BY-LAWS TO GOVERN THE CONGREGATION OF THE LEBANON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Amended at the Congregation Meeting of June 27, 1993) ARTICLE I Authority of the By-Laws The By-Laws of this congregational shall be always subordinate to the Constitution of The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. ARTICLE II Annual Meeting of the Congregation There shall be an annual meeting of the Congregation on the first Sunday in February of each year, immediately following morning worship, for the transacting of any business properly coming before such meeting. The Session shall give notice from the pulpit on at least two Sundays preceding the date of such meeting. Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the General Rules for Judicatories adopted by the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, so far as they apply, and when they do not apply, according to usual legislative rules of order. All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer. ARTICLE III Special Meetings The Session is empowered to call special meetings of the Congregation whenever, in their discretion, it is advisable. Announcement of such meetings shall be made from the pulpit on two Sundays preceding the date set, and the business to be proposed will be specified. Action at the meeting will be confined to such business. ARTICLE IV Moderator The pastor of the church shall be the moderator of the Session. When for prudential reasons it may appear advisable that some other minister should be invited to preside, the pastor shall, with concurrence of the Session, invite another minister belonging to the same presbytery to preside. In the case of sickness or absence of the pastor the same expedient may be adopted; or the Session, the approval of the pastor first having been obtained, may convene and elect one of its own members to preside, except in judicial cases, when a minister of the same presbytery shall preside. ARTICLE V Secretary The Clerk of Session shall be the Secretary of the Congregation. In the Clerk s absence, a secretary pro-tem shall be appointed by the moderator. 1 / 6
ARTICLE VI Quorum Ten percent of active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Congregation. ARTICLE VII Voters or Electors at Meetings of the Congregation All communicant members in good and regular standing shall be entitled to vote at all meetings of the Congregation and in the election of Deacons and Elders. No proxy voting shall be permitted. ARTICLE VIII Session The Session shall consist of eighteen (18) Elder-Trustees elected on a rotary system in three classes of 6 each. One year shall elapse between expiration of office of one full three-year term and eligibility for re-election. ARTICLE IX Qualifications for Session Members of the Session shall in all cases be members of this congregation in good and regular standing. ARTICLE X Duties of the Session (Unicameral Board) The duties of the Session shall be all those enumerated in the Constitution of The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, Form of Government, Chapter XI, Section VI through XIII as adopted by General Assembly in 1788 and further amendments made be General Assembly as outlined in the Book of Order. ARTICLE XI Deacons The Board of Deacons shall consist of twelve (12) active members elected on a rotary system in three classes of four each. One year shall elapse between expiration of office of one full three-year term and eligibility for re-election. ARTICLE XII Duties of the Deacons The duties of the Deacons shall be all those enumerated in the Constitution The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, Form of Government, Chapter X, Section V through VII as adopted by General Assembly in 1788 and further amendments made by General Assembly as outlined in the Book of Order. ARTICLE XIII Vacancies In case of vacancy by death, resignation, or other cause on the Session or Board of Deacons, such vacancy shall be filled at the next ensuing annual meeting of the Congregation or at a special meeting called for that purpose. 2 / 6
ARTICLE XIV Elections The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) Elder-Trustees, one of whom shall be appointed chairman of the Session; one (1) Deacon; and five (5) members-at-large representing the Congregation. The Session and Board of Deacons shall each appoint their representatives and the Congregation shall elect five (5) representatives at the annual election meeting which shall be held on the first Sunday in January. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for the offices of Elder-Trustee, Deacon, Auditor, and Nominating Committee, to be filled at the first Sunday in January meeting of the Congregation and Corporation. On or before the third Tuesday of November, the Nominating Committee shall submit its report to the Session. The Session shall be responsible for having the nominees printed in the church bulletin on each of the two Sundays preceding the annual elections. Nominations may be made from the floor provided the consent of the nominee to serve, if elected has been obtained. Elder-Trustees will be installed during morning worship by the first Sunday in February. Elder-Trustees, Deacons, Auditors and Nominating Committee members will begin their respective terms at the conclusion of the Annual Congregation / Corporation Meeting held on the first Sunday in February. ARTICLE XV Amendments The By-Laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting, after due notice of the proposed amendment by publication thirty days in advance. A two thirds vote of those present shall be required. BY-LAWS TO GOVERN THE CONGREGATION OF THE LEBANON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Amended at the Corporation Meeting of June 27, 1993) ARTICLE I Authority of the By-Laws The By-Laws of the Church as a Corporation shall be always subordinate to the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to the Constitution of The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America and to the Charter of the Corporation. ARTICLE II 3 / 6
