B 1 Section B IBSA CONSTITUTION INTRODUCTION Illinois Bap st State Associa on received a charter as an Illinois Corpora on on November 2, 1907, at Marion, Illinois. ARTICLE 1 NAME 1.1.The name of this organiza on is Illinois Bap st State Associa on, hereina er referred to as The Illinois Bap st State Associa on or IBSA. ARTICLE 2 NATURE AND PURPOSE 2.1.The Illinois Bap st State Associa on is an organized body of messengers from Bap st churches coopera ng to encourage sound Biblical doctrine, coopera ve missions, and Bap st fellowship. As an autonomous body, IBSA shall not violate the autonomy of any church or other Bap st body. 2.2. The purpose of IBSA is to assist in establishing and developing effec ve Bap st churches in their context. IBSA shall engage in other related ac vi es it considers relevant to its corporate fellowship. ARTICLE 3 DOCTRINE 3.1. As IBSA, we adopt the Bible as the basis of all our faith and prac ce. 3.2. Illinois Bap sts have used various confessions of faith to be er explain their understanding of the Bible. As IBSA, we acknowledge the value of all these documents, especially the Philadelphia Confession of Faith (1742), the New Hampshire Confession of Faith (1833), and the Bap st Faith and Message statement of 1925, with revisions in 1963, 1998, and 2000. We encourage IBSA congrega ons and associa ons to use confessions of faith as resources to inform and edify Illinois Bap sts concerning the basic tenets of our faith. These documents will thus equip us as we seek to fulfill our historic commitment to evangelism, discipleship, missions, educa on, godly living, and mutual coopera on in bearing a Bap st witness to the world. 3.3. The churches of IBSA have historically recognized that there are dis nc ve doctrines that unify us as Bap sts and set us apart from other denomina ons. Throughout our history, doctrinal statements have been adopted that express the common, but not necessarily universally held, elements of our faith. Bap sts have always cherished the belief that individuals and churches are to study the Bible and form their beliefs as the Holy Spirit leads them. In keeping with this history, IBSA affirms the following statement as a basis of our con nued coopera on in sharing our message with the people of Illinois and the whole world: 3.3.1. Confessions of faith cons tute a consensus of opinion of some Bap st body for the general instruc on and guidance of its people and others concerning those ar cles of the Chris an faith which are most surely held among us. 3.3.2. We do not regard confessions of faith as complete statements of doctrine, having any quality of finality or infallibility. Bap sts should hold themselves free to revise their statements of faith as may seem to them wise and expedient at any me. 3.3.3. Any group of Bap sts has the inherent right to draw up for itself and publish to the world a confession of faith whenever the group determines it advisable to do so. 3.3.4. The sole authority for faith and prac ce among Bap sts is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Confessions are only guides in interpreta on, having no authority over the conscience. 3.3.5. Confessions of faith are statements of religious convic ons, drawn from the Scriptures, and as such are not to be used to hamper freedom of thought or inves ga on into other realms of life. 3.4. We affirm that the Bap st Faith and Message adopted in 1925, and revised in 1963, 1998, and 2000, represents a consensus of Bap st beliefs for general instruc on and guidance. These documents may be used with confidence by local churches and associa ons, and contain statements of Chris an convic ons, drawn from the Scriptures, affirming historic Bap st beliefs including the doctrines of soul competency, the priesthood of all believers, and salva on by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. Coopera ng churches or other interested par es may be instructed in how they might obtain a current publica on of these documents by contac ng the IBSA registered offices.
