Governance

FUUSN Operates with Democratic Principles and Congregational Polity

This congregation is wholly owned by its members and governed using a representative process with regular elections of officers, a set of bylaws, an annual meeting of the full society, and the power to call the minister or ministers of its choice.

FUUSN is organized according to the principles of congregational polity–ultimate authority resides with the members and the most important decisions are made by vote at a duly constituted Annual Meeting of the members each spring. Daily operational authority resides with a democratically elected Board of Trustees and Operations Council and all funds are held and invested by a democratically elected Board of Investment.

Policies and Information Issuances

Board of Trustees (BOT)

A six-person Board of Trustees has overall authority over church finances, staffing, and high-level policy-making. The Board is responsible for seeing that all evaluations of ministers, programs, and operations are performed. Six trustees are elected by the members of the society and each serves a three-year term, with two new members elected at each Annual Meeting of the Society. The Board members elect a chair and vice chair from among their members. In addition, one youth member is elected to the Board for a one-year term (currently two youth share that responsibility).

The Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Minutes of the Board of Trustees are online.

Governance Experimental Structure


The FUUSN membership unanimously approved a two-year experimental governance model adapted from the Hotchkiss Ministry and Governance model. These organizational charts identity the structure, including the four key committees reporting to the board and the five key committees reporting to the Senior Co-Ministers. A list of current committee chairs can be found here [insert link to google document]. The Governing Key Committee will be responsible for evaluating the structure during the next two years. Suggestions and questions may be sent to SteeringCommittee@fusn.org


Bylaws Committee Chair: Julia Huston

As approved by congregational vote at the Annual Meeting held June 8, 2025

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The Bylaws Committee is tasked with considering changes to the Society’s Bylaws, engaging the congregation in discussions of possible amendments, and working with the Board to present specific amendments for approval by members at the Annual Meeting of the Society. Julia Huston is the chair of this committee.

The Steering Committee consists of the Board Chair, the Senior Co-Ministers, and Operations Council chair.

The current Steering Committee consists of: Rev. Dr. Debra Haffner (Senior Co-Minister), Rev. Joel Miller (Senior Co-Minister), Brian Gill and Hattie Kerwin Derrick.

The Finance Committee prepares and monitors FUUSN’s operating budget, which is developed to reflect BOT initiatives, and develops multi-year budget forecasts which reflect BOT priorities. The OC receives monthly analysis of income/expenses relative to the budget. In addition to a monthly spending analysis and the long-range forecast, the FC prepares a year-end report for presentation to the congregation at the annual meeting and posts periodic reports on the FUUSN website. The FC meets monthly September-April.

Contact: Judy Curby Chair

The Board of Investment of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton has been charged with the prudent investment of the Society’s permanent endowment and with safeguarding the reserves transferred to it by the Board of Trustees and the Treasurer of the Society. A small portion of the Endowment is disbursed every year to fund FUUSN’s operations. We welcome donations to the permanent endowment from members and friends of FUUSN.

The Board of Investment consists of three members, elected one each year for a three-year term, renewable once. The current members are Urban Larson, Jeffrey Ellis and Shawn Konary.

Please see our Board of Investment Policy and Procedures and Sustainable Investing Policy.

The Financial Oversight Committee provides regular and reasonable review of FUUSN’s management of financial processes and policies.

The Personnel/Policy Committee is an appointed body that advises the Board of Trustees and Minister (as Chief of Staff) on current personnel policies, remuneration, and benefits with comparative organizations, and keeps the Society aware of what it needs to do to keep up with standards set by denomination for fair compensation employers. They maintain current job descriptions for each staff position and an up-to-date personnel manual for the Society. Finally, the committee will provide advice and support whenever the Board and Minister need to make any shifts in staffing for the Society. The Board appoints members with requisite expertise including experience with compensation, benefits, employment law, legal/litigation, and Human Resource Management.

Safer Congregations is a working group comprised of representatives from the Board, Ops Council, Lay Ministers, Ministers, and DLRE. A safer congregations review team handles potential concerns about sexual abuse, harassment or professional misconduct.

Appointed by the Moderator and assembled in the Fall, the Nominating Committee implements a process whereby congregants offer names to be considered for elected leadership positions. Taking into account both a person’s interest and qualifications to serve as member of the Board, Ops. Council, BOI or in other elected leadership positions, the NC presents a slate of candidates to be elected at the Annual Meeting in June.

Current Members of the Board of Trustees

Brian Gill

Chair

Bill Horne
Lynne Karlson
Erin O’Donnell
Cindy Orrell

Vice Chair

Devon Welles
Willa Gaebler

Youth

Finn Konary

Youth

Current Members of the Operations Council

Hattie Kerwin Derrick

Chair

Karen Bottar

Treasurer

Michael Costello

Clerk

Andy Dale
John Dundon
Chris Gaebler
Gayle Smalley