MidAmerica Bylaws: Article IV. Business Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting. The Annual Business Meeting of the MidAmerica Region (“Annual Meeting”) shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Trustees (hereinafter called the “Regional Board”) and may be held in conjunction with the Regional Assembly.

(a) The Regional Board shall decide the structure of Annual Meetings.

(b) The Regional Board may authorize multiple sites for the Annual Meeting. Delegates at each site shall have equivalent voting rights. When a Business Meeting will be held in a multi-site format, the Regional Board shall define appropriate policies and procedures regarding the manner in which business is to be conducted, and these policies and procedures shall be communicated to congregations at least 60 days prior to the Business Meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

(a) The President may call a Special Business Meeting of the MidAmerica Region (“Special Meeting”) with the consent of the Regional Board.

(b) A Special Meeting shall be called by the President at such time and place(s) as the Regional Board shall determine upon receipt by the President of a written request signed by the governing bodies of no fewer than ten percent (10%) of the member congregations in good standing. Such a meeting shall be held no more than ninety (90) days after the receipt of such request and the called meeting agenda shall include business items stated in the meeting request.

Section 3. Notice of Meetings.

(a) Notice of each Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, specifying the time and place thereof and the business to be conducted at such meeting, shall be sent by the Secretary of the Region to the Presiding Officer of each member congregation and its professional delegates no fewer than sixty (60) days prior to the date of such meeting.

(b) except that other business may be acted upon at an Annual Meeting with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates voting.

(c) At least thirty (30) days prior to each Annual Meeting, copies of the minutes of the preceding Annual Meeting and any intervening Special Meeting(s), reports of the committees of the Board, the current financial statement of the Region, the Board-approved budget for the succeeding fiscal year, and delegate credentials shall be sent to the Presiding Officer of each member congregation and its professional delegates. Notice of any Annual or Special Meeting shall include the full text of any proposed amendments to these Bylaws which have been submitted by the Regional Board prior to the preparation of such notice.

Section 4. Quorum. A Quorum for Business Meetings shall be defined as consisting of delegates representing at least twenty-five (25) congregations located in at least five (5) states.

Section 5. Business Submitted by Congregational Action. Member congregations wishing to have business considered by the Annual Meeting shall do so following a process to be determined by the Board and communicated to the member congregations.

Section 6. Chair of the Meeting. The President of the Region or that person’s appointee will chair Annual or Special meetings.

Section 7. Accreditation and Certification of Delegates. The Regional Board shall make rules for the accreditation and certification of delegates.