UUCA Governance

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The congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (“UUCA”) is the final authority with respect to all matters concerning the church.  There are nine (9) elected trustees who serve three year terms on the Board of Trustees, with three trustees elected each year.  The congregation also elects a Secretary and Treasurer, who report to, and work with, the Board.

The governing document for UUCA is its Constitution, which was originally adopted on April 10, 1951, and has been amended from time to time.  The Constitution may only be amended by the members of the congregation, in accordance with procedures set forth in the Constitution.

The Board of Trustees operates under the guidance of the Church Governance Handbook (“Handbook”), which has been created by the Board of Trustees in order to provide a framework for governance. 

The Handbook was designed to put into effect the 2004 decision of the Board of Trustees to adopt a model of governance for UUCA which would enable the Board of Trustees to establish clear lines of authority between and among the Board, the ministers, the staff, and lay leaders; to empower the ministers, staff and lay leaders to carry out their activities without unnecessary oversight by the Board; and to develop clear performance expectations. 

The governance structure as contemplated by the Handbook has the following essential characteristics:

  1. Authority over day-to-day operations has been delegated by the Board to a two-person Executive Team (“ET”), appointed by the Board and composed of one minister and one member of the administrative team.
  2. The Board will continue to make decisions on major matters that affect the congregation.  Its primary activities will be communicating with the congregation; articulating UUCA’s goals and priorities; envisioning ways to enlarge or strengthen congregational programs; and arranging for systematic evaluations of the Executive Team, the ministers, and the Board itself.
  3. The ministers, staff and lay leaders are given freedom to accomplish their goals without having to obtain prior approval of specific plans, so long as they operate within the framework of policies set forth within this Handbook

The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month, with an agenda prepared in advance, and meeting minutes that are approved at the next Board meeting.

The Annual Meeting of the congregation typically takes place on the first or second Sunday in June.  The annual canvas takes place in the later winter/early spring, soliciting pledges at that time, with a budget prepared thereafter, and approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting.  The fiscal year for UUCA runs from July 1 through June 30.

UUCA Policy for Compensation for Team Ministers

08-09 Proposed General Budget - Operating Fund

08-09 Proposed First Cuts (Excel spreadsheet)

Board of Trustee Meeting Minutes

 

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This page was updated on July 10, 2007