CCHS By-Laws

As amended May 17, 2005

ARTICLE I NAME

The name of this organization shall be THE CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.

ARTICLE II PURPOSE

The purpose of the Corporation shall be as stated in its ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION, as from time to time amended.

ARTICLE III PROGRAM

The program of the Corporation will be carried forward by the officials of the Corporation, with the assistance of such Committees as the Directors shall establish, and shall operate in the following areas:

1. The creation of records: To encourage the writing of accurate and helpful records by church clerks, historians, ministers, and by all other officials and individuals who may have matters of business or of interest to record.

2. The preservation and organization of records: The indexing of extant material in various libraries, state and national, noting exactly where valuable material is now preserved, and the promoting of searches for other existing material now unknown.

3. The use of records:
(a) The promotion of anniversaries and other such occasions as will help the churches and the agencies of our traditions to become aware of their historical resources;
(b) To encourage and to promote the scholarly use of historical materials and the production of historical works which will help to give a mature foundation to the Christian faith in our churches;
(c) To work for the preservation of such monuments, historical sites and other memorials as may be important in our history;
(d) To advocate the inclusion of historical papers and lectures in programs of Associations, Conferences and national meetings.

ARTICLE IV MEMBERS

The incorporators of the Corporation shall be deemed to be the members for the purposes of organizing the Corporation and the first meeting. Thereafter all contributors to the Corporation and two representatives of each contributing church or organization shall be members of the Corporation and entitled to attend and to vote at meetings of members.

ARTICLE V GOVERNING BOARD

1. The responsible governing body shall be the Directors, composed of the Officers of the Corporation, together with not less than seven nor more than ten Directors-at-Large, the Officers and Directors-at-Large to be elected annually by the members on nomination of the Corporation's Nominating Committee or from the floor. Except that, if applicable pursuant to Article XI, a person designated by the American Congregational Association shall be a Director-at-Large or officer, if so elected by the members) and the remaining Directors-at-Large shall be elected by the members as provided in the previous sentence. Vacancies, except, if applicable pursuant to Article XI, in the directorship designated by the American Congregational Association, may be filled by the Directors.

2. The Directors shall meet at least twice each year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring (in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Corporation). Five members of the Directors shall constitute a quorum. SPECIAL MEETINGS shall be held upon the call of the President or upon the written request of not less than three Directors. Notice of special meetings shall be given at least 48 hours before such meeting.

ARTICLE VI FELLOWS OF THE CORPORATION

The Corporation may vote at any of its meetings to award the distinctive title, "Fellow of The Congregational Christian Historical Society, Inc.," to any person who, in its judgment, has made an outstanding contribution to the forwarding of knowledge and public interest in the history of the Congregational Christian churches or in other areas of religious history.

ARTICLE VII OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

The officers shall be a PRESIDENT, two or more VICE PRESIDENTS, an EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-ARCHIVIST, a CLERK, and a TREASURER, elected annually by the Corporation and on nomination of the Corporation's Nominating Committee or from the floor. Vacancies may be filled by the Directors. The duties of these officers shall be as follows:

1. The PRESIDENT and VICE PRESIDENTS shall perform the duties usually appertaining to each of these offices respectively.

2. The TREASURER shall receive all monies and property payable to the Corporation and deposit or invest the same in the name of the Corporation, subject to the control of the Directors. All payments of funds belonging to the Corporation shall be made by the Treasurer, as authorized and directed from time to time by the Directors. The Treasurer shall keep accurate accounts of all monetary transactions of the Corporation and report the same at each stated meeting of the Directors and of the Corporation and the Treasurer's books and papers shall at all times be subject to the inspection of the Directors. At the Annual Meeting this officer shall submit a financial statement of the previous year, with an auditor's report. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the title papers and securities belonging to the Corporation, and shall, if required, give bond in such amount and with such sureties as the Directors may specify.

3. The EXECUTIVE SECRETARY-ARCHIVIST shall keep the records of the Corporation and shall be the custodian of all papers and documents of the Corporation not committed to anyone else, and shall have charge of the books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and other materials in the custody of the Corporation, subject to such regulations as may be adopted by the Directors from time to time. This Officer shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Society.

4. The CLERK shall give due notice of the meetings of the Directors and of the Corporation via the appropriate media, and shall make the official record of these meetings. The Clerk shall perform such other tasks as the Directors shall deem it appropriate to assign to this Officer.

5. The DIRECTORS shall have direct responsibility for details of administration under such rules and regulations as the Corporation shall prescribe, and it shall present a full record of its transactions at the annual meeting of the Corporation for review and for instructions for the future.

The Directors shall draft an annual budget for the Corporation and propose methods for meeting the Corporation's budgetary needs, and shall select a Nominating Committee and such other committees for specified purposes as may be of advantage to the administration of the Corporation's affairs.

The Directors shall not approve expenditures beyond the total budget for any year but may re-allocate funds allotted to various categories as may be found advisable.

ARTICLE VIII ANNUAL MEETING

There shall be an annual business meeting of the Corporation held in May of each year. The time and place of the meeting shall be decided by the Directors. At least seven days notice in writing shall be given of each such meeting. Those present shall constitute a quorum. (In case of need, certified in writing by three members of the Corporation or three members of the Directors to the President, the corporation shall meet at the President's call in special session, following seven days written notice.)

ARTICLE IX FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE X AMENDMENT

These By-Laws may be amended by vote of two-thirds of the members present at any regularly called meeting of the Corporation, provided, however, that notice thereof shall have been given by mail to all the members at least thirty (30) days previous to the holding of such meeting.

Article XI

If so and as long as the American Congregational Association accepts as a full member of its Board of Directors (with a right to a voice and a vote on all matters that may come before it) a member of the Board of this Society designated for that purpose by the Board of this Society, the Board of Directors of this Society shall include a person designated for that purpose from and by the Board of Directors of the American Congregational Association. Such a person shall have a voice and a vote on all matters to come before the Board of this Society and shall have all other rights, powers and duties of members of the Board of Directors of this Society.

Annually, at its meeting in connection with the Annual Meeting of this Society, the Board of Directors of this Society shall designate one of its members to be a member of the Board of Directors of the American Congregational Association, or designate a new designee for such Board.