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BY-LAWS OF THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

United Church of Christ
New London, Connecticut
Revised March 8, 1998

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this church shall be Second Congregational Church in New London, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Church.  By vote of the Church on April 9, 1961, the Church is a member of the United Church of Christ.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of this Church shall be to bind together followers of Jesus Christ, to share in the worship of God, and to seek to do God's will, individually and as a congregation, especially as that will is set forth in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section A. Qualifications

The members of the Church shall be received:

  1. on presentation of letters of transfer from other churches, or
  2. by reaffirmation of faith if a letter is not available, or
  3. on confession of faith or baptism

Section B. Reception

The Church welcomes new members as they join in covenant of the Church, confess their faith in Jesus Christ, and promise to be active members of the congregation.

Section C. Classification of Membership

  1. Active Members shall be those who promise to be faithful in living a Christian life, in attending to the best of their ability the worship services of the Church, in sharing its organized work, and in sustaining the Church by their gifts and labors.  Members may vote in the affairs of the Church and may serve on boards and committees of the Church, as elected.
  2. Inactive Members shall be those members who do not support the Church through their attendance, financial contributions or other activities for a period of three years, as determined by the Board of Deacons.  Inactive members shall be retained on the official rolls but shall not be counted as members and shall not be eligible to vote on Church matters or serve on boards and committees of the Church.

Section D. Changes in Membership Status

  1. Members shall be reclassified as inactive members and inactive members shall be reactivated to member status at their own request or upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons.
  2. Members shall be terminated upon transfer to another church at their own request.
  3. Membership shall be terminated for good and sufficient cause upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons.
  4. Terminations and reclassification of membership recommended by the Board of Deacons shall become effective only when ratified by a vote at a meeting of the Church.

Section E. Membership Authority

The members of the Church, acting by majority vote at a Church meeting, called as prescribed in Article VII, shall have final authority over Church policies, procedures, and business matters.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

The officers of the Church, their terms of office, and duties shall be as follows:

The Pastor shall be called by a majority vote of the Church.  When a vacancy occurs in the pastorate, a special committee shall be appointed by the Church to seek an available candidate.  At the completion of the search process, the committee shall present the candidate's name at a meeting of the Church duly called for the Pastor's election.

The term of the pastor shall be indefinite.  The church may, by majority vote, require the Pastor’s resignation at a meeting called for such purpose, the resignation to be effective within sixty days of an affirmative vote.  The Pastor, wishing to resign, shall give at least sixty days notice of intention.

Upon election and acceptance of the call, the Pastor and the Church, in mutual agreement, may invite the district association to sit in an ecclesiastical council for the purpose of installing the Pastor in accordance with established usages.

The Pastor shall have charge of the spiritual welfare of the Church.  The Pastor shall preach the gospel, administer the sacraments, conduct the service of public worship, and administer the activities of the Church in cooperation with its various committees.

The Pastor shall be a member ex officio of all Church boards and committees with voting rights.  The Pastor shall not serve as chairperson of the Church Council or as moderator of any meeting of the Church.  The Pastor shall supervise all staff of the Church in consultation with the appropriate church committee.

A Chairperson of the Church Council shall serve as the chief lay officer of the Church. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Church and the Church Council and be the liaison between the Church Council and the Pastor. The chairperson shall preside over the Church and Ministry Committee, oversee the activities of the Church officers, see that official decisions are carried out, and actively participate in the life and mission of the Church. The Council Chairperson shall sign contracts required by the business affairs of the Church, after such contracts have been approved by the congregation or the church council.

A Vice Chairperson of the Church Council shall perform the duties of the Chairperson of the Church Council in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of the Nominations Committee and a member of the Church and Ministry Committee.

The Clerk shall keep faithful record of the proceedings of the Church, a register of members and official reports, and shall perform other duties appropriate to or required of the office of the clerk.

A Board of Deacons shall consist of twelve members, six men and six women, of whom two men and two women shall be elected annually for a term of three years. After serving one full term of three years, a deacon shall be ineligible for re-election for one year. The deacons shall assist the pastor in ministering to the spiritual needs of the Church and community, assist in administration of the sacraments, accept new members into the Church, review the Church Rolls, and provide for the supply of the pulpit in the absence of the Pastor.

