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Revised Constitution and Bylaws October, 2007 ContentsARTICLE I: NAME ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS ARTICLE V: REPRESENTATION AND VOTING ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS ARTICLE VII: STANDING COMMITTEES ARTICLE VIII: THE MINISTRY ARTICLE IX: ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS ARTICLE XII: UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS REFERENCE: ARTICLE XIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY The name of this organization shall be THE FARMINGTON VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.( The Association ) ARTICLE II: PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS Section 1. - Purposes The purpose of the Association shall be to promote fellowship and cooperation among our ministers and churches. The Association shall provide opportunities for discussion, mutual encouragement, counsel, and the advancement of our common interests, in accordance with the usual practices of Associations in the United Church of Christ. It shall cooperate with the Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, and so far as possible with Churches of other denominations within the vicinity and the Greater Hartford and Connecticut Councils of Churches. This Association shall encourage our churches to work together and with the Northern Region Ministry Teams, and shall strive to advance the Christian faith both in its personal and social aspects. Section 2. - Functions This Association shall perform the following specific functions: A. Provide fellowship and education for and among ministers and churches through meetings of the Association. B. Hold the ministerial standing of all authorized ministers through the Committee on Ministry. C. Serve as an Ecclesiastical Council for: 1. The examination of ordinands and commissioned ministers 2. The examination of pastors seeking Privilege of Call or Dual Standing D. Perpetuate the Association into the future through its organizational structure. E. Perform any other function (s) deemed necessary by the times and seasons of the church. Section 1. - Membership Membership in the Association shall consist of: A. Churches now belonging to the Association, and such other churches as shall hereafter be received into its fellowship by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present at any regular meeting of the Association; provided the Committee on Ministry shall have acted on the application for such membership; B. Authorized ministers holding their active ministerial standing in this Association. C. Farmington Valley members of Northern Region Ministry Teams. Section 2. - Dismissal of a Church A church may be dismissed from membership at its own request by vote of the Association providing it has previously met all obligations to the denomination. The Church shall notify the Committee on Ministry of its intentions at least one month in advance of the meeting at which the matter is to be presented. Section 1. - Annual and Semi-Annual Meetings The Association shall hold its annual meeting in May and the semi-annual meeting in October, unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Committee and shall be limited to the business in the call. Section 2. - Special Meetings Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee upon at least one week's notice to the churches and ministers. The purpose of any special meeting shall be specified in its call and shall be limited to the business in the call. The Executive Committee shall designate the day, hour, and the place of holding such meetings. ARTICLE V: REPRESENTATION AND VOTING Section 1. - Churches and Ministers with Standing At regular and special meetings of the Association the power to vote shall reside in the churches through properly elected delegates to meetings of the Association, and in the ministerial members of the Association. Each member church shall be entitled to six (6) delegates, and the ministers of the church whose standing are in the Association. Each delegate and minister Section 2. - Officers and Chairs Officers and Chairs of standing committees shall be deemed members of the Association and entitled to vote. They may be in addition to, and not counted amongst, the six (6) delegates of the church to which they belong. Section 3. - Ministers Without Standing A minister serving a church in the Association may be elected one of the church?s six (6) delegates to any meeting of the Association although such minister does not hold ministerial standing in the Association. Section 4. - Other Lay Members Lay Members of Association standing committees, and Farmington Valley members of Northern Region Ministry Teams shall be members with voting privilege in the Association. They may be in addition to, and not counted amongst, the six (6) delegates of the church to which they belong. Each member may have only one vote. Section 5. - Quorum A quorum shall consist of duly accredited delegates from seven (7) churches, together with any seven (7) ministers who are members of the Association. Section 1. - Election and Terms The officers of the Association shall be Moderator, Vice Moderator, Registrar, Scribe and Treasurer. Each shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Association. The Moderator and Vice Moderator shall serve terms of two years, and the Vice Moderator shall succeed the Moderator. The Moderator shall be an ordained minister every other term. The Registrar, Scribe and Treasurer shall