B 2 ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP 4.1. IBSA, in session, shall be composed of messengers who, as members of coopera ng Bap st churches, are elected and cer fied by said churches that have voluntarily accepted the nature, purpose, and doctrinal affirma on of IBSA. 4.2. A church will be considered a coopera ng church when it has submi ed an annual church report and has contributed financially to IBSA through the Coopera ve Program the preceding year to fulfill the nature, purpose, and doctrinal affirma on of IBSA. (11 11) 4.3. Coopera ng churches who subsequently fail to fulfill the requirements of coopera on shall be subject to review and possible dismissal. 4.3.1. As soon as possible a er the close of the annual mee ng the Creden als Commi ee shall check all available records to determine whether there are churches failing to meet all the expecta ons of a coopera ng church. 4.3.2. During the course of the year, the Creden als Commi ee shall make every effort to encourage noncoopera ng churches to begin fulfilling all of the expecta ons of a coopera ng church. 4.3.3. The Execu ve Director of IBSA will assume responsibility for communica ng with churches who fail to meet the requirements of a coopera ng church. Determina on will be made as to the church s intent/desire to con nue as a coopera ng church in IBSA. IBSA reserves the right to remove churches who do not fulfill coopera on requirements of IBSA. 4.3.4. The Creden als Commi ee shall report its findings and recommenda ons at the next annual mee ng of IBSA. 4.4. Each coopera ng church of IBSA shall be en tled to four (4) messengers, plus one messenger for each mul ple of fi y (50) resident members, except that no church shall exceed fi een (15) messengers. 4.5. Vo ng privileges are given only to seated messengers. 4.6. Messengers elected and cer fied by coopera ng churches shall be seated at each IBSA annual mee ng, upon verifica on by and recommenda on of the Creden als Commi ee. 4.7. Churches seeking affilia on with IBSA may have their messengers seated, upon recommenda on by the Creden als Commi ee and approval by IBSA in session. 4.8. Any mo on charging doctrinal incompa bility against an IBSA church shall only be presented in wri ng by a messenger at an annual mee ng and will be automa cally referred to the Creden als Commi ee. 4.8.1. The Creden als Commi ee shall seek other informa on or evidence and, along with the accusing messenger, shall consult with the leadership of the church being charged to determine the validity of the charges. 4.8.2. The Creden als Commi ee shall report its findings and recommenda ons to the next annual mee ng of IBSA. 4.9. Upon recommenda on of the Creden als Commi ee of the Illinois Bap st State Associa on in annual session reserves the right to withdraw fellowship, by a 2/3 vote of the messengers present and vo ng, from any church affiliated with IBSA for failure to conform to Sec ons 4.2 or 4.8. ARTICLE 5 MEETINGS 5.1. IBSA shall meet in annual session at such me and place as it may determine. 5.2. Special mee ngs of the IBSA may be called: 5.2.1. Upon the request of five (5) messengers at the Annual Mee ng of IBSA in wri ng to the president of the Associa on or by two officers of the Associa on in wri ng to the chairman of the Board of Directors of IBSA. 5.2.2 Approval of a Special Mee ng shall require a two thirds affirma ve vote of those present and vo ng either by the messengers at the IBSA Annual Mee ng or by the IBSA Board of Directors. 5.3. The me and/or place of the annual or special mee ngs of IBSA may be changed upon approval of two thirds of the Board of Directors. 5.4. The president shall appoint a parliamentarian, subject to the approval of the messengers, to serve when IBSA
B 3 is in session. Parliamentary rulings shall be governed by the current edi on of Robert s Rules of Order, with the determina on of the most current edi on being s pulated by the Na onal Associa on of Parliamentarians. 5.5. In case of the absence of the vice president from the annual or special mee ngs of IBSA, the president may appoint an assistant, subject to the approval of the messengers, to serve when IBSA is in session. 5.6. In case of the absence of the president from the annual or special mee ngs of IBSA, the vice president shall assume the du es of the president, retaining the posi on of vice president. The vice president may appoint an assistant, subject to the approval of the messengers, to serve when IBSA is in session. ARTICLE 6 OFFICERS 6.1. The officers of IBSA shall be a president, a vice president, a recording secretary, and an assistant recording secretary. 