A Treasurer shall pay all bills for operating expenses authorized by the budget or approved by the Church Council, disburse benevolence funds, and keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements.

An Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties of the treasurer in the event of the absence or incapacity of the treasurer. The assistant treasurer shall attend and may vote at Church Council meetings in the absence of the treasurer.

A Financial Secretary shall collect and deposit all monies from pledges, loose plate collections, and the Church School, including special offerings and collections. The Financial Secretary shall keep an accurate record of monies received.

All of the Church Officers, except the Pastor, shall be elected by the Church at the annual meeting. Unless otherwise stated in this article, the term of office for church officers shall be one year. The Church Council may fill vacancies in church offices until the next annual meeting and may appoint assistants to church officers as it sees fit. The Church may remove any Church Officer, with or without cause, at a meeting called for such purpose. Any such removal must be approved by majority vote of those present at the meeting.

ARTICLE V: CHURCH COUNCIL

Section A.

There shall be a Church Council which, under the direction of the Church, shall have charge of the business of the Church and shall be responsible for the conduct of such business.  The Church Council shall be empowered to act for the Church on all business, financial, and administrative matters, subject to the limitations imposed by these by-laws.  The Church Council shall not have the power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer real property without the specific authority by vote of the church.  The Council shall not approve the expenditure during any fiscal year funds exceeding the total adopted budget by more than two percent without the authority by vote of the Church.

Section B.

The members of the Church Council shall be:

  • The Pastor
  • The Chairperson of the Church Council
  • The Vice Chairperson of the Church Council
  • The Church Clerk
  • The Chairperson of the Board of Deacons
  • The Treasurer
  • The Chairperson of each of the Standing Committees of the Church
  • The President of the Women's Fellowship
  • Two members-at-large, elected for a one-year term by the Church members at the annual meeting.

The Director of Christian Education and Chairpersons of Special Committees shall be ex-officio members of the Council, without vote.

ARTICLE VI: STANDING COMMITTEES

The Church members shall elect standing committee members at the annual meeting.  The Nominations Committee shall present a slate of proposed committee members and their respective terms.  The Church members may create any new Standing Committees or reorganize the Standing Committees at any duly called meeting.  The Standing Committees are: The Arts and Music Committee, The Christian Education Committee, The Nominations Committee, The Property Committee, The Church and Ministry Committee, The Finance Committee, The Hospitality Committee, The Growth Committee, The Invested Funds Committee, The Missionary and Social Outreach Committee, and The Stewardship Committee.

ARTICLE VIII: CHURCH MEETINGS

Section A.

The annual business meeting of the Church shall be held in January of each year.  The fiscal year of the Church shall coincide with the calendar year.

Section B.

Special meetings of the Church may be called by the chairperson of the Church Council, or upon petition of five members of the council, or ten members of the Church.

Section C.

Meetings of the Church shall be announced from the pulpit, and notice thereof, signed by the clerk, shall be posted on the door of the Church house, in both instances not less than seven days prior to the meeting date.  Notice shall also be printed in the calendar and the "Key".

Section D.

Thirty-five (35) members of the Church, of legal voting age, shall constitute a quorum in a meeting of the Church.

ARTICLE VIII: NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Church shall not discriminate against any person on account of race, religion, creed, color, sex, sexual preference, national or ethnic origin, or disability in regard to election or continuation of office as a director or officer of the Church, selection of charitable organizations to use the Church buildings or otherwise in the administration of any of the Church's policies and programs.

ARTICLE IX: CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No part of the net earnings or assets of the Church shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these by-laws.  No member shall manage the invested funds of the Church if that member will receive commissions from such management.  No member shall vote on the use of the Church building by his or her family or by an organization of which he or she is currently an officer or director.

ARTICLE X: ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

All previous by-laws and votes in conflict with these by-laws are hereby repealed. By-laws and amendments to these by-laws may be adopted or repealed by two-thirds vote of those present at meetings of the Church duly called. The call of the meeting shall notify members that there are proposed changes to the by-laws, and a copy of the proposed changes shall be available to any member at least one week prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE XI: RULES OF ORDER

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of the Church, Church Council, and all committees and boards of the Church in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the by-laws or special rules of order adopted by the Church Council.