Summary
Description
Position Title: Queer Justice Advocate
Reports to: Associate Director
Department: Center for Transformational Leadership
FLSA: Exempt
Salary Grade: Level 4
Annual Salary: $52,000
Hours: Part-Time – 28 Hours (2-year term)
Location: Hybrid (CT/MA/RI)
Position Summary
The position of Queer Justice Advocate is a grant-funded, part time, two-year role. The Queer Justice Advocate serves as a key strategist, connector, and advocate for the strengthening of the Open and Affirming (ONA) commitments in Southern New England Conference, UCC (SNEUCC) churches by enhancing outreach, maintaining ongoing resources, and creating sustainable networks of support. Working closely with the ONA Task Team, church leaders, and external partners, the Queer Justice Advocate builds deeper relationships with organizations and leaders, supports churches through the various phases of the ONA process, and amplifies the work of advancing LGBTQ visibility, inclusion, and justice through storytelling, advocacy, and digital content on SNEUCC websites and the Find Hope Now initiative.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Evaluation and Redevelopment
- Assess current outreach and support process, strategies and programs for churches in the Conference.
- Set goals for building a more comprehensive network of resources and support for local churches engaging in the work of LGBTQ visibility, inclusion, and justice.
- Develop a strategy and plan for sustainable programming, resourcing and infrastructure for this work that will outlive the position.
Relationships and Collaborations
- Build relationship and connection with local churches as they engage in the Open & Affirming Process, live out their ONA covenant or deepen their commitment and work to advance LGBTQ visibility, inclusion, and justice.
- Develop new connections and relationships with individuals, organizations and constituents in CT, RI, MA engaged in queer justice work.
- Communicate/Collaborate with the relevant Task Teams, (i.e. ONA Task Team)
- Stabilize and strengthen the partnership with the UCC Open & Affirming Coalition
- Strengthen relationships with and collaborate with external organizations (e.g., National LGBTQ Task Force, HRC New England, Out MetroWest, ACLU state chapters) as representative of SNEUCC.
Resourcing and Advocacy
- Develop, update and maintain relevant resources and materials to share with churches and clergy.
- Activate and engage networks and partnerships between the Conference and individuals, churches and organizations to better engage in championing LGBTQ visibility, inclusion, and justice work and amplifying queer voices in their communities or in the region.
- Identify, recruit and empower constituents to be speakers and advocates for Queer Justice.
- Develop and maintain curated lists of experts, speakers, and program leaders.
- Serve as a resource to local churches by offering guidance, training, and facilitated discussions to deepen their commitment alongside the ONA Task Team.
- Partner with the Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the ONA Coalition, Conference leadership and staff, congregations, and partners to respond to issues threatening LGBTQ inclusion and to engage congregations in faith-based action.
- Discern the Conference’s strategic participation in large Pride events across the region connecting, encourage members and clergy to take part and highlight the stories of local churches’ involvement in Pride events via the Find Hope Now website.
SNEUCC "Find Hope Now" Initiative
- Support and promote the initiative in its mission to connect individuals to SNEUCC Open and Affirming churches.
- Assist local churches in adapting this campaign for their communities.
- Work with churches to share their stories of hope and radical welcome.
- Coordinate schedules, equipment and efforts to gather stories of hope and radical welcome from local churches.
- Assist churches with recording and editing videos to be used as a part of Find Hope Now.
- Post videos and stories from churches on the Find Hope Now and Conference websites and social media channels.
Program Oversight
- Update and maintain relevant programming and develop program leadership for ongoing learning opportunities.
- Collaborate with other UCC teams providing training through Our Whole Lives (OWL) program to help provide education on sexual health, emotional well-being, and inclusiveness across the age spectrum.
Other Duties
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse communities.
- Demonstrated experience in and commitment to advancing LGBTQIA justice and ability to operate with a racial justice lens.
- Demonstrated creativity, capacity for strategic thought, and ability to work collaboratively with people from a variety of backgrounds.
- Have a curated spiritual practice and articulated relationship with God.
- Ability to articulate and demonstrate a commitment to the mission, vision and values of the Southern New England Conference.
- Experience in congregational or community organizing settings.
- Persons who identify as Queer are encouraged to apply.
Skills and Abilities
- Ability to function as an equity-minded leader in the implementation of LGBTQ justice and ONA-related initiatives.
- Skill in oral communication and presentation to small and large groups.
- Ability to manage confrontation with sensitivity and tact.
- Ability to identify structural inequities and assist others to do so.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and other related software tools.
- Experience with video recording equipment, video editing and basic website design.
Conference-Sponsored Events
- The Queer Justice Advocate will be required to participate in Conference-Sponsored events throughout the year.
Benefits
- Health, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance; up to 14% employer contribution to pension plan; generous paid time off.
Travel
- Position requires in-person meetings with churches, at regional events. Position requires in-person meetings in Rocky Hill, CT and Framingham, MA
Physical Requirements
Data Utilization – Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data, and/or information. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization – Requires the ability to use computer hardware and software and database systems in regular performance of job duties.
Verbal Aptitude – Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data, and information.
Mathematical Aptitude – Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may require ability to utilize principles of fractions and/or interpret graphs.
Functional Reasoning – Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as: motivation, incentive, and leadership. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
Situational Reasoning – Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
ADA Compliance
Physical Ability – Tasks involve the ability to travel to meetings outside the office, exert moderate physical effort, and may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials up to 20 pounds. Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and/or repetitive motion.
Sensory Requirements – Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination. Requires oral communications ability.
Environmental Factors – Tasks are occasionally performed with exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, or pathogenic substances.
Application Submissions:
Interested internal/external applicants may submit a cover letter and resume to search@sneucc.org or submit directly to the Southern New England Conference, UCC website at www.sneucc.org/classifieds by no later than, November 30, 2025.
Employment with the Southern New England Conference, UCC is contingent upon the receipt and review of a Conference approved background and reference check.
EEOC Policy
The Conference provides equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion (except insofar as ordination or religious background may be a qualification for a position), sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, military status, or any other class or status protected by law.
