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Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Port Townsend, WA, hereafter the
Fellowship, and the Rev. __________, as Minister, hereafter the Minister,
jointly enter into this Covenant for Ministry, effective ___________. This
covenant agreement is subject to the extension of the ministerial call by QUUF,
and its acceptance by the Minister.
1. INTENTION
The intention of this Covenant is to set forth the responsibilities,
authority and obligations of the Minister to the Fellowship and of the
Fellowship to the Minister as we seek to dwell together in peace, to seek the
truth in love, and to serve one another and the larger community. We recognize
that no matter how carefully this agreement is written and observed, the
relationship between the Fellowship and the Minister must be grounded in open
communication, mutual trust and respect, good faith, and open and fair process
on both sides.
2. FREE PULPIT
It is a basic premise of this Fellowship that the pulpit is free and
untrammeled. The Minister is expected to express his/her values, views, and
commitments (without fear or favor). The Minister may join any organization,
advocate any cause, and participate in any activity as an individual subject to
the strictures of the Code of Professional Practice of the Unitarian
Universalist Ministers Association. However, the Minister may speak for the
Fellowship only when authorized to do so by the Fellowship.
3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
3.1 Shared Leadership The Minister and the Fellowship share responsibility for the leadership and
ministry of the Fellowship. Achievement and maintenance of this collaborative
relationship must likewise be shared. It is a relationship of discovery, of both
self and other, in a context of mutuality.
The Fellowship looks to its Minister for a) spiritual leadership and
initiative, b) assistance in setting and articulating its vision, c)
professional and inspired performance, and d) oversight of the Fellowship's
programs in collaboration with the Fellowship's Board of Trustees, staff, and
committees.
3.2 Development of Leadership Goals Within the first year of ministry, the Minister, Board of Trustees, and
Committee on Ministry will engage in a retreat for the purpose of arriving at
specific understandings about the sharing of power and responsibility, goals for
the coming year, and a plan for periodic review and renewal of the ministry of
the Fellowship. Continued development is covered in Section 6.
3.3 Worship Services The Minister will be responsible for worship services on 30 Sundays during
the period from September 1 to mid-June, as well as the Christmas Eve and other
seasonal services. Services will be planned and carried out in conjunction with
the Sunday Services Committee and the Director of Religious Education, but the
Minister will assume overall responsibility for these services. On some of these
services, the minister may elect to exchange pulpits with another UU minister.
In the event a second service is required on Sunday mornings to accommodate
growth in the Fellowship, this ministerial responsibility will be for both
services. The services during the remaining 10 Sundays, and during the summer
months, will be the responsibility of the Fellowship under the Sunday Services
Committee.
The Sunday service schedule will be determined in cooperation with the
Director of Religious Education and the Sunday Services Committee.
The Minister will strive to honor the Fellowship's desire for a diversity
of worship service programming.
3.4 Other Obligations The Minister will serve members in their needs for pastoral care, including
crisis intervention and visitation of the homebound, sick, dying, and bereaved,
both directly and in conjunction with the Fellowship's own pastoral care
program. The Minister will maintain awareness of his/her own limitations, and
will refer members for professional counseling and other specialized services as
appropriate.
The Minister will provide ceremonial services, rites of passage and counsel
to members of the Fellowship without fee or honorarium. When such services are
provided to non-members, such fee or honorarium may be set by and is the
property of the Minister.
The Minister will provide guidance and consultation to the Board of Trustees
and other applicable Fellowship Committees and leaders to assist them in
harmonizing the diverse viewpoints of the Fellowship.
The Minister will collaborate with the Director of Religious Education in
fostering the growth and quality of the religious education program for children
and youth.
The Minister will lead some adult education classes in collaboration with the
Adult Learning Programs Committee.
The Minister will participate in orientation sessions with new or prospective
members.
The Minister will contribute regularly to the Newsletter.
The Minister will attend all Congregational meetings, and will submit an
annual written report to the Board of Trustees.
The Minister will participate actively with the Fellowship during all major
fund-raising activities. Participation will include, but need not be limited to,
addressing the financial aspects of the Fellowship from the pulpit.
3.5 Relationship to Board of Trustees Although the Board of Trustees (hereafter the Board) is responsible for the
establishment of goals and policies on behalf of the Fellowship, it strives at
all times to establish these goals and policies in a partnership with the
Minister. Essential to the well being of this Fellowship is a respectful and
harmonious relationship between the Board and the Minister.
The Minister and the Board will share the responsibilities for
administration. Therefore, the Board and the Minister will, at the retreat (Section
3.2) and beyond, delegate these responsibilities, in keeping with the Fellowship's
Bylaws. These duties can be reassigned in the future leaving the delegation of
responsibilities flexible according to the skill and interest of the Minister
and Board members. Until the retreat, the Board will have full responsibility
for administration, including staff supervision.
The Minister will attend and participate in the meetings of the Board, of
which he/she is an ex-officio non-voting member. He/she will have a regular
place on the agenda for reporting on ministerial activities, thoughts and
concerns, and will submit a written monthly report to the Board.
