COVENANT

United in our call to serve the spirit of love and justice through the vocation of ministry in the liberal religious tradition,

we, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, covenant with one another:

• To conduct ourselves with integrity, honoring the trust placed in us;

• To embody in our lives the values that we proclaim on behalf of our faith;

• To support one another in collegial respect and care,

understanding and honoring the diversity within our association;

• To hold ourselves accountable to each other for the competent exercise of our vocation;

• To use our power constructively and with intention,

mindful of our potential unconsciously to perpetuate systems of oppression;

• To seek justice and right relations according to our evolving collective wisdom,

and to refrain from all abuse or exploitation;

• To cultivate practices of deepening awareness, understanding, humility, and commitment to our ideals;

• To labor earnestly together for the well being of our communities

and the progress of Unitarian Universalism.

Through fidelity to this covenant and our Code of Professional Conduct, we aspire to grow in wholeness, and bring hope and healing to the world.

06/09

CODE OF CONDUCT

Ethical Standards

I will be honest and diligent in my work to fulfill the offices of ministry according to the stipulations of my call or employment and my best professional judgment.

I will not misappropriate the money or property of the congregations, agencies or enterprises I serve, or of their members, staff or clients.

Within the limitations of law, I will respect the confidentiality of private communications from those to whom I minister.

I will honor the intellectual property of others, assuring that appropriate attribution is given to avoid intentionally creating the impression that the work of others is my own.

I will demonstrate respect and compassion without regard to race, color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability or ethnicity. Such equitable treatment shall be extended to all to whom I minister regardless of position in the organization, including to those who may disagree with me.

I will work to confront attitudes and practices of unjust discrimination on the basis of race, color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, or ethnicity, and to challenge them within myself and in individuals, congregations, and groups I serve.

I will make myself a candidate for a pulpit or other position of ministry only with serious intent, and I will observe the established candidating procedures of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

I will stay informed of the latest rules and policies of the UUA’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee.

I will not engage in public words or actions that degrade the vocation of ministry, or diminish among us the esteem of our calling.

I will not engage in sexual contact or sexualized behavior with any minor child or unwilling adult.

I will not engage in sexual contact or sexualized behavior in potentially exploitive relationships, including with any person I am counseling, with interns, and with any staff person I supervise directly or indirectly except my spouse or partner.

I will respect the relationships of those to whom I minister, and not engage in sexual contact or sexualized behavior with any married or partnered client or member of the congregation, agency or enterprise I serve, or with the spouse or partner of a client or member of the institution.

If I am married or in a committed partnership I will not engage in sexual contact or sexualized behavior with any person whom I serve professionally except my spouse or partner.

In pursuing any special personal relationship of friendship or romance with a client or member of the congregation, agency or enterprise I serve, I will recognize the potential negative consequences for my ministry and/or the institutional system and I will consider the advice of colleagues.

Expectations of Conduct

I will share and support the concerns of the Unitarian Universalist Minister’s Association, especially as reflected in the UUMA Covenant, Code and Standards.

Within the limitations of law, I will respect confidences given me by colleagues and expect them to respect mine.

I will not speak scornfully or in derogation of any colleague in public. In any private conversation concerning a colleague, I will speak responsibly and temperately. I will not solicit or encourage negative comments about a colleague or their ministry.

These Expectations of Conduct apply to all forms of public or private media including electronic and internet communications.

I will seek consultation among my colleagues practicing the diverse forms of parish-based and community-based ministry within the same geographical area, so that we may develop a mutually agreed Letter of Understanding regarding our several roles and the ways in which these may and may not intersect.

If I am not a settled, interim or consulting minister of a congregation served by a colleague, I will not offer, and will not accept requests for, ministerial services or public leadership from members of that congregation, or in that congregational context, unless I have a covenant with or until I have consulted with the minister serving there.

If my colleague asks me to refrain from performing such service or appearing in a leadership capacity, I will comply.

Should emergency circumstances make advance consultation impossible, I will render only limited service, and consult with my colleague at the earliest possible opportunity.

If I have occasion to perform ministerial or leadership functions, apart from routine contact with members or clients of my current ministry, in contexts where colleagues are serving, I will make an effort to communicate with those colleagues, and to respect their professional prerogatives and be responsive to their concerns.

Ministers of a congregation hosting District or UUA events will be assumed to have invited colleagues to appear in leadership capacities at such events.

If I am to share the ministry of a congregation with other ministers, I will seek clear delineation of responsibility, authority, accountability and channels of communication before responsibilities are assumed. I will thereafter work in cooperation and consultation with my colleagues, taking care that changing roles and relations are re-negotiated with clarity, respect and honesty.

I will acknowledge the reality of power differences based on defined responsibilities and authority within congregations, agencies or enterprises. I will acknowledge the reality of privilege arising from differences of social location and historical marginalization. I will exercise the power of my authority and the privileges of my social location in such a way that I do not disadvantage my colleagues on the basis of my or their race, color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability or ethnicity.

As a supervisor, I will recognize the special responsibility I have to colleagues and staff who I supervise, and I will work justly and compassionately with the authority given to me.

As a minister in a role supervised by a senior colleague, I will work to support my colleague's leadership and the success of our shared ministry.

When my ministry to a congregation has ended, I will refrain from offering or performing ministerial services for members of that congregation, except at the invitation of my incumbent successor colleague(s).

If I belong to or attend a congregation served by a colleague, I will honor the prerogatives of that colleague’s responsibility for leadership in that congregation, and in all ways seek to support that colleague’s ministry. I will initiate an open and direct conversation with my colleague(s) in order to create a mutually agreed covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about the role I am to play in the church. If I am a member of a congregation that I once served, this may include the possibility of absenting myself from any presence at all. I will articulate clearly my own hopes and expectations regarding my relationships in the congregation, and my intention to avoid wielding any undue influence among the members. I will only participate in leadership roles that support and benefit the ministry, and at the request and with the permission of the minister(s). I will neither listen to nor volunteer criticisms of my colleague(s). As necessary I will describe appropriate channels of communications to members seeking to express concerns.

If I am a settled minister in a congregation having retired or other ministers as members, I will seek to foster cordial and candid relations with my colleagues in recognition of the value of their presence in the congregation. I will initiate an open and direct conversation with my colleague(s) to enter a mutually agreed covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about their participation in the life of the congregation. I will bring any concerns arising from the relationship my colleague(s) have with the congregation directly and promptly to the attention of my colleague(s).

If I am elected Minister Emeritus/a, I will recognize that this honor sustains a continuing but changed relationship with the congregation I once served as one of its ministers. I will initiate an open and direct conversation with my successor colleague(s) to enter a mutually agreed covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about the role I am to play in the church. My successor colleague may choose to include the congregation’s board of trustees in this covenant process. I will honor the prerogatives of my colleague’s responsibility for leadership, and in all ways seek to support that colleague’s ministry.

If I am a settled minister in a congregation that has elected a Minister Emeritus/a, I will recognize the meaning of the honor that the congregation has bestowed, and the significance of the continuing relationship of ministry it implies. I will initiate an open and direct conversation with my Emeritus/a colleague(s) to enter a mutually agreed covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, about their participation in the life of the congregation. I will bring any concerns arising from the relationship the Minister Emeritus/a has with the congregation directly and promptly to that colleague’s attention.

The discovery of ministerial misconduct and the healing of congregations, agencies or enterprises that have experienced such misconduct, take priority over the expectations of collegial courtesy.

In calling attention to any deviation by my colleague(s) from this Code, I will adhere to the processes described in Accountability, below. So doing will not be regarded as a failure of collegial loyalty.

Accountability Procedures

The provisions of the Code of Conduct identify standards of behavior for members of the UUMA. Violation of these standards by any member is a matter of concern to other members, and may result in disciplinary actions.

The following procedure is to be followed when a member of the UUMA becomes concerned about a colleague’s adherence to the code.

Concerns and the Role of UUMA Good Offices

In most instances, a member who believes a colleague's behavior to be inconsistent with the Code of Conduct should express their concern directly. As an alternative, or should the direct approach not achieve the desired result, a Chapter Good Offices Person (GOP) should be consulted. A GOP is initially neutral, advising the member, and exploring the possibility of an informal resolution of the concern.

