Letter of Understanding Between Parish and Retired Ministers
Letter of Understanding between The Rev. X, Parish Minister, (congregation name) and The Rev Y, Retired Minister
We covenant to guide our actions by the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association Code of Professional Practice and Guidelines, and to support one another in collegial respect and care.
- Y will not offer, and will not accept requests for ministerial services or public leadership from members of the congregation, or in this congregational context, unless requested by X.
- Y will honor the prerogatives of X’s responsibility for leadership in the congregation, and in all ways seek to support X’s ministry.
- Y will only participate in leadership roles that support and benefit the ministry, and at the request and with the prior permission of X.
- Y will neither listen to nor volunteer criticisms of X. As necessary, Y will describe appropriate channels of communications to members seeking to express concerns.
- Y articulates clearly her own hopes and expectations regarding her relationships in the congregation, and her intention to avoid wielding any undue influence among the members, as follows:
- Y hopes to develop authentic relationships with members and friends of CONGREGATION and participate in the life of CONGREGATION socially and occasionally in social justice initiatives;
- Y hopes that X will support Y’s social justice ministry as President of Organization and Board Secretary of Organization to members and friends of Congregation;
- Y hopes that X will formally introduce Y to the Congregation in a worship service and/or in a newsletter article.
- X will seek to foster cordial and candid relations with Y in recognition of the value of her presence in the congregation.
- X will bring any concerns arising from the relationship Y has with the congregation directly and promptly to the attention of Y.
- In calling attention to any deviation by my colleague from this Letter of Understanding, X and Y will adhere to the processes described in Accountability Procedures of the UUMA Guidelines. So doing will not be regarded as a failure of collegial loyalty.
- Y will confer with and renew this covenant with future CONGREGATION NAME UU ministers. If the congregation becomes lay-led, NAME OF MINISTER will confer with and renew this covenant with the Board.
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The Rev. X , (Congregation name) Parish Minister Date
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The Rev. Y, Retired Minister Date