WHO WE ARE AND HOW OUR CHURCH WORKS

GOVERNANCE

In a program-sized church there is a shift in governance appropriate to the size of the church and the many and varied programs that are involved. Governance of the UUCE is mission driven with the concepts of right relations and the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism at the forefront.

Board of Trustees & the Executive Committee
Each year, members elect a Board of Trustees to oversee governance of the church. The congregation normally elects from nominees supplied by the Nominating Committee, a committee that is elected by the congregation. Trustees typically serve two-year terms. The Executive Committee (EC) is a subset of the Board and consists of the Board President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. The Board appoints the standing committees that appear on the chart and may appoint ad hoc committees or task forces to address short-term issues. Historically, the minister attends and participates in Board and EC meetings but is not a voting member of the Board, EC or of the congregation.

Endowment Trustees
The Endowment Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve three-year terms and manage the Endowment Fund (EF). Donations to the EF are required by church bylaws to be held in accounts separate from all other church accounts. Monies received for the Fund are invested at the discretion of the fund’s trustees. The church bylaws specify the details of how the principal and interest of the EF shall be handled. The EF, along with the Planned Giving Committee, the Finance Committee and Budget Committees and the Fundraising Committee, falls under the general umbrella of Stewardship.

Facilities Council
The Facilities Council (FC) is charged with maintaining the church's building and property. Since much of the work of this council has an impact on other groups in the church, there are guidelines for the FC. Proposed work to be done, including repairs, which will not materially change the facility, and which can be done within the FC budget, can be undertaken by the FC without delay. Proposed projects which will materially change the facility, but cannot be done within the FC budget, must be approved by the Executive Committee.

Proposed work which will change the facility materially or aesthetically or will be apparent to members of the church, requires that the interests of other stakeholders be taken into account. The Leadership Council (LC) has the authority to approve non-essential changes on the main floor of the church--sanctuary, social hall, gallery, etc. As above, projects that cannot be done within the FC budget need to be taken to the EC. Projects approved by the FC and LC, whose costs will exceed $500, should be taken to EC for approval; The EC may take them to the Board for approval. A similar informal arrangement with the RE Committee exists for non-essential changes in downstairs program area. For other non-essential changes, the FC will take the proposal to the EC and provide the EC with a suggested list of possible stakeholders. The EC or the Board will appoint a task force or some other group to work with the FC on the proposed project.

Finance & Budget Committees
The Finance Committee implements financial policy and prepares and monitors the church budget. The Budget Committee, which in recent years has consisted of members from the Finance, Board and Personnel Committees, is a subset of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee ideally falls under the Stewardship umbrella and we are working towards this goal.

Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee plans, organizes and shepherds the church’s main fundraising events other than the annual canvass. Examples of church fundraisers are the auction, the holiday bazaar and the yard sale. The Fundraising Committee falls under the Stewardship umbrella.

History Committee (soon to be known as “Archives Committee?)
The History Committee researches the history of our local church back into the 1800s, both web and print formats, and for historical value, inventories and indexes the file cabinets and boxes of historical material, plans internal/external historical exhibits and informational events for the 100th anniversary year (2009) and reports to the Board on a quarterly basis.

Leadership Council
The UUCE Leadership Council (LC) is made up of the chairpersons or their designees of all the church committees, as well as members of committees and groups that do not have a formal chairperson. Representatives of other church groups (i.e. Affinity Groups) are also welcome members of the LC whose meetings provide a forum for church-wide communication, collaboration, cooperation, coordinated calendaring of events, leadership development and selected problem solving.

Membership Committee
The Membership Committee manages newcomer orientation along with the Minister, produces new member orientation materials, encourages member and friend involvement, monitors member continuity and retention, and ensures follow-up as needed. The Membership Committee also provides ushers and greeters for Sunday services.

Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee (NC) is elected by and ultimately accountable to the congregation. As specified in the UUCE bylaws and the committee charge, the NC consults with the church Board, the minister and heads of committees about the positions to be filled. In connection with this process, the NC publishes notices in the newsletters, makes announcements on Sunday and in the order of service and hosts both meetings and a nomination and information table prior to developing a slate of candidates for election to the church Board. Candidates are then interviewed and a slate of candidates for the church Board is then presented to the Board, then to the congregation for a vote. Nominations from the floor are permitted. The congregation elects new Board members in April. New Board members assume office on June 1, except for the treasurer who assumes office on July 1. Beginning in the Fall of 2005, the Nominating Committee will also recruit and provide a slate of candidates for one-year rotation on the Strategic Planning Committee. The congregation will then vote on the candidates.

