Your Congregation's Bylaws: A Guide to Effective Writing and Revising
Contents
I. About Using This Guide
II. Introduction
III. Organizational Structure and Bylaws
IV. Bylaws Committee
V. Bylaw Components
A. Name
B. Purpose
C. Congregational Membership in the UUA
D. Nondiscrimination Clause
VI. Membership
A. Membership Requirements
B. Becoming a Member
C. Categories of Membership
D. Removal of Membership
VII. Congregational Meetings
A. Types and Dates of Meetings
B. Method of Notification
C. Quorum
D. Voting
E. Other Meeting Provisions
VIII. Governing Structure
A. Composition of Board and Election Provision
B. Caucus or Affinity Groups
C. Youth Representative
D. Term Length and Term Limits
E. Responsibilities of the Board
F. Executive Committee Board
1. Meetings Frequency and Notice
2. Quorum
3. Decision Making and Voting
4. Open Meetings
5. Minutes
G. Other Board Provisions
H. Officers
1. Officer Composition
2. Officer Responsibilities
a. Responsibilities of the President
b. Responsibilities of the Vice President
c. Responsibilities of the Secretary
d. Responsibilities of the Treasurer
I. Committees
A. Nominating Committee
1. Nominating Committee Constitution
2. Nominating Committee Procedures
3. Committee on Ministry or Ministerial Relations Committee
IX. The Minister
A. Definition of the Relationship and Responsibility of the Minister
B. Qualifications of the Minister
C. Calling a Minister
1. Ministerial Search Committee
2. Quorum and Plurality of Call
D. Dismissal and Termination of Call
X. Other Staff
XI. Fiscal Matters
A. Fiscal Year
B. Other Financial Provisions
XII. Dissolution Clause
XIII. Other Procedural, Financial, Legal, and Insurance Provisions
A. Rules of Procedure
B. Indemnification
C. Real Property
D. Affiliated/Auxiliary Organizations
E. Other Legal and Public Relations Provisions
XIV. Initial Adoption of Bylaws
XV. Amendment
XVI. Appendix A—Resources
XVII. Appendix B—Acknowledgments
For additional help or information, contact the Growth Services Program Manager.
For more information contact growthresources @ uua.org.
This work is made possible by the generosity of individual donors. Please consider making a donation today.
Last updated on Monday, June 20, 2011.
Updated and Popular
Popular New Searches
For Newcomers
Learn more about the Beliefs & Principles of Unitarian Universalism, or read our online magazine, UU World, for features on today's Unitarian Universalists. Visit an online UU church, or find a congregation near you.