In the event that a Chapter GOP cannot settle a concern between ministers, the minister or the Chapter GOP will seek advice or intercession with the Continental GOP. If the concern is still unresolved, the concerned minister should write a letter of complaint to the Committee on Ethics and Collegiality (CEC), fully specifying the nature of the concern making it a formal complaint.

Consideration of Complaints by the Council on Ethics and Collegiality

The CEC, working in consultation with the UUMA Executive Committee’s GOP, will assess the complaint; invite communications from involved UUMA members; make recommendations toward the resolution of the complaint; and report to involved UUMA members and to the UUMA Executive Committee that the complaint:

1) has been resolved at this stage, or

2) relates to disagreements about Standards that are not actionable, or

3) is without foundation, or

4) should become a formal grievance, and be referred to the UUMA Executive Committee.

Chapter GOP may continue to be involved in a consulting or pastoral role.

In dealing with complaints against a UUMA member serving on the staff of the UUA related to actions undertaken in the line of their duties, the CEC will:

1) advocate and practice forbearance;

2) consult with the appropriate supervisor at the UUA;

3) remain mindful of the complex roles and responsibilities with congregations, agencies, enterprises and other parties carried by such members of the UUMA.

Consideration of a Grievance by the Executive Committee

When a written complaint is referred by the CEC to the UUMA President for consideration by the Executive Committee it becomes a formal grievance. An action under this process may also be initiated by the Executive Committee or the President of the UUMA. Grievances will be acted upon as follows:

1) In their fact-finding, discussion and actions in response to grievances, the President and members of the Executive Committee will be guided by four fundamental principles:

(a) confidentiality;

(b) caring for the persons involved;

(c) fairness;

(d) concern for the severity of the issues.

2) Consistent with these principles, members of the UUMA bringing complaints and grievances, or against whom complaints and grievances have been brought, are assured that collegial confidences will not be disclosed by members of the CEC or the Executive Committee, except:

(a) as mandated by law;

(b) to prevent a clear and immediate danger to a person or persons;

(c) where disclosure of a confidence may be required for defense in a legal action between colleagues;

(d) if, and only to the extent that, there is a waiver previously obtained in writing.

3) The Executive Committee shall notify the member in writing of its intent to act on a grievance at least 30 days prior to its meeting. The member may respond in writing to the Executive Committee and/or attend the meeting in person. The member shall be offered reasonable expenses to attend the meeting. If an adverse action is taken, the member may make a final appeal to the next annual meeting of the UUMA.

4) UUMA members shall have full access and full freedom and right to respond to all evidence cited against them. In addition, they always have the right and option of advisement by counsel at their own expense, but at no time can they be represented by counsel in these proceedings.

5) The UUMA Executive Committee's action in response to a grievance shall be in writing to the members involved, and will be in the form of one the following actions:

(a) advice that the grievance is unfounded, or undeserving of action in which case no public notice shall be made by the UUMA, or

(b) private caution, professional admonition or formal reprimand in which case no public notice shall be made by the UUMA, or

(c) conditional probation, indefinite suspension or removal from membership in the UUMA.

6) Any member against whom an action has been taken may appeal to a meeting of the membership. Such appeal must be made by certified mail to the President of the UUMA, within thirty days of notification and no later than 45 days prior to the next annual meeting of the UUMA. In such cases the action of the Executive Committee shall stand until and unless overturned by a vote of the UUMA membership. Unless the action of the Executive Committee is overturned by the membership, it shall become the official position of the UUMA, and be binding on all members. The action of the membership meeting shall be final.

7) If, and only if, an action consisting of probation, suspension or removal has been taken, and no appeal has been made within thirty days, or the appeal has been denied, notice of the action by the Executive Committee shall be given promptly thereafter to the member’s congregation or other employer and to the Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee and the membership of the UUMA.

06/2010

Standards of Professional Practice

I. Ministers’ Expectations of Ministers

A. To seek and to accept ordination to the Unitarian Universalist ministry is to dedicate oneself to the redemptive power of religious community in the world as expressed in the unique heritage of the liberal faith. A minister makes a vocational commitment to this work in a variety of institutional and relational forms.

B. Members of a Unitarian Universalist congregation have freely gathered to become a body of people walking together in religious community. Congregational polity is central to the life of these communities. From honored principle, in practice each local congregation is ultimately and finally self-governing in its institutional authority, as well as pledged to cooperation and consultation with other member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

C. By the corporate act of call, the members of the local congregation acknowledge their need for the service of one prepared by education and personal commitment for the work of ministerial leadership. They pledge to labor with the minister in bringing to fruition the promise of the free church, and to provide for their sustenance. In the context of both congregational and community-based ministry, the ministerial call signifies creation of a distinctive partnership in which minister and congregation alike affirm their intention to share in a religious pilgrimage of mutual care, joy, forbearance, self-discipline, and a desire to serve the common good.

1. The minister's life and vocation is to reflect honesty, forthright love, leadership, and service.

2. Ministers are responsible to lead public worship, nurture spiritual growth, and cultivate strong communities.

3. Ministers are to offer counsel and comfort, and help people connect in order to encourage and support one another. Ministers must be clear on the limits of their counseling skills and make referrals when there is need for more than pastoral counseling unless they have specialized training.

4. In keeping with the tradition of intellectual freedom in the pulpit and the pew, ministers are to preach and teach the truth as they see it without fear, and with openness to new understanding.

5. Ministers are to show respect and compassion for all people, and to summon communities to display to the world actions of justice, peace, goodwill, and the ethical life.

6. The minister is to bear witness to the realities of the world, the ideals of the common good, and the power of people for love and change, endurance and delight.

7. In a parish setting, ministers are responsible for assessing the needs and resources of congregations in the many dimensions of community life, such as:

a. worship;

b. preaching;

c. administration;

d. pastoral care and counseling;

e. rites of passage;

f. religious education (adults and children);

g. arts and aesthetics;

h. small group ministry;

i. theological reflection;

j. social witness, concern, and action;

k. connections in the local community;

l. outreach and growth;

m. right relationships and community building;

n. District and UUA affairs.

8. The relationship of a congregation with its minister(s) can only be understood with reference to both the autonomy and the mutual accountability of congregational polity. Therefore there can be no rigid standardization of parish-minister relations. The conduct of a particular ministry must be determined by the minister, the congregation, and/or other employing agencies or enterprises, in accordance with particular talents and needs.

9. The UUMA Code of Professional Practice and these Standards describe some disciplines important to congregational polity, and to a professional ministry dedicated to serving congregations, agencies or enterprises and larger communities well. They are designed to facilitate understanding and discussion between congregation or agency and minister, as well as among ministerial colleagues. They represent the best thinking of the UUMA with regard to optimal agreements and conditions, to be adapted by and for each setting of ministry.

10. Effective ministry and collegiality are grounded in mutual trust and respect, rather than in even the best and most scrupulously observed procedures. Adequate and actively used means of communication must be a matter of shared and continuing concern for ministers, congregations and agencies, and among ministerial colleagues.

11. The health and future of the ministry requires the capacity of all ministers to recognize and confront exploitive or destructive patterns of behavior in self and others. Collegiality includes a requirement to raise, and to receive in good faith, concerns about actions and patterns of interactions that damage ministerial integrity or effectiveness. Pursuit of such concerns is not a violation of collegiality, but a duty that is part of its very essence. Appropriate methods for this kind of collegial confrontation and support are outlined in the Code of Conduct section titled "Accountability Procedures” and include the work of the Committee on Ethics and Collegiality.

12. This document will be revised from time to time. Ministers should be attentive to these revisions as published by the UUMA. The entire document should be reviewed periodically by a minister and the appropriate congregation, agency or enterprise.

II. Ministers’ Expectations of Institutions They Serve

A. While the work of ministry is often challenging, it should be structured in such a way as to be sustainable over time, and model health, integrity and wholeness. It is in the interest of the ministry as a whole and the future of the Association that ministers be provided with ample compensation and benefits, and good working conditions, as specified below. The UUMA urges its members not to accept substandard compensation, benefits or working conditions.

B. The Executive Committee of the UUMA may find a congregation or other agency to be in patent violation of right relations with a minister as described in these Guidelines, and make that finding public.

