1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 BYLAWS OF THE KANSAS-OKLAHOMA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Most Recently Revised August 5, 2018 ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Membership. The membership of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference shall be composed of: A. All local churches in good standing in the Conference, B. All ordained, licensed and commissioned ministers of the United Church of Christ in good standing in the Conference, and C. Ordained ministers holding standing in other denominations and granted dual standing or ordained ministerial partner standing while serving churches of the Conference. Section 2. Local Church Membership. A local church within the Conference boundaries may be admitted to membership in the Conference when: A. Its statement of faith is in essential agreement with that of this Conference, B. It has covenanted with the Conference to assume and fulfill obligations of a member local church as hereafter set forth, C. It has been recommended by the Conference Council for membership, and D. It has received a two-thirds vote by those present and voting at a called meeting of the Conference. The Conference Registrar shall keep an accurate list of all the authorized ministers and local churches that are members of the Conference. The Registrar shall properly report those records as required to the United Church of Christ. The removal of a local church from the roll of members may be initiated in one of two ways. First, a local church may be immediately removed from the roll of members upon notice to the Conference Council that the local church has closed or has voted to withdraw from the denomination. Second, a local church may be removed upon recommendation of the Conference Council and a two-thirds vote by those present and voting at a called meeting of the Conference. Section 3. Voting Membership. The voting membership of the Conference shall consist of the lay delegates selected by and representing each local church which has membership in the 1 September 27 4 Committee on Ministry They A local church may be removed from the roll of members upon recommendation of the Committee on Ministry and a two-thirds vote by those present and voting at a called meeting of the Conference (Change based on language used in the Constitution)
55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 Conference, all ordained, commissioned and licensed ministers who have membership in the Conference, the members of the Conference Council and all such other persons as the Bylaws shall provide. Each local church having standing in the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference shall be entitled to two voting lay delegates and each such church having a membership of more than 200 shall be entitled to an additional voting lay delegate for each additional 200 members or fraction thereof. No delegate or official representative at the meetings of the Conference shall be entitled to more than one vote. The control of the Conference shall reside in its voting members and may be exercised directly at any annual or other meeting of the Conference or between meetings of the conference, through and by a Conference Council elected by the Conference. Section 4. Selection of Delegates. All delegates from each local church shall be elected or appointed by such church, following its procedures, for a term of one year or until the selection of successors, unless otherwise provided by the church; provided that the term of a delegate shall cease upon removal from the membership of the local church which that delegate represents, or upon removal from the boundaries of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference, beyond the adjoining states. Local churches are urged to select delegates, over the course of several years if necessary, who will be representative of that local church s total confirmed membership in terms of age, gender, race and ethnic origin, in order that the Conference meetings may embody the wholeness of the Church. ARTICLE II. MEETINGS Section 1. Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the Conference shall convene at a date set by the Conference Council. The regular business of the Conference, the election of its officers, the determination of priorities for its programs and budget and such other business as shall be determined shall take place at the Annual Meeting. At each Annual Meeting the place for the next Annual Meeting shall be selected; provided, however, if circumstances require, the time and place of meeting may be changed by the Conference Council. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Conference Council when decisions are to be made that require a vote of the Conference, or at any time when the Conference Council finds that such a meeting would be in the best interests of the Conference. If two or more churches petition the Conference Council to call a special meeting, the Conference Council shall consider and act on the petition in a timely manner and may accept or reject any such petition. Section 3. Ecclesiastical Councils. Meetings of the Conference shall be called as necessary to act as an Ecclesiastical Council in matters of ministerial authorization. Upon the request of the Committee on Ministry 2
