Vote not listed on agenda

[BrownJackC]

To change our church bylaws. the text of a proposed change must be read at one meeting but can not be voted on until the next meeting. The change was read in our March meeting and was voted on in our next meeting which was in May. However the vote was not listed in the May meeting agenda  so anyone not attending the March meeting would not have been aware of the vote. Should the vote have been listed in the May agenda?

 

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Bruce Lages]

If your bylaws say that the vote on a proposed bylaw amendment wull take place at the next meeting after the meeting at which it was introduced, and the May meeting was the next meeting after the March meeting, then I don't believe that having the vote on the agenda was necessary.

[Gary Novosielski]

You'll have to interpret your bylaws carefully to determine whether the requirements for amending bylaws were met.

 

It can be argued that the requirement for reading at one meeting and debating/perfecting/voting at the next meeting is something in the nature of a previous notice requirement.   In RONR, if previous notice (of intent to move something) is required, and is announced at one meeting and the matter considered at the next meeting, no further written notice is required.

 

Whether this is how the rule should be interpreted in your church bylaws is up to the membership.

[Timothy]

Personally, I'm of the opinion that if people are unaware of a proposed bylaw change because they've missed two church business meetings in a row, it is their own fault, but that isn't the wording RONR uses. Some churches choose to require additional notification, but in most churches, if a contentious issue comes up, there is going to be a lot of talk going on during the time between the two meetings.

[rtpftguy]

How do your church bylaws define a quorum?  It looks as though the requirement for previous notice was met.  Was there a quorum at the May meeting?  Did the amendments muster the requisite number for adoption?  If so, it's done. . .EXCEPT that if you and a significant number of others feel this action does not represent the will of those having a vote, you can give previous notice that you will introduce a motion to

Amend Something Previously Adopted.  There are very specific rules about how this may be applied to bylaws.  See RONR pp. 305-308.

[Josh Martin]

Was there a quorum at the May meeting?  Did the amendments muster the requisite number for adoption?  If so, it's done

 

It's probably "done" even if the answer to either or both of these questions is "no."  See Official Interpretation 2006-18 and FAQ #3.