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BYLAWS OF

THE SUGARLOAF CONGREGATION

OF UNITARIAN UNIVERALISTS

 

                Pursuant to Article IV, Section E of the Articles of Incorporation of the Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists (formerly the Upper Montgomery Congregation), the following Bylaws have been enacted subject to, and in furtherance of the Plan of organization set forth in the Articles.

 

                I.              NAME AND PURPOSES

 

                The name of this Congregation shall be the Sugarloaf Congregation of Unitarian Universalists.

 

                The Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist congregation are to be (1) a diverse, community oriented, caring and supportive religious community, (2) a safe place for religious liberals to gather and share ideas, (3) an active messenger of Unitarian Universalism free to develop its own identity, (4) involved in the life of the larger community, (5) committed to lifelong religious education, (6) an active, non-political force for social justice and community action, (7) sensitive to the needs of families with children, and (8) welcoming to all people who are willing to share Unitarian Universalist principles and committed to intergenerational activities.

 

                II.            DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION

 

                The Congregation shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and of the Joseph Priestly district and the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations.

 

                III.           MEMBERS

 

 

                Any persons sixteen (16) years old or older may become a member of this Congregation who is in sympathy with its purpose and program, and has signed the register of the Congregation.  It is generally understood that all members should have an understanding of the history (to the present) of Unitarian Universalism.  It is specifically understood that membership is open to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, or national origin.  However, only members who are over eighteen (18) years of age may vote in election for Trustees and to stand for office as a Trustee.  Membership must be maintained by financial contribution or letter of intent to remain a member.  Membership shall terminate upon the receipt of written resignation, or failure to reaffirm membership as provided above.

 

                Voting at official Congregation meetings will be limited to Congregation members as defined by this Article of these Bylaws, in accordance with Section IV C of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

                IV.           ORGANIZATION

 

                The Congregation shall have such instrumentalities for the conduct of its affairs as may be (1) specifically provided for in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws; or (2) established by the Trustees under the authority thereof.

 

                V.            TRUSTEES

               

1.             There shall be a total of nine (9) Trustee, as follows:

               

                2.             There shall be six Trustees who shall be elected for staggered two-year terms at the annual meeting.  The term of such Trustee shall be deemed to commence as of the start of the fiscal year (July 1) and terminate two years from the annual date of the fiscal year.  The Trustees elected at the initial congregational meeting shall draw lots to determine who serves for two (2) years or one (1) year.

 

                In addition, in odd-numbered years, there shall be elected a Secretary of the Congregation for a two (2) year term at the annual meeting.  The Secretary’s term is to commence as of the start of the fiscal year following election and is to terminate at the end of the next fiscal year.

 

                In addition, in even numbered years there shall be elected a Treasurer of the Congregation for a two (2) year term, at the annual meeting.  The Treasurer’s term is to commence as of August 1st of the year of election and to terminate on July 31st two years following.

 

                                The Secretary and Treasurer shall be Trustees of the Congregation, with all the rights and obligations pertaining thereto except as may be otherwise provided herein.

 

                The Minister, by virtue of Maryland State Law, shall be a Trustee for the duration of his/her ministry.

 

                3.             Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, and in accordance with such procedures as they may adopt, the Trustees shall elect two (2) of their number to serve as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for a one year term which shall commence on the next July 1st.  Persons elected for Chairperson or

Vice-Chairperson may not serve, in that specific position, more than two consecutive terms.

 

                4.             The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees shall possess those powers and duties as are normally incident to such office or as may be from time to time conferred upon the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.  Such powers shall include the execution, in the name of the Corporation, of such deeds, mortgages, bonds or other instruments as shall have been authorized by the Board of Trustees, provided that the Board of Trustees may, by express authorization, empower some other officer or agent of the Corporation to execute a particular instrument of such nature.

 

                5.             The Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees shall possess all of the powers of the Chairperson in his/her absence and such other duties as the Board of Trustees decide.

 

                6.             The Secretary, in addition to any other duties bestowed upon him or her by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, by reason of his or her status as a Trustee, shall record and shall maintain the proceedings of all meetings of the Congregation, and of the Trustees in the record book required by Section 5-307 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland; certify the list of members qualified to vote at each meeting of the congregation and preserve a copy of the same with the minutes of the meeting: cause to be maintained a list of the members of the Congregation with their current addresses for use as referred to in Article V.B. of the Articles of Incorporation; and perform all other duties customary to the office.

 

                7.             The Treasurer, in addition to any other duties bestowed upon the office by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws shall, under the general direction of the Trustees collectively be responsible for the for the receipts and safekeeping of the funds of the Congregation, the proper disbursement of such funds and the maintenance of accurate financial records of all receipts and disbursements; cause to be kept a record of each person’s contributions made on pledge; shall render a report reviewed by the Finance Committee for the current fiscal year at the annual meeting of the Congregation and within 30 days of the end of the fiscal year shall render a written report to the Congregation for such fiscal year, and perform all other duties customary to the office.

 

                The Treasurer shall be empowered to sign drafts on general Congregation funds.

 

                                At the conclusion of her or his term of office, the Treasurer shall turn over to any successor, all funds of the Congregation in her or his custody, all records pertaining thereto, and shall account to such successor for all receipts and disbursements since the date of the last audited report.

 

                8.             Trustees may be elected for two (2) consecutive terms, and then cannot be elected for one (1) year.  Partial (less than 2 year) terms shall not count toward the two consecutive term limit, however, in no case shall a Trustee serve during more than 6 consecutive years without a minimum one year pause.

 

                9.             The Board of Trustees shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary for the conduct of their business.  The Board of Trustees, at their option, may, by resolution, establish an Executive Committee that may be empowered to conduct business on behalf of the Board of Trustees.  The specific authority of said committee shall be specified by the Board of Trustees in the resolution.

