We only went to church a handful of times growing up when I'm ready I want to join UU but how do you actually join a congregation? Just start attending services? Or do I have to register somewhere?
Membership rules are written in the church bylaws.
I've been a member of 3. Each required signing a book and giving money. Very explicitly said at both any contribution is fine, including $1. It is a formality, so that you get voting rights at the annual meeting or for some other decisions like commiting to new minister.
It is fine to attend for years, or forever, without signing the book. The only difference is voting in meetings (you can always still attend and speak in meetings).
Yeah， the regional cong。where I am hosted a workshop and covenant making the first meeting I went to a few （couple？）months ago。 We‘ve been keeping to it ever since。
Same. And we make allowances for college students and people that have entered assisted living for the volunteer portion where it makes sense. And we are working towards allowing 14 year olds to be members and for classes to be online.
And in my experience, even though they may publicize a membership class (which is one of our membership requirements), they may not be very explicit about asking to become a member. I know mine doesn’t want to ever come across as pushy. So even for attendees of the class they may say at the end to contact one of them or the minister if you want to become a member and not really bring it up again.
Each church is different, but the typical process is to attend some class or series of classes, make a financial pledge (of any size), maybe sign up for some minimal level of activity (like help with coffee), maybe talk to the minister, then sign the membership book. I hope it works out for you!
EDIT: Oh, I should say, in practice, the first thing to do is to start attending services. Visitors are welcome, and attending is how you'll know if you like the church, and unless the church is dysfunctional, the path to membership should be clear to anyone attending.
If an attentive person could regularly attend services for a while and never hear about the first steps to take toward membership, I'd expect there was some dysfunction going on. But I could be wrong; maybe some churches would do that deliberately, or otherwise run smoothly and just neglect communicating about membership.
In the past we didn’t schedule membership classes until there was enough to sign up. And we didn’t really push / communicate that to get interest as well as we should. If you try to do a class with just 2 people, it’s possible neither show up for various reasons and hope to catch the next one. Larger churches have an easier time with this.
Some UU congregations don’t meet all year and since the board and a lot of other roles that would be more permanent are elected on each year, possibly to multi year terms, continuity of organizational processes can be less than optimal.
Its worth knowing that being a member of a congregation mostly just means that you can vote on church governance, participate in a few specific committees directly under the parish board, and represent the congregation at the annual nationwide general assembly. Nothing else is limited by membership. You can attend services, events, classes, groups, your kids can attend RE and other programs.
The reason to become a member is if you feel enough at home at a given congregation that you want to support their mission and ministry and wish to take part in the collective stewardship of the church. At that point there is usually a book to sign, an official vote to confirm all the year's new members, and a conversation with the minister and/or parish board members. The formality of all these steps can vary massively depending on the size and vibe of the church.
Booming is too old school radical to be rad any more！And the UU membershipping sounds a ways more reasonable than some other associations to which I belong。（Looking at you r/dsa ）
At my congregation, "joining" is just when you feel ready, you sign a book (any day at the end of service). You don't have to make any financial pledge at that time. If you want to make a financial pledge you can do that whenever online later.
Ours does a UU101 course a few times a year for all who are interested in becoming members. Everyone is still welcome. It’s on two Sundays, and the third we welcome the new members.
Typically you can attend forever without becoming an official member. The path to formal membership will vary by congregation but often involves talking to the minister or board president and expressing your interest as a starting point.
I've belonged to two and friend of one. Only requirement was sign the book and at least a dollar pledge although that could be waved. Attending a new UU class was encouraged but not required. I just finished Rev Stephen Fritchman's auto biography and he described a review he would do along with some committee on approving new members at the LA UU Church. That would have been in the 50s. I've never heard of that otherwise. I wouldn't be in a rush to sign the book. I'd attend plenty of services and participate on some committees as a friend.
PS As a friend you don't sign anything. I do pledge. I can't vote at the annual meeting as a friend.
