CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF
THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION
OF
THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC
CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
April 28, 2001
CONSTITUTION OF
THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION
OF
THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC
CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
ARTICLE
I. NAME
The
name of this Association is the New Jersey Association of the Central Atlantic
Conference of the United Church of Christ.
ARTICLE
II. MEMBERSHIP
The
membership of this Association shall be composed of local churches located in
New Jersey, which are members of the United Church of Christ and all ordained
ministers who have standing in this Association. (Constitution of the United
Church of Christ, Article IV, paragraphs 7-22, as amended July 16, 1963 and By-laws
of the Central Atlantic Conference, Article I, section I as adopted January 16,
1965 and amended June 17, 1973.)
ARTICLE
III. PURPOSES
Section 1. To bring together in fellowship and counsel all in this
Association for mutual concern, Christian witness and Christian service.
Section 2. To carry on the work and exercise the functions of an Association
of the United Church of Christ as outlined by the Constitution and By-Laws of
the United Church of Christ.
Section 3. To act with all others led by the spirit of God for ministry to
the need of people of New Jersey and the larger community.
ARTICLE
IV. GOVERNING BODY
The
governing body of this Association shall be the Association in meeting.
ARTICLE
V. OFFICERS
The
officers of this Association shall be a Moderator, a Vice-Moderator, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Conference Liaison Officer, who shall be a New
Jersey member of the Conference Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
VI. ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
The
Association Council shall consist of the following Association officers: The
Moderator, the Vice-Moderator, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Conference
Liaison Officer; the Chairpersons of the Standing Commissions or their
designees; three (3) members-at-large, and the Associate Conference Minister
regionally deployed in New Jersey.
ARTICLE
VII. COMMISSIONS
Section 1. There shall be the following
Standing Commissions:
a. Church
Development
b. Pre-Ordination
c. Church
and Ministry
d. Nominating
e. Outreach
f. Christian
Education and Youth Ministries
g. Stewardship
h. New
Jersey Mission Fund
Section 2. There shall be such other commissions, as the Association may
deem necessary.
Section 3. All Commissions shall be composed of clergy and lay members who
are members of churches that are members of the New Jersey Association.
ARTICLE
VIII. FINANCE
This
Association shall be supported by contributions and dues of its member
churches. The fiscal year shall be the
calendar year.
ARTICLE
IX. MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual Meeting and other stated meetings of this Association
shall be held at such times as provided in the By-Laws.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called as provided in the By-Laws.
Section 3. When this Association meets, its voting membership shall be
composed of the ordained ministers holding standing in this Association, of lay
delegates selected by and representing the local churches, of members of the
New Jersey Association Council, of regular members of commissions as defined in
Article VII, of elected delegates to General Synod, and of the New Jersey
members of the Board of Directors of the Central Atlantic Conference.
Section 4. A quorum at meetings of this Association shall be constituted as
defined in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE
X. RELATION
TO CENTRAL ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
This
Association shall be related to the Central Atlantic Conference of the United
Church of Christ as provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws of the United
Church of Christ and the Central Atlantic Conference.
ARTICLE
XI. RELATION TO GENERAL SYNOD
This
Association shall be related to the General Synod through the
Central
Atlantic Conference as provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws of the
United Church of Christ and the Central Atlantic Conference.
ARTICLE
XII. INTERPRETATION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
This
Constitution is prepared with a view toward consistency with the constitution
and By-Laws of the United Church of Christ and with the Constitution and
By-Laws of the Central Atlantic Conference.
Should it be, at any time, found to be inconsistent with the
Constitution and By-Laws of the United Church of Christ, or the Constitution
and By-Laws of the Central Atlantic Conference, the matter shall be clarified
by a Judicial Committee to be appointed by the Association Council and to
report at the next meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE
XIII. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by the
Association Council, any local church or any group of thirty (30) voting
members of this Association.
Section 2. Such proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the
Secretary of the Association at least three (3) months prior to the meeting of
this Association at which they are to be presented. At least two (2) months prior to the meeting of this Association,
the Secretary shall transmit such proposed amendments to all ministerial
members and to the appropriate lay officers of each church. Adoption of an amendment shall require a
two-thirds vote of those voting members present and voting at the annual and
stated meetings of this Association. Amendments may also be adopted at any
special meeting properly called for that purpose.
Approved
May 10, 1975
Revised
May 18, 1985
Revised
May 21, 1988
Revised
May 19, 1990
Revised
May 16, 1992
Revised
May 15, 1993
Revised
January 25, 1997
Revised
January 22, 2000
BY-LAWS OF
THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF
THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
ARTICLE
I. FUNCTIONS
Section 1. To determine, confer and certify the standing of local churches
of the United Church of Christ within the boundaries of the Association.
