants must be able to commit to these dates. Chaplains will be expected to be in close communication with the rest of the staff, the Deans, and the Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations.

This position includes a $400 stipend, in addition to all expenses being covered by the UU@UN including travel, meals, lodging, and registration.

Chaplains: 2 Youth, 2 Adults

  • Participate with the Dean team in the Spring Seminar Planning Committee to help coordinate youth safety measures and responses for the Seminar
  • Work with Planning Committee to ensure opportunities for spiritual deepening and reflection throughout Seminar programming.
  • Be “on-call” during certain periods of time and also hold daily chaplain team meetings and participate throughout Spring Seminar.
  • Chaplains work with the Planning Committee to plan and lead worships for the Seminar participants, incorporating the seminar theme throughout as possible.
  • Work in a team to provide support and a listening ear for issues that may come up during Spring Seminar.

  • Coordinate with other staff as needed.

Chaplains should be excellent listeners, comfortable with one-on-one situations, and able to also step back and observe community energy as a whole. They should be a calm, non-anxious presence. Counseling, mediation or previous chaplain experience or training should be noted on your application and is strongly preferred. Adult may also note any ministerial training, CPE experience or other pastoral care training.

As this role will include collaboration in worship planning, successful applicants will also have a vision for how youth worship is a community-building experience and a desire to create deep connections between those assembled through varied and memorable worship. Experience with planning and leading worship should be noted on your application. It is helpful if the applicant has an understanding of cultural misappropriation and, if not, is willing to learn about misappropriation in a worship context. Please explain your understanding and experience with this concept in your application.

This Intergenerational Seminar will take a broad and intersectional view of working towards justice – we hope that our planning committee will reflect the diversity of identities that exist in our world. People with disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ+ candidates are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements

Positions listed for youth are for youth currently in grades 9-12 or the equivalent for home-schooled youth. Positions for adults are for those who are ages 25+. Previous experience at Unitarian Universalist youth events (Youth Cons) as well as experience with multigenerational leadership teams is highly desired. Previous attendance at a UU@UN Intergenerational Spring Seminar is recommended but not required.

Applications are due August 9, 2022 for Seminar Chaplains.

For more information, please contact the UU Office at the United Nations at unitednations@uua.org.

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