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By-Laws of Paoli Presbyterian Church
The following By-Laws of the Congregation were approved by motion made, seconded and passed June 15, 2008 and amended on October 25, 2009

BY-LAWS OF THE CONGREGATION OF
PAOLI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH


1. Paoli Presbyterian Church, being a particular congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), recognizes that the Constitution of the said Church is, in all its provisions, obligatory upon it and its members.

2. There will be an annual Ecclesiastical/Corporate meeting of the congregation in the church edifice on the last Sunday in October for the election of officers for the next year and transaction of any business properly coming before such meeting. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, the annual Ecclesiastical/Corporate meeting, upon approval of Session, may be scheduled to either of the two Sundays immediately prior to the last Sunday in October or to either of the first two Sundays in November. There shall also be an annual meeting on the last Sunday in January to approve the annual report and to receive the annual budget. The preceding sentence notwithstanding, the annual meeting to approve the annual report and to receive the budget, upon approval of Session, may be rescheduled to either of the two Sundays immediately prior to the last Sunday in January or to either of the first two Sundays in February.

3. Special congregation meeting may be called by the Session or Donegal Presbytery. Such calls shall state clearly the purpose of such special meeting and no other matter save that specified in the call may be considered.

4. Public notice of the time, place and purpose of all meetings of the congregation shall be announced from the pulpit on at least the two Sundays preceding the meeting.  The meeting may be convened following the notice given on the second Sunday.

5. The senior pastor shall be the moderator and shall preside. If the pulpit is vacant, or if the senior pastor is not available, an associate pastor may preside with permission of the pastor and approval of the congregation. If a pastor is ill, or is otherwise unable to be present, or if the subjects to be discussed require it, a minister of the Donegal Presbytery shall be invited by the Session to preside. The invitation shall be cleared through the Committee on Ministry of Donegal Presbytery.

6. The Clerk of Session shall be secretary of the meetings of the congregation. In his/her inability to attend, the Session shall designate a secretary in his/her stead.

7. Only communicant members in good standing shall be eligible to vote at any congregational meeting.

8. Voting by proxy is not allowed. Voting by secret ballot is permitted when requested by a member of the church and approved by the congregation.

9. Meetings shall be conducted with the Robert’s Rules of Order. See Book of Order G – 7.0302c.

10.  All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer.

11.  A quorum shall consist of the moderator, secretary, and eighty eligible voters.

12. The unicameral form of government shall consist of a Session of eighteen elders divided into three equal classes, so far as possible, one class of whom shall be elected each year at the October annual meeting for a three year term. No elder shall serve on the session for consecutive terms, whether full or partial, aggregating more than six years; but shall be eligible to be elected to a new term after one year shall have elapsed.

13. There shall not be more than thirty nine deacons divided into three classes, as far as possible, one class of whom shall be elected each year at the October annual meeting for a three year term. No deacon shall serve on the Board of Deacons for consecutive terms, whether full or partial, aggregating more than six years; but shall be eligible to be elected to a new term after one year shall have elapsed.

14. Vacancies on the Session or Board of Deacons may be filled at a special meeting of the congregation or at an annual meeting as the Session may determine.

15. Nominations to the office of Elder and to the office of Deacon shall be made by a representative nominating committee of communicant members of the church. The nominating committee shall bring to the annual meeting nominations of one eligible person only for each office to be filled. Additional nominations of qualified persons may be made from the floor by any eligible voter. The nominating committee shall be composed of: two members shall be designated by and from the Session, one of whom shall be named by the Session as chairman. Two members shall be designated by and from the Board of Deacons and six members of the congregation at large (not presently serving on any Board of the Church). The senior pastor shall be a member of this committee, ex-officio without vote. The nominating committee shall be chosen annually at the October meeting.

16. Corporate officers, unless otherwise elected by the Session, shall consist of:
President, the chairperson of the Finance Committee
Vice President, the chairperson of the Property Committee
Secretary, the Clerk of Session
Treasurer

17. The By-Laws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any meeting of the congregation by a majority vote of the members present, provided, that ten days notice, shall be given of such proposed alteration, amendment or repeal, by mail, or by information made available at worship at least two Sundays before the meeting.