6.1.1. Elec on of the president and the recording secretary shall take place during the first session of the annual mee ng. Elec on of the vice president and the assistant recording secretary shall take place during the final session of the annual mee ng. 6.1.2. Officers must have been members in residence of coopera ng churches for at least the twelve months immediately prior to their elec on, shall con nue such membership during their term, and shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecu ve terms. No employee of IBSA or family member of an employee of IBSA, nor any person whose salary is subsidized by IBSA, nor any person whose service shall provide a conflict of interest, shall serve as an officer of IBSA. 6.1.3. These officers shall be elected annually by ballot, except that by unanimous consent, any single nominee for an office may be elected by acclama on. Nomina ons for officers shall be received from messengers present at the IBSA annual mee ng. All nominators, a er obtaining prior consent of the nominee, in their nomina on speech shall include but not be limited to: 1) the name and role of the nominee, 2) the nominee s history of service to IBSA, and 3) the history of par cipa on in the Coopera ve Program by the nominee s church and/or the nominee personally. Newly elected officers shall be installed during the annual mee ng and shall assume responsibili es at the conclusion of the annual mee ng. They shall serve un l the end of the next annual mee ng and un l their successors assume office. 6.1.4. Elec on of all officers shall be determined by a majority vote, not simply a plurality vote when three or more candidates are considered. 6.2. The President shall preside at mee ngs of IBSA. The president shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees, with vote. The president shall serve as an ex officio member of all commi ees of IBSA without vote. The immediate past president shall serve as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and Boards of Trustees for one (1) year without vote, and shall be ineligible for elec on to any board un l one (1) year has elapsed following the year of ex officio service. 6.3. The vice president, in the absence of or at the request of the president, shall preside at mee ngs of IBSA. The vice president shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees, with vote. The vice president shall serve as an ex officio member of all commi ees of IBSA without vote. 6.4. The recording secretary shall be accountable for recording the proceedings of IBSA in session. A cer fied copy of the minutes of the IBSA annual mee ng shall be submi ed to the Execu ve Director of IBSA for inclusion in the IBSA Annual. The recording secretary shall affix the seal of IBSA to all documents as directed by IBSA. The recording secretary shall convene mee ngs of IBSA in the absence of the president and the vice president, and shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees with vote. The recording secretary shall serve as an ex officio member all commi ees of IBSA without vote. 6.5. The assistant recording secretary shall perform the du es of the recording secretary in the absence of or at the request of the recording secretary. The assistant recording secretary shall be an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees with vote. The assistant recording secretary shall serve as an ex officio member all commi ees of IBSA without vote. 6.6. With the excep on of the president (see 6.2), immediate past officers of IBSA (vice president, recording secretary, and assistant recording secretary) shall be ineligible for membership on any board un l one (1) year has elapsed. 6.7. In the event the president is unwilling or unable to complete the term of office, the vice president shall assume the office of president, vaca ng the office of vice president.
B 4 6.8. A detailed guideline of the work of each officer of IBSA shall be placed in the IBSA Officer and Commi ee Manual. Such guideline shall include a par cular method for reviewing and dismissing officers for viola ons of policy which it deems necessary for the effec ve and ethical service by its members. ARTICLE 7 BOARDS 7.1. The Illinois Bap st State Associa on is an autonomous body. It shall be solely responsible for its organiza on. It shall elect a Board of Directors to direct all affairs of IBSA between annual mee ngs except the affairs of en es set apart to func on under the direc on of separate Boards of Trustees. The Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees shall be organized and operated, and direct the affairs of their respec ve en es, according to the Cons tu on of IBSA. 7.1.1. One third (1/3) of the members of each board shall be elected at each annual mee ng of IBSA for a threeyear term. 7.1.2. The execu ve directors of the various boards shall serve as ex officio members of each of the boards without vote, but may be excused from execu ve sessions of the boards unless requested to remain by decision of the board. 