C. Freedom of The Pulpit And The Ministry

1. The history and expectation of the Unitarian Universalist movement is that ministers are free to speak the truth as they understand it. The long standing tradition of freedom of the pulpit extends to ministers in all professional settings. This freedom applies to both spoken and written public statements.

2. The minister does not, however, necessarily speak for either the institution or its members. It is the minister’s responsibility to do everything possible to make clear when the minister is speaking as an individual.

3. The pulpit carries institutional power and credibility that should not be lightly dismissed. Ministers should maintain a clear understanding with congregational leadership concerning the locus of authority over the conduct of worship and pulpit presentations. Where the minister is solely charged with that responsibility they should hold authority over how all services are structured and how the pulpit is filled. A minister with shared responsibility for pulpit and worship should maintain an advisory relationship with those responsible for that work in the minister’s absence.

D. Privacy

1. Like any other person, the minister has a need for a personal and private life. Privacy needs are not identical for any two ministers, nor for one minister at different life stages.

2. The ways in which ministers and their families conduct their private lives, choose their friends, spend their money, rear their children and express their sexuality are private concerns. However, there is a public facet to the minister’s life. Perceptions of the public will have a bearing on the effectiveness of the ministry and therefore implications for private choices.

3. The minister’s days off and vacation should be regarded as time for personal use, except when an emergency requires the minister’s immediate attention. Meetings in which the minister is expected to participate should not be scheduled for the minister’s time off.

4. The nature of congregational ministry makes the assurance of privacy particularly difficult. Since the health and happiness of the minister and the minister’s family should be of concern to the congregation, the congregation has an obligation to help protect their privacy. Congregations can do this only when ministers make their specific needs and desires known. Expression in these matters is especially important upon arrival a new ministry. Otherwise the congregation may automatically adopt the patterns of the last minister/congregation relationship.

5. Whether a minister lives in a parsonage, or not, their home must be considered a private residence. It is not an extension of the parish for use by congregational groups for institutional functions, except at the specific invitation of the minister and their family.

E. Family Life

1. Ministers should expect their spouse or partner and children to be regarded and treated as individuals separate from the work of ministry. At the same time family members may be well advised to refrain from positions of visible leadership or systemic influence.

2. Members of the minister’s family should be allowed to participate in congregational activities free from expectation or coercion, according to talent or interest. This might mean, in some cases, not at all.

3. If the minister’s spouse or partner participates in the congregation in such a way as to use professional or employable skills (e.g., as RE Administrator), the spouse or partner should have a separate contract and be compensated accordingly.

F. Support for Family Life

1. Parental Leave:

a. A provision of parental leave should be considered when the minister’s Letter of Agreement is composed. At least six weeks of paid leave should be provided for either parent at the birth or adoption of a child, with salary and all other benefits continuing during this time.

b. Ministers and congregations should be prepared to negotiate with flexibility the details of this leave, including reduced duties, part time work, or longer absence depending on the particular circumstances. Ministers may negotiate to use sabbatical, vacation, or sick leave to extend their parental leave. Ministers may arrange for congregations to avail themselves of extended internships, temporary or consulting ministries, or assistance from the UUMA Chapter or other local ministers during the minister’s absence. Ministers may help to establish a special committee to facilitate the minister’s absence or reduced duties before or after the arrival of a child.

c. A minister should advise the Board of Trustees, the Committee on Ministry, and others in leadership as soon as it is known that a child is to be added to the family and the minister intends to take parental leave.

d. Ministers must take primary responsibility for educating the congregation about plans for changes in their routines resulting from increased parental responsibilities.

2. Adoption should be handled on the same basis as childbirth for the purposes of parental leave.

3. Medical complications during pregnancy or following birth should be handled according to the policy which applies to other medical disabilities.

4. To the extent that a congregation expects the minister who is a parent of a young child/ren to attend events such as the UUA General Assembly that require travel away from home, the cost of child care during these events should be considered part of reimbursable professional expenses.

5. Ministers should be able to arrange for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in order to respond to illness or other disability of their spouse or partner, parent, child, sibling, or member of their immediate household. The minister should communicate with congregational leadership, and to the extent possible take an active role in arranging for the needs of the congregation to be met during this time.

6. At least 7 days of paid bereavement leave should be provided to a minister upon the death of their spouse or partner, parent, child, sibling, or member of their immediate household. If additional time is required before actively resuming ministerial duties, the minister should communicate with their employer or congregational leadership to seek flexibility in arranging that the needs of the institution be met.

G. Personal or Romantic Relationships

1. A minister of a congregation, or a community minister affiliated with a congregation, who engages in personal friendship or pursues a romantic attraction with a member or participant of that congregation, or whose family members or existing friends join or participate in that congregation, must take into account the following considerations:

a. Such relationships will change the dynamics of the congregation as well as of the ministry, potentially in negative ways that may persist beyond that minister’s tenure.

b. Members of the congregation who have special relationships with the minister must often refrain from positions of visible leadership or systemic influence for which they might otherwise be eligible.

c. It may be advisable for a potential romantic partner to refrain from visible leadership or systemic influence for which they might otherwise be eligible in the congregation, agency or enterprise, at least until the nature of the relationship with the minister is clearly established and can be made public.

2. Ministers who pursue such relationships should seek and heed the advice of colleagues as to how the conduct of that relationship may affect their ministries and their congregations.

3. It is unfair and destructive to congregations for the minister to ask them publicly to accept a succession of several romantic partners, whether or not these partners have been previously connected to the congregation.

4. Community ministers should be guided additionally by the expectations of the agencies or enterprises where they work, and by the standards of professional organizations to which they may belong, regarding the establishment of personal friendships or romantic relationships with those they serve.

5. In all cases, ministers must be careful not to take advantage of those they serve, or damage the integrity of the congregation, agency or enterprise in which they serve.

H. Pledging

1. It is essential that if expectations for congregational pledging or agency fundraising exist, they be stated and clarified during the candidating process, since these expectations will necessarily be part of the minister’s financial consideration.

a. Some ministers pledge to give as much as do people in similar circumstances.

b. Other ministers, perceiving their role to be that of a "lead giver,” choose to make pace-setting gifts.

c. Some choose to pledge to the UUA or its affiliates instead.

d. Others see themselves as contributing in other ways, such as working for a substantially lower salary than could be earned in secular work.

e. Some ministers choose not to pledge at all.

2. Unless it is otherwise agreed, the minister’s contribution is to be handled with the same confidentiality as that of other people.

I. Committees On Ministry And Ministerial Relations Committees

1. A Ministerial Relations Committee serves as support and counsel to a minister, and as a communication channel between the minister and the congregation or agency.

2. A Committee on Ministry pays attention to the ministry of the congregation in the broad sense -- how well the congregation is ministering to its members, the surrounding community, and the world -- its professional ministers(s) being only part of the effort.

3. In either case, committee members should have the confidence of the minister(s) and the congregation or agency.

J. Review and Evaluation

1. It is the minister’s responsibility to assess their own abilities, utilizing the various tools and methods available through the UUA or other resources, and to continue their professional development. The minister should also be prepared to assist congregations, agencies and enterprises they serve in developing strengths and competencies within the institution and in its leaders.

2. Congregations, agencies and enterprises use varying mechanisms for review. Each minister and institution must seek the means best suited to their situation, potentially including:

a. Ministerial Fellowship Committee renewal process;

b. Mission/Vision assessment;

c. Peer review;

d. Systems theory analysis;

e. Policy Governance means and ends assessment;

f. The UUA "Assessing our Leadership” process;

g. 360 Degree performance evaluation;

h. Appreciative Inquiry

i. Other professional organizations’ assessment tools.

3. Mutual accountability between laity and ministers for the health and well-being of the institution’s ministry is an essential purpose of review and evaluation. Ministers achieve greater accountability when there are regular reviews of their performance as measured by established goals, and reviews of their Letters of Agreement or contracts, including compensation. Congregations achieve greater accountability when ministers are included in the regular review of institutional performance, goals, and action plans. Such shared review can benefit the personal and professional growth of the minister, give strength and a sense of direction to the congregation or agency, and broaden areas of communication and cooperation between them.

