A local Baptist Church in the Memphis area was in controversy about changing their bylaws. Numerous times the TV media covered what was going on with this church. This prompted Richard Emerson to question Bellevue’s bylaws.

Richard Emerson  "a twenty years plus member, long time deacon at Bellevue Baptist Church, adult bible fellowship teacher and committee member." set out to see the bylaws. Richard was told in the Church Library that he needed to contact the office of Mark Dougharty the associate pastor, in which he did. 

On April 18, 2006  he went to Bellevue to read and copy Bellevue Baptist Church’s bylaws. The bylaws were in  Mark Dougharty's office. This was the first meeting concerning  bylaws and policies/procedures. You can hear Richard in the beginning copping with a pen the bylaws when Mark walked in. 

Richard was told by Mark Dougharty in a phone conversation that the by-laws were 11/2 to 2 pages long. He stated he has read them at least 20 times. A few months later when an official letter was sent to Board of Directors Chairman Bruce Brooke requesting a copy of the by-laws, Richard was allowed a copy of the by-laws. He was only given one page. This page did not have signatures nor anything to state that Dr. Lee was the author as Mark Dougharty stated.

Assistant Pastor Mark Dougharty come in his office to Richard Emerson making notes of the by-laws 

Richard Emerson asks to see by-laws 

We tell other churches we don't have by-laws

The only time you use by-law is when something is wrong

Only time I have read it is when we were hauled into court.

http://congregationapproved.org/