Section 2. To determine, confer and certify the standing of ordained
ministers of the United Church of Christ within the boundaries of the
Association.
Section 3. To cooperate with the Central Atlantic Conference of the United
Church of Christ, and through the Conference, with the General Synod of the
United Church of Christ, its boards, agencies and instrumentalities.
Section 4. To receive and act upon business referred to it by its local
churches, its Conference, the General Synod and other bodies.
Section 5. To be concerned with the welfare of all churches within its
boundaries to the extent of seeking ways and means to assist local churches in
situations calling for help beyond their own resources.
Section 6. To give guidance and assistance in organization of new churches.
Section 7. To receive and act upon applications of persons for In-Care
status through their pastors and local churches and to supervise their
preparation for ministry in accordance with the By-Laws of the United Church of
Christ. (Article I, paragraphs 101-104)
Section 8. To receive and act upon applications for Licensure made by
persons through a local church of this Association in accordance with the
By-Laws of each United Church of Christ. (Article I, paragraphs 105-108)
Section 9. To receive and act upon application for Ordination made by
persons through a local church of this Association in accordance with the
By-Laws of the United Church of Christ.
(Article I, paragraphs 109-112)
Section 10. To issue upon request of a minister, currently a member in good
standing, moving from bounds of this Association, a transfer of ministerial
standing to another Association in the United Church of Christ.
Section 11. To be responsible for the discipline of a minister or a
congregation holding standing in the Association.
Section 12. To receive and act upon applications for Installation and to
arrange for services of the installation or recognition of a minister in
accordance with the By-Laws of the United Church of Christ. (Article I,
paragraphs 128-129)
Section 13. To take appropriate action in the termination of a pastoral
relationship with a local church in accordance with the By-Laws of the United
Church of Christ. (Article I, paragraph
130)
Section 14. To receive and act upon applications for membership in the United
Church of Christ of ordained ministers of another denomination, Commissioned
Ministers, and Lay Ministers in accordance with the By-Laws of the United
Church of Christ. (Article I, paragraph
131-142)
Section 15. To receive and act upon applications for membership in the United
Church of Christ of congregations of other denominations, independent
congregations, and newly formed congregations in accordance with the By-Laws of
the United Church of Christ. (Article
IV)
ARTICLE
II. MEETINGS
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING
(a) Time
- The Annual Meeting of this Association shall be held in the spring.
(b) Place
- The Annual Meeting of this Association shall be held at a place designated by
the Association Council.
(c) Functions
- The Annual Meeting shall transact the business of the Association including:
(1) Election of the appropriate Association officer, members of the
Association Council and Commissions, members of the Board of Directors of the
Central Atlantic Conference, and delegates to the General Synod.
(2) Adoption of the annual budget for the next fiscal year and
determining the means for raising the necessary funds.
(3) Action on proposals from local churches, from delegates, from
elements of the Association, from the Central Atlantic Conference, and from the
United Church of Christ.
(4) Involving delegates in the ongoing work of
the Association through opportunities for information sharing, decision-making,
worship and fellowship.
(5) Action to continue programs on the basis of
performance evaluations.
(6) Action on other such business as may
properly come before the Association in meeting.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special
meetings of the Association may be called by the Association Council, or upon
written request of four (4) member churches, or upon written request of thirty
(30) voting members. The written
request must state specifically the purpose of the meeting. Only such business as shall be stated on the
call of the meeting may be transacted.
Section 3. ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS
Ecclesiastical
Councils, for the purpose of examining and approving candidates for ordination
to the Christian ministry, may be called at the request of a local church and
with the recommendation of the Pre-Ordination Commission. Ecclesiastical Councils may also be called
at the request of the Church and Ministry Commission for the purposes of
examining and granting Privilege of Call to ordained ministers from other
denominations.
Section 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS AND
PROPOSALS FOR ACTION
(a)
Notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Association shall be
sent at the Moderator's direction to each member of the Association at least
thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting.
(b)
Churches and individuals shall present written Proposals for Action to
the Association Council and to the Secretary of the Association for
distribution to churches at least (30) days prior to the date of the meeting at
which action is to be taken. Any
Proposal not distributed with the call to the meeting may be considered upon
the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members present and voting.
Section 5. QUORUM AND PROCEDURES
(a)
QUORUM
AT MEETINGS: Sixty-five persons, representing at least 25 member churches,
shall constitute a quorum at any annual, stated, or special meetings of the
Association.