K. Time

1. The tasks of ministry are too numerous for one individual to fulfill. Successful ministry requires the effective use of time by a minister. Ministers will determine the emphases of their ministries, and the weekly and annual structure of their time, on the basis of their interests and skills, as well as the needs of the people and institutions they serve and the demands of love and justice in the world.

2. Ministers are responsible for monitoring the boundaries of their work and energy, and for educating those they serve as to the structures of time that best protect their well-being and the quality of their ministry. In general a minister should be free to decide the organization and priorities of their own time, and consult with the governing body of congregations and agencies and/or their supervisors around these matters.

3. Provisions regarding professional service, continuing education, General Assembly, vacation, planning and study leave, and sabbatical should be set forth in the minister’s Letter of Agreement or contract.

4. Various practices of deepening awareness, understanding, humility, and commitment to one’s ideals are essential to the religious life. Time devoted to these practices is a necessary part of ministerial work.

5. Ministers must establish clear guidance about the best ways for staff, congregational leaders and those they serve to reach them in ordinary circumstances or in case of emergencies.

6. The Work Week in a Congregation

a. Full-time ministry consists of no more than an average of 48 hours or 12 working units (morning, afternoon or evening) per week. Part-time ministries take a variety of forms (as described Section 3d). Care should be taken to specify the expectations of time for all ministries. Included in this figure should be time for study and personal reflection, as well as opportunities for access to the minister. Attendance at meetings relevant to the congregation’s programs is part of the minister’s working week. A minister should be expected to spend no more than three nights per week involved in parish-related activities.

b. Each minister should have at least one regular, scheduled day off (including evening).

c. Each minister should be offered the opportunity to be free of congregational responsibilities at least one Sunday a month.

d. Congregations and ministers must seriously examine and come to a shared understanding of their respective expectations concerning the ministers’ participation in parish calling, committee work and meetings.

7. Professional Service, Continuing Education & General Assembly

a. Professional Service: Ministers are often called upon to offer professional service in settings outside their congregation, agency, or enterprise. These invitations may include:

1. Other congregations

2. The UUA or District

3. The UUMA

4. Other professional organizations

5. Local or national service organizations

6. Interfaith work

b. Continuing Education: Ministers are responsible for the ongoing development of their skills and competencies through a continuing education plan.

c. Ministers and congregational leadership must jointly determine whether attendance at District Meetings and UUA General Assembly constitutes either:

1. A meeting relevant to the congregation’s program, and is considered normal working time, or

2. Professional service, or

3. Continuing Education.

In no case should attendance at these events be considered vacation time.

d. Ministers should accept invitations for Professional Service and plan Continuing Education in consultation with their institutional leadership. Up to four weeks per year should be allowed for these activities.

8. Vacation

a. The minister shall be allowed no less than four weeks of vacation each year.

b. Vacation periods shall be agreed upon between the minister and institutional leadership and need not be limited to summer months. Vacation should be taken on a regular basis and not be allowed to accumulate.

c. The minister will be expected to return from vacation only for the most serious matters constituting an institutional crisis. In the event the minister is asked to return from vacation, travel expenses will be reimbursed.

d. In the event of resignation or dismissal, earned vacation leave shall be paid by the congregation, agency or enterprise.

9. Planning and Study Leave

a. The minister shall be allowed no less than four weeks each year for planning, study, and preparation for upcoming ministerial activities.

b. If an institutional crisis occurs while a minister is traveling during planning and study leave, additional costs of travel will be the minister’s responsibility.

10. Sabbatical leave is an investment that the congregation, agency or enterprise makes in the future of a ministry. Sabbatical leave is to be used for the minister’s professional development, and is expected to benefit the institution and/or the movement.

a. The minister accrues one month of sabbatical leave each year, subject to the other conditions set forth in this section.

b. Unless otherwise negotiated, no sabbatical leave is to be expected prior to completion of four years of service.

c. Sabbatical leave may accrue up to a maximum of six months.

d. The length of any given sabbatical is a matter for agreement of the institutional leadership and the minister.

e. The congregation, agency or enterprise and minister will jointly plan for ministerial services during the sabbatical period.

f. If a sabbatical fund is set up, it should be clearly stipulated whether it is for the use of the minister.

g. It is recommended that the sabbatical agreement refer to general conditions for sabbatical leave. This should be supplemented by a letter composed by the minister and institutional leadership that sets forth the detailed conditions for each sabbatical.

h. A sabbatical may be taken separately from or together with vacation periods.

i. The minister shall not use sabbatical leave to search for another position, nor accept one during this time.

j. No action on ministerial evaluation, tenure or duties shall be pursued during a sabbatical period.

k. The minister shall receive full salary and housing allowance, as well as insurance and pension benefits, during the sabbatical. The sabbatical agreement shall specify how other normal ministerial allowances are to be handled.

l. The minister will be expected to return from sabbatical only for the most serious matters constituting an institutional crisis. In the event the minister is asked to return from sabbatical, travel expenses will be reimbursed.

m. The minister may be required to continue service to the congregation, agency or enterprise for some specified period following a sabbatical. This period will not be longer than one year.

n. In the event of a resignation or dismissal, accrued sabbatical time shall not be paid in financial equivalent.

L. Office

1. Each minister should have a suitable, furnished, sound-proofed, private office at the church, agency or enterprise or such other building as may be appropriate.

2. The minister may choose to conduct certain elements of their ministry from home.

3. It is wise for the minister to ensure that someone else is present in the building while meeting with individuals.

4. Secretarial support is an essential need for a minister; the ministry will be less effective to the extent that a minister is expected to perform secretarial duties routinely.

5. The minister should not be expected to perform custodial duties on a routine basis.

M. Staff Relationships

1. A harmonious and coordinated relationship among staff members is important to the well-being of any congregation, agency or enterprise.

2. Ministers should publicly and privately act with respect toward staff colleagues. Such behavior includes sharing of pertinent information and insights, providing programmatic support, honoring their professional abilities, respecting confidences, and giving public support although not necessarily agreement.

3. Arrangements for accountability vary. In some institutions the minister is head of staff. In others each member of the professional staff works with an appropriate committee, or is supervised by another member of the staff.

4. Ministers should encourage the staff to meet regularly to discuss and coordinate planning and administration.

5. Ministers need to recognize that inexperienced staff members will require additional time from them or other staff for training and development.

6. It is the responsibility of the minister to advocate for suitable compensation and benefits, fair working conditions and policies, clear job descriptions, and periodic review and evaluation for all staff.

7. Ministers should encourage congregations, agencies and enterprises, when hiring staff, not to discriminate on account of race, sex, color, class, ethnicity, national origin, age, physical or mental ability, gender expression, or sexual orientation. However, the promotion of diversity should be taken into account when choosing among well-qualified candidates.

8. Neither staff nor ministers should be required to work where harassment creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Ministers should educate institutions and their leadership to be particularly aware of their responsibility to provide an environment free from harassment based on race, sex, color, class, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, physical or mental ability, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

N. Ministerial Compensation

1. Members of the UUMA support one another in expecting just compensation for professional services. The UUMA endorses the Fair Compensation Guidelines of the UUA, including recommended benefits as minimum standards.

2. The minister in a multiple staff congregation, agency or enterprise who has primary responsibility for the general direction and ministry of the institution should receive compensation commensurate with this larger and particularly sensitive responsibility.

3. A scale of fees for ministerial services, such as weddings, memorial services and supply preaching, will be maintained by the UUMA Executive Committee. Revisions to this scale will be periodically presented by the Executive Committee for review and adoption by the membership.

4. The annual process of determining ministerial compensation should be conducted with discretion and dignity. Budgetary deficits should not, except as a last resort, be covered by decreasing the minister’s agreed-upon compensation.

5. Any overt linkage of ministerial compensation to new or increased pledges and contributions should be avoided, as it may distort the minister’s relationship with the congregation and their commitment to serve people regardless of economic status.

O. Housing

1. Wherever possible and feasible, the minister should be allowed to select their own housing, and the privacy of that residence should be respected.

2. In the U.S., part of a minister’s total compensation is a tax-exempt housing allowance, as defined by the I.R.S. It is best for the amount to be established by an annual vote of the board or congregation.

3. If a parsonage exists and the minister chooses to live there, certain understandings should be clearly established:

a. how and by whom routine maintenance is to be performed;

b. how and by whom repairs and improvements are to be decided, and paid for; and,

c. respect for the privacy of the minister and family.