Personnel Committee
The Personnel Committee (PC) is a standing committee appointed by and representing the Board of Trustees elected by the Church congregation. The PC is responsible for maintaining and revising the personnel policies of the church and assists the congregation in hiring staff, managing and reporting on staff compensation and benefits packages in adherence with UUA Fair Compensation guidelines. Issues relating to a search for a new minister or DRE are the responsibility of the congregation and not the PC.

Planned Giving Committee
The Planned Giving Committee advertises and promotes the Endowment Fund, establishes procedures for identifying prospective donors, develops a plan for accepting and recognizing donors and multiple ways gifts may be given. Workshops and seminars to inform members about estate planning, planned giving, wills, and deferred giving are encouraged.

Publications
The Publications team oversees internal and external communication, community presence and community relations. The team manages the church website, creates and places advertising, coordinates media features, creates informational materials, oversees signage, helps educate the congregation on denominational news, and works closely with the Office Administrator to ensure that accurate information is readily available. The newsletter editor produces the monthly newsletter.

Safe Congregation
The Board of Trustees appoints the Safe Congregation Committee (SCC) of five members consisting of the minister, a Board member, and three members of the congregation. The five will include at least two women and two men, and replacements will be appointed by the Board as necessary or as terms expire. Our church promotes a safe and welcoming environment supportive of personal and spiritual growth. The SCC enforces the right of its minister, employees, contractors, members, and guests to have an environment free of interpersonal violence such as harassment and abuse. The SCC provides a venue for safely and effectively resolving disputes of this nature. Detailed procedures of the SCC outline the method for handling complaints.

Social Justice Committee
The Social Justice Committee supports and encourages individual and group action for social and economic justice, responsible citizenship, environmental stewardship, promotion of peace, relief efforts and work for the common good. It organizes awareness activities and coordinates calls to community action.

Stewardship
The Stewardship branch of the church includes the Annual Canvass and the Fundraising Committee. This group is responsible for raising the funds necessary for the church. In the future we hope to work towards including the Finance Committee, Budget Committee, Planned Giving Committee, and the Endowment Fund under the Stewardship umbrella.

Strategic Planning Committee
The Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) was established as a committee of the congregation in December of 2004 to investigate the current status of the programs and facilities of the church, to explore the potential of various options as we move toward the future, and to generate a five-year plan for achieving our goals. The initial SPC was appointed by the Board and voted on by the congregation. Future committee members will be recruited by the Nominating Committee in consultation with the Board and the existing SPC and presented to the congregation for a vote.

PROGRAM

Accompanist
Lynn Smith is the accompanist for the Sanctuary Choir and director of the young persons' Spirit Choir. This is a paid staff position that is supervised by the Music Director. On occasion other musicians provide accompaniment for a service or event.

Adult RE
The Adult RE program is directed by the minister and a committee of 5 congregation members recruited by the minister. Adult programs at UUCE serve as a source of religious and spiritual development, a place for free thought and discussion on issues religious and secular, a witness to freedom and tolerance, a servant of justice within the larger community, and an affirmation of life in its wonderful diversity and magnitude. Many of our programs are open to the general public as well as members and friends of the congregation. Examples of class series that have been offered include Evensong, History of God, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven, a Parenting series, Building Your Own Theology (BYOT), Seven Deadly Virtues, A Chosen Faith.

Affinity Groups
The congregation has many social and creative adult groups to further connect our church community. Current examples are: Campus Group, Gallery, Men’s Groups, Poetry Groups, Singletarians, Sister Circles, Thundereggs, Twenties & Thirties (TNT), Unitarilist Fun Organization (UFOs), Women’s Alliance, WomenKin Journal.

Caring Ministry
This is a committee of congregants that carry on some of the community ministry tasks of the congregation such as visiting members and friends who are ill or who have last loved ones. The work of the caring ministry committee is conducted with training and in consultation with the minister who assists with decision making and implementation. The work of this committee is an extension of parish ministry and is an example of the broader shared ministry necessary in a program-sized church. Much of the current effort is coordinated through the internet group of UUCE-Share by several very active participants.

