Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of Unity Church-Unitarian represents the congregation in shaping the vision and long-term goals of the church. We ensure the church is externally effective and internally efficient, and we create policy and direction for the executive team and church staff.

For matters concerning church policy, long-term vision, and goals, contact the board by email to board@unityunitarian.org. We want to hear from you! For concerns or ideas on matters related to church programming, contact the Executive Team.

The board of trustees meets in the Anderson Library each month. Currently, the board meets monthly on the second Saturday, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., for the full calendar year. Minutes of each board meeting are posted below.

The annual congregational meeting is held in November.

For information about the search for Unity's next settled minister, please see our Ministerial Transition page.

Proposed Bylaw Changes & Robert's Rules Simplified

Why changes to Unity's Bylaws? Most of these proposed changes come from suggestions you made following the May 2022 congregational meeting. In response to your comments, and a concern raised by the executive team, we are proposing the following four changes:

Changing the 75% minimum percentage of voting members in attendance at a congregational meeting for the selection of a called minister required to vote yes for the call to succeed to 85%. The reason for this change is 85% would bring the congregational vote requirement much closer to the 90-95% minimum virtually all Unitarian Universalist ministers require. The feeling among ministers is that, if 90% or more of the quorum assembled for the vote cannot agree on the call, the ministry is unlikely to succeed. We chose 85% because it allows room for something less than 90% (for example, Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs received 89%, but were convinced to accept the call).
Making "Roberts Rules Simplified" (RRS) the official rules governing congregational meetings. The purpose of procedural rules is to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak, and all voices are fairly heard. Many people find that Roberts Rules of Order are complex, inaccessible, and have been used to silence already-oppressed voices. RRS are much easier to understand and use. They are explained on a two-page, easy to read handout that can be distributed with every meeting packet. We hope they will help ensure that everyone who wants to be heard at a meeting is heard!
Allowing voting by proxy at congregational meetings to call or remove a called minister. A number of people were unable to stay until the vote occurred in May 2022. Others may not be able to attend in person or have access to online participation. The proxy voting mechanism, which has several strict conditions attached to it, will enable people in those circumstances to have their votes counted.
Adding a 60-day waiting period after a person signs the membership book and makes a pledge before they are eligible to vote in any congregational meeting. In May 2022, a number of people joined the church just days before the meeting, and, unhappy with the result, immediately quit after the meeting. The waiting requirement is not uncommon with other churches and ensures that important decisions of all sorts are made by people with a true commitment to the church and the church community.