UUFR Program Council Job Description

The program council is responsible for maintaining and strengthening the programs of UUFR. It is responsible for making it possible for every congregant to find a place to make a contribution and to feel welcome. The program council coordinates with committees and groups to enact the goals and policies provided by the board and required by the ministry to achieve the Mission of UUFR.

I. Candidates will meet these criteria:

  • A demonstrated commitment to UUFR and the UU faith, including membership at UUFR.
  • Willingness to attend trainings, read, learn and grow personally and within the UUFR faith community.
  • Attendance at Sunday service as often as possible
  • Ability and desire to commit up to 10 hours per month in council-related activities (or more if needed).
  • Familiarity with the way UUFR runs.  Ideally, should have been a member of two or more committees.
  • Excellent people and communication skills

II. Expectations for Behavior

The program council members have committed to holding themselves and each other to the following values and behaviors:

Integrity

  • Follow through with promises.
  • Everyone know what everyone is doing.
  • Willingness to admit you are wrong or say “I don’t know."

Engagement

  • Actively participate and listen.
  • Respond and contribute.
  • Focus on the matter at hand.
  • Encourage others to engage.
  • Stay engaged outside the meetings.

Communication

  • Communicate outside the meetings.
  • Agree on the types of communications wanted.

Trust

  • Always assume good intentions.
  • Express and accept disagreements.
  • Attack problems, not people.
  • Have faith in ourselves as a team.

Open-Mindedness

  • Be aware of and question assumptions.
  • Find good in others’ opinions and ideas.
  • Accept differences.

Efficiency

  • Use time and resources with a purpose.
  • Don’t let “perfect” be the enemy of the “good.”

Effectiveness

  • Accomplish something.
  • Remember who we’re serving.
  • Have a way to measure and track accomplishments.

Understanding

  • Seek first to understand.
  • Practice self-awareness.

Miscellaneous

  • Have fun and celebrate.
  • Have pride in our work.

III. Specific duties

Members of the program council sign up for a two year commitment. The following responsibilities are shared by program council members on a rotating basis.

a. Create the agenda and lead program council meeting.

b. Serve as the point of contact for the council (to staff and members of the congregation) , specifically: respond to emails sent to the group by staff/congregation/board.

c. Record and distribute meeting minutes.

d. Update group documentation.

e. Write articles describing program council activity for the UUFR newsletter .

f. Attend board meetings.

g. Communicate and check in with 3-4 committees, provide advice when possible and bring any issues to the full council for resolution.

As needed, program council members will lead or participate in task groups or coordinate with different groups and/or staff to resolve issues that fall outside any one group’s responsibility.

Time commitment

IV. Meetings and other duties

  • Program council meetings (1-2/month)
  • Rotating attendance at board meetings (approx. 1/5 board meetings)
  • Three to four meetings/yr with all committees (takes the place of a regular program council meeting
  • Reading, understanding, and responding to email
  • Being available to do the announcements and call for collection at Sunday services in a rotation with other program council members and board members
  • Learning about church governance and leadership