99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 or the Conference Council shall call the meeting. Notice shall be sent to each Conference officer, Conference Council member, local church and authorized minister not later than four weeks prior to the date thereof. The purpose shall be stated in the call and only the business so stated may be transacted. The Committee on Ministry shall prepare the agenda for all Ecclesiastical Councils. A quorum shall be those eligible delegates who attend the Ecclesiastical Council. Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place, proposed agenda and nominations of the Annual Meeting, and notice of the time, place, and business to be transacted of special meetings shall be transmitted to each Conference officer, Conference Council member, church, authorized minister, and to the Office of General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, and to the Covenanted Ministries of the United Church of Christ, or other agencies and institutions, who either reside within the boundaries of the Conference or are officially assigned to this Conference as a liaison, at least four weeks in advance of such meetings. Section 5. Agenda. The Conference Council shall act as the business committee for the preparation of the agenda for the Annual Meeting and special meetings of the Conference. Section 6. Resolutions. All resolutions to be considered at any Annual Meeting or special meeting of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference shall be presented by a voting member of any church of the Conference as sponsor, to the Executive Committee of the Conference Council by August 1 prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered. The Executive Committee may accept or reject any resolutions so presented. If the resolution is rejected, a sponsor may present the resolution from the floor. Matters arising during the Annual Meeting or any special meeting of the Conference ordinarily shall be presented to the Executive Committee of the Conference for formulation, discussion, and action by the voting membership. Section 7. Order of Business. Unless otherwise provided for herein or by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present and voting at an Annual Meeting or special meeting of the Conference, the rules of parliamentary practice compiled in Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings of the Conference. Section 8. Meetings Done by Electronic Medium. Meetings of the Conference Council, Commissions, Committees or Task Forces can be done by teleconferencing, video technology, email, or other electronic media agreed upon by such Commission, Committee or Task Force. ARTICLE III. OFFICERS Section 1. The Ministers of the Conference. The Ministers of the Conference shall be 3 Moved (insertion) [2] Moved up [2]: the Conference Council shall call the meeting. Notice shall be sent to each Conference officer, r, church clerk or secretary than Ministries instrumentalities, July 1 Page Break
162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 Authorized Ministers of the United Church of Christ and shall be responsible to the Conference and shall have general supervision of the work of the Conference under the direction of the Conference Council. The Conference Minister and such Associate Conference Ministers as may be selected shall perform any and all other duties of the office as determined in mutual negotiation with the Conference Council. The salary of the Conference Minister and such Associate Conference Ministers as may be selected shall be determined by the Conference Council and be included in the budget for approval by the Conference. (a) In the event the Conference Minister is unable to fulfill the duties of the office as determined by the Conference Council, the Conference Council shall appoint an Interim or Acting Conference Minister to serve until the Conference Minister is able to resume the duties of the office or until a new Conference Minister has been duly called and elected. (b) In the event of the resignation or death of the Conference Minister, the Conference Council shall appoint an Interim or Acting Conference Minister to serve until a new Conference Minister has been duly called and elected. (c) In the event a new Conference Minister is sought, the Conference Council shall appoint a Search Committee of not fewer than six nor more than eight persons, consisting of at least two members of the Conference Council existing at the time the Search is begun, plus other persons who are representative of and embody the diversity of the conference. Section 2. The President of the Conference. The President of the Conference shall act as Moderator of the Conference, shall be a member of and chair the Conference Council, a member ex-officio without vote of all committees of the Council, shall attend as an associate delegate any meetings of the General Synod of the United Church of Christ occurring during the current term of office, shall execute all deeds, contracts, and other documents requiring the official signatures of the Conference and shall perform such other duties usually performed by such officers. Section 3. The Vice President of the Conference. The Vice President of the Conference shall be a member of the Conference Council and shall perform the duties of the President when the President is absent, or unable or refuses to act. Section 4. The Secretary of the Conference. The Secretary of the Conference shall be a member of the Conference Council and shall keep a permanent accurate and legible record of all meetings and transactions of the Conference, the Conference Council, and the Executive Committee of the Conference Council. The Secretary shall affix the seal of the Conference to all written instruments requiring the seal, attesting the same by signature and shall perform such other duties as usually pertain to this office. 4 (a) (b) (c)
