Bylaws
of the
Transhumanist Church
(unratified,
2004-04-09, 2nd draft changes in red)
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the "Transhumanist Church",
abbreviated as the "Church".
Article II: Object
Section 1
The Object of the Church shall be Religious Transhumanism.
Section 2
Religious Transhumanism is defined by the principles described in a
separate document, "The Beliefs of the Transhumanist Church",
which may be amended annually by a two-thirds vote.
The principles of Religious Transhumanism are described in a separate
document, "The Beliefs of the Transhumanist Church", abbreviated as
the "Beliefs". The Beliefs may be amended annually by the Members of
the Church by a two-thirds vote. Complete agreement with the Beliefs
is not required for Membership.
Section 3
The Church declares and affirms its special responsibility to promote
the full participation of persons in all of its activities and in the
full range of human endeavor without regard to sex, gender, affectional
or sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, disability, or age.
Article III: Members
Section 1
Membership in the Church shall be limited to current and former
suspension members with a bona fide interest in promoting the
Object of the Church.
Membership in the Church shall be limited to persons with a
bona fide interest in promoting the Object of the Church.
There shall be no fees required for Membership.
The names of Members of the Church shall be public.
Section 2
A person may become a Member of the Church by making a request
to the Secretary and by two-thirds vote of the current Members.
A person may apply for Membership in the Church by making a request
to the Secretary.
Approval by a two-thirds vote of the current Members is required
for an applicant to become a Member.
An applicant must be a suspension member at the time of the vote.
An applicant may be disqualified before or during the vote if any
Member objects on the grounds that the suspension membership of the
applicant cannot be verified.
Section 3
Any Member desiring to resign from the Church may do so at any time
for any reason.
A Member may resign from the Church by notifying the Secretary.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1
Officers shall be Members of the Church.
The Officers of the Church shall be a President, a Secretary,
and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties
prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority
adopted by the Church.
Section 2
No Member shall hold more than one office at a time.
No Member shall serve consecutive full terms in the same office.
Section 3
Nominations for the regular elections will be accepted by the Secretary
in November.
Any Member may nominate candidates for office.
Regular elections will be held during December.
Special elections may be held at any time to fill office vacancies.
A regular term of office coincides with the calendar year.
Article V: Voting
Section 1
The Church is organized as a direct democracy of its Members.
Section 2
The announcements mailing list polling mechanism shall be used to vote.
A question before the Church shall be open for voting by the Members until
all of the Members have voted or explicitly abstained or until two weeks
have passed.
No minimum quorum will be required as long as the minimum polling period
of two weeks has elapsed.
Section 3
The Secretary shall verify the credentials of the voters and announce the
results of a vote.
The vote of a Member on a question shall be public.
Section 4
The approval voting method shall be used for all questions
with three or more choices
including elections.
In all elections, "none of the above" shall
be listed as an alternative to the listed candidates.
Article VI: Executive Board
Section 1
The Officers of the Church shall constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2
The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs
of the Church, make recommendations to the Church, and
shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.
The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Church, and none
of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Church.
Section 3
The Executive Board may meet at any time and may conduct business
by any mode of communication.
Article VII: Committees
Section 1
A Finance Committee composed of the Treasurer and four other members
shall be appointed by the President promptly after regular elections.
It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare a budget and to
submit it to the Church.
The Finance Committee may from time to time submit amendments to the
budget, which may be adopted by a majority vote.
Section 2
A Program Committee of five members shall be appointed by the
President promptly after regular elections, whose duty it shall be
to plan the annual program of the Church. This committee's report
shall be submitted to the Church for its approval.
Section 3
An Auditing Committee of three members shall be appointed by the
President at the end of the fiscal year, whose duty it shall be to
audit the accounts of the Treasurer at the close of the fiscal year
and to report to the Church.
Section 4
Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the
President as the Church or the Executive Board shall from time to
time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Church. The
President shall be ex officio a member of all committees.
Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of
Order Newly Revised shall govern the Church in all cases to
which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
whith these bylaws and any special rules of order the Church may
adopt.
Article IX: Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote.
Article X: Assets
Section 1
The disbursement of Church assests shall require a two-thirds vote.
Section 2
Members shall publicize related actual or potential conflicts of interest
prior to a vote on the disbursement of Church assets.
Section 3
The Church shall not compensate Members for their services to the Church.