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BYLAWS OF ST. JOHN'S PARISH
CHRIST CHURCH, ACCOKEEK, MARYLAND, AND
ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, POMONKEY,
APPROVED APRIL 4, 1972 - AMENDED DECEMBER 27, 2001, AND
MAY 4, 2003
PURPOSE:
Pursuant to the Canons of the National Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Washington together with Maryland Religious Corporation Laws (Title 5-301 through 5-313), these by-laws are hereby adopted for the conduct of the business of St. John's Parish.
Sec. 1. Members Entitled to Vote at the Meetings of the Parish:
The electoral roll shall be revised by the Rector and Senior Warden and approved by the Vestry prior to every Annual or Special Meeting of the Congregation (Sec. 9) at least one month before a Meeting. All voters shall be (i) baptized members recorded in the parish register, (ii) at least 18 years of age, when not prohibited by public law; and, (iii) communicants of the Church “in good standing,” as defined in Canon I.17.3 of the Constitution and Canons of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church (2000 Edition, page 52), for at least six months preceding an Annual or Special Meeting, and (iv) financial contributors of record to the Parish within the six months preceding a Meeting. A “contributor of record” is one whose donations are recorded by the parish Treasurer.
Sec. 2. Meetings of the Parish
(a) Annual Meeting: Shall be the Sunday nearest February 15th unless otherwise determined by the Vestry. Notice of the time and place shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 2 (c), below.
(b) Special Meetings: Special Meetings of the Parish may be called by: (i) the Rector, (ii) a simple majority of the Vestry, or (iii) a petition of no less than 20 qualified voters of the Parish.
(c) Notice of Meetings: A written or printed notice shall be mailed to all known members of the Parish advising as to the place, day and hour of any Annual or Special Meeting, and in the case of a Special Meeting, of the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. Such notice shall be mailed no less than (30) days prior to a meeting.
(d) Quorum: Thirty-five percent (35%) of the members entitled to vote at meetings of the Parish shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the quorum present shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted upon by the members. A larger quorum is required for an amendment to the Bylaws (see Sec. 10)
(e) Presiding Officer: Shall be the Rector, or in the Rector's absence, the Senior Warden, or in the Senior Warden's absence, the Junior Warden, or such other Vestry member as the voting members at the meeting shall select; except that if there is no Rector, the Bishop shall preside, if present.
Sec. 3. Vestry:
(a) Members: There shall be total of eleven (11) Vestry members, consisting of: eight (8) Trustees, two (2) Church Wardens (Junior and Senior), and the Rector who is the eleventh voting member. With the exception of the Rector, Vestry members are to be elected at the Annual Meetings of the congregation: each year, two (2) Trustees and one (1) Warden. For the election of Wardens, see Sec. 4.
(b) Term: The term of a Vestry Trustee shall be four (4) years. After having served a full four (4) year term, a Trustee is ineligible for re-election as Trustee for one (1) year, but may be elected Senior or Junior Warden. In the event of a vacancy through death, resignation, or forfeiture, a majority of the Vestry may appoint from among the voting members of the Parish a successor to fill the vacancy and complete that term. An appointee shall be considered as having completed a “full” term of office if they have served three or more years of that term.
(c) Election: The Vestry shall be elected at the Annual Meeting from among the members entitled to vote (Sec. 1). Nominations for Christ Church Trustees and Wardens will be provided by a Vestry Nominating Committee appointed by the current Vestry. Additional nominations may be made from the floor if the persons to be nominated have given their permission to have their names placed in nomination and they qualify as voting members (Sec. 1).
(d) Meetings: Meetings of the Vestry shall occur at a regular time each month, except that the July and August meetings may be waived by a majority of the Vestry. Six of the eleven Vestry members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of the majority of the Vestry members present at a meeting shall be the act of the Vestry provided a quorum has been attained. In certain situations, a larger quorum is required: (Sec. 3.f,g) when a property transaction is involved, or (Sec. 8) the relation of the Vestry to a new Rector is being negotiated. The Vestry may adopt rules for its own operation.
(e) Duties and Responsibilities: The Vestry shall be the agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate personal and real property, and the relations of the Parish to the clergy and the wider church.
(f) Owner and Title Holder: The Vestry shall be considered the title holder of all real and personal property of the Corporation. The sale or transfer of real or personal property must be approved by at least eight (8) of the eleven Vestry members.
(g) Affiliation: The Vestry shall have full authority in matters concerning the affiliation of the Parish within the Anglican Communion, and to adopt such changes to the Parish Bylaws solely to effect such action. A change in ecclesiastical affiliation must be approved by at least eight (8) of the eleven Vestry members. The Vestry shall consult the congregation at a Special Meeting before making such a decision.
(h) Rector: The Rector shall be a member of the Vestry with the right to vote and shall preside at all meetings thereof. In his absence, the Senior or Junior Warden shall preside, or in their absence, an appointee of a majority of the Vestry may preside. If there is no Rector, the Bishop, if present, shall preside.
