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Unitarian Universalist congregations practice congregational polity, a form of governance for communities of faith. Each congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association self-governs and is a separate religious community joined together in a formal association or relationship through our covenant to affirm and promote the seven UU principles. Congregational polity gives the members of the congregation the right to govern and support the congregation, independent of a larger hierarchical structure outside of the congregation. First Parish in Concord self-governs through a collaborative leadership model grounded in the Unitarian Universalist principles, the mission of the congregation, the church bylaws and operational policies and procedures. The diagram below displays the working relationship between the Congregation, Standing Committee and Senior Minister as Head of Staff. The congregation of First Parish in Concord governs itself democratically. Usually one Annual Meeting a year in June suffices to elect officers, pass a budget for the following year, and decide matters of importance.
The name of this Parish shall be First Parish in Concord.
First Parish in Concord is a welcoming Unitarian Universalist congregation that seeks ways to deepen spiritually, build community, and make a positive difference in the world.
This Parish shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association. (1956, 1968)
Any person shall become a member of the Parish when and by virtue of joining the First Parish Church in Concord, the members and names shall be kept in the records of the Minister and of the Clerk; and any person may become a member of the Parish by giving written consent which shall be deposited with and preserved by the Parish Clerk. (1856, 1894, 1946, 1956,1976)
Any member of the Parish shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of the Parish held at least thirty days after the date of joining the First Parish Church in Concord, or First Parish in Concord. (1881, 1894, 1895, 1946, 1956, 1976, 1983)
The Parish Clerk shall prepare prior to each Parish meeting a full and true list of qualified voters of the Parish, and shall have such list at each meeting. (1858, 1881, 1894, 1946, 1956)
The officers of the Parish shall be nine Standing Committee members-at-large, a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Moderator, and a Collector, all of whom shall be chosen at the Annual Meeting. The Standing Committee shall consist of these nine members-at-large, plus said Clerk and Treasurer.
The Clerk, Treasurer, Moderator, and Collector shall be elected each year for one-year terms, to serve until others are elected and qualified in their stead. The nine Standing Committee members-at-large shall be elected for three-year terms, to serve until others are qualified in their stead.
Candidates for Standing Committee members-at-large shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and may also be nominated from the floor at the Annual Meeting, and shall be elected by the Parish at the Annual Meeting. Standing Committee members-at-large so elected shall be eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms of three years each.
Candidates for Clerk, Treasurer, Moderator and Collector shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee, may also be nominated from the floor at the Annual Meeting, and elected by the Parish at the Annual Meeting.
Mid-year or mid-term vacancies created by departing Standing Committee members-at-large shall be filled at the next Annual Meeting following the vacancy, according to the procedure set forth in Section A. Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Standing Committee may make provisional appointments necessitated by such vacancies. An appointee will serve in a provisional capacity until the next Annual Meeting, and if nominated by the Nominating Committee or from the floor at the Annual Meeting, he or she shall then be elected in the manner set forth in Section A. In calculating the maximum number of years Standing Committee members may serve, time served in a provisional capacity shall not be included. (1856, 1922, 1935, 1956, 1992, 1996)
The Standing Committee shall have general charge of the property of the Parish, except as specified in ARTICLE VII, the conduct of all its business affairs, and the control of its administration, including the appointment of such ad hoc committees as it may deem necessary. The permission of the Standing Committee shall be necessary for all meetings in the Meeting House other than those specified in Section B of ARTICLE VI. (1956)
The Standing Committee may fill vacancies among the officers listed in Section A of ARTICLE V. Any persons so appointed shall serve until the next Annual Meeting. The Standing Committee may, in consultation with the remaining members of any Parish committee, fill vacancies occurring in said committee. (1956)
All officers of the Parish shall be qualified voters of the Parish. (1956)
The ministers shall be chosen, with the concurrence of the Church, by vote of the Parish at a meeting duly called. Their salary, and other conditions of employment by the Parish, shall be set forth in a written agreement, which shall be ratified by said meeting. The agreement shall contain provisions for its termination. A two-thirds vote at a duly called meeting of the Parish and the concurrence of the Church shall be necessary for the Parish to terminate said agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.