7.2. The Illinois Bap st State Associa on alone in annual session shall authorize new en es set apart by IBSA and the composi on of the Board of Trustees to govern such separate en ty. The Illinois Bap st State Associa on alone in annual session shall authorize the dissolu on or merger of any of the IBSA en es. 7.3. The Board of Directors shall determine the work to be performed by and the resources to be appor oned to all related organiza ons and corpora ons of IBSA except those en es set apart by IBSA to func on under the direc on of their separate Boards of Trustees. 7.3.1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of thirty three (33) members. Twenty four of the members shall be elected from six regions appor oned decennially by the Board of Directors and nine of the members shall be elected from the state at large. 7.3.2. The Board of Directors shall determine its me of mee ng, organiza on, and method of procedures subject to the Cons tu on of IBSA. 7.3.3 The Board of Directors shall employ one Execu ve Director of IBSA to accomplish the objec ves the board may determine and shall set policy limits within which the Execu ve Director of IBSA shall func on. 7.3.4. The Execu ve Director shall form and manage the IBSA staff, except the staff of the en es set apart by IBSA, and shall have only such authority as has been delegated by the Board of Directors. 7.3.5. The Execu ve Director of IBSA shall serve as an ex officio member without vote on all IBSA boards. 7.4. En es set apart by IBSA to func on as separate boards of Trustees shall be: 7.4.1. The Boards of Trustees of Illinois Bap st Children s Home and Family Services shall have twenty one (21) members and the Bap st Founda on shall have twenty one (21) members. 7.4.2. Each Board of Trustees is accountable to IBSA during annual session. 7.4.3. Each Board of Trustees shall determine the work to be performed by and the resources to be appor oned to its en ty. 7.4.4. Each Board of Trustees shall determine its me of mee ng, organiza on, and method of procedures, subject to the Cons tu on of IBSA. 7.4.5. Each Board of Trustees shall employ one execu ve officer to accomplish the objec ves delegated to its en ty and shall set policy limits within which the execu ve officer shall func on. The execu ve officer shall manage the staff of the en ty and shall have only such authority as has been delegated by the Board of Trustees. 7.5. Members of the Board of Directors and Boards of Trustees shall be recommended by the IBSA Nomina ng Commi ee according to selec on criteria listed in Sec on 7.5.4. Nominees shall be published during the annual mee ng and shall assume responsibili es at the conclusion of the annual mee ng. They shall serve un l the end of their respec ve terms and un l their successors assume office. Terms shall be specified as ending at the conclusion of the annual mee ng. 7.5.1. Individuals may not serve for more than two consecu ve terms or major frac on thereof un l one year has elapsed from their last date of service on any board.
B 5 7.5.2 In the event a member of a board is absent from more than one half of the scheduled board and commi ee mee ngs in a twelve (12) month period, their posi on will automa cally become vacant. 7.5.3. If vacancies occur between annual mee ngs of IBSA, prospec ve board members shall be nominated by the IBSA Nomina ng Commi ee and considered by the respec ve board. 7.5.4. The primary criteria to be used by the Nomina ng Commi ee of IBSA for the selec on of nominees to the boards are: 7.5.4.1. the individual s ability to make a maximum contribu on toward a aining the goals of IBSA, 7.5.4.2. the goal of equitable representa on of members from across the state, 7.5.4.3. the membership of the board consis ng of a minimum of one third (1/3) laypersons. (A lay person shall be defined as anyone who is not voca onally employed in a ministry posi on by a church, associa on, or state conven on. A lay person who begins ministry employment with a church, associa on, or state conven on shall be eligible to con nue service un l the expira on of his/her term), 7.5.4.4. the considera on of an individual s special abili es when nomina ng to a specific board and a specific commi ee of the board, although a er one year of service by the individual, commi ee membership may be re assigned by the respec ve board chairman with consent of the individual. (11 11) 7.5.4.5. the maintaining of an equal number of Class A (one year remaining), Class B (2 years remaining), and Class C (3 years remaining) members among those serving on each board, 7.5.4.6. the reserva on of membership on any board for those persons who are members of coopera ng churches and who have been members in residence of coopera ng churches for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to their elec on to any board, and who con nue such membership during their term, 7.5.4.7. the prohibi on of any coopera ng church from having more than one (1) member on any one board at the same me or more than two (2) members on all boards at the same me (A member of a board moving to a church which has a member on that same board or two (2) members on all boards shall resign. Officers of IBSA are excepted.), 7.5.4.8. the s pula on that the members of each board must meet the requirements established by any licensing agency applicable to the respec ve board, 7.5.4.9. the courtesy of considering the recommenda on of the execu ve officer and the chair of the respec ve board to which a member shall be nominated. 