...a welcoming spiritual community

Committees and Groups

Commitees and groups at North Parish are uniquely different from committees in towns or industry, in that we we work in a spiritual sense, which includes understanding and setting the context for all participants to grow and make choices.

Each committee has a charge (from the by-laws or Board of Trustees), which outlines the committee's scope of activities. Annual budgets reflect specific programs and efforts in support of this charge. There are basically three types of committees (although many committees involve both planning and doing, and some (e.g., Music) have functions in all three areas):

• Planning (e.g., Strategic Planning, Worship)
• Doing (most, e.g., Social Action, House and Grounds, Program)
• Oversight (e.g., Personnel, Committee on Ministry)

Ad-hoc Groups

Groups that come together on a temporary basis, or that are not listed in the bylaws as part of the governance structure.

Parish Council

The Parish Council consists of the chairs of each standing committee, plus the Treasurer, and representatives of ad-hoc groups, as appropriate. Parish Council is chaired by the Board of Trustees Vice-Chair, and a Vice-Chair chosen from among the Council members. The ministers are non-voting members.

Welcoming Congregation

North Parish is a Welcoming Congregation, consistent with the guidelines of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We actively welcome lesbian, gay. bisexual, transgender, and intersex people as full participants in the life of the church. For more information, see our Welcoming Congregation page, or contact our Interweave chapter.