The name of this Congregation shall be First Parish in Concord. (1956, 2024)

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.

First Parish in Concord affirms and promotes participation in all of its activities, without regard to race, color, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, socioeconomic status, or national origin and without requiring adherence to any religious belief or creed. (2012, 2024)

Anyone may become a member of the Congregation by signing the Membership Book, or by giving written consent. The members’ names shall be kept in the records of the Congregation. (1856, 1894, 1946, 1956,1976, 2024)

Any member of the Congregation is entitled to vote at any meeting of the Congregation held at least thirty days after they have become a member. (1881, 1894, 1895, 1946, 1956, 1976, 1983, 2024)

The Called Senior Minister shall ensure that a list of all eligible voters of the Congregation is prepared for each Annual Meeting.  (1858, 1881, 1894, 1946, 1956, 2024)

ARTICLE V
Officers

The officers of the Congregation are nine Governing Board members-at-large, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and a Moderator, all of whom shall be chosen at the Annual Meeting. The Governing Board consists of the nine members-at-large, plus the Clerk and Treasurer. (2024)

1. Calling the Senior Minister

Ministry is a covenantal relationship between the Called Senior Minister and the Congregation, in which they pledge to work together toward common goals. The Called Senior Minister shall be chosen by a minimum of four-fifths affirmative votes of those members of the Congregation present at a meeting called for that purpose. The Called Senior Minister’s salary and other conditions of employment shall be set forth in a written agreement approved by the Governing Board. The agreement shall contain provisions for its termination. A two-thirds vote of those members present at a meeting of the Congregation called for that purpose shall be necessary to terminate the contract of the Called Senior Minister.

2. Responsibilities

The Called Senior Minister and the Governing Board shall work together through collaborative leadership. The Called Senior Minister shall be responsible for operations, while final decisions in matters of policy and procedure shall remain with the Governing Board or with the Congregation in accordance with Article VIII. The Called Senior Minister shall bring to the Governing Board any matters pertinent to the general interests of the Congregation and shall make recommendations about these matters.

The Called Senior Minister shall be responsible for all religious services, including but not limited to worship, marriages, child dedications, funerals, and memorial services and shall serve as spiritual leader and adviser to members of the Congregation.

The Called Senior Minister shall provide a written report to the Congregation at each Annual Meeting. (1956, 1968, 2024)

There shall be a committee of First Parish known as the Trustees of Parish Donations. This committee shall consist of five members.

1. Responsibilities

The Trustees are the stewards of funds and properties donated to First Parish and transferred to the Trustees by the Governing Board to be held and managed. As fiduciaries, the Trustees shall use their best judgment to balance the following objectives for the assets:

•  Preserve and build the assets to provide a portion of First Parish’s annual operating funds in perpetuity;

•  Serve as a reserve fund for extraordinary situations; and

•  Steward the properties under their control and oversee their operations and finances.

  The Trustees shall take, hold, manage, and dispense through the proper offices or committees all property, real and personal, bequeathed or given to the Congregation and transferred to the Trustees by the Governing Board to be held and managed. The Trustees may invest and reinvest in the name of the Congregation 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, with the exception that the sale, disposal, or change in use of any real property on the First Parish campus shall require the approval of a two-thirds vote of those members of the Congregation present at a meeting at a meeting called for this purpose. The First Parish campus is defined as any real property owned by First Parish on grounds bounded by Lexington Road, Heywood Street, Walden Street, and Main Street. (1909, 1956, 1995, 2024)

2. Election Process and Terms of Service

After consulting with the current Trustees, the Nominating Committee shall nominate Trustees for election at the Annual Meeting.

The Trustees shall be elected by the Congregation for terms of five years or for the remainder of a term in the case of midterm vacancies. Not more than one new or re-elected Trustee shall be chosen in any year, not including Trustees elected to fill vacancies caused by death, resignation, or removal, or to secure an orderly sequence in the expiration of terms. No person shall serve simultaneously as a Trustee and as a member of the Governing Board. Trustees shall not serve for more than two consecutive full terms; fractional terms of less than five years are not counted. (1909, 1956, 1995, 2024)

3. Vacancies Caused by Death, Resignation, or Removal

A midterm vacancy may be filled until the next Annual Meeting by the appointment of an interim successor by a majority vote of the remaining Trustees and the Governing Board, voting separately. At the next Annual Meeting, the Congregation shall elect a successor who has been nominated as described above for the remainder of the term to fill the vacancy of the Trustee whose position has become vacant.

A Trustee may be removed by a two-thirds vote of members of the Congregation present at a meeting called for this purpose. (1909, 1956, 1995, 2024)

The Trustees shall do all acts necessary or proper for carrying into effect the provisions of this Article and shall annually make a full report to the Congregation of all their investments and related transactions. (1909, 1956, 1995, 2024)

These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of members of the Congregation present at a meeting called for this purpose. The wording of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting. (1956, 2024)

ARTICLE XI 
Dissolution