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ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organiaztion shall be Northwoods Circuit of the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVE
The objective of this organization shall be to increase interest in and to support charitable and mission endeavors which are a part of, or in the interest of, the WELS.
ARTICLE III - PARTICIPATION
A. Congregations who are members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod or of churches with whom we are in fellowship are eligible for circuit participation upon payment of the annual membership fee to the national LWMS.
B. A national individual member from a non-LWMS congregation upon payment of the national annual membership fee is eligible for circuit participation.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
A. This group shall meet semi-annully in spring and fall.
B. The circuit officers shall serve as a steering committee for the meetings. They shall plan the program, time and place of the meetings and they may appoint committees.
C. Special meetings, if necessary, may be called by the circuit officers.
D. The secretary shall notify all officers two weeks in advance, and congregations and individual members at least one month in advance of all meetings.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
The following elected circuit officers shall constitute the circuit board: president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, pastoral advisor, two (2) spiritual growth pastors and (2) spiritual growth women.
ARTICLE VI - QUORUM
The members present at a properly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII - REPEAL AND AMENDMENT
A. Proposals to amend or repeal any article of this consitution shall be offered in writing at a regular meeting preceding any action theron. At the following regular meeting a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members present shall be necessary to pass the proposal.
ARTICLE VIII - DISSOLUTION
Should dissolution of this organization occur, which God may graciously prevent, all property and financial assets shall revert to the LWMS of the WELS.
BY LAWS
The following by laws shall be a part of the regular constitution of the Northwoods circuit.
ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS
A. All officers shall be elected by ballot at the spring meeting.
B. Term of office shall be two years.
C. Officers may succeed themselves one time thus serving two successive terms (4 years). Having served four (4) consecutive years on the board in one or more positions, an officer shall not be nominated to any circuit office for a period of at least one year.
D. The circuit officers shall submit a slate of two (2) candidates for each office. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Candidates for office are to be chosen from members of the national LWMS. Candidates must give their consent for nomination.
F. A majority vote shall constitute and election.
G. The circuit officers shall fill any vacancy pro-tem by appointment.
H. Election of president, treasurer, one spiritual growth pastor and one spiritual growth woman shall be in the spring of odd-numbered years.
I. Election of vice-president, secretary, pastoral advisor, one spiritual growth pastor and one spiritual growth woman shall be in even-numbered years.
ARTICLE II - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
A. President
The president shall preside at all circuit baord meeting and ralies and shall be responsible for management of circuit affairs. relaying information sent by the national LWMS to circuit board members.
B. Vice-president
The vice-president shall perform the presidential duties in the absence of the president. she shall preside at the meetings of the Spiritual Growth Committee and shall coordinate the work of the committee including the Befreind a Mission Program, and perform any other duties as directed by the board.
C. Secretary
The secretary shall keep the minutes of the regular meetings/rallies in a book provided for that purpose. She shall keep the record of the membership list. She shall serve as secretary to the board; be custodian of the circuit's records; and perform any other duties as directed by the board. She shall send a copy of all minutes to the national president-elect & all circuit board members after each meeting.
D. Treasurer
The treasurer shall receive and record the mission offerings, income, and other offerings and shall make disbursements according to the resolutions of the body, or other expenditures according to the procedures established by the circuit officers. An audit shall be performed every two years or sooner if a change of treasurers occurs. She shall perform any other duties as directed by the board.
E. Pastoral Advisor
The pastoral advisor shall attend the circuit board meetings and other meting of the circuit. He shall be the spiritual advisor and general counselor in all matters and perform any other duties as directed by the board.
F. Spiritual Growth Women
The spiritual growth women shall serve on the Spiritual Growth committee and perform any other duties directed by the board.
G. Spiritual Growth Pastors
The spiritual growth pastors shall serve on the spiritual Growth Committee as the spiritual advisors and general counselors in all matters related to the committee's responsibilities. They shall perform any other duties as directed by the board.
ARTICLE III - SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMMITTEE
A. The spiritual Growth Committee shall consist of two pastors and two women.
B. They shall be responsible for recommending projects for the mission offerings, Bible studies, and other spiritual growth activities.
C. One member may serve as a circuit historian who shall maintain a scrapbook with circuit events.
ARTICLE IV - PERFORMANCE
If any circuit officer has established an inability to perform the duties of his/her office, or who willfully neglects his/her duty, and upon due admonition does not amend, the circuit board has the right and duty to remove such officer and to appoint a replacement until the vacancy can be filled at the next election. A six (6) month period of non-performance shall be just cause to warrant board action.
ARTICLE V - MISSION OFFERINGS
A. Mission boxes may be distributed to each person interested in using one to collect mission offerings for the work of the LWMS.
B. Collection of Mission Offerings
The circuit shall be in charge of the collection of mission offerings from member congregations.
a. Seventy-five percent(75%) of the collected mission offerings are to be used for mission projects selected by the circuit.
b. Twenty-five (25%)of the collected mission offerings are to be sent to the national treasurer by May 25th of each year.
C. Distribution of the circuit's share of the mission offerings and the selection of the circuit's projects will be determined at each spring rally for the following year. In the interest of unity the circuits shall gfollow the spirit of the national LWMS project selection policy.
NATIONAL POLICY:
"It shall be the policy of the national LWMS to support such non-budgetary mission projects which are of benefit to the entire synod, rather than projects in local missions. All suggestions of projects that might be considered shall come from our Synod's home and/or world mission boards. These boards shall also disburse the funds we make available. The projects selected shall not be merely incidental, but truly essential, to the administration of the Means of Grace in our mission fields."
ARTICLE VI - WORKING FUND
A free-will offering shall be gathered at each circuit meeting to provide a working fund from which the tereasurer may make disbursements as outlined under Duties of Treasurer in Article II of the bylaws of this constitution.
ARTICLE VII - REPEAL AND AMENDMENT
A proposal at any regularly called meeting to repeal or amend any article of the bylaws of the constitution shall require a simple majority vote.
4/15/04 |
