Rule 3.3.5. Rules and Regulations for New Congregations.
It is essential that Unitarian Universalist congregations be affirmative in spirit, inclusive in fellowship, and mutually supportive in their relationships with other congregations. The following statements represent the Association's best judgment as to the meaning of this general statement and shall be used by staff and the Board in determining action upon applications for membership.- In receiving the application of a new congregation for membership in the Association, the Congregational Services staff shall satisfy itself that the group is making its application in good faith and that it will make a sincere effort to carry out the purposes of the Association. (See specifically Article II of the Bylaws.)
- The Association interprets its statements of purpose to mean that no congregation may be accepted into membership if its bylaws exclude from its local membership any person because of race, ethnicity, gender, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, language, citizenship status, economic status, or national origin.
- All member congregations must be congregational in polity; the final authority to make decisions must be vested in the legal membership of the congregation.
- Member congregations shall project and embark upon a balanced program of religious activity including adult worship and/or discussion and when feasible establishment of a church school in the Unitarian Universalist tradition.
- New congregations are expected to establish and maintain cooperative relations with Unitarian Universalist agencies, as appropriate and feasible.
- A congregation should be incorporated when possible under the laws of the state in which it exists. A congregation shall include in its articles of incorporation or other organizing documents a clause providing that the assets of the congregation will be transferred upon dissolution to the Association. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a congregation obtains the prior written consent of the Association's Board of Trustees, the congregation may name an organization that is affiliated with the Association (such as a district, camp, conference center or other congregation) as the recipient of the congregation's assets upon dissolution.
Last updated on Friday, November 10, 2006.
