introduction to uuca governance

board minutes & other documents

board members

covenant of healthy relationships

transformational governance

Courageous Action. Soulful Connection.

The mission of UUCA is only achievable with strong, collaborative governance. We work to transform lives through courageous action and soulful connection. This work extends from Sunday worship to operational organization and function! Unitarian Universalists practice congregational polity, which means each congregation is self-governing. We choose our own leadership, handle our own finances, and choose our own delegates to General Assembly, our national annual convening. Central to our work of building beloved community is establishing a covenant, a shared agreement of how we act together, support one another, and seek to create healthy relationships in the course of our shared religious experience. Our UUCA Covenant of Healthy Relationship is an aspiration goal post to create such an environment.

Members of the congregation are the ultimate authority for UUCA.

The congregation gathers online for two Congregational Meetings each year, held in December and May. The Senior Minister is called by a vote of the congregation, and the membership has adopted and periodically amends our UUCA Bylaws.

An elected Board of Trustees represents the congregation and conducts congregational business, subject to authority granted under our Bylaws. The Board governs through Board Policies and acts on behalf of the congregation to further our mission.

The Nominating Committee presents nominees for the Board and for itself to the membership for election.

The work of the congregation is done by ministry teams and groups of many shapes and sizes that plan events, run ongoing programs, or develop new initiatives. Each ministry team has a staff liaison, and congregants are encouraged to go to staff for help with new ministry team ideas.

Article II and the Unitarian Universalist Association

While each UU congregation is autonomous, the UUA is responsible for providing broad guidance regarding Unitarian Universalism as a whole. In 2020, the UUA established the Article II Study Commission, a group responsible for revisiting and reevaluating UUA Principle and Sources. At 2023 General Assembly, delegates passed the revised version of Article II. It will be up for a second vote at 2024 General Assembly. Looking for more information about Article II? Learn more here!

Full Mission Statement

At UUCA, we are transforming lives through courageous action and soulful connection.

Inspired by our diverse faith community, we affirm these values: Wonder and Awe, Love and Compassion, and Courageous Engagement.

Ends 2021 through 2026:

UUCA is a vibrant, innovative hub of engagement for Atlanta and beyond, where together we:

Articulate our Unitarian Universalist faith tradition and identity, teach it to our children, share it with others, and live it courageously in the world.
Ground ourselves in creative, innovative worship and spiritual practice to nourish and heal our souls.
Advance justice, wholeness, and equity for people, our Earth, and all life on it.
Advance the goals of our Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, Multiculturalism resolution.
Create connected community that ministers to one another’s physical, spiritual, and relational needs.
Grow leaders rooted in and committed to our Unitarian Universalist values.
Cultivate and embrace an increasingly diverse community of faith that will transform and enrich our congregation.
Connect with resilience across differences, honoring our Covenant of Healthy Relationships in all the work we do.

Established 2021 through Board leadership and collaboration with our congregation in a series of visioning sessions.

covenant of healthy relationships

“We need not think alike to love alike.”

One of our Unitarian Universalist ancestors, Francis David, spoke those words more than 400 years ago to describe the foundation of our unity as a religious community. The purpose of this covenant is to increase awareness of actions that each of us can take to nurture and support our beloved community. To this end, we, the people of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, affirm the following Covenant of Healthy Relationships:

We will be mindful of how we communicate with and about others.

We intend to:

Listen actively and seek to understand the perspectives and opinions of others
Use “I” statements when expressing our own views, always mindful that our thoughts and opinions may not be shared by others
Be respectful and kind in our words, tone, and body language
Use email and other forms of electronic communication with respect, kindness, and special care

We will seek a peaceful and constructive resolution process when conflicts arise.

We intend to:

Communicate directly with the person or group involved, instead of gossiping or speaking negatively about others in the wider community
Assume that others act with good intentions
Check the accuracy of our perceptions and assumptions
Be forgiving and loving when we or others make mistakes
Apologize, when warranted, and seek to make amends
Call on congregational resources when help is needed

We will celebrate the diversity within our community.

We intend to:

Reach out to others with warmth and kindness in a spirit of welcome
Recognize and honor the diversity of beliefs and spiritual paths within our community, including the words and ways people choose to express their spirituality
Be curious, appreciative, and informed about perspectives that differ from our own
Honor the contributions and needs of those who have been historically marginalized in the larger world and in our congregation, and seek growth in our ability to be welcoming

We will build the common good.

We intend to:

Build mutual trust through an honest and responsible use of information
Contribute our gifts of time, talents, and financial resources
Encourage and support the involvement of everyone in the life of our congregation
Express gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of others
Respect the roles and responsibilities of congregational leaders
Respect UUCA’s established policies and procedures

This Covenant of Healthy Relationships affirms the foundation of our unity at UUCA. Our commitment to one another ensures that our community will be a safe and inspirational place in which we, as individuals and groups, can live out our spiritual journeys.

Developed 2007-2008, confirmed by the congregation on May 18, 2008.

Learn more about the Healthy Relationships Committee here.

board of trustees

DAVID YAMASHITA

President

BARBARA BEGNER

President-Elect

david l. sjoquist

Financial Trustee

mary "liebs" liebman

Trustee

leta woo

Trustee

Herschel Beazley

Trustee

Janel Dennard

Trustee

terry carpenter

Trustee

beth martinez

Trustee

nominating committee

Meredith Milby

Andrea Barra

Holly Grimes

Laura ROSE

JANE MEZOFF

stewardship co-chairs

Elizabeth Field

Chris Martin

board minutes and other documents

UUCA POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Click Here for a full list of UUCA policies and procedures. Please note: policies are currently under revision. Consult relevant UUCA staff with any questions or concerns.