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Adopted  by NYSCC Collegium on December 6, 2001
Amended  September 12, 2003    

CONSTITUTION  OF THE  NEW YORK STATE Council of Churches, INC.

PREAMBLE

 In the providence of God, it is fitting that all who testify to their baptism into Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should manifest their unity in Christ, by providing an inclusive means for Christians to continue and extend their historic work in New York State.  We are called by the Word of God and mutually joined together in the name of Jesus Christ to proclaim the Gospel powerfully and to manifest creatively God’s good and just purposes throughout New York State.  Therefore, we covenant to care for one another, safeguard the presence of a vital Christian faith community in each place, provide hospitality to all, proclaim the Gospel boldly in each place, and declare God’s just will among the powers and principalities.

Article I               NAME

        The name of this organization shall be New York State Council of Churches, Inc.(NYSCC).  The New York State Council of Churches continues the work of the New York State Council of Churches, Inc., it being a merger of the New York State Council of Churches, Inc., The Alcohol Education For Youth, Inc. and the New York State Council of Religious Education, Inc., the latter body having continued the work of the New York State Sunday School Association, Inc.  The New York State Council of Churches is the legal successor to the aforementioned predecessor bodies.

 Article II              PURPOSE

 The New York State Council of Churches is a statewide organization through which Christian denominations accomplish mission goals that can be achieved more effectively by working together.  Our mission goals focus on social justice, institutional pastoral care, and ecumenical cooperation in education, worship, and action.

 Article III             MEMBERSHIP

DEFINITION

Ecclesiastical units (e.g. conference diocese, district, presbytery, synod, area, region) of the various Christian denominations within the state of New York which ratify or endorse the Constitution may apply to the Collegium for full membership.  (It is understood that all those denominational judicatories who currently support the New York State Council of Churches with financial and human resources as members under its prior constitution will automatically be included as members with the adoption of this Constitution.)

The members of the New York State Council of Churches, Inc. shall be composed of those denominational judicatories serving New York State as a whole or a significant segment thereof.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Membership includes acceptance of the following responsibilities:

1. Affirmation of the Purpose (Article II) of the New York State Council of Churches, 
2. Appointment of persons to serve on the Collegium (the bishop or chief executive or a designated representative),
3. Contribution of a fair share towards the financial support of NYSCC,
4. Providing personnel to enhance the work of the Collegium and programs of the NYSCC.

OBSERVER MEMBERSHIP

In addition to full membership, the New York State Council of Churches offers observer status to eccelsiastical units which have an ecumenical interest in the ministry and mission of the NYSCC, but are currently unable to become full members.  Observer status offers voice, but not vote, in the meetings of the Collegium and in the work of the Commissions.       

NEW MEMBERS

Denominational judicatories applying for membership shall be accepted by a 2/3s vote of the Collegium with thirty (30) days written notice of the application before the vote.  

Article IV              THE COLLEGIUM ( GOVERNING BODY)

DEFINITION

The Collegium is the legal governing body of the New York State Council of Churches.  It shall be responsible for the legal and fiscal affairs of the corporation.

MEMBERS

The  designated representatives of member denominations along with the Executive Director, the chairs of the Finance and Personnel Committees, the chief executives of regional and local ecumenical/interreligious councils, and the chairs of the Commissions shall form the Collegium.

PURPOSE

The Collegium will give oversight to the spiritual well being, ecumenical development, organizational integrity, and witness of NYSCC.  The Collegium shall be responsible for the organization’s programmatic mission goals.

Article V               THE FORUM OF BISHOPS AND EXECUTIVES

MEMBERS 

The Forum shall consist of the Bishops and Executives of the Christian denominations in New York State.

PURPOSE

 The Forum will provide opportunities for spiritual growth and for the sharing of concerns among the Bishops and Executives, as leaders of  judicatories in their respective denominations.

Article VI               THE OFFICERS

COLLEGIUM

The Officers of the Collegium shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.  The President shall be the presiding officer at meetings of the Collegium.

FORUM OF BISHOPS AND EXECUTIVES

The Forum shall have a convener who will call and preside at its meetings.  The Convener will be selected by the members of the Forum from among their number.

 Article VII             THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 MEMBERS 

The officers of the Collegium, the chair of the Finance Committee, the chair of the Personnel Committee, the Convener and the Executive Director shall make up the Executive Committee.

PURPOSE

The Executive Committee shall have the power to carry out the decisions of the Collegium between meetings of that body.

 Article VIII    COMMISSIONS

There shall be Commissions responsible for carrying out the common mission goals of NYSCC. These commissions shall be comprised of persons who are pursuing a task that fulfills the organizational purpose as defined in Article II of this Constitution.

