This session explores innovative approaches to building UU identity and challenges faced in developing a deeper understanding of the meaning of membership in our congregations. Including approaches taken by other religious traditions, how growing UU congregations approach the issue, and discussion of the implications for our movement.

Draft Amendment to the UUA Bylaws

In its June 1997 report, Interdependence: Renewing Congregational Polity, the UUA Commission on Appraisal made one of its major recommendations at the end of Section 4, which is entitled "The UUA Bylaws: A Study in Ambivalence." The Commission's recommendation reads:

Unitarian Universalist leaders should generate a proposed amendment to the UUA Bylaws that describes the constituent members of the UUA - the congregations - in a way that gives positive meaning to the principle of congregational polity. Such an amendment would say that congregational polity is not only a principle to protect local autonomy; it also affirms the interdependence of the congregations as essential to their spiritual vitality and authenticity. (Section 4 page 49)

The Commission intends to propose such an amendment to the year 2000 General Assembly. Since these are C-bylaws, the change will need to be passed at two General Assemblies. In order to prepare an amendment representing as wide a consensus as possible, we submit a draft below for your consideration. We hope that this bylaw change will stimulate a conversation about mutual support and responsibility among our congregations.

Please give us your comments by email to coa@uua.org, or by writing to COA Secretary, 517 Silverado Dr., Lafayette, CA 94549, or FAX: (925) 283-3289. We need them no later than August 1, so that we can revise our proposal and send it to the congregations in the fall.

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ARTICLE III - Membership Section C-3.1. Member Societies. The Unitarian Universalist Association is a voluntary association of autonomous, self-governing local churches and fellowships, referred to herein as member societies, which have freely chosen to pursue common goals together [and are committed to mutual care and responsibility within a community of churches and fellowships, in accord with the traditions of congregational polity. They recognize a common need for unity as congregationally-governed religious communities; and affirm a common desire for cooperative efforts in religious service and social witness.]

ARTICLE III - Membership Section C-3.2. Congregational Polity. {Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed as infringing upon the congregational polity or internal self-government of member societies,} [Under these Bylaws each member society shall enjoy full congregational polity and internal self-government] including the exclusive right to call and ordain its own minister or ministers, and to control its own property and funds. [While thus assured of continuing local autonomy, the member societies each recognize that they are mutually interdependent within the community of autonomous societies which form the Association, and they affirm that their interdependence is essential to their spiritual vitality and authenticity, both individually and collectively.] Any action by a member society called for by these Bylaws shall be deemed to have been taken if certified by an authorized officer of the society as having been duly and regularly taken in accordance with its own procedures and the laws which govern it.

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