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Bylaws Print

BYLAWS OF THE FIRST PARISH IN BEDFORD
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
As amended June 8, 2008


Article I (Name)  The name of this religious society shall be “The First Parish in Bedford, Unitarian Universalist”, referred to hereafter in the bylaws as “The Parish.”

Article II (Purpose)  We unite to celebrate in community the values of liberal religion which illuminates our lives.  Cherishing the heritage of the past, we seek to grow through continuing renewal and reasoned change.  We seek to provide for public religious worship, charitable and benevolent activities, and instruction in liberal religion as is needed by a religious society.  Aware of human potential and limitations we affirm the ideals of mutual love, justice, peace, and human dignity, and strive to realize the religious commitments we share.


Article III (Membership)

A. Any person at least sixteen (16) years of age may become a member of the Parish by signing the Parish Record and will be eligible to vote thirty (30) days after such signing.

B. A full record of the voting membership shall be kept by the Clerk of the Parish.

C. Membership will be terminated upon submission by the member to the Clerk of the Parish of a written, voluntary notice of withdrawal.  Membership will also be terminated upon the Clerk's certification that the member has not responded to the church's good faith efforts to contact the member for at least one year.

D. Any member shall have the right to hold office or to serve on any elected or appointed committee as outlined in Article VI.

E. No subscription to creed, participation in ceremony or test of race, color, nationality, gender, physical challenge, affectional or sexual orientation shall be required of prospective members, employees or religious leaders.

F. Friends of the Parish shall have all the advantages and privileges of the Parish except the right to vote and the right to hold office.

Article IV (Denominational Affiliation)  The Parish shall maintain active membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association, in the Massachusetts Bay District of Unitarian Universalist Churches, and in the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry.

Article V (Meetings of the Parish)

A. The Parish shall be governed in accordance with the majority will of those members voting at Regular and Special Meetings of the Parish.

B. Two (2) regular meetings shall be called each year by the Parish Committee: one within the first fourteen (14) days of June, and one within the first fourteen (14) days of November.

C. Notification of Regular and Special Meetings shall be by a warrant drawn up by the Parish Committee, specifying questions to be brought before said meeting for decision or for the information of the members.

 

1. The warrant for each regular meeting shall provide for reports by the Parish Committee, the Minister, and the Director of Religious Education, and the presentation of the Clerk's minutes of the previous meeting.

2. The warrant for each regular meeting shall provide for the consideration of any question, proposal or information specified by a petition presented to the Parish Committee in writing, over the signatures of at least seven (7) members of the Parish, at least eighteen (18) days prior to the date of said meeting.

3. The warrant for the regular June meeting shall also provide for consideration of:

 

a. a proposed budget for the twelve-month fiscal year which began June l;

b. a full account by the Treasurer of all funds collected, maintained or disbursed by and for the Parish in the preceding twelve (12) months;

c. written reports from all committees made available to members at the meeting within the annual report;

d. election of Parish members to fill expired and/or vacant positions on the Parish Committee and other Parish offices. The warrant shall contain the list of nominees put forth by the Nominating Committee;

e. review and vote by the Parish on the terms of the agreement negotiated by the Parish Committee and Minister relative to the Minister's compensation and other terms of service as stated in Article IX, Paragraph G, of the bylaws.
 

4. Committees shall report at the regular November meeting upon prior request of the Parish Committee.

5. The warrant for each meeting shall be prominently posted in the vestibule of the Meeting House at least eight (8) days, including two (2) Sundays, prior to the date of said meeting. 

6. Timely notice of each meeting, including the warrant, shall be mailed to each member as part of the Parish newsletter or as a separate document. 

 

D. Additional Special Meetings of the Parish may be called at any time by the Parish Committee, or any seven (7) members of the Parish who shall present a petition in writing to the Parish Committee or the Clerk of the Parish. 

 

1. Article V.C.2 shall also apply to the warrant of special meetings. 

2. Provisions may be made for election of Parish members to fill vacancies on the Parish Committee.

3. Special meetings may be called for any purpose, including the Parish Committee's desire to ascertain the views of the Parish on large expenditures or change in policy.
 

E. Notification of Special and Regular Meetings shall be by a warrant drawn up by the Parish Committee, specifying questions to be brought before said meeting for decision or for the information of the members.

 

1. The warrant for each meeting shall be prominently posted in the vestibule of the Meeting House at least eight (8) days, including two (2) Sundays, prior to the date of said meeting.

2. Timely notice of each meeting, including the warrant, shall be mailed to each member, or placed in the Parish newsletter.


F. A quorum of twenty percent (20%) of the current membership of the Parish residing in Middlesex County, or twenty-five (25), whichever is the lesser figure, shall be required for conducting any duly called meeting.

