2023 USH Proposed Constitution Revision

Voting at the May 2023 Annual Meeting to be implemented July 1, 2023. Changes are outlined below.

 

ARTICLE III – DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION

  • Replace Article III words:  The Society shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Clara Barton District (New England Region) of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.
  • With:   The Society shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the New England Region of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.
  • Reason:  The Clara Barton district is no more.  Here is something from uua.org:   The New England Region (NER) is composed of 232 congregations. The congregations in this geographical area were previously organized into districts.
  1. Change four council chairs to six council chairs.
  2. Six voting members shall constitute a quorum, up from five.
  3. No change to the Council on Spiritual Life and Council on Social Justice.
  4. The Council on Administration shall be divided into two councils; the new one shall be the Council on Finance with the task of overseeing USH finances as explained below.
  5. The Council on Community Within shall be divided into two councils; the new one shall be the Council on Membership with the task of developing membership, coordinate volunteers, and chair the nominating committee as explained below.
  6. The immediate past-president of the board shall not have specific duties, but may serve as an advisor to the board and may serve wherever else their skills and interests lie.
  7. The Board shall set policy guidelines for the Ministers Discretionary Fund. Add to article IX section 5, Board Powers.

 

Section 5 Council on Administration. In addition to other sub-councils that it may form, the Council on Administration shall have a Human Resources Sub-council.

The responsibilities of the Council on Administration shall include:

  1. Physical facilities;
  2. Personnel administration;
  3. Office administration;
  4. Emergency preparedness and security;
  5. Archives;
  6. Human Resources Sub-council shall have responsibility for recommending to the Board of Directors the hiring, supervision, and termination of all staff except ministers.  The Chair of the Human Resources Sub-council shall be appointed by the Council and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  The chair of the Human Resources Sub-council shall serve as an ex officio member of the Council on Administration.
  7. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Note: The senior non-ministerial staff member shall serve as a non-voting advisory member of the Council on Administration.

 

Section 6 Council on Finance. In addition to other sub-councils that it may form, the Council on Finance shall have a Finance Sub-council and Stewardship Sub-council.

The responsibilities of the Council on Finance shall include:

  1. Development and monitoring of the annual operating budget;
  2. Development and management of a capital budget account;
  3. Revenue generation and Stewardship
  4. Finance Sub-council shall have responsibility for developing the annual operating and capital budgets, recommending fiscal policies, and monitoring income and expenses.  The Treasurer shall serve as chair ex officio of the Finance Sub-council.
  5. Act as a liaison and support the Stewardship Sub-council.
  6. Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

  

Section 7 Council on Community Within.

The responsibilities of the Council on the Community Within shall include:

  1. a) Facilitating internal and external communications;
  2. b) Weekly Enews;
  3. c) Web maintenance and updates, communication with hosting company as needed;
  4. d) Publicity to inform and promote USH activities for the beneficial knowledge of the congregation;
  5. e) Acting as a liaison for communication between the Board and Community Within groups;
  6. f) Developing and overseeing opportunities for socialization;
  7. g) Nurturing members in need; and
  8. h) Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 8 Council on Membership. 

The responsibilities of the Council on Membership shall include:

  1. a)   Membership development;
  2. b)   Serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee;
  3. c)   Leadership and volunteer development;
  4. d)   Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9 Council on Spiritual Life. 

The responsibilities of the Council on Spiritual Life shall include:

  1. a)   Collective worship;
  2. b)   Rites of passage;
  3. c)    Individual spiritual development for children and youth;
  4. d)    Individual spiritual development for adults; and
  5. e)   Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 10 Council on Social Justice.

The responsibilities of the Council on Social Justice shall include:

  1. a)   Social justice issues;
  2. b)   Denomination partnerships;
  3. c)   Outreach; and
  4. d)   Other responsibilities as assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Capital Budget Account

  1. The Councils on Administration and Finance, through the appropriate Sub-council, shall prepare an annual “Buildings and Grounds Status Report.” . . .
  2. In addition, the Councils on Administration and Finance, shall prepare an annual “Five-year Capital Budgeting Plan.” . . .
  3. No later than 60 days prior to the end of the fiscal year, the Finance Council, through the Finance Sub-council, shall review the “Buildings and Grounds Status Report” and the “Five-year Capital Budgeting Plan” and determine the source of funds to implement the capital improvement projects. . . .
  4. Through f.Duties fall under the Finance Council.

 

Our grant application work this year made us take a close look at our tax-exempt status. Jim Venneman found IRS information about needing a dissolution clause, which we could add to the USH constitution in this revision. Here is what we are looking for regarding dissolution.  It is on page 8 of the information for IRS form 1023, which was attached to Jon’s email of 1/20.  Since we operate under 501(c)(3) rules, it would apply to USH.

 

Dissolution clause. Your organizing document must provide for the permanent dedication of your assets to a section 501(c)(3) purpose. This means that if you dissolve your organization in the future, your assets must be distributed for an exempt purpose described in section 501(c)(3), or to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. In certain states, you may rely on state law to establish the permanent dedication of assets for exempt purposes. This is based on Rev. Proc. 82-2, 1982-1 C.B. 367. For additional information, search “Operation of state law” at IRS.gov.
Foreign organizations may be able to rely upon the applicable laws of their jurisdiction in a similar manner. If relying on a foreign law, you must provide a copy of the applicable law with an English translation.
Naming a specific organization to receive your assets upon dissolution will be acceptable only if your organizing document requires that the specific organization to be exempt under section 501(c)(3) at the time your dissolution takes place and provides for a qualified alternative recipient if the named organization isn’t exempt under section 501(c)(3) at that time.
If your organizing document states that your assets would be distributed to members or private individuals or for any purpose other than those provided in section 501(c)(3), you must amend your organizing document to remove such statements.
The following is an example of an acceptable dissolution clause.

Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
See Pub. 557 for further information and examples of acceptable language for dedication of assets in your organizing document.

Add to USH Constitution:

VIII.   Dissolution clause

In the unlikely event that the Unitarian Society of Hartford ceases to exist, all funds shall be ultimately deposited or used for tax exempt purposes, as follows.

Upon discontinuance of this Church by dissolution or otherwise, any assets lawfully available for distribution are to be transferred to one or more organizations qualifying as an exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, by a majority of members attending at a duly called business meeting, as applicable to the former Unitarian Society of Hartford organization.

In the unlikely event that USH relocates, portions of soil from various areas of the present USH Memorial Garden and all related records, plaque, sculpture and remembrance book shall be taken to the new location where these items shall be used in the creation of a new Memorial Garden established with a suitable dedication ceremony.