BYLAWS 2017 AMENDMENT EXPLAINED

Transcription

1 BYLAWS 2017 AMENDMENT EXPLAINED Page 1

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Amendment Committee Amendment Details... 4 a. Name: Vancouver Church (Article 1.1)...4 b. Membership: Voting Privilege (Article 3.2 & 3.3)...5 c. Officers: Terms of Office (Article 4.7)...6 d. Senior Pastor: Qualification (Article 5.1, 5.2, & 5.3)...7 e. Senior Pastor: Selection or Removal (Article 5.4.1, 5.3.2, & 5.4.3)...8 f. Board of Trustees: Membership (Article & 6.1.2)...9 g. Board of Trustees: Qualification (Article 6.2.4) h. Board of Trustees: Duties and Responsibility (Article 6.3.1) i. Board of Trustees: Meetings (Article 6.5.2) j. Board of Trustees: Removal and Vacancy (Article 6.6.1) k. Annual Business Meeting: Quorum (Article 7.5.2) l. Committees: Leadership Selection Committee (Article & 8.2.2) m. Committees: King s Way Christian School Advisory Council (Article 8.3 & 8.3.1) n. Committees: Missions Council (Article 8.4 & 8.4.1) o. Amendments: (Article 9.1) Page 2

3 1. Introduction This document lists proposed Bylaws amendment of First Church of God of Vancouver, Washington (Vancouver Church). The amendment will be brought to congregation for approval in the July 2017 Church business meeting. This amendment is prompted by the separation of King s Way Christian School (KWCS) from Vancouver Church in Other modifications are being proposed to improve readability. 2. Amendment Committee The Board of Trustees (BOT) assembled an amendment committee in 2016 with the following members. Jim Teague (former BOT, KWCS Board Chair) Tom Meyer (BOT) Brady Lander (BOT) Dick Shaffer (BOT Treasurer) Nanseng Jeng (BOT Chair) The Committee members read the Bylaws and proposed modifications individually. All the proposed modifications were compiled and discussed by all the Amendment Committee members together. A final proposal of Bylaws amendment was made by the Committee, presented to the BOT in the May meeting and received an approval to go to the congregation for final approval in July. Page 3

4 3. Amendment Details a. Name: Vancouver Church (Article 1.1) The name of this corporation registered under state of Washington is First Church of God of Vancouver, Washington. The aliased name, VFCOG, is being replaced by Vancouver Church. Vancouver Church or Church is used throughout the Bylaws. Below shows an example of this change. 1.1 (before) The name of this corporation is Vancouver First Church of God, hereafter referred to as VFCOG and/or Church and is a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Washington. VFCOG is a voluntary organization associated with Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana, and all related organizations that are approved by Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana. 1.1 (after) The name of this corporation is First Church of God of Vancouver, Washington, hereafter referred to as Vancouver Church or Church and is a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Washington. Vancouver Church is a voluntary organization associated with Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana, and all related organizations that are approved by Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana. Page 4

5 b. Membership: Voting Privilege (Article 3.2 & 3.3) General voting privilege has been defined by Article 3.1. Any amendment to voting privilege shall be done through Bylaws amendment. Therefore, Article 3.2 is redundant and is being removed, so Article 3.3 is becoming Article 3.2. In now Article 3.3, member s right to vote is being replaced by member s voting privilege to maintain consistency. In addition, Senior Pastor is being removed from hearing the dispute of member s voting privilege. The Executive Committee of the Board (Officers) will handle the complaint alone. 3.2 (before) The membership, by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present and voting, shall retain the right to define its own membership and to declare, on occasion, when individuals are recognized by the members as adhering to the Biblical principles to which VFCOG itself is committed. 3.3 (before) An objection to any member's right to vote may be raised at any time before the Chairperson calls for the actual voting. If an attendee's right to vote in a business meeting of the Church is challenged, the Senior Pastor and/or the Executive Committee shall hear the complainant (in confidence) and shall request from the challenged attendee an affirmation of the requirements of voting membership identified in Section 1. Upon affirmation of conformance to the requirements for voting eligibility, and with confirmation of the Senior Pastor and/or Executive Committee, the challenged attendee will be allowed to vote at the business meeting. 3.2 (after) An objection to any member's voting privilege may be raised at any time before the Chairperson calls for the actual vote. If an attendee's voting privilege in a business meeting of the Church is challenged, the Executive Committee (Officers) shall hear the complainant (in confidence) and shall request from the challenged attendee an affirmation of the requirements of voting membership identified in in Section 3.1. Upon affirmation of conformance to the requirements for voting privilege, and with confirmation of the Executive Committee, the challenged attendee will be allowed to vote at the business meeting. Page 5

