Lay Leadership in Unitarian Universalism

In Our Congregations

Through volunteer committees and elected congregational boards, lay leaders manage most aspects of Unitarian Universalist congregational life, including:

• Hiring ministers and staff
• Building and maintaining buildings
• Managing finances
• Determining the congregation’s position on social justice issues

Lay leaders may also plan and lead worship services and choose religious education curricula. Each congregation decides for itself how to divide these responsibilities.

'Lay-led congregations' are ones that lead themselves without a full-time minister. Unitarian Universalism has a proud history of congregational lay leadership that can be traced to the Fellowship Movement that began in 1948. Some congregations still call themselves fellowships as an outcome of this movement.

In Our Larger Faith Movement

Lay leaders also play a central role in determining the future of the Unitarian Universalist faith by

• Voting on the business of Unitarian Universalism at General Assembly
• Electing the president of our Association
• Holding positions on denominational governance bodies like elected committees and our Board of Trustees

To experience Unitarian Universalism firsthand, we invite you to visit a congregation near you!