 Article IX              STANDING COMMITTEES

There shall be four Standing Committees elected by the Collegium: the Nominating Committee, the Membership Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Personnel Committee.

 Article X               AD HOC GROUPS

Ad hoc groups may be appointed to handle specific assignments as they arise.  They shall report to the Collegium and serve at its pleasure.

 Article XI      STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The chief executive of NYSCC shall be an Executive Director selected by vote of the Collegium consistent with the current Personnel Policies and Procedures.  The Executive Director shall be accountable to the Collegium.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Executive Staff shall be elected by the Collegium upon the recommendation of the Executive Director, consistent with the current Personnel Policies and Procedures. Executive staff shall be accountable to the Executive Director.

OTHER STAFF

Such other staff as is necessary shall be hired by the Executive Director, to whom they shall be accountable.

 Article XII             AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting of the Collegium, provided that the proposed amendment(s) shall have been submitted at a previous regular meeting of the body at least thirty (30) days in advance.

 Article XIII    BYLAWS

The NYSCC shall have Bylaws that detail its organization and operation.

 The Bylaws may be amended consistent with this Constitution, by the Collegium by a majority vote of its members, provided that thirty (30 ) days notice of such action shall have been included in the call to the meeting.

 Article XIV     RULES OF ORDER

Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the procedures of the NYSCC in all instances where they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and Bylaws.

 BYLAWS

 NEW YORK STATE Council of Churches, INC.

 Article I       PARTICIPATION IN THE NEW YORK STATE Council of Churches

 All Christian congregations and judicatories are invited to be participants with the New York State Council of Churches in the pursuit of social justice, institutional pastoral care, and ecumenical cooperation in education, worship, and action.                        

 All individuals, who by their own testimony are baptized into Christ, may fully participate in the programs of the New York State Council of Churches.

 Article II      RELATIONSHIPS

        To foster relationships among the Christians in New York, the NYSCC will, among other things, maintain a database of:                
1. Member denominational judicatories and their representatives serving the NYSCC committees, commissions, and Collegium;
2. Denominational bodies and their congregations;
3. Local, city, county area and regional councils of churches or cooperative Christian organizations and interreligious councils;
4. Statewide interreligious organizations; and
5. State governmental committees, commissions, advisory bodies and task forces that have official representation from the NYSCC. 

Article III    THE CORPORATION AND COLLEGIUM

MEMBERS  

 The members of the Corporation are defined in the Constitution as the members of the Collegium.  They shall have the full power to act fiscally and legally in behalf of the New York State Council of Churches.

TRUSTEES  

The members of the Collegium shall serve as the Trustees of the corporation.  The Trustees shall have responsibility for :
1.  receiving and investing funds on behalf of the NYSCC;
2.  annually appointing legal counsel; and
3.  providing for the care of any property the NYSCC may own, subject to the following understanding:  Any money or property now held by the NYSCC or coming into its possession as an endowment or permanent fund shall be held and disbursed by the Collegium, both as to principal and interest, strictly in accordance with the expressed wishes of the donor or donors; and the principal of such restricted funds may not be applied to NYSCC liabilities.  Unrestricted or undesignated funds and bequests, received by the NYSCC may be disbursed as it may determine and whenever such unrestricted funds are placed in the custody of the Collegium for investment under any title they may be subsequently reclaimed from such custody for any purposes which the Collegium may determine.

 Article IV      THE OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION AND COLLEGIUM

The officers of the Corporation and of the Collegium shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer who shall be elected annually, upon recommendation of the Nominating Committee.  These officers shall perform the usual duties pertaining to their respective offices.  They shall continue in office until their successors have been elected and have accepted office.  No treasurer shall hold office for more than six consecutive years.

 Article V        MEETINGS OF THE CORPORATION AND COLLEGIUM

FISCAL AND PROGRAM YEAR:

The fiscal and program years and terms of office of the Corporation and Collegium shall coincide with the calendar year.

MEETINGS:

The Collegium shall meet at least twice annually at such times and places as shall be determined by it. Notice of each meeting will be sent thirty (30) days in advance and an agenda will be sent ten (10) days in advance of the meeting.

ANNUAL MEETING:

The last meeting of the Collegium in each calendar year shall have a time set aside to be designated as the Annual Meeting of the Corporation.

SPECIAL CALLED MEETINGS:

Special meetings of the Collegium may be called at request of five (5) of its members. The purpose of such meeting is to be stated in the written request and in the call to the meeting. The Collegium may transact at such special meetings only business connected with the purpose of the meeting as stated in the call.