(b)
QUORUM AT ECCLESIASTICAL COUNCILS: Twenty-five (25) persons,
representing at least one-fifth of the member churches, shall constitute a
quorum at any Ecclesiastical Council.
(c) Robert's
Rules of Order Revised shall be followed in the conduct of official
business. Ecclesiastical Councils will
also be governed by the guidelines established in the "Manual on the
Ministry of the United Church of Christ."
Section 6. VOTING MEMBERS
(a)
Each local church shall be entitled to representation at meetings of the
Association by its pastor(s), the chief lay officer designated by the local
church and two lay delegates, plus an additional lay delegate for each 250
member increment above 250 members, and one additional lay delegate provided such
delegate is under thirty (30) years of age.
Representation shall be based on the last published edition of the
Yearbook of the United Church of Christ.
All official delegates are voting members.
(b)
Each ordained minister who has standing shall be a voting member.
(c)
New Jersey lay members of the Board of Directors of the Central Atlantic
Conference shall be voting members.
(d) Each
lay member of the New Jersey Association Council shall be a voting member.
(e) Each
regular lay member of any Commission as defined in Article V, section 3, shall
be a voting member.
(f) Each
lay delegate to General Synod shall be a voting member.
ARTICLE
III. OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS
The
officers of the Association shall be a Moderator, a Vice-Moderator, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Conference Liaison Officer who shall be a New
Jersey member of other Conference Board of Directors.
Section 2. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
(a) Moderator
- The Moderator shall preside at all meetings of the Association, shall appoint
all committees which function only during meetings of the Association, shall
decide questions of order. The
Moderator shall act for the Association at Ordinations and Installations. The
Moderator shall serve as the Vice-President of the Association Council and
shall be an exofficio member of all Commissions.
(b) Vice-Moderator
- The Vice Moderator shall perform the duties of the Moderator at the request
or in the absence of the Moderator. The
Vice-Moderator shall serve as the President of the Association Council.
(c) Secretary
- The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of Association
meetings and shall also serve as secretary of the Association Council.
(d) Treasurer
- The Treasurer shall receive and be the custodian of all funds, securities,
and personal property belonging to or in any way committed to the care of
custody of the Association. The
Treasurer shall properly disburse Association monies and shall maintain
detailed records of all financial transactions. The Treasurer shall make a written report at all meetings of the
Association and of the Association Council.
(e) Conference
Liaison Officer - The Conference Liaison Officer shall be one of the New Jersey
members of the Board of Directors of the Central Atlantic Conference. His/her
duty is to attend all appropriate meetings and to maintain communication
between the Association Council and the Conference Board of Directors.
Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM OF
OFFICE
Association
Officers shall be elected for three (3) year terms. They may serve for two consecutive full terms, and then the
officers shall be ineligible for re-election for a period of one (1) full
year. No one church may have more than
one of the five Association Officers from its congregation.
ARTICLE
IV. THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
Section 1. COMPOSITION
The
Association Council shall consist of all the Association Officers, the
Chairpersons of the Commissions or their designee, three (3) members-at-large,
and the Associate Conference Minister serving in New Jersey.
Section 2. MEETINGS
The
Association Council shall meet monthly, September through June, and as deemed
necessary by the Council President or Associate Conference Minister regionally
deployed in New Jersey.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special
meetings of the Association Council may be called 1) by the President of the
Council, 2) by the Associate Conference Minister regionally deployed in New
Jersey in consultation with the president of the Council, or 3) upon written
request of four (4) Council members. Notice of special meetings must be given
one (1) week prior to the meeting date.
Section 4. QUORUM AND PROCEDURES
(a) Quorum - A quorum shall be a majority of the Association Council
members.
(b) Procedures
- "Robert's Rules of Order Revised" shall be followed in the conduct
of official business.
Section 5. DUTIES
The Association Council shall:
(a) Act
for the Association in all matters whenever the Association is not
meeting. Such action shall be reported
to the Association at its stated meetings.
(b) Plan
and administer the operations of all meetings of the Association and publish an
accurate account of these meetings for distribution to Association members.
(c) Coordinate
the implementation of Association-wide programs.
(d) Be
responsible for the over-all planning, budgeting and evaluation of the use of
Association resources, including Conference staff regionally deployed in New
Jersey.
(e) Be
responsible for carrying out the constitutional and legal requirements of this
Constitution and By-laws.
(f) Assign
responsibilities to its members-at-large as deemed necessary.
