To Be Sorted / Organizational Guidance

Recommendations for Emeritus/Emerita/Emerit Status

1. Purpose

This guidance outlines the process for conferring honorary Emeritus/Emerita/Emerit status to religious professionals at Foothills Unitarian Church. 

It supports our values of covenant, gratitude, and generational stewardship by:

This guidance enables us to celebrate and clarify ongoing relationships, particularly in moments of transition or public recognition.

2. Organizational Guidance

Implementation by Ministry: Determining a Recommendation

The decision to recommend a religious professional for Emeritus/Emerita/Emerit status is made with care and grounded in covenant. The Senior Minister, in consultation with relevant staff or lay leaders, will assess alignment with the following criteria:


Key Clarifications

3. Related Content

Bylaws and Policies

Affiliation with Community Ministers

 1. Purpose

This guidance supports the creation of clear, accountable, and mutually beneficial relationships between Foothills Unitarian Church and Unitarian Universalist ministers serving in community-based settings outside of congregational roles.

It clarifies the nature of "affiliation," including expectations, boundaries, and structures, ensuring these relationships uphold:

This guidance honors the sacred work of community ministers and protects the wellbeing of our congregation and staff.

2. Organizational Guidance

What is a Community Minister?

A community minister is a UU minister in Final or Preliminary Fellowship whose primary ministry takes place outside the congregational context (e.g., chaplaincy, nonprofit leadership, advocacy, spiritual direction, therapy).

Affiliation is a formal, covenantal relationship between the minister and the congregation, affirming this work as legitimate ministry and establishing expectations of mutual support.

Affiliation does not imply staff status or employment by the congregation.

Steps for Establishing an Affiliation

  1. Initial Discernment

    • Community minister reaches out to the Senior Minister to express interest in affiliation.

    • Senior Minister engages in initial discernment to assess alignment with our values, community needs, and capacity.

  2. Collaborative Discernment

    • If initial alignment is clear, Senior Minister may convene a discussion with with key leaders (e.g., Executive Team, Board Chair).

    • Education and transparency are prioritized, especially if the congregation has not previously affiliated with a community minister.

  3. Development of an Affiliation Agreement

    • All parties (parish ministers, community minister, and Board representatives) co-develop a written agreement that includes:

      • Roles and boundaries

      • Mutual commitments and benefits

      • Scope of participation

      • Fee schedules for additional services

      • Support for fellowship renewal

      • Plan for annual review

  4. Board Approval

    • The final draft of the Affiliation Agreement is presented to the Board of Trustees for formal approval and minuting.

Required Elements of an Affiliation Agreement

  1. Role & Boundaries

    • Community minister is not staff.

    • No supervisory or pastoral care authority over congregants.

    • All ministerial activities in the congregation occur in coordination with parish ministers.

  2. Gratis Services

    • May include preaching once/year, newsletter contribution, or adult education.

    • Should reflect the community minister’s gifts and schedule, and remain limited.

  3. Compensated Services

    • Additional preaching, pastoral care, or education work beyond agreed gratis services should be compensated.

    • Agreement includes a basic fee schedule and notes that other services must be negotiated in advance.

  4. Relationship to Staff

    • Community minister is not a supervisor.

    • May or may not receive office support or access—this must be specified.

    • Collegial relationship with parish ministers per UUMA guidelines.

    • Conflict handled through appropriate channels (e.g., Committee on Ministry or UUMA Good Offices).

  5. Congregational Support

    • May include access to office space, mail delivery, listing in directories, opportunity to officiate rites for non-members.

    • Congregation commits to forming or participating in the minister’s Committee on Ministry.

  6. Congregational Engagement

    • When possible, identify ways congregants can engage in the minister’s community-based work.

    • May include volunteer opportunities, shared plate offerings, or joint advocacy work.

  7. Recognition of Ministry

    • Agreement explicitly affirms the work as a form of valid, recognized Unitarian Universalist ministry.

    • If ambiguous, consult MFC rules or contact UUA Ministerial Credentialing Office.

  8. Review & Renewal

    • Agreement reviewed annually by the Committee on Ministry or designated body.

    • Adjustments made based on congregational needs, minister’s role, or fellowship requirements.

