With relevant excerpts from the bylaws.
Who is a messenger and how many messengers can a church send?
Section 1.4 Messengers.The messenger body shall be the ultimate governing body of the Network. Messengers shall have the rights enumerated in the charter and bylaws. (See especially section 11 of the charter.)
Each church in fellowship shall be entitled to send three messengers to the Annual Homecoming and special meetings of the messengers. Any church with more than fifty members may send one additional messenger for each fifty members above fifty members, provided no church shall be entitled to send more than ten messengers. Each messenger shall be an adult member in good standing with the church sending him or her as a messenger. Messengers shall not be instructed as to their voting by the church which selected them.
What is an “LMS” and how is he chosen?
The Lead Mission Strategist is the title for the position formerly known in Baptist life as Director of Missions. Section 4.3 of our bylaws explains the general role of the LMS/DOM and how they are chosen.
Section 4.3 Election, Term of Office, Authority, and Responsibilities of the Director of Missions. The Board shall nominate the director of missions to the messengers and the messengers shall either elect or reject the nominee. Election shall require the affirmative vote of two thirds of the messengers present and voting. Upon election, the director of missions shall become an employee of the Network. The director of missions shall serve an indefinite term and his office and employment shall be at the pleasure of the messengers. The director of missions’ compensation, and conditions of employment shall be determined by the Board following the receipt of recommendations from the Executive Committee.
The director of missions shall fill the statutorily required office of president, serve as the chief executive officer, recommend the employment and termination of employment of all employees to the Board or the Executive Committee.
The director of missions shall be the chief advisor to and executive agent of the Board and the Executive Committee. The director of missions shall recommend and implement Board policies, keeping the Board and Executive Committee informed on appropriate matters, consulting with the Board and Executive Committee in a timely fashion on matters appropriate to policy-making and fiduciary functions, and serving as the key spokesperson for the Network. The director of missions shall have the authority to execute all documents on behalf of the Network and shall serve as an ex officio but non-voting member of all committees.
What is a “Special Called Meeting?”
In addition to our annual homecoming, our bylaws allow us to hold special called meetings of messengers to handle more urgent business. The following sections in our bylaws spell out the rules governing such meetings.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings.A special meeting of messengers may be held on such date and at such place and time as determined by the Board. Only matters described in the notice of the meeting may be considered.
Section 2.3 Notice of Meetings.The Board shall cause notice of any meeting, annual or special, of messengers to be sent to the churches in fellowship with the Network by mail or by email at least thirty days prior to the meeting…
Section 2.4 Guests at Meetings.Persons who are not messengers may normally attend the meetings of messengers, but they may not participate in the business sessions unless they are officers, trustees, members of committees, employees or advisors.
Section 2.6 Quorum and Voting. A quorum shall exist if, at the time the Annual Homecoming meeting or a special meeting of the messengers convenes, a messenger is present from at least twenty percent of the churches in fellowship with the Network. Each messenger who is present at the time a vote is taken is entitled to one vote on each matter voted upon by the messengers. Except in those instances the charter, bylaws, or Robert’s Rules of Order(if the meeting is conducted pursuant to Robert’s; See section 2.5) require a greater majority, action shall be taken by the messengers upon a simple majority of the votes cast.