suspension of the rules

[Guest David Peirce]

THE CONSTITUTION

1. Polity

4. Extraordinary Business Meetings

Shall be called for the purpose of calling or dismissing a Pastor, or other such important matters. A quorum shall be at least 60% of the eligible voting resident membership. Advance notice of at least two consecutive weeks shall be given.

5. Voting Privileges

All resident members in good standing who are at least sixteen years of age shall have equal voting privileges.

First Amendment (18/03/2001) Absentee voting is allowed for active members who wish to vote on the church positions of Pastor, Elder and Deacon. These members must request a ballot in advance, or write clearly their wishes in a letter. This can then be mailed, faxed or given to the deacon’s board before the vote is taken. Those members who will be absent on the day of the vote must request current information on the candidates being voted on. It is the responsibility of the deacon’s board to forward that information to those members by phone, mail or fax.

6. Order

For expediency in order, Robert's Rules of Order, current edition, shall be used as a general guide to procedure at all business meetings.

Now if I put forward

Suspension_of_the_rules to use to allow us to work around the rule #5 to allow nonmembers to vote during a Extraordinary Business Meeting would it be right?

[Weldon Merritt]

Now if I put forward

Suspension_of_the_rules to use to allow us to work around the rule #5 to allow nonmembers to vote during a Extraordinary Business Meeting would it be right?

No. The rules may not be suspended to allow non-members to vote, as that would violate a fundamental principle of parliamentary law.

[Tim Wynn]

Suspension_of_the_rules to use to allow us to work around the rule #5 to allow nonmembers to vote during a Extraordinary Business Meeting would it be right?

No, see RONR (10th ed.), p. 255, l. 5-12.