Worker classification is an important legal matter. Learn to determine which of your workers must be treated as employees versus who might be an independent contractor. Know the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and whether each of your employees is nonexempt or exempt.

Your directory or online membership database is a powerful connection tool for your members and friends. But it also has the potential to be misused or abused.

Safety policies help to prevent interpersonal harm as well as safeguards for your assets such as money and building.

While the requirements for membership are in your bylaws, you also need policies ithat define participation, financial support, etc.

When your congregation is developing or revisiting "guiding documents" for leaders that are endorsed by the congregation as a whole (e.g....

For congregations that own a parsonage, consider the possibilities as well as implications for structuring a ministerial agreement.

Boards, especially in congregations with 100 or more members, find that delegating part of their fiduciary work to committees and/or task forces helps to free them up for big-picture and visionary discussions.

Personnel Committees don't hire, manage or supervise staff. Instead they advise the board and the senior minister on best practices.

Policies and procedures are a way of telling future boards “this is our best thinking and guidance on this subject.” 

Bylaws guide the congregation’s board in governing by articulating board structure and key fiduciary committees and processes for key decision-making.

One of the most important keys to congregational health and vitality--along with a clear purpose--is a cohesive leadership team.

A summary and commentary of the UU congregational results of the Faith Communitities Today (FACT) 2023 survey that was conducted this past February-April. 

Replenishing their well of being is essential to a minister's ability to serve faithfully and authentically.

The UUA offers a Congregational Salary Program as a service to congregational leaders. Our approach emphasizes process and values, with recommended salary ranges provided for six job levels in four congregational size profiles.

Ideally, policies guiding the minister, staff, and ministry teams come out of mutual conversations to create clarity around roles, responsibilities, and accountability. Ministry policies should feel collaborative and serve to guide ongoing programs and future decisions.

Safety policies are especially important to have in place before you need them, so they can be thoughtful without the anxiety of a current safety situation.

Links to EqUUal Access resources to help make your congregation accessible to people with disabilities.

The Faith Lab Toolbox series contains videos, songs, activities and quotes on a variety of themes for you to draw from for consistent faith engagement with young UUs. This page is dedicated to the Care Groups Toolbox on creating communities of care.

With the recent relaxation of CDC guidelines, our communtities will be under pressure to reopen. We need to make sure that we have systems and processes to keep the most vulnerable safe and included.

As a faith community, we need to be grounded in our principles and values when making decisions during times of turmoil.