Becoming a Member
If you are interested in becoming a member of the UU Church of Stockton, congratulations and welcome! Please let the minister know that you are considering membership and the minister will help guide you. Please familiarize yourself with the Expectations of Membership article below and think about questions you might have for the minister.
After meeting with the minister and membership committee, the minister will set a time during a regular Sunday service when you will be invited to come before the congregation and sign the membership book, after which you will be extended the "Right Hand of Fellowship" by the minister and members of the Board of Directors.
Privileges of Membership
Membership in the UU Church of Stockton has many privileges and responsibilities. Among the privileges afforded to members that are not available to friends and visitors are free pastoral services from the minister, free access to the church for weddings, funerals and other individual spiritual functions, eligibility to serve on church committees and task forces, and voting privileges at all congregational meetings.
Expectations of Membership
Along with membership in the UU Church of Stockton come several expectations. Please familiarize yourself with the expectations of membership prior to signing the membership book.
Service Attendance
We love it when people attend Sunday service and hope you will come as often as you are able. There is no attendance policy. The congregation records most services and makes them available to members who are unable to attend. If driving is difficult or dangerous for you, we will make arrangements to provide a ride to services.
Pledging
Generosity is highly valued at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton. Gifts and pledges help us serve the community and bring consistent community, learning and inspiration to the congregation. We hope that all members will make and pay a regular pledge to the church. We will not deny membership to anyone who cannot afford to pledge. All members who are able are expected to pledge between 5% and 10% of annual household income based on ability.
Volunteering
We encourage all members and friends of the congregation to volunteer their time and talents to help make the church and its programming successful and relevant. Volunteering also provides members and friends the opportunity to build relationships within the community. There are numerous opportunities for volunteering, including but not limited to:
Public Representation and Evangelism
All members of the UU Church of Stockton are expected to represent the church well when working in the community. Members have an obligation to the rest of the congregation to behave in accordance with our Covenant of Right Relations and to share the good news about our church to non-members who might be interested in attending services.
After meeting with the minister and membership committee, the minister will set a time during a regular Sunday service when you will be invited to come before the congregation and sign the membership book, after which you will be extended the "Right Hand of Fellowship" by the minister and members of the Board of Directors.
Privileges of Membership
Membership in the UU Church of Stockton has many privileges and responsibilities. Among the privileges afforded to members that are not available to friends and visitors are free pastoral services from the minister, free access to the church for weddings, funerals and other individual spiritual functions, eligibility to serve on church committees and task forces, and voting privileges at all congregational meetings.
Expectations of Membership
Along with membership in the UU Church of Stockton come several expectations. Please familiarize yourself with the expectations of membership prior to signing the membership book.
Service Attendance
We love it when people attend Sunday service and hope you will come as often as you are able. There is no attendance policy. The congregation records most services and makes them available to members who are unable to attend. If driving is difficult or dangerous for you, we will make arrangements to provide a ride to services.
Pledging
Generosity is highly valued at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton. Gifts and pledges help us serve the community and bring consistent community, learning and inspiration to the congregation. We hope that all members will make and pay a regular pledge to the church. We will not deny membership to anyone who cannot afford to pledge. All members who are able are expected to pledge between 5% and 10% of annual household income based on ability.
Volunteering
We encourage all members and friends of the congregation to volunteer their time and talents to help make the church and its programming successful and relevant. Volunteering also provides members and friends the opportunity to build relationships within the community. There are numerous opportunities for volunteering, including but not limited to:
- Board or other committee leadership
- Worship planning and leading
- Music
- Special event planning and execution
- Building maintenance and cleaning
- Outreach and publicity coordination
- Fundraising events
- Community activism on behalf of the congregation
- Ushering for Sunday services
- Host coffee hour
Public Representation and Evangelism
All members of the UU Church of Stockton are expected to represent the church well when working in the community. Members have an obligation to the rest of the congregation to behave in accordance with our Covenant of Right Relations and to share the good news about our church to non-members who might be interested in attending services.
UU Stockton Covenant of Right Relations
Preamble
Our Covenant of Right Relations is a statement of who we, as a congregation, strive to support and work with each other to create a growing spiritual community. The goal of this document is to provide clear statements about how our principles should guide our actions. Ultimately, it is the way we treat each other that reveals who and what we are as a congregation. Each of us is responsible to make, and support each other in making, good-faith efforts to abide by this covenant in both letter and spirit.
We practice manners and civility in our membership, affirming the inherent worth and dignity of each person. We will:
Allow all a chance to speak and listen so that all are heard and understood.
Adapted from the Covenant of Right Relations for Williamsburg Church, Williamsburg, VA, 2008.
Our Covenant of Right Relations is a statement of who we, as a congregation, strive to support and work with each other to create a growing spiritual community. The goal of this document is to provide clear statements about how our principles should guide our actions. Ultimately, it is the way we treat each other that reveals who and what we are as a congregation. Each of us is responsible to make, and support each other in making, good-faith efforts to abide by this covenant in both letter and spirit.
We practice manners and civility in our membership, affirming the inherent worth and dignity of each person. We will:
Allow all a chance to speak and listen so that all are heard and understood.
- Help each other as we are able with time, money, talent and spirit.
- Support church leaders and programs unless we have strong reasons to challenge them through the democratic process.
- Refrain from gossip and from ridiculing, attacking or invalidating others through word or deed.
- Practice manners appropriate to a church or sanctified space.
- Allow the necessary time to identify and discuss differences before making decisions.
- Speak only for one's self. Using "I" statements sets a tone of presenting rather than criticizing.
- Encourage all points of view to be expressed and respectfully listened to.
- Make decisions that serve the common good.
- Address the issues and points under review and avoid "naming and blaming".
- Share convictions openly rather than withholding input from the group.
- Make all meetings open, with exceptions such as personnel and pastoral matters.
- Give visitors to meetings the opportunity to speak within established guidelines.
- Make all minutes, accounts, and transcripts available to the congregation.
- When feasible, attempt to resolve interpersonal disputes or grievances with other members, church staff, or the minister directly and privately.
- Attempt to resolve non-personal controversies (e.g. policies, programs or finances) through the relevant committee or channel.
- If these efforts to resolve issues are unsuccessful, refer the issue/issues to the Ministerial Relations Committee for mediation and conflict resolution. If still unresolved, the issue can be referred to the Board and/or outside mediation.
- Abide by the outcome of the conflict resolution process.
Adapted from the Covenant of Right Relations for Williamsburg Church, Williamsburg, VA, 2008.