PART 6 – Meetings of the Congregation

Notice of meetings of the Congregation

      25  (1)     At least 15, but not more than 50, days before any general meeting of the
                     Congregation, the board of deacons shall send notice of the meeting to:
                     (a)     each Member in the manner described in subsections (2) and (3); and
                     (b)     the auditor by mail.

             (2)     The board of deacons shall make meeting notices available on a Sunday morning
                     at least three weeks before a general meeting.

            (3)     Meeting notices that Members have not  picked up on the Sunday noted in
                     subsection (2) shall be mailed to the respective Members at their last known
                     address.  

            (4)     The notice of meeting must:
                     (a)     state the nature of business to be transacted in sufficient detail to enable
                              Members to form a reasoned judgment concerning that business; and
                     (b)     include the text of any special resolution to be submitted to the meeting.

             (5)     Failure to receive a notice of a general meeting does not deprive a Member of the
                     right to vote at the meeting.

 Annual meeting

      26  (1)     The board of deacons shall call an annual meeting of the Congregation no later
                     than March 31 of each year.
            (2)     The agenda of each annual meeting of the Congregation shall include the following:
                     (a)     financial statements;
                     (b)     auditor’s report;
                     (c)     appointment of the auditor;
                     (d)     the minutes of the previous general meeting;
                     (e)     business arising from the previous meeting, if any;
                     (f)      reports from the board of deacons;
                     (g)     reports from committees and other church workers, if any;
                     (h)     the budget for the coming year;
                     (i)      policy resolutions, if any; and
                     (j)      any other business authorized by the bylaws or the Act to be transacted at an
                              annual meeting.

Semi-annual meeting

      27  (1)     The board of deacons shall call a semi-annual meeting not earlier than May 1 and

                     not later than June 15 of each year.

            (2)     The agenda of each semi-annual meeting shall include the following:

                     (a)     minutes of the previous general meeting;

                     (b)     business arising from the previous minutes, if any;

                     (c)     the election of deacons, coordinators and committees as provided in these

                              bylaws; and

                     (d)     any other business authorized by the bylaws or the Act to be transacted at a

                              general meeting.

Special meetings

      28  (1)     The board of deacons  may, or on the written request signed by not less than
                       5 per cent of the Members shall, call a special meeting of the Congregation.
            (2)     The notice of a special meeting shall specify the business to be discussed at that
                     special meeting.

Quorum

      29  (1)     A quorum for a general meeting of the Congregation shall be fifty Members.

            (2)     The Members present may adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place

                     but may not transact any other business where:

                     (a)     a quorum is not present at the opening of a meeting; or

                     (b)     a quorum is present at the opening of a general meeting but is lost during the

                              meeting.

Individuals entitled to attend general meetings

      30  (1)     The individuals entitled to be present at general meetings of the Congregation are:

                     (a)     the Members;

                     (b)     the auditor; and

                     (c)     others who are entitled or required by the Act or the bylaws to be present.

            (2)     Adherents and non-Member employees of the Congregation:

                     (a)     may attend general meetings unless a majority of Members present request

                              otherwise;

                     (b)     when in attendance, may take reasonable part in the discussion;

                     (c)     are not entitled to vote.

Voting at general meetings

      31  (1)     Only Members are entitled to vote.

            (2)     Except as provided by subsections (3) and (4) voting shall be by show of hands.

            (3)     If a Member calls for a secret ballot before a vote is taken, the vote shall be

                     conducted by secret ballot in the manner as directed by the chairperson.

            (4)     When two or more candidates have been nominated for the office of either deacon,

                     coordinator or committee member, the election shall be by secret ballot.

            (5)     Unless the Act, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws require a special

                     resolution, every question at a meeting shall be decided by ordinary resolution.

            (6)     In case of a tie vote the motion is lost.

            (7)     The chairperson is entitled to vote but may not cast a second vote to create or to

                     break a tie.

Parliamentary authority

      32  Decisions about rules of order which are not clarified in the Act or in these bylaws shall

            be guided by the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

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