Bylaws - Women’s Council

Bylaws

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL OF GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to stimulate interest in Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The Council shall provide opportunities for fellowship among women who share an interest in the Seminary and shall seek to serve the students by raising scholarships.  It shall also seek to bring about a closer affiliation between the Seminary and the churches represented by its membership.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1.  The membership of the Council shall be composed of women who are in sympathy with the evangelical ideals of the Seminary and are desirous of furthering them.

Section 2.  Women who are interested in supporting the work of the Council may become members for the current academic year by paying the membership dues.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1.  The officers shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, or a treasurer and assistant treasurer.

Section 2.  No member shall hold more than one elected office at any one time.  The president and vice-president may serve five consecutive one-year terms in the same office.   The tenures of the treasurer, assistant treasurer, and secretary may be unlimited.

Section 3.  The president shall preside at all meetings of the Council and of the Executive Board, prepare an annual report, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to the office of president.

Section 4.  The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in her absence, shall render such other assistance as may be required by the president, and shall serve as program chair.

Section 5.  The secretary, with any assistance that may be required, shall keep accurate records of all meetings of the Council and the Executive Board, prepare the mailings, assist the president with correspondence, and provide secretarial support for the program chair.

Section 6.  The treasurer shall maintain financial records, deposit all monies with the cashier of the Seminary, and authorize disbursements from the funds as approved by the Executive Board.  In addition, the treasurer shall be responsible for reservations, annual dues, mailed scholarship donations, and a current mailing list.

Section 7.  The assistant treasurer shall render such assistance as may be required by the treasurer.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of treasurer or in that officer’s prolonged inability to serve, the assistant treasurer shall be authorized to assume the duties of the treasurer.

Section 8.  The members-at-large shall attend Executive Board meetings and serve on committees as needed.

Section 9.  The vice president, treasurer, and secretary shall submit written reports to the president for the annual meeting of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V

Executive Board

Section 1.  The officers of the Council, the chairpersons of standing committees, the members-at-large, and the immediate past president shall constitute the Executive Board.

Section 2.  Members-at-large shall serve three-year terms, but they may serve unlimited consecutive terms. 

Section 3.  All Executive Board members are expected to attend board meetings and pay annual dues.

Section 4.  Ex-officio members shall include the immediate past president, the wife of the president of the Seminary, and the wife of the chief academic officer of the Hamilton campus. 

Section 5.  The time and place for meetings of the Executive Board shall be determined by the president.

Section 6.  The Executive Board shall select the time and the place of Council meetings.
 

ARTICLE VI

Committees

Section 1.  There shall be the following standing committees:  membership, scholarship, music, program, archive and social.  Each chairperson shall choose her own committee members.

Section 2.  There shall be such other committees, as the Executive Board will from time to time deem necessary.

Section 3.  The chairpersons of each committee shall submit written reports to the president for the annual meeting of the Executive Board.

Section 4.   A chairperson may serve a three-year term, and they may serve unlimited consecutive terms. 

Section 5.  The president of the Council shall be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the nominating committee.

ARTICLE VII

Council Meetings

Section 1.  The regular meetings of the Council shall be held at the times and places to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 2.  A Council meeting shall be designated for the purpose of electing officers, standing committee chairpersons, and members-at-large and for the transaction of such other business as may arise. 

Section 3.  An annual report shall be made available to Council members.

Section 4.  Special meetings may be called by the president with the approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII

Dues

There shall be annual dues to be determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX

Elections

Section 1.  A nominating committee of at least three Executive Board members shall be appointed by the president prior to the winter meeting; it may be chaired by the immediate past president of the Council.  At the spring meeting of the Council, nominations shall be presented for officers, standing committee chairpersons, and at least four members-at-large.

Section 2.  Voting shall be by voice vote of the members present.  A majority vote shall decide the election.

Section 3.  The terms of office shall begin at the start of the new fiscal year.

Section 4.  A vacancy occurring in an elective office, except for the office of president, shall be filled by the president with the approval of the Executive Board.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of president, the vice president shall become president for the remainder of the unexpired term of office.

ARTICLE X

Quorum

Section 1.  Twenty-five members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2.  Fifty percent of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE XI

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII

Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Council by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing or read at the previous regular meeting. Amendments shall be effective when approved by the President’s Cabinet of the Seminary.

 

 

Amendments Approved by the Women’s Council:  December 4, 2014
Amendments Approved by President’s Cabinet:  September 18, 2014
Draft of Proposed Amendments:  August 19, 2014. 
Draft of Proposed Amendments:  June 4, 2014
Draft of Proposed Amendments:  Executive Board, May 22, 2014
Draft of Proposed Amendments:  Bylaws Committee, March 11, 2013
(Prepared from bylaws amended but approved by the Executive Board only:  October, 1991, and
January 18, 2011.)