7.5.5. No employee of IBSA or family member of an employee of IBSA, nor any person whose salary is subsidized by IBSA, nor any person whose service shall provide a conflict of interest, shall serve as a member of any board of IBSA. 7.6. A Coordina ng Council shall: 1) coordinate the work of the Board of Directors and Boards of Trustees to facilitate harmony and unity, 2) decide ma ers of dispute between the boards, and 3) give direc on to the boards in ma ers not clearly defined in the Cons tu on or in wri en policy. The Coordina ng Council shall be comprised of the president of IBSA, the vice president of IBSA, the chair and the vice chair of each board, and the execu ve officer of each en ty opera ng under the direc on of separate boards. 7.6.1. Each member of the council shall be a vo ng member. 7.6.2. The president of IBSA and the vice president of IBSA shall serve as the chair and the vice chair, respec vely, of the Coordina ng Council. 7.6.3. The Coordina ng Council shall meet at least semi annually and report to IBSA during each annual mee ng. 7.6.4. The president of IBSA shall be empowered to call addi onal mee ngs of the Coordina ng Council as necessary. 7.7. During the fiscal year, neither the Board of Directors nor any Board of Trustees shall obligate IBSA to expenditure nor incur accumula ve indebtedness that will exceed their annual budgets by an amount greater than three percent of their annual budgets. 7.8. The president of IBSA shall recommend to IBSA in session a firm of cer fied public accountants to audit the financial records of IBSA for the ensuing year. The Board of Directors and each Board of Trustees shall submit
B 6 to IBSA a report of the finances of its en ty and shall submit to IBSA in annual session a proposed financial program or budget for the ensuing year. Each proposal shall be based on the an cipated gross receipts of the respec ve en ty according to its financial report. 7.9. All proper es and assets of related corporate en es shall be owned by The Illinois Bap st State Associa on. Specific proper es and assets may be assigned to certain Boards of Trustees or the Board of Directors for opera onal jurisdic on. The Board of Directors or Boards of Trustees, by a two thirds vote of the members present and vo ng, may purchase, or otherwise acquire, lease, mortgage, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of any property, personal or real, of IBSA. The Board of Directors or Boards of Trustees may appoint and delegate the authority to commi ees to act for them in the interim of their sessions. These commi ees shall not have authority to mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the property, personal or real, of IBSA, unless specifically authorized and directed to do so by a two thirds vote of the respec ve Board. No board or commi ee of a board shall act in regard to property assigned to the jurisdic on of another board. 7.10. A quorum shall be present for any ac on of the Board of Directors, the Boards of Trustees, or any commi ee of the boards. Fi y one percent of the members of each of the boards or commi ees of the boards, in office at the me of the mee ng, shall cons tute a quorum. 7.11. The officers of the Board of Directors shall be a chair, a vice chair, and a recording secretary. These officers shall be elected annually by the board at its last mee ng prior to the IBSA annual mee ng. They shall serve no more than two terms in any elected board office. Members of the board whose final term expires shall not be eligible for re elec on as an officer. Officers of the Board of Directors shall serve on the Advisory Commi ee of the board with vote and shall serve with vote on the board commi ee to which they are elected, however they shall serve on the other standing commi ees of the board as ex officio members without vote. 7.12. The officers of each of the Boards of Trustees shall be a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary. Officers of the Boards of Trustees shall be nominated annually for the next year by a majority vote of board members present and vo ng at the board mee ng immediately prior to the annual mee ng of IBSA. Only individuals elected to serve on a board may be nominated as officers of that board. IBSA shall consider for elec on the nominees, whose terms of office shall begin at the conclusion of the IBSA annual mee ng, con nuing un l the end of the next IBSA annual mee ng and their successors assume office. Should IBSA decline to elect one or more officers as nominated by a board, replacement nomina ons of persons currently serving on the board shall be received by the messengers. 