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Bylaws
LIBERAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION BY‑LAWS
Revised June 2010
PREAMBLE
Desiring to promote the values of liberal religious education through a continental professional organization, we provide and maintain this organization, to be known as the Liberal Religious Educators' Association, which is hereafter called LREDA.
LREDA is an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural welcoming organization that supports and advocates for religious educators of every age, race/ethnicity, class, gender, gender identity, physical ability and sexual orientation.
ARTICLE I. PURPOSE
The function of LREDA shall be to further the interest o fquality liberal religious education by:
A. Interpreting the professional role of the religious educator, recognizing the wide variety of ways this role may be utilized in parish and community settings;
B. Affirming and supporting the professional growth of our members in ways consistent and congruent with their individual and their congregation’s goals;
C. Encouraging the sharing of useful, creative materials and ideas members have used in their work;
D. Acting in a religious education advisory capacity to Staff Groups and Teams of the Unitarian Universalist Association and to the Canadian Unitarian Council whenever such consultation would be useful;
E. Giving thorough consideration to and acting upon such matters that will further the advancement of lifespan religious education;
F. Working with Unitarian Universalist theological schools, the Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Association and other Unitarian Universalist organizations and institutions to strengthen education for professional religious leadership:
G. Cooperating with any agency of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Canadian Unitarian Council whose activities and/or programs would be enhanced by such participation;
H. Providing Good Offices services in support of the ethical code and professional standards of LREDA.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
A. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP
1. ACTIVE VOTING MEMBERS (full dues)
Those eligible to apply for active voting membership shall be:
a. Those currently employed or actively seeking employment in one of the following categories:
1.) Religious Educators who have completed a minimum of three years in a paid position within a Unitarian Universalist congregation or who have completed a minimum of five Renaissance modules, and/or are certified by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Credentialed Religious Educator, all levels.
2.) Ministers who have been in fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association for three years,
3.) Youth Directors, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Professionals who have completed a minimum of three years in a paid position with a Unitarian Universalist congregation or U.U. affiliated organization or who have completed a minimum of five Renaissance modules,
4.) Professors, researchers and educators serving in an academic setting who have earned an advanced degree in religious education or a related field e.g., religious studies, theology, or education,
5.) Liberal religious educators in non‑Unitarian Universalist traditions who are in positions equivalent to any of the above.
b. Persons actively involved in Unitarian Universalist religious education, where such involvement may be deemed equivalent to employment. Questions about membership qualifications may be brought to the LREDA Board by the LREDA Administrator.
Active voting members have full rights and privileges.
2. LIFE MEMBERS (optional dues)
Life membership is granted by LREDA board to any person who has been an Active LREDA member for ten or more years, is at least sixty-two years of age, retired, and is a current Member of LREDA at the time Life membership is requested. Life membership will be renewed annually upon the return of a completed renewal form or by written request. Life members retain full rights and privileges.
3. STUDENT/NEW DRE MEMBERS (reduced dues)
Those eligible to apply for student/new DRE membership shall be:
a. Persons employed as directors or coordinators of religious education, or as youth directors or young adult or campus ministry professionals who have completed less than three years in a paid position within a Unitarian Universalist congregation or with a U.U. affiliated organization and who have completed less than five Renaissance modules.
b. Persons preparing for careers in professional religious leadership in theological schools.
Student/new DRE members have the privilege of attending and of speaking at LREDA meetings, and of serving on committees; but may not vote or serve as LREDA Board members or as committee chairpersons.
4. SUPPORTIVE MEMBERS
Those eligible to apply for supportive membership shall be individuals who wish to support the work of LREDA and benefit from its resources and programs. Supportive members shall have the privilege of attending and of speaking at LREDA meetings and of serving on committees; but may not vote or serve as LREDA Board members or as committee chairpersons.
5. INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS
Those eligible to apply for Institutional membership shall be organizations or institutions that wish to support the work of LREDA and benefit from its mailings. Institutional members may not vote.
B. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Persons or institutions eligible for membership in LREDA in one of the categories described in these By-laws must submit a written application. When appropriate dues are paid these applicants shall be received into membership immediately, unless there is question about eligibility. Questionable applications shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for consideration. Denial of membership may be appealed to the membership at an Annual Meeting through the Secretary of the Association.
C. THE ACCEPTANCE OF MEMBERSHIP entails the acceptance of and agreement to abide by the Association's By‑Laws and professional codes and guidelines.
D. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
1. A member may be dropped from membership in the Association by the Board of Trustees when:
a. The member’s credentialed certification or fellowship status is revoked.
b. The member has committed a major violation of ethical or professional conduct.
c. The member has not paid dues appropriate to membership status.
2. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL INITIATE the proposal to drop a member for any reason other than non‑payment of dues. Each case shall be considered on its individual merits. The member shall be notified at least 30 days in advance of the stated meeting that the case is to be considered at that meeting, and the member may attend. A person whose membership is revoked may appeal to the membership at an Annual Meeting if the member files for appeal within thirty days of receiving notification of such Board action.
E. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY CHANGES When a person's eligibility for their current membership category changes, the member should notify the LREDA Administrator.
ARTICLE III. DUES AND FINANCES
- The fiscal year shall begin July 1 and end June 30.
- DUES
1. Annual dues are to be determined by the membership.
2. Dues shall be payable at the beginning of each fiscal year. In event of financial hardship, a member may apply for a partial waiver of dues, confidentially and without loss of rights and privileges of membership. Such a waiver is for one fiscal year and reapplication must be made annually when needed.
3. Non-payment of dues by December 1 will result in lapse of membership. Reinstatement requires payment of all dues in arrears. Exceptional cases may be submitted to the Board of Trustees for a compromise solution.
- BUDGET
1. The budget for the ensuing fiscal year shall be adopted by the membership at the Annual Meeting.
2. A proposed budget shall be prepared by the Board of Trustees and mailed to the membership with the Call to the Annual Meeting not less sixty days preceding the annual meeting.
3. Officers and Chairpersons may draw funds necessary to fulfilling their respective duties within the limits of their individual budgetary allotments. Any exceptions are to be approved prior to the expenditure by the Board of Trustees.
- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
1. The Treasurer shall present a statement at each meeting of the Board and of the membership.
2. The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for an independent review every three years. The report shall be acted upon by the Board of Trustees and made available to the membership.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
A. The officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
B. ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICE
Officers shall be elected every three years at the Annual Meeting on a rotating cycle, with President and Treasurer in Year I, Vice President in year II, and Secretary in Year III. They shall be Active or Life members of LREDA. No one may serve in the same or other office for more than one term until at least one year has elapsed unless elected to the position of President or President-Elect from another position on the Board. Persons who have been appointed to serve no more than 18 months of an unexpired term may serve an additional consecutive full term in the same or other office.
C. The President-Elect
1. In each Year III of the election cycle, a President-Elect shall be elected for a one-year term. Such President-Elect shall be automatically nominated the following year for the three-year term of President. Petition candidates may run against the President-Elect or the same person when the President-Elect is nominated the following year for President. The President-Elect shall be a voting member of the Board of Trustees and an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
2. The President-Elect, when such office is filled, shall work closely with the President to learn the duties, functions, and current efforts of the presidency. The President shall endeavor to keep the President-Elect informed of the ongoing work of LREDA. The President-Elect is charged during the term to learn about the presidential duties, rather than to function in a separate policy role.
D. VACANCIES
In the event that the Presidency is vacated before the term of office expires, the Vice President shall succeed the President for the remainder of the term. All other vacancies except the position of President-Elect, including the Vice Presidency, shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Trustees. In the event that the position of President-Elect is vacated, the position shall remain unfilled for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE V. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A. MEMBERSHIP
1. The members of the Board of Trustees shall include the officers, the three Trusteesat‑Large, and the President-Elect in Year III of the election cycle.
2. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall consist of the elected officers, who shall have the right to meet and take action between meetings of the entire Board of Trustees. The President-Elect, when that office is filled, shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee.
3. One Trustee-at-Large shall be elected in Years I, II and III of the cycles defined in Article IV, Section B. No person serving in the capacity of Trustee‑at‑Large shall serve for more than one full term on the board until at least one year has elapsed unless the memberis elected to the position of President or President-Elect. Persons who have been appointed to serve no more than 18 months of an unexpired term may serve an additional consecutive full term in the same or other office.
4. The Board shall include one resident of the state or commonwealth in which the Association is incorporated. This person may be a non-voting member appointed by President and may have no other responsibilities than to submit an annual report as required by law.
B. DUTIES.
The Board of Trustees shall:
1. Prepare a budget and mail it together with the Call to the Annual Meeting, proposed amendments to the By‑Laws, and the Nominating Committee report not less than sixty days prior to the Annual Meeting.
2. Plan and administer the programs of the Annual Meeting and assume the general management and programming of the Association between Annual Meetings.
