Religious Education

At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation on the Outer Banks, Religious Education is designed to foster independent thinking, to give kids the tools they need to make up their own minds about life's big questions.

Today we face some unprecedented challenges, among them teaching our children to develop a reliable sense of integrity, and for them to be compassionate members of society and family.

Children need structure and feedback to develop these values. And the structure needs to be consistent with the way their role models live their lives. As parents and as teachers, we need to model for them respect for self and others, tolerance for others' views, and the importance of using their minds and hearts to determine what is right.

It's hard for parents to do this kind of training alone. Being a part of a church community is invaluable. Our children’s Religious Education program helps children learn and live strong, compassionate values.

How you can help

The RE Program is managed by a Religious Education Committee. All major decisions go through a vote of the committee.  We would love to have you as a member of our Committee.

We rely on a volunteer base for our teachers and can always use a fresh set of hearts and minds.

The time and effort involved in teaching are really a gift to the fellowship: a very important gift, because teachers have no small part in helping to shape our children's lives. Teachers can make a difference in a child's life and thereby help make the world a better place (the world changes one person at a time). Our children are our future, and we must invest in them wisely. But at the same time, teaching isn't only about giving. Teachers also have the opportunity to receive a lot in return for their efforts.

Teaching is an opportunity: to have fun, to grow personally and gain confidence, to discover abilities we didn't know we had, to further develop our own belief systems, to become more religiously literate along with the children, to get to know the children (and parents) in our fellowship, to develop closer friendships with other adult teachers through teamwork, and to feel satisfaction in helping to keep our fellowship healthy and strong.