Comments on: Kinsi, East of Midnight, and Why Bylaws Matter

By: Glenn Beck, “ethnic UUs”, Easter, and other UU blog topics « uuworld.org : The Interdependent Web

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:09:15 +0000

[…] chimes in with a number of thoughts on bylaws. Finally, bylaws are the legal foundation upon which our congregations are built. Without bylaws, there will be no community building, […]

By: chutney

chutney — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:24:10 +0000

Preventing mere policy from finding its way into the bylaws is a great reason to require a greater quorum than usual when changing the bylaws. Like amending the Constitution versus passing a bill.

By: 4alarm

4alarm — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:58:45 +0000

Another big mistake that you allude to is to make by-laws/policy to address a specific situation so that you can avoid confrontation. I used to work at a place that had an organizational dress code that prohibited open-toed shoes without stockings. The reason was that once upon a time they had an intern who rolled into the office in pajama pants and flip flops every day. But instead of just talking with that one person, they made this stupid policy for the whole organization.

Well, and I can’t tell you how many times managers have come to me at the school district wanting a policy change so that they can avoid being honest with their employees. As you point out, that’s what the covenant is about. Having a guideline for being in right relationship and having the cojones to actually do the right thing is the only way to have a “nonanxious presence” as a group.

Word, indeed.

By: Joy Lightning

Joy Lightning — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:38:29 +0000

I have been working on by-laws for 2 years. Attempting to remove bits we haven’t followed in recent memory or ever. People actually think I am trying to mess things up because they don’t know how we operate and they don’t understand what’s written, what’s proposed or why they should care.

It’s a curse to the one of those gifted with by-law abilities. People don’t always assume good will. Darn them. Last year, when I first proposed my radical ideas, they decided as a congregation not to discuss the proposal. They didn’t even want to hear it when they’d been notified in advance, given much time to comment. Very very frustrating. This year I have a team working with me on it.
I have to agree with everything you have said here and I hope our committee efforts will be better received this year.

By: Chalicechick

Chalicechick — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:09:37 +0000

Word.

By: I am the very model of a Bad Congregationlist « Spirituality and Sunflowers

I am the very model of a Bad Congregationlist « Spirituality and Sunflowers — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:51:17 +0000

[…] – I wanted to tack on an update after reading Chutney’s post Kinsi, East of Midnight, and Why Bylaws Matter. I’m not saying by-laws shouldn’t exist. I’m just saying I don’t care […]