4. If the ministry ends by reason of the minister’s death or disability, the parsonage should be available for the family’s continued use for at least six months.

P. Other Benefits

1. Each congregation, agency or enterprise should provide the minister with benefits commensurate with the recommendations of the UUA Compensation Guidelines. These should include health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, pension and contribution in lieu of employer’s FICA. The UUA Contributory Pension Plan is currently available through the Association. However, ministers may be enrolled in other pension plans.

2. Because personal situations vary, benefit packages should be structured to reflect the needs of individual ministers.

3. In the event of disability, payments for salary and housing, contribution in lieu of FICA, insurance premiums, and pension contributions ought to be continued for six months or until disability insurance begins, if sooner.

4. Benefits for the minister and for all employees should appear in a budgetary category separate from salaries. Unless otherwise required, these should be paid directly by the congregation, agency or enterprise.

5. Beyond traditional honoraria, ministers should be cautious about the propriety of accepting personal gifts. Care should be taken to avoid the appearance or reality of exploitation or undue influence.

Q. Professional Expenses

1. It is the responsibility of the congregation or agency to provide for the expenses incurred in performance of its ministry. Ministers should be fully reimbursed for such expenses incurred in the course of their work. Funds sufficient for these expenses should be budgeted in a category separate from both salary and benefits.

2. Funds designated as professional allowances should be spent within broad categories. Such categories may include, but are not limited to: Books, periodicals, meetings, conferences, continuing education, hospitality, equipment, computers, software, communications technology, travel, transportation and child care related to professional travel.

3. For all such expenditures, the minister should present an itemized account for reimbursement.

4. The minimum conferences a minister may wish to attend include General Assembly, district annual meetings, ministerial gatherings and institutes at local, district and continental levels. All expenses should be paid out of professional expenses provided by the congregation, agency or enterprise for attendance at these events.

III. Responsibilities and Expectations among Colleagues

A. Introduction

1. The goals of ministry are rarely achieved through isolated endeavor. Ministers may find themselves:

a. serving as colleagues in the same congregation, agency or enterprise;

b. serving as colleagues in different congregations, agencies or enterprises in the same community;

c. attending, belonging to or working with congregations, agencies or enterprises served by other ministers.

2. Congregations, agencies or enterprises benefit when ministers relate to each other in ways that model:

a. self and systems awareness;

b. healthy boundaries;

c. clear communication;

d. mutual respect, care and accountability;

e. a shared commitment to the well-being of congregations, agencies, enterprises and the UU movement.

3. Congregations, agencies or enterprises suffer when ministers relate to each other in ways that foster:

a. ambiguity of roles;

b. the division of loyalties;

c. a sense of suspicion, secrecy, self-pity or unhealthy competition.

4. Collegial relationships are expected to be professionally sensitive, respectful, and supportive. It is beneficial to collegial relationships for all members of the UUMA to attend chapter and cluster meetings and to welcome each other warmly at these gatherings.

a. Life Members and other retired ministers are appreciated at chapter and cluster events as they choose to participate.

b. In encouraging the participation of Community and Part-Time Ministers at chapter and cluster events, colleagues should recognize the challenges that such attendance represents and should facilitate the presence of these colleagues with the goal of maximizing inclusiveness.

c. Ministers in nearby congregations should recognize the challenges that interim ministers may confront in making collegial connections and help facilitate those connections when possible. Interim ministers and their colleagues all benefit from when interim ministers attend UUMA chapter and cluster meetings and cultivate collegial connections.

5. Any minister who joins or participates in a congregation, agency or enterprise other than the one they serve, should recognize the authority other members may yield to them and exercise such influence cautiously and only as it supports the work of the current minister(s).

B. Ministers in Multiple Staff Settings

1. All ministers should understand, periodically review, and renegotiate when necessary, the document that sets forth their relationship with the congregation, agency or enterprise that calls or employs them.

2. All ministers serving together in the same congregation, agency or enterprise should develop written documents articulating the covenant of relationship and responsibility with the other minister(s) in that setting. These documents should be periodically reviewed, and renegotiated when necessary.

3. Collegial relationships between ministers serving together in the same congregation, agency or enterprise should be characterized by:

a. mutual respect;

b. support for the success of one another’s ministries;

c. shared loyalty to the well-being of their congregations, agencies or enterprises;

d. a commitment to good communication;

e. clarity regarding the assignment of roles, responsibilities and authority.

4. Each minister, regardless of role, is entitled to all protections, rights and courtesies, and is bound by all collegial expectations, as defined in the UUMA Covenant, Code of Professional Practice and in these Standards.

5. Multiple ministers serving the same congregation, agency or enterprise are most likely to work effectively together if the structures of their roles are clearly articulated before these relationships begin, at the time of search, hire, call or affiliation. Structural elements may include, but are not limited to:

a. who has what degree of accountability for articulating the mission, vision or direction of the congregation, agency or enterprise;

b. whether the position represents a call by the congregation, hiring by the institutional leadership, or by a minister already on staff;

c. whether the position has the potential to become a called ministry, and if so how and by whom that decision is to be made;

d. how and by whom and for what reasons the decision can be made to end the minister’s tenure in the position;

e. how conflict between the minister and the congregation, or with other ministers working in the same setting, will be addressed;

f. what the lines of accountability, reporting, and supervision are.

6. Should conflict arise between ministers serving together in the same congregation, agency or enterprise, every effort should be made to preserve the well-being of the institution. Provisions for this eventuality should be specified in the Letter of Agreement, contract or Letter of Affiliation between the congregation, agency or enterprise and the minister, and these provisions should be adhered to. In most instances Chapter Good Offices should be consulted.

7. As indicated in the Code of Professional Practice, ministers who function as supervisors to colleagues serving in the congregation, agency or enterprise have special responsibilities to those they supervise, including:

a. conformity to the UUMA Code of Professional Practice;

b. awareness of a supervisee’s job description and terms of employment;

c. creation and maintenance of a written list of mutually understood expectations;

d. self-awareness of power differentials that may exist between supervisor and supervised colleague;

e. dependable opportunities for collegial consultation and communication;

f. recognition of privilege arising from differences of social location and historical marginalization, and advocacy to address the ways these conditions may affect a colleague’s ability to fulfill their ministry;

g. regular review and evaluation of the supervisee’s job performance based on written job descriptions and expectations;

h. advocacy for a colleague’s suitable working conditions;

i. recognition of a colleague’s efforts, successes and accomplishments;

j. clarity in long range plans and directions that may affect a colleague’s position;

k. deflecting or countering unwarranted criticism or interference in the performance of the supervisee’s ministry;

l. support for the colleague’s professional development and future career.

8. Ministers who serve together without supervisory relationships should consider which of these obligations apply to them.

9. As indicated in the Code of Professional Practice, ministers who are supervised by colleagues serving the same congregation, agency or enterprise have special responsibilities to their supervisors, including:

a. conformation to the UUMA Code of Professional Practice;

b. awareness of one’s job description and terms of employment;

c. creation and maintenance of a written list of mutually understood expectations;

d. self awareness of power differentials that may exist between supervisor and supervised colleague;

e. regular collegial consultation and communication;

f. recognition of privilege arising from differences of social location and historical marginalization, and advocacy to address of the ways these conditions may affect a colleague’s ability to fulfill their ministry;

g. participation in regular review and evaluation of one’s job performance based on written job descriptions and expectations;

h. clarity about conditions necessary for the performance of one’s ministry;

i. support to the organization served by adhering to the established lines of authority and keeping disagreements with supervisors between colleagues when asked.

C. Community Ministers

1. Community Ministers are urged formally to affiliate with a congregation in order to ground themselves in the support and accountability of a Unitarian Universalist covenantal community.

2. In congregations served by a Parish Minister, the Community Minister should initiate the application for affiliation through that colleague. Ministers serving congregations have a collegial obligation to encourage the congregation to prepare a process through which to respond to applications for affiliation from community ministers. In the absence of this process, congregational ministers should respond with thoughtful consideration to requests for affiliation.

3. Where the congregation is served by a Parish Minister, such affiliation should be based upon mutual respect and a clear understanding between the Parish Minister(s) and the Community Minister(s) of their expectations of one another, expressed in a Letter of Understanding which should be reviewed by the ministers periodically.