6 c. Officers: Terms of Office (Article 4.7) A modification is being made to avoid confusion of Officer s eligibility. Currently, Board of Trustees members are serving a three-year term and the Officers are elected from the second and third year Board of Trustees. All Officers are elected from Board of Trustees members as required in Article Note that the Board Policy Manual contains additional requirements of Board member s qualification for Officers. 4.7 (before) The officers shall serve a one (1) year term or until their successors are elected and qualify. The elected officers shall be eligible for no more than three consecutive full or partial terms. 4.7 (after) The Officers shall serve a one (1) year term or until their successors are elected. Page 6

7 d. Senior Pastor: Qualification (Article 5.1, 5.2, & 5.3) In Article 5.1, adding Anderson, Indiana after Church of God to avoid confusion with other Church of God organizations. In Article 5.2, inserting ordination requirement when the Senior Pastor at time of hiring is not a Church of God minister. In now Article 5.3 which used to be Article 5.2, Article 5.4 is becoming Article (before) The Senior Pastor of the Church shall be an ordained minister of the Church of God in good standing, being in fellowship and doctrinal unity with the ministers of the Churches of God in Oregon and Washington and with the General Ministerial Assembly of the Church of God which meets annually in Anderson, Indiana. 5.2 (before) The Board shall select a Senior Pastor to lead the affairs and ministries of VFCOG as stated in section 5.4 describing the selection process. The Senior Pastor shall hold that office at the pleasure of Vancouver First Church of God membership or until he/she resigns the office. 5.1 (after) The Senior Pastor of the Church shall be an ordained minister of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana in good standing. He/she shall maintain fellowship and doctrinal unity with the ministers of the Church of God in Oregon, Washington and Anderson, Indiana. 5.2 (after) If the Senior Pastor to be hired is not an ordained minister of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, he/she must agree to actively pursue and complete the ministerial ordination, set forth by Church of God Ministries, Anderson, Indiana in a timeline agreed and monitored by the Board. 5.3 (after) The Board shall select a Senior Pastor to lead the affairs and ministries of Vancouver Church as stated in section 5.5 describing the selection process. The Senior Pastor shall hold that office at the pleasure of Vancouver Church membership or until he/she resigns the office. Page 7

8 e. Senior Pastor: Selection or Removal (Article 5.4.1, 5.3.2, & 5.4.3) Article to is being rearranged to improve their readability. Both selection and removal of the Senior Pastor require a 3/4 th majority approval from the Board. There is no voting requirement change from congregation (before) The selection of the Senior Pastor shall require an affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the voting membership at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose (before) The removal of the Senior Pastor shall require the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the voting membership at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose (before) The removal of the Senior Pastor shall require the affirmative vote of 3/4 of the Board of Trustees at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose (after) The selection of the Senior Pastor shall require a three-fourths (3/4) majority approval from the Board, followed by an affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of Church voting membership at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose (after) The removal of the Senior Pastor shall require a three-fourths (3/4) majority approval from the Board, followed by an affirmative vote of a simple majority of Church voting membership at a regular or special meeting called for that purpose. Page 8

9 f. Board of Trustees: Membership (Article & 6.1.2) Increasing the minimal numbers of Board of Trustees from eleven to twelve would allow 4 new Trustees to be elected every year. As a result, the Officers succession can follow the same cadence for better continuity since all Officers can only serve a one-year term at each position. Adding a simple majority to spell out the implied ratification requirement. Adding at least to Article since Article calls for at least twelve persons (before) Vancouver First Church of God Board of Trustees shall be comprised of at least eleven (11) persons appointed by the Leadership Selection Committee and ratified by the corporate members during the annual business meeting (before) The Board shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and seven members-at-large (after) Vancouver Church Board of Trustees shall be comprised of at least twelve (12) persons appointed by the Leadership Selection Committee and ratified by a simple majority of Church voting members during the annual business meeting The Board shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and at least eight members-at-large. Page 9

10 g. Board of Trustees: Qualification (Article 6.2.4) Board of Trustees shall be at least 21 years of age (before) Each Board member shall be 21 years of age and attended the church for no less than two years (after) Each Board member shall be at least 21 years of age and shall have attended the Church for no less than two years. Page 10

11 h. Board of Trustees: Duties and Responsibility (Article 6.3.1) Adding fiduciary responsibilities to Article for better readability (before) The Board of Trustees will provide broad parameters, resources, and sound financial management for the accomplishments of the Vancouver First Church of God s mission, and: (after) The Board of Trustees will provide broad parameters, resources, and sound financial management for the accomplishments of the Vancouver Church s mission. Their fiduciary responsibilities include: Page 11

