Our Governance

Preamble

In policy governance, the board sets forth Ends Statements which establish our general principles as well as what our congregation aspires to do. These statements expand upon our congregation's vision statement of "Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, and Changing the World" and our congregation’s mission statement (below) to provide spiritual and governance guidance to the ministers, staff, and lay leaders.

UUCB’s mission statement, adopted by the congregation, along with the Vision Statement, at the June 7, 2009 Congregational Meeting:

“In this liberal religious community of inspiration, love and action:

• we celebrate life
• we nurture one another
• we welcome all
• we care for the earth and
• we work for the common good.”

The term "Ends" refers to the fact these statements are not policy that dictate "means" or how things are done but are, rather, our expected outcomes. The Ends statements were adopted by the board in September of 2010 during the transition to policy governance and are a living document maintained by the board with input from the congregation. These Ends statements were revised in 2021 following the congregation’s decision to adopt the 8th principle.

By adopting the 8th principle, we have committed ourselves to working to build a multicultural Beloved Community in which people of diverse racial, ethnic, educational, class, gender, sexual orientation backgrounds and identities come together in mutually-respectful, loving, and caring relationships to seek justice within our congregation, the local community, and in the broader world.

Policy I. Ends Statements

Seeking the Spirit

UUCB exists to:

1. Provide members from a variety of faith traditions with a liberal, universally accepting spiritual home.
2. Provide compassionate spiritual care to congregants without the burden of restrictive creeds, tenets, covenants or preordained beliefs.
3. Provide a space where people from diverse backgrounds with different perspectives can freely gather to explore their beliefs.
4. Provide people of all ages with opportunities to grow together spiritually through liberal religious education and practice, leadership, and community action.
5. Encourage adherence to the Seven Principles adopted by the UUA and to the 8th Principle adopted by the UUCB.

Building Community

UUCB exists to:

1. Build a liberal community dedicated to accountably dismantling racism and other oppressions both within itself and in the larger community.
2. Build an accepting community inclusive of diverse gender orientations.
3. Build a welcoming community where those from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds feel that their experiences and perspectives are valued.
4. Build an active community where members share their time, talents and resources for the common good.
5. Build a thoughtful community where people can explore ideas and perspectives without trepidation or fear of rejection.
6. Provide members, ministers and staff with an environment where they know that they will be welcomed and valued.

Changing the World

UUCB exists to:

1. Encourage leadership and participation in efforts to eliminate prejudice, injustice, and oppression within the community and in the world at large.
2. Provide members with the means to undertake projects fostering social justice and community welfare according to their interests.
3. Provide members with ways to contribute financially and otherwise to good causes within the community and in the world at large.
4. Partner with other congregations and organizations in efforts to foster positive social change.
5. Engage with and encourage the UUA to build a diverse and multicultural beloved faith community.
6. Encourage leadership and participation in projects that foster ecologically sound, sustainable, and livable communities, both locally and throughout the world.

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