each serve for a period of one year which may be renewed. Proposed change 10//28/07 The officers of the Association shall be Moderator, Vice Moderator, Registrar, Scribe and Treasurer. Each shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Association. The Moderator and Vice Moderator shall serve terms of two years, and the Vice Moderator shall succeed the Moderator. The Moderator shall be an ordained minister every other term. The Registrar and Scribe shall each serve for a period of two years. The Treasurer shall for a period of one year which may be renewed. The Chair of each standing committee and member(s) of the Association on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Conference shall also be considered as officers and shall serve as members of the Executive Committee of the Association. Section 2. - Moderator It shall be the duty of the Moderator to convene all meetings of the Association and all meetings of the Executive Committee, and to preside at the same. The Moderator shall be a voting member of the Committee On Ministry. The Moderator shall be a member exofficio (without vote) of all other standing committees. Section 3. - Vice Moderator The Vice Moderator shall act as the Moderator in the absence of the Moderator, or whenever requested by the Moderator to serve. Section 4. - Registrar It shall be the duty of the Registrar to keep all records of the Association including those pertaining to ministerial standing, commissioned ministers, licensed ministers, and candidates in care of the Association. The Registrar shall act as Scribe at all times when the Association meets as an Ecclesiastical Council, and shall be responsible for sending Letters Missive calling the Association to meet as an Ecclesiastical Council. Section 5. - Scribe It shall be the duty of the Scribe to take the minutes of the meetings of the Association and give copies to each of the members of the Executive Committee within two weeks after any meeting. Such officer shall send announcements of all Association meetings to each church, to each minister member of the Association, to each standing committee chair and to each Association officer, in time to be received at least two Sundays before the date of the meeting. The Scribe shall be responsible for the printing of the meeting program. Section 6. - Treasurer The Treasurer shall draft the annual budget in consultation with the Executive committee, shall collect all monies due the Association, shall pay all bills and shall keep a record of all such transactions. ARTICLE VII: STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1. - Election and Terms Standing Committees, unless otherwise stated, shall be elected at The Annual Meeting. Standing Committee members, other than those who are members ex-officio, are to serve a term of three years and may not serve more than two successive terms without at least a one year wait. If a Standing Committee member is absent, without excuse, for more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the Committee, the Chair may ask the Executive Committee to appoint a replacement. Added 23 October 2002 Section 2. - Standing Committees Standing Committees shall be: A. The Executive Committee 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of: a. The officers of the Association b. Chairs of all standing committees of the Association c. The immediate past Moderator of the Association 2. The Moderator of the Association shall be the Chair. 3. The Scribe of the Association shall serve as Scribe. 4. Meetings shall be at the call of the Moderator or at the request of any three of its members. 5. It shall supervise, plan for and guide the work of the Association. Such Supervision shall include the coordination of the work of the committees and the planning of agendas and programs for Association meetings. 6. Upon nomination by the Nominating Committee it may fill vacancies in offices and committees for the un-expired term of the person previously holding the office. 7. It shall act for the Association between regular meetings in all matters not in the hands of specified committees.. 8. On behalf of the Executive Committee, the Moderator shall annually appoint Committee of three (3) to review the books of the Association. The Review Committee shall report to the Association's Annual Meeting prior to the acceptance of the Treasurer's report. 9. It shall have the power to appoint task forces as necessary. B. The Committee on Ministry The Committee on Ministry shall consist of four ministerial members, four lay members. Also members of the Committee on Ministry with voice but not vote are the moderator of the Association, Registrar, and a representative of the Connecticut Conference. The Committee on Ministry shall hold all ministerial standing and authorization on behalf of the Association and shall fulfill its duties in accordance with Article VIII: The Ministry of these bylaws. C. The Committee on Youth. All Youth Advisors of Association Churches are members of the Youth Committee. The committee shall provide programming for youth and advisors of the Association. D. The Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three persons with both lay and ministerial representation. The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be: 1. Not less than six weeks before the Annual Meeting to prepare a list of nominations to present to the Association at that Annual Meeting. The committee shall inform the churches, through their clerks and minister members, of the offices and committee memberships which will be vacant, and shall invite suggestions of persons to fill these vacancies. Nominations if possible should be made from the names thus received. All nominees shall be informed that their names will be presented, their consent shall be obtained in advance of the Annual Meeting. 