A method of controlling exposed glass charging in a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device is disclosed. The method includes providing a MEMS device comprising a proof mass (54) positioned apart from at least one sense plate (60) and at least one outboard metallization layer(64), wherein at least one conductive glass layer (62) is coupled to the sense plate and the outboard metallization layer, the conductive glass layer including at least one exposed glass portion (66) near the proof mass; and applying a first voltage to the sense plate and a second voltage to the outboard metallization layer. The first voltage is separated from the second voltage by a predetermined voltage level such that the exposed glass portion has an average voltage corresponding to a voltage midway between the first voltage and the second voltage.