What are some of the major changes?

1. General. Many redundancies will be removed to streamline the text and interpretation. Electronic record keeping and virtual meetings will be allowed.

2. Board members. The number of board members will no longer be fixed but flexible with a set minimum of four. Only a required minimum of three ministers remains.

3. Representatives. The LUT and Regional Representatives will no longer be elected separately and automatically granted a board position. Both representative positions will be appointed among elected board members.

4. Nominating committee. Members of the nominating committee will be able to seek a second one-year term.

Can I review the proposed bylaws before the 2021 USCR Conference business meeting?

Yes, both the current and proposed bylaws are available for review (see above). There will also be two virtual membership reviews in the month of September 2021 (see above).

Who do I contact for questions and comments?

You can contact the bylaw committee via email at bylawcommitte@unitysouthcentral.org. We will address any questions and concerns via this FAQ or during our membership reviews.

How will the proposed bylaws ensure adequate representation for LUTs?

First, there will be a board-appointed LUT representative who is an elected member of the board. Such representative may or may not be an LUT for practical reasons due to the difficulties of finding suitable candidates. Rather than remaining in violation of the bylaws, we believe that it is more important to have LUT representation than not, even if it is temporarily filled with a non-LUT board member.

Second, to ensure LUT representation on the board, the current board is in agreement that we will create the necessary policies as to the appropriate board constellation with the guidance and input of our membership. Practically, such policies would determine the detailed qualifications of board members, including that of an LUT. Using policies rather than bylaws to make such determination allows the board and membership to remain flexible for future changes.

Why are the separately elected regional and LUT representatives removed from the proposed bylaws?

Our current bylaws were originally written under much different circumstances. Over time, more specificity was added, which made it more difficult for the board to operate effectively without violating the bylaws. To simplify the process by removing separate term lengths and limits, every representative position is going through the same board election process, which creates more clarity and ensures frequent turn-over of board positions, allowing for the region to move forward.

How will the board ensure regional representation on the UWM standards team without having a separately elected regional representative?

There is no requirement to have a separately elected regional representative to serve on UWM’s standards team. In fact, the regional board is free to appoint a regional representative even if they are not a board member. Most regional representatives of other regions do not hold a board position.

The standards team has their own requirements for team members to fulfill. Those requirements have to be satisfied within 18 months of becoming a standards team member without any voting restrictions until such time. As such, as long as the basic qualifications of ministry experience and time since ministry appointment are satisfied, there are no restrictions to who can serve on the standards team.

Moreover, there are other responsibilities a regional representative can assume, such as serving on the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) as well as the primary contact for regional ministries for support, education, etc. Therefore, the proposed bylaws consider the regional representative appointment as a potentially much more involved position than limited to the membership on the standards team.

Finally, rather than having too much specificity included in the bylaws regarding the representative appointments, it seems wiser to regulate such requirements via policy to assume appropriate flexibility for future changes.

Identification leadership (§1.d.): There is no place in the paragraph where the word “Unity” is used, there is no reference to UWM, or UWH. There is no reference to the work of Charles or Myrtle Fillmore.

Divine leadership is above any human limitation. As such, these bylaws were guided by the example of UWM’s recommended bylaws for ministry who embrace a more interspiritual perspective without limiting it to Fillmorian teachings. Unity teachings have always been about the breadth of consciousness across all spiritual thoughts. As such, this paragraph perfectly represents the Spirit of Unity without limitation to allow our region to guide ourselves toward a more inclusive future.

Corporation principle offices
(§2.a.): Where you keep the records needs to be clearly delineated.

We delineate any record keeping to USCR’s principal office, any of its other designated locations, or at a designated online storage location approved by the board of trustees (§2.b.). Such definition is sufficient to operate the region’s business, whose principle offices may change over time.

Corporation record keeping (§2.b.ii.): What are you trying to protect by not allowing members to examine the old records?

All members are eligible to request access to old records. However, USCR retains the right to observe any necessary confidentiality to protect its members’ privacy, following the standards demonstrated by UWM’s recommended bylaws.

The regional, LUT, and YFM representatives are elected by the USCR board rather their members. Technically, it is possible for an unqualified person to be appointed to any of those positions.

Correct! The board needs the flexibility to temporarily appoint someone in a representative position they may not be qualified to do just yet. However, it is in the board’s responsibility to ensure that the position is filled with an individual who has the necessary expertise to fulfill the expectations.

For example, a regional representative serving on the UWM’s standard’s team has 18 month to be adequately trained. As such, the board must have the opportunity to appoint a suitable representative who may not already have the necessary qualifications.

Further, the board needs the flexibility to temporarily fill a position if no suitable candidates are available. It is more important to have these positions filled and allowing those fulfilling those duties to be trained accordingly than having them empty as it has been the case in the past.

Corporation fiscal responsibilities (§2.c.): The person or group that creates the financial reports should not be responsible to review the reports.

Correct! USCR has a long history of maintaining fiscal responsibility by employing independent financial professionals to present relevant records to its board authority (treasurer), who reviews and obtains financials approval at each board meeting. Members are given the authority to request an audit if deemed necessary.

Our current bylaws do not allow for that specific right. As such, the proposed bylaws extend the powers to the membership with regard to financial oversight.

Membership [financial] power and authority (§3.b.): [There] is NO Power at all. They get to look at it and see what it says but not object in any substantive fashion.

Incorrect! USCR’s membership will always have the right to overturn any board action as of §3.b.vii.

Membership power and authority (§3.b.): UWM representative have no right to speak.

Incorrect! Any UWM representative considered an eligible member under these bylaws (§3.a.) are considered members with the appropriate rights to speak.

Membership meetings – special membership meetings (§4.c.): Are 50 members too much or too few?

Considering the size of the USCR region with 13 states and close to 150 ministries, potentially serving well over 200–300 members (ministers, LUTs, and delegates), the number 50 seems appropriate.

How often are Board meetings held?

The number of board meetings are defined by law and do not require bylaw clarification. The frequency of board meetings can be defined by policy, according to necessity.