V0.5, 06 January, 2003.

Cameron Linton, cameron.linton@sympatico.ca 

This note is organized as follows:

Proposed Resolution
Background Information
Pros of severing affiliation
Cons of severing affiliation
Letter of clarification from the UUA
Letter from President, CUC Board
Previously Asked Questions regarding CUC-UUA Transition
Further Discussion by Toronto First Board

Whereas The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto is a full-fledged member of the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC);

And whereas The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto reaffirms commitment to the principles, vision, and sustainability of the CUC;

And whereas The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto is satisfied that all services previously provided by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) are accounted for with the CUC/UUA succession agreement passed May 19, 2001 -- including Youth and Ministerial services -- and that First is no longer obliged to contribute to the UUA’s Annual Program Fund;

And whereas The First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto desires an international partnership with the UUA via the CUC instead of membership in the UUA;

Be it resolved that the following change be made to the Bylaws of the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto

Bylaw 1-002: Remove membership in the UUA and the St. Lawrence District of the UUA. Membership shall solely be stated to be with the CUC, with additional CUC regional membersihps as appropriate. The concise wording shall be <<The Congregation shall be a member of the Canadian Unitarian Council/Conseil Unitaire Canadien>>.

[1] UUA by-laws have been changed (changes in effect as of June 2003) and Canadian Congregations are now excluded from the service delivery Districts of the UUA. Toronto First has been contacted by the UUA to see if we want to continue our association. Should Toronto First decide to sever its affiliation then notice must be made to the UUA who then must invoke a policy change by vote by the UUA Board of Trustees to disaffiliate Toronto First.

[2]Toronto First has a statement of membership in Bylaw #1-002 indicating that the "Congregation shall be a member of … the UUA". This can only be changed by a majority vote at a General Meeting.

[3] If Toronto First retains its affiliation with the UUA then we need to decide whether to retain our "Fair Share" status that would cost over $30,000/year in contributions to the UUA’s Annual Program Fund.

[4] Toronto First must decide whether we view ourselves as an international partner to the UUA (via the CUC) or an active voting member influencing UUA direction?

Pros of severing affiliation

Part of this discussion was previously posted at http://www.cuc.ca/business/council/uua_affiliation.htm 

• Some perceive that Toronto First will be better served in the long run by sharing resources with CUC
• Our relationship with the UUA will be more balanced if the UUA is one of our international partners (as is the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists). We will be one of their international partners and they will be one of ours.
• This ‘international’ perspective is further emphasized if we receive UU World as a subscription – as we are able to do with the Global Chalice, - rather than as affiliated congregations
• The UUA is evolving to be almost exclusively a National organization for the United States, rather than a Continental organization. It is perceived that their business is less relevant to Canadians than before.
• It seems inappropriate to belong to an organization without having an expectation of paying for the services (share of all costs associated with services available will be difficult to calculate). Toronto First’s Board has decided not to pay the US$46.00 / member / year "fair share" fee and we would be listed in the UUA directory as a non-"Fair Share" paying Congregation.
• Fill in and return on time the annual membership certification report (mailed to each member congregation in November and due back to the UUA by February 1). This takes about 20 hrs staff time annually.

Cons of severing affiliation

• Some perceive there to be no harm in belonging to both the UUA and the CUC.
• Once affiliation with the UUA is severed it can never be restored.
• The Congregation must go through the effort to change the congregational by-laws etc. if there is a change in affiliation status
• US ministers may feel more comfortable coming to a congregation affiliated with the UUA (See further discussion on this under Further Discussion by Toronto First Board below).
• We retain voice and the right to sit on UUA committees. This is of particular note for those committees that relate to UUA services still of use to us (Ministry settlement & youth)
• Those attending GA could vote at business meetings
• The activities of the UUA affect us, and keeping our affiliation ensures that we retain some influence
• Guilt over not contributing to the UUA’s Annual Program Fund will be unnecessary as service delivery will be minimal (some congregations may want to contribute to a level that they believe covers the cost of production and mailing the directory etc.)
• We would no longer receive one copy of UU World for the congregation, be listed in or receive one copy of the UUA Directory.
• Receive quarterly UUA statements (not sure what is in them though).

 

From: Tracey Robinson-Harris [mailto:trobinson@uua.org ]
Sent: August 26, 2002 11:46 AM
To: 'Cameron Linton'; trobinsonharris@uua.org 
Cc: Linda Thomson - CUC; Mary Bennett
Subject: RE: Letter to Canadian Unitarian presidents

Hi Cameron,

Member congregations are asked to contribute to the UUA's Annual Program Fund annually.  For the FY03 fiscal year the amount per congregational member requested is $46.00US

Continued affiliation does not require payment of full fair share (this is the $46.00US per member).  In other words, if a congregation returns the annual membership certification report (mailed to each member congregation in November and due back to the UUA by February 1) annually and on time and has not paid Fair Share, the congregation is not disaffiliated.

