Becoming a Member

Everyone is welcome to worship at Channing Church and enjoy almost all aspects of church life. But there is a difference between coming regularly to Sunday services and becoming a full member of Channing Church.

Your Voice, Your Vote

A key difference between being a friend of the church, and being a member is that members have a say in how we run the place. Channing Church is an autonomous, self-governed, democratically-run community. We elect our own leaders, set our own priorities, and select and hire our own staff. When you become a member of Channing Church, you gain the ability to participate in our self-governance and vote on organizational matters.

This may sound boring, and sometimes it is. But it is also very important because it is the core of who we are as a community. Every UU church has a unique personality. Who we are as individuals, what our spiritual needs are, and what our priorities outside of church are, shape Channing Church’s personality. Just as Unitarian Universalist theology doesn’t tell UUs what to believe but is instead informed by the beliefs of UUs, Channing Church’s governance isn’t assigned from the top down, it is built from the bottom up.

Spiritual Enrichment Works Both Ways

The spiritual needs of our members also drive the way we conduct worship. Being a member allows you to express what you need from your church community to enrich your spiritual life. In turn, you can also bring your own wisdom and insight to the larger community. We bring meaning and spiritual growth to each other: through worship, through fellowship, and through friendship. Those bonds are strengthened even further through membership.

Not a Commitment: A Covenant

Being a member of Channing Church requires no commitment. You don’t have to pay any fees, attend a certain number of services, or jump through any hoops. If you feel membership is right for you, all you need to do is tell us. We have a membership book for you to sign, but it is not a contract. It is a covenant with your fellow members that expresses your desire to engage with our community on a deeper level. We will have a ceremony on Sunday, March 3, where new members will be invited to sign the book. If you are unable to attend, we can do this with you at any time that is convenient for you.

No Guilt, No Shame

Some of our members and guests come to us after leaving high-demand religious communities. As such, we feel it is important to emphasize that membership at Channing Church is 100% voluntary. 

No one will coerce you or guilt you into joining. Also, you can rescind your membership at any time with no consequence. If you decide in the future that membership is no longer right for you, just tell us and we’ll update your membership status. You will not be shunned or shamed, and you will always be welcome to participate in community events if you want to whether you are a member or not.