A Guide to Starting a New Group, Project, or Activity at UUFR (or Continuing an Existing One)

What is the “The Rule of Five”?

“The Rule of Five” is the name of a staff policy at UUFR that has been created to encourage the creation of new groups, activities, projects, or ministries that may be of interest to UUFR members or that may serve the wider world.

Another purpose of the policy is to make sure there is enough interest and commitment within existing groups for those groups to continue.

Any individual may form a new group within the congregation as long as (1) the group’s general purpose is in alignment with the mission, vision, and values of the congregation, (2) the group agrees to follow all UUFR policies and procedures, and (3) there are at least five members who are interested in actively organizing and participating in the group.

Existing groups may be asked to verify on an annual basis whether there are still at least five members who are interested in organizing and participating in the group.

What kind of groups can be started?

Groups might include any of the following kinds…

  • Spiritual practice groups (for example, a Tai Chi group)
  • Study groups (for example, a group that wanted to read and discuss books on living more simply)
  • Parent groups or family groups organized around a particular mutual interest
  • Social groups (for example, a hiking group or a UUFR softball team or a banjo group)
  • Support groups (for example, a group for Unitarian Universalists who like to wear kilts)
  • Service or advocacy groups (for example, a group that wanted to help tutor children or a group that wanted to advocate for campaign finance reform)

Does a group have to be an on-going group?

No, a group might be started to organize a one-time event or participation in a short-term activity, such as a bringing a guest speaker to UUFR, having a karaoke party, hosting a candidate’s forum before an election, or organizing UUFR participation in a community clean-up day.

What are the specific steps to forming a new group?

1. Talk to Rev. James or Rev. Sasha about the possibility of beginning a new group.

2. With staff’s help, publicize your interest in starting a new group within the congregation. Find at least five UUFR members, including you, who are interested in being on the group’s organizing team.

3. Fill out the New Group Application Form and submit it to Rev. James and Rev. Sasha for approval. Before approving a new group, Rev. James or Rev. Sasha may consult with the appropriate ministry team. For example, the minister may consult with the Social Justice Council before approving a new service or advocacy group.

4. After a new group is approved, it may begin to publicize its events and activities through UUFR various means of communication.

Why is it necessary to have five people to start a new group? Why can’t an individual start a new group?

Requiring five people makes sure there is enough interest in a group from its beginning stages. It also encourages people to work together and share the task of organizing a group instead of having a smaller number of people do everything and burn out. It also increases the possibility that a group will continue even after its initial leader steps down from leading the group. Research shows that teams with five members are the most effective. With fewer people or with more people, teams become less effective.

Why do existing groups have to fill out the application form on an annual basis?

Sometimes people’s levels of interest and commitment change. Sometimes people get tired of doing one thing and want to try doing something else. Making a commitment to organize and participate in a particular group shouldn’t be for life. Having existing groups verify that there are still five people interested in organizing and participating in the group on an annual basis allows people the opportunity to gracefully exit a group, and if there is no longer enough interest in a particular group, it allows groups to end gracefully instead of coming to a slow, painful end.

Which existing groups at UUFR need to fill out a form on an annual basis?

Each spring a staff member will contact any groups that need to fill out a form for the following program year.