BYLAWS

of the

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Seattle

(dba Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church)

Article I – Name

The legal name of this organization shall be: The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Seattle. We shall be known as: Saltwater Unitarian Universalist Church.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this church shall be to nurture each other to find meaning and connection within our lives and to contribute to our communities with our hearts, minds, hands, and spirit. We also commit human and financial resources to advance social justice and environmental stewardship.

Article III – Inclusion

Section 1. This congregation affirms and promotes the full participation of persons in all our activities and endeavors, including membership, programming, and the calling and hiring practices of religious professionals without regard to race, color, gender and expression, affectional or sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, age, class, or national origin.

Section 2. This congregation affirms and promotes the full participation of families with their minor children and youth in our lifespan programs, and varied activities.

Article IV – Membership

Section 1. Membership in this Church shall be open to all those in sympathy with its purpose.

Section 2. Any person who meets the following requirements may become a member and sustain that membership by:

a. being at least 16 years of age;

b. signing the membership book; and

c. making an annual financial pledge of record each calendar year. (A member in financial hardship is requested to notify the Minister, or any member of the board, or the Treasurer, or a member of the Canvass organization of their financial hardship and by doings so may become exempt for this requirement.)

Section 3. In order to vote at a congregational meeting, one must have been a member for at least twenty (20) days before the congregational meeting.

a. The Membership Committee will be responsible for the classification of the status of members in accordance with Section 2 of this Article prior to any congregational meeting.

b. The latest list of members will be posted at least twenty (20) days in advance of such meetings. Any persona omitted from such a list may appeal the action to the Board of Directors or its designee, who may for good cause, wave any provision of this section.

Section 4. A member may be removed from membership in the following ways:

a. upon one’s own request directed to the Board of Directors;

b. by the Board of Directors if any of the following circumstances exist:

1. Member is not meeting the requirements of sustained membership as specified in Section 2.

2. Member is not in conformance with the purpose of Saltwater UU Church as defined in Article II.

3. Member’s behavior is repeatedly disruptive of church activities.

Section 5. Any person who pledges to the church but does not sign the membership book is entitled to the full privileges of membership with the exception of voting at congregational meetings, or holding church offices or other positions for which membership is a requirement.

Article V – Business Meeting

Section 1. The Spring congregational business meeting shall normally be held in the month of April, May or June and the Fall congregational business meeting shall normally be held in the month of November or December at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Notice of each meeting shall be given in writing to the active members at east ten (10) days prior to the meeting. The notice shall contain the agenda of the meeting.

Section 2. Special business meetings may be called at the insistence of the President, Board of Directors, or by request of twenty (20) voting members of the Church. Notice and agenda of special meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice of the regular business meetings.

Section 3. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the active members of the Church shall constitute a quorum, and a less number may adjourn form time to time. Neither absentee ballots nor proxy voting shall be allowed. 
 

Article VI – Board of Directors

Section 1. The affairs of this church shall be governed by a board of six (6) Directors, four (4) of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (See Proviso at end of Article VI)

Section 2. At the Spring congregational business meeting of the Church, there shall be elected by ballot from its active members two (2) Directors, who shall serve for a period of three (3) years from the date of their election and until their successors are elected and qualified. Board members who have served a three (3) year term shall not be eligible to succeed themselves.

Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) members, two who will be elected each year by the congregation at the Spring congregational business meeting, for a term of two years. A candidate for the Committee must be:

a. a member of the congregation for at least one year,

b. active in the church, attending at least one worship service or committee meeting per month.

Section 4. The position of a Board member may be declared vacant, at the discretion of the Board, when said member has been absent three consecutive Board meetings.

Section 5. The Board shall hold regular monthly meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or by three (3) members of the Board of Directors by giving each Director twenty-four (24) hours notice.

Section 6. The Board shall formulate the program for attaining the purpose of the Church as defined in Article II herein, in accordance with the will of the membership.

