uu Santa fe Governance

Unitarian Universalist Community Polity
UU Santa Fe is self-governing. We typically hold an Annual Meeting of UU Santa Fe in late May. "Congregational Polity sees no power that extends beyond those who elected them, that is, the congregation. A congregation has the right and responsibility to choose and ordain its own clergy, elect its own officers, direct them in the course of their duties, and replace them when necessary. In the Unitarian Universalist denomination, there are no synods, bishops, or other persons empowered elsewhere with authority over a congregation."―Jane A. Page, Statesboro, GA

At UU Santa Fe "we trust you with the holy things."―Nadia Bolz Weber

Governing Bodies

​Earn your leadership every day.—Michael Jordan, former NBA basketball player
UU Leadership Resources
Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees (elected membership) oversees our vision, direction, priorities and our committees.​
  • President, Jim Kraemer
  • Vice President, Teresa Tunick
  • Vice President for Finance, Mary Beth Kuderik 
  • Vice President for Operations, Leon Winston
  • Secretary, Roberta Armstrong
  • At large, Janie Farler, Lisa Flynn, Ruth LaNore and Adam Wasserman 
  • Ex Officio, Rev. Gail Marriner
If you think you are leading and turn around to see no one following, then you are just taking a walk. – Benjamin Hooks, former director of the NAACP
Program Council
Program Council (appointed membership) oversees our Mission Teams, their activities and priorities.​
  • Chair, Teresa Tunick
  • Worship, Rotating attendees
  • Lifelong Learning, Mike Owens and Sherry Kraemer  
  • Community Life, Elizabeth Swope and Roberta Armstrong
  • Justice Council, ​Mary Ellen Gonzales
  • At large, Rev. Gail Marriner
UU Santa Fe Board meetings are open to all―Fourth Thursday at 6 pm 
Email [email protected] for more information.
Our Board is:
  • Governed by our Bylaws, Mission and Vision Statements, and covenant
  • Regulated by our congregational policy and informed by membership
  • Accountable for creating conditions that achieve the mission and vision of UU Santa Fe—its decision-making is always biased toward this end

Board Covenant read at every Board meeting:
"We covenant to lead our congregation with integrity, guided always by our UU principles and purposes; to act and speak with respect for each one present and all those absent; to listen with open hearts and minds to the full spectrum of perspectives; to follow a democratic process in all our decision making; and to treat one another with kindness and care."

​Our Board's Responsibility. The Board focuses on our future, creates and manages our long range plan, listens deeply to membership, and oversees UU Santa Fe's business affairs, such as financial management, facilities management, staffing, membership, communication and operations.​
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Our Program Council's Responsibility. The Board delegates to our minister, community leadership (Program Council) and program teams the achievement of our mission and vision. Significant ministries include worship, pastoral care, small group facilitation, justice-making initiatives and lifelong learning programs.
To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence … When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!’”—Lao Tzu, philosopher