3. Related Content

Bylaws and Policies

Current Community Ministers

Rev. Christopher Watkins Lamb

Rev. Roger Butts

Previous Version: None (new guidance)
Effective Date: 05/19/2022

Interactions with Federal Immigration Law Enforcement

1. Purpose

This guidance establishes our congregation's approach to federal immigration enforcement based on our religious convictions as a Unitarian Universalist sanctuary congregation. It clarifies how our theological principles translate into practical action when faced with immigration enforcement activities 1. This guidance supports our mission of radical hospitality and justice-making while protecting both our community members and our religious freedom. It aligns with our conviction of the inherent worth and dignity and our congregational vote to become a Sanctuary Congregation (established August 27, 2017).

Foundational Religious Framework

Core Theological Foundation: Our response to federal immigration enforcement flows directly from our fundamental religious convictions:

Religious Mission Implementation

Mission Clarity: Our congregation exists to serve our religious mission of sanctuary. Every space, every activity, every interaction serves this sacred purpose as theological reality, not political statement.

Sanctuary as Religious Practice: We practice sanctuary through:

2. Organizational Guidance

Non-Cooperation with Immigration Enforcement

Compliance with Lawful Orders: We make a clear distinction between two types of documents: judicial warrants (signed by federal judges, which we comply with under legal compulsion while maintaining religious objection) and administrative requests or warrants (issued by agencies like ICE, which we refuse based on religious conviction and Fourth Amendment protections).

Private Religious Space: Our building is designated as a private religious space, except for public religious areas that serve our mission of public worship, limited to Sunday mornings and other times the building is open for public worship. Public religious areas include the sanctuary and entrance hall. 

Private Religious Areas: All other spaces and times, including but not limited to:

Information Protection

Data retention: We will not ask for or collect information regarding legal status, documentation, or immigration history from any community member or visitor.

Clergy-Penitent Privilege: We affirm and protect clergy-penitent privilege and will legally defend against any intrusion into confidential pastoral communications and relationships as protected by Colorado state law (including but not limited to C.R.S. § 13-90-107(1)(c)), and the establishment clause of the First Amendment. 

Community Protection

We maintain clear community protection measures including communication channels for rapid response, training programs for staff and community members, and coordination with local partners doing immigration work. 

3. Related Content

Bylaws and Policies

This guidance interprets or implements the following:

1. By immigration enforcement activities, this is defined as any federal implementation of immigration law through any agency 

Officiating Rites of Passage

1. Purpose

This guidance explains how Foothills provides officiating for life's important moments—weddings, memorials, child dedications, and other ceremonies. We do this because we believe in walking alongside people through transitions, celebrations, and grief.

As a member benefit, we offer these services at no cost when certain conditions are met. 

This guidance respects both our commitment to accessibility and the real limits of our ministers' time and capacity, as well as provides guidelines for the use of our facilities for Rites of Passage more generally in accordance with our values. 

2. Organizational Guidance

Approved Officiants on Foothills Campus

Memorial Services

For Members:

For People Who Participate Regularly (Not Yet Members):

Location:

Private Services

Weddings 

3. Related Content

Bylaws and Policies

This guidance interprets or implements the following:

Organizational Guidances & SOPs

This guidance is related to or informs the following documents:

Previous Version [Date]

Content of Previous Version of Guidance

Personal Sales & Promotion Policy

Purpose

Foothills Unitarian exists to cultivate belonging, spiritual depth, and collective care. Our ministries, small groups, and communication channels are spaces of trust and shared purpose, not marketplaces. This policy clarifies boundaries around personal business promotion in order to protect equity, prevent pressure or favoritism, and keep our shared spaces focused on mission.

Guiding Principles

What Is Not Permitted

Church ministries, programs, small groups, committees, events, and communication channels may not be used to promote, advertise, or solicit:

This includes (but is not limited to):

What Is Permitted

The following are allowed and encouraged when they support healthy community life:

If someone asks directly and privately for a recommendation, members may respond, but it should not turn into group-level promotion or ever create the perception that individual businesses are promoted by the church. 

Special Circumstances & Exceptions

Enforcement & Care

If this boundary is crossed:

Questions & Discernment

When in doubt, ask:

Would this create pressure, privilege, or confusion about why we’re gathered?

Questions or requests for clarification should be directed to a member of the Executive Team.

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Content of Previous Version of Guidance