Trustees The Session of the Congregation shall constitute the Board of Trustees of the Corporation. ARTICLE III Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the Corporation for the transaction of business of the Corporation shall be held at the church immediately following the annual meeting of the Congregation on the first Sunday in February of each year, immediately following morning worship. At the annual meeting, the officers shall make a full report of the financial condition of the Corporation and of its progress during the preceding year, and shall outline a program for the year to come. ARTICLE IV Special Meetings The Elder-Trustees may call special meetings of the Corporation. Announcement of such meetings shall be made from the pulpit on two Sundays preceding the date set, and the business to be proposed will be specified. Action at the meeting will be confined to such business. ARTICLE V Voters at Meetings of the Congregation All members of the church in good and regular standing are entitled to vote. No proxy voting shall be permitted. ARTICLE VI Quorum Ten percent of active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Corporation. ARTICLE VII Elections ARTICLE XIV of the Congregation By-Laws shall apply. ARTICLE VIII Board of Trustees, Officers, and Board Meetings. The Corporation shall be under the direction of a Board of Trustees consisting of eighteen (18) elected Elder-Trustees. When necessary, the Board of Trustees will meet to conduct Corporate business immediately following regular meetings of the Session. The term of office of a Trustee shall begin at the conclusion of the Annual Congregation / Corporation meeting held on the first Sunday in February. The Board of Trustees shall meet as soon as convenient after the election, and shall elect a president, vice-president, secretary, and appoint a treasurer. It may appoint such additional officers and employees as necessary. The term of office for all officers shall be one (1) year, or until their respective successors are elected or qualified; but any officer may be removed at any time by the Board. The Board of Trustees shall have a regular annual meeting, the time being set by the majority of the Board. Special meetings may be held at the call of the president or on recommendation of a 4 / 6
majority of the Board. Ten Elder-Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. ARTICLE IX Duties of Elder-Trustees The Elder-Trustees shall, as outlined in the Book of Order, take charge of all real and other property of the church. They shall take charge of the Charter and Seal of the Corporation. They shall make rules for their own government not inconsistent with the Laws of the State and these By-Laws. No Elder-Trustee shall contract or pay bills that have not first been approved by the Board in an open meeting, except bills of current expense already authorized. The Elder-Trustees shall fix the compensation of officers and employees, and may remove any officer or employee at any time with due cause. The duties of the Elder-Trustees shall be those only delegated to them by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Constitution of The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, the Session of this church, and by formal actions of a meeting of the corporation. They shall collect all revenues of the Corporation. They shall disburse the sums collected by them as authorized by the Congregation in their adoption of the annual budget by a majority vote and shall not incur any extra liability or expense for any non-approved budge item of more than $1,500.00, unless recommended by the Session as Trustees and fully authorized by a quorum of the Corporation. ARTICLE X Duties of Officers The President or Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees; and shall preside over all Corporation meetings. The Secretary shall be present at all meetings of the Board, and at all Corporation meetings, and shall keep correct minutes of the proceedings. He / She shall perform all other duties required by the Charter and these By-Laws, or the regulations of the board. He / She shall keep all books and papers committed to his / her care in such place of security as may be designated by the Board; and in case of his / her absence, he / she shall provide a suitable substitute to attend to his / her duties, or the Board may appoint a Secretary pro-tem. The Treasurer shall be present at all meetings of the Board, and at all Corporation meetings. He / She shall receive all funds as soon as paid into the church and give proper receipts therefor. He / She shall pay all bills of current expense (except those of unusual nature), and, upon approval, all other bills of the Corporation. He / She shall keep a correct account of all receipts and disbursements. At the expiration of his / her term of office, he / she shall deliver to their successor, within one week after the election and qualification of the successor, all money, books, and papers, or any other security of the Corporation in his / her possession. ARTICLE XI Mortgaging of the Church Property The Trustees shall not mortgage church property in any amount without written permission of 5 / 6
the Presbyterian transmitted through the Session of the Church, and without approval of the Corporation. ARTICLE XII Auditing The financial records and accounts of the Trustees, Session, Benevolence Account, and the Building Maintenance Account shall be audited quarterly by the church Auditing Committee. The records and accounts of all other church affiliated organizations shall be audited annually. Financial records shall be made available to the auditors within fifteen (15) days following the close of each period. The Auditing Committee shall consist of six (6) auditors divided into three equal classes one class of whom shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term. One year shall elapse between expiration of one full three year term and eligibility for re-election. Reports of the quarterly audits shall be presented to the Session and the reports of year-end audits shall be presented at the annual meeting. ARTICLE XIII Fiscal Year The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year. ARTICLE XIV Amendments to By-Laws The provisions of ARTICLE XV of the By-Laws for the Congregation shall apply. Amendments: June 10, 1984 January 10, 1988 June 27, 1993 6 / 6