Special Meeting of the Congregation ***RESULTS***

[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1519588973898{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”]The motion carried, as presented, by greater than a 2/3 majority vote of members present at the special meeting of the congregation.

Website updated at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 25, 2018

The Session of Ward Church has called a meeting of the congregation for Sunday, February 25, 12:10 p.m. in the Sanctuary, for the purpose of considering a change to our bylaws that affects our annual process of selecting church officers. Our bylaws may be amended only by a vote of the membership and requires a two-thirds majority vote.

Childcare

Childcare registration is now closed. The deadline was Thursday, February 22, 2018.

For those who registered: Drop off your children in their regular Sunday morning room and pick them up after the congregational meeting. You will be told at drop off where to pick up your child. You will need to have a pick up tag.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1516744922825{margin-bottom: 25px !important;}”]

FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

[/vc_column_text][toggles][toggle color=”Default” title=”What is the proposed bylaw change?”][vc_column_text]

The bylaw change would remove the requirement that “a minimum of two candidates more than the number of vacancies to be filled on Session, the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee shall be presented,” and update the manner in which vacancies on these bodies and the Board of Deacons would be filled. The current bylaw has had the unintended consequence of creating “losing” candidates deemed fit to serve and trained for the roles for which they were nominated. In many cases, candidates more familiar to the congregation have been elected, leading some unsuccessful candidates to decline nomination in later years.

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Motion: To revise the Ward Evangelical Presbyterian Church Bylaws to remove the requirement that “a minimum of two (2) candidates more than the number of vacancies to be filled on the Session, Board of Trustees, and Nominating Committee shall be presented” and to revise the procedure to fill vacancies on boards.

[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”Doesn’t a fixed slate remove congregational input?”][vc_column_text]

No. The congregation would have input into the selection process at four critical points:

1. Selection of a Nominations Committee. The Congregation elects a nominations committee each year that is entrusted with recruiting and screening qualified candidates for office on behalf of the congregation.
2. Recommendation of Candidates. The congregation is invited to send names of qualified candidates to the Nominations Committee for consideration.
3. Vetting. The list of candidates is published in advance of the congregational meeting. Members of the congregation are asked to respond privately to the Nominations Committee if they have any reason to believe a candidate is unfit for spiritual leadership. The Nominations Committee will investigate any claims.
4. Vote of Affirmation. The congregation votes to affirm the final slate of candidates. Each candidate will have already been examined by Session according to the Book of Order requirements.

[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”Why does Session want to equalize the number of candidates with open positions?”][vc_column_text]

1. Better diversity of gifts and perspective. Using a fixed slate of candidates allows the Nomination Committee to consider not only the spiritual qualifications of each candidate, but the diversity of gifts and perspective represented on each board. A board (elder, trustee, or deacon) is essentially a team. A good team has a diversity of gifts and perspectives in its membership, and ideally, represents a cross-section of the church.
2. Avoids a practice that creates “winners and losers.” Excellent non-elected candidates can grow discouraged and become hesitant to accept future nominations. In addition, the proposed bylaw change would also remove the inefficiency of training more candidates than are elected.
3. More consistent with wider Presbyterian practice. The nominations practice of our Presbytery and General Assembly is to offer the same number of candidates as open positions. This is also the common practice of the majority of Presbyterian congregations.

[/vc_column_text][/toggle][toggle color=”Default” title=”What happens if a vacancy occurs between elections?”][vc_column_text]

If a vacancy occurs between elections, the Moderator of the affected board may leave the position vacant until the next election, or may direct the Clerk of Session to call a special meeting of the congregation for the purpose of electing a new candidate to fill the vacancy for the duration of the term.

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1. On Sunday, February 11, Elders will visit any Sunday Morning Group that would like to hear more about Session’s recommendation and ask questions. Teachers and group leaders may contact Pam Dodge at pam.dodge@ward.church to schedule an elder visit.
2. Be sure to carefully read through this entire FAQ document as well as other materials as they become available.
3. Attend the February 25 Congregational Meeting.
   We will have a full presentation, discussion, and debate before asking you to cast your vote.

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