7.13. It shall be the duty of the chair to preside at all mee ngs of the board, and to perform such other du es as usually pertain to this office. The chair shall be an ex officio member of all commi ees of the board. 7.14. It shall be the duty of the vice chair to perform the du es of the chairman in the absence of the chair. In the event of the death or resigna on of the chair, the vice chair shall serve un l a new chair is elected. 7.15. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep an accurate account of the proceedings of each mee ng of the board, and to perform such other du es as usually pertain to this office. 7.16. The chair of each board shall ini ate an annual evalua on of that en ty s execu ve officer, using the forms and processes adopted by that board. 7.17. Each board shall submit for considera on by IBSA in session a budget in keeping with Sec on 7.8. Individual boards shall have the authority to change line items, providing the total budget figure remains the same as approved by IBSA in session. Boards shall submit for considera on by IBSA any plans for new special offerings or capital fund raising ac vi es. Authorized offerings for state wide promo on are: 1) the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, 2) the Mothers Day s Offering for the Bap st Children s Home and Family Services, 3) the Illinois Missions Offering, and 4) the Lo e Moon Christmas Offering for Interna onal Missions. 7.18. The boards shall be organized into standing commi ees. Each commi ee shall have a chairman, a vicechairman, and a secretary. At the last commi ee mee ng of the year, officers are elected for the following year. 7.18.1. The standing commi ee common to each of the boards is an Advisory Commi ee. Each Advisory Commi ee shall consist of: 1) the chair of that board, as chair, 2) other officers of that board, and 3) the chair of each of the other standing commi ees of that board. Each Advisory Commi ee will act as counsel for the execu ve officer. In the event of the death, incapacity, or prolonged absence of an execu ve officer, that Advisory Commi ee shall assume responsibili es for day to day opera ons un l the next mee ng of the board, and shall report to the board at each regular and special mee ng any ac ons it has taken in the interim.
B 7 7.18.2. Each board shall have unique standing commi ees. Each commi ee shall evaluate, approve, and recommend to its board such goals as may pertain to that commi ee s area of responsibility. 7.19. The standing commi ees unique to the Board of Directors are: 7.19.1. The Administra ve Commi ee will review board policy and recommend adjustments to insure efficient opera ons of the board and the IBSA staff, in order that the various segments of IBSA may effec vely work together to achieve the mission, vision, and goals of IBSA. 7.19.2. The Strategic Planning Commi ee will work directly with the Execu ve Director to assess the needs of churches and associa ons, to establish and recommend to the Board of Directors mission, vision and goal statements, to assist the Board of Directors in iden fying end results that are desired from IBSA ac vi es and ministries, to assess the effec veness of IBSA delivery of services, to recommend effec ve communica on channels, and to recommend special ministry projects that will assist IBSA to accomplish its mission, vision, and goals. 7.19.3. The Resource Development Commi ee shall assist the Execu ve Director to gather and recommend distribu on of resources to meet the mission, vision, and goals of IBSA. It will assist in budget development, alloca on of Coopera ve Program resources, long range financial planning, and management of all IBSA facili es. 7.20. The standing commi ees unique to the Board of Trustees of the Bap st Children s Home and Family Services are: 7.20.1. The Administra ve Commi ee is responsible for the general areas of proper es, personnel, policy, and procedures. 7.20.2. The Program Commi ee is responsible for the general areas of strategic planning and program goals, and evalua on of the Behavior Management System. 7.20.3. The Finance and Development Commi ee is responsible for the general areas of financial and investment policies, budge ng, fund raising, and public rela ons. 7.21. The standing commi ees unique to the Board of Trustees of the Bap st Founda on of Illinois are: 7.21.1. The Administra ve Commi ee is responsible for the general areas of personnel, policy, procedures, and development. 7.21.2. The Scholarship Commi ee is responsible for the general process of awarding scholarships from various scholarship funds managed and controlled by the Founda on. 7.21.3. The Investment Commi ee is responsible for the oversight of the Founda on s investment program and its Cash Management Service. 