meeting agenda

[Guest Diana]

Church by-laws state "The church may conduct called business meetings to consider matters of special nature and significance. A one week notice must be given for the specially called business meeting unless extreme urgency renders such notice impractical. The notice shall include the subject, the date, and time and place; and it must be given in such a manner that all resident membes have opportunity to know of the meeting."

Question: Can the chairman limit the meeting to the consideration of the one item (subject) for which the meeting was called and refuse to entertain any motion not related to that agenda item?

[Chris Harrison]

Question: Can the chairman limit the meeting to the consideration of the one item (subject) for which the meeting was called and refuse to entertain any motion not related to that agenda item?

Yes. RONR p. 90 says:

With the exception of motions that relate to procedure without direct reference to a particular substantive item of business, only business mentioned in the call of a special meeting can be transacted at such a meeting.

[jstackpo]

Chairman limit? Yes - that is what makes the Special Meeting special.

At regular meetings (do you have them, ah, regularly?) you can bring up new topics.

[Guest Diana]

Chairman limit? Yes - that is what makes the Special Meeting special.

At regular meetings (do you have them, ah, regularly?) you can bring up new topics.

yes-regular meetings are quarterly. The Chairman wants to address one issue of significance, but there are other issues that need to be brought up at the regular meeting and he doesn't want them to start here.

[Gary Novosielski]

Question: Can the chairman limit the meeting to the consideration of the one item (subject) for which the meeting was called and refuse to entertain any motion not related to that agenda item?

Yes.

In fact that is mandatory. No other business is in order at a called meeting, except that for which the meeting was expressly called.

[Gary Novosielski]

yes-regular meetings are quarterly. The Chairman wants to address one issue of significance, but there are other issues that need to be brought up at the regular meeting and he doesn't want them to start here.

...and you want to bring them up before the regular meeting? Well, do your bylaws give anyone other than the president chairman the right to call special meetings?

Hmm, apparently they don't say who may call them, just that "the church" may have them. Beats the heck out of me.

[Josh Martin]

The Chairman wants to address one issue of significance, but there are other issues that need to be brought up at the regular meeting and he doesn't want them to start here.

Well, in this case, the chairman is properly enforcing the rules. If these other issues need to be brought up at the regular meeting, bring them up at the regular meeting.

[jstackpo]

Also, Diana, check your bylaws -- they may authorize other people to call -- or require the chair to call -- special meetings that can take up whatever issues YOU put in the call to the meeting.