2. To nominate to the Executive Committee persons to fill vacancies of offices and committees which may occur between Annual Meetings of the Association. Unless otherwise stated, each committee shall meet not later than thirty days after the Annual Meeting and shall choose its own chair for the ensuing year. Chairs shall notify the Scribe of their being named to the office. The Scribe shall send a list of all committee chair Section 4. - Special Committees Special Committees to be responsible to the Executive Committee may be established for a specific length of tenure by appointment or election at any meeting of the Association. Section 1. - Transfer of Ministerial Standing and Application for Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing Persons seeking transfer of ministerial standing to, or ordained ministerial partner standing in, the Association shall make application to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry determines that the applicant's ordained ministerial standing should be recognized and accepted, it shall grant the applicant ordained ministerial standing in the Association. The Committee on Ministry shall present the applicant to the Association at the Association's next regularly scheduled meeting. Section 2. - Student In Care of Association Persons seeking status as Student in Care of Association shall make application, through their pastor and the local church of which they are a member, to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application according to the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry finds the applicant qualified, it shall receive the applicant into the care of the Association. The Committee on Ministry shall present the applicant to the Association at the Association's next regularly scheduled meeting. Section 3. - Licensed Ministry Persons seeking recognition and authorization as a Licensed Minister shall make application, through the applicant's local church, to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry finds the applicant qualified, it shall approve the candidate for licensing, subject to placement in a designated local church or within the Association. The Committee on Ministry shall present the applicant to the Association at the Association's next regularly scheduled meeting. Section 4. - Commissioned Ministry Persons seeking recognition and authorization as a Commissioned Minister shall make application, through their local church, to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry finds that the applicant meets the requirements for commissioning, it shall arrange for an Association ecclesiastical council. Section 5. - Ordained Ministry A student in care of the Association who seeks to be ordained shall make application, through the governing board of the local church where he or she is a member, to the Committee on Ministry that he or she be examined for ordination in the United Church of Christ. Upon approval of the request by the local church board, the Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry is satisfied that the candidate meets the requirements for ordination, it shall arrange for an Association ecclesiastical council. Section 6. - Ordained Ministerial Partner An ordained ministerial partner from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who seeks a call in the United Church of Christ shall submit a formal letter requesting permission to seek a call in the United Church of Christ to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry in order to determine whether the applicant demonstrates appropriate knowledge of, and appreciation for, the history, polity and practices of the United Church of Christ. If the Committee on Ministry determines that the ordained ministerial partner is qualified to seek a call in the United Church of Christ, it shall notify both the Office for Church Life and Leadership and Region that the partner is entitled to seek a call in the United Church of Christ. Section 7. - Dual Standing and Privilege of Call Persons seeking dual standing or privilege of call in the United Church of Christ shall make application to the Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall review the application in accordance with the procedures outlined in the United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry finds that the applicant meets the requirements for dual standing or privilege of call, it shall arrange for an Association ecclesiastical council. Section 8. - Installation Installation is the celebration and recognition of the ministry through the covenental relationship of the minister, the ministry setting and the Association. Upon request from a local or other calling body and an ordained or commissioned minister, the Committee on Ministry shall take leadership in planning a service of installation in cooperation with the other partners in the covenental relationship. Section 9. - Withdrawal From The Association A member seeking to withdraw from the Association shall make such request to the Committee on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry approves the request to withdraw from membership in the Association, it shall request the Registrar to take appropriate action. Section 10. - Annual