210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 Section 5. The Treasurer of the Conference. The Treasurer of the Conference shall be a member of the Conference Council, receiving and acting as custodian of all funds, securities, and personal property belonging to or entrusted to or in any way committed to the care or custody of the Conference. The Treasurer shall disburse, pay over and deliver such funds, securities and personal property as shall from time to time be ordered by the Conference Council, and shall make an annual report to the Conference. The Treasurer may delegate any or all of the aforementioned duties to another financial entity when said entity is approved by Conference Council. The Treasurer shall give bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of that office in such sum as the Conference Council shall require, the expenses of such bond to be paid by the Conference. ARTICLE IV. CONFERENCE COUNCIL Section 1. Conference Council. The fifteen (15) members of Conference Council shall be: 1 President of the Conference 1 Vice President of the Conference 1 Secretary of the Conference 1 Treasurer of the Conference also serving as Chair of the Finance and Stewardship Committee 1 Past President of the Conference 1 Kansas Local Church Representative 1 Oklahoma Local Church Representative 1 Justice and Witness Liaison 1 - Ecumenical and Interfaith Liaison 1 - Committee on Ministry Representative 1 - A minimum of 1 and a maximum of 5 At Large Representative(s) (a) All members of the Conference Council, shall be members of a local congregation of the Conference. (b) The Conference Minister shall be an ex officio member of the Conference Council, without vote. (c) When a person from the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference is serving as a representative to the national United Church of Christ Board, that person shall be an ex officio member of the Conference Council without vote. Section 2. The Executive Committee of the Council. The President of the Conference, the Vice President of the Conference, the Secretary of the Conference, the Treasurer of the Conference, and the Past President of the Conference shall serve as the Executive Committee of the Council. The Executive Committee shall, between meetings of the Conference Council, direct the affairs of the Conference with such powers and limitations as the Council shall specify. The Executive Committee shall serve as the supervisor of the Conference Minister in accordance with the Human Resources Policies and Procedures. 5 Stewardship Finance Commission 1 - Past President of the Conference 1 - Kansas Local Church Representative 1 - Oklahoma Local Church Representative 1 - Justice and Witness Liaison 1 - Global and Ecumenical and Interfaith Liaison 1 - Committee on Ministry Representative A minimum of 1- At Large Representative 6 Elected Chairpersons of each of the Commissions as listed in Article VI, Section 1 of these Bylaws, except the Chairperson of the Finance and Asset Commission who is the Treasurer of the Conference and shall hold a single position on the Conference Council and shall be elected in accordance with Article V, Section 2 of these Bylaws 1 Chairperson of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Foundation 1 Representative of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1 President of the Kansas-Oklahoma Women s Fellowship 1 Youth (a person of high school age) 1 Young Adult (a person graduated from high school or over 19 years of age and under the age of 30) (a) (b) (c) [add lines 295 to lines 308 ] one member of the Conference Council selected by its members
295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 Section 3. Committees and Consultants. The Council shall appoint such committees of the Council or special consultants to the Council as it may from time to time establish, and may select persons who are not members of the Council for service as consultants or members of a committee. The Council shall determine the duties and duration of service of such committees or consultants. Section 4. Attorneys. The Council shall appoint an attorney or attorneys for the Conference and shall determine the compensation for such services. Section 5. Audits. The Council shall engage an independent certified public accountant to conduct periodic audits of the financial records and transactions of the Conference. The periodic audits shall be received by the Council and made available upon request to each church s delegation. Periodic audits and reviews will be conducted based on policies developed by the Finance and Stewardship Committee and approved by the Conference Council. Section 6. Meetings. The Council shall meet at least three times a year on call of the President, the Minister of the Conference or a majority of the members of the Council in writing presented to the President or Secretary of the Council. Meetings of the Conference Council are open meetings. Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the membership of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business. Decisions shall be by majority of those present and voting. Section 8. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Council and in any of the elected offices of the Conference shall be filled by the Council until successors are duly elected and assume the duties of office. Section 9. Employees. All employees except the Ministers of the Conference will be hired and have their compensation and job descriptions determined in accordance with the Conference s Human Resources Policies and Procedures manual. Section 10. Duties of the Council. The duties of the Council shall include, but not be limited to: (a) establishing the total program requirements to achieve a specific goal or goals set by the Conference at its Annual Meeting and setting as objectives that portion of the requirements to be attained during a certain time period, (b) translating the objectives into action programs to be carried out by the Commissions and appointed Task Forces, (c) evaluating the (d) determining the financial resources needed and how they shall be raised and allocated, (e) authorizing the expenditure of resources in order to achieve program objectives, (f) administering of business investments and other financial and property affairs of the Conference, and (g) reviewing personnel policies for all personnel. 6 Stewardship and Finance and Asset Commission, excluding the Youth, Young Adult, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) representatives, (a) s (b) translating the objectives into action programs to be carried out by the Commissions and appointed Task Forces, (c) evaluating the accomplishments of the Commissions and appointed Task Forces, (d) determining the financial resources needed and how they shall be raised and allocated, (e) authorizing the expenditure of resources in order to achieve program objectives, (f)
360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 Section 11. Rules, Regulations, and Policies. The Council may adopt such rules, regulations, and administrative policies as deemed necessary for it to fulfill the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws. ARTICLE V. ELECTIONS Section 1. - The Ministers of the Conference. (a) The Conference Minister. After a thorough assessment of the leadership needs of the Conference, the Conference Council shall nominate the candidate for the position of Conference Minister and shall present the candidate to be elected by the Conference at any Annual Meeting or special meeting duly called for such purpose, for a term of six (6) years or such lesser time as shall be determined. Before the end of each term, the Conference Council shall appraise afresh the leadership needs of the Conference, and the results of this assessment shall govern the decision as to whether or not to re-nominate the Conference Minister. The Conference Minister may be dismissed for cause on ninety days written notice by a majority vote of the Conference at any Annual Meeting or special meeting, provided notice of such meeting shall have been given to each officer, Council member, and authorized minister at least four weeks in advance of such meetings; or the Conference Minister may voluntarily terminate the position on ninety days written notice to the Conference Council or at such earlier time as may be agreed upon by the individual and the Conference Council. (b) Associate Conference Ministers. Such Associate Conference Ministers as may be selected shall be called by the Conference Council, in consultation with the Conference Minister, for an unspecified time. An Associate Conference Minister may be dismissed for cause on ninety days written notice by a majority of the Conference Council, or an Associate Conference Minister may voluntarily terminate the position on ninety days written notice to the Conference Council or at such earlier time as may be agreed upon by the individual and the Conference Council. Section 2. Officers. The President and Vice-President shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a period of two years, and upon completion of his/her term, the Vice President may be elected to the office of the President. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a period of two years, such elections occurring on the alternate year of the election of the President and Vice-President. The Treasurer shall serve as chair of the Finance and Stewardship Committee, such terms running concurrently. Section 3. Members of the Conference Council. Each member of the Conference Council shall be elected by the Conference at its Annual Meetings. The term for members who are not serving as officers shall be for three years, not to exceed two successive terms. 7 (a) church clerk or secretary, (b) Stewardship and and Asset ssion Commission (strike) A Chairperson of each... Page Break Commission shall be elected by the Conference at its Annual Meetings. The term for all Chairpersons The Chairpersons shall be members of the Conference Council, except that the Chairperson of the Finance and Asset Commission, who is the Treasurer of the Conference, shall hold a single position on the Council. If the Chairperson is unable to attend, another representative of the Commission shall serve as representative to the Conference Council. (Strike) Section 4. Ecumenical Members of the Conference Council. One member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shall be invited to serve on the Conference Council for a two- year term with representation alternating between the Kansas and Oklahoma regions. The...
