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First
Presbyterian Church |
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First
Presbyterian Church |
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Bylaws
of The First
Presbyterian Church Shelbyville,
Tennessee I.
Statement of Purpose or Mission
The First Presbyterian Church of
Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee has been called by God and
organized to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to minister to the
needs of members of the congregation and residents of the community, and
to promote peace and justice in the world. Vision Statement “Building
on our heritage, we are inspired by God to become a connected community
of servants.” II.
Relation to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) The First Presbyterian Church of
Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee is a member church of the
Presbytery of Middle Tennessee in the Synod of The Living Waters of the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). III.
Governance of the Church
This church shall be governed in
accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Consistent with that Constitution, these bylaws shall
provide specific guidance for this church.
Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall be used
for parliamentary guidance. IV.
Meetings of the Church
There shall be an annual meeting
of the congregation in the church sanctuary on the Third Sunday in
January, at which at least the following business shall be presented:
annual reports from organizations and the session (information
only), financial report for the preceding year, budget for the current
year (information only), changes in the terms of call for the pastor(s),
nominating committee report for church officers (Book of Order
G-7.0302), electing members to serve on the nominating committee. V.
Notice of Meetings Public notice of the meetings
shall be given in printed and verbal form on at least two successive
Sundays prior to the meeting. When
the meeting is called for the purpose of electing a pastor, the notice
shall be given in printed and verbal form at least ten days in advance,
which shall include two successive Sundays. (Book of Order G-7.0303) VI. Moderator The pastor shall moderate the
meetings. If there are
co-pastors, they shall alternately preside at meetings.
When the church is without a pastor, the moderator appointed by
the presbytery shall preside. If
it is impractical for the pastor or the moderator of the session
appointed by the presbytery to preside, he or she shall invite, with the
concurrence of the session, another minister of the presbytery to
preside. When this is not expedient, and when both the pastor or the
moderator concur, a member of the session may be invited to preside.
(Book of Order G-7.0306) VII.
Secretary
The clerk of session shall serve
as secretary. If the clerk
is not present or is unable to serve, the congregation shall elect a
secretary. VIII.
Minutes of the Meeting
The minutes of the meeting
recorded by the secretary shall be attested by the moderator and the
secretary, recorded in the minute book of the session. (Book of Order
G-7.0307) It can then be posted on the bulletin board outside the church
office. IX.
Quorum for the meeting
The quorum of a meeting of the
congregation shall be the moderator, the secretary, and ________members,
but under no circumstances shall it be fewer than one tenth of the
active members of the congregation. Consistent with the laws of the
state of Tennessee, a quorum shall be __________active members on
corporate matters. The secretary shall determine that a quorum is
present. Only active members may vote (Book of Order G-7.0301),
regardless of age. Consistent with the laws of the state of
_____________, voting is restricted to active members age _______ or
above. Voting by proxy is not allowed. Consistent with the laws of the
state of Tennessee, voting by proxy shall be permitted only on the
following matters: (Book of Order G-7.0404) X.
Incorporation
In accordance with the laws of
the state of Tennessee, the congregation shall cause a corporation to be
formed. Consistent with the laws of this state, both ecclesiastical and
corporate business may be conducted at the same meeting of the
congregation. (Book of Order G-7.0304) (Note: There will be
variations from state to state on provisions for incorporation. Since
the pastor or moderator is not a member of the corporation, consistent
with Article VI, a member of the session shall be invited to moderate
the meeting when corporate matters appear on the agenda. The elders
serving on the session shall serve at the same time as trustees.) XI.
Nominating Committee
The congregation shall form a
nominating committee in the following manner: 1. There shall be nine members on the nominating committee. 2. Two of the members shall be elders designated by the session,
one of whom shall be currently serving on the session and shall serve as
moderator of the committee. 3. Two of the members shall be designated by and from the board
of deacons. 4. Five of the members, not persons currently serving on the
session in the board of deacons, shall be nominated and elected at the
annual meeting of the congregation. 5. Members of the committee shall be elected annually, and no
member shall serve more than three years consecutively. 6. The pastor shall be a member ex officio and without vote. 7. The nominating committee shall bring to the congregation
nominations only for the number of positions to be filled. 8. The floor shall be open for nominations at the annual
meeting. (See Book of Order
G-14.0201.) XII.
Elders
The congregation shall elect
Twelve (12) elders divided into three equal classes, one class of whom
shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term.
No elder shall serve for consecutive terms, either full or partial,
aggregating more than six years. An
elder having served a total of six years shall be ineligible for
reelection to the session for a period of at least one year. The session, at its first
meeting following the annual meeting, shall elect an elder to serve as
clerk and shall form such committees as necessary to carry out its work.
At that same meeting of the session, the session shall annually
elect a treasurer. A quorum
for the session shall be the pastor or other presiding officer and one
third of the elders. XIII.
Deacons
The congregation shall elect
Fifteen (15) deacons divided into three equal classes, one class of whom
shall be elected each year at the annual meeting for a three-year term.
No deacon shall serve for consecutive terms either full or partial,
aggregating more than six years. A
deacon having served a total of six years shall be ineligible for
reelection to the board of deacons for a period of at least one year. The board of deacons, at its
first meeting following the annual meeting, shall elect a moderator and
a secretary from among its members and shall form such committees as
necessary to carry out its work. The pastor shall be an advisory member
of the board of deacons. A quorum for the board of deacons shall be one
third of the members, including the moderator. XIV.
Vacancies
Vacancies on the session or the
board of deacons may be filled at a special meeting of the congregation
or at the annual meeting, as the session may determine. XV.
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended subject to the Articles of Incorporation, the laws of the state of Tennessee and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by a two-thirds vote of the voters present, providing that the proposed changes in printed form shall have been distributed at the same time as the call of the meeting at which the changes are voted upon. |
