Leaders
What does it take to be a leader at West Shore?
It takes vision, enthusiasm and commitment.
It takes you.
"I wanted to be a part of the leadership team at West Shore because I was impressed with the depth and commitment I saw in other leaders. I saw so many good things happening that I wanted to be part of making them happen too!" ~Member of WSUUC
Every organization has a style of governance, and ours is no different. Unitarian Universalism was born of the belief that members of a congregation were the best ones to determine their governance system. We follow what is called "congregational polity," which means that the ultimate authority of the church as an organization, rests with the leaders of the congregation, and not with an external ecclessiastical body.
Our Board of Trustees are members of the congregation, nominated and voted by the congregation at our Annual Meeting, held in June of each year.
Our congregation is guided by our by-laws, and our Board's actions are directed by policies. In this section of the web site, you will fund resources used regularly by our leaders, or of interest to people learing about leadership at West Shore functions. You will find our governance manual, which describes how the Board of Trustees operates and is organized, and the relationship that exists between them and the parish ministers, and the role described as "Chief Executive Officer", currently held by the parish ministers. The Board of Trustees speaks with one voice on matters of policy. You will also find a list of committees and contacts for those committees.
If you have been a member for at least a year, have become involved in the life of the church in some way, and are interested in developing leadership skills and deepening relationships with your fellow church members, consider becoming a leader at West Shore. Contact one of the parish co-ministers for a conversation about your interests in leadership at West Shore.