Become a Member

Do you find yourself looking forward to Sunday worship during the week?
Have you wondered how much better the world would be if more people knew about this faith and this church?
When you read through “The Window”, do you dream about getting more involved?
Does giving to the monthly offering feel meaningful to you?
Has this church become an important part of your life—spiritually, emotionally, and socially?
If you answered “YES” to any of the above, then it is time to consider taking the next step in connecting to this community by becoming a member of this church.

Update: Church Membership During a Pandemic

Things in our world right now look very different than they did a few months ago, and our church is no different. We have moved our services and socializing online, and have had to shift the day-to-day ways that we fulfill our mission to create community, nurture spiritual growth, and act on our values to help heal the world. However, we are still a thriving community of people committed to living the mission of the church in this changing landscape. Even if we have to be physically apart, we have found many ways to stay emotionally and spiritually connected. If you are interested in learning more about church membership at this time, please watch the video to the left.

Becoming a member of First Church is a process, not an event.

It’s a good idea to attend worship services for at least three months in order to get to know the nature of the community, the theology and the history of Unitarian Universalism before becoming a church member. Membership is a sacred and transformative process and members are asked to participate in church life as fully as possible by carrying out our shared mission of creating compassionate justice in our society and on our planet.

Some people choose to make this their church home by making a financial pledge of support, and/or getting involved in many activities, but never become a formal member. You do not need to be a member in order to attend worship services or participate in religious education or any number of church activities. Other people feel it is important to create a formal relationship that affirms their liberal religious values and principles by becoming a member. Church membership is indeed transformative, and taken very seriously.

The meaning of membership

To join this church is to become involved in seeking wholeness for yourself and to use your gifts to bring that wholeness to others.
To join this church is to agree to become an active part of a living liberal religious community.
To join this church is to pledge to enter and remain in a continuing, generous dialogue concerning the ways of truth and love.
To join this church is to share in decision making and to pledge to support this church and its work with your gifts of energy and money.
To join this church is to make a public statement that you believe in the power and possibility of truly liberal religious world.

Bond of Union and pledging

To become a church member, our church constitution requires you to sign a Bond of Union and make a pledge of financial support. Our church is self-sustaining and all members contribute time, talent and treasure by attending services, volunteering and becoming engaged in the many ongoing activities this community offers. While the amount of your pledge is a personal decision, it is hoped that new members will either choose to pledge 5% of their income or give serious consideration to a plan to reach the 5% level in 5 years.

If your financial situation makes any contribution impossible, you may make a confidential request for a waiver from one of the ministers.
Once an individual determines that this is the right church home for them, the steps to membership are threefold:

The first step is to complete and turn in a membership form. This form is available in the church office, on the Sunday patio (at the Welcome Table) or below.
The second step is to meet the Connections Coordinator or a member of the Connections Committee so that we can get to know you, answer your questions, and explain the privileges and responsibilities of membership. This half-hour conversation can be arranged to fit your schedule.
The last step is in the form of two half-hour meetings held back-to-back on the same day. The first meeting is with a generosity volunteer to complete your pledge form (if this has not already been completed) and other paperwork. A pledge must be turned in during this last step.

After all the paperwork is completed, you will have a private pastoral meeting with one of our ministers and sign the “Bond of Union”.
Throughout the year, we hold New Member Blessings where new members are celebrated, blessed, and formally welcomed into the church community.