​We nurture hearts and minds, practice beloved community and work for justice.―UU Santa Fe Mission Statement

uu Santa fe Governance

Unitarian Universalist Community Polity
UU Santa Fe is self-governing. We 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

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What change is UU Santa Fe called to make in our world? What ways are we seeking to bring about this change?

Governing Bodies

​To rule is easy, to govern difficult.―Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees (elected membership) oversees our vision, direction, priorities and our committees.​

• President: Mary Ellen Gonzales (1st term)
• Vice President: Rodman Morgan (2nd term)
• Vice President for Finance: Katie Updike (2nd term)
• Secretary: Roberta Armstrong (1st term)
• At large: Sherry Kraemer (1st term)
• At large: Munro Sickafoose (2nd term)
• At large: Jack Seigel (1st term)
• Ex Officio: Gail Marriner

Program Council
Program Council oversees our Mission Teams and their activities and priorities.​

• Chair, Rodman Morgan
• Worship, Jennifer Pruett and Michael Owens
• Lifelong Learning, Patty Owens and Steven Mead
• Community Life,
  Elizabeth Swope and Roberta Armstrong
• Social Justice, rotating leadership
• At large: Gail Marriner

UU Santa Fe Board meetings are open to all―
Fourth Wednesday at 5:30 pm in the Committee Room

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Our Board is:

• Governed by our Bylaws, Mission and Vision Statements
• Regulated by its 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 the 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, social justice initiatives, and lifelong learning programs.

Development Plan

​“Good mission statements do not create purpose-driven people. Purpose-driven people create mission-driven communities.”
―Steven Mead, Religious Educator

Busy people have goals; productive people have priorities. ―​Anonymous

​“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”​―Peter F. Drucker

​“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”​―Peter F. Drucker

​“The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.”
​―Steven Mead, Religious Educator 

The Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Program Council, developed the following strategic initiatives for 2018-2019. These items are by no means the exclusive work of our community, but they are the items that UU Santa Fe particularly intends to focus its attention and resources on in the months ahead.―Board of Trustees, February 2018

Board of Trustees Accountability

1. ​Improve Financial Position to assure UU Santa Fe’s long-term survivability, financial stability and adequate funding for mission-critical initiatives
2. Promote and Enhance Building, consistent with our mission, bring more Santa Fe community onto our campus and further enhance our reputation and community recognition
3. Restructure UU Santa Fe to more intentionally, simply and effectively support our mission and community outreach initiatives
4. Promote Communication & Technology both internal and external to support all other Development Plan initiatives

Program Council Accountability

1. Embed UU Santa Fe in the Santa Fe Community. This broad mandate includes community outreach, community collaborations, interfaith participation, social justice, “side-door/on-ramp” and related "unbranded" initiatives
2. Enhance Worship. This mandate includes developing sensory rich and thematic worship as well as increasing our online worship presence
3. Engage Membership. This broad mandate includes volunteer management and intentional invitation to engage in our four core experiences: worship, beloved community, lifelong learning and social justice initiatives
4. Revitalize Family Ministry Program. This mandate includes rebuilding family attendance and participation and moving to a Family Ministry model from our current Children & Youth model during 2018 and in 2019 ​

​Democracy – is a government by all the people for all the people.―​Theodore Parker (Unitarian, minister, social reformer) in 1854