7.22. Regular mee ngs of the boards and the commi ees of the boards shall be held at least semi annually. Each board shall fix the dates, mes, and places of its mee ngs. Special mee ngs may be called by two officers of the board. At least seven days wri en no ce of the date, me, and place shall be given to each member of the board by the person(s) calling the mee ng. The no ce shall state the nature of the business to be considered at the special mee ng, and no business other than that stated in the no ce shall be considered at such mee ng. 7.23. A detailed guideline of the work of each board will be placed in the Policy and Procedures Manual of each respec ve en ty. Such guideline shall include a par cular method for reviewing and dismissing members for viola ons of policy which it deems necessary for the effec ve and ethical service by its members. ARTICLE 8 STANDING COMMITTEES 8.1. The standing commi ees of IBSA shall be: 1) Commi ee on Commi ees, 2) Commi ee on Order of Business, 3) Nomina ng Commi ee, 4) Creden als Commi ee, 5) Cons tu on Commi ee, 6) Resolu ons and Chris an Life Commi ee, and 7) Historical Commi ee. 8.2. The standing commi ees of IBSA shall consist of twelve (12) members each. One third (1/3) of the members shall rotate off annually. Any person having served three (3) years, or major frac on thereof, shall be ineligible for re elec on un l at least one (1) year has elapsed. Commi ee membership shall be reserved for those who have been a member in residence of coopera ng churches for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to elec on, and who con nue such membership during their term. 8.2.1. No employee of IBSA or family member of an employee of IBSA, nor any person whose salary is subsidized by IBSA, nor any person whose service shall provide a conflict of interest, shall serve as a member
B 8 of any standing commi ee of IBSA. 8.2.2. No person may serve simultaneously as a member of a board and as a member of an IBSA standing commi ee. 8.2.3. In the event commi ee members absent themselves from two (2) consecu ve commi ee mee ngs that appear on the IBSA calendar, their posi ons shall be automa cally vacant. 8.2.4. A quorum shall be present for any ac on of the standing commi ees. Fi y one (51) percent of the members of the commi ee in office at the me of the mee ng shall cons tute a quorum. 8.2.5. If a person has been elected to a standing commi ee or an ad hoc commi ee of IBSA and then is later elected to the posi on of an officer of IBSA, such person shall vacate the commi ee role in order to fulfill the role of an officer. Such vacancies shall be handled in the same manner of commi ee vacancies that may occur for any other reason. 8.2.6. No church shall have more than one (1) member on an IBSA standing commi ee at the same me, with no more than two (2) different members from one church on all IBSA standing commi ees. A member of a standing commi ee moving to a church which has a member on that same commi ee or two (2) members on all standing commi ees shall resign. Officers of IBSA are excepted from the moving provision. 8.2.7. If vacancies occur on a standing commi ee between annual mee ngs, nomina ons of prospec ve members for said vacancies shall be made by the Commi ee on Commi ees to the Board of Directors of IBSA for considera on. 8.3. Upon assuming office, the newly elected president of IBSA shall appoint members to fill vacancies on the Commi ee on Commi ees. 8.4. The Commi ee on Commi ees shall nominate at each annual mee ng of IBSA persons for membership on all standing commi ees and all ad hoc commi ees authorized by IBSA, including all commi ee vacancies, with the excep on of the Commi ees of the Board of Directors and the Boards of Trustees. While serving on the Commi ee on Commi ees, members shall be ineligible for nomina on to other standing commi ees and all ad hoc commi ees of IBSA. 8.5. The Commi ee on Order of Business shall suggest a program including an order of business for the IBSA annual mee ng. It shall provide me for the introduc on of ma ers requiring a vote not scheduled on the agenda, and shall fix a me for the considera on of the same. The commi ee shall recommend the me and place for the annual mee ng three (3) years in advance. The commi ee shall recommend a speaker for the annual sermon for the succeeding IBSA annual mee ng. 8.6. The Nomina ng Commi ee shall nominate members for the boards to IBSA in session. If vacancies occur between annual mee ngs of IBSA, prospec ve board members shall be nominated by the IBSA Nomina ng Commi ee and considered by the respec ve board. While serving on the Nomina ng Commi ee, members shall be ineligible for nomina on to any of the boards. 8.7. The Creden als Commi ee shall enroll all qualified messengers, those elected and cer fied by coopera ng churches, at each annual mee ng and special mee ngs of IBSA. 8.7.1. The commi ee shall monitor the enrollment of churches at the mee ngs of IBSA and dispense all official materials. 