The business meetings of a church should be conducted as much as possible in the spirit of devotion, and under a sense of the propriety and sanctity which attaches to all the interests of the kingdom of Christ. Meetings for business should not be needlessly multiplied, nor should they be unwisely neglected. It may not be wise to insist too rigidly on the observance of parliamentary rules, yet it is still worse to drift into a loose unbusinesslike way, which wastes time, accomplishes little, and does wrongly much that is done.  
order of business
 
1. The meetings to be opened with reading the Scriptures, singing, and prayer.
 
2. The reading, correction, and approval of the minutes of the preceding meeting.
 
3. Unfinished business, or such as the [p. 42] minutes present, including reports of committees taken in order.
 
4. New business will next be taken up. Any member may call up new business. But important matters should not be presented, except on previous consultation with the pastor and deacons.
 
Note 1.—The pastor is, by virtue of his office, moderator of all church business meetings. If he be not present, or do not wish to serve, any one may be elected to take the place.
 
Note 2.—All business meetings, both regular and special, should be announced from the pulpit one Sunday, at least, before they are held.
 
Note 3.—Special meetings for business may be called at any time, by consent of the pastor and deacons, or by such other methods as the church itself may direct.
 
Note 4.—Though a majority usually decides questions, yet in all matters of special importance a unanimous, or nearly unanimous, vote should be secured.
 
Note 5.—Members may be received, and letters of dismission granted, either at the business church meeting, the covenant meeting, or the regular weekly prayer meeting, the church so directing. Some fixed method should be observed.
 
Note 6.—Candidates for admission to membership will be expected to retire from the meeting when action is taken on their reception.
 
Note 7.—No persons, except members, will be present during the transaction of church business. If present, they may be asked to retire.
 
[p. 43]Note 8.—Although the church should endeavor to do nothing which its members will be ashamed or afraid to have known by others, yet every member is bound, by the honor of a Christian, not to publish abroad, nor disclose to those without, the private affairs and business transactions of the body.
 
rules of order
 
The following constitute the generally accepted rules of order for churches and other deliberative bodies in business proceedings:
 
Motions
 
1. All business shall be presented by a motion, made by one member, and seconded by another, and presented in writing by the mover, if so required.
 
2. No discussion can properly be had until the motion is made, seconded, and stated by the chairman.
 
3. A motion cannot be withdrawn after it has been discussed, except by the unanimous consent of the body.
 
4. A motion having been discussed, must be put to vote, unless withdrawn, laid on the table, referred, or postponed.
 
5. A motion lost should not be recorded, except so ordered by the body at the time.
 
6. A motion lost cannot be renewed at the same meeting, except by unanimous consent.
 
[p. 44] 7. A motion should contain but one distinct proposition. If it contains more, it must be divided at the request of any member, and the propositions acted on separately.
 
8. Only one question can properly be before the meeting at any one time. No second motion can be allowed to interrupt one already under debate, except a motion to amend, to substitute, to commit, to postpone, to lay on the table, for the previous question, or to adjourn.
 
9. These subsidiary motions just named cannot be interrupted by any other motion; nor can any other motion be applied to them except that to amend, which may be done by specifying some time, place, or purpose.
 
10. Nor can these motions interrupt or supersede each other; only that a motion to adjourn is always in order, except while a member has the floor, or a question is being taken, and in some bodies even then.
 
Amendments
 
1. Amendments to resolutions may be made in three ways: By omitting, by adding, or by substituting words or sentences.
 
[p. 45] 2. An amendment to an amendment may be made, but is seldom necessary, and should be avoided.
 
3. No amendment should be made which essentially changes the meaning or design of the original resolution.
 
4. But a substitute may be offered, which may change entirely the meaning of the resolution under debate.
 
5. The amendment must first be discussed and acted on, and then the original resolution as amended.
 
Speaking
 
1. Any member desiring to speak on a question should rise in his place and address the moderator, confine his remarks to the question, and avoid all unkind and disrespectful language.
 
2. A speaker using improper language, introducing improper subjects, or otherwise out of order, should be called to order by the chairman, or any member, and must either conform to the regulations of the body, or take his seat.
 
3. A member while speaking can allow others to ask questions, or make explanations; but if he yields the floor to another, he cannot claim it again as his right.
 
[p. 46] 4. If two members rise to speak at the same time, preference is usually given to the one farthest from the chair, or to the one opposing the question under discussion.
 
5. The fact that a person has several times arisen, and attempted to get the floor, gives him no claim or right to be heard. Nor does a call for the question deprive a member of his right to speak.
 
Voting
 
1. A question is put to vote by the chairman having first distinctly restated it, that all may vote intelligently. First, the affirmative, then the negative is called; each so deliberately as to give all an opportunity of voting. He then distinctly announces whether the motion is carried, or lost.
 
2. Voting is usually done by “aye” and “no,” or by raising the hand. In a doubtful case by standing and being counted. On certain questions by ballot.
 
3. If the vote, as announced by the chairman, is doubted, it is called again, usually by standing to be counted.
 
4. All members should vote, unless for reasons excused; or unless under discipline, [p. 47] in which case they should take no part in the business.
 
5. The moderator does not usually vote, except the question be taken by ballot; but when the meeting is equally divided, he is expected, but is not obligated to give the casting vote.
 
6. When the vote is to be taken by ballot, the chairman appoints tellers, to distribute, collect, and count the ballots.
 
Committees
 
1. Committees are nominated by the chairman, if so directed by the body, or by any member; and the nomination is confirmed by a vote of the body. More commonly the body directs that all committees shall be appointed by the chairman, in which case no vote is needed to confirm.
 
2. Any matter of business, or subject under debate, may be referred to a committee, with or without instructions. The committee make their report, which is the result of their deliberations. The bo............