The Minister's participation in Board meetings is from a special vantage
point, for he/she is responsible for the implementation of certain Board
decisions and will wish to ensure that these decisions are as wise as possible.
The Minister needs to express forthrightly his/her concerns about the
relationship between the Fellowship's mission and its people so that they
become vital parts of the Board's consideration. Appropriately the Minister's
participation will vary from an enabler to advocate, from a resource person to
an advisor.
3.6 Relationship to the Committee on Ministry The purpose of the Committee of Ministry is to strengthen and assess the
quality of ministry within the fellowship by functioning as a liaison between
the Minister, the Board, and the Congregation. The Minister will work with the
Committee towards this purpose.
During the first six months of the Minister's service, up to four members
of the Ministerial Search Committee will serve on the Committee on Ministry.
Thereafter, the Board will appoint the Committee on Ministry with staggered
terms from a slate jointly decided upon by the Minister and the President.
3.7 Relationship to Other Committees The Minister is invited to participate as an ex-officio, non-voting member of
all committees and task forces created by the Board. The Minister will determine
the proper level of involvement in such groups to insure that programs are
consistent with the Fellowship's mission and goals.
3.8 Relationship to the Community The Minister is encouraged to act in the community beyond the Fellowship on
behalf of liberal religious values, and to inform the Fellowship of such action
through periodic reports. When the Minister speaks in public and chooses to take
a stand on a major issue, he/she must indicate that this stand does not
necessarily represent the Fellowship, unless the Fellowship has otherwise
authorized it.
3.9 Office Hours and Days Off The Minister will maintain regular and posted office hours, flexible enough
to meet the needs of the congregation, at least three days per week, with other
times available by appointment.
The Minister will maintain one entire day per week, including that evening,
free of all Fellowship responsibilities and one additional day devoted to study
and writing wherein the Minister will be available only for emergencies. We
recognize and encourage the Minister to set aside a reasonable number of hours
for personal needs.
3.10 Minister's Conduct The conduct of the Minister will be in accordance with the Code of
Professional Practice of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association.
3.11 Evaluation of the Minister An assessment of the work of the Minister will be conducted after three
years, and every three-five years thereafter, following a congregational survey
and consultation with the Committee on Ministry. The assessment will be based on
the suggestions from QUUF's Committee on Ministry, dated January 2003, included as Attachment B.
4. COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
4.1 Compensation Package The Fellowship will provide to the Minister a Compensation Package of $64,500
(Total Cost of Ministry), as detailed in Attachment A.
The Board of Trustees will review the Minister's compensation annually in
consultation with the Committee on Ministry, Finance Committee, and Personnel
Committee, and will recommend adjustments to the Fellowship, taking into
consideration such factors as merit in meeting or exceeding expectations,
increases in the cost of living, changes in the cost of benefits, and the
financial means of the Fellowship. The Fellowship will consider such
recommendations as a part of the normal budgeting process, and will act upon
them at the annual Fellowship meeting held for this purpose.
In addition to the above, the Fellowship will provide for negotiated
relocation expenses of the initial settlement of the Minister and immediate
family.
4.2 Annual Leave The Minister will be relieved of regular responsibilities and may be absent
from the area for a total of eight weeks per year. The Minister will advise the
Board of scheduled absences, and provide contact information, at least 30 days
in advance. The Minister is expected to return no later than August 15 in
preparation for the start of the regular Fellowship year.
Up to four of these weeks will be taken as vacation, anticipating that most
will be taken during the summer months. During vacation, should an emergency
arise requiring the Minister's return, all costs of such return will be borne by
the Fellowship.
The remaining time of the eight weeks will be taken as study leave. During
study leave, should an emergency arise requiring the Minister's return, all
costs of such return will be borne by the Minister.
Vacation and study leave accrues on the anniversary of the Minister's
starting date each year and may not to be carried over beyond September 1 of the
following year.
4.3 Sick/Disability Leave The Minister will continue to receive full compensation during periods of
temporary illness or disability, up to 12 days per year. Illnesses of longer
duration are covered in Section 4.4.
In the event of partial or total disability of the Minister (as defined by
the long term disability plan under which the Minister is enrolled), and when
the Minister cannot satisfactorily perform the ministerial duties and
responsibilities denoted here, the Fellowship will continue the compensation and
considerations of this agreement for a period not to exceed a total of 3 months,
or until the disability plan takes effect, whichever comes first.
4.4 Family Leave The Minister is entitled to a period of up to 6 weeks of family leave in a
year. The reasons for taking family leave are a) to care for the Minister's
child after birth, or for adoption of a child 6 years old or younger, b) to care
for the Minister's spouse, domestic partner, son or daughter, or parent who has
a serious health condition, c) for a serious health condition that makes the
Minister unable to perform his/her job. The Board will determine compensation.
Medical complications during or after pregnancy will be treated as a
disability under Section 4.3, and not as family leave. The Minister will be
granted reasonable time by the Board of Trustees in the event of a death in
his/her immediate family, not to exceed 2 weeks of the 6 weeks.
4.5 Death of the Minister In the event of the Minister's death, salary and housing benefits will be
paid to his/her partner for 90 days.