QUORUM:

 A quorum is the members present and voting at a duly called meeting of the Collegium that includes representatives of at least three different denominations.

 Article VI       RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COLLEGIUM

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Collegium shall have general responsibility for the spiritual well being and organizational integrity of the NYSCC, for exercising a leadership role in local, regional and statewide ecumenism, for identifying and referring emerging issues to the appropriate Commissions or Standing Committees, and for embodying and monitoring the Mission of the NYSCC.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Collegium shall:

1. develop a process by which Christian judicatories may become members;
2. elect the chief executive officer (Executive Director);
3. elect a Personnel Committee, to recommend for the Collegium’s approval, position
    descriptions and personnel policies and practices;
4. elect a Finance Committee to present for the Collegium’s approval:
            A.      A Formulation of the Annual Budget and resource allocation;
            B.      Financial Development Strategies, including funding from
                     denominational bodies, congregations, individuals and other sources;
            C.      An Annual Audit, presented in a timely manner.
5. elect a Nominating Committee to present to the Collegium for election at the
    annual meeting:
            A.  the names of people to serve as officers of the NYSCC for the next year;
            B.  the names of people to serve as members and chairs of standing
                 committees.
6. elect a Membership Committee to:
           A.   review applications for membership and recommend suitable action to the
                 Collegium;
           B.   encourage active participation of all current members.

 Article VII     COMMISSIONS

DEFINITION

The Community may have any number of Commissions, comprised of persons from  the denominational judicatories of the NYSCC who share a common concern and/or who are chosen because of their expertise. Commissions receive that designation by approval of the Collegium.

DIVERSITY

Commissions may be of diverse character and may not necessarily represent the consensus positions of the member judicatories.  They should, however, represent the concerns of a majority or of a significant minority of member denominations.

POLICY AND BUDGET

Commissions are responsible for developing their own policies, and administering their own budgets, subject to annual review by the Collegium.  Commissions shall operate in accordance with  the financial procedures and personnel policies of the NYSCC.  The Collegium may counsel Commissions and may sever the relationship of any Commission that does not operate within these financial procedures and personnel policies.

CONTINUATION OF HISTORIC WORK

The NYSCC shall continue its commitment to public policy and chaplaincy through commissions and funding support.

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC POLICY

The purpose of the Public Policy Commission shall be to continue the historic prophetic witness of the Protestant/Orthodox churches in the public affairs of the State of New York.  Other communities of faith who share that prophetic witness may also be invited to join in the work of the Commission.

COMMISSION ON CHAPLAINCY

The purpose of the Chaplaincy Commission for Protestant/Orthodox Chaplains in State Institutions shall  be to continue the interests of the Protestant/Orthodox churches in the certification of qualified Protestant/Orthodox chaplains for State Institutions and the nurture of these chaplains.

 Article VIII    STANDING COMMITTEES

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A Nominating Committee of at least three persons representing at least three different denominations shall be elected by the Collegium at the Annual Meeting.  This Committee shall be responsible for presenting a slate of officers to be elected at the next Annual Meeting.  It shall also  nominate persons to fill vacancies on Standing Committees, both those that occur at the Annual Meeting by the completion of terms and those that occur by resignation or inability to continue at other times during the year.  Those vacancies occurring by resignation or inability to continue shall be filled as expeditiously as possible.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

A Membership Committee of at least five persons representing denominational diversity shall be elected by the Collegium upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee.  The Committee shall be responsible for reviewing applications for membership and recommending suitable action to the Collegium.  The Committee shall encourage active participation of existing members.  A quorum for the committee shall require at least three denominations to be represented and voting.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

A Finance Committee of at least five persons  representing denominational diversity shall be elected by the Collegium upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee.  The Committee shall advise the Collegium and the Executive Director on financial matters.  The Committee shall be responsible for the creation and presentation of an annual budget and resource allocation and for overseeing and presenting the results of an annual audit in a timely manner.  A quorum for this committee shall require that at least three denominations be represented among those present.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

A Personnel Committee of at least five persons representing denominational diversity shall be elected by the Collegium upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee.  The Committee shall advise the Collegium and the Executive Director on personnel matters and shall operate in accordance with the Personnel Committee Description approved by the Collegium.  A quorum for this committee shall require that at least three denominations be represented among those present.

 Article IX              STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Collegium, upon the recommendation of a duly elected search committee, may elect a chief executive officer, to be known as the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be a peer member of the Collegium with vote.  The Executive Director serves at the pleasure of the Collegium.

OTHER STAFF

All other staff are hired or terminated by the Executive Director in accordance with established personnel policies and procedures.