Childcare
The lead childcare provider is supervised by the DRE. Childcare is provided for Sunday services and available for all church events with adequate notice. The lead childcare provider’s job description is available in the church office.

Church Administrator
The church administrator is responsible for the administrative operations of the church including staffing the church office during the week. This position is accountable to the church through direct supervision by the minister. The church administrator supervises the church custodian and is the contact person for scheduling events at the church and for church rentals.

Committee on Ministry
The purpose of the Committee on Ministry is to strengthen the quality of ministry within the congregation. The committee serves as sounding board for the minister, as a communication channel between the minister and congregation, and as a resource that educates the congregation about ministerial roles and duties. According to church bylaws, five members of the congregation are selected by the Board President from lists of names provided by the Minister and the Board of Trustees. COM members typically serve three-year terms.

Custodian
The custodian is supervised by the church administrator, and is responsible for cleaning and set-up of the church facility on a regular basis and for church rentals. A job description is on file in the church office.

Director of Religious Education
Candee Cole is the Director of Religious Education at the UUCE and has been working with the congregation since 1991. The Director of Religious Education (DRE) is responsible for coordinating the religious education of the children and youth at UUCE. Program development, implementation, and evaluation is conducted by the DRE with the support of the RE committee, paid staff, and many volunteers. The position of Director of Religious Education is a covenanted position, where the congregation and the DRE have created a covenant of trust that intentionally describes how they wish to work together. A copy of the UUCE’s covenant with the DRE is available in the church office. The DRE works in concert with the minister and music director for overall and intergenerational programming. The religious education ministry is evaluated periodically with the assistance of the DRE Advisory Committee.

DRE Advisory Committee
The DRE Advisory Committee helps ensure good communications and relationship between the DRE and the congregation, Board and Minister and serves as an advocate for the DRE in contractual relations with the church. This committee assists in the evaluation of the religious education ministry on a periodic basis.

Minister
The congregation “calls” a professional Minister, an ordained member of the UU clergy, to guide the ministry of the church. This is a covenanted position where the church has called this professional to be its parish minister and has created a covenant of mutual support and trust. A copy of our covenant with our minister is on file in the church office. The minister works collaboratively with the Music Director and the Director of Religious Education in creating Sunday worship services. She is assisted by the Worship Associates in the creation and delivery of worship services. She spearheads the Shared Ministry Groups, Caring Ministry, and Adult RE program, as well as officiating and marking life events with members and friends of the church. The minister is often available to members of the congregation by telephone, email, and during office hours. The minister also supervises the Church Administrator, who in turn supervises the church custodian.

Music Committee
This committee works with the music director to help develop and coordinate the music program.

Music & Choirs
Music is an important component of programming at UUCE. There are currently four choirs: a 40-voice Sanctuary Choir, the 12 voice Chamber Singers, a young person’s Spirit Choir, and the newly formed women’s Chalice Choir. Additional musicians sometimes participate in our music program as well.

Music Director
The Music Director oversees the music program at the church.  Responsibilities include coordinating music for Sunday services in conjunction with the Minister, purchasing music, rehearsing various ensembles, hiring outside musicians and maintaining the church's musical instruments.

Religious Education Committee
The Religious Education (RE) Committee works closely with the Director of Religious Education (DRE) to plan and implement the religious education program for children and youth in our congregation. Committee members research and develop curriculum for weekly RE classes, provide backup and support to the DRE during worship services and RE class time, and organize numerous community-building RE activities during the church year. A member of the RE Committee periodically provides representation for the DRE at committee meetings that may impact the RE program.

Shared Ministry Groups
Shared Ministry Groups (SMGs) provide an opportunity to connect with others in the church who wish to explore their ideas of spirituality in an intimate setting and who wish to make a difference together through service to the church and the larger community. Each SMG adopts a covenant that may include elements such as agreements of respect and privacy, attendance, and time-keeping.

Worship Associates
The Worship Associates team works with the Minister to create Sunday services and a member of the team assists Carolyn during Sunday services. The worship associates team also works to plan and implement summer Sunday services.

Youth Adult Committee
The purpose of the Youth Adult Committee (YAC) is to support the high school youth program in creating community, organizing events and trips, problem solving, educating the congregation about youth needs, recruiting appropriate advisors and sponsors, and advocating for youth to the Board and congregation.