4.6 Sabbatical Leave The Minister will use sabbatical leave for study, education, writing,
meditation, and other forms of professional and religious growth. Sabbatical
leave accrues at the rate of one month per year of service, with leave to be
taken after five but before seven years of service. The Board of Trustees must
approve the dates of the sabbatical plan at least one year in advance.
The Fellowship will continue full salary, housing allowance, and benefits
during sabbatical leave. Professional expenses may be adjusted.
Every fiscal year, the Fellowship will consider sequestering funds from the
general operating budget for use in funding the Fellowship's additional expenses
during the Minister's sabbatical. This fund is the property of the Fellowship.
In the event of the Minister's resignation, termination, retirement, or
death, unused sabbatical leave is not compensable.
The Minister agrees to serve for at least one year after returning from a
sabbatical leave.
The Fellowship agrees to take no action on ministerial tenure during a
sabbatical leave.
4.7 Jury Duty The Minister will receive leave as necessary to fulfill jury duty, and will
receive normal compensation and benefits during the period.
5. RESIGNATION AND TERMINATION
The term of this covenant is indefinite. It will continue until the Minister
provides the Fellowship with at least 60 days' notice of intent to resign or
retire, or until the Fellowship provides the Minister with at least 60 days'
notice of intent to dismiss, or until the long-term disability or death of the
Minister. In the event of resignation or termination, the Minister will be
compensated only for actual service performed. Unused study leave pay and unused
professional expense allocation will revert to the Fellowship upon notice of
resignation or termination. Unused accrued vacation pay will be negotiated
between the Board and the Minister.
5.1 Resignation The Minister may resign by sending written notification to the President of
the Board of Trustees. Unless withdrawn, the resignation becomes effective on
the 60th day following receipt of the notification. The Minister and the Board
of Trustees may set any other effective termination date by mutual agreement.
5.2 Termination Except as provided for in Section 5.3, the Minister may be dismissed only by
action of the Fellowship at a Congregational meeting. A decision to dismiss the
Minister will be by majority vote of all members of the Fellowship present and
eligible to vote at a meeting called for that purpose at which a quorum is
present.
Termination becomes effective on the 60th day following the meeting. During
the 60-day period, the Board of Trustees will determine the duties and
responsibilities of the Minister. The Minister and the Board of Trustees may set
any other effective termination date by mutual agreement.
5.3 Dismissal for Cause The Minister may be dismissed with less than 60 days notice if the Minister
is convicted of a felony, has his/her ministerial fellowship with the UUA
terminated or suspended or is found by the Board to have engaged in physically
or sexually abusive acts, or is found by the Board to have grossly neglected
his/her ministerial responsibilities under this agreement and/or to have engaged
in activities that bring the Fellowship and/or Unitarian Universalism into
disrepute in the community. If this case, the Board may, at its discretion,
immediately suspend the Minister, without pay, and call a Congregational Meeting
for the purpose of voting on termination.
6. FUTURE EVOLUTION OF THIS COVENANT
The Minister is called by the Fellowship for an indefinite term of service
and serves at the will of the Fellowship. This Covenant is not an annual
contract, but is a perpetual, evolving agreement as to the terms and conditions
of service.
A thorough review of the Covenant for the Ministry will occur after three
years, and every three-five years thereafter, guided by Board policies and
Fellowship by-laws, and following a congregational survey and evaluation of the
Minister (Section 3.11). The terms of this Covenant may be changed with the
mutual consent of the Minister and the Board to reflect changes in policies,
goals, and actual practice.
This Covenant is subject to the laws of the State of Washington and the
Bylaws of Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Port Townsend. It has
been drawn up in the spirit of the Principles and Purposes of the Unitarian
Universalist Association.
The Total Cost of Ministry (TCM) includes salary, housing allowance,
benefits, and professional expenses. For __________, the TCM shall total
$_______, on a twelve-month basis.
The specific components of the TCM package are:
The allocation of the compensation package into the above categories will be
completed prior to the call of the Minister. Funds not expended within one
category may be allocated to others upon mutual agreement of the Minister and
the Board.
Social security and Medicare payments (both employer and employee portions)
are the responsibility of the Minister.
Salary and housing allowance will be paid in twelve equal monthly payments,
on the 15th of each month. Pension contributions and insurance
premiums will be paid by their due dates. Professional expenses will be paid
promptly upon receipt of expense voucher by the Minister in accordance with an
Accountable Reimbursement Plan developed jointly by the Minister, President, and
Treasurer. For major expenses, the Treasurer may provide the Minister with an
advance. This plan will be in compliance with IRS standards.
To the QUUF Board
August 2004
UUA and other congregations' Review and Evaluation resources were gathered
and studied by the Committee on Ministries during the fall. Based on these
resources the following developed:
I. QUUF's Committee on Ministry Agreed-Upon Suppositions:
II. Suggestions to the Board for Ministerial Review and Evaluation:
The following quotes from the 1995 UUA Handbook may be helpful to remember:
COVENANT FOR MINISTRY
Date Approved
Board President
Date Accepted
Minister
Attachment A
Compensation Package
Attachment B
Suggestions for Ministerial Review/Evaluation
From Committee on Ministry