G. Members may cast an in absentia ballot only in an election by expressing their vote in writing and filing it with the Clerk prior to the meeting.

H. Each meeting of the Parish shall be called to order and presided over by the Moderator.

 

1. The Moderator shall have full charge of conducting any meeting in accordance with the most recently published edition of Robert's Rules of Order, unless it is inconsistent with any provision of these bylaws, for the determination of the true will of the members present.

2. Any member present may raise a point of order to question procedural rulings or by-law interpretation and, when seconded, a motion to change the ruling must be voted immediately.

3. Records of the proceedings and decisions of each meeting shall be made and preserved by the Clerk who shall present the minutes at the next meeting.


Article VI (Governance of the Parish) 

A. Officers

 

1. The Officers of the Parish shall include a Moderator, a Clerk, a Recorder, a Treasurer, and the Parish Committee.  The Moderator, Clerk, and Recorder shall be elected at the June meeting for terms of one year.  The Treasurer and each member of the Parish Committee shall be elected for terms of three (3) years.  Resignations by any officer should be submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Parish.

2. The Moderator shall preside at all official meetings of the Parish.  In the Moderator's absence, the Clerk of the Parish shall preside until a moderator pro tem is nominated and elected.

3. The Clerk

a. shall maintain records of all official meetings of the Parish and shall prepare such reports as are required;

b. shall have custody of all official records and archives of the Parish;

c. shall maintain the list of qualified voters of the Parish, and shall provide this list of membership at any Regular and Special meeting of the Parish;

d. shall make the Parish Record available so that persons may join the Parish at any time;

e. shall maintain the bylaws of the Parish;

f. shall be the official signatory for the Parish.
 

4. The Treasurer

a. shall receive and have custody of monies of the Parish;

b. shall pay all proper bills of the Parish;

c. shall maintain the financial records;

d. shall report to the Parish Committee as requested;

e. shall make a report for the previous fiscal year at each June meeting of the Parish;

f. shall, jointly with the Parish Committee or its agent, be responsible for the investment of funds and securities of the Parish, and shall report on the status of such funds and securities at each June meeting of the Parish;

g. shall be a member of the Parish Committee with full privileges;

h. may be bonded.


5. The Recorder

a. shall receive monies from pledges and plate collections and other sources;

b. shall deliver said monies to the Treasurer or deposit them in bank accounts designated by the Treasurer;

c. shall prepare a statement of the sources of such revenues and the purposes for which they were contributed;

d. shall furnish periodic reports on pledge status to each pledging unit;

e. may be bonded.
 

B. The Parish Committee

 

1. The general governance of the Parish between Parish meetings shall be vested in the Parish Committee.  The Parish Committee shall have seven (7) members, including the Treasurer of the Parish, two (2) to be elected each year from the general Parish membership.  No person shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive three-year terms, fractional terms being disregarded.  The Minister(s) and the Director of Religious Education shall be members ex officio, without vote.  The Parish Committee shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and principal lay officer of the Parish, who shall have the right to vote on all matters.  Should any vacancy on the Parish Committee occur due to death, inactivity, resignation or removal, a majority of the remaining members of the Parish Committee may, upon consultation with the Nominating Committee, appoint any member of Parish to fill the vacancy until the next Parish Meeting.

2. The Parish Committee shall:

a. hold regularly scheduled meetings at an announced time and place, and shall maintain a written record of their transactions.  All meetings shall be open.  All decisions of the Parish Committee shall be by majority vote of those present and voting, with the provision that a quorum of four (4) members must be present at the taking of any such vote;

b. be responsible for the management of the business affairs and property of the Parish, subject to such directions as they may receive by vote of the Parish;

c. make provisions for obtaining and maintaining the services of a Minister (or Ministers), subject to the provisions of Article IX of the bylaws;

d. appoint the Director of Religious Education and all other employees of the Parish after due consultation with the Minister and pertinent committees, and shall fix their compensation and supervise their employment through the Minister;

e. nominate candidates for Nominating Committee vacancies, to be elected by the Parish;

f. designate annually the standing committees of the Parish and their charters;

g. oversee the work of the standing committees.
 

3. The Parish Committee may:

a. fill vacancies in any standing committee of the Parish after consultation with the chairperson of that committee;

b. establish such ad hoc committees as it deems necessary.
 

C. Standing Committees

 

1. Members and friends of the Parish may become members of committees through appointment, recruitment, or by volunteering to fill vacancies for a suggested term of two years.

2. Duties common to all committees:

a. to hold first meeting within one month of the June meeting of the Parish, and to elect a chairperson;

b. to present a written report to the Parish Committee for inclusion in the Annual report of the Parish;

c. to present a proposed budget to the Parish Committee for use in planning the annual canvass;

d. to call upon members and friends of the Parish to assist in fulfilling the duties of committee;

e. to meet at least once a month through the year, unless otherwise stated;

f. to maintain communications with the Parish through the Parish newsletter or by any other means;

g. to maintain communications with the Parish Committee.


