Our Governance
At Starr King, we live our commitment as a “church that operates its business affairs legally, ethically, compassionately, prudently, and transparently.” Our bylaws, board, and governing committees keep us on track.
Bylaws
Our Bylaws are our primary governing document, supported by other Church Documents. The Bylaws were adopted by and are updated by votes of the congregation. As stated in the Bylaws, “The minister and the members share responsibility for the overall program of the church.” The minister serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees, and has complete freedom of the pulpit.
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the executive body of the church. It has charge of the church’s property, business affairs, administration, and hiring. It approves all official Policies and Procedures. The responsibilities of the Board of Trustees are described more fully in the Board Manual. Members of the Board of Trustees are nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the congregation at a meeting normally held in May.
2023-2024 Board of Trustees
Mileva Saulo Lewis, President
Diane Meyerson, Vice President
Terri Owen, Treasurer
Ben Ogilvie, Secretary
Members at Large: Rene Castle, Allison Prout
Governance Committees
Congregation members interested in serving on a governance committee other than the Board of Trustees should contact the Chair of that Committee.
Governance Groups
| Name | Meeting schedule | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Trustees | First Tuesdays at 4pm | Mileva Lewis |
| Committee Council | Diane Meyerson | |
| Committee on Ministry | No meetings during interim ministry | |
| Executive Committee | About a week before board meetings | Mileva Lewis |
| Finance Committee | As needed | Keith Lewis |
| Nominating Committee | As needed | Stephanie Smith |
| Human Resources Committee | Informal | Marilyn Mosher |
Regional, National, and Global Governance
Each Unitarian Universalist congregation is independent and democratic. Congregational leaders set their own priorities and choose their own ministers and staff. Congregations are supported by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in Boston, the central organization for the Unitarian Universalist religious movement in the United States and by regional and district offices. Congregations vote for the leaders of the UUA, who oversee the central staff and resources. It serves churches mostly in the United States. Although Unitarian churches exist throughout the world there is no global organizational structure.