Constitution and ByLaws of Kehilat HaMashiach

<BODY BGCOLOR="FFFFFF" TEXT="000000" LINK="0000FF" VLINK="CC00CC" ALINK="FF0000" MARGINWIDTH=48 LEFTMARGIN=48 RIGHTMARGIN=48 MARGINHEIGHT=0 TOPMARGIN=0 BOTTOMMARGIN=0> <H2>Congregation's Bylaws</H2> This is the most up-to-date version of Kehilat HaMashiach's bylaws. It was ratified at the <A TARGET="_top" HREF="membermeeting_frame.html">members' meeting</A> on September 20. <P> The congregation's bylaws contain detailed procedures for voting and operations. Viewing of the bylaws requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0 or higher, available free at <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.adobe.com/">Adobe's website</A>. <P> <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="constitution.pdf"><IMG SRC="images/constitution_doc.gif" ALT="constitution.pdf (155k)" WIDTH="48" HEIGHT="64"></A> <P> These are some highlights of the bylaws:<BR> <DL> <DT><B>Article 1 - General Organization Description and Rights</B></DT> <DD>Contains the congregation's government structure, vision, statement of faith, and meeting structure. Leadership cannot change any of these or any affiliations or organizational legal status without consent of the congregation (consent varies from 50% to 75% majority depending on the item). The bylaws require the congregation to hold an annual membership meeting. This meeting is used to conduct elections and other congregational business. </DD> <DT><B>Article 2 - Membership</B></DT> <DD>Details about membership types, rights, and requirements.</DD> <DT><B>Article 3 - Elders</B></DT> <DD>Elders are elected for 2 year terms. This section contains a list of responsibilities for elders as well as requirements for running for the office of elder and detailed procedures for nominations and voting. Only full members vote for or run for the office of elder.</DD> <DT><B>Article 4 - Non-Elder Offices and Ministry Position Elections</B></DT> <DD>This section discusses types of offices and ministry positions and details of how people are elected. The list of Offices and Ministry Positions will be contained in a separate document that will be available to all members. Both full and associate members can vote for and occupy non-elder offices and ministry positions.</DD> <DT><B>Article 5 - Congregational Discipline</B></DT> <DD>Detailed procedures for handling discipline issues. It includes sections that deal specifically with handling discipline of elders and people in other offices and ministry positions.</DD> <DT><B>Article 6 - Finances</B></DT> <DD>Finance committee consists of the treasurer, one elder, and several full members or the congregation, chosen through election. The finance committee approves and balances the budget. The spending patterns of the congregation are therefore in the hands of the members of the congregation. Only full members may vote in issues concerning finances of the congregation.</DD> <DT><B>Article 7 - Amendments to these Bylaws</B></DT> <DD>Discusses procedures for amending the bylaws.</DD> <DT><B>Article 8 - Miscellaneous Policies of the Congregation</B></DT> </DL> </BODY>