Committee on Ministries (COM)

The Constitution states: “The Committee on Ministries (COM) is responsible for ensuring that TUCW is fulfilling its Mission and Vision guided by the 7 Principles of the UUA.”

This is our Mission statement:

The Unitarian Church in Westport is a diverse and welcoming religious community, free of creed and dogma, and open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

WE INSPIRE and support individual spiritual growth.
WE CONNECT through worship, music, learning, and caring ministries.
WE ACT in the service of peace and justice.

As of January 20, 2012, TUCW has not created a Vision Statement, but it is in the process of doing so through the “Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny” process.

The Constitution requires “the COM [focus] on the Congregation’s ministries including:

professional religious leadership
music
social justice
religious education
pastoral care
membership
lay leadership mentoring and development.”

It further states that: “The COM shall provide consultation, education, conflict management, and assessment to the leaders and members of the Congregation and is specifically charged with:

Holding the Board and the Congregation accountable to its mission and vision;
Assessing how the Congregation allocates its resources and programs to respond to the diverse ministry needs of its gathered congregation and surrounding community;
Responding promptly to any conflicts, expressed controversies or activities that have the potential to adversely affect the Congregation’s ministry;
Continually developing means to assess various aspects of congregational life;
Annually reporting back to the Congregation on its work.”

Typically, a Committee on Ministries is comprised of the "wise elders" of a congregation. In selecting the members of the COM, it is essential that they have an internal trust and respect for each other, with the ability to listen to each other. The COM’s authority comes from stature. For TUCW, the COM will have 5 members; the initial slate will be nominated by the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee, approved by the professional staff and BOT, and elected by the voting members of the congregation.

The Constitution states: “The Committee on Ministries (COM) shall meet regularly throughout the year and at each year’s Annual Meeting give their assessment of the effectiveness of the Congregation’s ministries. Specific areas of assessment each year shall include: