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Glossary

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act — sets accessibility and non-discrimination standards.

Archiving: Storing selected church documents for long-term preservation and historical use.

BOT: Board of Trustees, the governing body of the church.

Caretaker: The designated person responsible for opening, closing, and monitoring the building during events.

Covenant: A shared, sacred agreement about how we commit to being in relationship with one another.

Covenantal: A way of being in community based on mutual promises and spiritual accountability.

DFM: Director of Family Ministry — staff leader for programs supporting family spiritual life.

DFO: Director of Finance and Operations — oversees church finances, HR, and building systems.

DRE: Director of Religious Education — staff leader for children’s RE programs. 

FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act — federal law that defines exempt/non-exempt employee status.

Grievance: A formal report of a violation of church policy or covenant.

LAA: Limited Access Agreement — a formal plan outlining boundaries and permissions for individuals with known safety concerns.

Mandate: Legal duty to report suspected abuse (e.g. ministers and DFM are mandated reporters).

Misconduct: A violation of congregational ethics, safety, or behavioral agreements.

Nepotism: Favoritism toward relatives in hiring or leadership — restricted in church policies.

OWL: Our Whole Lives — UU sexuality education curriculum grounded in values and consent.

PCO: Planning Center Online, our database

Parishioner: A member or regular attendee of the church community (less common in UU usage but may appear).

Proxy: Authorization for someone to vote on your behalf when absent.

Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present for a vote or meeting to be valid.

RE: Religious Education — programs supporting spiritual growth for children and youth.

Retention: The specific time period documents or records must be kept before disposal.

Sanctioned: Officially approved (often used for events or programs formally supported by church leadership).

Screened: A person who has completed background checks and training for working with children or vulnerable adults.

UUA: Unitarian Universalist Association — national network and support body for UU congregations.

YRUU: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists — high school youth group focused on UU identity and leadership.

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