Review of the Membership Roll The Committee on Ministry shall make an annual review of the membership roll of the Association, and, as a result of this review make appropriate recommendations to the Association. Section 11. - Gathering, Admission or Dismission of Churches All requests from churches concerning gathering, admission to, or dismission from, the Association shall be made to the Committee on Ministry. If the Committee on Ministry finds that a church should be admitted to the Association, it shall commend the church to the Association at its next regular meeting. The Committee on Ministry shall serve as an advisory committee to any church requesting guidance in matters of faith and order. Section 12. - The Ordained Minister's Code, The Commissioned Minister's Code and The Licensed Minister's Code; Investigation and Adjudication of Allegations of Ethical Violations; Censure, Suspension and Termination of Ministerial Authorization for Cause(s) A. This Association holds The Ordained Minister's Code, The Commissioned Minister's Code and The Licensed Minister's Code, set forth in the Manual on Ministry of United Church of Christ, to be binding on all persons serving in each of the respective authorized ministries. Ordained ministerial standing, standing as a licensed minister and standing as a commissioned minister shall reside in the Committee on Ministry. Allegations of violations of The Ethics of Ministry provisions of The Ordained Minister's Code, The Commissioned Minister's Code and The Licensed Minister's Code will be responded to in a timely manner by the Committee on Ministry. In responding to allegations of violation of ministerial ethics, the Committee on Ministry will be guided by the procedures outlined in the Manual on Ministry and other supplemental documents and resources provided by the Office for United Church of Christ. If the Committee on Ministry finds that a person serving in an authorized ministry has violated The Ethics of Ministry the Committee on Ministry, acting on behalf of the association, may censure, suspend or terminate the person's standing and/or authorization for ministry. B. All decisions about standing and authorization for ministry made by the Committee on Ministry will be reported to the Association by notice to the Moderator and Scribe of the Association. C. Authorized ministers may appeal the procedures used by the Committee of the Committee on Ministry to the Executive Committee of the Association. Such appeal shall be limited to a review of only the procedures, not the findings, used by the Committee on Ministry to reach its decision. After review, the Executive Committee may: 1. Uphold the Committee on Ministry's procedures; or 2. Remand the matter to the Committee on Ministry for reconsideration under procedures specified by the Executive Committee; or 3. Refer the matter to a special task force for reconsideration under procedures specified by the Executive Committee. ARTICLE IX: ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS Section I - Purposes of Ecclesiastical Council The Association shall meet as an Ecclesiastical Council at the request of a member church, the candidate and the Committee on Ministry to assist in the ordination or the commissioning of a minister. Section 2 - Procedures for Convening An Ecclesiastical Council The candidate and an officer of the church shall consult with the Chair of the Committee on Ministry as far in advance as possible so that all records can be in proper form and procedures explained. The recommended procedures shall be those of the United Church of Christ as set forth in The United Church of Christ Manual on Ministry. Section 3 - Representation and Voting When the Association meets as an Ecclesiastical Council the power to vote shall reside in the churches through properly elected delegates and in the minister members of the Association. Each member church shall be entitled to one (1) delegate and its ministers with standing Section 4 - Invited Guests to an Ecclesiastical Council The inviting minister and church may ask that guests be made non-voting members of the Ecclesiastical Council upon its convening by request in writing to the Moderator. Section 5 - Quorum. A quorum shall consist of duly accredited delegates from seven (7) churches, together with any seven (7) ministers who are members of the Association. Each church in the Association shall be assessed annually on the basis of its membership to defray the expenses of the Association. Changes in the rate of the assessment may be made at any meeting upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and the vote of the delegates; providing such proposed changes are announced in the call to the meeting. The foregoing Constitution and Bylaws may be amended at any Annual or Semi-annual meeting of the Association by two-thirds vote of the delegates present; provided notice of the proposed changes has been given at a previous meeting. ARTICLE XII: UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS REFERENCE: Any matter not specifically covered by this Constitution and Bylaws shall be considered as being covered by the pertinent provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ and will be accepted as binding on this Association. ARTICLE XIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY The rules contained in the current edition of "Robert's Rules for Order, Newly Revised" shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt. Revision |
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