UUCA’s Board of Trustees

The Board meetings are 7 pm-9:30pm on the fourth Tuesday of every month.The Board holds the first fifteen minutes open for discussion or comments from outside attendees and then proceed with the agenda.  Attendees are welcome to stay for the remainder of the meeting, unless the Board moves into an executive session. At this time, the meetings are entirely virtual. Zoom link: HERE.

Board Minutes

You may access UUCA Board minutes here.

Church Officers:

• Linda Battaglini, Treasurer
• Robert Gayer, Assistant Treasurer
• Emily Abraham, Secretary

Authorities and Roles

UUCA’s Articles of Incorporation are the foundation of our governance. They establish UUCA as a church corporation organized under Virginia law. The Bylaws ground our governance in a basic framework of purpose, membership, annual meetings, elections, and finances. The Bylaws also establish a broad outline of roles by assigning general supervision and direction of the church to the Board of Trustees (while providing for delegation to an Executive), and by carving out specific responsibilities and authorities for the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers, the ministers, and the Nominating Committee.

UUCA Bylaws

Below is a link to the current bylaws that establish the procedures of operations for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington followed by a list of UUCA Governance docs.

• Bylaws
• Employee Handbook 2021 – Personnel Policies
• Governance Task Force Prelim Report – May 2019
• Board Policy Manual
• Congregational Covenant

UUCA Policies

The next level of UUCA’s governance is the Board of Trustees’ Board Policy Manual containing the policies the Board has established to direct and supervise the church. The Board is responsible for oversight of the activities of the church as set forth in the Bylaws, while UUCA ministers and staff are responsible for daily operations. The policies set forth in the Policy Manual provide guidance for the Board, ministers, staff, and congregation on how the Board exercises its oversight responsibilities, expectations and responsibilities for the ministers and staff in performing key activities, and guidance for the congregation on UUCA processes and how we all collaborate to Come for Community, Find Inspiration, and Live With Purpose.

Following the work of the Governance Task Force in 2019, the Board began updating the Board Policy Manual with the goal of making UUCA policies more transparent to the congregation and easier to access, using a modular structure that allows each policy to be reevaluated and updated on a regular 2-year cycle.  Until this structure is fully implemented UUCA policies will be located on this policy page and in the Board Policy Manual. The Board Policy Manual will indicate any policies within the Manual that have been replaced by updated policies on this page.  If a topic is not covered by a specific policy listed below, and is otherwise referenced in the 2016 Board Policy Manual, then the Manual remains the effective policy statement.

• Alcohol Policy (November 2022)
• Board Policy Manual (2016)
• Board Meetings Policy (September 2022)
• Board Role Policy Statement (September 2022)
• Conflict of Interest Policy (March 2020)
• Constructive Dialogue Policy (October 2020)
• Contract, Signature, and Spending Policy (August 2021)
• COVID-19 Vaccination Policy (February 2022)
• Expense Reimbursement Policy (January 2020)
• Income Policy (January 2022)
• Investment Policy (April 2021)
• Global Delegation Policy (April 2021)
• Open Communication Policy (February 2020)
• Policy Development Process Policy (January 2021)
• Public Statement Policy (September 2021)
• Use of Funds Policy (January 2022)

As recommended by the 2019 Governance Task Force, the Board has created three standing committees to address key areas of board oversight:  the Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee (BFAC), the Governance Committee (GC), and the Ministerial Assessment Committee (MAC).  The charges establishing and directing each committee are as follows:

• Budget, Finance, and Audit Committee (BFAC) (January 2020)
• Governance Committee (GC) (October 2019)
• Ministerial Assessment Committee (MAC) (October 2019)

More recently, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the church’s decision to suspend activities at its campus, the Board established a Campus Reopening Task Force to evaluate and develop recommendations for UUCA’s approach to reopening the campus and facilities.  The charge establishing the Task Force follows:

• Campus Reopening Task Force Charge (February 2022)

The Board also may work with ministers and groups in the church to develop plans for Task Forces to address priority issues. The following charges describe the role and scope of work each of these Task Forces will be working within:

