An important question facing independent minyanim organizers is whether to have formal membership.
Pros of having membership:* Membership allows members of the kahal to feel valued and gives them an active way to feel like part of a community.
* Holding an official membership can convey a sense of ownership over the minyan's programming and visioning.
* Membership can create a sense of belonging and community among members.
* Membership dues can contribute to a minyan's financial security (most minyanim have a payscale--i.e. different payments depending on status--single, couple, family, student, etc.; many are pay-what-youcan or have suggested dues).
* Membership allows for greater coordination between minyan participants and leaders and contributes to smoother organization of minyan activities.
Cons of having membership:* Membership can impose a perceived separation between "insiders" and "outsiders."
* The feelings of ownership and belonging can become polarized to those who have it and those who do not.
* Especially within more transient communities, membership can exclude people who are living in the area for a short time or trying out a range of communities.
* Because independent minyanim - whether intentionally or by default - often lack the funds, space, Rabbinical presence, and paid leadership to offer full-service programming, membership might not provide any additional benefits other than a sense of belonging. (This is in contrast to synagogues, where members have special access to Hebrew schools, lifecycle event services, etc.) What would it mean to be a member without these benefits?
In every community there are people who hold both opinions. At Kehilat Hadar, the gabbai'im opted
not to have formal membership for the following reasons:
* The gabbai'im believe it is a bigger loss to make some people feel like outsiders to the community than to make the insiders feel more like insiders.
* Other volunteer and hospitality initiatives can foster a sense of belonging in place of offering membership. For example:
o Actively recruiting volunteers tells people that their services are needed.
o Holding open community meetings about the minyan's future directions allows many voices and opinions to be heard.
o An opt-in directory, in place of a member directory, allows people to contact one another and fosters a sense of community.
o Any number of hospitality initiatives (too numerous to list here) can increase the sense of community far more than holding official membership.
* Because programming is reasonably priced for all who attend, the minyan could not offer additional financial benefits of membership such as member discounts.
* Hadar has raised enough money by having a suggested donation amount for attending High Holiday services, and by soliciting end-of-year donations. Donations allow community members to strengthen their sense of ownership even without membership - and donors receive personal thank-you notes from the gabbai'im!
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