THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION

DISCIPLES WOMEN’S MINISTRIES’ BYLAWS

PREAMBLE: Because we believe that the mission of the Church is to express God’s love in the world, and that this belief demands our response in action in the reconciling ministry, we desire: our oneness with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in all its manifestations and rejoice in the unity that binds us to obedience to God’s will, and our oneness in spirit with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) universal.

NAME: The name of this Department shall be the Disciples Women’s

Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest.

II. MISSION: Our Mission is to provide leadership and guidance to all women of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Southwest to assist them in providing opportunities for spiritual growth, enrichment, education and creative ministries to enable women to develop a sense of personal responsibility for the whole mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and to relate to and coordinate with the International Disciples Women’s Ministries (IDWM) and the Office of Disciples Women in the Division of Homeland Ministries/Disciples Home Missions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Department shall continually endeavor to implement this Mission through the spirit of love and inclusiveness of Jesus Christ, including all women.

III.	DEFINITIONS:

a.	Disciples Women: Disciples Women for purposes of these bylaws shall be defined as all women who are members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches located in the Southwest Region as defined by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). For the sake of clarity, this includes the women of the Texas Christian Missionary Fellowship (TCMF) and the women of the Southwest Hispanic Convención.

b.	Department: The Department is comprised of volunteer Disciples Women who have dedicated themselves to furthering the Mission and serving of Disciples Women and shall consist of the Administrative Committee, Coordinators, Consultants, other area leaders, TCMF Key Women and Hispanic Convención Area Coordinators.

c.	Administrative Committee: The Administrative Committee is a portion of the Department that provides leadership, administration and management of the Department and shall consist of elected members, including President, President-Elect, Eight Area Representatives, a TCMF representative, and a Hispanic Convención representative upon availability.

d.	Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee is a special body of Disciples Women appointed for the purpose of nominating women on behalf of Disciples Women to serve on the Administrative Committee and shall consist of a diverse group of five or seven committee

members, selected by the Administrative Committee, which should consist of at least one member of either the TCMF or the Hispanic Convención and shall contain members from both the Department and the greater Disciples Women. The Chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be a current or past member of the Department.

e.	Budget Committee: The Budget Committee is a special body of the Administrative Committee for the purpose of developing the budget on behalf of the Disciples Women to be submitted with the Administrative Committee approval to the budget committee of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest and shall consist of three committee members: the Treasurer, Asst. Treasurer and President.

f.	Bylaws Committee: The Bylaws Committee is a special body of the Administrative Committee for the purpose of maintaining the official copy of the Bylaws and reviewing any changes to the Bylaws on behalf of the Disciples Women. It shall be comprised of a diverse group of five committee members, selected by the Administrative Committee, which shall consist of members of both the Administrative Committee and the Department.

g.	Other Committees: The Administrative Committee shall have the power to create “Other” Committees; provided their duties do not conflict with those of any Committee, elected position, or role. All Other Committees created shall contain an odd number of members selected by the Administrative Committee, Department, and/or Disciples Women. In selecting the committee members of the Other Committees, the Administrative Committee shall balance the need for special skills with diversity and inclusiveness.

h.	President: The President is an elected position of the Administrative Committee who is responsible for leading the administrative affairs of the Disciples Women. She shall preside over all meetings, be chairperson of the Department and Administrative Committee and be a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. She shall serve as a member of the IDWM Cabinet and as a representative member of the Regional Council of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest.

i.	President-Elect: The President-Elect is an elected position of the Administrative Committee who is responsible for assisting the President in leading the administrative affairs of the Disciples Women. In the absence of the President or upon the request of the President, she shall have full power to exercise all of the duties of the President. In the absence of both or requested of by the President and President-Elect, the Administrative Committee shall determine which representative shall exercise the duties of the President.

j.	Area Representatives: The Area Representatives are elected positions on the Administrative Committee who are responsible for being the representative of their area/district on the Administrative Committee. They shall work with their Coordinators, Consultants and other area leaders in their various Areas in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. Each Area shall have a single Area Representative on the Administrative Committee upon availability.