4. Community Ministers seeking to affiliate with a congregation not currently served by a minister should make their application through the congregation’s governing body.

5. Affiliations established between a Community Minister and a congregation should be expressed in a Letter of Affiliation specifying:

a. financial support, if any;

b. possible establishment of, or inclusion in, a Committee on Ministry or Ministerial Relations Committee;

c. reasonable expectations of participation or service to the congregation by the Community Minister, if any;

d. any other expectations between the congregation and the Community Minister;

e. that the community minister will scrupulously follow established processes of the UUA Transitions office if they should pursue other ministerial positions in their affiliated congregation.

6. An affiliation established between a Community Minister and a congregation endures beyond the tenure of any minister of that congregation, and should be made known to any future interim minister and ministerial candidates.

7. All ministers shall respect the work of any Community Minister who is a member of the congregation that they serve regardless of whether the Community Minister affiliates with that congregation or not.

8. All ministers should keep Community Ministers apprised of actions they take that may bear on the work of the Community Ministers.

9. Community Ministers shall respect the integrity of the relationship between members of a congregation served by a colleague and that colleague. Parish Ministers shall respect the integrity of the relationship community ministers have with the individuals they engage in their ministries. Within the limits of professional confidentiality, if any minister has occasion to offer ministerial services to someone known or discovered to be in a professional relationship with a colleague, they should notify that minister about that occasion.

10. Ministers serving nearby congregations should recognize the challenges that community ministers may confront in making collegial connections and help facilitate those connections when possible. Community ministers and their colleagues all benefit from when community ministers attend UUMA chapter and cluster meetings and cultivate collegial connections.

D. Part-Time Ministers

1. Congregations, agencies or enterprises may call or hire a minister to serve alone in a part-time position. Congregations, agencies or enterprises seeking additional ministry may create a part-time ministry position in addition to existing full or part-time ministries.

2. Part-time Ministers are entitled to all protections, rights and courtesies, and are bound by all collegial expectations, as defined in the UUMA Covenant, Code of Professional Practice and in these Standards.

3. Financial support for the part-time ministry should reflect proportionally the full-time UUA Compensation and Benefit Standards and paid time off.

4. The responsibilities of a part-time minister should be described fully and carefully in writing at the time of hire or call.

5. These agreements should call for a specific amount of the minister’s time to be given to the congregation, agency or enterprise including time for study, reflection, and planning for institutional crises. To the extent possible, working days and hours should be specified and respected by the institution, the part time minister and any other ministers serving the institution. Ministers should not be expected to attend meetings or events scheduled outside of agreed working hours.

6. The agreement should also address the following issues:

a. The part-time minister cannot be expected to do all that a full-time minister does. A clear division of responsibility should be maintained and regularly renegotiated and affirmed, between the part-time minister, institutional leadership, and any other ministers serving the congregation, agency or enterprise.

b. The well-being of both congregation, agency or enterprise and the minister depends upon their mutual ability to deal creatively and flexibly with frustrations that may result from the discovery that there is always more to be done than the scope of "part-time,” however defined, will allow.

c. Since many part-time ministries may be part of fairly complex arrangements, procedures need to be established for renegotiating hours and duties as experience indicates. The work of a Committee on Ministry or Ministerial Relations Committee is often essential in part-time ministries.

7. Any service to a second congregation or other employment should be discussed in advance with institutional leadership and any other ministers serving the congregation, agency or enterprise, along with any expectations the institution may have concerning the nature of further employment.

8. If the minister understands the part-time ministry as a step towards a full-time position, this expectation should be described in writing along with the necessary conditions, and a timetable for renegotiating the agreement should be spelled out.

9. If either the minister or the congregation, agency or enterprise does not wish the part-time minister to be a candidate for its full-time ministry position in the future, this should be stated clearly at the time of call or hire.

E. Interim Ministers

1. All ministers should respect the unique expertise of Interim Ministers, be supportive of their work, and recognize the special challenges of the period of transition.

2. Interim Ministers are entitled to all protections, rights and courtesies, and are bound by collegial expectations defined in the Covenant, Code and Standards of the UUMA.

3. There are relationships between ministers and congregations, agencies and enterprises that endure beyond the tenure of any particular minister. Interim Ministers are expected to acknowledge and respect these relationships and not disrupt them arbitrarily. Colleagues in enduring relationships with congregations in transition are expected to support the work of the Interim Minister. These enduring relationships include:

a. Emeritus status as voted by the congregation;

b. Affiliation status of Community Minister(s); and,

c. the congregational call of other ministers.

4. There are other ministerial relationships that are contractual and may not be enduring in nature.

5. When interim ministers contemplate taking actions that will affect any of these relationships or bring them under congregational scrutiny they are expected to abide by any Letters of Agreement or contracts in effect and encouraged to seek guidance from chapter Good Officers. In addition, an interim minister may consult with the District Executive and the UUA Transitions Office.

F. Students

1. Ministers and students preparing for the ministry have much to offer each other in comradeship, encouragement and the exchange of ideas and experience. Discernment of fitness for ministry, and the nurture, support and training of future of colleagues are responsibilities of all ministers.

2. It is important that students become acquainted with the culture of Unitarian Universalism by being involved in the life of one or more congregations, interning at a Unitarian Universalist setting and attending UUMA Chapter Meetings and, if possible, UUA General Assembly.

3. It is important as well for UUMA members to behave toward students in candidate status with collegial respect, openness and hospitality, including at chapter meetings.

4. Ministers should be careful not to exploit their greater power relative to students, including interns.

5. Students in candidate status, who become members of the UUMA, are responsible for making themselves familiar with and abiding by the provisions of the UUMA Covenant, Code and Standards. This represents a change in role and status that will alter the nature of the students’ relationships with both lay people and ministerial colleagues.

6. Part of preparation for ministry entails understanding and respect for the demands and constraints on a working minister’s time.

G. Departing Ministers

1. In general, the future well-being of a congregation, agency or enterprise is best assured by the fully effective departure from leadership of any minister whose service to that institution has ended.

2. Congregations are especially vulnerable in periods of ministerial transition. Therefore, departing ministers should exercise particular care to minimize their influence and presence within the congregation, agency or enterprise and their interactions with members, staff and clients during times of transition.

3. There should be no intentional or ministerial contact between a departing minister and members, staff or clients of congregations, agencies or enterprises they have served until there can be a covenant expressed in a Letter of Understanding between predecessor and subsequent ministers. In those uncommon cases where personal or familial relationships persist, care should be taken to assure that those relationships do not have a negative impact on the institution or on subsequent ministries.

4. Experience has shown that over the long term a congregation and a previous minister may benefit from that minister’s continuing participation as a member of the congregation after their professional leadership to that community has ended. Predecessor and subsequent colleagues should adopt covenants expressed in a Letter of Understanding defining the nature and limits of this participation.

5. Unless the departed minister chooses to suspend all contact and participation in the congregation during the period of an interim ministry, the Letter of Agreement with the Interim Minister must be understood to be limited only to the period of the interim ministry. It is the responsibility of both parties to make it known to the congregation that the agreement is limited and that the provisions of the agreement with subsequent colleagues may be significantly different.

6. The provisions of this covenant should be arrived at through conversation and negotiation with an understanding that the well-being of the congregation and the new ministry is of primary importance. When disagreements persist, Good Offices may be employed, but ultimately the judgment of the new minister shall prevail. It is the responsibility of the involved ministers to inform the congregation of this covenant.

7. If either a predecessor or successor minister believes that this covenant is not being effectively maintained, then they should engage their colleague and seek reaffirmation or renegotiation of that covenant with consideration for the delicacy of the current minister’s role. Should this effort not resolve the concern, Good Offices should be consulted, and with the recommendation of the Good Officer the matter may be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Collegiality.

8. A departing minister may be expected to discontinue all contact with the congregation, agency or enterprise, its members and staff if:

a. the former ministry involved established misconduct;

b. the departed minister violates the UUMA Code of Conduct; or

c. the departed minister intentionally violates the terms of the covenant with the new minister.

9. It is good practice for a minister to prepare family members to understand that a change in the minister’s relationship with a congregation, agency or enterprise may affect them all, and may mean the end of ties that family members may have with that institution. It is politically wise and collegially generous for a successor minister to reach out pastorally to the family of the predecessor minister if they remain in the congregation or community.

