Bylaws
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Approved July 11, 1993
Amended 5-07-2002
The name of this religious society shall be the Paint Creek Unitarian Universalist Congregation. This congregation shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Heartland Unitarian Universalist District. It is the intention of this congregation to make annual financial contributions equal to its full fair share as determined by the Association and the District.
In accord with the purposes and principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we covenant to affirm and promote:
We,the members of the Paint Creek Unitarian Universalist Congregation,
further covenant and state our intent to:
The term for which this congregation has been incorporated shall be in perpetuity.
Should this congregation cease to function and the membership vote to disband, any assets of this congregation shall be transferred to the Unitarian Unversalist Association, and its successors or assigns, for its general purposes, this transfer to be made in full compliance with whatever laws are applicable at the time.
Any person who is at least 16 years of age may become a voting member of this society who is in sympathy with its purpose and program, has signed the Membership Book, and makes an annual financial commitment of record. People aged 14 and 15 who have completed a formal Coming of Age program within this congregation may also sign the Membership Book. All who sign the Membership Book shall become eligible to vote thirty (30) days after they sign.
Prior to membership, an applicant should consult with the minister or a person designated by the president about the heritage of Unitarian Universalism, its principles, and the responsibilities of commitment to the congregation.
It is especially understood that membership and programming is open to ALL adults. Hiring shall be based on character and abilities, not such things as ethnic background, age, sexual/gender orientation, and disabilities.
A person may be removed from membership through that person's written or confirmed oral request to the Board of Trustees, to a Board member, or to the minister. The Board may also recommend that a person be dropped from the membership rolls after a two-year period of inactivity. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to maintain the membership rolls and recommend any changes to the Board. The Board of Trustees shall review the membership rolls at the December meeting and determine any changes to the rolls.
The annual business meeting shall be held each year in the month of May at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees, in order to hear reports of officers and staff, to elect new officers, to adopt an annual budget, and to transact any other business that may properly come before the congregation. Special business meetings may be called by the Board of Trustees or at the written request of any five members. The business to be transacted at all meetings shall be set forth in the notice of the meetings, which shall be sent to all members by mail at least two (2) weeks days prior to the meeting. Twenty (20) percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum, except that a forty (40) percent quorum shall be necessary in order to make decisions about the calling or dismissal of a minister or the purchase or sale of capital property.
If a quorum is not present at a meeting, action may nonetheless be taken on any question properly brought before the assembled members if such action shall be supported by the same absolute number of votes as would be required for action at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Robert's Rules of Order or the equivalent shall be followed at each meeting.
At each annual meeting there shall be chosen by secret ballot at least three (3) trustees to serve three year terms of office. No trustee will serve more than two consecutive three year terms. From among its own members, the Board of Trustees, shall elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Portfolio Liaisons, all of whom shall hold their offices for one year. The Board shall elect a Treasurer either from its own membership or from the membership of the congregation. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Board of Trustees.
The President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Trustees, and at congregational meetings. If the President is unavailable, the Vice President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Trustees and at congregational meetings. The President shall serve as a non-voting Member of all committees except the Ministerial Relations Committee.
Each Portfolio Liaison shall report to the board on the activities of the various program committees in his/her Portfolio. The Portfolio Liaison will call meetings of committee representatives if it is necessary to fulfill this duty.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of congregational meetings and meetings of the Board of Trustees.
The Treasurer shall keep records of receipts and expenditures of Church funds
The Board of Trustees shall have general charge of the property and funds of the Church, the conduct of all its business affairs, and the control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees as it may deem necessary, but no borrowing of money nor contract involving more than ten percent of the current annual budget shall be made without approval of the Congregation.
All meetings, except executive sessions to discuss personnel matters or litigation, shall be open to the membership and minutes of each meeting shall be made available to the congregational membership.
Quorum for Board meetings shall be 4 (four) Board members. Board members are expected to attend Board meetings regularly, and three consecutive unexcused absences shall constitute a resignation from Board membership.
A nominating committee of at least three persons who are not members of the Board of Trustees shall be chosen by the congregation at the annual meeting. This committee will nominate people to fill vacancies and to stand for regular annual elections. For a regular election, they shall prepare a list of people who have agreed to serve and publish this list at least two (2) weeks prior to the election. Others may add names to the list and nominations shall be accepted from the floor. Any name submitted for nomination must be accepted as long as the nominated person is a voting member of the congregation, and is willing to serve. Members of the nominating committee shall act as clerks in the election.
To fill vacancies, the nominating committee shall present a candidate to the Board of Trustees to fill the position until the next annual membership meeting. A vote of the majority of the Board of Trustees will be required to seat the new member on the board.
The minister shall be responsible for the conduct of worship within the society and for the society’s spiritual interests and affairs. The minister shall have freedom of the pulpit as well as freedom to express his or her opinions outside the pulpit.
The minister shall be an ex-officio member of the governing board and of such committees as the board shall designate.
The minister shall be and remain in fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association.
The minister shall be called upon recommendation of the Ministerial Search Committee by an 85% majority of the voting members of the society present at any meeting legally called for this purpose.
The calling procedure specified above shall be suspended in the event that the congregation votes to participate in a special program requiring that a professional leader be placed for a limited period of time rather than called by the congregation.
The minister may be dismissed by a majority vote of the qualified members of the church present at any meeting legally called for this purpose.,
In event of the minister’s dismissal, his or her salary and allowance shall be continued for three months after the date of dismissal. Should the minister offer his or her resignation, three months notice must be given at the time the resignation is made, except as the board of trustees may allow an interval of less time.
The fiscal year shall end on June 30.
These bylaws, so far as allowed by law, may be amended or replaced at any meeting of the society by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, a quorum being present. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.
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