Board Advisory Committees

Ethics and Collegiality
Widening the Circle
Strategic Advisory Partners
Ministerial Fellowship Committee Liaisons
Bylaws

PURPOSE:

To strengthen our ministries by promoting collegiality and the highest ethical and professional conduct.

CHARGE:

The Committee on Ethics and Collegiality (CEC) shall review and make recommendations regarding professional complaints (minister to minister) submitted by UUMA members which have not reached resolution through the Good Offices Right Relations process and issues of ethical and collegial concern in our ministry.

Complete Procedures

Preamble:

The UUMA Committee on Ethics and Collegiality is a Standing Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, as defined by our Bylaws.

Charge:

The Committee on Ethics and Collegiality is charged with fulfilling the requirements of the Accountability section of our Code of Conduct. The Committee shall investigate and propose resolution of complaints which a.) have not been reconciled through the Good Officer for Right Relations process, or which b) are referred to the committee by the Good Officer for Right Relations, the impacted person(s), or Designated Accountability Coordinators (Trustee at Large for Ethics and Collegiality and Member of the Executive) for board action. Such actions may include a letter of reprimand, suspension or termination of membership as described in 8.

The Committee will act within the guidance of the Accountability section of our Code of Conduct.

The process for resolution of a complaint shall be:

The Committee’s activity will begin when the Good Offices Portfolio holder notifies the Board Member at Large for Ethics and Collegiality that the Good Officer Right Relations process has failed and is recommending a case be put forward to the Board of Trustees for resolution.
The Committee will investigate the complaint and the recommendations from the Good Officer for Right Relations.
The Committee will reach a judgment as to whether any behavior occurred in fact which constituted a violation of the Code of Conduct. Refusal to cooperate with requests for information necessary to assist the CEC in its determination shall result in suspension of membership.
If the Committee’s judgment is that such behavior did occur, the Committee will prepare recommendations to the UUMA Board of Trustees to resolve the complaint, which may include, private censure, public censure and/or removal from membership
If a person is involved as the respondent to a complaint, they cannot file a counter-claim until the initial complaint has been through the CEC process.

Accountability:

The Committee on Ethics and Collegiality serves at the appointment of the Board of Trustees and reports to the Board. The Trustee at Large for Ethics and Collegiality shall serve as liaison to the Committee.

Committee Membership:

A pool of at least Six members shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees.

A Committee of three members shall be activated by the Trustee at Large for Ethics and Collegiality from the pool within one month of being informed by the Good Officer for Right Relations that a qualified complaint has been received. The members of the committee may not be members of any chapter in which any party to the complaint holds current membership. The Trustee at Large for Ethics and Collegiality shall serve as chair of the committee.

The committee members shall serve in an ad hoc manner until the complaint has been resolved in accord with the established procedures.

Revision Date: Adopted 11.20

Members of the Committee:

Seth Carrier-Ladd

Member

Leah Ongiri

Member

Nathan Ryan

Member

Jen Ryu

Member

Amy Shaw

Member

Marlene Walker

Trustee at Large, CEC

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PURPOSE:

The UUMA Widening the Circle Committee (WTCC) is a Perennial Committee of the UUMA as defined by our Bylaws. The Committee’s purpose is to provide guidance to the UUMA Board in implementing recommendations from the Widening the Circle of Concern report, and/or other equity/inclusion initiatives focusing on our transformation as an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural UUMA.

CHARGE:

Towards the goal of transforming the UUMA, the WTCC shall:
- Advise on community needs
- Assess major programs and organizational culture
- Recommend strategies to the Board and Executive Team
- Strengthen accountability within, among and between our membership
- Provide public witness and advocacy

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE:

Gordon Bailey

MEMBER

Phoenix Bell-Shelton Biggs

MEMBER

Daniel King

MEMBER

Rodney Lemery

MEMBER

William Levwood

MEMBER

Arran Morton

MEMBER

Deanna Vandiver

MEMBER

Joseph Santos-Lyons

TRUSTEE AT LARGE WTC

Melissa Carvill Ziemer

STAFF LIAISON

Janette Lallier

STAFF LIAISON

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Board Working Group Charge

Term: We are looking at a 1 year commitment, renewable up to 3 years.

Charge: The UUMA Board of Trustees cares deeply about UUMA members, our many varied UU ministries, and the future of professional ministry. The UUMA Board charges the Strategic Advisory Partners with advising the UUMA Board on the implementation of the following strategic goals:

Work to ensure UU ministry is physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially sustainable for more UUMA members especially those who have disabilities, are BIPOC, are LGBTQ+, are experiencing financial hardship, and/or a combination of these identities.
Advocate for UUMA members, particularly in congregational settings, to increase trust in and fair treatment by UUA Congregational Life Staff, UUA Ministries and Faith Development Department Staff (including Transitions Staff), the MFC and its Review Team, and congregations.
With integrity to the ministry and grounded in our commitment to accountability, partner with the UUA, the MFC, and other religious professional organizations to widen the path to ministry.
Develop Board policies, practices, and processes that increase our collegial care and strengthen our abilities to engage in trauma-informed ministries with one another, with Exec/Staff, with UUMA members, and with responses to harm and efforts toward repair.

Furthermore, the Strategic Advisory Partners shall propose data collection methods, implementation actions, and report regularly on progress to and seek counsel from the UUMA Board. Each member shall be appointed by the UUMA Board for one year, renewable for up to three years. The Board members on this Strategic Advisory Partners shall convene the Partners.