Congregational Membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association
Procedures for Admission
A new congregation becomes a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) when the UUA Board of Trustees approves its application. The Board votes on new congregation applications at meetings that occur in January, April, June, and October of each year. Your application and supporting materials need to be received at least four weeks prior to the next Board meeting. Below is the schedule of upcoming board meetings and due dates for your completed application:
Material Due Dates
Your application is due at the UUA prior to scheduled Board of Trustee meetings:
- June 24-25 & 30, 2008 (application due by May 19, 2008)
- October 15-19, 2008 (application due by September 22, 2008)
- January 16-18, 2009 (application due by December 19, 2009)
- April 17-19, 2009 (application due by March 16, 2009)
- June 23-24 & 30, 2009 (application due by May 18, 2009)
If you determine that your group is not quite ready to become a Congregational Member of the UUA, read about Emerging Congregations.
Application Materials
Submit the items below with the application (PDF, 7 pages) to the Department for Congregational Services. The application process is complete when all materials are received. Also, a copy of your application needs to go to your district office.
- A complete list of all charter members (to be completed on the enclosed form or one based on it). The UUA Bylaws require congregations to have 30 adult charter members to be considered for affiliation.
- A copy of your congregation's bylaws. A resource for drafting congregational bylaws is Your Congregation's Bylaws (Word, 89 pages): a Guide to Effective Writing and Revising (PDF).
- A copy of your congregation's Articles of Incorporation. The UUA requires that all new congregations be incorporated in their state, province, or region before affiliating with the Association. As a result of the varying incorporation laws in different areas, it may be necessary for your group to contact a local attorney familiar with non-profit incorporation procedures. In filing the Articles of Incorporation, it will be necessary to fulfill UUA procedures for Admission-Rule 3.3.5 (f) which states: "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 UUA. With the prior written approval of the UUA Board of Trustees, the congregation has the option of naming a UUA affiliate organization (such as district, camp, conference center or other congregation), as the recipient of the congregation's assets."
- A check made payable to the Unitarian Universalist Association for its Annual Program Fund (APF) and is pro-rated for the fiscal year in which you affiliate; and the pro-rated period begins in the month of the date of the application for UUA Membership. The UUA fiscal year is July 1st to June 30th. The Fair Share has been approved by the UUA Board of Trustees and is as follows:
- 2007/2008 $54
2008/2009 $56
2009/2010 $58
NOTE: Fair Share is the minimum amount that your congregation is requested to contribute each UUA fiscal year in support of the Association's work. Although a “corporate” contribution, since the congregation is the Association member, it is calculated on the basis of the total membership your congregation reports the preceding February on the “UUA Member Society Annual Certification Report and UUA Directory Update” form. The UUA Board of Trustees determines the method for calculating Fair Share as well as the amount. In the above example, the congregation's Full Fair Share for FY2008 would be $1620: 30 members at $54 each for the July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. In coming years, when planning your congregation's budget, please take Full Fair Share for the fiscal year into account.
If your congregation's fiscal year does not coincide with that of the Association and you would like assistance in budgeting for your APF contribution—or have any other questions—please contact the APF Office (617) 948-6512 or -6513 or email apf @ uua.org. For additional information, you can also check the APF website.
- The UUA requires four recommendations written in support of the congregation. You must include a letter from a nearby minister and a letter from your District Executive when you submit your application along with the other two recommendations from your District Trustee and your District President. Sample letters are included in the addendum (PDF, 16 pages).
The application form included in this congregational membership document is the only application that will be considered for congregational membership with the UUA. However, you may produce your own list of charter members based on the one enclosed. For your application to be considered, all materials need to be received by the UUA by the due date. A checklist is enclosed.
When Your Application is Received
After your application has been received, Congregational Services will:
- notify the new congregation if the application is not complete.
- send your APF check to the directly to the APF bank lock box. The bank notifies the APF Office, which credits your congregation with the contribution after the affiliation process is complete.
- send the completed application to the Office of the Executive Vice President, which puts your application on the agenda for the Board of Trustee meeting.
After the Board votes, your congregation will receive a letter of notification that you have been accepted as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
If you have any questions regarding this process, need further assistance, or if you would like a hard copy of the Congregational Membership in the UUA Packet mailed to you, please contact the Congregational Services Administrator.
Where to send your completed Congregational Membership in the UUA Packet:
Office of Congregational Services
Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108
Find out more about the Annual Program Fund
For more information contact congservices @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, May 16, 2008.