10. When a minister is no longer a member of the UUMA, and is no longer bound by the Code of Professional Practice, the nature of the previous professional relationship with the people of a congregation or the clients of an agency or enterprise should not be exploited in the solicitation or conduct of their subsequent employment.

11. When a minister leaves a congregation for community ministry, they should not solicit members or presume upon a relationship they had with their former congregation until they have an opportunity to establish a covenant with the new minister of that congregation. In the absence of a new minister the covenant should be established with the leadership of the governing body of the congregation.

12. In all cases, ministers must continue to respect the confidences granted and the information about individuals gained in congregations, agencies or enterprises they once served.

H. Ministers Emeriti/ae

1. Emeritus/a status may be granted by vote of a congregation, or agency leadership, at the completion of a minister’s long and faithful service in that setting. Typically, the Minister Emeritus/a is entitled to a circumscribed continuing place in the life of the congregation or agency, although the minister may go on to serve in other positions elsewhere.

2. Relationships between congregations or agencies and their Ministers Emeriti/ae vary in expectation and practice. These relationships may include some or all of the following:

a. a gift from the congregation;

b. recognition by the UUA;

c. a delegate credential for General Assembly;

d. inclusion on the list of the congregation’s staff on letterhead, etc.;

e. ceremonial presence at major institutional events; such as anniversaries, building dedications, etc.;

f. occasional invitations to appear in the pulpit;

g. access to the institutional library or archives for research;

h. a small expense allowance for professional pursuits;

i. use of office space;

i. the opportunity to purchase, or continued residence in, a church-owned parsonage.

3. The nature of the relationship should be carefully considered and agreed upon in writing by the congregation or agency and the minister. This agreement should be included in the Declaration of Emeritus/a status voted by the congregation or agency. This Declaration should be made known to the congregation or agency, as well as to any future ministerial candidates.

4. The role of Minister Emeritus/a must be exercised in such a way as to support the well-being of the congregation and the success of future ministers.

5. All expectations in the Code of Professional Conduct and the section of the Standards regarding "Departing Ministers” apply to Ministers Emeriti/ae, except as specified in the Declaration granting Emeritus/a status. The declaration, however, cannot over-ride the expectation of a covenant, expressed in a Letter of Understanding, with any successor colleague.

IV. Call, Initiation, and Severance Procedures

A. Candidating for Congregational Ministry

1. The UUMA supports the settlement procedures described in the UUA Handbooks on Ministerial Settlement and on Interim and Consulting Ministries, and calls upon our members to abide by them.

2. The UUMA endorses the UUA policy of non-discrimination in employment. Ministers should expect congregations not to discriminate on account of race, color, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, mental and physical ability, national origin or ethnicity, except for the promotion of diversity when choosing among well-qualified candidates.

3. Ministers in search should expect the leaders of a congregation to have developed among members an explicit sense of common direction before search begins. Attempts to use pre-candidating and candidating procedures as a device for dealing with divisions among the members of a congregation are unfair to the candidate and may even seriously damage their career as well as the congregation.

4. Ministers in search should be candid in presenting themselves, past problems and achievements, and the reasons for wanting to serve a new congregation. They should expect the congregation to be equally forthright in its presentation to candidates and potential candidates. Truthfulness is particularly important in the following matters: resources, number of members, financial position and activities, past problems and achievements. The congregation should be completely candid with reference to the previous minister’s departure. The candidate should be equally candid.

5. When a minister has accepted a search committee’s invitation to participate in a pre-candidating weekend, that pre-candidate is understood to have a commitment to appear in the neutral pulpit as arranged, regardless of the offers they may have received from, or preferences they may feel for, other congregations. At a minimum, if the pre-candidate cancels their scheduled appearance, they are obligated to arrange for, and compensate, a substitute preacher. If the pre-candidating weekend is canceled by the search committee, it is that committee’s responsibility to arrange for the filling of the neutral pulpit.

6. Candidates should expect the congregation to be clear about their needs, and resources for the provision of financial support and supportive assistance for the work of ministry. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their financial needs and expectations and how their compensation package should be structured.

7. Substantial accord on major issues relative to the Letter of Agreement should precede the candidating week.

8. Before accepting a position in a congregation, agency or enterprise with more than one minister, a candidate should engage in discussion with colleagues who will work together, giving careful thought to lines of authority and responsibility. These structures should be well articulated.

9. When another minister is being called, a minister continuing to serve in a multi-minister congregation, agency or enterprise should expect to be consulted by the Search Committee, or in some circumstances to serve on it.

10. The minister’s spouse or partner should be present for at least a part of the candidating period. The congregation should assume all financial commitments related to this visit.

11. During the candidating week, time should be available for connections with UUMA colleagues. Members of the Search Committee should not participate in such events.

B. Moving Expenses Associated with Congregational Ministry

1. The size and resources of our congregations vary, as do the needs of ministers and their families when the expenses of the minister’s move to a new location must be met. Of greatest importance is that any agreement reached with the newly called minister be written in detail to avoid possible hurt and confusion at the onset of a ministry, especially since it is not uncommon for changes in budget and congregational officers to occur between the time a minister is called and the time when they actually move.

2. A newly called minister should expect a detailed written agreement regarding moving expenses. This should be negotiated before the candidating week takes place. Items to be noted should include:

a. total amount budgeted by the congregation for moving expenses;

b. who contracts any commercial moving services;

c. precisely what fees for assistance are allowable;

d. miles of travel per day;

e. mileage allowance;

f. food and lodging costs;

g. who is to help and how;

h. ample insurance to cover damage to furniture and other possessions; and,

i. schedule for advances and/or reimbursement of all expenses.

C. Letter of Agreement as an Expression of Congregational Call

1. The covenant between a minister and a congregation takes the form of an exchange of letters following the vote to call. It is essential that the congregation issue such a Letter of Agreement, and that the minister respond in writing. Items for consideration are extensively covered in the appendices, which should be read with care.

2. The written Letter of Agreement should describe expectations and obligations of congregation and minister, and should be reviewed periodically.

3. The Letter of Agreement should be understood as a commitment of mutual service and support and not as a detailed contractual arrangement. The language in the Letter of Agreement should reflect the dignity of the congregation and the ministry, clearly leaving to the minister wide professional discretion in the exercise of the calling, and at the same time clearly spelling out the kinds of services required and the means of accountability to the congregation.

4. In general the Letter of Agreement will be drawn up by a negotiating team in conversation with the candidate. The candidate may invite the assistance of a Good Offices Person or another colleague in that conversation.

5. In all cases the minister and the appropriate and empowered congregational body should agree to the terms of the Letter of Agreement before the congregation's call to service is issued or accepted.

6. The congregation’s call to service, as expressed in the Letter of Agreement, can only be terminated by a subsequent vote of the congregation, according to its by-laws, or by the resignation of the minister.

D. Contract as Employment Agreement

1. Congregations, agencies, and enterprises may enter into relationships of ministry that do not constitute a covenant of call. These employment agreements take the form of a contract between the minister and the governing body of the institution establishing the rites and functions normally associated with ministry.

2. Contracts should specify expectations and obligations of the minister and the institution, as covered in Section II, Ministers Expectations of Institutions They Serve; including (but not limited to)

a. Compensation

b. Professional Expenses

c. Working hours

d. Vacation, Study Leave, Sabbatical, Continuing Education and Professional Service.

e. Benefits

f. Duties

g. Evaluation

h. Expected duration of the ministry

i. Cause and procedure for termination

3. If the minister understands the contract ministry as a step towards a called position in the congregation, this expectation should be described in writing along with all necessary conditions for that change.

4. The contractual employment of a minister can be terminated by:

a. expiration of the established duration of the ministry;

b. action of the governing body of the institution;

c. action according to the terms of the contract; or

d. the resignation of the minister.

E. Initiation of Congregational Ministry

1. The minister should work with the governing body and the search committee to identify a process of communication for that fosters realistic mutual expectations for the initiation of the new ministry.

2. The minister, the governing body and the search committee should decide on a time for the search committee to celebrate and disband, and what continuing role the members of the search committee may have in facilitating the new minister’s settlement.