 

                10.           A quorum shall be a simple majority of the members of the Board of Trustees.

 

                11.           Except as herein provided, meetings of the Board of Trustees, as a collective body for the transaction of the business of the Congregation shall be public.  Non-members may participate when appropriate.  A record shall be maintained of every such meeting which record shall reflect those

Trustees who were in attendance and all formal action which was taken.  However, the Board of Trustees may meet in executive session and take any action within the purview of their responsibilities at such session if deemed by them to be necessary in the furtherance of the interests of the Congregation or for the protection of the well being or reputation of any individual.  Disclosure of the record of any action taken at the executive session may, in the Trustees’ discretion, be restricted in whole or in part.

 

                Between Congregational meetings, the Board of Trustees is empowered to act for the Congregation, set policies and procedures related to Congregational governance including general charge of Congregation property, business and administration.  Final authority for major decisions rests with the Congregation.

 

                12.           The Board of Trustees, from time to time, shall create any committees, other than standing committees, as necessary.   The Board shall also prescribe the duties of these committees.

 

                13.           The Board of Trustees may appoint a Member of the Congregation to fill a vacancy on the Board of Trustees until the next Annual meeting.

 

                14.           Any sitting member of the Board of Trustees may be removed by a simple majority vote of the membership of the Congregation.

 

                VI.           COMMITTEES

 

                1.             There shall be the following standing committees of the Congregation: Religious Education Committee, Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and the Membership Committee

 

                2.             The Nominating Committee shall be elected at the Congregational Meeting, with nominations from the floor with prior consultation of the nominee.  The person who receives the largest number of votes shall convene the Committee.  The Committee shall elect a Chairperson from among its ranks.

 

                The Nominating Committee consisting of five (5) members of the Congregation, one of whom, but no more than one, shall be a member of the Board of Trustees, shall nominate at least one person for each office to be filled at the next annual meeting shall post a list of nominees for inspection in the Congregation’s meeting place, at least three weeks before the annual meeting, and shall cause this list to be circulated to the Congregation by letter or congregational publication at least ten (10) days before the annual meeting.  Three members shall constitute a quorum for committee action.  Nominating Committee vacancies shall be filled by the Trustees.

 

                VII.         MINISTER

 

                This Congregation has elected to participate in the “New Congregation Minister Program” of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and affirmed the new Congregational Minister as of the incorporation of the Bylaws, and shall follow the recommendations and guidelines of the UUA for the first three (3) to five (5) years.

 

                After that time, the Minister of the Congregation shall be selected by a 2/3 majority of the qualified voting members of the Congregation casting ballots at a meeting called for that purpose.  The services of any minister shall be subject to termination by a resolution adopted by a majority of the qualified voting members of the Congregation casting ballots at a meeting of the Congregation called to consider such a resolution.

 

                The terms and conditions of the Minister’s employment shall be by written agreements entered into by the Minister and the Board of Trustees.  The agreement shall, among other things, make provision for the notice by which the Minister shall give of an intention to sever his or her connection with the Congregation.

 

                The Minister shall be guaranteed freedom of the pulpit.

 

                VIII.        The Congregation will not discriminate in the calling of a minister, the hiring of staff or contractors, or the acceptance or selection of Board Members and other volunteers on the basis of race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, age, or national origin.

 

 

                IX.           CONGREGATION MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

 

                1.             The annual meeting of the Congregation will be held during the month of May each year at a time and place as is fixed by the Board of Trustees.  Other meetings will be held, as the Board will determine.  A meeting may be called by the Congregation upon written request of one-tenth (1/10) or (10), whichever is greater, of the members qualified to vote at the last preceding Congregational Meeting.

 

                2.             Notice of all Congregational Meetings shall be mailed to the membership at least three weeks before the meeting, and announced at regular Congregational Sunday services.  Notice shall include meeting date, place, time, and agenda.

 

                3.             One tenth of the members entitled to vote, but no less than fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Congregation.  No proxies shall be permitted.  A super quorum of thirty percent (30%) is required at a meeting called for selecting a minister.  Other possibilities for the 30% requirement would be the purchase of a property, to begin construction of a physical facility, or to purchase a physical facility.

 

                4.             At the annual meeting of the Congregation, the budget shall be presented to the Congregation and voted upon by the Congregation.  The budget shall be ratified by a simple majority of all members present and voting of the Congregation.

 

                5.             Meetings shall be conducted by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees or by other person designated by the Board of Trustees.

 

                6.

                Nominations for any office may be made (1) by the nominating committee,  (2) by petition of any group of three members of the Congregation, (3) orally from the floor at the annual meeting.

 

                Any three (3) members of the Congregation may sign a nominating petition, addressed to the secretary, for submission to the Congregation in the manner prescribed above before the annual meeting, or any other meeting at which an election is to be held.  No distinction shall be made on any ballot between the candidates of the Nominating Committee or any others.  Biographical material shall be furnished by all candidates

 

 

                X.            AMENDMENTS

 

                These Bylaws shall be amended or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members present and voting, provided that notice of such proposed amendment or action has been contained in a notice of the meeting provided by mail to all members of the Congregation no less than three weeks in advance of such meeting.

               

 

XI.           PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

                                The rules in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Congregation 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 Congregation may adopt.

 

 

XII.         DISSOLUTION 

 

                In the case of dissolution of the Congregation, all of its property, real and personal, after paying all just claims upon it, shall be conveyed to and vested in the Unitarian Universalist Association or its legal successor, and the Board of Trustees of the Congregation shall perform all actions necessary to effectuate such conveyance.