8.7.2. The commi ee shall receive and review all le ers pe oning for affilia on, cons tu ons and bylaws, opera ve documents, statements of faith, and other documents requested by the commi ee from those churches seeking to cooperate with IBSA. The commi ee shall then make recommenda ons regarding churches reques ng to cooperate with IBSA. 8.7.3. The Creden als Commi ee shall also review informa on regarding churches which may fail to fulfill the requirements of coopera on and shall make recommenda ons to IBSA in session regarding the coopera ng status of said churches, including but not limited to issues of doctrinal affirma on. (See also 4.3) 8.7.4. It shall also be the responsibility of the Creden als Commi ee to count all ballots at the annual mee ng. 8.8. The Cons tu on Commi ee shall review the Cons tu on and the IBSA Officer and Commi ee Manual at least annually. The commi ee shall submit a wri en report to each annual mee ng of IBSA, containing an assessment of the work of IBSA in light of both documents constraint and any sugges ons for adjustments or amendments. The commi ee shall consider and make recommenda ons on all proposed amendments to the Cons tu on and
B 9 the Manual. When requested, interpreta on of the Cons tu on shall be given by the commi ee through its chairman or a designee of the commi ee. 8.8.1. The commi ee shall submit a wri en report to each annual mee ng of IBSA, containing an assessment of the work of IBSA in light of the Cons tu on s constraints, and any sugges ons for adjustments or amendments. The commi ee shall consider and make recommenda ons on all proposed amendments to the Cons tu on. When requested, interpreta on of the Cons tu on shall be given by the commi ee through its chairman or a designee of the commi ee. 8.8.2. In conjunc on with the IBSA Execu ve Director, the commi ee shall make updates and changes to the Officer and Commi ee Manual. 8.9. The Resolu ons and Chris an Life Commi ee shall prepare and submit to IBSA in session, all resolu ons, which it deems appropriate for adop on, and report on all ma ers submi ed to it by IBSA, with or without recommenda ons or amendments. All proposed resolu ons shall be referred to the Resolu ons and Chris an Life Commi ee no later than the end of the first session of the annual mee ng of IBSA. 8.10. The Historical Commi ee shall procure and preserve historical records. In addi on, the commi ee shall seek to keep the churches and messengers of IBSA informed of those items which it deems of historical significance to the life and ministry of IBSA. 8.11. The Execu ve Director of IBSA shall serve as an ex officio member without vote on all IBSA standing commi ees. The standing commi ees shall assign to the Execu ve Director of IBSA such work as they may require. Allocated resources shall be prescribed in the annual budget for all standing commi ees of IBSA. 8.12. A detailed guideline of the work of each standing commi ee of IBSA shall be placed in the Policy and Procedures Manual of IBSA. Such guideline shall include a par cular method for reviewing and dismissing members for viola ons of policy which it deems necessary for the effec ve and ethical service by its members. 8.13. IBSA shall create such ad hoc commi ees as it may require. The nomina on of commi ee members shall be made by the Commi ee on Commi ees. The allocated resources of each ad hoc commi ee shall come from available funds with the recommenda on of any limita ons of funds coming from the Execu ve Director of IBSA and approved by the Board of Directors or IBSA in session. ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENTS 9.1. All proposed amendments to the Cons tu on must be submi ed in wri ng to the Cons tu on Commi ee. 9.1.1. Such proposed amendments which may be recommended by the Cons tu on Commi ee shall be presented at two (2) consecu ve annual mee ngs, the first for reading only, the second for reading, considera on, and vote. 9.1.2. All proposed amendments shall be reviewed by an a orney, parliamentarian, and/or financial advisor, at the discre on of the Cons tu on Commi ee chairman or the Execu ve Director of IBSA, prior to presenta on to IBSA for considera on. 9.1.3. Such recommenda ons shall be considered by messengers during the first session of the annual mee ng. 9.1.4. No vote is required at the me of first reading. Following the second reading and the subsequent considera on, a two thirds (2/3) affirma ve vote of those messengers present and vo ng is required for approval of such recommenda ons. 9.1.5. Amendments shall become effec ve at the close of the annual mee ng in which they are properly presented and approved, unless otherwise provided in the amendment. From the 2013 IBSA Annual with changes approved at the 2013 IBSA Annual Mee ng in Springfield, IL.