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MEMBERSHIP |
MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
• The membership process includes attending the four-session orientation class "GETTING TO KNOW UU" offered by the Membership Committee and the Minister, receiving information about the local church, learning about Unitarian Universalist principles and purposes, and discussion of responsibilities and benefits of membership. Even transferring members are encouraged to participate to share their 'journeys' and to get to know others and their experiences.Steps to becoming a member:
~~~• Participate in either the fall or spring series of "Getting to know UU", our Newcomer Orientation sessions. We request that you participate in these, even if you've been a UU elsewhere as they will help you to become integrated into our community.
~~~• Have an understanding of the purposes and principles of Unitarian Universalism
~~~• Have an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of membership in our congregation.
~~~• Speak with the minister to clarify any questions you may have.
~~~• Sign the Membership Book during the ceremony on Membership Sunday.
~~~• Complete a Pledge Card for the 2008-2009 Stewardship Campaign.
LOCAL MEMBERSHIP BYLAWS
040.1 Member: A person who has signed the membership book. Through such signing the member enters into a covenant with the members of the church to use the Unitarian Universalist Association's Principles and Purposes as guiding values in their lives.
040.2 Voting Member: Voting Members are the caretakers of the church: A voting member is a member who is either entering ninth grade or 15 years of age or older who annually submits a pledge card including a pledge of money and/or time, thus reaffirming membership in the church. In addition, the Board may give lifetime voting member status to individuals whose names are submitted by the Membership Committee for approval as indicated in bylaw 040.3.
040.3 Lifetime Member: A person who has been a member for an extended period of time and is no longer able to meet the requirements for membership. Names will be submitted by the Membership Committee to the Board of Trustees for approval. Any lifetime member who is present at a congregational meeting is entitled to vote.
040.4 Resignations: Members may withdraw from membership by submitting a written or oral resignation.
040.5 Removals of Names from the Membership Rolls: A member may be excluded from membership for cause by action of the Board of Trustees. The Safe Congregation Policy may provide guidelines for action.
040.6 Membership Roll: The official roll of voting members shall be maintained by the Membership Committee, and shall be updated from time to time throughout the year for internal uses, such as at congregational meetings to establish the number needed for a quorum and to determine who is eligible to vote. It shall also be updated annually to report the number of voting members in our Congregation to the UUA by its February 1 deadline. This number shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval at the January Board meeting. A preliminary figure shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees prior to that Board meeting.
LOCAL MEMBERSHIP POLICIES
MEMB.1 The only requirement of membership under the current Bylaws is signing the Membership Book. To facilitate integration into the church, new members will be requested to:
1. complete a New Member Information Sheet,
2. attend an orientation series conducted by the Membership Committee, and,
3. participate in an official welcoming ceremony at a worship service.
MEMB.2 New members are to have read the "Principles and Purposes of Unitarian Universalism."
MEMB.3 New members are to be informed about opportunities for participation in church activities and for volunteering time to maintain church operations. The general financial condition of the church and the cost to the church of each membershop is to be explained clearly to new members.
MEMB.4 A member of the Board of Trustees or the Minister will help in welcoming a new member in the above ways and by emphasizing that the primary value of each new member to the church is the gift of their personhood and not their tangible contributions. (revised 6/12/03)
MEMB.5 Bylaw 40.2 includes the requirement "who annually makes a pledge of money and/or time, thus reaffirming membership in the church." Specifically, members shall be regarded as voting members for an election if they have pledged money and/or time and reaffirmed their membership within the previous fifteen months. (adopted 6/12/03)
MEMB.6 In connection with bylaw 40.5, "for cause" refers to serious violations of the purposes of the church. (adopted 6/12/03)
MEMB.7 The annual count of voting members is taken by the chair of the Membership Committee. The names on the membership database kept by the Church Administrator will be compared with the names on pledge cards on file at the time of the count. Any discrepancies between the two lists will be reconciled by the chair of the Membership Committee to determine the final count. This count will take effect on December 31 of each year.
RELATION TO UUA and PNWD
The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) and Pacific NorthWest District (PNWD) have a per-member dues structure from local congregations, both for their own support and for providing services to congregations. The amount changes over time, but currently each congregation pays about $50-$60 per year per member to the UUA and $25 per member to the District (PNWD). The return benefits include but are not limited to:
| • curriculum development & publishing • about 1/2 of each Districts' staff and programs • building loans • ministerial development and extensive screening of all candidates • help with placing ministers and interims • training for interim and extension ministers • consulting for new congregation ministers • endless Social Justice programs • part of the salaries for UUA staffing • training for District consultants in Conflict Management • Conflict Management Teams • training for District consultants in Transition Teams • training for District consultants in Fair Compensation • Committee on the Ministry training • Transition to Program Sized Church training • Caring Team trainings • Canvass Trainers trainings • The World magazine • the new Interconnections monthly mailing to church leaders • training for Ministerial Settlement Representatives • the UUA website which is a wealth of information for local congregations • hosting for nearly 300 continental UU e-discussion lists and UU websites |