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BY-LAWS
UNITED METHODIST MEN OF THE
TEXAS CONFERENCE
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the organization shall be:
United Methodist Men of the Texas
Conference.
ARTICLE II
HEADQUARTERS
The principal place of business and
headquarters of the United Methodist Men of the Texas Conference shall be
located in the Methodist Building, 5215 South Main, Houston, Texas 77002.
Much of the work will be done by the officers on their own time and in
locations which promote and maximize this ministry.
Office space will not be utilized at the Methodist Building.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization of the
United Methodist Men of the Texas Conference is to deepen the spiritual lives
of the men of the Church and to provide an organization to assist the
Conference, the Districts and the local Churches in the Conference in
developing Christian discipleship among men to help them grow in grace and
go on to perfection for a life with Christ.
ARTICLE IV
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the
organization shall be:
(a)
To
establish Units of United Methodist Men in each local Church or
Charge in the United
Methodist Churches of
the Texas Conference;
(b)
To promote and provide a means of chartering and annual certification
of local United Methodist Men Units;
(c)
To provide annual conference retreats for United Methodist Men;
(d)
To provide training, leadership and guidance for the various United
Methodist Men Units;
(e)
To perform those duties and functions established for United Methodist
Men by the Discipline of the United
Methodist Church; and
(f)
Such other objectives as may be adopted from time to time at any
meeting of the United Methodist Men of the Texas Conference.
ARTICLE
V
MEMBERSHIP
Any male within the geographical area
of the Texas Annual Conference may become a member of the United Methodist
Men by applying for membership in a local church United Methodist Mens Unit.
In the event a mans local church does not have a Unit of United
Methodist Men, he may become a member through any local church in the
Conference which does have a Unit.
In the event there is not a Unit near the Community where he resides,
he may become a member by applying through the District President.
All Pastors in the Texas Annual Conference are ex officio members of
the United Methodist Men, and are welcome at all Local District and
Conference events, activities and meetings.
All Units of United Methodist Men shall maintain an annual Charter
through the National Association of Conference Presidents of the United
Methodist Men.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
The officers of the organization shall
be:
1.
President
2.
President-Elect
3.
Vice President
4 . Secretary
5.
Treasurer
The duties of the officers
shall be as follows:
The PRESIDENT shall be the executive
officer of the organization. He
shall preside at all general meetings and meetings of the Conference Board
and its Executive Committee. With
the approval of the Board, he may make specific task assignments,
including, but not limited to:
work projects
awards and honors
registration
and other tasks which expand
the ministries of United Methodist Men
He shall execute such instruments as
shall be required for execution by the Board.
The PRESIDENT-ELECT and the VICE
PRESIDENT shall be assistants to the President.
In the absence or disability of the President, the President-Elect
shall perform the duties and execise the powers of the President.
The President-Elect and the Vice President shall perform such other
duties as the Conference Board
shall prescribe.
The SECRETARY shall attend all meetings of the Conference Board as well as the general meetings and record all votes and minutes of the proceedings to be kept for that purpose. He shall assist the President to give notices of meetings.
The TREASURER shall
have custody of the funds of the organization and shall keep full and
accurate accounts of the receipts and disbursements in records belonging to
the organization. He shall
deposit all monies and disburse the funds of the organization as may be
directed by the President and Conference Board and shall render to the Board
at meetings of the Board or whenever they may require, an account of all
transactions and fund balances.
ARTICLE VII
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The Officers shall be elected at the
spring meeting of the members and held in the spring of even numbered years.
The term of office is for two (2) years and each elected member may
succeed himself for additional two year terms not to exceed
eight consecutive years. In the
event of a vacancy, the Conference Board shall fill the position to complete
the term until the next regularly scheduled election.
Officers assume office at the close of
the annual meeting of the Texas Annual Conference of the United
Methodist Church in even numbered years.
