BYLAWS
of
THE
PREAMBLE
The Magnolia Presbyterian Church (MPC), being a particular congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ("PC (USA)"), recognizes that the Constitution of said church, is, in all of its provisions, obligatory upon it and all of its members.
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the Magnolia Presbyterian Church shall be established by the session of the church as defined by the Constitution of the PC (USA).
ARTICLE II
BOARDS
SECTION 1. GENERAL
Meetings of the Boards of the MPC shall be conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the PC (USA) so far as they apply, and when they do not apply, according to Roberts' Rules of Order.
SECTION 2. OPENING AND CLOSING
All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer.
SECTION 3. RULING ELDERS
The session shall be composed of nine (9) elders in active service, divided into three (3) equal classes, with each class elected to a term of three (3) years, each term beginning January 1 and ending December 31. A term may be shorter than three years when it is necessary to elect an elder to fill a vacancy. No elder shall be elected for a term of more than three years, nor will an elder 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 re-election to the same board for a period of at least one year. The duties and responsibilities of the session and elders not in active service are as provided in the Constitution of the PC (USA).
SECTION 4. DEACONS
There shall be nine (9) deacons in active service, divided into three (3) equal classes with each class elected to a term of three (3) years, each term beginning January 1 and ending December 31. A term may be shorter than three years when it is necessary to elect a deacon to fill a vacancy. No deacon shall be elected for a term of more than three years, nor shall a deacon 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 re-election to the same board for a period of at least one year. The duties and responsibilities of deacons, both in and out of active service are as provided in the Constitution of the PC (USA).
SECTION 5. QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of the moderator of the board and one-third (1/3) of the members of that board as provided by the Constitution of the PC (USA).
SECTION 6. VACANCIES
Vacancies on the session or board of deacons may be filled at a Special Meeting of the Congregation or at the Annual Congregational Meeting, as the session may determine.
SECTION 7. TRAINING AND ORDINATION
Training shall occur as soon as practicable after the election of ruling elders and active deacons but shall occur prior to the end of the calendar year. Ordination and installation shall occur after training and prior to the end of the calendar year. The term of office for ruling elders and active deacons shall be January 1 through December 31.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
SECTION 1. TRUSTEES
Members of the session shall act as trustees in matters affecting the
corporation, as defined by the laws of the State of
SECTION 2. OFFICERS
The trustees shall elect from their board a president, a vice president, and a recording secretary, who shall be the designated signatories on all legal documents, acting under the authority of the session.
SECTION 3. DUTIES
The trustees shall represent the corporate body of the church in matters of civil law and procedure.
ARTICLE IV
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. COMPOSITION
Nominations for active elders and deacons shall be made annually by a representative nominating committee, the composition of which shall be as provided in the Constitution of the PC (USA). There shall be four (4) committee members elected by the congregation who may not be active elders or deacons while they serve on the nominating committee. No member of the committee may serve more than three years consecutively. Elder and deacon membership of the nominating committee is mandated by the Book of Order.
SECTION 2. DUTIES
The nominating committee will bring to a special meeting of the congregation held in accordance with Article VI, Section 4(b) (and to any other special or annual congregational meeting as directed by the session) a single slate of active members for all offices that will be vacant.
ARTICLE V
FINANCE AND AUDIT
SECTION 1. CHURCH TREASURER
As provided in the Constitution of the PC (USA), the church treasurer shall be elected annually by the session, and his or her work shall be supervised by the session.
SECTION 2. AUDITING
An annual audit and review of all funds, records, and reports of the church and its organizations and societies shall be performed in accordance with the rules of the Constitution of the PC (USA) as it now exists or is hereafter amended.
ARTICLE VI
CONGREGATIONAL / CORPORATE MEETINGS
SECTION 1. DATE AND NOTICE.
The Annual Congregational Meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Corporation shall be held in January of each year at a time and date to be designated by the session, but if not otherwise designated, will be held on the last Sunday of January, for the transaction of any business properly coming before such meeting. Notice shall be given of this from the pulpit on the two successive Sundays preceding and notice shall be posted on the principle bulletin board of the church, and all members shall be contacted by mail via the church publication, The Spire.
SECTION 2. OFFICERS
(A) The moderator of the Congregational / Corporate meeting shall be the pastor, or in
his/her absence, a substitute as provided in the Constitution of the PC (USA).
(B) The clerk of the Congregational / Corporate meeting shall be the clerk of session, or in
his/her absence, someone appointed by the session for this purpose.
(C) Ten percent, or a minimum of twenty-five (25), whichever is greater, of the active members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all Congregational / Corporate meetings.
(D) Election may be by ballot, or viva voce, or by standing for count, or by show of hands.
SECTION 3. CORPORATE MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the Corporation shall be held at the same time and place as the Annual Congregational Meeting and shall run concurrently with said Annual Congregational Meeting.
SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS
(A) Special meetings of the congregation or corporation may be called by the session, as provided by the Constitution of the PC (USA), by giving public notice thereof from the pulpit of the church on two successive Sundays next preceding such meeting. No other call or notice need be given. At such meetings, no business shall be transacted except as specified in the call for business.
(B) A Special Congregational Meeting for the election of officers, and other such matters which may be stated in the call, shall be held each year on any Sunday in October or November, prior to Thanksgiving, following the main worship service. Notice of this Special Congregational Meeting shall be served as in Section 1 for the Annual Congregational Meeting.
SECTION 5. ELIGIBLE VOTERS.
All active members, irrespective of age, of the MPC are eligible to vote on congregational or corporate matters which are the responsibility of the congregation. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1.
These bylaws may be amended subject to the charter of the corporation, the laws of the State of Washington, and the Constitution of the PC (USA) at any Annual Meeting or at any Special Meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voters present, provided that a full reading of the proposed changes or a printed distribution of the same shall have been made in connection with the call of the meeting.
SECTION 2.
The bylaws or the charter of this corporation may not be amended contrary to, or so as not to include, the provisions of the Constitution of the PC (USA).
SECTION 3.
All amendments to these bylaws take effect immediately upon their adoption as provided herein.