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Member Southwest Texas Conference Emmaus
Article I
NAME
The name of this fourth day group shall be the NEW LIFE FOURTH DAY GROUP herein referred to as the Community.
Article II
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the Community shall be to support a vehicle by which the three day walk in Christian discipleship, called the Walk to Emmaus, can organize and conduct its business in accordance with the Upper Room Emmaus Community and Southwest Texas Conference Emmaus’ guidelines in a manner which honors Christ and His church. It shall also inspire, challenge and equip the church members for Christian action in their homes, churches, places of work and communities.
Article III
AFFILIATION
This Community shall be affiliated with the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus of the United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. The Community also relates to the SWTC Emmaus of the United Methodist Church for the purpose of reporting and coordination. The Conference, in consultation with the Community provides for some administrative functions.
Article IV
JURISDICTION
The jurisdictional boundaries of this Community shall coincide with and represent the same as the SWTX Conference of the United Methodist Church in totality and/or sectionally
Article V
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Community Membership:
Membership shall consist of the several “Local Communities” that are situated in the various areas, cities or towns within the jurisdictional boundaries of the Southwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Local Communities include all Christian denominational churches who apply for membership.
SECTION 2. Local Communities:
These Local Communities are composed of persons who have completed the Walk to Emmaus, Via de Cristo, Tres Dias, Chrysalis or another like “three day weekend”. These persons have joined together in order to fulfill Article II, OBJECTIVES, whereby the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus may be maintained at the local level.
Article VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Purpose:
The Board shall be vested with the authority to direct the functionality of the Community.
SECTION 2. Composition:
A. Qualifications:
a. Lay persons. Laity who have served as a team member on a “Three day weekend” and who are active in both local reunion groups and local communities are eligible to represent the Community on the Board of Directors, if so elected or appointed by their Local Community.
b. Clergy persons. Clergy who have served on a team as a clerical member and who are an appointed Local Pastor in the United Methodist Church or the equivalent of the same in the church of which they are affiliated are eligible to represent the clergy on the Board of Directors if elected.
SECTION 3. Terms of Office:
A. The term of office by lay or clergy shall be elected for a one (1) year term with the exceptions of Team Selection and Board Representatives.
B. A term of office shall commence on June 1 and end on May 31 of the following year.
SECTION 4. Officers:
A. Lay. The Community shall elect from the lay membership the following lay officers:
Lay Director (must have served on a minimum of 3 teams)
Assistant Lay Director (must have served on a minimum of 3 teams)
Treasurer
Secretary
Prayer Vigil Chairperson
Agape Chairperson
Four (4) Team Selection Representatives serving two (2) year term (1 man, 1 woman – elected annually)
Board Representative serving three (3) year term (must have served as Lay Director on a 3-day weekend)
Other officers may be appointed by the Lay Director at the direction of the Board as is deemed necessary to carry out the functions of the Board.
B. Clergy. The Community shall elect from the clergy membership a Spiritual Director.
SECTION 5. Elections:
Officers and Spiritual Director shall be elected annually by the Community through a process of nominations beginning in March and election in May. All officers and Spiritual Director shall be active in reunion groups and gatherings within their own Local Communities and the New Life Fourth Day Group.
SECTION 6. Duties of Officers:
A. The Lay Director(s) shall:
Be the Chief administrative office of the Board and Community.
Call all meetings of the Board and preside over such meetings.
Be responsible and responsive to the Board for all administrative decisions made on behalf of the Board.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
Preside over all Community Gatherings.
Schedule and make arrangements for all Community Gatherings.
And perform other such duties as directed by the Board.
B. The Assistant Lay Director(s) shall:
Preside at Board meetings or Community Gatherings in the absence and/or at the pleasure of the Lay Director(s).
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
Perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
C. The Secretary shall:
Keep and distribute the minutes of the Board meetings.
Maintain the historical data of the Community.
Preside at Board Meetings/Gatherings in the absence of the Lay Director(s) or LDIT.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
And perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
D. The Treasurer shall:
Serve as Chairman of the Finance/Budget Committee.
Submit a financial report at each Community Gathering and Board Meeting as requested.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
Assist Walk Lay Directors in final accountings of each walk.