Section 7. The Board shall approve the Leader of all teams and standing committees.

Section 8. Board Vacancy – Unexpired Term of Office: Should a member vacate an unexpired term of office, the Board in consultation with the Nominating Committee, shall appoint a successor to complete the term, subject to approval by the Congregation at the next regular congregational business meeting. 
 

Proviso: In Spring 2004 two (2) Board members will be elected for a total of eight (8) Board members with five (5) as a quorum. In Spring 2005 two (2) Board members will be elected for a total of seven (7) Board members with four (4) as a quorum. In Spring 2006 two (2) Board members will be elected for a total of six (6) serving, reaching compliance with Article VI, Section 1 and Section 2 making this proviso null and void. 
 

Article VII – Officers

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. They shall be appointed by the Board of Directors for a term of one year or until their successors are appointed. The Secretary and Treasurer need not be Directors. All officers must be active members.

Section 2. The President shall preside over all business meetings of the Church and the Board of Directors, and perform such other duties as are usually performed by the presiding officer. The Vice-President shall act in his or her absence.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all business meetings of the Church and of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall: a. serve as financial officer of the organization; b. monitor records of monthly income and expenses and submit a report of financial accountability at the Spring and Fall congregational business meetings.

Article VIII – Minister

Section 1. Procedure for calling: the minister shall be called and his or her remuneration determined by a legal meeting of this Church. A two-thirds vote of members present at a meeting designated for the purpose shall be necessary to call a minister to the charge of this church. The terms of call and acceptance shall be in writing and shall include statements regarding financial remuneration including housing allowance, hospitalization and pension programs, vacations, payment of moving expenses, and provision for the minister’s participation in denominational conferences and shall be presented by the Board to the membership for approval.

Section 2. Tenure: The minister shall be considered to have indefinite tenure.

Section 3. Termination: The minister’s services may be terminated by a majority vote of the active members of this Church present at a meeting legally held for that purpose. The termination shall not become effective until three months after the vote.

Section 4. Resignation: In the case of his or her resignation, the minister shall give three months notice or such other time as is mutually agreed upon.

Section 5. Relationship to the Church: The minister shall be an ex-officio member of this church, of the Board of Directors, and of all teams and committees of this Church, but shall have no vote. If the minister elects to become a member of the Church, he or she will have the same voting rights as any other member.

Article IX – General Provisions

Section 1. It shall be within the power of the President to appoint such assistant as he or she may deem necessary, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

Section 3. The President shall in all cases have the right to vote and when, by including his or her vote, the meeting shall be equally divided, the question shall be lost.

Section 4. The fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30 of the following year. The Board of Directors shall prepare an annual budget for each fiscal year and present this budget to the membership at the spring congregational business meeting. The Directors may select a pledge year that differs from the fiscal year. .  (See Proviso at the end of Article IX.)

Section 5. The books of the treasurer will be audited at the request of the board

Section 6. Written reports shall be submitted by all teams and standing committees at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Spring congregational business meeting.

Section 7. The membership list shall be revised by the membership chairperson prior to each congregational business meeting. Questions concerning membership status shall be decided by the Board of Directors subject to appeal to the membership.

Section 8. This congregation shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and of the Pacific Northwest District of that Association. It is understood that such membership levies no requirements on the structure of these bylaws or on the means of operations of this church. In dealing with the UUA, only voting members as defined in Article III, Section 4 will be considered current church members. 
 

Proviso: In changing the fiscal year to a July to June cycle, there will be a 6 month transitional Fiscal Period, as follows:

Jan 1, 2007 – Dec. 31, 2007 12 months

Jan 1, 2008 – June. 30, 2008   6 months

Jul 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009 12 months

The Board will present a transitional 6 month budget at the Fall 2007 congregational business meeting. 
 

Article X – Amendments

These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the active membership by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present; provided, however, that a written notice and copies of the proposed amendments shall have been given to the active membership at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.