Procedure for Election of Minister

There are three directions in the by-laws regarding the election of a settled minister:

• The Minister shall be chosen by a nine-tenths vote of the active members present at a special meeting called, with due notice, expressly for that purpose.
• A quorum of twenty-five active members is needed at a special meeting.
• Active members are those who have signed the membership book, participate in the affairs of the Society through attendance at services or functions, through contributions, or through correspondence during the six months prior to the update of the roster.

Election Notice

• The special meeting occurs on Sunday, May11, 2008, immediately following the normal Sunday service, or at 11:10 a.m., whichever is later.
• The congregation will be notified of this election by way of the Sunday bulletin and in the Weekly Congregational Announcements sent by email.
• The meeting will be presided by the Moderator, Fontaine Richardson.
• The Moderator will indicate to the congregation that only active members may vote.
• No discussion will occur during the meeting. Congregants will be notified of this ahead of time through the Sunday bulletin and the Announcements sent by email, and will be encouraged to discuss the candidacy during the week preceding the special meeting.
• Voting will be done by a secret, paper ballot.
• The candidate will not be present during the meeting.
• Arrangements will be made for childcare for those who need it so that RE teachers and others can be present for the vote.
• Coffee hour will be suspended until the conclusion of the special meeting.

Candidating Week Schedule

Saturday May 3:

• 12:00 noon - Lunch with Search Committee at Michael Dundorf’s apartment
• 3:00 – 4:00 pm - Reception at the Gleason Library for FRS Exhibit opening
• 5:30 pm - Evening Green’s Sale Party at the Kissinger’s

Sunday May 4:

• 10:00 am Service
• ~11:30 am - Open Forum (open to all) right after coffee hour. The format will be to submit written questions during the forum
• 5:00 pm - Dinner at Dot Clark’s
• 7:30 pm - Evening meeting with Social Action Committee in the Conference Room

Monday May 5:

• 5:00pm Evening meeting with Pastoral Concerns Committee in the Conference Room

Tuesday May 6:

• 10:30am - Meeting in FRS Office with staff and then lunch with staff following meeting
• 7:00pm - Evening meeting with Finance Committee and Board of Trustees at Fontaine Richardson’s house

Wednesday May 7:

• 8:45 am - Breakfast meeting with the RE Committee in Union Hall
• ~ 10:00 am - Meeting with RE Director immediately following RE Committee Mtg.
• 3:00 pm - Visit with Dot Clark at her home
• 5:00pm Meeting with the Building and Grounds Committee (no more than1 hour due to next meeting with Parish Committee)
• (time/place TBD) - Dinner meeting with Parish Committee

Thursday May 8:

• 9:30am Check in with the Search Committee in Conference Room
• 7:00 – 8:00 pm - Meeting in Conference Room with Membership Committee
• 8:00 – 9:00 pm - Meeting in Conference Room with Environmental Action Committee

Friday May 9:

• 7:30 pm - Meeting in Conference Room with Music and Worship Committee and Hospitality Committees

Saturday May 10:

• 8:45am – 11:45am - Social Action event (Diane welcome to attend any part of)
• 6:30pm - Open Forum and Potluck in Union Hall

Sunday May 11:

• Service 10:00am
• Congregational Vote 11:10am