For the purpose of the election of the
President, the five Houston Districts and the Beaumont District of the Annual
Conference shall be designated as the Southern Kingdom and all other
Districts shall be designated as the Northern Kingdom.
The President and the President-Elect shall not be from the same
Kingdom unless approved by a two-thirds vote of the Conference Board,
including written votes cast prior to such meeting.
A simple majority of those present at the Spring meeting shall be
necessary for election.
Nominations shall be presented by the Nominations Committee.
The Nominations Committee shall be chaired by the immediate Past
President of the Board and include one other member of the Conference Board
and at least one other member of the general membership, both designated by
the President. The President or
Presiding Officer during the election shall call for additional nominations
from the floor prior to taking a vote.
ARTICLE VIII
CONFERENCE BOARD
The United Methodist Men of the Texas
Conference shall be governed by the Conference Board.
The members of the
Conference Board shall be:
1.
The Officers
2.
The District Presidents
3.
The Immediate Past President
4.
The Conference Prayer Advocate
5.
The Conference Scouting
Coordinator
6.
The Honors and Awards Committee Chairman
7.
A District Superintendent serving as a representative member of the
Cabinet
8.
Three Members at Large, coordinating work in Evangelism, Mission and
Spiritual Life.
(See
Attachment 1.)
9.
Any National or Jurisdictional UMM officer residing in the Texas
Conference.
shall be ex-officio
members of the Conference Board.
The Prayer Advocate,
Scouting Coordinator and Honors and Awards Committee shall be appointed by
the President with the approval of the majority of the Board.
No one shall serve more than eight (8) consecutive years as a
Conference Officer, except the Immediate Past President and the District
Presidents. There shall be an
Executive Committee comprised of the President, the Immediate Past President,
President-Elect and the Vice President.
ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS OF BOARD
The Conference Board shall meet during
the Spring and Fall Retreats and at Annual Conference.
The Board may meet at such times and places as called by the President
or by a notice signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the Conference Board.
Twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the Conference Board shall
constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Conference Board.
ARTICLE X
HONORS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE
There shall be an Honors and
Awards Committee comprised of men of the Texas Conference.
They shall present awards and honors as they determine appropriate and
as approved by the Conference Board.
ARTICLE XI
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT
These By-Laws shall be adopted and may
be amended only at a scheduled meeting of the United Methodist Men of the
Texas Conference by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present.
ADOPTED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF
SEPTEMBER, 1995.
D
a n R a m s e y
CONFERENCE SECRETARY
KLH
Revised: 4/29/2000
9/27/2003
4/24/2004
Attachment 1
UNITED METHODIST MEN
TEXAS CONFERENCE
AT LARGE BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
- - - - - -
EVANGELISM
Provide guidance and encouragement to
the UMM Districts, local units and individuals as they strive for and to
become true Christian FRIENDS.
Many men in our church and society really need and want a few true friends;
men who will go with you through lifes gauntlet - celebrating victory,
sharing grief, and standing with you in good times and bad.
Godly men are shaped and tempered by other godly men.
Every United Methodist Man deserves a few bonded brothers.
MISSION
Provide guidance and encouragement to
the UMM Districts, local units and individuals
as they strive to become FISHERMAN for Christ.
Fruit can only follow farming.
When godly men are bonded in biblical fellowship, building themselves
spiritually together, they become fit and equipped for Kingdom work and
service. Followers of Christ are
always involved in meaningful work - first in their families and local
congregations, workplace witness, service work, missions, and outreach.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Provide guidance and encouragement to
the UMM Districts, local units and individuals as they strive to develop as
FOLLOWERS of Christ. When a
Christian becomes a follower of Christ, Jesus has become their Savior and
Lord. Discipleship is where the
rubber meets the road. Spiritual
growth of our men is the top priority of United Methodist Men.
Men will flourish as every man becomes committed personally to daily
prayer and bible study, accountable relationships, and actively seeking Gods
will in their life.
KLH