You can attend church services without formally becoming a member. Many people attend a UU church for years without formally joining.
Each church has its own requirements for formal membership, but usually it’s something like “you must have a donation on record of at least $1 in the past year and then formally declare that you wish to become a member.”
Why not attend some services at your closest UU church and see how you feel?
If you want to vote on church decisions, you need to be a member. Though I know quite a few people who attend services and do church work for years without formally joining. Like everything else Unitarian, it's up to the individual.
You can attend as long as you like without joining. If you feel like making a financial contribution, you can do it weekly during service without becoming a member. I strongly recommend attending for a year to get a good idea of what the services and the congregation’s culture and values are like before you commit financially as a member. That allows time to get to know the community and participate (if you choose) in community events and activities. It allows you to observe the church in each season and throughout the various holidays and the summertime services, which can often be a bit different from fall through spring services. Both of the churches we have joined made a similar recommendation to us and I now think it was good advice both times. Canvas/membership drives will soon begin for many US congregations in February/March. I’d also recommend attending services during a drive to learn some things, ask questions and hear what the church has to say about membership.
I‘ve no more relevant local Sunday service that I can reach where I live than the UU；even my prior locales aren‘t going to match what has begun with the UU，nor do services from other congregationalists even come close to the purpose and realizations thus far of what I‘ve attended in the UU。（And the level of prejudice and pressure I feel to choose certain other paths is really nauseating。）
Membership rules are written in the church bylaws.
I've been a member of 3. Each required signing a book and giving money. Very explicitly said at both any contribution is fine, including $1. It is a formality, so that you get voting rights at the annual meeting or for some other decisions like commiting to new minister.
It is fine to attend for years, or forever, without signing the book. The only difference is voting in meetings (you can always still attend and speak in meetings).
Yeah， the regional cong。where I am hosted a workshop and covenant making the first meeting I went to a few （couple？）months ago。 We‘ve been keeping to it ever since。
Mine doesn't even require money, you simply can put 0 dollars as your pledge online.
Same. And we make allowances for college students and people that have entered assisted living for the volunteer portion where it makes sense. And we are working towards allowing 14 year olds to be members and for classes to be online.
Start attending. If you feel at home there, talk to the minister about joining.
And in my experience, even though they may publicize a membership class (which is one of our membership requirements), they may not be very explicit about asking to become a member. I know mine doesn’t want to ever come across as pushy. So even for attendees of the class they may say at the end to contact one of them or the minister if you want to become a member and not really bring it up again.
Y‘all are my first inkling of the membership proc。in the church，lol！Out of interest I will be inquiring today， so thank ye。
Each church is different, but the typical process is to attend some class or series of classes, make a financial pledge (of any size), maybe sign up for some minimal level of activity (like help with coffee), maybe talk to the minister, then sign the membership book. I hope it works out for you!
EDIT: Oh, I should say, in practice, the first thing to do is to start attending services. Visitors are welcome, and attending is how you'll know if you like the church, and unless the church is dysfunctional, the path to membership should be clear to anyone attending.
Is there such a thing as a “dysfunctional“ church；how would you regard one that way？No reliable services；no family schooling for children： ？
If an attentive person could regularly attend services for a while and never hear about the first steps to take toward membership, I'd expect there was some dysfunction going on. But I could be wrong; maybe some churches would do that deliberately, or otherwise run smoothly and just neglect communicating about membership.
In the past we didn’t schedule membership classes until there was enough to sign up. And we didn’t really push / communicate that to get interest as well as we should. If you try to do a class with just 2 people, it’s possible neither show up for various reasons and hope to catch the next one. Larger churches have an easier time with this.
Some UU congregations don’t meet all year and since the board and a lot of other roles that would be more permanent are elected on each year, possibly to multi year terms, continuity of organizational processes can be less than optimal.