(g) Establish
such ad-hoc committees and make appointments as deemed necessary. When appropriate, such actions shall be
subject to confirmation by the Association in meeting.
Section 6. OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
The
Officers of the Association Council shall be a President (Vice-Moderator of the
Association), a Vice-President (Moderator of the Association), and a Secretary (Secretary
of the Association).
(a) Duties of the Association Council
Officers
(1) President
- The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association Council and
shall be responsible for its program and agenda.
(2) Vice-President
- The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President at the request
of, or in the absence of, the President.
(3) Secretary - The Secretary shall
issue notice of Council meetings, keep an accurate record of proceedings, and
distribute minutes.
Section 7. ELECTION AND TERMS OF
AT-LARGE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
The
three (3) members-at-large of the Association Council shall serve three (3)
year terms so arranged that no more than 1/3 of the membership retires each
year. They may serve for two (2) full terms, and then the members-at-large are
ineligible for re-election for a period of one (1) year.
ARTICLE
V. COMMISSIONS
Section 1. DEFINITION
Commissions
are standing bodies of the Association charged with coordinating program
responsibilities within their stated areas.
Section 2. DUTIES
(a) The
Church Development Commission is charged with coordinating assistance to
establish churches, new church starts, and urban ministries, and seeking ways
and means to assist churches in situations calling for help beyond their own
resources.
(b)
The
Pre-Ordination Commission is charged with 1) acting on the
applications
for in-care status and supervising in-care persons through the ordination
process, including the responsibility to appoint advisors for them, having them
go through appropriate evaluation, and seeking other ways to keep them in touch
with the Association; 2) acting on applications for ordination including the
examination of a candidate as to his or her qualifications and fitness for ordination. After a positive vote from this commission,
the Association will then call an ecclesiastical council and, pending its
outcome, proceed to a service of ordination; and 3) acting on applications for
licensure as well as applications for commissioned worker and lay worker
status.
(c) The Church and Ministry
Commission is charged with 1) overseeing and maintaining the standing of
pastors and churches, 2) receiving and acting upon the requests from pastors
and churches on behalf of persons who desire status as "Licensed"
(with the exception of those candidates for ordination, who will be licensed by
the Pre-Ordination Commission) or "Commissioned" Minister, “Privilege
of Call", and "Dual Standing", 3) providing for the installation
of a duly called minister as pastor and teacher of a church or related
ministry, 4) acting in case of need for counsel or discipline of churches or
ministers, 5) cooperating with the Associate Conference Minister regionally
deployed in New Jersey in the placement of clergy, 6) acting on ecclesiastical
endorsement for clergy for AAPC, ACPE, and all other forms of chaplaincy, 7)
aiding clergy in developing clear contracts with churches, 8) supporting and
relating to clergy in specialized settings, and 9) planning continuing education
for clergy. The procedures outlined in
the Manual on Ministry of the United Church of Christ shall be followed except
that any voted policy of the New Jersey Association shall take precedence.
(d) The Nominating Commission is
charged with recommending to the Association candidates for the appropriate
offices, delegations, chairpersonships and commissions. Nominations by the Commission do not
preclude nominations from the floor of the Association Meetings. No member of the Nominating Commission other
than its chairperson shall be eligible to be nominated to serve on the
Association Council except as a member-at-large.
(e) The Outreach Commission is
charged with coordinating all special, social and ecumenical ministries.
(f) The Christian Education and
Youth Ministries Commission is charged with developing programs that will
provide nurture and resources to the Christian Education ministry of the
Association, its churches, and its individual members. It shall be guided in its programming by an
understanding that the whole church is the teaching community, and it will
strive to embrace and encompass the adult, young adult, youth members (Junior
and Senior Highs) and childhood educational ministries of the church. It shall strive to provide networking and
resources to aid youth ministries of local churches. Its responsibilities include the sponsorship of periodic youth
retreats and include ensuring that an outdoor ministry is made available to the
children and young adults of the churches in the Association.
(g) The Stewardship Commission is charged with lifting up issues of
stewardship within the Association and within local churches by providing
educational opportunities and offering materials and support to local churches.
Section 3. ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF
STANDING
(a)
Terms
of election. Each member shall be
elected for a term of
three
(3) years. Members may serve two (2)
terms and shall be ineligible for re-election for a period of one (1)
year. Members elected to complete an
unexpired term are eligible for re-election for one full term and shall
thereafter be ineligible for re-election for a period of one year.
(b)
Church
Development Commission - The Church Development
Commission
shall be composed of six (6) persons, serving in three (3) classes of two (2)
persons each. At least two (2) members
must be either clergy or laity.