k.	TCMF Representative: The TCMF Representative is a position on the DWM who is responsible for being the representative of TCMF. They shall work with their TCMF Key Women in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The TCMF Representative shall be the TCMF President unless the governing body of TCMF determines otherwise.

l.	Hispanic Convención Representative: The Hispanic Convención Representative is a position on the Administrative Committee who is responsible for being the representative of the Hispanic constituency in the Southwest Region. They shall work with their representatives in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The Hispanic Convención Representative shall be the Hispanic Convención President unless the governing body of the Hispanic Convención determines otherwise.

m.	Coordinators: Area/District Coordinators are elected positions in the Department that represent their geographical location in the Department. They are responsible for working with their Area Representative and their Consultants in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The elections of the coordinators are governed by the governing bodies of their respective areas/districts.

n.	Consultants: Consultants are elected positions in the Department that represent their geographical location within their specific areas/districts. They are responsible for working with their Coordinator and the Disciples Women in their areas/districts in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The elections of the Consultants are governed by the governing bodies of their respective areas/districts.

o.	TCMF Key Women: TCMF Key Women are positions in the Department that represent their geographic district within the TCMF. They are responsible for working with the TCMF Representative and the Disciples Women in their district in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The elections of the TCMF Key Women are governed by the governing body of TCMF.

p.	Hispanic Convención Area Coordinators: Hispanic Convención Area Coordinators are positions in the Department that represent their geographic area within the Hispanic Convención. They are responsible for working with the Hispanic Convención Representative and the Disciples Women in their areas in communicating, developing and implementing the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC) for the Disciples Women. The elections of the Hispanic Convención Area Coordinators are governed by the governing body of the Hispanic Convención.

q.	Roles: Each voting member of the Administrative Committee (whether elected or appointed), with the exception of the President, shall take on at least one additional role such as Secretary (defined below), Treasurer (defined below), Communications, Worship, and Service. Each category shall have an assistant as permitted by membership of the Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall in its sole discretion add, change or remove

specific Roles and associated responsibilities provided that there are always at a minimum, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications roles. Once the Administrative Committee members has assigned it members to the Roles, the specific Administrative Committee members holding each Role and their contact information shall be communicated to Disciples Women.

r.	Secretary: The Secretary is a role assigned by the Administrative Committee to one of its members who is responsible for keeping the record of all meetings of the Department and Administrative Committee. She shall bring to each meeting, the minutes of all previous meetings. Each member of the Department shall be supplied a copy of the minutes after each meeting (whether it is a Department meeting or an Administrative Committee meeting) in a timely manner. In addition, the Secretary shall work with Communications to distribute, publish, and/or disseminate the minutes to the Disciples Women.

s.	Treasurer: The Treasurer is a role assigned by the Administrative Committee to one of its members who is responsible for obtaining financial records from the CCSW Office, verifying their accuracy and reporting on various matters requested by the Department. She is also responsible for keeping a separate set of records specifically for the Department and overseeing the collection, counting and transmittal to the CCSW Office of the contributions collected at the various meetings and retreats of the Department and Disciples Women.

IV.	TERMS OF OFFICE

a.	Terms of Office: Terms of Office for the Department, including the Administrative Committee, shall be approximately two years in length. Terms of Office shall begin July 1 of and ends June 30 of two-year term. The Terms of Office for TCMF and the Hispanic Convención may differ from those of the Department and Administrative Committee. The governing bodies of TCMF and the Hispanic Convención shall govern their respective Terms of Office for their representatives, provided they are not longer than three years in length for a single term.

