Author: Jaco ten Hove

On March 16, 2023, the Board of UURMaPA voted unanimously to amend the Purpose of UURMaPA as described in our organization’s by-laws. This vote came at the end of a year of study of whether UURMaPA should have a covenant or alternatively a change in our Purpose.

The first phase of this process was a discussion about whether our purpose would be well-served by including a covenant as part of UURMaPA membership. That discussion led the Board into a deeper dive about why we have never been a formal membership organization with boundaries that include affirmation and enforcement of a covenant. We found enough ambivalence about a covenant last year that the Board proposed a different approach. Recognizing that our governance philosophy has been to trust an empowered Board, and that our by-laws do not include annual meetings or votes, the Board put forward, instead of a covenant, a proposal for amendments to the Purpose of UURMaPA. The Board invited feedback in writing to this proposal following the Fall Conference in late October, after which any next steps or a final Board vote would be considered.

Seven UURMaPA members sent written responses. Three of these were broad reflections on the changing ministry that did not speak directly to thePurpose statement. Two responses were critical of the proposed changes and recommended simplifying or abandoning the proposed changes. One response focused on the phrase “anti-oppressive attitudes” in the last sentence, describing it as “vague” and “subjective”. This person hoped that the statement could be “more succinct and less ambiguous”. The Board considered these reflections and did not find them persuasive.

One response that we did find persuasive came from Rev. Scot Giles, who
encouraged us to include a reference to the guidelines and codes of conduct of the UU Society for Community Ministers, alongside that of the UUMA, since we have members who prefer to affiliate with UUSCM rather than the UUMA. We thank Scot for this suggestion. After review of the comments and discussion about our options, the following proposed amendments to the Purpose along with the Giles suggestion was moved, seconded and passed by a unanimous vote:

“In faithfulness to the Unitarian Universalist tradition and to the guidelines and code of conduct of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and the Unitarian Universalist Society for Community Ministries, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association embody in our lives and our conduct with each other the values that we proclaim on behalf of our faith. Our purpose is to be an inclusive multicultural community that serves the interests and enhances the well-being of retired Unitarian Universalist ministers and their life partners through informational communication, periodic membership gatherings, and other supportive programs and activities. As a Unitarian Universalist organization of professionals and partners, we recognize that fulfilling our purpose calls us to cultivate anti-oppressive attitudes and practices consistent with our shared values, thereby promoting our collective well-being.”

The Board sees this as an appropriate step and a conclusion to this stage of the ongoing conversation among us about what UURMaPA means to us, and how we can continue to thrive as an inclusive organization welcoming future generations of retirees. In her written response, Marilyn Sewall wrote: “So much these days is mere ‘virtue signaling,’ and I hope we do not become a part of this phenomenon, which is simply empty rhetoric.” The Board has taken Rev. Sewall’s challenge very seriously, and we encourage UURMaPA members to do the same. We see the Purpose change as one small step among many steps to be taken to enhance the quality of our relationships and the courage of our conversations.

Endowment Fund Revision May 2021

UURMaPA, established in 1985, has served our liberal religious movement and the needs of retired UU ministers and their partners for more than a quarter of a century – and, with your support, will continue to serve for many years to come.

With this hope in mind, we have created an endowment fund. The Fund balance is to be held in perpetuity. Annually, the Board may withdraw up to 4% of the balance for supporting the annual budget. The Board may withdraw funds from the endowment fund balance in addition to this limitation. It will take two subsequent votes of the Board to access the Endowment beyond the annual withdrawal.

To contribute send a check made out to “UURMaPA Endowment Fund” to: Paul Johnson, Treasurer (as of July, 2024)
UU Retired Ministers and Partners Assoc.
1225 NW 21St, unit 402
Stuart, FL 34994

For details, contact Paul Johnson at treasurer@uurmapa.org.

There are other ways, too, of contributing to UURMaPA in a lasting way. You might consider naming UURMaPA in your will, for example. Or you might consider the purchase of a charitable gift annuity, that would generate income for you during your lifetime and leave a legacy for the organization.

Resolution to Create the UURMaPA Endowment Fund
Adopted October 7, 2008; Revised May 19, 2021

WHEREAS the primary fiduciary responsibility of the leadership of a nonprofit charitable organization is to further the mission of the organization and maintain its programs, and

WHEREAS the annual income for a non-profit charitable organization that is derived in any particular fiscal year will be influenced by current economic conditions and the generosity of current donors, and

WHEREAS the long-term financial stability of a non-profit charitable organization may benefit from income from funds donated in prior periods by previous supporters,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the Executive Board of the Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association at its regular meeting in October 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts hereby resolves to establish an ENDOWMENT FUND to hold assets in perpetuity that are donated for this purpose. The ENDOWMENT FUND will be governed according to the following policies:

1. The ENDOWMENT FUND will be managed by the Treasurer. The Treasurer may establish an Endowment Committee of three people approved by the Board to assist in the management of the Endowment Fund. The Treasurer is authorized to solicit contributions to UURMaPA to be designated for the ENDOWMENT FUND, with such contributions covered by the Association’s 501(c) (3) tax status as applied to charitable donations.

