BYLAWS OF THE UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP OF MURFREESBORO

ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this religious society shall be the “Unitarian Fellowship of Murfreesboro.”

ARTICLE II:Purpose
It is the purpose of this society to stimulate individual spiritual growth; to further ethical conduct, personal liberty, and freedom of conscience; to promote human values and human rights; to affirm and celebrate the dignity of the individual; and to serve our community.

ARTICLE III:Membership
Participation in UFM activities is open to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, class, or national origin, who are sympathetic with the purpose and program of the society.

Any person, regardless of race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, class, or national origin, may become a voting member of this Fellowship who is at least 18 years of age, has signed the membership book, thereby pledging time and financial support as an indication of sympathy with its purposes. Those who meet those conditions will be eligible to vote thirty (30) days after they sign the membership book.

A member who has not participated, nor contributed services and funds during the current and preceding church years shall be placed on the inactive membership roll and shall be ineligible to vote until return to active status.

ARTICLE IV:Denomination Affiliation
This Fellowship shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Tennessee Conference of the Thomas Jefferson Council.

ARTICLE V:Meetings
5.1 Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Fellowship shall be determined by the Fellowship itself or by any person or persons designated by it.
5.2 Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting shall be held each year in the month of May at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.
5.3 Special Meetings. The Executive Committee may call special meetings and special meetings shall be called by the Chair at the written request of 20% of voting members; the business to be transacted shall be mentioned in the call to the meeting.
5.4 Quorum. A quorum will be constituted by thirty-five (35) percent of the voting membership at any meeting.

ARTICLE VI:Officers
6.1Nominations for Officers. A nominating committee of three members shall be chosen by the Executive Committee prior to the annual meeting, as necessary, to prepare a slate of candidates.
6.2 Officers. At the Annual Meeting (if necessary) there shall be chosen a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Chair-Elect who shall hold their offices for two years or until their successors have been elected. (The chair-elect will become Chair after serving two years as chair-elect.) All officers shall be chosen from voting members of the Fellowship.
6.3 Executive Committee. The elected officers, along with the immediate past Chair and Religious Education Director, constitute the voting members of the Executive Committee.
6.4 Powers.
6.4.1 The Executive Committee shall be primarily responsible for the programming of the adult group and the children’s’ religious education program.
6.4.2 The Executive Committee shall act for the Fellowship between membership meetings/worship meetings; shall have general charge of all property of the Fellowship; and the conduct of all business affairs and administration, including the authority to enter into contracts and borrow money. The Executive Committee may borrow an amount not to exceed 10% of the annual budget without prior approval of the majority of voting membership. Any amount in excess of 10% of the annual budget requires membership approval. Real estate contracts must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the voting membership.
6.4.3 The Executive Committee may appoint committees, as it may deem necessary.
6.4.4 The Executive Committee will call Special Meetings of the Fellowship as necessary to fill vacancies on the board and persons so elected by the Fellowship shall serve until the next Annual Meeting.
6.4.5 Neither the Executive Committee nor any member of the Unitarian Fellowship of Murfreesboro may make policy or speak for the Fellowship as a whole on any matter without the group’s specific sanction. The Fellowship shall be notified in advance by the Chair of any meeting concerning the giving of such sanction and a majority of voting members present at such a meeting will be required for the granting of such sanction.
6.4.6 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the agenda of the annual meeting and shall present a budget for approval by the membership.
6.4.7 The Executive Committee may, by majority vote, approve any policies for the Fellowship that it deems proper and wise, provided that Committee-approved policies do not conflict with the by-laws or the membership-approved policies.
6.5 Officer Responsibilities.
6.5.1 Duties of the Chair. The Chair shall be the presiding officer at the Executive Committee meetings and at the annual meeting and shall speak for the Committee to the membership when appropriate. The Chair and another Fellowship officer shall sign all legal documents.
6.5.2 Duties of the Chair-Elect. The Chair-elect will serve the Chair term of office at the end of the current Chair’s term. The Chair-Elect shall serve as the presiding officer in the absence of the Chair at any meeting of the Committee or Fellowship. The Chair-Elect serves as a member of the Worship Committee, which is responsible for Sunday programs and services.
6.5.3 Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary of the Fellowship shall keep a true and complete record of all the Committee’s meetings and all annual and special meetings of the membership. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining a record of all membership-approved policies and all board-approved policies. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the official list of membership and will share that list with the Treasurer.
6.5.4 Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer of the Fellowship shall receive and disburse all Fellowship funds and shall keep true and complete records of all of the Fellowship’s financial affairs. The Treasurer shall report the status of fiscal affairs to the Committee at their meetings and to the Fellowship members at each annual meeting.
ARTICLE VII:Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall end April 30.
ARTICLE VIII: Amendments
These by-laws may only be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the entire voting membership. Notice of any proposed changes shall be given in the announcement of the meeting at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date of such a vote.
ARTICLE IX: Dissolution
Should this Fellowship cease to function and the membership votes to disband, any assets of the Fellowship will be transferred to the Unitarian Universalist Association for its general purposes. This transfer shall be made in full compliance with whatever laws are applicable.

Unitarian Fellowship of Murfreesboro P.O. Box 976 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-0976 Telephone: (615) 867-3965

Revision Committee: Kathy Ferris, Karen Gibson, Jim Howard, Bob Pondillo, Edie Urness-Pondillo (Summer 2006)