460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 Section 4. Other Members of the Conference Council. The President of the Kansas-Oklahoma Mission and Ministry Among Sisters (KOMMAS) may serve on the Conference Council for their elected terms of office. A youth (a person of high school age when elected) and a young adult (a person graduated from high school or over 19 years of age and under the age of 30) may be elected as at large members of the Conference Council by the Conference at its Annual Meeting for three-year terms, not to exceed two successive terms. Section 5. Limitations. (a) No person shall serve on the Conference Council in more than one designated role, with the exception of the Conference Treasurer, who shall also serve as Chairperson of the Finance and Stewardship Committee but with only one vote on the Conference Council. (b) The President of the Conference shall serve no more than one two-year term, and would Section 6. General Synod Delegates. Delegates and alternate delegates to the General Synod shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference in the year prior to the Synod meeting they shall attend. The qualifications, numbers and roles of delegates and alternates are prescribed by the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ. The Conference President shall be an Associate Delegate to the General Synod. Section 7. Additional Nominations. Nominations for all offices, except Conference staff, may be made from the floor, provided that positive consent shall have been received from each nominee. Section 8. Voting. Voting shall be by secret ballot when there are two or more nominees for any office. When there is only one nominee, voting may be by acclamation or by uplifted hand, provided that all voting in relation to Conference staff shall be by secret ballot. ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE 354 Section 1. The Committees. The Conference shall carry out its mission and covenant with God and the congregations through commissions, committees, and task forces. The standing Committees are: Finance and Stewardship Committee Personnel Committee Committee on Ministry (a) The Conference Council shall appoint task forces as necessary to address the work of the conference such as annual meeting planning, nominations, new church starts and revitalization, partnerships, and as others as needed. (b) The function of each Committee or Task Force shall be to devise policies and set goals according to priorities set at the Annual Meeting of the Conference; to design and implement programs accordingly, to coordinate and correlate programs to meet goals and to 8 5 Kansas- Oklahoma Women s Fellowship and the Chair of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Foundation shall shall 6 (a) No person shall serve on the Conference Council in more than one Designated role of the following capacities: as an Officer of the Conference or as a Commission member of the Conference Council, with the exception of the Conference Treasurer who shall also serve as Chairperson of the Stewardship and Finance and Asset Committee but with only one vote on the Conference Council. (b) No more than two members of the same local church may serve on the Conference Council as elected members at the same time. (strike) (c) The President of the Conference shall serve no more than one two year term, and would be eligible for the office of Vice President after a lapse of at least two years. (d) No Commission or Committee Representative or Liaison member of the Conference Council may be elected for more than two (2) consecutive terms. (e) No person in another Denomination who is not an Authorized Minister in the... 7 8 9 COMMISSIONS AND Commissions and Commissions and Justice and Witness Commission... and Finance Commission Finance and Asset Commission... ad hoc (a) Commission,
590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 evaluate programs in order to determine new directions and goals and carry out such other responsibilities as directed by the Conference Council. Each Committee or Task Force shall organize and structure itself so as to accomplish its mission most effectively, including coordination with other Committees, and Task Forces. (c) The Finance and Stewardship Committee will consist of a Chairperson and four to six members elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference to serve for a three-year term, not to exceed two successive terms. (d) The Committee on Ministry, will have two sections, each with a Chairperson and Registrar and three to five members that are elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference to serve for three-year terms, not to exceed two successive terms (e) Each Committee is encouraged to establish and appoint such subcommittees and task forces as may be necessary to accomplish the substantive work of the Committee. Duties of the subcommittees and task forces shall be related to the priorities set by the Conference, and policies and goals established by the Conference Council. The Commission or Committee will outline in writing the specific program, the available financial resources and a time schedule. When the specific goal is accomplished, the subcommittee or task force may be discharged unless assigned a new task. Such subcommittees and task forces shall periodically submit in writing a report on accomplishments to the Commission or Committee for subsequent review and comment of the Conference Council. (f) The Conference Council will have the authority to fill vacancies that arise on the Committees between Annual Meetings of the Conference. Section 2. The Justice and Witness Liaison. The Justice and Witness Liaison shall encourage the Conference and member congregations to engage the compelling questions of our time in the spirit of the good news of Jesus Christ for the sake of social change and transformation. Areas of concern and action shall include, but not be limited to, issues of peace, sustainability, accessibility, racial