12 i. Board of Trustees: Meetings (Article 6.5.2) Adding regular Board meeting schedule shall be issued. Adding at least seven days notification in advance of a regular meeting (before) Written notice of a Board meeting shall be issued seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled meeting (after) Written notice of a regularly scheduled Board meeting shall be issued and a final meeting date issued at least seven (7) days in advance of the regularly scheduled meeting. Page 12

13 j. Board of Trustees: Removal and Vacancy (Article 6.6.1) Policy manual of the Board shall be called Board Policy Manual. Removing Secretary so Board member resignation first goes to the Chairperson of the Board (before) Any member may be removed for proper cause as defined by the policy manual of the Board, at any time. Any member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board or Secretary (after) Any member may be removed for proper cause as defined by the Board Policy Manual, at any time. Any member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairperson of the Board. Page 13

14 k. Annual Business Meeting: Quorum (Article 7.5.2) Changing annual business meeting quorum requirement from 12% to 25% of Church s Sunday worship attendance. The 12% attendance quorum was established when the attendance to the annual business meeting was low many years ago. To ensure a better representation at the annual business meeting, the quorum is being raised to 25%. Since the Church Annual Yearbook, aka Church Annual Report, may not include worship attendance numbers, the attendance record per Church Annual Yearbook is removed. The past 12 months attendance proceeding from the annual business meeting per Church office record will be used to calculate the 25% requirement for quorum. Adding Article in the case that the 25% quorum is not met, all actions taken by the annual business meeting are void (before) A quorum shall be declared if the number of eligible voting members present shall equal or exceed twelve percent (12%) of the church s Sunday A.M. attendance as published in the most current edition of the Annual Yearbook of the Church of God (after) A quorum shall be declared if the number of eligible voting members present shall equal or exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Church s average service attendance over the past twelve (12) months (after) In the event a quorum is not met, any and all actions taken by the voting membership during the annual business meeting or special meeting are void. Page 14

15 l. Committees: Leadership Selection Committee (Article & 8.2.2) Re-writing Article into Article and to for a better readability. Article 8.2.2, and receives no change but is being pushed to Article 8.2.5, and (before) Vancouver First Church of God Leadership Selection Committee shall be comprised of at least six (6) persons where four (4) are selected by the Leadership Selection Committee and ratified by the corporate members during the annual business meeting. The Board shall annually appoint two (2) other member of the Board from its membership or congregation or corporate members. The Pastor shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Leadership Selection Committee (after) The Vancouver Church Leadership Selection Committee (LSC) shall be comprised of no less than six (6) members. The purpose of the LSC is to recruit and vet all new Church Board and Committee members. Final confirmation of these Board and Committee members is individually ratified by a simple majority of Church voting members at the annual business meeting (after) Four (4) of the six (6) members of the committee shall be selected by the LSC and ratified through the process identified in section The remaining two (2) members of the LSC shall be selected by the Board of Trustees from its membership or congregation or corporate members. The Senior Pastor shall be an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the LSC. Page 15

16 m. Committees: King s Way Christian School Advisory Council (Article 8.3 & 8.3.1) King s Way Christian School Advisory Council no long exits after the separation from Vancouver Church. Therefore, Article 8.3 and are being removed. 8.3 (before) King s Way Christian School Advisory Council (before) The King s Way Christian School Advisory Council is to provide advice to the Vancouver First Church of God Board of Trustees or its designees to guide and perpetuate the mission of King s Way Christian Schools. (after) Page 16

17 n. Committees: Missions Council (Article 8.4 & 8.4.1) Article 8.4 and now is becoming Article 8.3 and due to the removal of Article 8.3 and Missions Council is being changed to Missions Action Committee to reflect the current name. 8.4 (before) Missions Council (before) The membership, qualifications, terms and duties of the Missions Council are outlined in the Board Policy Manual. 8.3 (after) Missions Action Committee (after) The membership, qualifications, terms and duties of the Missions Action Committee are outlined in the Board Policy Manual. Page 17

18 o. Amendments: (Article 9.1) Extending Bylaws amendment approval by the Board from 30 days to 60 days before the annual business meeting to allow extra time of review. 9.1 (before) These bylaws may be amended at any annual or special meeting of Vancouver First Church of God. Each proposed amendment must be presented to the Board not less than thirty (30) days prior to the annual or special meeting at which proposed amendment is to be considered and acted upon. 9.1 (after) These bylaws may be amended at any annual or special meeting of Vancouver Church. Each proposed amendment must be presented to the Board not less than sixty (60) days prior to the annual or special meeting at which proposed amendment is to be considered and acted upon. Page 18