Constitution & Bylaws
We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In Christ’s name and by his grace we accept our mission of witness and service to all people.
CONSTITUTION
NORTHEAST AREA of the
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION
PREAMBLE
As members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): We confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In Christ’s name and by his grace we accept our mission of witness and service to all people. We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth, and in God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another. Through baptism into Christ we enter newness of life and are made one with the whole people of God. In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in discipleship and in obedience to Christ. At the Table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the saving acts and presence of Christ. Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of scripture. In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God that we may serve the One whose kingdom has no end. Blessing, glory, and honor be to God forever. Amen.
ARTICLE I.
MISSION
“The Mission of the Northeast Area is to support, educate, and empower congregations and clergy through prayer, counsel, and compassion based on biblical foundations. We stand firm that we are all one body in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.”
ARTICLE II.
NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Northeast Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, a corporation, hereinafter referred to as the “Area”.
ARTICLE III.
PURPOSE AND AFFILIATION
Section 1: Purpose
The Area is organized for religious, educational and charitable purposes, with its principal activity being religious.
Section 2: Affiliation
The Area, although a separate organization, is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, as an integrated auxiliary as such term is interpreted under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
ARTICLE IV.
AREA MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The Area’s membership shall be composed of all congregations listed in the most recent edition of the Yearbook and Directory of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the northeast comer of Texas bordering on Oklahoma, Arkansas, and on the west and south of the following counties: Lamar, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Anderson, Houston, Trinity, Angelina, Saint Augustine, and Sabine Counties, and in future changes in the boundary lines.
Section 2: Other congregations wanting to affiliate with the Area will apply to the Area Executive Council which will recommend either acceptance or denial to the Area Assembly, provided congregation or related organization shall:
a. Accept the Constitution and By-Laws of the Area by vote of said congregation and/or related organization;
b. Submit its constitution /by-laws to the Area Executive Council
c. Cooperate in advancing the mission and purpose of the Area, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, hereinafter referred to as “the Region”; and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada hereinafter referred to as the “General Church”.
d. Give financial support to the Region and General Church.
ARTICLE V.
AREA MEETINGS
ARTICLE VI.
NORTHEAST AREA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1: Function
It shall be the function of the Area Executive Council to conduct the Area’s business, set policy, and to function on behalf of the Area Assembly when it is not in session.
Section 2: Composition
The Area Executive Council shall consist of a number of representatives and officers as set forth in the By-Laws.
Section 3: Meetings
The Area Executive Council shall meet as often as necessary to carry out the policies of the Area Assembly, and to coordinate the work of, the Area. The Area Executive Council functions at the direction of the Area Assembly.
ARTICLE VII.
STANDING COMMITTEES, TASK FORCES, FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
The program of the Area shall be maintained through standing committees, special task forces, and fellowship groups. The Area By-Laws will specify the nature and function of each standing committee and Area fellowship groups.
ARTICLE VIII.
AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of those present and voting at any Area Assembly which has been called with thirty days’ notice of the proposed amendment.
BY-LAWS
NORTHEAST AREA OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) THE SOUTHWEST REGION
I.
The Northeast Area Year
The fiscal and program year of the Area will be January 1 – December 31
II.
AREA MEETINGS
Section 1: The Area shall have at least one Assembly each year, on a date approved by the Area Executive Council. Notice of Assemblies shall be given in a written/email notice to all congregations of the Area no less than thirty days before the meeting date.
Section 2: All members of congregations in the Area are eligible to attend and vote on the business items presented to the Assembly provided they are registered for and in attendance at the Assembly.
Section 3: All recommendations submitted to the Assembly by the Administrative Council shall first be published and distributed to each congregation of the Area no less than thirty days prior to the Assembly where they will be presented for vote.
Section 4: The Assembly shall review and act upon recommendations submitted by the Area Executive Council.
a. No recommendation or business item except that determined to be of an emergency nature shall be considered unless it has first been presented to the Area Executive Council for consideration and recommendation.
b. The Executive Committee of the Area Executive Council will determine what constitutes at emergency recommendation.
c. Business items may be submitted by individual members, congregations, fellowship groups, and/or related units. All business items must be submitted to the Moderator sixty days prior to the Area Assembly meeting in which they are to be considered.
d. Recommendations shall be approved, disapproved, or returned to the Area Administrative Council for reconsideration.
e. Amendments, which do not come from Administrative Council members, will be permitted if the substance of the recommendation is not changed.
f. A quorum shall consist of those present and voting at the Assembly.
