Our Mission

As a Unitarian Universalist congregation, South Church is self-governing and not bound by religious creed or doctrine. Our members determine the mission of the church, usually in collaboration with our settled ministers. Together, we discern the programs and congregational structures that best serve our community, and allow us to serve the Seacoast as a beacon of liberal religious values.

In keeping with our shared Unitarian Universalist principles, South Church members, clergy and staff, affirm and enact our congregation’s mission, which states:

At South Church, we nurture spiritual growth through worship, learning and community,
We celebrate the worth and dignity of all people,
And we inspire one another to act on our faith in the larger community.

Our Covenant

In 2014, the congregation voted unanimously to adopt a Covenant of Right Relations. The final product resulted from a year-long period of conversation and reflection.

A covenant of right relations is an expression of our shared values. It is a set of promises to one another about how we want to be in community together. Building community is an ongoing spiritual practice. Inviting the spirit of love and gratitude into our interactions, we each work to develop skills and promote practices that strengthen the bonds of relationship. We aspire to co-create a spiritual community of people with open hearts and open minds.

AT SOUTH CHURCH:

  • We cultivate attentive listening, speaking with care and compassionate honesty.
  • We engage one another thoughtfully, recognizing that different thoughts and opinions are intrinsic to human beings.
  • We are responsible for ourselves and speak from our own experience. We do not rely on second-hand information.
  • We trust in one another’s good intentions and that our actions have an impact, regardless of intentions.
  • When we hurt one another or are hurt by another, we communicate our discomfort directly.
  • We resolve conflicts through compromise and collaboration and, when necessary, request mediation through committee chairs, group facilitators, our ministers or others.

Through these actions, we build trust and create a loving and safe community. 

Collaborative Governance at South Church 

“To collaborate means to work with another. The accent is on with rather than for or under. It is a cooperative activity that requires trust in others, humility concerning one’s own wisdom and competences and a desire to release the creativity and gifts of those with whom one works.” -Jose Cristo Garcia Paredes

What do we mean by Collaborative Governance?

South Church governance has always relied on collaboration among ministerial and administrative staff, the Board of Trustees, associate groups and all of the other volunteers, groups and committees that help South Church live into its mission and vision.

However, collaborative governance goes beyond the expectation of collaboration. It is a formal leadership model that emphasizes

  • Sharing skills and responsibilities to ease the heavy workload of ministry
  • Valuing the gifts and knowledge of all church staff and volunteers
  • Clarity about roles and decision-making
  • Transparency, accountability and oversight
  • Continuity through transitions
  • Flexibility to respond to future conditions and challenges

Collaborative governance also aligns with our UU faith more than our previous governance model, in which our minister(s) were considered Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). Collaborative governance reflects our congregation’s commitment to anti-oppression as a non-patriarchal leadership model that provides greater accountability throughout the system. Collaborative governance fosters mutual learning and shared experiences. We expect it to provide direction for institutional capacity building inside and outside of South Church that can lead to healthy social change and a more equitable community and society.

To learn more about Collaborative Governance at South Church, and to read Frequently Asked Questions, please click here. 

Committee on Ministries

The Committee on Ministries (COM) provides support and advice as needed to the Minister and Director of Lifespan Ministries, and develops channels for congregation-wide reflection and feedback on the ministries of South Church. We are currently exploring the development of “feedback groups” for the 2023-24 church year. These will help us reflect together on the collaborative leadership model and our shared ministries. If you are interested in learning more about the work of the COM, please talk to us! Find us at church or contact us at committeeonministries@southchurch-uu.org