Christ Episcopal Church, Accokeek

Stephen T. Arpee, Rector
St. John's Parish, 600 Farmington Road West, Accokeek, Maryland 20607

March 24, 2003

To all members of St. John’s Parish

     The Vestry has called a Special Meeting for Sunday, May 4, 2003, right after the nine o’clock service, to Amend the Parish ByLaws.  Little or nothing is changed in the content of the ByLaws, but this is an effort to clarify and make more readable the ByLaws as amended in December 27, 2001.  A copy of both versions side-by-side for comparison is enclosed.  A set of supporting papers is available at the back of the church.

     The only substantial change in these ByLaws from the version approved in December 2001, is in the definition of Vestry members and their term of office, Sec. 3 (a&b). References to a youth member and a representative from St. John’s Chapel have been dropped because both types of representation are still possible under the proposed version of the ByLaw.  The definition of a quorum has been changed in two instances (Sec. 2d, Sec. 10b); and sections referring to the amendment of the ByLaws have all been gathered together in the new Sec. 10.

     Other changes are for clarification and are intended to convey the original meaning of the text: Sec. 1 Members Entitled to Vote, Sec. 3 (g) on Affiliation, and Sec. 8 (c) on the Rector’s contract.

     Sec. 1, “Members Entitled to Vote,” is essentially a process of “self-selection,”  based on the Guidelines published last September which are, in turn, based on the definition of a "communicant in good standing" as found in the national canons of the Episcopal Church (Title I Sec. 17):

1. Have you been Confirmed, or Received, in the Episcopal Church? That is, have you made an adult reaffirmation of your baptismal promises with prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop of the Episcopal Church?  [Book of Common Prayer, pp. 302-305; 413-419]
2.  Are you committed to Christ's ministry of reconciliation and service in St. John's Parish?
3. Have you been "faithful in corporate worship" in Christ Church, receiving communion usually at least once a month during the past year?
4. Have you been "faithful in giving" financially to the support of the parish during the past six months in proportion to your financial resources?

     While it is the responsibility of the Vestry to draw up and publish a rough list on the basis of available information, it is up to each parishioner to verify his own place on the list and then contact either the Rector or the Senior Warden if there is any question.

     Sec. 3, “On Affiliation,” has been adjusted to make it clear that change of affiliation would be considered only in the case that it was necessary in order for the parish to remain in the Anglican Communion, that is, in a jurisdiction in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

     Please read through the proposed amended ByLaws carefully. If you have suggestions about these or additional changes, you may offer them, of course, at the Special Meeting; but you may also forward them to the Vestry in advance. Your doing so might make it possible to save some time at the meeting.

                                                                         Yours sincerely,
 

                                                                         Barbara Sturman, Senior Warden

                                                                         Stephen T. Arpee, Rector

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