keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:35 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:35 PM Our bylaws do not allow for special meetings of our church council much to the dismay of many of our members. It has been presented in an email to our members that we should move our meeting time up one week so we can deal with business that cannot wait until our regular meeting. Would it be accurate to say that the meeting would be a special meeting and is not allowed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:39 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:39 PM Would it be accurate to say that the meeting would be a special meeting and is not allowed? Not that it makes much difference but I think it would be more accurate to say that a regular meeting was rescheduled. And that's not allowed (without amending the bylaws or whatever rule established the schedule of regular meetings). In any case, if it's really something that can't wait one week (e.g. the church is on fire), the council members could take action with the hope (prayer?) that their individual action would later be ratified by the council. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:44 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 04:44 PM Edgar,I understand, thank you for your quick reply. Does it make any difference that our meeting times (for the church council) are not indicated in our bylaws? The meetings times have been the same for over 25 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:19 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:19 PM When a committee does not set or have a set time to meet, it meets at the call of the chair. I can think of no reason why a church council would not follow that same rule (presumably, that is how the first meeting was called). So, when you say the meeting times have been the same for 25 years, does that mean the council just got in the habit of meeting at the same time or that they voted to meet at that time every month? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:19 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:19 PM Does it make any difference that our meeting times (for the church council) are not indicated in our bylaws? Perhaps. How are the council meetings scheduled/called? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:20 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:20 PM When a committee does not set or have a set time to meet, it meets at the call of the chair. Though I think this council is more like a board than a committee. If it makes a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:44 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:44 PM Though I think this council is more like a board than a committee. If it makes a difference. Yeah, I imagine you're right. I don't know of anything in RONR that says what to do if a board doesn't have a set time to meet, though it does for a committee. But I can't think of any reason why a board shouldn't just do what a committee would do in that situation. If they don't want to meet at the call of the chair, they should set a time to meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:46 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:46 PM When a committee does not set or have a set time to meet, it meets at the call of the chair. I can think of no reason why a church council would not follow that same rule (presumably, that is how the first meeting was called). So, when you say the meeting times have been the same for 25 years, does that mean the council just got in the habit of meeting at the same time or that they voted to meet at that time every month?Timothy,Each month our meeting is published in our Church bulletin on the Sunday prior to our meeting, as to how the meeting times where orginally decided I don't have an answer for that. I have been advocating to have our meeting dates and times put into our bylaws but have been met with resistance because many feel that it is too restrictive. I don't feel the same because we keep meeting on the same Thursday at the same time every month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:49 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:49 PM Perhaps. How are the council meetings scheduled/called?Edgar,It is posted in our Church bulletin every month. A proposed agenda gets sent out a week prior to our meetings as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:57 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 05:57 PM It is posted in our Church bulletin every month. A proposed agenda gets sent out a week prior to our meetings as well. I'd probably argue that once the time of the meeting has been announced, it can't be rescheduled to an earlier time. As for the proposed agenda, see FAQ #14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:16 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:16 PM I'd probably argue that once the time of the meeting has been announced, it can't be rescheduled to an earlier time. As for the proposed agenda, see FAQ #14. I tend to agree, though my opinion on that could differ depending on whether it is the chair who asked for the meeting time to be published or whether someone just happened to know that the council meet at that time each month and started publishing the date and time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:19 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:19 PM I would believe it to be the latter. However in this specific case it isn't the Chairman that is requesting the meeting time be moved up but a member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:25 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 06:25 PM I would believe it to be the latter. However in this specific case it isn't the Chairman that is requesting the meeting time be moved up but a member.In the long run, this really is something that needs to be sorted out in your bylaws. If the organization thinks specifying a particular date is too restrictive, it should at least specify who has the authority to schedule the meetings.In the meantime, since the council has a long-standing custom regarding when its meetings are held, it seems to me that only the council itself has the authority to change that custom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefe Posted August 3, 2015 at 09:27 PM Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 09:27 PM In the long run, this really is something that needs to be sorted out in your bylaws. If the organization thinks specifying a particular date is too restrictive, it should at least specify who has the authority to schedule the meetings.In the meantime, since the council has a long-standing custom regarding when its meetings are held, it seems to me that only the council itself has the authority to change that custom.Josh,When would the council be able to make that change? At the next meeting for future meetings or before the meeting for the upcoming one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Guest Posted August 3, 2015 at 09:32 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 09:32 PM When would the council be able to make that change? At the next meeting for future meetings or before the meeting for the upcoming one? The council can only make a decision at a meeting of the council. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Martin Posted August 3, 2015 at 10:07 PM Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 at 10:07 PM Josh,When would the council be able to make that change? At the next meeting for future meetings or before the meeting for the upcoming one?At the next meeting for future meetings. Unless the organization's bylaws provide otherwise, the council can only make decisions at a meeting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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