The Path to Membership

You’ve come to several Sunday services and perhaps you’ve talked to some UU church members, read some pamphlets about us or gone online to our website - and you like what you see and hear.

What’s next? – Getting Involved

If you are seriously interested in participating more fully in our congregational life, you may be at the point in your spiritual journey where you might choose to become more connected to our church and wish to support our liberal religious ideals and principles, and make a monetary contribution to the church.

Once someone makes regular contributions of record (this means $10 or more over the course of a year under the giver’s name and address), that person’s name is added to our church data base as a friend of the church and can be given:

• a file folder in our members’ cabinet in the church lobby,
• a name tag,
• a tax receipt for contributions,
• can be added to our church phone directory,
• and receive our church newsletter: the Communicator.

Benefits of Being a Friend

• Friends can participate in church activities – in addition to attending Sunday services, they can attend all social and intellectual activities of the church.
• Their children can attend Religious Exploration classes and activities.
• They can become volunteers, and sit on committees (they cannot become board members, nor chairs of most committees).
• They can consult with our minister.
• They can join a Chalice Circle
• They may be canvassed as if they were members.
• Friends cannot vote at congregational meetings.
• They may not be entitled to membership rates for church rental purposes or free rites of passage.

Becoming a Friend

We invite newcomers who want to learn more about our denomination and this church, to attend our orientation classes, conducted by Rev. Millie, called “Journeys”. These take place several times during the year. During these sessions people will have the opportunity to find out how our church operates - its theological, historical and governance processes, and will be able to hear others share their religious journeys .

Becoming a Member

When you no longer feel like a guest, and you feel as though you’re at home here, ready to be an owner, and feel you are ready to commit to the principles of our religious life and are ready to become a member, please inform our minister, or a member of the membership committee about your intentions.

The act of becoming a member is very simple, and is governed by our church By-Laws.

Membership in our church is viewed as a serious matter, so although the act of joining is just the simple act of adding your signature to our Membership Book in the presence of the minister, president of the board or a chaplain, it is presumed that your membership will carry with it a serious commitment to stewardship and involvement in the life of the church.

If you become a member, what will you get out of this community?

1. A supportive community (religious and social)
2. A place to continue your spiritual and intellectual journey in safety.
3. A place to be renewed and inspired once a week in the company of friends.
4. A place where you may join with others to do good works here in the church and in the larger community.

If you become a member, what will you give to this community?

1. You will help with the work of the church through your presence at services, by attending and voting at congregational meetings, and by volunteering or serving on a committee.
2. You will support it responsibly with your financial gifts.

Membership and ownership go hand in hand. Being a member is being involved in a truly meaningful way.

By signing the membership book you offer to share your gifts, your talents, and your time as well as your own personal needs and limitations.

You and other members of the congregation will nurture and support each other’s religious growth and work together to create an environment that is warm and caring.

Benefits of Membership

• Members who are active, contributing members of the church can vote at congregational meetings at which elections are held, where the church annual budget is approved, where a minister is called, where by-laws are agreed upon, and where other weighty decisions that affect the life and future of the church are made.
• Only members can serve on the board of directors.
• Members are entitled to freely obtain rites of passage, and are entitled to special member rates for church building rentals.

Membership and Community

This Unitarian Universalist society you join will not have the answers to the unanswerable questions, but you will find people here who value intellect, independence, and imagination. Here you will find people who also value self-respect, beauty, and inner harmony. People who hold a firm belief in personal integrity and freedom need to join with others for the preservation of these values.

You are invited to add your name to the membership book of this Unitarian Universalist church and join with others to create an effective religious community. Here, with people of all ages, races, and sexual orientations, you will have a place where you can broaden your vision, where you can share both life’s happiest and saddest moments, and where you can work together with others to bring peace and justice to the world.

Stepping Onto the Path

If you are interested in becoming a member, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or a member of the Membership Committee that you are ready to sign the Membership Book.