WHEREAS, many of the churches and fellowships of the Unitarian Universalist Association are located in the central portions of our large cities; and

WHEREAS, a very sizeable percentage of the Unitarian Universalists belong to these inner-city churches and fellowships; and

WHEREAS, inner-city churches and fellowships share in common a great many special problems, hardships, opportunities, and advantages related to the mobility and volatility of city life; and

WHEREAS, the continued existence of many of our large cities is visibly and obviously endangered and their need for stable and vital churches and other social institutions is apparent; and

WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1972 organized a conference of "Center-City Churches" which was held in Philadelphia and funded by a special grant; and

WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association did not provide effective follow-up for this conference; and

WHEREAS, without supportive denominational services, our city societies have not been able effectively to share expertise or to mount joint efforts;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association's Department of Ministerial and Congregational Services is urged to serve the special needs of center-city societies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this program include (but not be limited to) the gathering and dissemination of information among city societies and assistance with the special needs of city societies in religious education, pastoral ministry, funding, social-action programs, community service, attracting and holding membership in a fluid population, establishing an identity in complex pluralistic society, and church-community relations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this program be given a high priority in the Department's efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association urges suburban societies to enter into sharing arrangements with their sister city societies, both as a means of mutual enrichment and to foster the spirit of unity among our societies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association is urged to form a committee, with representation from the Board and from city-center societies of the Association, to monitor on a quarterly basis the efforts of the Department of Ministerial and Congregational Services on behalf of the center-city societies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association is urged to establish a procedure by which negotiations with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee can be opened to determine what program aimed at center-city can be developed between the two organizations.