Unitarian Universalism is a democratic, grassroots religion. The decisions of our UU congregation are made by our minister and congregation members together.
Through volunteer committees and an elected congregational Board, lay leaders manage most aspects of our Fellowship. Lay people hire the ministers and staff, build and maintain the buildings, manage the congregation’s finances, determine the congregation’s position on difficult issues, are involved in choosing religious education curricula and more. During the summer months, members also plan and lead the worship services.
Lay leaders also determine the Unitarian Universalist denomination’s priorities and positions on all important issues. Every year, each congregation sends delegates to an annual meeting to elect our highest leaders, vote on our faith’s response to various social and political issues, and approve the work of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Together with the elected UUA President and Moderator, an elected Board of Trustees, most of whom are lay leaders, guides the work of the UUA throughout the year.
You can become a Unitarian Universalist lay leader very quickly. Lay leadership is open to people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicity, sexual identities, abilities, faith backgrounds, and levels of experience. Like most other congregations, the Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship requires official membership to vote and serve on some committees, but we also encourage newcomers to contribute their talents in leading parts of worship services, community service projects and more right from the start.
We are dedicated to giving our lay members the training they need to lead effectively. Hundreds of conferences, workshops, consultations are offered for Unitarian Universalist lay leaders throughout the year.