Meet with the Ministers, Have Lunch, Talk about your Journey, Sign the Membership Book
If UUCB feels like the place and community where you can bring your whole self, your commitment to social justice, your care for yourself and others and a commitment to our children for a liberal religious and humanistic view, then become a member of UUCB.
The Sunday Membership signing at UUCB (after services around 12:30 pm) involves meeting with our ministers, Revs. Christian and Rev. Kristin. Sometimes both of them or just one of them, as they have two little ones to take care of after services on Sundays. Lunch is provided (Vegan, Vegetarian and non-Vegetarian). And we talk.
Everyone at the signing goes around the room and introduces themselves and then talks a little about their religious or spiritual journey before coming to UUCB. The Reverends talk about their journey and why they became Unitarian Universalists ministers and about their commitment to UUCB.
A brief history (Rev. Chris calls it a “drive by history of Unitarian Universalism”) is given of the origins of UUism and its commitment to the dignity and worth of every human being.
Then the conversation focuses on UUCB (Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley) and its commitment and covenant to each person in the congregation. Questions are answered about what are the benefits of membership? What are the responsibilities of membership? What does it cost to be a member of UUCB? There isn’t a fee to be a member–there are, of course, costs to run the church and each person decides what they can pledge (promise) each month to keep the lights on, staff paid and the programs running. Some people can pledge $15 a month and some can pledge $1500.00 a month.
Finally, if your decision is made to become a member, the Membership book is passed around for each person to sign their name and the date of becoming a member. After the signing, we congratulate each other…no, not really…but everyone is pretty happy and excited about becoming a member of UUCB and getting more involved with guiding its future. Then a picture is taken of each person or family so that it can be posted on the new member Kiosk at the church (internally –not on our website).
Yellow “Standing On the Side of Love” tee shirts are given to each new member. These shirts are worn in solidarity for when we attend protests and events to show our support for love, compassion and our liberal, religious and humanist values. Other people know when the “UUs” have shown up because we all have on our yellow “Standing On The Side of Love” tee shirts.
If you would like to become a member of UUCB or discuss membership, please email Lonnie at membership@uucb.org for information and the next date for becoming a member.
