Governing Documents -
By-Laws & Constitution
By-Laws of
Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission (IPCUM)
Adopted May 1, 1996
Amended August 28, 2001
Amended November 18, 2008
ARTICLE 1 NONPROFIT
PURPOSES
SECTION 1. IRC SECTION 501 (C)(3) PURPOSES
This corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as
specified in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE 2 SERVANT BOARD
SECTION 1. NUMBER
The corporation
shall have no fewer than 12 Partner members and collectively they shall be known
as the Servant Board.
SECTION 2. TERM OF OFFICE
Servant Board
members will be appointed by the partner through their own process and serve for
a period to be determined by the partner. Executives are encouraged to serve on
the Servant Board.
SECTION 3. REGULAR MEETINGS
The Servant Board
shall meet at least four times a year. Prior to the first meeting of the year
there shall be an orientation to IPCUM for new members of the Servant Board. The
November meeting of the Servant Board shall include passing a budget, election
of officers, and completion of the agenda for the Annual Meeting.
SECTION 4. ANNUAL MEETING
A. The annual meeting of IPCUM shall be held in February. The business
of this meeting shall include the offering of reports on the budget and the past
year's ministries and activities. At this meeting, there shall also be an
installation of officers. The annual meeting should also include a period of
inspiration through worship and a keynote address. The date for this meeting
shall be determined at the May Servant Board meeting and notice of the annual
meeting date shall be sent to the Partners at least 60 days prior to the
meeting.
SECTION 5. NON-LIABILITY OF SERVANT BOARD MEMBERS
The members shall
not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the
corporation.
SECTION 6. RACIAL, ETHNIC, AND GENDER REPRESENTATION
In order to ensure
racial, ethnic, and gender representation, at-large Servant Board members may be
selected by the present membership. These at-large representatives shall not
exceed 20% of the total Servant Board.
SECTION 7. STANDING COMMITTEES
Committees which
are accountable to the Servant Board shall include:
1. The Officers Committee shall be composed of the officers of IPCUM. The
President may convene this committee to consult on matters relating to the
members generally and IPCUM specifically. This committee is not a decision
making body for IPCUM. They, may, however, act on behalf of the Servant Board on
emergency matters that require urgent attention.
2. The Finance Committee shall prepare the budget for adoption by the
Servant Board and shall evaluate fiscal performance by IPCUM. It shall also
seek and make appropriate efforts for raising necessary revenues. It will
provide for an annual audit prior to the annual meeting.
3. The Committee on Personnel and Evaluation shall establish guidelines for
the hiring and release of employees or contracted staff for IPCUM. It shall
conduct an annual performance review of employed or contracted staff and,
following such review, shall make such recommendations as it sees fit to the
Servant Board.
ARTICLE 3 OFFICERS
SECTION 1. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The President shall
preside at meetings of the Servant Board and the Officers Committee and shall be
an ex-officio member with vote, on all committees and task forces of IPCUM.
SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT
The Vice-President
shall act in the capacity of the President in the President's absence.
SECTION 3. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
The Secretary shall
be responsible for recording the official minutes of the Servant Board and the
Officers Committee and for ensuring the transmittal of official communications
to or from IPCUM.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall
oversee the financial management of the assets of IPCUM and shall ensure the
provision of financial reports and analyses to the Servant Board, staff, and
governmental and funding agencies as required, and shall also serve as the
Chairperson of the Finance Committee. The Treasurer shall be bonded in an amount
fixed by the Servant Board.
SECTION 5. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
The Servant Board
may remove an officer at any time with or without cause pursuant to Indiana Code
23-17-14-3.
ARTICLE 4 TASK FORCES
SECTION 1.
The task forces of
IPCUM shall be the major instruments of the work and witness of IPCUM. Their
task is to apply the substance and insights of the Christian Gospel to life in
Indiana. The task forces shall implement the policies set by the Servant Board
of IPCUM.
SECTION 2.
Task forces shall
be created by the Servant Board following the determined procedure. The role of
the Task Forces shall be fourfold. They shall monitor, inform, advocate, and
act.
1. Each Task Force shall receive in writing from the Servant Board a
definition of the concern
to be
addressed by it.
2. Each Task Force shall then be expected to develop a study/action plan,
for approval by the
Servant
Board.
3. A written report of activities and progress shall be submitted to each
meeting of the Servant
Board or
at the request of the Servant Board shall be made in person.
SECTION 3.
Task Force
Chairpersons shall be appointed and members shall be confirmed by the Servant
Board.
SECTION 4.
Task Forces are
accountable directly and exclusively to the Servant Board.
SECTION 5.
Each Task Force
shall be authorized for up to one year. Following a review, the Servant Board
may renew the Task Force for an additional period up to one year.
SECTION 6.
A Task Force may be
dissolved at any time by a simple majority vote of the Servant Board.
SECTION 7.
The Servant Board
shall be responsible for the funding of the task forces.
ARTICLE 5 AUTHORIZATION TO SPEAK
SECTION 1.
