As an employer, the congregation is subject to federal, state, and local employment laws. Keep your congregation in compliance to avoid fines or other penalties.

Attract great staff and hire confidently with the assistance of these resources.

The interdependence of our faith communities is integral to our polity (as is our independence). This is what makes us an Association of congregations. What can this interrelationship look like when it comes to congregational staff? Here are a few examples: Newly hired staff are welcomed and...

Once the salary and benefits are set by the appropriate church leadership based on recommended practices, it’s important to make sure the payroll is handled accurately and confidentially. Because of the complicated nature of payroll, and especially when it comes to ministers’ salary, housing and...

There are nuanced tax rules regarding income derived from renting your building and/or parking lot, depending on its relation to your core purpose.

The Amplify catalog offers a list of the many ways the UUA serves congregations and UU communities across our Association. Why is it called the Amplify catalog? Congregational support of the Unitarian Universalist Association amplifies the power of each UU congregation, while also helping to...

A shared history is a powerful bond and an awareness of history can foster a sense of pride and a feeling of connectedness. The telling of this history, whether in oral or written form, is one of the most important ways that newer members of a family are welcomed into the group. ...

Annual reports, often published in conjunction with a congregation's annual meeting, provide an opportunity to report on the annual goals that are serving the mission and vision of the congregation

Adding a worship service inevitably means more work for the congregation’s staff, both professional and support. The leaders of worship and religious education must not only repeat the service, create a separate special focus, and oversee another religious education program but also do more...

Series on Staffing for Diversity This series of articles originally appeared in the August 2017 through January 2018 editions of Compensation and Staffing News, a monthly Office of Church Staff Finances publication. Staffing for Diversity, Part I: Vision and Values - An Important Place to Start...

Who is responsible for the oversight, management and upkeep of your buildings and surrounding property?

An accessible, attractive and efficient office space makes staff, volunteers and visitors happy and productive!

The UUA has a Safe Congregations Team that spends hours developing and curating resources: General Safety Topic Responding to Threats and Incidents Promoting Appropriate Behavior Keeping Children Safe in Congregations Becoming a Safer Congregation (Handbook) A UU Guide to Effective Safety Policie...

When an employee's wages change, it affects Life and Long-Term Disability insurance premiums (and benefit payouts) as well as Retirement Plan contributions. Do any of your staff have new hours or salaries (salary + housing for ministers)? If they are on our Life or LTD Plans, use the form on our...

A post-fire redesign of this San José, California, church feels like ‘getting a hug from the building.’

When a congregation is in search for a new professional staff member to fill a key and important role in the congregation, whether it is that of a custodian or that of a membership director, an important consideration is how well potential applicants understand and have personal values that are...

One of the keys to a healthy congregational staff team is that they understand themselves as a team....

One of the most common sources of tension in a congregation where conflict occurs that involves governing boards is the relationship between governing boards and the congregation’s professional staff, including the minister.  I have found that much of this conflict arises from the...