F. Departure from Congregational Ministry

1. The minister should relate in confidence to a responsible congregational official (usually the president or a chair of the Committee on Ministry or the Ministerial Relations Committee) when the minister has accepted an invitation to precandidate in another congregation or agency, or when a firm date for retirement or resignation has been decided.

2. The governing body should be informed of the minister’s decision to candidate for another position, or when a minister's decision to retire or resign is to be made public.

3. Upon acceptance of the call from another congregation or agency, the minister and governing body should confer with regard to the most constructive manner of informing the congregation.

4. A date for the end of active ministry in the congregation or agency should be agreed upon by the minister and governing body. Until that date, the minister can (and often should) help the leaders to prepare for the vacancy in the ministry. This may include educating members about interim, candidating and settlement procedures, including the importance of early consultations between representatives of the congregation and the District Executive, the Ministerial Settlement Representative and the Transitions Office. However, departing ministers must take no direct role in structuring the search process.

5. It is generally inadvisable for any minister to suggest or comment on candidates to serve as successor. If a congregation, and its minister, agree to engage in succession planning, this must occur before the timing of the minister’s departure is shared.

G. Dismissal and Negotiated Resignation

1. The following procedure is designed primarily for congregational settings. However, some of these provisions may usefully be applied by ministers departing from other agencies or enterprises.

2. When conflict in the congregation, agency or enterprise, reaches a significant level of severity, ministers should consult with Good Offices and draw upon the resources of the UUA and its field staff.

3. When a settlement seems to be in imminent danger of ending because of discord, the minister and the congregation, agency or enterprise, may need to choose between a vote to dismiss or negotiating a resignation. While it may, in some instances, be to the benefit of the institution to go through a painful process of a vote to terminate, often the interests of both the institution and the minister are better served by negotiating the minister’s resignation. Such a decision and the ensuing negotiations will benefit from the advice of Good Offices and the District Executive, each attempting to facilitate a solution that serves the interests of all parties.

4. Ministers should strive to end their tenure of leadership in a congregation, agency or enterprise, in such a way as to protect the well-being of the institution, and not contribute to needless polarization within it.

5. In the event of a negotiated resignation, unless otherwise provided in the Letter of Agreement, salary, parsonage use or housing allowance, and benefits, although not professional expenses, are expected to continue at the same level for the longer of three months or one month for each full year of service up to eight months from the date of a negotiated resignation, or until the minister has found another position, if sooner. Minimal contractual obligations should apply in the case of criminal malfeasance or of an acknowledged violation of the Code of Professional Conduct directly injuring the involved institution.

6. Although a Letter of Agreement may call for a specified period for notice of resignation, the minister and governing body may agree to an earlier cessation of ministerial activities while the minister is still receiving compensation and benefits.

7. In negotiating a resignation, ministers should not propose or accept an arrangement whereby the terms may not be disclosed.

8. When the future of the ministry is to be submitted to a vote of the congregation, ministers should be aware of the provisions of congregational bylaws and their Letter of Agreement, and insist that these be followed.

9. Following a vote to dismiss, the minister should withdraw from all active participation in the congregation, agency or enterprise for the rest of the severance period.

10. In the event of dismissal the minister should expect any accrued vacation to be compensated in the financial equivalent, but the minister should not expect any accrued sabbatical leave to be compensated.

06/2011

CANADIAN SUPPLEMENT

For the Guidance of Ministers

Serving Canadian Congregations

This supplement has been prepared to reflect the differences in the law and in social benefits between Canada and the US as they affect ministers entering into agreements with Canadian congregations.

Although Canadians and Americans are accustomed to crossing each others’ borders for vacation and business reasons, and although we seem very familiar to each other, moving to Canada is still moving to a foreign country. This means that issues like tax law, although similar in principle, are different in the particulars.

This means that one cannot take for granted that issues like housing allowances are treated the same way, although the net ultimate effect may be the same. Because of the proximity of our two countries and because many people besides ministers move back and forth, there are arrangements to facilitate most issues like pensions that are ongoing in peoples’ lives.

Canada is by American standards a socialist country which means that there is universal health care and unemployment insurance. These social safety nets cost money. The result is that the standard of living is not as high, however the quality of life for most people is higher. Attempts to make direct comparisons between salaries in the US and salaries in Canada are deceptive. Although Canadian currency is also based on "a dollar,” each dollar represents a different set of social choices - different, not necessarily better.

A minister entering into an agreement with a Canadian congregation will still be considering the same things - housing, pension, benefits - as in the US. They may have to be arranged a little differently to produce the best income possible from the package the congregation is offering. There are many ways to structure salaries and many individual lifestyles to consider.

Moving to Canada does mean paperwork, but if undertaken step by step (remember linear thinking) it is not unduly complicated.

Contact:

Mary Bennett, Executive Director

Unitarian Council Canadian

018-1179A King Street West

Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M6K 3C5

(416) 489-4121

Commentary

(All references are to pages and sections in the body of Guidelines.)

Section I: B 5 In Canada, for all secular purposes such as income tax, the Canada Pension Plan and Unemployment Insurance, ministers are considered employees.

Section I: E 2 Employment law is significantly different in Canada from that in the US. Ministers who feel that they might be dismissed or pressured to resign should make sure they know their rights, not in order to exacerbate the situation or to encourage litigation but rather to facilitate a fair settlement. Congregations which feel that they might want to dismiss a minister should also be very aware of the consequences of taking actions which could be construed as wrongful dismissal. Before any action is taken, either or both parties should, in addition to using all UUA resources, consult with the Executive Director of the Canadian Unitarian Council for general advice about relevant considerations in the Canadian context.

Section I: E 6 In Canada a distinction is drawn between being dismissed for cause and being dismissed. "Cause” is a term of art and in general means particularly egregious behavior such as repeated drunkenness in the pulpit, failure to conduct services with no notice given or molestation of children in the church school. In situations where there is clearly cause, no benefits of any kind and no salary need be paid after the date of dismissal. Where "cause” in the legal sense cannot be established it may be that longer benefits than those described as normal in the US will have to be paid. In either case the minister is entitled to be treated fairly, to know the details of the charges and to have an opportunity to reply. Failure to proceed fairly can result in a review by the courts. Separation of church and state is not observed rigidly in Canada, and there are an increasing number of cases where courts have concluded that ministers were not treated fairly.

Section I: E 7 This is required by law and is set at 4 percent based on salary earned from the previous June 30 to the date of termination.

Section I: E 8 Depending on the terms of the minister’s agreement with the congregation a financial equivalent to the accrued sabbatical leave might be required. It could also be part of a negotiated settlement.

Section I: D 2 Revenue Canada does not require that housing allowances be the subject of a vote. The housing allowance for a minister is the fair market rental value of the minister’s accommodations, whether rented or owned. The decision about what this amount should be is a personal matter for the minister to determine after consulting local real estate people or looking at the cost for comparable accommodations. Therefore, in Canada the housing allowance should not be listed separately. When the minister has decided on the appropriate amount, the person responsible for producing the paychecks should be informed so that income tax will only be withheld on salary minus the amount of the housing allowance.

Section I: D 5 There are, at the present time, no Unitarian parsonages in Canada.

Section I: E 6 Health insurance is universal in Canada, therefore, no special consideration needs to be given to pregnancy as a medical event.

Section I: F 1 Ministers serving in Canada may continue in the UUA pension plan. The CUC has letters on file confirming this. Ministers may also continue in the UUMA disability plan in order to avoid paying tax on the proceeds in the event of collecting under the plan. The cost should be paid by the minister rather than the congregation. Health insurance is universal in Canada. In some provinces it is free; in others there is a small charge. This insurance covers virtually all medical situations.

Section I: G 5 Car allowances for ministers are treated like housing allowances. There is discretion for the minister to determine the amount to be claimed. For this reason car allowances should not be listed separately but should be included in the salary.

Appendix: 3D This should be included in the total salary package. The actual amount should be determined by the minister.

Appendix: 4C/D Ministers are considered employees for the purposes of the Canada Pension Plan, therefore, both the minister and the congregation are required to make payments to the plan in amounts determined on the basis of salary. This is a compulsory plan. Note: Unemployment insurance is covered in a compulsory plan similar to the Canada Pension Plan.