Maintain all financial records/checking account for the Community.
Distribute scholarship and other monies for the Community.
And perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
E. The Spiritual Director shall:
Be the theological and spiritual leader of the Board.
Have veto power on any suggested walk Spiritual Director.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
F. The Prayer Vigil chairperson shall:
Distribute all prayer vigils received to the Local Communities.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
And perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
G. The Agape chairperson shall:
Distribute agape letters to Lay Directors of Walks to Emmaus.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
And perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
H. Team Selection representatives shall:
Meet at least six (6) months prior to each Walk with the Community Board
Representative and Lay Director to oversee selection
of each team in accordance with Upper Room Guidelines.
Maintain a list of interested people as prospective team members.
Maintain the programmatic intent and integrity of the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus.
Perform other such duties as directed by the Lay Director(s) of the Board.
I. The Board Representative shall:
Responsibilities to the Southwest Texas Conference Board:
Serve a 3-year term.
Attend quarterly meetings of the Conference Board or notify an alternate
representative from the Community Board of Directors to attend the meeting
in your absence.
Responsibilities of Community:
Attend monthly gatherings of Community and report to representatives of
other communities in your district.
Report to gathering on actions taken by the Conference Board.
Write articles for local newsletter of Board action and other pertinent
information.
Responsibilities for Team Selection:
Chair the Team Selection Committee.
Assign Board Representative to team.
Call meeting of the Team Selection Committee.
Lead in the final selection of team candidates to assure a balanced
representation as required in the Upper Room Procedures Manual.
Responsibilities to the Upper Room Contract Agreement:
Aid in making decisions and setting policy.
Protect the integrity of the Emmaus Program.
SECTION 7. Vacancies on the Board.
At a regular or called meeting of the Board, vacancies may be filled in the following manner:
A. Officers. The Lay Director(s) may appoint someone to fulfill the duties of a vacated office, if such becomes vacant, until the next regular meeting of the Board, or if urgency exists, at the next called meeting of the Board. At the next regular or called meeting, the Nominating Committee shall submit at least one candidate to be elected for the un-expired term of the vacated office. Nominations may be received from the floor.
B. Local Community Representative. If a member becomes unwilling or unable to serve the full class term, their Local Community may elect someone to fill that un-expired term.
SECTION 8. Executive Board.
There shall be no executive Board.
SECTION 9. Non-elected members of Board.
Each church with membership in the Community shall appoint or elect a representative to the Board. All representatives have voting power on said Board.
SECTION 10. Meetings.
The Board shall meet at least quarterly and at other such times as allowed by “Called Meetings”.
SECTION 11. Called Meetings.
Any elected member of the Board may call a meeting if urgency exists. Notice is required for a called meeting.
SECTION 12. Quorum.
A quorum shall consist of three (3) elected members of the Board present at any regular or called meeting.
Article VII
COMMITTEES
The Lay Director(s) of the Board may establish special and/or ad hoc committees to assist the same in fulfilling the Objectives of article II. The Chairperson and members shall be appointed by the Lay Director(s).
Article VIII
SPECIAL RULES OF ORDER/STANDING RULES
Special Rules of Order and/or Standing Rules that may from time to time become necessary to fulfill Article II may be adopted without previous notice by a majority vote at any business meeting of the Community.
Article IX
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (latest edition) shall govern the Community in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws or the special rules of order of this Community. No standing rule, resolution or motion is in order that conflicts with the Upper Room Walk to Emmaus contract or the Bylaws, special rules or standing rules of this Community.
Article X
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. Proposed amendments.
A. Submission/First Reading. Amendments to these Bylaws may be submitted in writing as an agenda item for first reading and considered adoption at any regular quarterly or annual meeting of the Community.
B. Lay Over. Amendments must “lay over” until the next regular meeting for a second reading prior to final adoption.
C. Adoption. Upon second reading, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting is necessary for adoption. Adoption will take effect immediately upon ratification unless the motion to adopt specifies a specific time of effect.
SECTION 2. Ratification
Ratification of these Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon the written certification that the majority of the members of the Community responding have ratified them in a regular gathering of said Community.
Adopted and certified by the New Life Fourth Day Group on the day of , 2001.
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