Church Conference Bylaws Update - April 13, 2025
RLBC Members-
At our April church conference on Sunday, April 13th, the bylaws task force will review recommended bylaws revisions. Click here to view the current bylaws from 2019, and click here to view the recommended revisions we will vote on at the church conference. The revisions are being provided so you can review ahead of the church conference. There will be a few printed copies of the day of the conference, but if you print your own copy, please bring it with you.
A special thank you to the by laws task force who prepared these recommendations - Adam Visconti (chair), Terry Berrier, Nate Green, Christin Lavery and Cookie Stokes
The list of changes:
1. Removed/replaced various gendered and patriarchal wording (he or she, Lord, etc.)
2. Updated wording to reflect use of electronic means to hold meetings and issue church communication (use of Zoom, email, etc.). Removed limitation on electronic meetings
3. Modernized language related to statutory corporate and tax compliance
4. Added numeric paragraph references and article titles for ease of reading; removed duplicative numeric references
5. Changed references from “Missions" committee to "Justice and Advocacy" committee to reflect new committee structure
6. Clarification that church staff, not Secretary, maintains church membership record/roll
7. Clarification that “associate member” is also not entitled to serve as committee chair or deacon (currently reads as not entitled to serve as church officer only)
8. Broadened wording stating church conferences will be held quarterly, but not limited to certain months or days of week
9. Changed conference adjournment notice language to require notice of any adjournment or recessed church conference (currently reads to only require notice if adjournment/recess is for more than 14 days)
10. Removed record date for determining members entitled to vote at any church conference, with the intent that any active member can vote
11. Codified role of “Senior Pastor” in bylaws
12. Clarified additional responsibilities of Finance Division
13. Added paragraph articulating Member Resource Committee and Board of Deacons ability to remove/replace division/committee/task force members
1. Removed/replaced various gendered and patriarchal wording (he or she, Lord, etc.)
2. Updated wording to reflect use of electronic means to hold meetings and issue church communication (use of Zoom, email, etc.). Removed limitation on electronic meetings
3. Modernized language related to statutory corporate and tax compliance
4. Added numeric paragraph references and article titles for ease of reading; removed duplicative numeric references
5. Changed references from “Missions" committee to "Justice and Advocacy" committee to reflect new committee structure
6. Clarification that church staff, not Secretary, maintains church membership record/roll
7. Clarification that “associate member” is also not entitled to serve as committee chair or deacon (currently reads as not entitled to serve as church officer only)
8. Broadened wording stating church conferences will be held quarterly, but not limited to certain months or days of week
9. Changed conference adjournment notice language to require notice of any adjournment or recessed church conference (currently reads to only require notice if adjournment/recess is for more than 14 days)
10. Removed record date for determining members entitled to vote at any church conference, with the intent that any active member can vote
11. Codified role of “Senior Pastor” in bylaws
12. Clarified additional responsibilities of Finance Division
13. Added paragraph articulating Member Resource Committee and Board of Deacons ability to remove/replace division/committee/task force members
14. Clarified/modernized and re-ordered some wording for ease of reading (dissolution wording moved to final Misc. section, officer and deacon responsibilities moved to one place, etc.)
Thank you,
Kelley Keith