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ARTICLE III- Meetings

SECTION A - FOR WORSHIP

  1. The Mayflower Church will, unless otherwise voted, hold at least one worship service each Sunday, the time to be determined by the Board of Elders/Pastor.
  2. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper will ordinarily be observed on the first Sunday of each month and on other occasions as the Elders or Pastor may direct.
  3. Midweek services and other meetings may be arranged by the Pastor in conjunction with the Elders or by vote of the Church.

SECTION B – FOR BUSINESS

  1. The Church will meet quarterly at the call of the Clerk on a Sunday afternoon in January, April, July, and October, the specific dates to be set by the Clerk in consultation with the Board of Elders, unless otherwise voted. The call for such meeting will be read from the pulpit and a copy thereof posted in some conspicuous place near the entrance to the place of worship on at least two Sundays before the day of said meeting.
  2. Action may be taken on any business as specified in the call or authorized in the By-laws.
  3. The order of business will be as follows:
    1. Reading of the Call by the Clerk, or in the Clerk’s absence, by any Officer
    2. Prayer by the Pastor and in his absence, an Elder
    3. Reading of the minutes of the previous business meeting(s)
    4. Membership matters
    5. Reports of Officers and Boards
    6. Old business
    7. Election of Officers and Boards
    8. New business
    9. Correspondence
    10. Adjournment
  4. The Annual year of the Church will run from January 1 through December 31.
  5. At the October Quarterly Meeting, Board Members and Officers for the ensuing year(s) and the annual budget, both to become effective in January, will be approved by the Membership. The report of the Nominating Team and the annual budget will be available two weeks prior to the meeting.
  6. At the April Quarterly Meeting, the Officers of Boards and Teams of the previous year will submit their annual reports in writing, except that the financial reports will be submitted in writing at both the April and October Quarterly Meetings.
  7. Special meetings of the Church will be called by the Clerk at the request of the Pastor, the Elders, the Diaconate, the Servants Council, the Trustees, the Board of Finance, or upon the written request of any five Members specifying the object thereof. The notice will be read at the services on the Sunday preceding the day fixed for such meeting.
  8. Immediately following any of the regular meetings for worship on Sunday, the Church may, upon special notice, act on the appointment of delegates to councils and conferences, on applications for Church Membership, or to vote on a vacancy on a Board but not on other business. Other exceptions for a brief meeting may be made at the recommendation of the Pastor or Elders.
  9. At all duly called business meetings the Moderator will preside. If the Moderator is absent, the Members present will elect a Moderator pro tem.
  10. At all business meetings, ten percent of active Membership will be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
    1. The approval of routine meeting business will be determined by a majority vote.
    2. A proposal to amend the Constitution or the By-Laws require a two-thirds vote of the Members present and voting.
    3. A proposal to call a Pastor or to terminate a Pastor requires a three-fourths vote by ballot of the Members present and voting.
    4. Upon request of one Member, any vote or election will be conducted by ballot.
  11. If, due to circumstances beyond control, holding of a scheduled business meeting or Church service is impractical or inappropriate, the Moderator, the Chairman of the Board of Elders, and the Pastor, acting jointly, are empowered to postpone the meeting and set a new date.

SECTION C - THE CONGREGATION

The congregation will be notified to attend the business meetings of the Church. Non-Members and inactive Members may take part in discussion but may not vote.

SECTION D- THE LARGER CONSTITUENCY

The larger constituency of the Church, including routine attenders, families whose children are in youth programs, Members of Mayflower Church organizations and others whose religious interests are with the Church, will be kept in mind in the administration of the affairs of the Church.

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