Bylaws
ARTICLE
I NAME
The name of this organization
shall be the Congregational Christian Council of Maine a/k/a Maine Council,
and CCC/ME.
ARTICLE
II PURPOSE
The Congregational
Way affirms Faith, Freedom, and Fellowship among the churches as central to
the proper exercise of religion. The purpose of this Council shall be to
provide an opportunity for Fellowship among the member churches and act as a
resource for Congregational Christian Churches in Maine. Fellowship is
defined as: (1) The Maine Council gathered as an Ecclesiastical Council at
the request of a local Church to provide advice on matters defined in such a
call, and; (2) The Maine Council gathered in regular meetings as defined
hereinafter to conduct such business as is necessary to fulfill this Article
and allow the opportunity for the free sharing of ideas, presentation of
speakers for the edification of the member churches, and the general
enhancing of spiritual bonds among the member churches to assist them in
their local proclamation and witness of God. Any purpose or activity not
expressly defined in these by-laws is reserved to the local Churches.
ARTICLE III
COVENANT
Affirming
God's Love.
Sustained by God's power.
Guided by God's Word,
We covenant
to be a fellowship of Christ's people in the world ‑‑‑
healers, reconcilers, agents of
peace ‑‑‑ the Lord's free people, gathered in the Lord's name, bound in love
one to another. (Adapted from the covenant affirmed by the Maine Council in
session May 7, 1988 and amended April 29, 1995)
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP AND
VOTING
1. This Council shall
be composed of churches, and clergy of the Congregational order and polity,
that system of church organization which recognizes the autonomy of the
local church in all matters temporal and spiritual.
2. A Congregational
Christian Church shall be defined as a body of Christians complete under God
in spiritual authority and ecclesiastical power, regularly meeting and
worshiping in one place, united by a mutually owned covenant, and recognized
by the laws of the place and location as a duly constituted church.
3. Any
Congregational Christian Church within the State of Maine may become a
member of the Council by action of its own membership taken at a duly called
and held meeting of such church, which action shall then be certified and
communicated to the Scribe of the Council. Following this certification the
Church shall become a member of the Council upon approval of the Council in
meeting.
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
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