UUFCF Bylaws

Bylaws

 

Universalist Fellowship of the Carolina Foothills

 

(Formerly known as the Thermal Belt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Inc., Tyron, NC)

 

 

Article I

Name

  1. The full name of this religious corporation is “Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Carolina Foothills, Inc.” and shall be referred to in these Bylaws as “Fellowship”. Acceptable abbreviated names include “Unitarian Universalist Fellowship” and “UUFCF”.

 

Article II

Mission

  1. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Carolina Foothills seeks to promote an open, active, and welcoming community that recognizes the worth and dignity of each human being. In the ongoing search for truth, we embrace freedom of thought and encourage spiritual growth. Promoting love and social justice, we strive to be a force for good in our community.

 

Article Ill

Members and Friends

  1. Any person may become a voting member of the Fellowship who is in sympathy with its purpose and programs, has signed the Fellowship membership book, and makes an annual financial contribution of record. Membership signifies that one values the basic principles contained in Article II. Membership is open to all who wish to support this religious community with their time, talent, money, heart, and wisdom to whatever extent possible.

 

  1. A person may be removed from the membership list through that person’s written request or by the Board (described in Article VI) when the member has died, moved away, cannot be located, or no longer makes a pledge or contribution of record.

 

  1. A Friend is any person who is in general sympathy with the purposes, goals, and programs of the Fellowship, and who makes a pledge or contribution of record but chooses not to sign the membership book.

 

 

 

 

 

Article V

Meeting

  1. The dates of regular non-business meetings of the congregation shall be determined by the congregation itself or by any person or persons designated by the congregation. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held each year in the month of June at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board. Special business meetings may be called by the President or at the written request of any five (5) Fellowship members. Thirty percent (30%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

 

  1. The agenda of the Annual Business Meeting shall include, but not be limited to, reports of officers and staff, the election of new officers, and adoption of an annual budget.

 

  1. All Board meetings shall be open to members of the Fellowship. Friends may attend by contacting the board president in advance. Members and friends may asked to be on the agenda by contacting the President one week in advance of the board meeting.

 

Article VI

Officers and the Board of Directors

  1. The board President shall appoint a nominating committee of two members, who shall not be members of the Board, at least three months prior to the Annual Business Meeting. They shall publish a list in the May newsletter and shall present the slate of candidates at the last Sunday service in May.

 

  1. At each Annual Business Meeting there shall be chosen by ballot, a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and one at-large board member, all of whom shall hold their offices for one year. Board members and officers may serve additional terms.

 

  1. At the annual business meetings, beginning in 2018 and thereafter, there shall be an election of only one at-large board member. The President may appoint Board members to fill unexpired terms until the next annual meeting. Board members who fill an unexpired term will continue to serve until the next Board election at the annual meeting.

 

  1. Terms of Board members shall coincide with the fiscal year. If a board member resigns within their term, they or their representative will submit a written notice.

 

 

 

  1. These officers and one at-large member shall constitute the Board. The Board shall have general charge of the property of the Fellowship and the conduct of all of its business affairs and the control of its administration, including the appointment of committees. It may fill Board and committee vacancies with persons who shall serve for the remainder of any vacated term.

 

  1. All officers shall be voting members of the Fellowship.

 

  1. The Board shall meet monthly. The president may cancel a monthly meeting if there is no business to be discussed; however, Three (3) of the Board members may override the president and call for the meeting to be held. None of the above shall preclude the requirement that a minimum of two board meetings and the general meeting shall be held each and every year.

 

  1. A Board member shall be considered to have resigned his or her Board position upon unexcused absence, as determined by present Board members, from two (2) consecutive regular meetings of the Board or three (3) regular meetings of the Board in the fiscal year.

 

  1. The President shall preside over all congregational and Board meetings, but does not meet with the Nominating Committee.

 

The President may serve as an ex officio member of all other committees. The President shall represent the Fellowship at all appropriate occasions.

 

  1. The Vice-President shall preside in the absence of the President, and shall fill the remainder of the term in the event the office of the President becomes vacant.

 

  1. Duties of the secretary shall be to take and report minutes of the Board. Minutes will be kept in a notebook for the appropriate number of years of his/her office. Minutes will be stored for the number of years required by law for non-profits.

 

  1. Duties of the Treasurer shall be to keep and report to the Board all fiscal records as determined by the Board and the laws for non-profits.

 

  1. Duties of all ad hoc committees shall be determined by the President of the Board in cooperation with the appropriate committee chair.

 

 

 

 

Article VII

The Minister

  1. Upon notification of an immediate or future ministerial vacancy, the Board shall evaluate the need to fill the ministerial vacancy and will develop a plan to meet the Fellowship’s ministerial needs in the future.

 

  1. Should the Board choose to contract for ministerial services, the Board shall negotiate with a qualified candidate the terms of the contract, which may include the following: Sunday Services, pastoral care services, leadership activities, community outreach activities and/or other activities as deemed appropriate by the candidate and the Board. In order to be considered, the candidate must have spoken at the Fellowship a minimum of two times during the previous six months.

 

  1. The Minister shall serve as an ad hoc adviser for the Fellowship’s spiritual interests and affairs and shall have freedom of the pulpit as well as freedom to express his or her opinion outside the pulpit.

 

  1. If a minister is selected, he/she and the Board shall negotiate a written contract specifying the conditions of employment. The Board and the candidate shall agree upon the compensation package and term to be included in the contract. The Board may hire a part-time or consulting minister.

 

  1. The Board shall endeavor to keep the Fellowship’s members informed of the ministerial plans and solicit advice and comments from the membership.

 

  1. The Board has the authority to negotiate the renewal of the contract with the Minister.

 

Article VIII

Fiscal Year

  1. The fiscal year shall run from July 1 through June 30.

 

  1. Financial records of the Fellowship shall be audited annually in July by a committee-appointed by the Board.

 

 

Article IX

Dissolution

  1. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Fellowship, dispose of all of the assets of the Fellowship exclusively for the purposes of the Fellowship in such manner, or to such organizations, organized and as follows:

 

  1. The Unitarian Universalist Association
  2. A Unitarian Universalist district.
  3. A designated UU Congregation.

 

Provided such organizations are operated exclusively for religious purposes and shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Superior Court of the county in which the principal office of the Fellowship is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

Article X

Amendments

  1. These bylaws may be amended by the approval of the fellowship at a business meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast, provided that notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been sent to the members eligible to vote at least thirty (30) days in advance of said meeting. Thirty percent (30%) of the eligible membership (Article V. Section 501) shall constitute a quorum. Proxy votes do not constitute a quorum.

 

  1. Amendments to the bylaws may be recommended by the Board or proposed by petition of eight percent (8%) of the voting members.

 

  1. Amendments proposed by petition must be in writing, must have signatures of the proponents who are voting members and must be presented to the Board.

 

  1. The Board must schedule the proposed amendment for action. (Article X section 1001 and quorum Article V, section 501 apply)

 

 

Approved by the Board with a member vote on:                        _ March 3, 2019 __            

 

Adopted by the Fellowship and effective this day:         _March 3, 2019_________