Summary of Proposed Bylaw Changes

Proposed (2013)

Annual Meeting: An annual meeting of the voting members of the Parish shall be held on the second Sunday in the eleventh month of every year…
[§1-A]

Notice of Meetings: Notice of the Annual and any Special Parish Meeting shall be given by the Rector from the ambo, or the Council President, at the Divine Liturgy on three (3) consecutive Sundays prior to the Meeting…The exact procedure shall be determined by the Parish Council prior to the vote. [§1-D]*

The quorum for Parish Meetings shall be 33% of voting members enrolled at the end of the calendar year preceding the date of the Meeting… [§2-A]

In the event the Parish shall seek to sell or purchase property or encumber the same, a 50% quorum of voting members shall be required. [new §2-B]

There shall be no voting by proxy. [new §3-C]

For votes taken by physical ballot, a list of voting members will be prepared, with a copy placed at each of the premises of the Parish and of any Parochial missions. Members voting will sign the list as a prerequisite to receiving a ballot, and return the ballot prior to leaving the premises. Sealed ballots and voter lists with signatures will be conveyed from Parochial missions to the Parish premises for determination of the quorum and counting of votes. No voting member may cast more than one ballot. Nothing in this provision permits voting by proxy; voting members must be present at the balloting location in order to cast a vote. [new §3-D]

[new] Section 5. Delegation

a) The Annual Parish Meeting may expand the number of members of the Parish Council by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting should cause warrant.

b) The Annual Parish Meeting may subsequently reduce the number of members of the Parish Council by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, provided:

1. there are at no time less than six members, in addition to members representing parochial missions, and
2. that an interval of two (2) years shall have elapsed between the addition of Council members before the number may be reduced.

c) All items for consideration at an Annual Parish Meeting shall be submitted in writing to the Parish Council for discussion in advance of the Annual Parish Meeting by members of the Parish in good standing. If the Parish Council deems the matter not within the competence of the Annual Parish Meeting, it shall not be brought forward for consideration, the reasons for such being duly recorded in the Parish Council Minutes by the Secretary.

d) No items may be introduced from the floor.

Proposed (2013)

Eligibility of Elected Members: Voting members of the Parish are eligible for election to the Parish Council with the following exceptions:

1. any full-time employee of the Parish is not eligible to serve on the Parish Council;
2. only one member of any household, including the Rector’s household, is eligible to serve at the same time as a member of the Parish Council
3. other clergy assigned or attached to the Parish, and their wives, shall be ineligible to serve on the Parish Council.
4. qualifications for members of the Parish Council shall be the same as those specified in the Normal Statute of the Orthodox Church in America for any elective or appointive office.   [§1-C]

Term of Office: Half of the Trustees shall be elected for a term of two years at each Annual Meeting of the Parish…  [§2-A]

Composition: The Parish Council shall consist of the President, who will serve as Warden; the Vice-President, who will serve as Assistant Warden; the Secretary, and the Treasurer, plus at least two additional members, for a minimum of six. [§3]

Parish Council Meeting Chairman: The Rector shall preside at all meetings of the Parish Council. He may appoint the Council President to chair meetings with him or in his stead (viz. Statue of the Orthodox Church of America, Art. X, §8-C)
[§7-B]

Other Members: The duties of additional members shall be determined by the Parish Council, annually, as needs warrant. [new §8-E]

Parochial Mission Representative(s): At the Annual Parish Meeting, each parochial mission (chapel) of the Parish shall present for ratification the name of one of its membership to serve on the Parish Council with voice and vote for the upcoming year; with concurrence of its Priest-in-charge; in addition to the six members specified above. [new §8-F]

Proposed (2013)

[new] Section 2. Parochial Missions (Chapels)

a) All parochial missions (chapels) shall operate under this article.

b) In the event that a parochial mission shall have attained sufficient development and financial security to warrant its becoming a free-standing mission or parish of the Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in America, to the satisfaction of the Archdiocesan authority, it may petition the Archdiocese for reception as the same on the affirm-ative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of its particular membership, with concurrence of a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting at a parish meeting [as provided in Article III, Section 2, Subsection (b) and Article III, Section 3, Subsection (b)].*

c) Upon confirmation by the Archdiocesan authority of such a request:

1. the new mission or parish shall incorporate under Pennsylvania state law as a not-for-profit corporation and adopt Bylaws to the satisfaction of the Archdiocesan authority; and
2. the Parish Council shall then begin to devolve and divest all real and liquid property held for the parochial mission to the new free-standing mission or parish within thirty (30) days of its incorporation to the satisfaction of the Archdiocesan authority.

Proposed (2013)

In these Bylaws the word “State” shall refer to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  [new §4-B]

Adoption: These Bylaws were accepted at a Parish Meeting held on the twenty-fourth day of March, 2013, at which the appropriate quorum was present, the Parish members having been duly notified, and have become effective on the _______ day of __________, 2013, by the approval of the Diocesan Bishop. They revoke, supplant and replace any and all Parish Bylaws, whether corporate or not, previously in use.