Position
statements, including each item within the annual IPCUM legislative agenda,
shall be established only by unanimous vote by all members present and voting.
At least two weeks notice shall be given before a vote. In lieu of a meeting,
votes may be conducted by written or electronic communication.
ARTICLE 6 AFFILIATIONS
SECTION 1.
IPCUM may formally
affiliate with national and regional ecumenical organizations for the purpose of
promoting, enhancing, and resourcing the ministries of IPCUM at the discretion
of the Servant Board. A two-thirds vote of those present is required for such
affiliation.
ARTICLE 7 DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION
SECTION 1.
If at any time, the
Corporation, Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission, shall be
dissolved, the remaining assets shall be gifted to an ecumenical entity
designated by the Servant Board.
ARTICLE 8 BY-LAWS AND AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1.
The Servant Board
may amend the By-Laws at any official meeting by a two-thirds vote of members
present, provided that at least one month before the meeting the proposed
amendment has been submitted to all members of the Servant Board.
Constitution
of the
Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission
Adopted January 29,1996
Amended September 16, 2008
Preamble
We confess that we
are created by God to be one in Christ, that we are redeemed by the death and
resurrection of Christ, and that we are sustained by the power of the Holy
Spirit as we continue our journey together. Affirming our oneness in Christ, we
join with one another as people of God in the State of Indiana to minister
together in expressing God’s love and care for the world.
Article I–Name
The name of this
corporation as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation is the “Indiana
Partners for Christian Unity and Mission,” hereinafter referred to as IPCUM.
Article
II–Purpose
We gather as Jesus
gathered the disciples to:
1.
WELCOME all who seek the unity that is ours in Christ, but is not yet fully
realized;
2.
DISCOVER in similarity and diversity the many gifts which have been given by the
Holy
Spirit;
3. CREATE
structures which encourage the sharing of these gifts for the common good;
4. SERVE
the whole people of God through cooperative prayer, worship, word, and
action;
5.
CHALLENGE one another “so that the world may believe.”
6. LEARN
from one another about the richness God has offered through our different
expressions of Christian faith, and
7. WORK
for justice in God’s world.
Article
III–Partners in Unity and Mission
A. IPCUM shall be
composed of those communions and ecumenical agencies serving in Indiana which
meet these criteria:
1.
Subscribe to its purpose.
2. Agree
to share in providing financial support.
3.
Elect/appoint a representative to the Servant Board.
4. Agree
to promote the ministries of IPCUM.
5. Sign a
Covenant of Partnership annually.
B. Communions and
ecumenical agencies which meet the criteria may be added to IPCUM by action of
the Board.
Article
IV–Servant Board
A. There shall be
a Servant Board composed of the following:
1. One
person designated by each Partner.
2. Each
Servant Board member shall be designated according to the practice of
each communion or ecumenical agency.
3. The
length of service on the Servant Board shall be determined by the practice of
each
partner.
B. The Servant
Board may appoint persons and/or committees to assist in the administration of
IPCUM. The Servant Board may establish task forces for the purpose of
addressing specific, short-term assignments. The structure, representation,
initiation, and termination procedures and accountability processes of task
forces shall be set by IPCUM’s By-Laws.
C. The Servant
Board is the policy-setting body of IPCUM. It shall meet and function as
prescribed in the By-Laws.
D. The Servant
Board may appoint an Advisory Council whose purpose would be to serve as a
resource to the Executive Director and the Servant Board.
E. The quorum for
a meeting of the Servant Board shall be one-third of the membership.
Article
V–Officers
A. The officers of
IPCUM shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
B. The officers
shall be nominated by a Nominating Committee appointed by the Servant Board.
C. The officers of
IPCUM shall fulfill the customary responsibilities as required by law and such
additional duties as provided in the By-Laws or as may be assigned by the
Servant Board. The President shall serve as ex-officio member of all working
units.
D. In the event
that an officer of IPCUM resigns or otherwise cannot complete a term of office,
the Board shall have the power to appoint an interim officer until the next
Annual Meeting.
E. The officers of
IPCUM shall not serve more than three annual terms in succession, except for the
Treasurer who shall not serve more than six annual terms in succession. The
term of the Treasurer may be extended annually for cause by a two-thirds vote of
those present and voting at the Annual Meeting.
Article VI–Staff
To fulfill the
mission of IPCUM, the Servant Board may hire staff, develop personnel policies,
and adopt By-Laws governing job descriptions and conditions of employment.
Article
VII–Amendments
This Constitution
may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Servant Board by a
two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that the proposed
amendment shall have been submitted to the Servant Board and partners at least
thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.
Article
VIII–By-Laws
IPCUM, as provided
in its Articles of Incorporation, may adopt such By-Laws, in addition to this
Constitution as it deems proper, provided they are not in conflict with the
Articles of Incorporation or this Constitution.
For More Information Contact: executivedirector@ipcum.org
Indiana Partners for Christian Unity and Mission
Indiana Partners for Christian
Unity and Mission
P.O. Box 88790, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Click Here for 2009 Annual Report
