About

Our lively congregation of more than 500 members is a vibrant and accepting liberal religious community, celebrating diverse beliefs and supporting individual searches for truth and meaning.

We are an LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation that is passionate about social justice, promotes lifespan religious education, and supports an active campus ministry.

We are a caring community that values all individuals. Join us and experience the warmth of community.

Contact
Ministers and Staff
Beliefs
In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.
- The 8th Principle
  At our Dec 13th, 2020 congregational meeting, UUCB members voted to adopt the 8th principle:
  Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.
- About Unitarian Universalism
  Unitarian Universalism creates change: in ourselves, and in the world.
  Seven days a week, UUs live their faith by doing. Whether in community with others or as an individual, we know that active, tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are what make a difference.
- UU Principles and Sources
  Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides.
  As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.”
Mission and Vision
Governance
- The Board of Directors
  The Board of Directors oversees the Church on behalf of the Congregation by promoting policies and actions that move the Church toward goals consistent with Board-approved Ends and by resolving situations that may impede such movement.
  The Board governs in partnership with the Lead Minister to define the Ends and Mission of the Church; engage in future planning; and hold itself and the Lead Minister accountable for progress and good governance. The Board delegates to the Lead Minister authority over implementation and day-to-day operations. The Board develops policies as needed in pursuit of UUCB, Board, and Ministerial goals, and acts primarily through these directive Policies.
  Our governance model, based on the work of Hotchkiss (2016) is characterized by, but not limited to: transparency in communication, joint planning and assessment, respect for each other’s functional domains, mutual commitment to common goals, and shared respect for each other and for the Mission of UUCB.
  - Board Policies
    This page contains Policies implemented by the Board of Directors. This includes the UUCB Board Policies Manual along with its appendices including Ends Statements, The Board Covenant, Board Monitoring Schedule Template, Personnel Policy Manual, Safer Congregation Manual, and Annual Assessment Template. These are living documents and will continue to change.
    
    Appendix A: Mission and Ends Statements
    In Partnership Governance, the Board sets forth Ends Statements which establish our general principles as well as what our Congregation aspires to do. These statements expand upon our Congregation’s vision statement of “Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, and Changing the World” and our Congregation’s mission statement (below) to provide spiritual and governance guidance to the Ministers, Staff, and lay leaders.
    
    Appendix B: Board Covenant
    The Board Covenant as accepted by the Board August 17, 2024.
    
    Appendix D: Personnel Policy Manual
    Click here to view the Personal Policy Manual as a PDF.
    2120 N Fee Lane Bloomington, IN 47408
    Date Adopted: June 19, 2024
    
