By-Laws

ARTICLE ONE: CONDUCT OF PASTORAL COUNCIL BUSINESS

 

Section 1: Meetings

 

1.      Meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month, unless impeded by a  holiday, or a conflict arises in which case the Chairperson will reschedule the meeting.

 

2.      The first orders of business following the opening prayer will be the approval of the minutes from the previous regular meeting, approval of minutes from any special meetings conducted since the last regular meeting, and the meeting agenda developed by the Executive Committee and Pastor for the current meeting

 

Section 2:  Consensus/Voting 

 

1.      The Council makes every effort to make decisions by developing a consensus  but,  if a question comes to a vote, each elected member has one vote.

 

2.      Proxy votes are not allowed.

 

3.      Any Council member may request a secret ballot or a roll call vote.

 

4.      The ex-officio members and staff members do not vote but may participate in Council deliberations.

 

5.      The Chairperson, or Vice-Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson is a voting member only to break a tie.

 

6.      The latest revision of Roberts Rules of Order governs the conduct of all meetings unless overruled by the Council Constitution or these By-Laws.

 

ARTICLE II:  MEMBERSHIP

 

  Section 1: Recruitment Committee  

 

1.          The purpose of the Recruitment Committee is to seek out qualified parishioners willing to serve as duly selected members of the Pastoral Council.

 

2.          The Recruitment Committee will be appointed by the Chairperson at the August meeting.

 

 

 

  Section 2: Election Process

 

1.      New members to the Pastoral Council will be selected as outlined in the following steps.

 

2.      A notice will be placed in the Parish Bulletin for the first two weeks in September asking interested parishioners to contact either the Chairperson or the Recruitment Committee. Any registered Parishioner, who is fully initiated into the Christian community, is eligible to apply.

 

3.      Parishioners will have until the fourth Sunday in September to apply.

 

4.      On Friendship Sunday in the month of September, the Recruitment Committee will be available to answer questions.     

 

5.      There should be at least twice as many applicants as there are vacancies, with an equal number of men and women for each vacancy if possible

 

 

 

Section 3: Procedures

 

 The selection will take place at a Prayer Service at the October Pastoral Council   meeting.  The Pastor will preside at the Prayer Service. (see attachment)

 

 

ARTICLE III: REVISIONS

 

 Section 1:

 

1. These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the elected members of the Council at any duly constituted meeting providing that all members of the Council were informed as to the proposed amendment by written notice five days prior to the meeting.

 

2.  These By-Laws shall be reviewed, amended, or re-enacted as necessary at least every third year.