Benefits & Expectations of Membership

While our church offers many benefits to our members and welcomes all to join, we would like to make clear that membership is not required or expected of those who wish to participate in our congregation.

Benefits 

Help Shape our Congregation

The democratic process is one of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism. Members gain the ability to vote on important issues within the church and can actively participate in church leadership.

Rites of Passage

Marriage and memorial services are offered at no cost to our members. This includes use of the sanctuary, as well as Minister and music services. We also offer a ritual of Child Dedication, a special ceremony of welcome for babies and young children. This is offered during a worship service at least once a year.

Pastoral Support

Pastoral support is provided to members from the minister and lay pastoral care teams, including counseling, home visits, meals, and rides.

Leadership

Members gain the ability to lead within our congregation. They can serve on the Board, or act as the chair on different Committees within the church.

Expectations 

Get Involved and Participate

Share your ideas, talents, and interests, which could mean singing in the choir, participating in worship, teaching a class, working on the buildings or in the grounds, being active in social justice, or organizing a social event.

Deepen Your Values and Spiritual Development

Attend worship services and religious education classes, join a small groups ministry (Covenant Group), or study on your own.

Attend the First UU 101 class –a requirement for membership.

Be a Welcoming Presence

Welcome newcomers to the church formally by greeting at the Welcome Table, or informally by being a friendly, welcoming face at church and in our community.

Pledge and Contribute Generously

While you do not have to be a member to support the church financially, without members’ support, there would be no First UU. Members make an annual pledge, a written financial commitment that reflects their personal situation as well as what the church means to them.

Abide by Our Community Agreement

In order to establish and maintain a sanctuary of safety and trust, these aspirational guidelines for our behaviors with each other have been created from our own experiences and for our own benefit. It is understood that our commitments may be made, broken and restored as a part of our process of growth.

Support our mission:

• Model kindness to promote justice, equity and compassion
• Share time, talent and treasure
• Honor our past, embrace change, and celebrate successes

Communicate thoughtfully with others:

• Practice patience and look for good intentions in each other’s action
• Learn from and listen to each other
• Speak honestly from our own experiences and perspectives
• Respect the personal nature of comments that others may share

Honor differences:

• Resist making assumptions about one another
• Work toward forgiveness whenever we fall short of expectations
• Speak directly to each other or request mediation to negotiate misunderstandings
• Welcome the diversity among us with curiosity, acceptance and empathy

Adopted by the Board of Trustees and accepted at the May 2021 Congregational Meeting.

For more information about membership at First UU, contact the church office at office@uusat.org or our Membership Committee at membership@uusat.org.