Pre- Annual Meeting Letter and proposed By-law Changes
(Note: By-laws can be viewed by scrolling below, and as a .doc attachment below.)
September 23, 2009
Dear Members of the association,
Last year at our annual meeting we had a good conversation about our name, purpose and future as an association. Over this past year an aeps work-group has been looking at who and why we are. Attached and below are the proposed new by-laws that have come out of their work. The steering committee met yesterday and approved sending these changes to you [the changes are in red]. We thank Sue Krummel, Sam Roberson, Cass Shaw, Tom Evans, Betty Meadows, Paul Hooker, and Sue Collier who have been part of this work-group. Sue has written some introductory comments below. Also, attached is our schedule. On behalf of the leadership team and steering committee, we are looking forward to our time of learning, fellowship, support, encouragement, laughter, and conversation in Minneapolis.
Grace and Peace,
Graham Hart
President, Association of Executive Presbyters
Betty Meadows
President-Elect
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Association of Executive Presbyters
By-Laws
SECTION 1 – NAME
The name of this organization shall be THE ASSOCIATION OF EXECUTIVE PRESBYTERS.
SECTION 2 – PURPOSE
We believe God gathers middle governing body leaders who are at the church’s fulcrum point, and who serve as connectors between congregations and the larger church, to be a learning community that resources and supports both each other and the church as a whole. Through scripture, prayer and dialogue we seek to discern a way forward amid the pressing issues and opportunities of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This community offers its unique perspective to the church in order to challenge and inspire us to a more faithful and fervent witness to our Lord Jesus Christ.
SECTION 3 – ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
Attendance at meetings of AEPS will be open to one person (or two or more in the case of co-executives) from each middle governing body of the PCUSA which has joined the organization by paying annual dues and indicating interest in membership. The attendee(s) will be designated by the middle governing body and should be a person in leadership, either employed or voluntary, in that governing body.
SECTION 4 – OFFICERS
The Officers of this organization shall be a President, President Elect, and Secretary/Treasurer. The officers shall be elected by those attending the annual meeting.
THE PRESIDENT shall preside at all meetings of the association and shall chair the Steering Committee. The President shall be elected for a one-year term.
THE PRESIDENT ELECT shall be elected for a one-year term and shall serve on the Steering Committee. The President Elect shall normally succeed to the office of President. The President Elect shall serve as the Vice President of the Organization and shall carry out any and all duties of the President if the President shall be unable to fulfill the duties of office.
THE SECRETARY/TREASURER shall be elected for a three-year term, shall serve on the Steering Committee, shall keep the minutes and official records of the Association, shall be the custodian of the funds for the Association, shall receive the dues, shall keep a record of the membership and shall pay the lawful obligations of the Association.
SECTION 5 – THE STEERING COMMITTEE
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the elected officers, the Immediate Past President, plus four members elected for three-year terms from the membership.They shall be eligible for a second three-year term. No one shall serve a combination of years as an officer or a member of the Steering Committee for more than six consecutive years. The Immediate Past President shall serve a one-year term on the Steering Committee the year immediately following his/her term in office. The Steering Committee shall guide the affairs of the Association between meetings. All actions of the Steering Committee shall be subject to the review and/or approval of the membership at the annual meeting.
SECTION 6 – NOMINATION OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE; OFFICERS;le: normal;">
At each annual meeting of the Association a representative Nominating Committee shall propose nominees for all available positions to be elected at that meeting. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of the immediate Past President [who shall convene the group] and three members at large nominated by the Steering Committeeand elected by those in attendance. The representatives shall be elected at each annual meeting and shall serve for one year.
The Nominating Committee shall, in as much as possible, assure that there is geographic diversity represented among the nominees.
SECTION 7 – ELECTIONS
At each annual meeting there shall be an election to fill all vacancies of officers and members of the Steering Committee, as well as the members of:
· The Executive Presbyter Support and Continuing Education Team [6 members - President, Immediate Past-President, and 4 members in rotating classes];
· The Presbytery Leader Formation Coordinating Team [6 members - President-elect, a member of the Steering Committee, and 4 members in rotating classes];
· The MGB-GAMC Advisory Board 5 members -- President, President-elect; and 3 members in rotating classes].
· Note: The Executive Presbyter Support and Continuing Education Team, The Presbytery Leader Formation Coordinating Team, and The MGB-GAMC Advisory Board shall be eligible for a second three-year term. No one shall serve for more than six consecutive years. The Nominating Committee shall place in nomination its nominations. Nominations from the floor shall always be in order, providing the person has previously secured the permission of the person he/she wishes to nominate. All of those in attendance representing member middle governing bodies shall be eligible to vote. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary for election. Those elected shall assume office at the conclusion of the meeting which elected them and shall serve until their successors are elected.
SECTION 8 – DUES
The dues for this Association shall be established by a majority vote of those present and voting at any Annual Meeting. The dues shall be in effect until changed by a vote of the membership.
SECTION 9 – AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting by majority provided text is provided ten [10] days prior.
AEPS BY-LAWS
Revised 11-24-1991
Revised 11-20-1994
Revised 11-20-1998
Revised 9-28-2008
Revised 10-5-2009
