Sample Diocesan Association Bylaws
BY-LAWS OF THE
WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL CLERGY ASSOCIATION
(Adopted as Revised January, 1990)
I. PURPOSE
1. The purpose of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association shall be to provide the opportunity for the clergy of the Diocese of Washington to come together on a regular basis, and to address the mutual concerns that grow out of their life and work; and
2. to provide on Association where professional standards can be formulated and discussed for the purpose of upgrading the work of ministry; and
3. to provide opportunity for mutual fellowship, support, and exchange of ideas.
II. MEMBERSHIP
The Washington Episcopal Clergy Association will be composed of those clergy canonically resident or licensed in the Diocese of Washington and seminarians in process towards ordination in the diocese of Washington; voting members will be members paying dues in one of the following categories:
(a) Regular membership
(b) Retired, Disabled, part-time employed, first year of ordination, Seminarians.
III. OFFICERS
1. The officers shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, each elected for a two-year term. After serving not more than two consecutive terms in any combination of offices, officers are not eligible for election to any office or to membership on the Board for one year, with the exception of the president as noted below.
2. the Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and eight additional members; and in addition, the immediate Past President who shall serve for one term following the term of his/her office. Board members shall serve for a two-year term. The President shall be the presiding officer of the Board of Directors.
IV. MEETINGS
1. The regular meetings of the W.E.C.A. will be monthly (except June, July, and August). A quorum shall consist of a fifth of the full dues-paying members.
2. The Board of Directors may change the place of meeting and may call special meetings as necessary.
3. The Board of Directors will meet monthly (except July and August). Six members of the Board of Directors will constitute a quorum of the Board.
V. ELECTIONS & NOMINATING COMMITTEE
1. A Nominating Committee of not more than five and not less than three members shall be appointed by the President at the regular February meeting. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to submit to the regular April meeting of W.E.C.A. at least one nomination, and not more than three, for each post to be filled. Nominees must be dues paying members of W.E.C.A. Nominations from the floor will be accepted.
2. Election of Officers and board members of the W.E.C.A. shall take place at the regular May meeting.
3. Elections shall be for a two-year period for Board Members and a two-year period for officers following the election at the regualr May meeting of W.E.C.A. The election shall be by paper ballot with the Nominating Committee acting as tellers. At the end of the May meeting the new officers and Board Members shall take office.
4. After serving not more than two consecutive terms in any combination of offices, officers are not eligible for election to any office for one year. Board Members may be elected as officers, but are otherwise ineligible for reelection until one year shall have elapsed.
5. In the event of vacancies occurring the Board shall be authorized to fill such vacancy or vacancies until the next regular election is due to take place at the end of the two-year term. The individual filling an unexpired term on this basis shall be eligible for election to it for the next term.
VI. FINANCES
1. Prior to the September meeting the Board will send to the membership the Treasurer's Report together with the proposed dues and budget for the ensuing year.
2. The fiscal year shall run from September 1 through August 31.
VII. COMMITTEES
1. THE Committees and Task Forces shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
2. The President may appoint special committees as occasion and necessity may require.
VIII. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAYS
These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the W.E.C.A. by majority vote of those present, provided that a quorum is present and provided that notice in writing of the proposed amendment has been circulated by mail to every member at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon.
DALLAS EPISCOPAL CLERGY ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
I. Purpose
1. The Dallas Episcopal Clergy Association is a non-profit, voluntary organization of ordained clergy in the Episcopal Church, U.S.A. in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, organized in order to:
2. Provide regular opportunities for the clergy of the Diocese of Dallas to come together to address mutual concerns which arise out of their life and work as ordained ministers of the Church, as well as events in the Church and world which bear on their life and work in the Church.
3. Provide an association by means of which professional standards for life and work can be discussed, formulated, and put into practice for the purpose of enhancing the quality of service offered by ordained ministers in and for God's Church in the Diocese of Dallas.
4. And provide increased opportunities for fellowship, mutual support, increased collegiality, and the exchange of ideas and counsel.
II. Membership
1. The Dallas Episcopal Clergy Association will be composed of those clergy canonically resident in the Diocese of Dallas who pay annual dues for one or more of these categories:
a. Regular national membership.
b. Regular local membership.
c. First year of ordained ministry or new to the diocese.
d. Retired or disabled.
In addition, clergy who are retired and physically resident in the Diocese of Dallas but retain canonical status elsewhere are also eligible for membership.
2. Only members in good standing shall be eligible to vote or hold office in D.E.C.A. and “good standing” shall be certified by the Treasurer as those current in their dues according to one of the categories described above.
III. Officers
The officers of this association shall consist of a Convener, Secretary, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and three additional members of the Executive Board. These persons shall each be elected for a one year term and shall be eligible for re-election to a second consecutive term of one year. A vacancy on the Executive board shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Board, with the appointee serving until the next regular Executive Board election. A member will be ineligible for re-election to any office or to membership on the board for one year following the completion of their term(s) of office. The Convener will be the presiding officer of the Board.
IV. Meetings
1. there will be six regular meetings per year of D.E.C.A., with the year beginning in September and ending in August, including an annual business meeting at which officers shall be elected, a budget for the coming year reviewed, programs developed and evaluated, and any other official business of the association members deem necessary.
2. The Executive Board will determine the place, day, and
time of all meetings and may call special meetings as it deems necessary.
3. The executive Board will choose one day of the week each year as the regular meeting day for all of the next year's meetings. the annual business meeting of D.E.C.A. shall be the regular May meeting.
4. The regular meetings of D.E.C.A. shall be open to all clergy of the Diocese of Dallas, whether members of D.E.C.A. or not.
5. The Executive Board will meet regularly as needed at times and places determined by the Convener in consultation with the Board.
6. A quorum at the annual business meeting of D.E.C.A. shall be forty per cent of those members in good standing. Notice of this business meeting shall be at least 30 days in advance of the appointed date.
V. Committees
1. Committees and task forces of the association shall be appointed by the Convener with advice and consent of the Executive Board.
2. The Convener may appoint “special” committees as occasion and necessity may require.
3. A Nominating Committee of not more than five nor less than three members shall be appointed by the Convener at the regular January meeting. This committee shall prepare a slate of names to be sent to the membership at least sixty days prior to the regular May meeting. All those nominated to be officers or Board members, must be asked in advance of their nomination and provide their consent. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one and not more than three persons for each officer and Board position. Elections shall be held at the regular May meeting and shall be by paper ballot, with the Nominating Committee acting as “tellers”, except where two-thirds of the members in good standing, present and voting at the May meeting choose to elect by acclamation in the case of only one nominee being named for each available position.
VI. Finances
At the annual business meeting, the Treasurer will make a report to the membership and present a dues schedule as approved by the Executive Board for the succeeding twelve months and a budget to be adopted by the association for the next fiscal year, which will run from September 1 through August 31.
VII. Amendment of Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of D.E.C.A. by two-thirds majority of those members in good standing present and voting, provided that a quorum is present and provided that notice of the proposed change and text of the amendment have been circulated by mail to every member in good standing at least thirty days in advance of the meeting in which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE DECA BY-LAWS
1. When the dissolution of a pastoral relationship has occurred, the Steering Committee of
DECA shall investigate or appoint other of its members to investigate the manner in which
the dissolution was carried out.
2. The Steering Committee shall discover whether the canons of the church were followed.
3. The Steering Committee may act to discover any other facts it deems necessary for the
support of the clergy and the general well-being of the Diocese of Dallas.
4. The Steering Committee shall publish a finding in each case of dissolution to the bishop, the DECA membership and the clergy and vestry involved in the dissolution.