A letter from the UUA's APF office is being mailed to Canadian member congregations in early September outlining this information more fully.  If you'd like more details you can contact Mary Miles (mmiles@uua.org ) the DIrector of the Annual Program Fund Office.

[After this initial mailing, the APF office will be sending out quarterly statements to Canadian congregations maintaining their membership in the UUA, just as we send to other International congregations that are members.]

In faith,

Tracey

Tracey Robinson-Harris, Director
Congregational Services Staff Group
Unitarian Universalist Association
phone 617-948-6462

November 15, 2002
Dear Friends,

For the past three years the CUC on behalf of its member congregations has been engaged in creating a new relationship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. At the UUA's General Assembly in Quebec City at the end of June, this "new era of partnership and cooperation" was marked ceremonially.

Rev. Bill Sinkford, President of the UUA and Rev. Brian Kiely, chair of the CUC's Implementation Task Force offered a blessing to the assembled 4,000 Canadian and American Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists: "May we find the strength to stand as brothers and sisters in this previous religion. May we find the courage to speak our truths in love. May we find the shared faith to sustain us in our seeking. Spirit of Life, Please be with us on this journey. Source de Vie, soit avec nous sur ce sejour. Blessed Be. Amen."

These words say much of hope and trust and loss-a whole range of human emotions that are stirred when changes in our relationships occur.

Your congregation has now received a letter from the UUA Moderator, Diane Olson, outlining the choices your congregation has in terms of retaining affiliation or not and how to notify the UUA if you choose to not continue your affiliation directly. You have also received a request for your fair share Annual Program Fund based on the number of members times the Annual Program Fund contribution that has been determined by the UUA. Some have been surprised, even shocked, to receive this "invoice".

It is a fact that the UUA has no method to remove a congregation from being a member once it has joined nor is there a required minimum contribution to maintain status as a member congregation. A congregation who wishes not to be a member needs to make a congregational decision and inform the UUA. Alternatively if no financial contribution or report on numbers of members is sent over a period of time, the congregation becomes "inactive" and does not receive the services previously available. Nor does it have some other class of membership with fees set for Canadian congregations.

So what does this mean for your congregation? Your congregation has therefore to come to terms with your feelings, your desires and your hopes for the future and make this decision. This may prove difficult since some of your members will have strongly opposing viewpoints because of their own personal experiences, values and expectations. It is ever thus. Our faith is based on a "Living Tradition" and that requires us to do this hard work-in community.

When the CUC board met last month, we had it our agenda to respond to the many calls and messages we have had asking for help with this decision. We also have our own perspectives, but at the end of our meeting it was clear to us that it was not our right to offer you a "ready-made" decision for your consideration. We are clear on the relationship we want to have with you as members of the CUC; however, it is for each congregation to determine whether or not to have a direct relationship to the UUA.

Some of you have appreciated the summary of pro's and con's that were developed and shared by Rev. Anne Treadwell and Craig Beam of the Waterloo congregation. Your list of pro's and con's might be different this one-probably is-but it might help you get started on working through this issue.

Sincerely, Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed

The following is a compilation of questions we've had that may be of help. They are not in priority order.

Shouldn't our congregation pay something to the UUA for the services we still get? The UUA does not expect Canadian congregations to pay for ministry, youth and young adult services. Continuing to provide these services to Canadians was part of an overall negotiated agreement between the UUA and the CUC.

How much does the UUA expect Canadian congregations to contribute? In order to remain a member congregation of the UUA a financial contribution is required and it need not be the full fair share amount. Congregations who remain members of the UUA will continue to receive a request for fair share contributions. [CRL: apparently we can make a contribution in any amount,  $50.00 or more was suggested. This would allow First to remain a member but we would in effect be in arrears on our APF contribution. You would not be an honour society. Contact for the Annual program fund office in Boston is Julie Lichtman (617) 742-2100 x 512]

How many congregations are staying members? We don't have that information at this point, since congregations don't necessarily inform the CUC about their decision with regard to UUA membership. If you want to contact congregations who have made a decision to discuss their decision or process with them, I can facilitate that.

Can we send a contribution and have all of our members receive the UU World magazine? No. Individuals must subscribe to the UU World to receive it directly. One copy is sent through the CUC to every congregation, minister and director of religious education. It's also available on the UUA website.