• SJMT Charge (August 2022)
• RJTF Charge  (August 2022)

An additional level of UUCA’s policies and procedures are those established by the Senior Minister in their role as Executive responsible for the operations of the church. The Board has general oversight, and often collaborates in the development of these policies with the Senior Minister, but the development and execution of these policies and activities is the responsibility of the Senior Minister. These include:

• Redbook of UUCA Procedures (September 2014)
• Guidelines & Rules for Building Use (September 2014)
• Employee Handbook (June 2021)

Communication

Communication between the Board and the church’s moral owners is the foundational activity that assures a properly governed system.  The process of communication provides the raw input for the Board to govern. It’s how the Board identifies what is on the hearts and minds of the moral owners. It also provides a way for the Board to communicate back to its moral owners what it has heard and done, translating this into policy that helps UUCA fulfill its mission. Board communication strives to capture three qualities:

• To uncovers the essence of our values and experiences through deep connection,
• To be representative, meaning that the Board has a responsibility to seek out and engage with all kinds of moral owners, instead of relying only on the voices of those who have the means and desire to approach the Board, and
• To be intentional and continuous, meaning the Board schedules, organizes, and plans for the opportunity to communicate with the moral owners on an on-going basis.

The list below provides the outcomes of UUCA’s recent communication practice over the last few years.

• Board Recommended Budget 2023-24
• Budget Narrative 2023-24
• Board Annual Report 2022-23
• Budget Narrative 2022-23
• Budget Summary 2022-23
• Board Annual Report 2020-21
• Budget Narrative 2021-22
• CRTF Survey Results
• CRTF 3rd Quarterly Report
• CRTF 2nd Quarterly Report
• CRTF 1st Quarterly Report
• Board Annual Report to the Congregation – 2020
• 2019-2020 Appreciative Inquiry Report from the Ministerial Search Committee
• 2018-2019 Governance Task Force Report
• 2016 – 2017 What does it mean to be a vulnerable and trusting community that transforms us into our best selves?
• 2015-2016 How can Religious Education help our spirits grow together? Board Report
• 2014-2015 What does it mean to Connect, Grow, and Serve at UUCA? Board Report
• 2013 Appreciative Inquiry Values, Wishes, and Possibilities

Board Bulletin

Board Bulletins are a way to keep church members informed about current Board work. They are released regularly, usually through the church newsletter, and may also be accessed here.

• Board Bulletin 2023-01-11
  • Board Finance Doc 2023-01-11
• 2023-02-01 Board Bulletin
  • 01 -23 UUCA Treasurer’s Report to Congregation

Quality governance is essential to our health as a church, and it’s also uniquely rewarding. If this process interests you, please consider visiting one of our monthly Board meetings or contacting the Nominating Committee to discuss getting involved.

Additional Governance Information:

• 2020-2021 External Financial Statement Audit
• 2019-2020 External Financial Statement Review
• 2018-2019 External Financial Statement Review
• 2015-2016 Internal Audit: Board Report

UUCA Congregational Covenant

UUCA’s Congregation makes a covenant about how they will live and interact with each other and the community. Read it HERE.

UUCA Nominating Committee

Contact: nomcom@uucava.org 

About the Nominating Committee

The charge of the Nominating Committee (NomCom) is to find, recognize, and develop individual leadership potential and encourage an atmosphere that fosters a willingness to serve among our members to ensure thriving and effective leadership within our congregation.

• Composes a slate of nominees for the Board, UUCA’s Officers, and the Nominating Committee which are presented for a vote at the annual meeting each year.
• Recommends the Delegates to UUA’s General Assembly, who are appointed by the Board and presented to the Congregation at UUCA’s annual meeting.
• Interviews and recommends candidates for ad hoc committees such as the Ministerial Search Committee.
• Works to create and encourage a culture where everyone is empowered to engage in volunteer leadership positions throughout the church.

Leadership Position Descriptions

• Board of Trustees
• Board Secretary
• Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
• Nominating Committee
• General Assembly Delegate