For this month and in July the columns will be about our chief UUA officers, the President, Moderator, and Financial Advisor. In April the UUA Board of Trustees (BOT) voted to include on the 2010 General Assembly (GA) agenda, important changes in UUA Bylaws Articles V, VIII, and IX which determine the length of the terms the President and Moderator, and the creation of a Presidential Search Committee. This does NOT mean the terms of the President and Moderator will change before much conversation. By putting the proposed changes on the agenda it means there is over a year for discussions within all congregations and interested parties, before voting in 2010. At this time the BOT has not taken a position on the proposed changes.

The proposed changes for both the President and Moderator would allow a single six-year term of office. A partial term of more than two years by reason of appointment and/or election would be considered a full term. The Financial Advisor term(s) would not change.

In Article V, Section 5.1, a Presidential Search Committee would be created, and consist of five members elected by GA, a member appointed by our UUA Ministers Association, and one member appointed by the BOT. This Committee would choose two candidates for the presidency. The election and appointment of members would occur at the GA held four years before the GA at which there would be a presidential election. Each appointed or elected member of the Committee would serve a term of six years and take office at the close of GA at which they are appointed or elected. As stated in Article IX, Section 9.5 an individual may continue to run by petition for the office of President. The BOT will establish another committee to nominate one or more candidates for Moderator.

Of course there are many questions, responses, and opinions to be voiced before the 2010 GA in Minneapolis. I encourage your congregation to devote time to discussions regarding the proposed changes and send delegates to GA in 2010. Hopefully the short column this month will peak your interest in these significant proposed changes. Please telephone or email me at 813-931-9727 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you wish to talk about them or anything else UU-oriented on your mind. I’m a good listener and usually know, or can find answers to your concerns.