President - Roles and Responsibilities

Updated September 2017

  • Ensures the integrity of the UUAA Board of Trustee processes, and represents the board to Congregants and outside parties.
  • Ensures the board behaves consistently with its own rules, covenants, Congregational Values, UU Principles, and rules legitimately imposed upon it from UUA, and local, state and federal laws.
  • Decides what issues brought before the Board clearly belong to the Board to decide, recognizing some issues may be best addressed by the Senior Minister or the Congregation as a whole.
  • Facilitates meetings and deliberations in a fair, open and thorough manner, but also timely, orderly, and kept to the point.
  • Sets the agenda in consultation with the Senior Minister and other members of the board, presides at all business meetings of the Congregation, including regular board meetings, annual and special meetings.
  • Organizes and sets the agenda for an annual Board retreat, typically held at the beginning of the board term or whenever necessary.
  • As an individual, has no authority to supervise or direct the Senior Minister or UUAA staff.
  • May represent the Board of Trustees to outside parties in announcing board-stated positions and in stating the President's own decisions and interpretations within his or her authority.
  • May represent the Congregation at UUAA ceremonial events (e.g., new member welcome, and celebrations) or designate another board officer or member to do so.

Board President Expectations:

In addition to those qualities and attributes desired of all members of the Board, the President is expected to:

  • Have previous Board experience, or other relevant organizational development and management and experience, either with the UUAA or another relevant organization.
  • Have organizational skills to assure that the Board business is dealt with efficiently.
  • Be committed to a process of thoughtful and inclusive, discernment and decision-making.
  • Nurture and develop other trustees to work as a group, through efforts to educate about issues, and make informed decisions.
  • Meet with the Senior Minister on a regular basis to discuss issues, and plan meetings.
  • Lead Congregational meetings, assuring all relevant, and important issues for any decision are explored before a decision is made, but also timely, orderly and to the point; and conduct the meeting and facilitate the decision-making process using Roberts Rules of Order.

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