BYLAWS OF THEEAST TEXAS EMMAUS COMMUNITYAs Revised: March 16, 2002The name of this community shall be the East Texas Emmaus Community, hereinafter referred to as the Community. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE Section 1: The object of the Community shall be to inspire, challenge and equip church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, places of work and the world community through the Emmaus experience. Section 2: The Community is affiliated with the International Emmaus Program of the Upper Room, Nashville, Tennessee. ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Section 1: All persons who have completed a weekend experience of the Walk to Emmaus sponsored by an Upper Room Emmaus Community shall be members of the Community. Section 2: Persons who have completed a Walk to Emmaus, Cursillo, Tres Dias, Kairos or Chrysalis weekend may become members by participating in the activities of the East Texas Emmaus Community and asking the secretary or registrar of the Community to include their names on the mailing list. ARTICLE IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1: Purpose – Direction of the Community shall be vested in a Board of Directors. Section 2: Composition – The Board will consist of twelve (12) elected lay members, three (3) clergy members and the Board appointed Community Spiritual Director(s). Section 3: Terms of Office a. Lay persons on the Board shall be elected by Community members for three (3) year terms. Nomination procedures will be prescribed in writing as a standing rule by the Board. Elections shall be determined by a majority or plurality of votes actually cast. b. Board Members cannot succeed themselves in consecutive terms. c. Terms of office shall begin January 1 and shall terminate December 31, except for officers, who shall serve until the election of new officers in January as provided in Section 5. Section 4: Officers – Officers shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer; and in the case of absences will chair meetings in this order. The Vice-Chairperson must be eligible to serve an additional term on the Board and serve as the Chairperson if elected to that post. Officers can accept responsibility of a Work Area in addition to an elected position on the Board. Section 5: Election of Officers – Officers shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the January meeting for a one (1) year term of office effective with their election at the January meeting. Section 6: Meetings – The Board shall meet monthly in regular meetings unless otherwise ordered by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board in a regular meeting. Section 7: Quorum – Ten (10) members of the active Board present at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum. Section 8: Spiritual Director(s) – The Spiritual Director(s) of the Community shall be selected annually by the Board of Directors. Term of office shall begin January 1. The Spiritual Director may be replaced during the term by ten (10) affirmative votes. Section 9: Past Chairperson – The immediate past Chairperson of the Board shall serve on the Board one (1) additional year or the normal term of panel, whichever is longer. The past Chairperson is considered a voting member of the Board. Section 10: Special Meetings – Special Board meetings may be called by the Chairperson upon own initiative or when requested in writing by ten (10) members of the Board. Section 11: Vacancies on the Board – The Board may elect persons, upon nomination by the Chairperson, to fill vacancies until the next regular election. Such persons are eligible for election by the Community at the next regular election to fill the vacancy in that class. ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES Section 1: The Board of Directors shall name board members to chair the following committees: Gatherings, Registration, Transportation, Facility Set-Up/Breakdown, Agape Acts, Group Reunions/Follow-Up, Kitchen, Literature/Clothing, Team Selection, Newsletter, Other Ministries, Music/Entertainment, Candlelight/Sponsors’ Hour, Community Training, Community Relations and Nominating. Section 2: The Chairperson of the Board will be an ex-officio member of all standing committees. ARTICLE VI: WALK TO EMMAUS Section 1: The Board of Directors shall have general oversight in all matters relating to the local Walk to Emmaus Community. Section 2: The Board of Directors shall choose a Lay Director for each Community Walk to Emmaus weekend. Section 3: A Spiritual Director for each Community Walk to Emmaus weekend shall be selected by the Community Spiritual Director(s) after consultation with the Board. ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS Proposed amendments may be presented to the Board by any member of the Board one (1) month in advance of the consideration by the Board. If the amendments are voted in the affirmative by a three-fourths (3/4) vote, they will be circulated to the membership by the Community Newsletter. If no petitions signed by at least twenty-five (25) Community members objecting to the new amendments are received, the amendments will be considered adopted. Any objections must be received within sixty (60) days of the mailing of the notification. If an objection petition is received, the amendment will be considered voided. If the Board then wishes to submit the amendment to the entire Community for a vote, it may do so. A majority or plurality of votes cast by the membership will decide the matter. ARTICLE VIII: RATIFICATION The Bylaws are to take effect immediately upon certification by the Board that a majority of the mailed ballots of the Community approve them. |