    Appendix E: Safer Congregation Manual of Policies and Procedures for Supervision of Children and Youth
    Click here to view the Safer Congregation Manual as a PDF.
- Congregational Meetings
  Our congregational meetings take place twice a year, in June and December. Congregational meetings are open to all, though only church members are able to vote. On this page you can find information about upcoming meetings, livestreaming and remote participation/voting, and past meeting notes.
  - Fall 2023 Congregational Meeting
- Leadership Cultivation Committee
  The Leadership Cultivation Committee (LCC) works to develop leadership capacity in our congregation; nominates members for elected leadership positions on the Board, the Special Purposes Fund (SPF), and the LCC; and suggests leaders for other positions as requested.
- Pledge Drive Committee
  The Pledge Drive Committee works under the authority of the Board to plan and implement each year’s Pledge Drive campaign.
- Personnel Advisory Committee
  The overall purpose of the Personnel Advisory Committee is to assist the Board in developing and reviewing policies and related procedures pertaining to employment of the congregation’s paid staff.
- Finance Committee
  The Finance Committee arranges the Church's financial records for review on a regular basis, in accordance with the requirements of Board Policies.
Program Teams
Here you will find an index of the many teams who help carry out the logistics of supporting UUCB's vision statement: Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, and Changing the World.
History
Building
- A Green Sanctuary
  A demonstration of our commitment to environmental justice by aligning our values with our actions by becoming a certified Green Sanctuary. This commitment is achieved through spiritual connection, education, sustainable living, and social justice.
- Facilities Team
  The Facilities Team was created to ensure that UUCB’s building/grounds needs are communicated, budgeted for, maintained, and kept up.
How Do I...?
Welcome to "How Do I...?", the new home for general-purpose procedures on how to get things done at the church.
These procedures, by design, will never be finished. This is a set of living documents, designed to help us all be more efficient and helpful in our communications. If you find something to be missing or incorrect, please email the office at office@uubloomington.org
- Schedule or Reserve
  Schedule or reserve events, rooms, resources, fundraisers...
  - Scheduling a Meeting or Event
    All the information you need about how to schedule a meeting or event at UUCB.
  - Scheduling a Non-Church Event
    How to schedule/reserve a room for a non-church event
  - Schedule a Bake Sale, Lunch, or Other Fundraiser during Community Hour
- Participate or Get Involved
  Volunteer, sign-up, and get connected here. Have questions? Contact our Connections Coordinator, Anabel Watson at connect@ubloomington.org
  - Sign Up To Light the Chalice
    Are you marking a special milestone? Perhaps you would like to honor it by lighting our chalice in a Sunday service. We would love to celebrate YOU, and your presence in our community.
- Support and Pastoral Care
  Information about support and pastoral care available to the community.
  - What to Do in the Event of a Death
  - What to Do When you need Pastoral Care
- Use Technology
  How to accomplish technological tasks for the church, and/or who to contact about them.
  - Sending emails from a shared group address
    Some groups have a uubloomington.org email address which is used to receive emails from congregants. This can be used as a simple alias, so emails are forwarded to the group leader, or as a shared email allowing multiple members of the group to receive the group's communications.
    It can be beneficial to also use this email address to send messages.
  - Meeting Room Technology
    Pages in this category describe how to use technology in the Meeting Room, and how to make the tech person's job easier during your event.
    
    Projections
    All the information you need about projecting images or videos or text slides in the meeting room.
  - Set up the Fellowship Hall PA System
    There is a simple, easy to set up PA system stored in the Fellowship Hall closet. It is on wheels, and can be relatively easily taken anywhere in the building for use. Follow these steps to set it up!
  - List your information in the directory
    The church directory is an important tool for staff and volunteer leaders. Follow this guide to make sure that your information is listed, and that your listed information is correct.
- Request Communication
  Information on how to request communications, (emails, posters, etc.) from the office staff.
  - Request Publicity for a Meeting or Event
    Request publicity via flyers, Facebook, and the Friday Update.
  - Submit a Perspectives Article
    How to submit an article for our monthly newsletter.
- Financial
  Resources covering financial tasks related to the church.
  - Reimbursements
    Request a reimbursement for a purchase made on behalf of the church.
  - TAccount Balances
    Information on the TAccount balances of Social Justice Task Forces.
  - Request a Sales Tax Exemption Certificate
    Non Profit Sales Tax Exempt Certificate for Church Purchases(NP-1)
- Forms
  This is where all of our website forms live.
  - Community Hour Event Request
  - Application to Fundraise or Collect Items for Charity
    The purpose of this form is to gather information so administrative staff can decide whether to approve a fundraising or collection event by a church committee or task force.
  - Schedule an Event at the Church
  - 2024-25 Children & Youth Registration Form
    Please use this form to register your child(ren) and youth for Religious Education (including childcare) for the 2024-25 year.
  - Childcare Request Form/Request Cancellation Form
    Please use this form to request childcare or cancel a previous request for childcare.
  - Application for Paid or Volunteer Employment With Children/Youth
  - Feedback about Two Sunday Services
    Congregational feedback regarding two Sunday services
LGBTQ Welcoming Congregation