Provocative Propositions on Polity
A Self-Study Course on Congregational Polity
Based on Interdependence: Renewing Congregational Polity, the 1997 report of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Commission on Appraisal.
This course guides you through the report and provides opportunities to discuss the ideas presented with others. You may go at your own pace, and join whichever conversations you wish.
If you have questions, you can contact the Commission at coa@uua.org.
Three quotes from each section of the report are provided (with links to the Interdependence report). Each section begins with a brief description, and discussion questions follow each set of quotes.
Part One: Congregational Polity in Theory and Practice
- Introduction
- Theological Perspective
- Unitarian Universalist Tradition: A Short History
- Comparative Congregationalisms
- The UUA Bylaws: A Study in Ambivalence
- The Spiritual and Cultural Ethos of Unitarian Universalism
Part Two: Pressure Points
- Congregational Governance
- Cooperative Relationships
- Communications
- Religious Leadership
- Social Justice
- Marginalized Groups
- Internationalism
Conclusion and General Recommendations: Toward a New Community of Congregations
Glossary
Bibliography