(c)
Pre-Ordination
Commission - The Pre-Ordination Commission shall
be
composed of nine (9) persons, serving in three (3) classes of three (3) persons
each. At least four (4) members must be either clergy or laity.
(d) Church and Ministry Commission - The Church and Ministry
Commission shall be composed of twelve (12) persons, serving in three (3)
classes of four (4) persons each. At least five members must be either clergy
or laity.
(e) Nominating Commission - The Nominating Commission shall be
composed of six (6) persons, serving in three (3) classes of two (2) persons
each. At least two members must be
either clergy or laity.
(f)
Outreach
Commission - The Outreach Commission shall be composed
of
six (6) persons, serving in three (3) classes of two (2) persons each. At least
two members must be either clergy or laity.
(g)
Christian
Education and Youth Ministries Commission – The
Christian
Education and Youth Ministries Commission shall be composed of six (6) persons,
serving in three (3) classes of two (2) persons each. At least two members must
be either clergy or laity.
(h) Stewardship
Commission - The Stewardship Commission shall be composed of six (6) persons,
serving in three (3) classes of two (2) persons each. At least two members must be either clergy or laity.
(i) New Jersey Mission Fund -
The New Jersey Mission Fund shall be
a
working group consisting of the Outreach Commission Chairperson, the Church
Development Commission Chairperson, the Treasurer of the Association, the
Association President, and the Associate Conference Minister. This group is responsible for reviewing all
requests and recommending action to the Association Council for the use of the
New Jersey Mission Fund. All requests
will require Association Council approval.
(j) Chairpersons for each
Commission shall serve a one (1) year term of office and shall be elected by
the New Jersey Association. They may be
re-elected once.
Section 4. COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
Particular
aspects of the work of the Commissions may be performed by Committees and/or
Task Forces. Committees and Task Forces
are accountable to their appropriate Commissions.
ARTICLE
VI THE
ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTER
REGIONALLY DEPLOYED IN NEW JERSEY
Section 1. ELECTION AND FUNCTION
The
election, separation and functions of the Associate Conference
Minister
regionally deployed in New Jersey shall be as specified by the By-Laws of the
Central Atlantic Conference. (Article
V, section 2)
Section
2. RELATION TO THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL
(a) The Associate Conference Minister regionally deployed in New
Jersey shall relate to and be a voting member of the Association Council.
(b) The Associate Conference Minister regionally deployed in New
Jersey, in consultation with the President of the Association Council, may call
special meetings of the Association Council.
Section 3. RELATION TO ASSOCIATION
BODIES
The
Associate Conference Minister regionally deployed in New Jersey may convene
Commissions, Committees and Task Forces as he/she may deem necessary.
Section 4. STAFF FUNCTIONS &
DUTIES COMMITTEE
(a) The
Staff Functions and Duties Committee shall be composed of the Moderator, the
President of the Association Council, one person appointed by the President of
the Association Council, and two (2) persons appointed by the Associate
Conference Minister regionally deployed in New Jersey. Every two years this Committee shall choose
its own chairperson. The three
appointed members shall serve not more than two successive two-year terms. This committee shall meet at least three
times each year.
(b) On
behalf of the Association Council, the Staff Functions and Duties Committee
will: 1) pursuant to VI (c) (1) of the
Central Atlantic Conference By-Laws, review and negotiate at least annually the
functions and duties of the Associate Conference Minister regionally deployed
in New Jersey; 2) pursuant to VI (c) (4) of the Central Atlantic Conference
By-Laws, analyze the need for staff services in New Jersey, and confer with the
Board of Directors and the Conference Minister concerning the functions and
duties of such Conference staff; and 3) function in a supportive manner to any
Central Atlantic Conference staff serving in New Jersey.
Section 5. OTHER PROFESSIONAL STAFF
The
Association Council, empowered by the Association in meeting, may hire
personnel as needed on a contract basis for special ministries or specific
projects.
ARTICLE
VII. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by the Association
Council, any local church or any group of ten (10) voting members of this
Association.
Section 2. Such proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the
Secretary of the Association at least three (3) months prior to the meeting of
the Association at which they are to be presented. At
least
two (2) months prior to the meeting of this Association, the Secretary shall
transmit such proposed amendments to all ministerial members and to the
appropriate lay officer of each church.
Adoption of an amendment shall require a two-thirds vote of those voting
members present and voting at the meeting of this Association. Amendments may also be adopted at any
special meeting properly called for that purpose.
Revised
May 15, 1993
Revised
January 25, 1997
Revised
January 22, 2000
Revised
April 28, 2001