Ask a parliamentarian
June 15, 2006 at 4:18 pm 20 comments
As I say in <<Author>>, I am not a licensed parliamentarian, but I have a fair amount of experience. Use the comments here to ask a question. I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
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Robert\'s Rules for Church Struggles 
1.
George Gray | July 31, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Jim – Great work!
Thank you very much!
2.
J. Workman | July 31, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Thanks George.
3.
Michael Kirshtein | May 10, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I am a board member for a religious org.. There is an important motion that affects a good number of congregants that needs to be presented at a board meeting in order to have it brought before the congregation for a vote at the quarterly cong. meeting. There are those more well versed in Robert’s Rules that would love to prevent this from happening at our next board meeting. How do I ensure that a motion is allowed to be presented and discussion is not stifled. I know I can attempt to add it to the agenda but if that fails I will make my motion in new business but what can I expect from those out to foil my plans. They are smart & tricky. Thanks!!
4.
Nancy Jameson | August 18, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I have a question. If a vote is taken, counted, and announced, then 2 additional votes “””are found””” afterwards that change the outcome, can these votes be counted or does a new vote need to take place?
Thank you. Our church’s souls depend on this.
5.
Melvin M.Dawson | August 30, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I am the Chairman of the Deacon Board as we as in charge of the church in the absent of a Pastor. About 4 months ago the church voted in an interim pastor. I believe he is who GOD has sent to us being we have had several church prayer meeting for this purpose. He is doing very well and the church seem to be growing and moving in the right direction. He preaches from the Old Testiment and some of our official have taken offense to some of the time he preach about such as weak leadership in the church and and where the Trustee’s stand in according to GOD’s Holly Word. The congreagation seem to be very happy with him and not there is a recommedation from the official board to terminate his contract and there is also a motion from on the floor to make him the pastor. How do I handle this. For to me this battle in not mind its the Lord. What do I do about the motion. Keep in mind also we just elected a Pastoral Search Team.
6.
Maggie | June 9, 2010 at 10:54 am
At a General Assembly, on a Thursday a motion was made by a person. Persons in the hall were NOT certified to vote on anything. On Sunday, once all delegates were certified, the chair brought up the “motion” that was made on Thursday. One person brought out a “point of order” – stating the people in the Thursday assembly were NOT certified to vote on anything and asked to table the motion. We don’t know if there was even a quorum or whether there was a “duly convened” assembly. Back to sunday: The chair ruled him out of order and took a vote. Never did he say “is there any discussIon” He just said all in favor say Aye. Is this wrong???
7.
lauren | June 14, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I am a board President. Meeting are open to any member (non-board members) who wants to attend and each meeting has time for member questions and concerns . There is one member who consistently makes personal attacks and statements about other’s motives. When this member does so, she is told to stick with the speaking about the issue. The same member also frequently interrupts board meetings with yelling. Outside of the meeting I have reminded her that she cannot make personal attacks and needs to be recognized before speaking, however, she continues to disrupt meetings and make attacks. Because of this one members actions, board members have stopped attending because they feel intimidated. What actions can I take? Thanks for your help.
8.
Sue | August 11, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Can a board member confirm to a member, with a yes or no answer (only), that a specific agenda item has been placed in executive session? I realize they are not able to discuss the agenda item.
9.
Bill Barbour | August 12, 2011 at 10:59 am
A 5 member Investigation Committee is formed. During their investigation, this committee conducts numerous interviews. It is later discovered that, on 2 separate such interviews, only one of the five members is present. It has been argued that the committee did not have a quorum of its members as well as that all five were required to be present (liken to a Jury in a trial of formal hearing).
Can you clarify?
Thank you in advance
Bill
10.
Dale Slugoski | February 14, 2012 at 12:17 am
Situation is quite odd Society was formed to presereve and protect a historical church and an attached cementary. It’s members are mostly elderly and for the most part non-active other than paying their dues. A new president was elected who has no experience for the position and has expelled the rest of the executive plus expelled them as members and appointed a new executive. These actions are all contrary to the bylaws. In addition, the bank account has been closed and the executive/board members filed with the Alberta Corporate Registry. The President refuses to have any discussion. It appears that there is an unknown agenda. What action can be taken that forces that actions taken must be within the society’s bylaws?
11.
Jean | June 12, 2012 at 2:19 am
When reports are presented ie – financial report, warden’s report etc. Is it necessary to have them seconded? I’ve attended meetings where these reports were moved by the presenter and that was sufficient and other meetings where a seonder was required
12.
Lisa | June 16, 2012 at 11:18 am
11. A second is not needed for financial reports.
13.
Lisa | June 16, 2012 at 11:21 am
I have a member that needs to be terminated. She has not broken any rules in our bylaws, she has committed fraud and other. Need to remove her on “cause”. Is there a direct quote in RRR. That allows for this, with out going through the “trail” part????
14.
Craig | June 20, 2012 at 4:15 pm
How should a church board treat non-members invited to attend a board meeting to present a proposal? Should they be involved in the discussion &/or debate?
15.
Steve Law | June 24, 2012 at 8:45 am
A duly appointed committee of the church made a motion (after months of study and analysis with experts), to change Article I and part of Article III of a policy. Article II and the remainder of Article III were to be dealt with at a later date because they have a much higher threshold for approval (2/3 of members must be present and 1/3 voting in favor) and are extremely complicated. The changes the committee sought were to make this policy in keeping with the Org Plan of the church and the Constitution – currently the policy is at odds with those docs.
During the business meeting, the parliamentarian spoke “as the parliamentarian” and offered a motion to not proceed with the committee’s recommendations but to come back to the church at a later date with a complete change to all articles. FYI, the parliamentarian also drafted all the current church policies 25 years ago.
Q4U: is a parliamentarian permitted to speak “as the parliamentarian” and offer substitute motions? Can the parliamentarian speak to or against a motion on the floor? Does the parliamentarian (and moderator) abrogate their right to opine once they have accepted the office/position? Are there references to this in Roberts’?
Thank you.
16.
James | November 14, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Q – The church board asked for executive sessions and it was granted to discuss pastoral salary…pastor was dismissed and then brought back. He disagreed with outcome of executive session but his Superintendent told him that by allowing executive session and leaving the room he agreed with the outcome of the meeting automatically. Is this true?
17.
daveburton | June 15, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Are there any main motions which require a supermajority?
(Context: I’m considering the implications of a “sub-quorum” rule:
http://www.burtonsys.com/2-16-2008/sub-quorum_rule.html )
18.
Dianne S. Martin | September 26, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Can someone other than the pastor call a church group into conference ?
19.
Greg | July 31, 2015 at 1:57 pm
A Club officer is MIA, has not attended a meeting live or Teleconf. or attended any club functions. He has not responded to any text, email or phone contacts. He is the second VP. and has vital roles in the club. How can the board remove him. We do not have a specific item to remove an officer in Bylaws.
20.
Art W. | March 18, 2017 at 1:04 pm
Does Robert’s rules allow for Secretary / Treasurer position?