Author: Jaco ten Hove

On September 3 from 3-4:30 pm (Eastern Time), UURMaPA will host our annual “virtual” welcome for all Newly Retired Ministers and Partners, who should have received direct invitations. We also encourage any existing UURMaPA members to attend and add your welcome to these new UURMaPAns. All you need to do is email me (vice-president@uurmapa.org) and request a Zoom invitation.

The event will include a brief introduction of what UURMaPA offers our members. We will share information about what your Board is doing, the upcoming Fall Conference, special webinars that will be offered this year, and how you can be more involved in UURMaPA, such as in our small groups. We will have time for questions for the UURMaPA Board members.

Warmly, –Charles J. Stephens, UURMaPA V.P.

(Approved by the Board on 3/24/26)

Rationale: The President represents the organization and its goals to members, to the larger Unitarian Universalist community, and to the public at large, promoting and furthering its mission and reputation.

Excpectations:

• The President monitors the Board and its members regarding fulfilling UURMaPA ’s Mission. They prepare the agenda and chair meetings of the Board and represent the Board to members, UUMA, LREDA, UUA, and other UU groups. They are expected to attend UURMaPA Conferences and the UUA General Assembly, with expenses covered by the budget.
• For the annual in-person Board meeting, the President, in consultation with the Board, develops the agenda and invites appropriate guests from the UUA and UUMA.
• Conferences – The President leads UURMaPA informational or business meetings and offers reports.  In consultation with planning teams, the President will select Odyssey presenters for all UURMaPA Conferences.
• Supervises the UURMaPA Zoom Master
• Other UURMaPA Events – the President consults in planning and participates in the annual virtual “UURMaPA Welcome” event.
• UUA General Assembly – The President attends UURMaPA-sponsored events when held, and, where possible, the gathering for families of deceased ministers.  They represent UURMaPA at the Service of the Living Tradition.
• Nominations – The President works closely with the Nominating Committee in selecting nominees to fill Board positions and possibly other vacancies as needed.
• Other duties include:

• writing condolence letters to families of those members who have died
• writing articles for Elderberries and for other publications as invited
• preparing the annual financial appeal letter(s) to members
• promoting educational programs for members and future members
• serving as liaison to specific off-Board annual appointees
• generally coaching others in their roles

Drafted by Judy Gibson, 3-18-2020
Revised by Diane Miller in consultation with past Presidents, 2020
Revised by Susan V Rak, February 2023
Revised by Richard Speck, November 2025
Revised by Richard Speck, March 2026

June, 2026… We’re thrilled to announce the newest title from Skinner House: Defiantly Joyful: Unitarian Universalist LGBTQIA+ Histories, edited by Diana K. McLean and published by Skinner House Books.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, the Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association (UURMaPA) launched what would become the UU Rainbow History Project, convening in 2019 two in-person conferences and creating a new digital archive to preserve LGBTQIA+ Unitarian Universalist history. This landmark collection grows out of that important effort to honor and reckon with that history.

Edited by Diana K. McLean, Defiantly Joyful brings together personal stories from LGBTQIA+ Unitarian Universalists, both laypeople and religious professionals, across a wide spectrum of identities and experiences. Rich with insight and anchored by a timeline of Unitarian Universalist LGBTQIA+ history more thorough than any previously available, Defiantly Joyful honors the trailblazers who came before, while challenging and inspiring readers to consider the work still ahead and continue the fight.