3. Receive and make available reports and information concerning religious education.
4. Encourage and initiate special projects to further the objectives of the Association.
5. Dispense funds in accordance with the budget.
6. Approve the expenditure of surplus to further the objectives of the Association.
7. Create, combine, or discontinue special committees as necessary.
8. Appoint representatives and liaisons to other bodies as necessary.
9. Determine and act on terminations of membership when necessary.
ARTICLE VI. NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND ELECTIONS
A. There shall be a Nominating Committee of three members. They shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for three year terms, one member in each of years I, II, and III of the cycle defined in Article IV, Section B. The member elected by the committee in any given year shall serve as Chairperson. In each year of the three-year election cycle, the Nominating Committee shall choose one or more candidates for one position on the Nominating Committee and one or more candidates for each open position on the Board of Trustees, as follows: In Year I, President, Treasurer, and one Trustee-at-Large; in Year II, Vice-President and one Trustee-at-Large; in Year III, Secretary, President-Elect, and one Trustee-at-Large. Candidates must be Active or Life Members of LREDA.
B. In case of a failure of the Nominating Committee to perform its proper functions, the President may with the consent of the Board of Trustees set up an emergency procedure for nomination. Such procedure shall be ratified by the membership at the next Annual Meeting of LREDA. If the emergency procedure is not ratified, the Annual meeting shall set up its own procedures for a special election.
C. All nominations of the Nominating Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary at least ninety days prior to the date of the Annual meeting. At least sixty days prior to the Annual meeting, the President shall submit the names of all nominees to the membership.
D. Nominations by petition shall be made by a signed petition of ten or more voting members. Petitions shall indicate the office sought and must be submitted to the President not less than thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting, along with indication by the candidate of a willingness to accept nomination.
E. Election of Trustees shall take place at the Annual Meeting by vote of the Active Members present. If there is more than one candidate for any position, the election shall be by secret ballot.
F. No member of the Nominating Committee shall serve for more than one term until at least one year has elapsed. Persons who have been appointed to serve no more than 18 months of an unexpired term may serve an additional consecutive full term. All vacancies to positions on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
A. THE MEMBERSHIP of LREDA shall have two membership meetings per year. The June Meeting shall be designated the Annual Meeting.
B. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES shall meet in conjunction with the Fall Conference and with the General Assembly, and at other times at the call of the President or of a majority of the Trustees.
C. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall have the right to meet and conduct business between meetings of the Board of Trustees.
D. CHAPTERS shall meet in compliance with their own standing rules.
ARTICLE VIII. CHAPTERS
A. FORMATION
1. Any group of LREDA members who wish to form a chapter should submit their request to the Board of Trustees, specifying the names of the petitioning members and the geographical area to be served.
2. The Board of Trustees may propose the formation of specific chapters.
3. Only members of continental LREDA are eligible for membership in LREDA chapters.
B. PURPOSE
The purpose of chapters shall be to uphold LREDA as outlined in these By-Laws, to further these purposes at the local level, to form support groups, and to uphold the work of the parent organization at the continental level.
C. OFFICERS AND CHAIRPERSONS
Chapters shall elect their own presiding officers and shall determine their own committees and committee members.
D. FINANCES.
1. Each chapter member shall pay annual dues to LREDA. Any dues chapters assess for their own use shall be in addition and shall reside with the chapter.
2. Chapters may request an allotment from LREDA in exceptional circumstances. Such a request should be submitted to the Treasurer of LREDA no later than the last Board of Trustees meeting before General Assembly if it is to be incorporated into the budget for the ensuing year.
E. Good Offices
1. Each chapter is entitled to put forth names of those wishing to serve as a Good Officer. The continental LREDA Board of Trustees affirms these names. All Good Officers shall be current dues-paying, active or life LREDA members.
ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Decisions will be reached by consensus, when possible and appropriate. In other cases and at formal meetings, Roberts' Rules of Order Revised shall govern the Association, when applicable and when they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.
ARTICLE X. Amendments
The By-Laws may be amended at either of the two membership meetings of the Association by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting. A written notice of the amendment shall be mailed not less than sixty days preceding the meeting.
ARTICLE XI.
In the event that the Association shall be dissolved pursuant to Mass. G.L. chapter 180, section 11 or section 11A or successor provisions thereto without concurrent or prior incorporation into a replacement or successor organization, any remaining assets of the Association shall be paid over and delivered to the Unitarian Universalist Association, a corporation of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, its successors or assigns.