AME Church Lay Organization

The Official Site of the
Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization
of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Constitution and By-Laws

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ARTICLE V - Officers

Section 1.

The elected officers of the PCLO shall be:

ARTICLE VI - Qualifications of Officers and Members

Section 1.

All officers and members of the PCLO shall be members in good and regular standing in the local Church and in their local lay organizations.

Section 2.

All candidates seeking an office in the PCLO must be registered and must have attended at least two (2) Conference Annual Meetings within the five (5) year period immediately preceding the election year.  It is also desirable that candidates for Conference offices have demonstrated active participation at all levels of the church - Annual Conference, Episcopal District, and Connectional.

Section 3.

All persons seeking an elected office of the PCLO must submit a "Letter of Intent" with qualifications signed by their local president with the approval of the local lay organization, to the chairperson of the Nominating Committee.  The letter must be sent by certified mail and postmarked on or before June 1st of the election year.  This deadline date will constitute the close of all nominations submitted to the Nominating Committee.  All qualifications are subject to verification.  All verifications must be received prior to placing a person's name on the ballot.

Section 4.

Candidates for the office of Recording Secretary or Assistant Recording Secretary should have a working knowledge in current word processing applications.

Section 5. 

Candidates for the office of Treasurer or Financial Secretary should be knowledgeable in the areas of accounting and bookkeeping.

Section 6.

Candidates for the office of Public Relations Director should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills.  Skills in work processing, journalism, marketing, and sales are desirable, but not required

Section 7.

In the event that no candidate

ARTICLE VII - Election of Officers

Section 1.

All elections of officers shall be by secret ballot and a majority vote shall elect. Any method of election in any division other than by ballot shall be declared null and void by the Third Episcopal District Lay Organization.

Section 2.

The PCLO officers shall be elected Biennially and limited to four (4) consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 3.

Local church lay organization officers shall be elected annually.

Section 4.

Representation from a majority of the local churches in the Conference shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any lawful business which shall come before the PCLO.

ARTICLE VIII-Duties of Officers

Section 1.

The President of the PCLO shall preside over its sessions during its regular, special, or emergency meetings and shall be Chairperson of the Executive Board.  The President shall be the active head of said organization and shall be responsible for seeing that the Constitution and By-Laws of this organization, as well as the orders and policies of the Executive Board are fully executed and carried out.  The President shall present a budget projection with the appropriate categories itemized as to receipts and disbursements.  The President shall be responsible for expanding and developing the Lay work throughout the Pittsburgh Conference through channels of the local church lay organization.  The President shall represent the PCLO at the Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during its annual sessions.  The President shall appoint chairpersons of all standing committees.  The President shall be responsible for an Annual Report for and during the Annual Meeting and disseminate items of interest received from the Third Episcopal District.

Section 2.

The First Vice President shall assume the complete duties of the President in his/her absence or when it has been determined by the Executive Board that the President can no longer perform his/her duties. He/she shall coordinate such programs as assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 3.

The Second Vice President in the absence of the President and First Vice President shall preside at all the meetings and assume all the duties of the office of President. He/she shall coordinate such programs as assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 4.

The Third Vice President shall preside at the meetings when the President, First Vice President and Second Vice President are absent and shall coordinate such programs as assigned to him/her by the President.

Section 5.

When there is a vacancy in the office of President and First Vice President, then the Second Vice President shall succeed to the office of President. When the Third Vice President has succeeded to the office of President, then there shall be an election held as provided by Article VII, Section 1. of this Constitution for the purpose of electing a First, Second and Third Vice President.

Section 6.

The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for the recording of attendance and accurate minutes of all business transacted during meetings and he/she shall read the minutes of any previous meeting when called upon to do so by the President. In the absence of the President, and Vice Presidents, he/she shall preside until a chairperson "pro tem" is elected. He/she shall prepare for the presiding officer a statement of unfinished business to come before the body. The Recording Secretary shall-prepare a report of the Executive Board meetings to be presented at the Biennial session. The Recording Secretary shall hold the bond of the Treasurer and Financial Secretary.

Section 7.

The Assisting Recording Secretary shall assist the Recording Secretary in keeping accurate records and in the absence of the secretary shall perform the duties of the secretary.

Section 8.

The Corresponding Secretary shall receive all correspondence, report the same to the Executive Board, reply to all correspondence as directed by the President and the Executive Board.

Section 9.

The Treasurer shall receive all monies and disburse the same upon authorization of the President as approved by the body. He/she shall keep accurate records and give an itemized report at each Board meeting and Biennial session. The Treasurer shall be bonded and said bond be held by the Recording Secretary.

Section 10.

The Financial Secretary shall assist the Treasurer. He/she shall write vouchers countersigned by the President that authorize expenditures which are to be paid by the Treasurer. Monies received by the Financial Secretary shall be turned over to the Treasurer within thirty (30) days. The  Financial Secretary shall be bonded and said bond held by the Recording Secretary.

Section 11.

The Chaplain shall prepare and lead each worship service and give spiritual leadership to the organization.

Section 12.

The Historiographer shall keep a written and pictorial record of the activities and achievements of the organization and make it available upon request. He/she shall also act as custodian for all photographs, slides, citations, awards, trophies and other mementos.

Section 13.

The Parliamentarian shall advise the President or presiding officer, when necessary concerning questions of parliamentary procedure. He/she shall follow the A.M.E. Book of Discipline and "Robert's Rules of order," revised edition at all meetings.

Section 14.

The Director of Lay Activities shall be responsible for planning a training program and course of study in accordance with the purposes and aims of the Lay Organization. This training program and course of study shall be presented to the Executive Board for approval prior to implementation within ninety (90) days following the Biennial session. The President shall have power to veto the Board's approval of any item deemed necessary. The approved program shall be forwarded immediately from the Conference Lay Activities Director to local church Lay Activity Directors. A full report shall be given at each Biennial session.

Section 15.

The Director of Public Relations shall seek to bring about a harmony of understanding between the church and public through the channeling of information to various media. He/she shall be responsible for press releases and public relations for and during the Biennial session. He/she shall disseminate news items of interest received from the Episcopal Districts.

Section 16.

The duties of the other officers of this organization shall be those usual and customary to their respective of f ices and as may be more particularly set out in "Robert's Rules of Order" and which may be assigned to them by the Executive Board.