| ARTICLE I Name The name of this religious corporation shall be the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, in Newburyport, MA. ARTICLE II Purpose Section 1. Its purpose is set forth in its covenant in keeping with the original purpose of the Society since the day of its founding:- "In the love of Truth and in the spirit of Jesus we unite for worship of God and service of humanity." Section 2. "In keeping with the Purposes and Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association, this church affirms and promotes the full participation of all persons in our activities and endeavors, including membership, programming, hiring practices, and the calling of professionals; without regard to race, color, gender, physical or mental challenge, affectional or sexual orientation, age, class, or national origin." ARTICLE III Membership Section 1. Any person, who accepting the purposes of the church, which are the same as those of the Society, shall upon written application, be deemed a member of this church. Section 2. Any person 15 years of age or older, and a member of the church, will be a member of the Society. Section 3. Membership may be terminated by written resignation, or transferred by a member's request. After a member has left the Newburyport area for more than one year, or has not participated in the life of the Church for a period of more than two (2) years, such person will become a candidate for removal from membership by recommendation of the Parish Committee, such removal to take effect by vote of the Parish. Meetings Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the Society shall be held between May 15 and May 31. The day shall be set each year by the Parish Committee with at least sixty (60) days notice to members. Section 2. Special meetings of the Society may be called by the Parish Committee and shall be called by them upon the written request of ten voting members of the Society. Section 3. All meetings shall be warned by the Clerk of the Society, or such member of the Society as the Parish Committee may name, by causing a true copy of the warrant to be posted in the church 8 days at least, including 2 Sundays, before the day of holding the meeting. The business to be transacted at any meeting of the Society shall be specified in the warrant for that meeting. Section 4. Ten percent (10%) of the membership, and no less than 30 members, shall constitute a quorum with the following exceptions: for the annual meeting, or at any other duly constituted meeting to conduct business regarding contracts with the minister, or to approve expenditures in excess of $25,000, twenty percent (20%), and no less than 50 voting members, shall constitute a quorum. Section 5. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, and voting by proxy shall not be permitted at any meeting of the Society. ARTICLE V Officers Section 1. Officers shall be elected by the Society. All officers shall be members of the Society. Section 2. At each annual meeting there shall be elected a Moderator, a Clerk, a Treasurer, who shall be bonded, an Auditor, and the Chairpersons of the following committees: Finance, Religious Education, Music, Membership, Denominational Affairs, Social Action, Community Human Services, Building, Hospitality, Rainbow GLBT, Adult Education, Worship, and Historical. Section 3. There shall also be elected at each annual meeting one Trustee and three members of the Parish Committee who shall serve for three years or until their successors have been elected. No member of the Parish Committee who has served a full three-year term shall be re-elected until after the expiration of one year. Section 4. There shall also be elected at a congregational meeting, delegates to the Unitarian, Universalist Association. This shall be done in accordance with the By-laws of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Section 5. Any officer may be removed from office by a majority vote of the members at a duly constituted meeting. ARTICLE VI Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of five members, including the Chairperson of the Parish Committee, the Treasurer of the Church, and three members elected by the Society, one to be elected each year for a three-year term. Trustees may be re-elected for a second, consecutive three-year term. No member of the Board of Trustees who has served two three-year terms shall be re-elected until after the expiration of one year. The Chairperson of the Parish Committee shall serve as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and the Treasurer of the Church shall serve as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. Section 2. The Trustees shall hold all permanent funds now held or hereafter acquired by the Society, and such other funds as may be turned over to them by a vote of the Parish Committee or Society. The Trustees shall have the duty to manage all funds and securities coming into their hands as such Trustees, with power to invest, re-invest and do all things necessary to the proper management of said funds, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power to make assignments and transfers without specific vote of the Society. They shall pay over to the Treasurer, the income according to the terms of their trust and shall report their activities to the Society at the Annual Meeting and to the Parish Committee upon its request. Section 3. The Treasurer shall have the authority to sign necessary documents for the Board of Trustees and in his/her absence, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees may sign for the Board. Section 4. The trustees shall not pay over to the treasurer any amounts of principal except as may be voted on by the membership at any duly constituted meeting, provided such payments are not in violation of the terms of the trust or in breach of the fiduciary duties of the trustees. ARTICLE VII Section 1. The Leadership Council shall consist of the heads of all permanent committees and organizations of the Society. Section 2. The Council shall meet at such intervals as it desires or upon the call of the Chairperson to consider the general welfare of the Society. They shall make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as they deem advisable. Section 3. The minister shall serve as Chairperson of the Leadership Council. ARTICLE VIII Fiscal Year The fiscal year shall end June 30th. ARTICLE IX The Minister Section 1.The minister shall be chosen and his/her salary determined by vote of the Society at a duly called meeting. The minister shall have his/her ministerial credentials with the Unitarian Universalist Association thus insuring his/her commitment to professional ethics as indicated by the Unitarian Universalist Minister's Association code of Ethical Practices. Section 2. The minister shall be in charge of all meetings held in the church and will be an advisory non-voting member of all church committees. It shall be the duty of the minister to bring to the attention of the Parish Committee any matters which seem to him/her pertinent to the general welfare of the church, and to make such recommendations as seem to him/her proper. However, the final decision in matters of policy and procedure shall remain with the Parish Committee or a legal meeting of the Society. Section 3. If either party so desires, a three months' notice shall be given before the resignation or dismissal of the minister becomes effective. Amendments The Constitution and By-laws, so far as allowed by law, may be amended or repealed