In this feature we seek out answers to questions of broad interest, drawing on experts in congregations, the UUA, and elsewhere. If you would like to submit a question, please write to InterConnections at 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, or e-mail dskinner@uua.org.

Q. Do any churches have a formal policy on calendar setting? That is, how do you decide when the building may be rented to outside groups and when it should be reserved for the congregation's use? Which bodies within the congregation make decisions about the church calendar for the year and how far in advance do you do that?

A. The UU Society of Sacramento, Calif. (460 members), has the following policy, says Tiffany Urness, board president:

"The primary function of UUSS facilities is to benefit and serve the needs and interests of the Society, both short term, for our current membership, and long term, preserving and extending the useful life of the facilities for future generations of members.

"We also allow appropriate community groups to share our facilities when that can be done without displacing regular congregational activities and programs. Under certain limited conditions, we allow the personal use of the facilities by active and current members, and we allow the rental of our facilities to the general public.

"Scheduling is entrusted to the business manager, who establishes policies and procedures for day-to-day use and assigns rooms and settles conflicts by consulting with the appropriate congregational leadership."

In many congregations key leaders hold a meeting in the summer or at the beginning of the church year to put all the significant events for the year on the calendar. Another way to do it is to schedule an event for the following year immediately after that same event has occurred in the present year.

Q. Is it time for the UUA to try group health insurance for ministers and church staff again? I have heard that at one time this was offered but there was so little interest it could not be sustained.

A. "The UUA's health insurance policy for ministers and staff of congregations was cancelled over our objections by Blue Cross Blue Shield in 1998," says the Rev. Ralph Mero, director of the UUA's office of church staff finances. "Since then we have been unable to find any health insurance carrier willing to offer coverage across state lines. Many other national associations are also having this difficulty.

"To our knowledge, all UU congregations or ministers have been able to find coverage. Some congregations have joined the local Chamber of Commerce or Small Business Association to utilize their group plans. Some ministers have obtained personal coverage through the National Association of the Self-Employed or the National Writers Union. Some staff have been able to obtain only individual plans or get coverage through high-risk pools. The picture is not what we would prefer.

"Being able to offer our congregations UUA-sponsored health insurance would be one of our highest priorities--if we could find a carrier willing to offer a financially affordable national program."

Q. We are beginning the process of setting up a pastoral care committee. What does the UUA have to help us get started?

A. The UUA website has these resources. An InterConnections article from June 2000, Beyond Casseroles: Caring Committees That Work, provides examples of caring committees. Another InterConnections document from the Resource Library, All the Document s Needed by a Membership Committee, is at www.uua.org/interconnections/membership/allthedocs.html. Click on Membership Job Descriptions. This article describes the formation of a caring committee. Another source of help is the UUA-sponsored e-mail list MEMB-L, which is for members of membership committees to share ideas. To subscribe go to the MEMB-L webpage and follow the directions.