Can Canadians go to General Assembly? Yes, all Canadians are welcome. Only those from UUA-member congregations can be delegates or stand for elected office. Member congregations will receive GA mailings; other congregations will get information through CUC mailings.

Can we still use services from groups like The Seventh Principle Project (Green Sanctuary program) and the UU Musicians Network? Yes. There are many affiliated organizations including professional associations and groups with a special focus that remain continental, unless they themselves decide otherwise. In other words, they are not directly affected by the CUC-UUA agreement. Among those who have affirmed continental status are the UUMA (UU Ministers Association), LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association), UUMN (Musicians Network) and The Seventh Principle Project. The CUC will continue to work with these groups to ensure collaborative relations. (This list is by no means complete. If you are wondering about a particular organization, please contact Mary Bennett, Executive Director 416-489-4121 or mary@cuc.ca .).

Larissa: Monday, December 02, 2002 : When we discussed this in September, one item that we got 'stuck' on was the impact severing our current relation with the UUA would have on our ability to search for a new minister should that need arise, and the impact (if any) on finding students for our internship program. I believe something was said about the UUA still handling ministerial placements in n. America?  Has the CUC taken on any of these functions regarding ministerial placements?  Are they going to?  How will we be impacted/limited/freed in this particular area? 

Cameron: Ministerial placements will still be managed and sponsored on our behalf by the UUA regardless of our affiliation. This is because it is part of the "severance package" that the CUC got when we severed ties. Interesting benefit -- perpetual service for ministerial affairs. Apparently it was too hard to separate the Canadian benefit from the American plan so we just continue to benefit.

Indeed, the CUC AGM of May 19, 2001, in Montreal passed the resolution ( http://www.cuc.ca/who_we_are/cuc_resolution.htm  )  that included this premise:

And Whereas the UUA instead proposed that the CUC assume responsibility for
all services provided to Canadian congregations, except those delivered by
the UUA in the areas of Ministerial support, and continental programs and
services to Youth and Young Adults

and more specifically, in the Appendix at the bottom of that resolution:

• On July 1, 2002, the CUC will assume responsibility for delivery of all
  services to Canadian congregations with the exception of those mentioned
  below.
• Ministerial settlement and services to settled ministers and the RSCC will
  remain a UUA responsibility.
• The UUA agrees to be responsible for continental Youth and Young Adult
  programs and services..

"  This decision, is the culmination of over 30 years of Canadian negotiations with the UUA, fuelled by dissatisfaction with the delivery of services to Canadians, and with the complicated financial arrangements necessary to pay for them. The decision for autonomy was supported by 82 per cent of the Montreal delegates, representing over 5,200 members in 45 congregations across Canada.  "

Other relevant material exists at http://www.cuc.ca/who_we_are/cuc-uua_transition.htm  , and http://www.cuc.ca/business/council/accord_and_transition.htm 

Donna: Separating from the UUA will not technically impact our ability to search for a minister at all. Basically the UUA runs a "dating" service and it is in the agreement that Canadian congregations who are part of the CUC can use the dating service. Also, any person who fulfills the requirements to become a minister in the UUA system (wherever he or she lives) can also take part in the dating service. There are absolutely no plans for the CUC to take over this "preparing ministers" function. In fact, the UUA has just added a new step in its preparation process for ministers, that includes a Canadian office. Each congregation and minister is then left to go through the dating rituals (as prescribed by the UUA) and try to work out a match. What will impact our chances is how attractive we look as a congregation to those searching for a job. I don't think our membership in the UUA will impact our attractiveness, but who knows what someone else may think. There may be American ministers who do not want to move to another country. The internship program is the same. I think we have a very highly regarded program, but some people may not want to do an internship in Canada. Membership in the UUA might have served to disguise this fact, but it never changed the fact that Toronto is in Canada.

Mark: In regard to Ministerial Settlement the process remains in the hands of the UUA except part-time placements which become the responsibility of the CUC. There are two Settlement Representatives in Canada - East and West - who manage the placement process. This was established prior to the recent changes. I think the real change will be in how Canada is perceived. It may seem to many to be a bigger step to come across the border. How much of this is a response to 9/11 and how much to the changes in the status of the CUC I can't say. The one thing that a minister would loss if we disaffiliate is having a vote at the UUA General Assembly.

The reality is that disaffiliating will be one factor among several that somewhat restricts the number of applicants. Coming across the border in the best of times has been an impediment. When Chris Raible came two other ministers had already declined to come. On the other hand there is a growing pool of Canadian candidates.