at any meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting. Notice of any proposed changes shall be contained in the notice of the meeting. ARTICLE XI Use of Buildings Section 1. No meeting or event other than worship, marriage, christenings and funerals shall be held in the sanctuary without permission of the Parish Committee. Section 2. Any committee or organization of this Society shall have use of the Parish Hall or Lower Meetinghouse providing their activities do not conflict with a previous reservation made by another group. Section 3. No outside organization or group will have the use of the Parish Hall or Lower Meetinghouse without the expressed consent of the Parish Committee. ARTICLE XII Committees All Committees, unless otherwise stated, shall be composed of at least seven (7) members, but may be increased from time to time by the chairperson of the committee to any number he/she deems advisable. ADULT EDUCATION COMMITTEE Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to plan and supervise programs designed to meet the education and spiritual needs of adults in the church community, and to make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as they deem necessary. BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to be responsible for the care and upkeep of all property and buildings belonging to the Society. COMMITTEE ON THE MINISTRY This committee shall provide a communications channel between the Minister and the membership, seeking to hear concerns without judgment and passing them on to the minister or the membership. The committee shall be responsible for periodically surveying the congregation on the state of the Society. Annually the committee shall evaluate the Minister's performance, set goals, and make recommendations for changes in compensation. The Committee shall consist of four members, each serving a four-year, staggered term. Annually the nominating committee will present a new member for election from a list of three submitted by the minister. DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to keep the Society informed of denominational affairs and to make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as they deem necessary. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to raise all funds necessary for the maintenance of the church and the conduct of its affairs; to conduct the annual canvass; to prepare the budget which shall be submitted to the Parish Comm. for its approval before presentation to the annual meeting; and to make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as it deems advisable. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to maintain artifacts, archives, and data relevant to the Parish, its properties and members. These materials will be available for the use of the Parish and the community. Section 1. It shall be the duty of the committee: to appoint hosts and/or hostesses who will be responsible for Sunday morning Coffee Hours. This group also organizes the dinner and refreshments which are served at the Annual Meeting of the Society, First Night and May Breakfast. COMMUNITY HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Section 1. It shall be the purpose of this committee to review the human needs that come to their attention. Section 2. To undertake a course of action and to inform and enlist the parish members in human service projects. Section 3. To support Unitarian Universalist projects that are within the human service field. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to obtain new members for the church and Society, and to make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as they deem necessary. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee: to plan and supervise the musical program of the church, to recruit choir member members, to provide the necessary music and equipment, and to make such recommendations to the Parish Committee as they deem necessary. Section 1. A Nominating Committee shall be named by the Parish Committee in January of each year. Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three members, one of whom may be an officer of the Society. Section 3. The membership of the Nominating Committee shall be announced to the Society. Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominees for all elective offices at the annual meeting of the Society. Section 5. No person may serve on the Nominating Committee for three consecutive years. Section 1.The Parish Committee shall be composed of 12 members including the Clerk, the Treasurer, and the Chairperson of the Finance Committee. The remaining nine members shall be elected by the Society. Six members of the Parish Committee shall constitute a quorum. Section 2. The Parish Committee shall have general charge of the property of the Society, and the conduct of all its business affairs, but no contract involving any expenditure of money exceeding $5,000 shall be made without a vote of the Society. The Parish Committee shall control the administration of the Society and may appoint such persons and committees as they deem necessary. The Parish Committee shall fill all vacancies of elected office, and persons so appointed shall serve until the next meeting of the Society. The Parish Committee shall have the power of approval over committee appointments which shall be made by committee chairpersons. At the first meeting of the Parish Committee after the Annual Meeting, the Parish Committee shall elect, if necessary, a Chairperson to serve for one year and a Chairperson Elect to serve as Vice-chair for one year. The Chairperson Elect will function as Parish Committee Chair the following year. The Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Parish Committee and make such decisions as may be required between regular meetings of the committee, all such decisions to be reported for approval to the full committee at the next meeting. The Chairperson Elect will function as Chair in the absence of the Chair and perform other duties as deemed necessary and voted upon by the Parish Committee. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COMMITTEE Section 1. The Minister and Director of the Religious Education shall be ex-officio members. Section 2. It shall be the duty of this committee: to plan and supervise the educational program of the church; to appoint teachers and substitute teachers; to provide classroom space and equipment, curriculum resources, library and all other resources adequate for the needs of all classes and functions; and to make such recommendations as they deem necessary to the Parish Committee. Section 1.It shall be the purpose of this Committee to: - Inform themselves, the Parish and the community.
- Make recommendations for a course of action.
- Support denominational projects or initiate projects of their own, within the field of social responsibility.
RAINBOW GAY-LESBIAN-BISEXUAL-TRANSGENDER (GLBT) COMMITTEE Section 1. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to work to create a congregation more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons by providing opportunities and programs of outreach to the congregation and community. Section 1. It shall be the duty of this committee to assist the minister in the conduct of worship services, and to plan and present worship services in the absence of the minister.
ARTICLE XIII Specified parts of this Constitution and Bylaws may be suspended for a specified limited period by a 2/3 vote of those present at a duly called meeting of the Parish. | 