2. The Treasurer and/or the Endowment Committee is hereby authorized to undertake all the usual actions related to holding, making or disposing of investments in financial markets, such as through mutual funds and any mix of cash, equities or bonds. The Treasurer and/or the Endowment Committee may not incur obligations on behalf of UURMaPA beyond the assets of the ENDOWMENT FUND, and the ENDOWMENT FUND assets will not be co-mingled with other UURMaPA accounts.

3. The Endowment Fund will be invested in the Unitarian Universalist Association Common Endowment Fund and managed by the UUA. The Treasurer will report monthly to the Board on the balance of the Endowment Fund.

4. Withdrawals from the Endowment Fund may be made annually in the fall of each year and used in the creation of the next fiscal year budget. An amount up to 4% of the balance as of June 30th of that year may be withdrawn and added to the next year’s budget. The Board may withdraw funds from the endowment fund balance in addition to this limitation. It will take two subsequent votes of the Board to access the Endowment beyond the annual withdrawal.

5. The UURMaPA Executive Board shall have the authority to revise these policies in the event of a financial emergency or other urgent circumstance so long as they act in the best interests of the organization, however any such revisions shall require approval by the Board of Directors at two consecutive meetings.

6. Non-cash donations to the ENDOWMENT FUND such as individual equities will be sold as soon as practicable after they are received, with the proceeds added to the Endowment corpus and invested according to the financial policies then in force.

7. In order to stimulate contributions to the UURMaPA ENDOWMENT FUND, the Executive Board shall publicize the existence and purposes of the ENDOWMENT FUND to its members. Individual UURMaPA members may request and receive from the Treasurer a current report on the status of the Fund at any time.

8. In the event of the termination of the Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association, the successor organization to receive any remaining assets will be the Unitarian Universalist Association Living Tradition Fund.

July 3: The Unitarian Universalist Retired Ministers and Partners Association will gather in a conference October 21 through 23, 2024. Our theme this fall is “Generative Eldering and Democracy’s Future,” and will be presented by Dr. Sharon Welch in a conversational format. Dr. Welch is the author of After the Protests are Heard: Enacting Civic Engagement and Social Transformation.

In researching this topic, Sharon will focus on a few questions: 

∙ What can we as elders do in terms of time and focus to support generative democracy throughout the world?

∙ What are the current risks to democracy? Sharon will devote some time addressing the current research on the rise of authoritarianism and the risks to democracy worldwide.

∙ What leads to an expansive, generative and multiracial democracy? There is a significant difference between competitive and generative forms of democracy. Sharon will explore the differences, and the short-term and long term work that is being done to implement and sustain a democracy. 

∙ What is being done now by Unitarian Universalists to create a generative democracy, and what are the particular roles that can be played by elders in this vital work? UU the Vote and UUSJ in collaboration with other organizations, such as the Poor Peoples’ campaign play prominent roles now in support of democracy.

In addition to the presentation by Dr. Welch, the conference will honor our colleagues no longer with us in a service of remembrance, we will experience an odyssey with a minister and one with a partner, small groups will form to discuss the theme, we can engage in virtual socializing, and two worship services are scheduled. We will have several opportunities to go deeper into our theme during Connecting Rooms every day.

This conference will be mediated through Zoom, or in-person with at least four pods. Online registration will begin on August 1; the fee is $45.00, and financial aid is available to defray the cost. To apply for financial aid, send a message to Paul Johnson at treasurer@uurmapa.org

We will have more information about pods later this summer. For now, we believe one will form in Wilmington, Delaware, another in Seabeck, Washington, near Seattle, one in Kingston, Massachusetts, and one in Columbus, Ohio.

We will update the FaceBook page and this UURMaPA web page with information as we develop the conference, so check those occasionally this summer, especially after August 1 to register.

Job Description
(Approved by the Board May 16, 2024)

Rationale:   The Passages Coordinator helps welcome new UURMaPA members into the organization and oversees member notification of member deaths in collaboration with the Obituary Editors and other UURMaPA volunteers.

Expectations:  Specific duties include:

• The Passages Coordinator writes welcome notes for new members and partners when “Intent To Retire” forms are received from the UUA.

• When the Passages Coordinator receives notice of the death of a minister or partner, the Coordinator checks the membership status of the deceased and sends a brief notice to the membership, specifying the date of death, the names of survivors, and, if the information is available, where to send condolences and contributions in memory, and where and when a memorial service will take place or has taken place. The Coordinator will also inform the membership that UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in the deceased’s memory, and in the case of a partner’s death, will contribute $50 to the partner’s church or a charity of the partner’s choice.

• The Passages Coordinator tracks member deaths on a chart, maintains a file of all member obituaries by name and death date, and provides Obituary Editors and Conference ln Memoriam Service leaders with information as needed. 

• The Board decided to fully honor only the deaths of our own members (ministers or partners), except for the following actions: the Passages Coordinator should report via a brief announcement on the death of a minister who was 65 or older, whether or not a member; and the Board should invite the surviving spouse to join UURMaPA. (The President may do this at the GA Service of the Living Tradition.) 

Note: When a Board Member becomes aware of the death of one of our members other than through UURMaPA or denominational notices, they should pass the information along to the Passages Coordinator so that the death of a member is not overlooked. Elderberries should include periodic notices to remind members to notify the Passages Coordinator or a Board person of the death of any member, minister or partner.

Drafted and submitted by Joy Atkinson, May 13, 2024