4.   Membership may be withdrawn by any member church by action of its own membership in a duly called and held meeting and certification of such action communicated to the Scribe of the Council. 

 5.  The voting membership of the Council in meeting shall consist of not more than three authorized delegates from each member church

ARTICLE V    OFFICERS  

            The officers of the Council shall be the Moderator, Vice Moderator, Scribe, Treasurer, Ambassador(s) and a Youth Program Coordinator. He/she shall have an expense allowance as determined by the Council and administered by the Executive Committee. Expenses shall include postage and telephone calls, and travel to Board Meetings, including gasoline, tolls, motel accommodations and meals. He/she shall present a report at the Annual Meeting of the Council.

 ARTICLE VI    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 The management and daily business of this Council shall be vested in an Executive Committee consisting of the above officers who shall serve as the corporate trustees of the Council. The Executive Committee is directed by the member churches to implement decisions and polocies  established by the Council.

 The Executive Committee shall meet regularly to conduct Council business. Five members shall      constitute a quorum. Special meetings may be called at ten days notice by the Moderator or by             three voting members of the Committee.

 ARTICLE VII  DUTIES OF OFFICE

 1.  Moderator.  The Moderator shall preside at all meetings of  the Council and the Executive Committee. He/she shall coordinate the activities and responsibilities of the Executive Committee, and shall perform any other duties appertaining to his/her office.

 2. Vice Moderator. The Vice Moderator shall serve as Moderator in the absence of the elected official.  He/she shall work closely with the Moderator in fulfillment of the duties of that office. He/she shall coordinate publicity of all Council activities, and perform any other duties appertaining to his\her office. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Moderator, the Vice Moderator shall immediately succeed to that office for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 3.  Scribe. The Scribe shall maintain the records, minutes, and correspondence of the Council and the Executive Committee, shall send out calls to meetings and perform any other duties appertaining to his\her office.  He/she shall present a report at the Annual Meeting of the Council.

 4.  Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for receiving  holding, and distributing all monies of the Council and its subsidiary organizations, and shall keep accurate records thereof. He/she shall present a report at the Annual Meeting of the Council. The Council may at its discretion designate assistant treasurers who shall be responsible to the Council Treasurer.

 5. Ambassador(s). The Ambassador(s) shall serve in cooperation with the Executive Committee as liaison, official representative and formal designee between the Council, its member churches, and such other religious bodies and institutions as the Council deems appropriate. The Ambassador(s) may lend such advice and counsel as may be sought by member and non‑member churches and clergy, within the parameters set forth in Article II of the Council By‑ Laws.

 6. Youth Program Coordinator.  The Youth Program Coordinator shall be responsible for implementing youth programming as directed by the Council. The Coordinator shall chair the Youth Ministries Committee.

ARTICLE VIII   COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS

            The committees and organizations of this Council shall include a Youth Ministries Committee, Maine Pilgrim Fellowship and any other ad hoc committees the Council may appoint from time to  time.

1.  Youth Ministries Committee. The Youth Ministries Committee shall consist of seven members. It shall be responsible for implementing the youth program of the Council and oversee the Maine Pilgrim Fellowship, camping program, and such other youth ministries as may be developed.

 2.  Maine Pilgrim Fellowship. The Maine Pilgrim Fellowship shall be the subsidiary organization of    the Council for the youth of its member churches. It shall operate under the jurisdiction of the Youth Ministries Committee.

3. Ad Hoc Nominating Committee.  At the Fall Meeting each year, a Nominating Committee shall be elected by the Maine Council. They shall prepare a slate of nominees for vacant positions and present that slate at the next Annual Meeting of the Maine Council. With that presentation, the Nominating Committee is disbanded.

ARTICLE IX    ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

 1. Elections of Officers. The Officers of the Council shall be nominated and elected at the Annual     Meeting and shall perform such duties as herein described for the elected term of one year.

 2.  Election of Committees. Committee members shall be elected for three year terms.      

3.  Filling of Vacancies.  The Executive Committee shall be empowered to fill vacancies in office and committees in the event of unexpired terms (the office of Moderator excepted).

ARTICLE X   MEETINGS AND QUORUM

1.  Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the Council shall be held on the last Saturday in April, to receive reports, elect or appoint officers, and transact such other business as may come before the meeting.

 2.  Fall Meeting.    The Fall Meeting of the Council shall be held annually on the last Saturday in October to receive reports, transact business and be in fellowship with one another.

 3.  Special Meetings.  A special meeting of the Council may be held as the Executive Committee may determine, or as requested by a member church.

 4.  Notice of Meetings.  Notice of all Council meetings shall be issued by the Scribe and shall be sent to the Pastor and Clerk of each member church. Notice shall be issued no less than fourteen nor later than thirty days prior to the meeting in question.

 5.  Place, Agenda, Program. The Executive Committee shall meet to determine the place, agenda, program, and other details of meetings. The Committee may, at its discretion, provide additional time in connection with Annual and\or Fall Meetings for non‑business matters such as addresses, seminars, gatherings for fellowship, etc., but all formal business at said meetings shall be transacted only on the dates specified in Paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article. The agenda for a special meeting shall be determined by the party or parties requesting such a meeting.

 6.  Quorum.  Delegates representing one‑fourth of the member churches shall constitute a quorum at all Council meetings. Except as hereinafter stated in Articles XIII of these By Laws, a majority vote of all members of the Council who are present shall be decisive, and written ballots shall not be necessary unless required be a majority in a particular meeting.

 ARTICLE XI  PROCEDURE

 All procedures and functions of this Council and its Officers and Committees shall conform to the requirements of law and equity in the State of Maine. The parliamentary authority shall be the rules contained in "Robert's Rules of  Order Revised' in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with the by‑laws of the Council.

 ARTICLE XII  DISSOLUTION OF THE MAINE COUNCIL

            Upon the dissolution of this Council, all properties of the corporation, from whatever sources arising, shall be distributed to the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches of the United States (located in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and exempt from tax by virtue of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, or to its successor organization(s)).

ARTICLE XIII   AMENDMENTS

 These by‑laws may be amended by a two‑thirds majority vote at any regular Council meeting if the substance of the proposed amendment has been given in the notice thereof.

Adopted May 22, 1958
Amended October 7, 1972
Article VII approved and included May 7, 1988
Amended October 13, 1990
Amended October 12, 1991
Clarified October 23, 1993
Reviewed and Approved May 5, 1984
Amended October 29, 1994
Amended April 29, 1995
Amended October 26, 1996
Amended April 25, 1998
Amended April 24, 2004