Article VII  (The Nominating Committee)

 

A. There shall be a Nominating Committee of the Parish, consisting of three (3) members, who shall:

 

1. prepare a slate of nominees for all vacancies among the officers of the Parish and the Social Responsibility Council for the ensuing term of office and include it as part of the warrant for the June meeting;

2. recruit candidates for positions on the standing committees of the Parish [as enumerated in Section II of the bylaws], and shall submit a report at the regular June meeting;

3. recruit candidates, at the discretion of the Parish Committee, for ad hoc and standing committees at any time of the year.
 

B. At the regular June meeting, the slate of nominees shall be placed before the meeting for its action.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor for any and all positions on the slate.

C. Members of the Nominating Committee shall serve for terms of three (3) years, one (1) to be elected at each June meeting, following nomination by the Parish Committee or from the floor.  The nomination shall be posted within the warrant.  The Nominating Committee members shall choose their own chairperson.  In the event of vacancies, the Parish Committee shall appoint others to serve until the next Parish meeting.  No member may serve more than one three-year term, fractional terms being disregarded.

Article VIII (The Social Responsibility Council)

A. The purpose of the Social Responsibility Council will be to help the Parish express UU principles and purposes in society at large through the primary facets of social outreach:  education/aware-ness, service, action, and dialogue. It will do so in a way that promotes First Parish and UU values in society while respecting diversity within the Parish.

B. The Council will consist of seven (7) members elected from the Parish membership for a three (3) year term. No person shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive three-year terms, fractional terms being excluded.  Terms will be staggered so that normally two or three members are elected each year. The Minister will be a non-voting ex-officio member of the Council. The Council will annually elect one of its members to serve as chairperson and another to serve as clerk.  Should any vacancy on the Council occur, the Parish Committee may appoint any member of the Parish to fill the vacancy until the next Parish Meeting.

C. The Social Responsibility Council (SRC) shall:

 

1. Follow the bylaws in Article VI, section C.2. for a standing committee.  In addition, announce the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings and maintain a written record of all transactions.  All meetings shall be open.  All decisions of the SRC shall be by majority vote of those present and voting, with the provision that a quorum of five (5) members must be present at the taking of any such vote.

2. Establish, assist, and supervise social responsibility initiatives involving the use of the resources or the name of First Parish. The Council will assess collective goals and resources related to possible social action within the Parish; explore and communicate opportunities for social action in the community at large; and act as liaison between the Parish and other organizations with potential for cooperation in social action.

3. Foster the establishment of Social Action Projects of members of the Parish to undertake projects and programs of social outreach. If accepted by the Council, funds from the Council's budget may be allocated to accomplish project goals. The Council will report its current slate of Social Action projects at the Annual and Semi-Annual meetings of the Parish.
 

Article IX (The Minister)

A. The Minister shall be a spiritual leader whose primary concerns are to uphold, further, and deepen the values of liberal religion.

B. The Minister shall have freedom of the pulpit.

C. The Minister shall have general charge of all formal ceremonies and services conducted in the name of the Parish.  The Minister shall exercise supervision of the use of the meeting house and the services of all paid employees of the Parish in accordance with the directions of the Parish Committee.

D. A Ministerial Candidate shall be chosen by a special Pulpit Committee of seven (7) members of the Parish who shall be elected at a special meeting of the Parish to be called by the Parish Committee for that specific purpose, to occur within thirty (30) days of the announced need.  It shall be the duty of the Pulpit Committee to propose a suitable candidate as Minister of the Parish, with the understanding that said committee may be either retained or dismissed and replaced by another similarly elected committee should the candidate it proposes not be accepted by the Parish.

E. The Minister shall be called by vote of the Parish at a duly called meeting of the Parish.

F. The Minister's term of office may be terminated after ninety (90) days notice, either by written resignation or by a majority vote of the Parish.

G. The Minister's compensation and terms of service shall be set forth in a written agreement.  The agreement shall be reviewed by the Parish Committee and acted upon by a duly called meeting of the Parish at intervals of no more than twelve (12) months.

H. Any Minister in residence for three (3) months or more before any regular meeting of the Parish shall present a written report to the members of the Parish.

Article X (Dissolution) In the event of the dissolution of the First Parish in Bedford, all outstanding debts shall be paid and the remaining assets, both real and personal, and including all property heretofore and hereinafter donated to First Parish, shall become the property of the Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, or its successor, subject to all applicable laws.

Article XI (Amendments)  These bylaws may be amended only by majority acceptance of proposed revisions substantially as included in the warrant of any regular or special meetings of the Parish. 
 

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