The Ministers shall be in charge of all religious services, including worship, marriages, baptisms, and funerals.
It shall be the duty of the Ministers to bring to the attention of the Standing Committee any matters which seem to them pertinent to the general interests of the Parish, and to make such recommendations as seem to them proper, but the final decisions in matters of policy and procedure shall remain with the Standing Committee or with legal meetings of the Parish.
The Ministers shall make a written report to the Annual Meeting of the parish. (1956, 1968)
Trustees of Parish Donations
There shall be a committee of the Parish known as the Trustees of Parish Donations, to consist of five members who shall normally be elected by the parish for terms of five years, one to be so elected every year. Current Trustees shall serve the terms for which they have been elected. Not more than one new or reelected Trustee shall be chosen in any year (not including Trustees elected to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation or removal) or for other than a five- year term except for lesser terms needed for the filling of vacancies, or to secure an initial orderly sequence in the expiration of terms.
No person shall serve simultaneously as a Trustee and as a member of the Standing Committee or of a committee reporting to it except in a nonvoting liaison capacity. Nominations for election as a Trustee, however made, must first be approved by the Trustees in office at the time, not more than one Trustee being in dissent, and then ratified by the Standing Committee, each group voting separately, before becoming valid. Trustees elected under this bylaw shall not serve for more than two terms, consecutively, fractional terms of two years or less being disregarded. (1909, 1956, 1995)
A Trustee may be removed by a two-thirds vote by ballot at a meeting of the Parish duly called for the purpose and with the consent of the other Trustees and of at least two-thirds of the members of the Standing Committee. If a vacancy occurs by virtue of such removal, or by death, or by resignation delivered to the Clerk of the parish, such vacancy may be filled until the next annual Parish meeting by the appointment of a successor to such Trustee, whose nomination has been approved and ratified as set forth in Section A above, by a majority vote of the other Trustees and the Standing Committee voting separately. At such next Annual Parish Meeting such vacancy shall be filled by the election by ballot of a successor who has been duly nominated as set forth in Section A above, for the remainder of the term of the retiring Trustee. (1909, 1956, 1995)
Said Trustees shall take, hold, manage and dispense through the proper officers or committees all property, real and personal, heretofore or hereafter devised, bequeathed or given to said Parish and voted by said parish to be so taken, held, managed and dispensed. No such vote shall be rescinded except by a two-thirds vote at a meeting of the Parish duly called for the purpose and with the consent of the Trustees in office at the time, not more than one Trustee being in dissent. (1909, 1956, 1995)
Said Trustees may invest and reinvest in the name of the Parish all such property real and personal, in such manner as they may deem safe and proper, and they shall have full authority to assign, transfer and convey all such property. (1909)
Said Trustees shall do all acts necessary or proper to be done for carrying into effect the provisions of this article and shall annually make a full report to the Parish of all their investments and of their doings in relation thereto. (1909)
This bylaw shall not be altered or amended except with the consent of the Trustees in office at the time, not more than one Trustee being in dissent, and by a two-thirds vote at a meeting of the Parish duly called for the purpose. (1909, 1956, 1995).
The Annual Meeting of the Parish shall be on a date and time determined each year by the Standing Committee, which date shall be within the first fifteen days of June. Other meetings may be called by the Standing Committee, or shall be called by the Standing Committee upon the written request of five or more qualified voters of the Parish. (1856, 1880, 1907, 1956, 1970, 1996)
Meetings of the Parish shall be called by the Standing Committee by posting up certified copies of the warrant in two public places in the town of Concord, one of which shall be at or near the door of the Meeting House of the Parish, for eight days at least and including two Sundays before the time of meeting, or they may be called at a shorter time, by giving personal notice to each of the qualified voters of the Parish, or by leaving a copy of the warrant at his last and usual place of abode. (1856)
Twenty-five qualified voters shall constitute a quorum. (1956)
The fiscal year shall end on June 30.
These bylaws, except as specifically noted previously, may be amended or repealed at any legal meeting of the Parish by a two-thirds vote. The wording of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.