Its worth knowing that being a member of a congregation mostly just means that you can vote on church governance, participate in a few specific committees directly under the parish board, and represent the congregation at the annual nationwide general assembly. Nothing else is limited by membership. You can attend services, events, classes, groups, your kids can attend RE and other programs.
The reason to become a member is if you feel enough at home at a given congregation that you want to support their mission and ministry and wish to take part in the collective stewardship of the church. At that point there is usually a book to sign, an official vote to confirm all the year's new members, and a conversation with the minister and/or parish board members. The formality of all these steps can vary massively depending on the size and vibe of the church.
You sign a book…not a boom :-)
Depends on how rad the congregation is :P
Booming is too old school radical to be rad any more！And the UU membershipping sounds a ways more reasonable than some other associations to which I belong。（Looking at you r/dsa ）
What's wrong with the DSA?
At my congregation, "joining" is just when you feel ready, you sign a book (any day at the end of service). You don't have to make any financial pledge at that time. If you want to make a financial pledge you can do that whenever online later.
Yeah，this has been with the local to me as well。 Now I even have a name tag！ （Thanks， pixies.）
Ours does a UU101 course a few times a year for all who are interested in becoming members. Everyone is still welcome. It’s on two Sundays, and the third we welcome the new members.
Just start attending the church of your choice. You’ll find out how that particular congregation works after you’ve been there a while.
I agree， you just gotta start going。
Typically you can attend forever without becoming an official member. The path to formal membership will vary by congregation but often involves talking to the minister or board president and expressing your interest as a starting point.
Good to know， friend！
I've belonged to two and friend of one. Only requirement was sign the book and at least a dollar pledge although that could be waved. Attending a new UU class was encouraged but not required. I just finished Rev Stephen Fritchman's auto biography and he described a review he would do along with some committee on approving new members at the LA UU Church. That would have been in the 50s. I've never heard of that otherwise. I wouldn't be in a rush to sign the book. I'd attend plenty of services and participate on some committees as a friend.
PS As a friend you don't sign anything. I do pledge. I can't vote at the annual meeting as a friend.
As a “friend“ -- you mean as an attending Quaker （from the soc。of。 friends）？Or non-affiliating congregant？
A congregant who has not signed the book.
So an attending member。
I'd say attending but not member. Can't vote at annual meeting. Not counted on funds to send UUA
You can attend church services without formally becoming a member. Many people attend a UU church for years without formally joining.
Each church has its own requirements for formal membership, but usually it’s something like “you must have a donation on record of at least $1 in the past year and then formally declare that you wish to become a member.”
Why not attend some services at your closest UU church and see how you feel?
You sound Good。 advice。IMO，I‘ll personally be inquiring today -- I can‘t wait， feeling very excited！
There is no need to do any joining beyond just showing up.
If you want to vote on church decisions, you need to be a member. Though I know quite a few people who attend services and do church work for years without formally joining. Like everything else Unitarian, it's up to the individual.
This ！
Best answer tbh they will help you figure it out.
Start attending services. Meet some people. That’s the most important part. “Joining” comes later when you are comfortable.
You can attend as long as you like without joining. If you feel like making a financial contribution, you can do it weekly during service without becoming a member. I strongly recommend attending for a year to get a good idea of what the services and the congregation’s culture and values are like before you commit financially as a member. That allows time to get to know the community and participate (if you choose) in community events and activities. It allows you to observe the church in each season and throughout the various holidays and the summertime services, which can often be a bit different from fall through spring services. Both of the churches we have joined made a similar recommendation to us and I now think it was good advice both times. Canvas/membership drives will soon begin for many US congregations in February/March. I’d also recommend attending services during a drive to learn some things, ask questions and hear what the church has to say about membership.
I‘ve no more relevant local Sunday service that I can reach where I live than the UU；even my prior locales aren‘t going to match what has begun with the UU，nor do services from other congregationalists even come close to the purpose and realizations thus far of what I‘ve attended in the UU。（And the level of prejudice and pressure I feel to choose certain other paths is really nauseating。）