diversity, and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. Section 3. The Local Church Liaisons. The Local Church Liaisons shall provide resources and opportunities to member congregations and others to build and advance the ministry and mission of vital congregational life. The Liaison shall foster a spirit of partnership and connectedness among local churches, the Conference, and the wider church. Section 4. Ecumenical and Interfaith Partnership Liaison. The Ecumenical and Interfaith Partnership Liaison shall build bridges of ministry with ecumenical partners in Kansas and Oklahoma and interfaith partners in all parts of the world and shall support congregations in their ecumenical and interfaith Section 5. The Finance and Stewardship Committee. The Finance and Stewardship Committee 9 evaluate programs in order to determine new directions and goals and carry out such other Page Break... responsibilities as directed by the Conference Council. Each Commission, or... coordination with other Commissions,... In the section below, separate Stewardship and Finance to point (b) and add a new point (B+) to describe the Committee on Ministry (b) Each (Stewardship and inance and Stewardship ) Commission or... embers elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference...... The exception is the which ill... nd three to five members that are...... (c) ach Commission or ommittee is... Commission or r Committee will outline in writing the specific...... (d) he Conference Council will have the... Strike these commissions, however, use the... Commission The Justice and Witness... Commission iaisons. The Local Church... The Commission shall also oversee the... onnectedness among... The Global and cumenical and Interfaith... iaison Commission hall build bridges of... global artners in all parts of the world and shall... global ministries....... 6 The Finance and Stewardship...
841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 shall interpret to the local churches the mission and ministries of the Conference and the wider United Church of Christ and shall promote the learning, development and practice of faithful stewardship throughout the Conference. The Committee shall consult with and advise the Conference Minister and the Conference Council on the financial condition of the Conference based on monthly financial statements and shall cause and review periodic audits of the Conference financial position in a timely manner. The Finance and Stewardship Committee shall also plan and prepare the annual budget of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference for presentation and approval at the Annual Meeting of the Conference, and shall oversee its implementation. The Treasurer of the Conference shall serve as Chairperson of the Finance and Stewardship Committee. Section 6. The Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee shall implement and enforce the personnel administration provisions of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference as set out in its Human Resources Policies and Procedures in order to ensure that the employment, supervision, development, recognition, and separation of all Kansas-Oklahoma Conference employees are fair, uniform, and within those guidelines and applicable state law. When employees of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference number two or fewer, the Executive Committee shall serve as the Personnel Committee. Section 7. The Committee on Ministry. The Committee on Ministry shall be responsible for all the ecclesiastical matters pertaining to the authorized ministers of the Conference and those seeking authorization, and to the local churches in the Conference, and to those churches seeking standing. (a) The Committee on Ministry shall consist of two subcommittees: (1) Committee A: Authorization and Standing. (2) Committee D: Discernment and Preparation. Each subcommittee shall have authority to make all decisions pertaining to its area of responsibility in accordance with the United Church of Christ Bylaws and the Manual on Ministry. The two subcommittees will establish and maintain processes for communication and sharing of information with each other. Each subcommittee shall have Chair elected at the Annual Meeting of the Conference. (b) The Conference Minister shall be an ex officio member without vote on each of the subcommittees. (c) Each Subcommittee shall meet as it determines necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but no less than four times per year. (d) The entire Committee on Ministry shall meet at least annually for education and reflection on the matters pertaining to their shared responsibilities. (e) The Committee on Ministry shall ensure that an accurate record is kept of all actions taken and shall report regularly to the Conference Council. (f) The Committee on Ministry shall work closely with the Conference Registrar to ensure that the list of all the authorized ministers and local churches that are members of the Conference is current and reported regularly as required to the United Church of Christ. 10 throughout the Conference. Section 7. The Finance and Asset Commission. he Finance and Asset Commission ommittee shall... StewardshipAsset... Finance and Stewardship Asset ommitteession Section 8. The Nominating Commission. The Nominating Commission shall identify qualified and gifted leaders to serve in the key leadership positions of the Conference, and to present to the Annual Meeting their names as candidates for the positions. The Nominating...... 10 to insure that is 11 (a) Page Break (1) ommittee A: Authorization and / tanding.... (2) ommittee D: Discernment and / reparation.... To its area of responsibility in accordance with the... Moved (insertion) [1] Moved up [1]: its area of responsibility in accordance with a hair and a Registrar... (b) b) The Conference Minister shall be an ex... (c) c) Each Subcommittee shall meet as it... (d) d) The entire Committee on Ministry shall... n the matters pertaining to their shared...... as... keep an accurate. They...
