Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

UNITARIAN SERVICE PENSION SOCIETY

VOTE TO RESTATE THE ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION 2025

Why is this revision needed?

The Board is undertaking this work for several reasons. First, updating the name of the Society is long overdue. Secondly, much else has changed since the Society was incorporated more than a century ago. The nature of UU ministry has changed, lifespans have greatly increased, and the Society now operates within a more complex legal environment and is subject to complicated IRS tax-exempt regulations.

Will this change affect my service gratuity payments?

No. The restated Articles of Organization will in no way affect the service gratuity payments you are now receiving, but will better protect them.

What is the difference between Articles of Organization and Bylaws?

Articles of Organization are a high level statement defining the Society and are filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for approval and record. They state the Society’s name, its purpose, its membership, and other lawful provisions for conducting its business which are considered permanent.

Bylaws set forth the more detailed rules for the conduct of the ongoing business of the Society, including meetings and the election of members, officers and directors and their duties. Bylaws can be more easily amended in response to changing situations - pandemics for example - than the Articles of Organization.

Once the Restated Articles of Organization are approved and accepted by the Commonwealth, the Society may proceed to revise the Bylaws in accord with the Articles of Organization and to amend them from time to time as needed. This is how almost all modern non-profit organizations work these days.

What are the major changes to the Articles of Organization?

 Name:

 Adding “Universalist”, so as to read: Unitarian Universalist Service Pension Society

 Purpose:

Remains basically the same as originally stated when the Society was founded in 1910, namely to provide service gratuities to eligible (UU) minsters on good standing, but is updated and restated: 1), to clarify eligibility as ordained ministers in UUA Fellowship, of a minimum age, and of a minimum years of service in UUA recognized ministries, and 2), to clearly state the Society’s religious purpose and particular IRS tax-exempt status as a supporting organization to the UUA, a religious organization.

 Members:

A smaller elected membership, instead of being the entire number of ministers eligible to receive service gratuity payments as at present. An elected membership will be a smaller, active body and will also serve as a ready and able pool from which to elect officers and directors. Persons eligible for election as members will be ministers (of any age) in UUA Fellowship and UU lay persons.

Other Lawful Provisions:

On the advice of legal counsel, certain other provisions are listed which are considered permanent and unlikely to need amendment.

DOCUMENTS

 1. Ballot, for your vote, to be returned (postmarked) by October 17, 2025

 2. Restated Articles of Organization, for your vote of approval

 3. Continuation Sheet A (Restated Articles of Organization, Article IV)

 4. Certificate of Organization, dated February 10, 1910, for reference

 5. Current Bylaws, most recently amended November 8, 1965, for reference