(i) Committees: The Rector or Senior Warden, with the consent of the majority of the Vestry members, may designate or appoint one or more committees, each of which shall include at least one Vestry member. The purpose and guidelines of a committee shall be stated in a Vestry resolution.
(j) Oath: An oath shall be publicly administered to each Vestry member during the Liturgy, declaring that they will faithfully execute the office to which they have been elected. Said oath shall be in the form prescribed in the Vestry Act of 1798.
(k) Forfeiture of Position: The office of Vestry member shall be considered vacant upon failure of the Vestry member to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings. Such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 3(b).
Sec. 4. Church Wardens:
The Senior Warden and Junior Warden shall be elected at an Annual Parish Meeting from among the members entitled to vote. The Senior Warden shall be elected in odd calendar years and the Junior Warden in even calendar years. The Wardens shall be over 21 years of age. The Wardens shall be members of the Vestry, and shall have further authority and perform such duties in the management of the property and affairs of the Parish as are provided by law and resolutions of the Vestry not inconsistent therewith. The term of office for a Warden shall be for two (2) years. A Warden may be re-elected for one (1) additional consecutive two-year term for a total of four years, after which they are ineligible for election to the Vestry for a period of one (1) year. Thus, a Vestry member may serve up to eight (8) consecutive years, four years as a Trustee and four years as Warden, in that order. An appointee Warden shall be considered to have completed a term of office if he or she has served one and a half or more years of that term.
Sec. 5. Treasurer:
The Vestry shall appoint a Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer of the Parish who may or may not be a member of the Parish and/or Vestry. The terms of appointment shall be for (1) year and re-appointments may be made for two (2) additional years for a total of three (3) years, after which an individual is ineligible for re-appointment for a period of one year. The extent of the authority of the Treasurer shall be as prescribed by canon law and resolutions of the Vestry not inconsistent therewith. The duties of the Assistant Treasurer shall be as resolved by the Vestry and performance of duties shall be subject to the guidance of the Treasurer. There shall be a requirement of two signatures on all checks written on church funds, and an annual audit shall be performed on all financial records.
Sec. 6. Registrar:
The Vestry shall appoint a Registrar and Assistant Registrar of the Parish who may or may not be members of the Parish and/or Vestry. The terms of appointment shall be for (1) year and renewable. The extent of authority of the Registrar shall be as prescribed by canon law and resolutions of the Vestry not inconsistent therewith, including the duty to keep an enrollment of all baptized members of the Parish. The duties of the Assistant Registrar shall be as prescribed by the Vestry and performance of duties shall be subject to the guidance of the Registrar.
Sec. 7. Delegate:
A delegate and alternate delegate to the Diocesan Convention shall be appointed by the Vestry. In the event that both are unable to attend the Diocesan Convention, the Rector may appoint an additional alternate.
Sec. 8. Clergy:
(a) Rector: When the position of Rector becomes vacant, the Vestry shall, by at least a majority vote of the whole Vestry, elect a new Rector from among the ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Such election shall follow consultation with the Bishop in conformity with appropriate canons of the General Convention.
(b) Assistant Ministers: The whole Vestry may, by majority vote, elect assistant ministers from among the ministers of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at the nomination of the Rector, and after consultation with the Bishop in conformity with the appropriate canons of the General Convention.
(c) Contract: The form of contract, its terms and conditions, shall be as approved by a majority vote of the whole Vestry, and shall contain provisions for payment of the required assessment to the Church Pension Fund in accordance with its rules. The contract shall specify the Rector’s term of service. The first term shall be three years, and renewable.
Sec. 9. Vestry Members to Judge Elections:
The Vestry shall be the judge of the election of Vestry members, and of the qualifications of voters, and the qualifications of the parishioners proposed to be elected Vestry members.
Sec. 10. Amendment of the Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended at an Annual or Special Meeting of the voting members of the congregation under these conditions:
(a) Notice of Meeting: A written or printed notice shall be mailed to all members of the Parish entitled to vote advising as to the place, day and hour of a meeting for any amendment, modification, or repeal of Bylaws. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 30 days prior to the meeting. The notice shall include the text of the proposed change(s) and explanation.
(b) Quorum: Fifty per cent (50%) of the members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for a meeting for the amendment of the Bylaws. A two-thirds vote of the quorum present is required for amendment of the Bylaws.
(c) Change of Affiliation: If the Vestry acts to change the affiliation of the Parish, in accordance with Sec. 3 (g), it has the authority to make the necessary changes in these Bylaws. A change in ecclesiastical affiliation must be approved by at least eight (8) of the eleven Vestry members. The Vestry shall consult the congregation at a Special Meeting before making such a decision.
Sec. 11. Severability:
If any parts of these Bylaws, its sections, or subsections are deemed unenforceable or unlawful, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.
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