BECOMING A MEMBER OF UUC

Welcoming Committee Chair - Cindi Nohe
Becoming a UUC member is not difficult, but there are a few things that we think are necessary for people to understand about us to make an informed decision before they decide that this is where they want to make their religious home.

 

 One of the misconceptions about UUs is that "you can believe anything you want." Yes, we do embrace many ideas and ways of thinking about "church", and god, or no god, but we all try and live our lives by a set of principles that draw us together.

       

       1. The freedom of religious expression
      2. The toleration of religious ideas
      3. The authority of reason and conscience
      4. The never-ending search for Truth
      5. The unity of experience
      6. The worth and dignity of each human being
      7. The ethical application of religion
      8. The motive force of Love
      9. The necessity of the democratic process
      10. The importance of a religious community

 

 So if you are looking for a religious home that "fits", we encourage you to come to our services and listen to the message here. If, after some time with us, you want to become a part of our relgious commumity, there are several things we encourage you to do.

 

 First, about five times a year we offer sessions on UU history and how we began, and also on what it means to be a UU and especially, what it means to be a member at UUC. The history seminar is usually held as a three hour session on a Sunday afternoon. Then, the following two Thursday evenings, from 7-9 p.m., the ministers give "classes" that tell you much more about actually being a part of this community.

 
New Member Ceremony - Held five times a year

 
If, at that time you decide that you are ready to become a member, you are welcomed into the congregation at the next Sunday's service - a day we call New Member Sunday. (This is not mandatory---if you choose, you can sign the membership book in the privacy of the church office, and do not have to go through the "ceremony"). We realize that not all people are comfortable in such a public setting. However, it is a wonderful way to begin that feeling of belonging, and for the congregation to see and greet you as a new member.

 

 After that, with some time to get acclimated and having a chance to see what volunteer opportunities are available that meet your interests and talents, we encourage you to become an active member. There are so many places for you to become involved---on a regular basis, or on specific things that are time-limited. If you want to feel like a real member of the community, it is very important to make contacts with others and work together to make UUC an even more dynamic place. We work for Social Justice as well as can be done---locally, nationally and internationally! And that's just one area we are so proud of.

 

 For more information about membership, send an email to Cindi Nohe

 

Thank you for stopping by and learning something about UUC! We hope to see you on a Sunday morning sometime soon!