Bylaws of the Congregation

Transcription

1 Bylaws of the Congregation (Ecclesiastical and Corporate) BRADLEY HILLS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) Adopted November 1, 1992 Revised by action of the Congregation December 11, 1994 Revised by action of the Congregation June 23, 2002 Revised by action of the Congregation October 14, 2007 Revised by action of the Congregation xxx 2015 ARTICLE I Authority of Bylaws Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church, being a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), recognizes that the Constitution of said Church is, in all its provisions, obligatory upon it and its members. ARTICLE II Members of the Congregation The members of the congregation shall be active church members, baptized members, inactive members, and affiliate church members as defined by the usages and rules of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). ARTICLE III Eligible Voters All active church members are eligible to vote on matters coming before both the ecclesiastical and corporation meetings of the congregation whether stated or special. ARTICLE IV Public Notice Public notice of the time, place, and purpose of all meetings of the congregation shall be given from the pulpit on at least the two Sundays preceding the day of the meeting. ARTICLE V Prayer All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer. ARTICLE VI Regular meetings of the Congregation Annual meetings of the congregation shall include a congregational ecclesiastical meeting and a separate corporation meeting. 1

2 The meetings of the congregation shall be held in the church building or such other place as the Session shall designate. There shall be an annual meeting of the congregation and corporation on a day during January or February, weather permitting, for the transaction of any business properly coming before the meeting. There shall be no proxy or absentee voting at meetings of the congregation or corporation. There shall be a meeting of the congregation in December for the purpose of electing elders and deacons and for the transaction of any business properly coming before the meeting as determined by Session. ARTICLE VII Special Meetings of the Congregation Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the Session or the Presbytery in accordance with the PC U.S.A. Book of Order. Such a call shall state clearly the purpose of and date, time and place for the special meeting, and no other matter save that specified in the call may be considered. Meetings of the congregation to elect a Nominating Committee and to conduct any other appropriate business shall occur on such days as Session determines are appropriate. ARTICLE VIII Quorum A quorum for a congregational meeting shall consist of a Moderator, Clerk and at least one-tenth of the active members. ARTICLE IX Presiding Officers The Pastor (or Associate Pastor at invitation of the Pastor) shall preside as Moderator at all ecclesiastical meetings of the congregation and of the Session. If the pulpit of the church is vacant, the Moderator of the Session appointed by the Presbytery shall preside at all congregational meetings. If the Pastor and the Session agree that the subjects to be discussed require it, or if the Pastor is ill or is otherwise unable to be present and the Associate Pastor is not invited or is unable to preside, the Pastor shall confer with Session and, with Session s agreement, consult with the Presbytery s Committee on Ministry and invite another Minister from within the Presbytery to preside. The President of the Board of Trustees shall preside during consideration of corporate matters and during the election of trustees. ARTICLE X Secretary The Clerk of the Session shall be Secretary of the meetings of the congregation and corporation. In his/her inability to attend, the Moderator shall designate a secretary in his/her stead. ARTICLE XI Session There shall be a Session consisting of the Pastors, twelve ruling elders divided into three equal classes, one class of which shall be elected each year at the December meeting of the congregation for a three- 2

3 year term, and one youth elder, elected annually for a one-year term. An elder having been elected to the Session for consecutive terms aggregating six years shall be ineligible to serve thereon for a further term until at least one year has elapsed from the expiration of the last term for which that person was elected. The Session shall perform all the duties required by the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Session shall elect a Clerk who shall be an elder. No elder may serve as Clerk for more than six consecutive years. ARTICLE XII Board of Trustees The members of the Board of Trustees shall be one and the same as the elders of the Session, except that the youth elder shall not be a member of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall perform all the duties required by the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and authorized by the laws of the State of Maryland. The Board of Trustees shall elect from among its members a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary (who may be the Clerk of Session), and a Treasurer and other officers as may be required or deemed appropriate. ARTICLE XIII Board of Deacons There shall be a Board of Deacons consisting of the Associate Pastor, Parish Nurse (if there is an active Parish Nurse), twelve deacons divided into three equal classes, one class of which shall be elected each year at the December meeting of the congregation for a three-year term, and one youth deacon, elected annually for a one-year term. A deacon having been elected to the Board of Deacons for consecutive terms aggregating six years shall be ineligible to serve thereon for a further term until at least one year has elapsed from the expiration of the last term for which that person was elected. The Board of Deacons shall be a ministry of sympathy, witness, and service to God through the caring and nurturing of the church family, after the example of Jesus Christ. The Board of Deacons shall each year elect a Moderator, Vice Moderator, and Secretary/Treasurer, who shall be active members of the board of deacons. ARTICLE XIV Vacancies Vacancies on the Session and/or the Board of Deacons shall be filled at a special meeting of the congregation or at a stated meeting of the congregation, as the Session may determine. ARTICLE XV Nominating Committee There shall be a representative Nominating Committee chosen annually in accordance with the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 3

4 One member of this committee shall be designated by and from the Session, and shall be named by the Session as Chair. One member shall be designated by and from the Board of Deacons. At least five members, none of whom may be in active service on the Session or the Board of Deacons, shall be elected by the congregation. In addition, the Pastor shall be a member of this committee ex-officio but without vote. The Nominating Committee shall be chosen annually and no member of the committee shall serve more than three years consecutively. The committee shall announce the names of the nominees with the call of the meeting, and shall bring to the stated meetings of the congregation, or to any special meeting to fill vacancies, nominations of one eligible person for each office to be filled. Additional nominations of qualified persons (who have indicated a willingness to serve) may be made from the floor by any member of the congregation eligible to vote. ARTICLE XVI Financial Audits and Reviews In accordance with the principles of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and in the interest of good order, the Financial Manager shall submit the church s financial records on an annual basis for analysis. The Financial Stewardship Lay Ministry shall periodically employ an outside CPA firm to conduct full, independent audits or reviews of the church's financial records. Session shall approve in advance the firm selected to perform such audits and reviews. ARTICLE XVII Organization Reports Each organization within the church shall make an annual report in writing to the Session. A printed document shall be prepared for presentation at the Annual Congregational Meeting, which includes the aforementioned annual reports and a consolidated financial statement. ARTICLE XVIII Standing Lay Ministries The Standing Lay Ministries of Session of Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church shall be determined and periodically revised as needed by Session. The process for selection of Lay Ministry chairs and members shall be determined by Session. The Standing Lay Ministries may carry out their work through subcommittees as determined by each Lay Ministry. ARTICLE XIX Personnel Reviews All paid employees, as identified in the Personnel Policies and Procedures, shall be reviewed annually by the Head of Staff and/or Personnel Lay Ministry during the months of May and June. The Head of Staff will conduct a mid-year review for each reviewed employee each winter. ARTICLE XX Amendments These bylaws may be amended, subject to the Charter of the Corporation, the laws of the State of Maryland, and the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), at any annual meeting or special meeting of the congregation by a two-thirds vote of the voters present; provided the congregation has received a full reading of the proposed changes from the pulpit on the two Sundays preceding the congregational meeting; or a printed and/or electronic distribution as appropriate of the proposed changes shall have been made in connection with the call of the meeting to all active members of the congregation at least one week prior to the meeting. 4

5 These bylaws of the Charter of this Corporation may not be amended contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or the laws of the State of Maryland. 5