uua fifth principle task force reformulating our general assembly: status quo is not an option

UUA Fifth Principle Task Force

Reformulating our General Assembly:

Status Quo Is Not An Option

Task Force Charge & Timeline

To present two or more recommendations on the future configuration and content of General Assembly. Areas to be examined include but are not limited to:

a) Off-site participation in GA, including voting

b) Reconfiguration of GA content to include current pre-GA functions, i.e. leadership development and continuing education for laypersons and religious professionals

c) GA frequency

d) GA duration

Interim report: April, 2009

Final report: January 2010

Assumptions- UUA Board of Trustees is moving to Policy Governance- The current multi-event GA is no longer an effective mode of

governance- We will pay for what we value- Some things work better smaller- Money & staff time required to produce annual GA can be better

spent- End of the church year (June) is not the best time for the

governing assembly of the UUA- Association governance would benefit from more active

involvement by clergy- Meaningful change will require bylaws revisions- Successful association requires good lateral relationships

Values

- Economic accessibility & sustainability- Empowered delegates capable of representing their

congregations- Excellence in shared leadership & ministry- Multi-generational participation & decision-making- Excellence in governance --

- Business decisions reflect and articulate ultimate questions- Linkage between congregations, Trustees & Administration- Accountability between Association & congregations- Awareness and inclusiveness of AR/AO/MC concerns

Imagining a UUA National Biennial Conference

Whose meeting is this?Congregational Delegate Teams, UUA Board & Administration

Congregational Delegate Teams:– Clergy & Lay delegates

– Elected & certified by their congregation or board

– Teams include alternate delegates

– All settled ministers, ministers emeriti & community ministers are part of delegate teams, as per current rules

– Congregations encouraged to select youth to delegate teams – goal of at least one for every five delegates

No delegates from Associates: UUWF, UUSC, UU-UNO

No delegates from UUA Board of Trustees

UUA National Biennial Conference

Congregational Delegate Teams– Core teams of at least five delegates– Congregational delegations of fewer than five will join

with others from their geographic area– Seating on plenary floor arranged geographically

• Teams seated contiguous to neighboring congregations• Then grouped by UUA District … Then by region.

– Intentional space on floor for teams to meet and work together

– Know our neighbors to build UU community & effectiveness beyond the walls of our churches


Conference purpose– Experience high powered, team-based learning– Achieve linkage through structured conversations among

teams and with Trustees about the “ends” of the Association– Hear, question & discuss assessment reports from President

on execution & results of strategic plans– Offer Responsive Resolutions to “ends” conversations &

assessment reports in energized, focused plenary sessions– Elect Association officers. Off-site voting technology will be

used by duly elected delegates who cannot attend

Conference will be governance-driven, not program-driven


What else?– Feed our spirits with daily worship and Sunday morning service– Feed our intellects & imaginations with one or more keynote

addresses– Feed our bodies in fellowship with communal meals– Exhibit area open during mealtimes, evening and during breaks– Childcare provided and partially subsidized for delegates and

alternates– Timing -- August (closer to start of church year) rather than June


Day One: Concentrated team-based learningDelegates develop governance-related leadership skills designed

to:– Enable effective participation at National Conference– Share best practices to take back to our congregations

Days Two and Three: Governance sessionsIn structured conversations and plenaries, delegates use these

skills to conduct UUA business

Days Three and Four: Service projects and worshipParticipants express UU values through collective service and

Sunday worship


Will non-delegates be able to attend?– Observers will be welcome to attend all

Conference activities, but with the exception of a local service project, there will be no special programming for them

– Observers will pay a registration fee and be responsible for their own expenses


Funding the congregational delegates– Lay delegates’ expenses (registration, travel, hotel,

on-site meals) are fully paid by the Association for Fair Share congregations

– Merit Increase Congregations’ lay delegates could be substantially paid

– Ministerial delegates responsible for their own expenses


What will the grid look like?– Wednesday afternoon: Delegate check-in & orientation– Wednesday night: Opening – Thursday: Learning day for delegate teams– Friday morning: Breakout sessions for delegate teams &

Trustees to discuss ends and big questions– Friday afternoon: Plenary including forum for candidates– Friday evening: Keynote similar to Ware Lecture– Saturday morning: Breakout session discussion continued;

Observers invited to participate in daylong community service project

– Saturday afternoon: Free time– Sunday Morning: Worship & Closing

What about the Alternate Years?

National Biennial Conference would be in odd years. Anticipate beginning in 2013.

What would happen in even years? Some possibilities:

A. Another kind of National MeetingB. Thematically aligned Regional GatheringsC. A Unitarian Universalist “Week of Service”D. A year off

Even-Year Possibilities

A. Another kind of National Meeting:– Revival with music, worship, inspiration– Seminars focusing on theological questions– A UU University learning format– Workshops– Encounters with UUA leadership– All of these? Some of these?

Even-Year Possibilities (cont.)

B. Thematically aligned Regional Gatherings– Heavy use of technology to bring programming to

as many UUs as possible– Include some region-based independent

programming at each site

C. A Unitarian Universalist “Week of Service”- we “do” rather than talk

D. A year off

Current GA Elements to consider:

• Service of the Living Tradition• Ware Lecture• UU University• Affinity Group Annual Meetings (~40)• Seminaries annual dinners• Donor reception• Vendors (UUA Bookstore, Beacon Press, others)

would have national venue only every other year• Annual networking with UUA Staff

Task Force Process to Date

– Task Force meetings since Jan 2008:– 3 in person– 3 conference calls

– Interviews/feedback from: – UUMA Executive Committee– District Presidents Association– District Staff– UUA Board Governance Working Group

– Interviews of other denominations: – UCC– Presbyterians– Episcopal Church– Reformed Judaism

Cost Implications / Considerations

• Current annual UUA expense & staff/volunteer time for General Assembly

• Estimated annualized UUA costs for a Biennial National Conference- UUA expense & staff/volunteer time- Cost to subsidize delegates

Potential Associated Bylaw & Business Process Changes & Timing

Potential Bylaw & Business Process Changes:- From annual General Assembly to biennial National

Conference- Possibly reduce the number of delegates- Possibly change or eliminate the Commission on Social

Witness processPotential Timing of Changes: - UUA BoT place proposed Bylaw changes on agenda for

2010 GA- Two-year process for Bylaw changes. Final approval by

delegates at 2011 GA

Task Force members: • Denise Davidoff

• Janiece Sneegas• Jose Ballester• Gini Courter• Mark G. Gibbons• Daniel O'Connell• Barbara Prairie• Esther Rosado• Joe Sullivan

uua fifth principle task force reformulating our general assembly: status quo is not an option

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