significant progress! a working process from beginning to end can be seen in test/org_req_test.lua

modpol/orgs/base.lua

@@ -271,7 +271,8 @@ end
 function modpol.orgs:list_member()
     local str
     for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
-        if str then 
+        -- checking to see if member name is valid
+        if str and str ~= '' then 
             str = str .. '\n' .. v
         else 
             str = v
@@ -280,6 +281,18 @@ function modpol.orgs:list_member()
     return str
 end
 
+-- ==============================
+-- because member list uses lazy deletion, using #org.members will not show an accurate number
+function modpol.orgs:get_member_count()
+    local count = 0
+    for k, v in ipairs(self.members) do
+        -- the empty string represents a deleted member in the members list
+        if v ~= '' then
+            count = count + 1
+        end
+    end
+    return count
+end
 -- ====================================
 -- adds a new policy to the policy table
 -- must define the policy type, process associated with it, and whether the request must be made by an org member