Section 2.01 Eligibility. The Members of the Conference are churches.
Member Churches may be admitted by the Delegate Body, upon
recommendation by the Board, following application in the form
prescribed by the Board. Member Churches accept the Confession of Faith
in a Mennonite Perspective as adopted in 1995.
Section 2.02 Rights and Duties. Memberships are nonassessable.
Memberships may not be assigned. Member Churches of the Conference
shall not be liable, solely because of such Membership, for the debts
of the Conference. The voting power of a Member Church is exercised by
delegates designated by the Member Church. Each Member Church is
entitled to one delegate for each twenty-five of its members, or
fraction thereof. Such delegates shall be active members of the Member
Church. In addition to any voting delegates a Church may have by virtue
of the number of its members, all ordained or licensed ministers, whose
ministerial credentials have been recognized by the Conference, and who
are under assignment to a Member Church, are voting delegates at
meetings of Member Churches.
Section 2.03 Termination. Any Church's membership shall terminate on
the occurrence of any of the following: 1) Voluntary resignation
approved by a majority of the members of a Member Church, following a
process consistent with Matthew 18:15-20 conducted by the officers of
the Conference and the Member Church; 2) Dissolution; 3) A vote by
two-thirds of the Board to terminate the Membership after 90 days
written notice to the Member Church of the Board's intention to so act,
and ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates voting at the
next meeting of delegates. The Board shall adopt and publish to the
Member Churches a policy regarding termination of Memberships which
shall be followed until amended by the Board, which amendments shall be
published to the Member Churches 90 days prior to use of any changed
provisions. Publication to the Member Churches shall be in writing,
distributed by first class mail, and shall be deemed received when
mailed to the address of the Member Church on the official records of
the Conference.
Section 2.04 Meetings. Meetings of the Member Churches shall be held at
such place as may be determined by the Board from time to time. The
Member Churches shall meet annually at a time set by the Board, for
purposes of elections of Conference Positions and transacting such
other business as may properly come before the meetings. Notice of the
annual meeting shall be given to the Member Churches in writing at
least 90 days prior to the meetings. Special meetings of the Member
Churches may be called by the Board. Special meetings of the Member
Churches shall be called by the Board within 45 days upon written
request by 25% or more of the Member Churches for the purposes set out
in such request. Notice of such special meetings shall be sent to all
Member Churches at least thirty five days prior to such meeting, and
within seven days of receipt of the written request for such meeting
specified above. All Member Churches entitled to votes at the time
meeting notices are sent shall be entitled to vote at such meeting
unless they have dissolved or voluntarily resigned.
Section 2.05 Notices. Notices to Member Churches shall be sent to the
address shown on the Conference records, unless other methods of notice
are provided in these Bylaws. The notice shall include the date, place
and time of the meeting, list those matters to come before the meeting,
and name any nominees for offices. Mailed notice is deemed received
when mailed. The transactions of any meeting, however called or
noticed, shall be valid.
Section 2.06 Quorum. The delegates present at a duly noticed meeting of
the Member Churches constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. The quorum shall not be lost by the withdrawal of delegates
prior to adjournment. Any meeting may be adjourned by a majority vote
of the delegates present.
Section 2.07 Ballots. Election of Conference Positions shall be by
written ballot. Any other vote may be by written ballot at the
discretion of the Chairperson of the meeting, or upon request by a
delegate.
Section 2.08 Conduct of Meetings. The Moderator shall preside at
meetings of the Member Churches. In the Moderator's absence, the
Assistant Moderator shall preside. If the Assistant Moderator is also
absent, the Board shall appoint another person to preside. The
Secretary of the Board shall act as Secretary of all delegate meetings
of Member Churches. In the Secretary's absence the Chairperson of the
meeting shall appoint a substitute. The Chairperson shall appoint
tellers to receive and count ballot votes at any meeting of Member
Churches.
