The Session of Northwood Presbyterian Church has called an important meeting of the congregation for Sunday, May 21, following morning worship to approve changes to our articles of incorporation and church bylaws that will move us to a "unicameral" governance (a single 'board' rather than separate Session and Board of Trustees as at present). Once these changes are approved by the congregation, a new slate of officers will be elected to serve on the reconstituted Session and on the Nominating Committee for the 2006-2007 terms of office.

When the Book of Order (the governing part of the Presbyterian Church’s constitution) was revised in the early 1980s, the role of Trustees was greatly altered from what it had been prior to that time in the United Presbyterian Church (of which Northwood was a part). Trustees were given the restricted role of fulfilling the requirements under state laws of incorporation of holding real and continuing assets for the use by the congregation. The governance of the congregation became a responsibility of the Session.

This change is one reason why our new “Articles of Incorporation” will indicate that elders elected to the Session will by that act also be elected as Trustees. Trustee functions are now limited such that there is no need for a separate board. Under current Maryland law, there will actually be two distinct legal entities: “Northwood Presbyterian Church,” (an unincorporated ‘religious association’), and “Northwood Presbyterian Church, Inc.” (a ‘religious corporation’ that holds assets for the use of the congregation).

Thus, we will actually be approving three documents in the meeting: new “Articles of Incorporation” and “Bylaws” for the corporation reflecting these Book of Order and legal changes, and “Bylaws” for the association (what most of us would call “the congregation” or "the church") that, together with the Book of Order, will deal with all other issues. All three documents are available for review by clicking on the respective links below, and copies may also be requested from the church office.

At the same as these incorporation and church bylaws changes are being implemented, Northwood will also be restructuring its work away from a "committee" orientation to one focused on "ministries" of the Session and "teams" of volunteers working together to carry out those ministry functions. Those changes have been discussed in articles in "Newsnotes" issues for February, March, and April (available on this website by clicking on the just listed months). They are not, however, reflected in either the proposed new bylaws of the corporation (because they don't apply to its work) or the congregation. Rather, in keeping with the Session's responsibilities and prerogatives under Article III, paragraph 5, of the church's new proposed bylaws, these changes represent "governing rules and regulations" that are set by the Session. As with committee structures in the past, these organizational matters will be set out in the "Session Manual." This arrangement allows for maximum flexibility in carrying out the church's developing ministries since it permits changes without having to go through the formal process of amending the church's bylaws.

Please plan to attend this important meeting of the congregation on Sunday, May 21, following morning worship.