6. Members and Friends

(6.1) Members

(6.1.1) Criteria for membership

Any Christian who has completed a membership class may become a member by participating in the Rite of Membership. A member in good standing is a member who registers his/her attendance, provides identifiable financial support, makes a definite service contribution, and demonstrates interest and loyalty.

(6.1.2) Membership List

The list of members in good standing shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Church, who shall report changes monthly to the Church Council.

(6.1.3) Membership Review

The Church Council shall review the membership list in the month of February every year.

a) A member who does not have registered attendance, identified financial support, definite service contribution, and demonstrated interest and loyalty within the preceding period of six (6) months to one (1) year may be removed from the list of members in good standing and placed on a list of inactive members.

b) The Church Council shall notify this member in writing that the member has been placed on a list of inactive members and is not eligible to vote at any business meeting of the church.

c) If the inactive member has not attended, provided identifiable financial support, and demonstrated further interest or loyalty for a period of two (2) months immediately following notification, the Church Council shall have the authority, at its discretion, to drop any such member from the local church membership roll.

d) The inactive member may be restored to the list of members in good standing by a vote of the Church Council without a public reception into membership.

e) The inactive member who is not restored during the period of two (2) months immediately following notification shall be considered a former member.

f) A former member may be restored to the list of members in good standing after completing a membership class and participating in the Rite of Membership.

(6.1.4) Right to appeal

A decision by the Church Council to drop an inactive member from the local membership roll may be appealed by the inactive member to the next regular congregational meeting or a special congregational meeting called for that purpose. The decision of the congregational meeting is final. Pending the outcome of the appeal, the inactive member is not eligible to vote at any business meeting of the church.

a) The request for an appeal shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Church Council within thirty (30) days following the date when the inactive member was dropped from the local church membership roll.

b) The Church Council may consider the appeal and reverse its earlier decision without taking the matter to the congregational meeting.

c) Should the Church Council sustain its earlier decision and the inactive member wishes the appeal to continue, the request shall be included as an agenda item for the next regular congregational meeting or a special congregational meeting called for the purpose of considering the appeal.

(6.2) Friends of the Church

(6.2.1) A person who, for one reason or another, feels unable to become a member but who supports the goals of the church and wants to be a part of the work of the church may be designated as a “Friend of the Church”

(6.2.2) The list of friends of the church shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Church Council.

(6.2.3) Friends of the church may serve on appointed committees and may participate in all activities of the church. Friends may not vote at congregational meetings or serve on the church council. Friends shall not be considered in determining the number of Lay Delegates to UFMCC conferences.

(6.3) Discipline of Members and Friends

(6.3.1) This church cannot condone disloyalty or unbecoming conduct on the part of any member or friend. The church council is empowered to remove by majority vote any member or friend or take appropriate disciplinarily action.

(6.3.2) The action of the church council may be appealed to the next regular congregational meeting or a special congregational meeting called for that purpose. The decision of the congregational meeting is final. Pending the outcome of the appeal of discipline the disciplined member or friend shall remain under discipline and shall retain the right to vote at regular and special congregational meetings, including the congregational meeting held to consider the appeal.

a) The request for an appeal shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Church Council within thirty (30) days following the date when the member or friend was disciplined.

b) The Church Council may consider the appeal and reverse its earlier decision without taking the matter to the congregational meeting.

c) Should the Church Council sustain its earlier decision and the member or friend wishes the appeal to continue, the request shall be included as an agenda item for the next regular congregational meeting or a special congregational meeting called for the purpose of considering the appeal.