As adopted at the Annual Meeting of the UU Musicians Network on August 3, 2005 in Denver, Colorado. Revised July 15, 2010 at Annual Meeting in Madison, WI.
Preamble
We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network, do affirm this Code of Professional Practices as our standard of commitment to music ministry. This Code will be followed by all the members of this Network who are or have been engaged as Professional Musicians* working in UU congregations, and will be supported by all who are joining our membership.
I. Self
A. As a professional musician serving within the Unitarian Universalist Association and Canadian Unitarian congregations, I commit myself to honor the ideals of music as ministry, and to actively explore and articulate the underlying values and principles that those ideals express.
B. I recognize that as a religious leader in whom trust and power have been placed, I am both morally and legally in a professional relationship to which I am called to be faithful. I will never abuse the authority of my position by manipulating others to satisfy my personal needs. Objectionable behaviors may include, but are not limited to, sexual behavior with any child, adolescent, or vulnerable adult seeking advice or comfort; or with any adult in another committed relationship; or with colleagues serving my congregation. I will observe the legal requirements of my state or province regarding the reporting of physical or sexual misconduct. C. The recognition of the importance of music ministry by my congregation requires acknowledgement of my worth as a professional musician. Understanding that other music ministry professionals will follow after me, I will work actively with an appropriately designated group within my congregation to help establish up-to-date standards of fair compensation and working conditions that support our professional skills. D. I will sustain a respect for music ministry. Because my private life is woven into my practice of this ministry, I will refrain from private as well as public words or actions which are degrading to this ministry or destructive of congregational life.
II. Colleagues
A. Since I share the welfare of the congregation with other religious professionals, I will seek to be part of mutually cooperative, supportive, open, consultative and ethical relationships with them as we carry out our shared and separate responsibilities. Should difficulties arise, I will seek help judiciously and express my concerns professionally, keeping in mind the dignity and value of my position. B. I recognize that in my relationship with religious professionals, I have a responsibility to be supportive in both personal and public situations. I will offer honest and caring responses to them and endeavor to designate appropriate help when called for. Understanding the trust that colleagues place in relationships with each other, I will honor the need for confidentiality, keeping in mind that such confidentiality is not to be used to allow harm to another or to prevent appropriate help from being sought. I accept the responsibility to confront a colleague¹s misuse of power, or to report concerns about suspected misconduct to a UUMN Good Officer. C. In the event that I remain a member in the congregation where I have previously served as a musician, I will refrain from being involved in the process of selecting my successor unless formally requested to do so. Further, I will support my successor by leaving room for him/her to establish her/his own identity and leadership in the congregation and by refraining from accepting positions on policy-making bodies in the congregation (such as board, music committee, finance committee, personnel committee) for two years after my professional leadership has been concluded in that congregation unless being specifically asked to serve by the new leadership. I will consult with her/him before accepting or volunteering for roles in the music program, and will encourage members of the congregation to speak to their current music professional or other appropriate persons for answers to all current music issues or concerns. D. I will defer accepting requests for any musical services from members of any congregation I am not now serving until I have consulted with the incumbent musician(s) in that congregation. If my colleague asks me to refrain from performing the service, I will comply. Should emergency circumstances make such a consultation impossible, I shall render only limited services and consult with my colleague at the earliest possible opportunity.
III. Congregation
A. I will uphold and honor the liberal religious principles of congregational polity and inclusiveness, within the congregation I serve, knowing that by modeling such principles, I am upholding the experience of free religious life for the entire congregation. B. I will honor the confidences shared with me by members of the congregation, keeping in mind that such confidentiality should not contribute to personal or professional misuse of power. C. In the case of planned or forced resignation or significant change in role or responsibility, I will consult with a UUMN Good Officer for counsel and assistance in executing a well-managed departure or change.
IV. Wider Association
A. As a UUMN member, I will understand my responsibility to educate lay people and religious professionals about the qualifications for and dimensions of professional music leadership, and to enlist their help in according appropriate status to professional church musicians. B. To promote professional integrity and leadership, I will advocate for UUMN's Code of Professional Practices. C. I will support and participate in activities and programs of the UUA and Canadian Unitarian churches as applicable, and encourage the participation of others in such events, knowing that wider participation will lead to deeper understanding of our goals as professional church musicians. D. Recognizing the relationship between liberal religious goals and values and adequate financial resources needed to support their attainment, I will work to support fair and appropriate funding efforts advocated by the UUA, UUMN and associated interests and other organizations of professional church musicians.
V. The Larger Community
A. As a professional church musician, I understand that whenever I participate in the wider community, I represent my particular faith group and will strive to be a model of ethical leadership. B. As a musician in the larger community, I will respect the work of composers and arrangers and will follow the appropriate copyright laws.
* Professional Musician is defined as those serving in professional music leadership roles, both compensated and uncompensated, in Unitarian Universalist communities.
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