Annual Meeting Vote
At our Annual Meeting on November 8, active members will vote on four proposed changes to our
Bylaws. Outside legal counsel reviewed the final language, and the Church Council supports
bringing it to the membership.
- Action 1 — Clarify how absentee voting works
- Action 2 — Update the rules for remote meetings
- Action 3 — Explicitly allow members to act by ballot without a meeting
- Action 4 — Remove the Conformity article (Article VI)
From time to time, organizations need to update their foundational documents. Bethany Community
Church has grown substantially since our Constitution and Bylaws were written — in size and in
geography. Technology lets us gather in new ways. Washington law has changed, and we continue to
pursue best practices as we build a resilient, well-managed church.
The four proposed changes below respond to those needs. They do two things — spell out how members
vote when they can't be in the room, and strengthen protection for our religious liberty. All
active members are encouraged to read the proposals and attend the Annual Meeting on
November 8.
For each action, you may vote Yes, No, or Abstain.
Passage of each proposed change requires sixty percent (60%) of votes cast to be in favor. A quorum
of fifteen percent (15%) of the membership or thirty-five (35) members — whichever is greater — must
participate for the vote to be valid; based on current membership, this quorum is 144 votes. Members
who vote by absentee ballot count toward quorum.
Please note that BCC's governance is not defined by our Constitution and Bylaws alone. As a
Washington nonprofit corporation, we are also subject to Washington state law, including the meeting
provisions of
RCW 24.03A.390
through
24.03A.480.
For the complete Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act, see
RCW Chapter 24.03A.
The Four Proposed Changes
How to read the proposed language:
Marked-out text is language that is being removed.
Green text is newly introduced language.
Unmarked text stays as it is today.
Our Bylaws already allow absentee ballots and already prohibit proxy voting. This change spells
out how absentee voting works. An absentee ballot is your own vote, but not in the room. A proxy
hands your vote to someone else, and we still do not allow that in general. The one exception is
an absentee ballot cast on behalf of an absent member by the Clerk as specified below. Members who
vote by absentee ballot count as present for quorum, vote counts, and percentages. Church Council
will publish separate procedures for how absentee ballots are requested, distributed, collected,
and counted.
Proposed Language — Article II, Section 6: Voting
At all meetings, each member shall have but one vote
, and no votes may be cast by proxy..
When not otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of the members present at a
meeting shall be the act of the corporation.
No votes may be cast by proxy, except that absentee
ballots may be cast as permitted by this section. Any member, who for reasonable cause cannot
attend a meeting, may
submit a request
to the Clerk to vote by absentee ballot. If a
member returns an absentee ballot
from the Clerk in the manner prescribed by the
Church Council and
by the deadline prescribed by the Clerk (which
sealed ballot must
be
returned to said Clerk prior to general voting at
anyleast 72 hours before the
start of the meeting
.), the Clerk will cast the vote on behalf of the member. Members
voting by absentee ballot are present for all purposes of quorum, count of votes, and percentages of total
voting power present.
In July, members approved remote participation in meetings of the membership. This update brings
that section closer to the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act and spells out the key requirements.
The Church Council decides when a meeting is held remotely. Any remote meeting must let members who
are not physically present take part at the same time, vote, ask questions, and make comments.
Proposed Language — Article II, Section 7: Remote Meetings
Meetings Any annual, special, or other meeting of the
membership as described in this
Article IImembers may
, in the discretion of the Church Council, be held by remote
communications.communication means that allow members not physically present to participate in
the meeting substantially concurrently, vote on matters submitted to the members, pose questions, and make
comments. These meetings must follow the
meeting provisions of
the Revised Code of
Washington (as of 6/2026, RCW 24.03A.390 through 24.03A.480
) to the greatest practicable extent.
This new section confirms that the membership can use the process Washington law provides — action
without a meeting by ballot, with a ballot sent to every member entitled to vote. It is the process we
used for the summer vote. Adding it to our Bylaws removes any doubt that we can use it again.
Proposed Language — Article II, Section 8 (New Section): Action Without Meeting by Ballot
Any action that may be taken at any meeting of the members may be taken by ballot without a meeting as
permitted by RCW 24.03A.480.
Today, Article VI says that if any part of our Bylaws conflicts with Washington State law on religious
organizations or the practice of religion, our Bylaws automatically change to match state law. That means
a future state law could rewrite our Bylaws without a vote of our members. Removing the article means that
if a religious provision in our Bylaws ever conflicts with Washington law, the church keeps the ability to
assert federal religious-liberty protections, including the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment.
Proposed Change — Article VI: Conformity (Delete Entire Article)
Any section or provision of these Bylaws in conflict with the Laws of the State of Washington now in
effect or hereafter amended, pertaining to religious organizations, or practice of religion, shall be deemed
to be amended to conform therewith.
Full Constitution & Bylaws
📄
Download the Complete Document
Review the full text of Bethany's current Constitution and Bylaws, as they read today prior to the proposed changes.
View Constitution & Bylaws →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these changes being made now?
Outside counsel reviewed our summer ballot vote and recommended these updates. The following issues
surfaced: our rules on absentee voting and voting without a meeting needed to be clearer and more
consistent with Washington law, and our Conformity article could let a future state law change our Bylaws
automatically. We are bringing both to the Annual Meeting so the whole membership can decide.
Who can I contact with a question or comment before the vote?
Please reach out to any member of the Church Council by emailing
staff@churchbcc.org. We welcome your feedback before the meeting.
What is the difference between an absentee ballot and a proxy vote?
An absentee ballot is your own vote, cast by you, when you can't attend. A proxy gives your vote to another
person to cast for you. Our Bylaws allow absentee ballots and do not allow proxy voting. Action 1 makes that
distinction explicit.
How do I vote if I can't attend the Annual Meeting?
If you can't attend for good reason, you may request an absentee ballot from the Church Clerk at
clerk@churchbcc.org. Your completed ballot must be returned at least
72 hours before the meeting starts — by Thursday, November 5 at 6:30 PM. Absentee ballots
count toward quorum.
Will every ballot be signed?
Yes. Washington law expects each voter to sign their ballot, whether the vote is cast in person, by absentee
ballot, or electronically.
Does Action 2 mean we won't hold in-person Annual Meetings?
Not at all. We will continue to hold in-person Annual Meetings. The Bylaws let Church Council decide when a
meeting also offers remote participation, for members who are traveling, have caretaking responsibilities, or
can't attend in person. This also lets us connect gatherings at each location into one church-wide meeting.
What does "action without meeting by ballot" mean, and does it change how we vote on November 8?
It is a Washington-law process that lets the voting membership make binding decisions by ballot without
holding a meeting
(RCW 24.03A.480).
Action 3 adds it to our Bylaws. The four changes on this page will be voted on at the Annual Meeting, not by
mail ballot.
Why remove Article VI (Conformity)?
As written, it could cause our Bylaws to change automatically to match state law, including on matters of
religious practice. Removing it keeps those decisions with our membership and preserves our ability to assert
federal protections for religious liberty. Outside counsel recommends this change.
What happens after the vote?
We will announce the results to the congregation. Approved changes take effect immediately and become part of
our governing documents. The ballots and vote record are kept with our Annual Meeting records.
How do we make sure every member can vote — and only once?
Each ballot has a unique identifier, and we confirm that each ballot belongs to an active member. Only one
vote counts per member.
Ready to Vote?
Your voice matters. All active members are encouraged to participate.
Annual Meeting: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Check with your location for start times.
Absentee ballot deadline: Thursday, November 5, 6:30 PM
Request an absentee ballot by emailing clerk@churchbcc.org.