committees and councils
Our committees and councils are the backbone of the congregation. Their members oversee every aspect of our community from taking care of our building, hospitality, assisting with publications and planning programs.
Board of Directors
The Board is elected annually by the Congregation to provide leadership in all aspects of the church community. New members for the Board are proposed by the Nominating Committee. Any Congregation Member may attend a Board meeting except for the portions of meetings that may be in-camera. The Board also coordinates the Leadership Council - which allows leaders to share and coordinate activities in support of our ministry. |
Governance Committee
Governance is a committee of the Board, responsible for maintaining theGovernance structure and supporting Governance Manual, reviewing and recommending administrative and other policies, and ensuring that FirstU foundational documents are updated as needed. All Committee work is subject to Board oversight and approval.
Nominating Committee*
Find and nominate congregation members for Board positions and assist in recruiting members for major committees. Facilitate leadership development. Committee members, elected at the Fall Congregational Meeting, serve 2-year terms.
UU Connections
The Denominational Affairs Team promotes awareness in our congregation of Canadian Unitarian Council and Unitarian Universalist activities and events in Canada and beyond.
Governance is a committee of the Board, responsible for maintaining theGovernance structure and supporting Governance Manual, reviewing and recommending administrative and other policies, and ensuring that FirstU foundational documents are updated as needed. All Committee work is subject to Board oversight and approval.
Nominating Committee*
Find and nominate congregation members for Board positions and assist in recruiting members for major committees. Facilitate leadership development. Committee members, elected at the Fall Congregational Meeting, serve 2-year terms.
UU Connections
The Denominational Affairs Team promotes awareness in our congregation of Canadian Unitarian Council and Unitarian Universalist activities and events in Canada and beyond.
Embracing Diversity Committee
The Embracing Diversity Committee provides this assistance by: planning and overseeing the implementation of an annual plan of educational, advocacy, outreach, and community-building activities intended to create awareness of current realities and to build attitudes, behaviours and practices that embrace and respect diversity of all kinds; recommending policy, procedural and/or structural changes in the operations of the Congregation; and creating platforms to promote inclusion. |
Worship Team and Worship Associates
The Worship Associates work with the minister to develop and participate in several Sunday services during the church year. Worship Associates' participation during Sunday worship is a testimony to our community’s commitment to direct congregational involvement in the worship and the liturgy of the church.
The Worship Associates work with the minister to develop and participate in several Sunday services during the church year. Worship Associates' participation during Sunday worship is a testimony to our community’s commitment to direct congregational involvement in the worship and the liturgy of the church.
Welcome and Membership Team
We welcome everyone to our services, help people get connected to the Congregation, guide new member applicants through the membership process, and support members’ engagement with us. We staff the Welcome Table on Sunday mornings, help maintain membership records, host programs for people interested in learning about us, organize New Member Welcome services several times per year, and contact members to facilitate their connection with the congregation. We meet as needed.
We welcome everyone to our services, help people get connected to the Congregation, guide new member applicants through the membership process, and support members’ engagement with us. We staff the Welcome Table on Sunday mornings, help maintain membership records, host programs for people interested in learning about us, organize New Member Welcome services several times per year, and contact members to facilitate their connection with the congregation. We meet as needed.
Campus Planning Committee
The Committee focuses on issues affecting the planning and development of the Church campus and environs. New members with knowledge or interest in planning, architecture, landscape design or engineering are welcome to participate on the Committee. The work of the committee involves Community Design Plans, land development, campus plans, zoning, site planning, engineering, and finance. Meetings are held on an ad hoc basis depending on need. One could generally expect a two hour meeting in the evening every second month. The Board appoints committee members. |
Property Team*
We oversee the maintenance of our building and grounds and the expenditure of funds from our Major Projects Fund and Maintenance Reserve Fund for that purpose. We welcome new members. Meetings: Every two months
We oversee the maintenance of our building and grounds and the expenditure of funds from our Major Projects Fund and Maintenance Reserve Fund for that purpose. We welcome new members. Meetings: Every two months
Finance Committee
The committee chair reports directly to the Board. Committee members are appointed by the Board. The Finance Committee provides oversight of the integrity of financial information and reporting, and internal control risk, as well as handling Stewardship. Stewardship, itself, is a year-round function focused on recognizing and celebrating the generosity of our congregation and community towards enabling our covenant. We do so through both fundraising and fun-raising events and activities. We develop and implement the annual pledge campaign, orchestrate special events, act as a resource for other congregational fundraising activities, and build upon the Planned Giving program (e.g.; promoting bequests to the congregation). |
Personnel Committee
This committee assists the Board by helping to provide watchful and careful monitoring of personnel policies and general practices, It reviews/proposes policies and facilitates communication related to personnel policies and practices. The committee chair reports directly to the Board. Committee members are appointed by the Board.
This committee assists the Board by helping to provide watchful and careful monitoring of personnel policies and general practices, It reviews/proposes policies and facilitates communication related to personnel policies and practices. The committee chair reports directly to the Board. Committee members are appointed by the Board.