Sunday, January 29 • 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Minutes 2023 Annual Meeting
Updated Bylaws Approved at the Meeting
Check-in for those attending in person will start at 1:15 pm in the social hall.
Childcare will be provided in the Religious Education building.
The Annual Meeting Notice was emailed or mailed to church members on January 13. Click here to view it.
2022 Annual Report is available here.
The Congregation will be asked to vote on 14 bylaw sections amendments at the annual meeting, which seek to eliminate barriers to engagement, clarify roles and procedures, and improve governance at the church. The changes are a result of the Strategic Plan approved at last year’s meeting. The table below outlines the proposed amendments. Click the links in the first column for exact language of the changes and commentary. You can view or download the current bylaws here.
| Bylaw | Provision Amendment Description | Purpose of Amendment |
|---|---|---|
Article 1: The Congregation |
||
| Section 1: Mission, Affiliation, and Principles | (b) Affiliation Add 8th Principle |
Eliminate barriers to engagement |
| Section 02: Membership | (a) Qualifications for Membership (i) Attaining Membership – “be in sympathy with mission covenant of this Church” replace with “supports First Unitarian’s mission covenant and programs through generously giving of time, talents, and service to the Church” – Add: Financial contribution can be any amount. – Add: Ability of minister to waive financial contribution |
Eliminate barriers to engagement |
| (ii) Voting (new heading) – Add: Virtual Membership Book – Add: Refer to staff position that maintains church membership list |
Eliminate barriers to engagement | |
| (iii) Retaining Membership – Add: Financial contribution can be any amount. – Add: Ability of minister to waive financial contribution |
Eliminate barriers to engagement | |
| (a) Membership and Committees – Delete requirement to be a member to serve on a board committee, program team, or council |
Eliminate barriers to engagement | |
| (c) Termination of Membership – Add inability to connect with person to determine membership – Refine board vote provision for terminating member |
Clarify roles and procedures | |
| (d) Friends of the Church – Add this provision |
Eliminate barriers to engagement | |
| Section 04: Standing Committees of Congregation | General provisions: – Clarify terms of office and filling vacancies Add ministers and staff as ex-officio members |
Clarify roles and procedures |
| (b) Financial Review Committee – Remove the Financial Review Committee |
Improve governance, specifically accountability and transparency | |
| Section 05: Congregation Meetings | (c) Quorum – Add: Participate in congregation meetings in-person or virtually. (d) Voting (ii) Majority – Add: Voting in congregation meetings in-person or virtually. |
Eliminate barriers to engagement |
| Article 2: The Board of Directors |
||
| Section 01: Composition | (a) Composition of the Board – Reduce board size from 11 to 9 |
Improve governance, specifically accountability and transparency |
| (b) Board Tenure, Vacancies and Removal – Clarify terms of office and filling vacancies |
Improve governance, specifically accountability and transparency | |
| Section 04: Board Duties /Responsibilities | (c) Finance and Budget – Delete reference to Financial Review Committee |
Improve governance, specifically accountability and transparency |
| Section 05: Committees and Task Forces | – Refine type of committees, task forces formed by the board | Improve governance, specifically accountability and transparency |
| – Clarify terms of office and filling vacancies Add ministers and staff as ex-officio members |
Clarify roles and procedures |