1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 (g) The Committee on Ministry shall call for ecclesiastical councils as needed, following the process outlined in these Bylaws and in the Manual on Ministry. (h) An appeal to an outcome of a Fitness Review must be made in writing within thirty days of the decision following the guidelines in the Manual on Ministry. Committee A shall receive the appeals from Committee D and Committee D shall receive appeals from Committee A. Appeals are limited to a review of the process used. If the Committee hearing the appeal calls into question the procedures utilized by the Committee on Ministry that undertook the Fitness Review and reasonably believes that another outcome is possible, the Appeals Committee may ask for another Fitness Review of the same case. There is no further appeal following a second Fitness Review ARTICLE VII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST No person shall be ineligible to serve the Conference as a member of the Conference Council, Committee of the Conference, or as an officer, agent or in some other representative capacity on behalf of the Conference solely by reason of also serving in a representative capacity with some organization or entity with which the Conference does business or has some other significant relationship. Any contract or transaction engaged by the Conference shall be valid notwithstanding any such potential conflict of interest if (1) the material facts of the dual relationship are disclosed or known by the Conference Council or other body acting on behalf of the Conference and the action is authorized in good faith by a majority of the disinterested members of the Council or body even though less than a quorum; or (2) the material facts of the dual relationship are disclosed or known to the membership and are approved in good faith by them; or (3) the contract or transaction is fair as of the time authorized, approved or ratified by the Council or other acting body thereof or by the membership. ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION The Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ shall indemnify any Council member, officer, employee or agent of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ who was or is threatened to be made a party in any legal proceedings whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative if successful on the merits or otherwise in defense, or even if unsuccessful in defense, if such person or persons, as determined by the members of the Conference Council whose acts are not in question or by the legal opinion of independent legal counsel, acted in good faith and in the reasonable belief that the actions were in or not opposed to the best interests of the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ. 11 to the United Church of Christ. (g) (h) and Committee D shall receive appeals from Committee A. Appeals are limited to a review of the process used. utilized by the Committee believes that another outcome is possible, the Appeals Committee may ask for another Fitness Review of the same case. There is no further appeal following a second Fitness Review. any Commission or Page Break
1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 ARTICLE IX. FISCAL YEAR The Fiscal Year of the Conference shall be the calendar year. ARTICLE X. CORPORATE SEAL The Conference shall have a corporate seal bearing the words Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United Church of Christ, and such other words or emblems as may be determined by the Conference Council. ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS These Bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at any Annual Meeting or special meeting, provided that notice of proposed amendments are transmitted to each officer, council member,member church and authorized minister at least four weeks in advance of such meeting. ************************************************************************** Most recently revised as proposed at the annual Kansas-Oklahoma Conference meeting on October 12, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. is church clerk or secretary, September 27 4 12