Section 5: All business sessions of the Assembly shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised. The Moderator shall appoint a qualified parliamentarian prior to the business session of the Assembly when one is available.
III.
OFFICERS
Officers of the Area shall consist of a Moderator, Moderator-Elect, Secretary, President, Vice-President, and Treasurer.
Section 1: Term of Office.
The one-year term to which the officers shall be elected shall run from January 1 following the date of the Area Executive Council meeting where they were selected to December 31 of the following year. No officer may serve more than two consecutive terms in any office other than the Treasurer.
Section 2: Representation.
Officers shall be elected by the Area Executive Council.
Section 3: Vacancies.
Should a vacancy occur among the officers of the Area, the Area Executive Council shall select a replacement to complete the unfulfilled term of office.
Section 4: Duties.
A. Moderator: The Moderator shall give leadership to the Area, preside at all meetings of the Area Executive Committee and Area Administrative Council. The Moderator will be an ex-officio member of all standing committees and task forces of the Area. The Moderator shall represent the Northeast Area on the Regional Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest concurrent with their term as Moderator.
B. Moderator-Elect: The Moderator-elect shall assume the duties of the Moderator in the absence of the Moderator and shall represent the Northeast Area on the Regional Council of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest if the Moderator serves on the body in another role (elected or appointed).
C. Secretary: The Secretary shall properly record the minutes of all regular and called meetings of the Area Executive Council and Area Assembly business meetings.
D. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall disburse all funds and shall be responsible for an accurate recording of all financial transactions of the area.
E. President: Shall preside at all meetings of the Area Executive Council.
F. Vice-President: Shall perform the responsibility of the President in his/her absence.
IV.
LEGAL MATTERS
Section 1: Incorporation.
The Northeast Area is incorporated in the State of Texas with a Certificate of Incorporation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest – Northeast Area with charter number 356904-1 on March 4, 1975.
Section 2: Legal Representatives.
The Moderator, Treasurer, President and Secretary, jointly, shall be designated as the legal representatives of the Area, and shall have authority to buy, sell, borrow, exchange, and/or acquire and dispose of all securities, properties, holdings and to negotiate all legal affairs of the Area as instructed by the Area Executive Council.
Section 5: Financial Review.
The Area financial records for the previous 12 months shall be reviewed every year by the Area Executive Council.
V.
AREA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1: Composition
The Executive Council shall be comprised of 11 representatives elected at the Area Assembly for a term of three years with a third of the representatives replaced in a single year.
Section 2: Responsibilities
a. The Area Executive Council shall be charged with conducting the business of the Area.
b. The Area Executive Council shall elect officers at the next meeting following the annual Area Assembly.
c. The Area Executive Council shall provide reports of its actions to the Area Assembly.
Section 3: Quorum
A quorum for the Area Executive Council at any regular and/or called meeting shall be composed of no less than a majority of the currently filled positions.
VI.
TASK FORCES & FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
The programs of the Area shall be maintained through the Area Executive Council, several Fellowship groups, and any Task Forces deemed necessary by the Area Executive Council
Section 2: SPECIAL TASK FORCES
The Area Executive Council may appoint Special Task Forces for specific purposes with termination upon the completion of their function.
Section 3: FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
These groups shall:
- Provide updates to the Area Executive Council as necessary to make requests or keep the Area updated as to their needs.
- Send a representative to one Area Executive Council meeting a year to give a report on their organization.
- Develop their own program and elect their own officers.
a. Department of Disciples Women: This group shall develop its own program and officers to administer an Area program for the women of our congregations
b. Department of Disciples Men: This group shall develop its own program and officers to administer a program for the men of our congregations.
c. Christian Youth Fellowship: Details regarding the CYF are to be found in the Youth Ministry Policy Manual of the TBA, NTA, and NEA (Tri-Area) of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest in Section 5, page 1-3.
d. Texas Christian Missionary Fellowship: This group consists of traditionally African American congregations within the Area. They have their own officers and develop their own program as do the other fellowship groups.
e. Hispanic Congregations Fellowship: This group consists of congregations in the NEA that are Hispanic in origin and conducting services mostly in Spanish. They develop their own program and officers.
f. Disciples Crossing: This is the group that runs the camp in Athens, TX and the Area Executive Council is obligated to nominate and elect members to sit on their board.
VII.
DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of the Northeast Area of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest, the Area Executive Council shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of this corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation by giving them to one or more incorporated organizations (charitable, educational or missionary) then directly affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest.
VIII.
AMENDMENTS
Constitution Approved by Area Assembly – April 28th, 2018
By-Laws Approved by Area Assembly – April 28th, 2018