458.255 Subsequent meetings; right to vote; annual and special meetings, notice; election of vestry members, classification; rector to preside; records.

560 words·~3 min read·/mi/chapter-458/458-255

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Sec. 5.

At all subsequent meetings, the right to vote shall be confined to such persons as shall be authorized by the laws of the church to vote at parish meetings. The annual meeting shall take place during the month of January. Public notice shall be given of the time and place of holding such meetings, on 2 Sundays immediately preceding such meeting, by the rector, and in his absence, by either of the wardens at the regular service on such days. In case service shall not be held, notice shall be given either by publishing or posting, as the vestry shall direct, written or printed notices thereof, signed by the rector, or in case there is no rector, by the secretary of the vestry at least 1 week prior to such meeting.

Special meetings of the parish may be called by the vestry, and a like notice shall be given of any such special meeting as is required for an annual meeting, and the object of such special meeting shall be stated. At the annual meeting, an election of vestry members shall be held to serve until the next annual meeting, but at such annual meeting it shall be lawful, at the option of said meeting, to classify the vestry members in 3 equal classes, as near as may be, 1 of which classes shall hold their offices for 1 year, 1 for 2 years, and 1 for 3 years, and at all subsequent meetings vestry members shall be elected for 3 years to fill the places made vacant by the class whose term of office shall expire at the time.

Any diocese may by canon provide that in case any parish shall adopt the term of 3 years, then no vestry member so elected shall be eligible for reelection until the next annual parish meeting following the expiration of his term of office. Any church desiring to discontinue such classification may do so, and thereafter vestry members shall be elected for 1 year to fill the places made vacant by the class whose term of office shall expire at the time of election. The vestry members shall be elected by ballot and shall serve until their successors shall be chosen.

The wardens, when present, shall be the judges of the election, and shall permit no person to vote unless qualified as aforesaid; and they shall canvass and declare the result, and a majority of all the votes cast shall be necessary to elect. In case of the absence of the wardens, or either of them, members of the vestry shall be appointed to act as such judges in the place of the absent warden or wardens. The rector, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the parish.

A full and complete record of the proceedings of all such meetings shall be kept by the secretary of the vestry.

History: 1899, Act 40, Imd. Eff. Apr. 18, 1899 ;-- CL 1915, 10932 ;-- Am. 1917, Act 62, Eff. Aug. 10, 1917 ;-- Am. 1923, Act 87, Eff. Aug. 30, 1923 ;-- CL 1929, 10940 ;-- CL 1948, 458.255 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 136, Imd. Eff. May 28, 1957 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 157, Imd. Eff. July 12, 1965