b.	Vacancies: A vacancy can be due to resignation; relocation outside the Southwest Region; changing one’s membership/attendance from a Disciples of Christ church; failure to find a qualified person willing to serve; dismissal from the Administrative Committee for missing two consecutive Department or Administrative Committee meetings without legitimate cause (as determined by the Administrative Committee); and/or failure to complete the duties in a timely manner without legitimate cause (as determined by the Administrative Committee). A vacancy of a Coordinator, Consultant, TCMF Key Women, or Hispanic Convención Area Coordinator shall be filled by the governing bodies that are responsible for electing or appointing the position. In the event of a vacancy in the Administrative Committee, the replacement shall be chosen from qualified Disciples women of respective areas/districts that also meet the qualifications of the specific position by the remaining members of the Administrative Committee. In the event a position on the Administrative Committee cannot be filled, it shall remain vacant until an individual is appointed by the Administrative Committee to fill the unexpired term.

c.	Term Limits: A member of the Administrative Committee shall not serve for more than two consecutive Terms-of-Office without at least a one-year lapse. In the event of a partial Term-of-Office, service in a position of less than one year shall not constitute a complete Term-of-Office for purposes of Term Limits. If the service in a position is greater than one year, it shall constitute a Term-of-Office for Term Limits.

d.	President: Only the President may serve a third consecutive term provided that third term is in the position of President. Under no circumstances may a person serve in the position of President or President-Elect more than once. The President-Elect shall normally assume the position of President upon the expiration of her Term-of-Office as President-Elect. In the event that the President-Elect is unwilling, unable or the Disciples Women fail to elect her to the office of President, the replacement President must have served at least one complete term on the Administrative Committee. For the sake of clarity, a woman who has completed a Term-of-Office as the TCMF Representative or the Hispanic Convención Representative is able to be elected to President and/or President-Elect; however, the Term-of-Office for the position of President or President-Elect shall be that of the Department and not TCMF or the Hispanic Convención governing bodies’ Terms-of-Office.

V.	PROCEDURES:

a.	Meeting Scheduling: The Administrative Committee shall be responsible for calling together the women of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest to further its Mission through fellowship, inspiration, study, and/or business. The Department shall meet at least annually to plan the work for the ensuing year. The Administrative Committee shall meet at least twice annually. At the first Administrative Committee meeting of the Term-of-Office, the Administrative Committee shall assign Roles. The final Administrative Committee meeting of the Term-of-Office shall occur prior to the last regularly scheduled meeting of Disciples Women and after the conclusion of the business of the Nominating Committee. At the first meeting of both the Administrative Committee and the Department, a copy of the Bylaws shall be provided to all members. The frequency of all other Committee meetings shall be determined by its committee members. For all meetings, the Department shall endeavor to provide adequate advance notice to increase participation and not cause undue hardship on the members.

b.	Meetings: To encourage participation in the Mission of the Christian Church (DOC), the Department shall endeavor to rotate the in-person meetings throughout the Southwest Region to promote inclusion. Our official meetings are the Women’s Regional Assembly held in June of each year and the Leadership Training Events which are to be held early each year (February-March). The ROSES Inter-regional meeting occurs every four years and includes the women from the Oklahoma, Great River, Mississippi Christian Missionary Convention, Texas Christian Missionary Fellowship, SW Hispanic Convención, and the Southwest Regions. The women at various church communities will be asked to host various meetings and utilize opportunities for them to serve the women of CCSW.

c.	Voting: For all Departmental meetings, a simple majority shall be sufficient to pass a motion. Only members in attendance at the time a vote is taken may vote. Should a single individual hold multiple positions within the Department, they shall only be allowed a single vote, and not a vote for each position.

d.	Nomination Committee Approval: The slate of proposed to-be-elected Administrative Committee positions shall be presented by the Nomination Committee to the Administrative Committee for approval. After their approval, at the last regularly scheduled meeting of Disciples Women, the slate shall be presented to the Disciples Women for a vote. In the event that the slate does not pass, alternative nominations shall be taken from the floor (provided the nominated individuals comply with the requirements of Section IV. Terms of Office) and voted on until the positions are filled.

e.	Bylaws Amendments: The Bylaws Committee shall meet periodically to review and respond to all comments, questions, and inquiries by the Disciples Women regarding the Bylaws and any proposed changes or clarifications. In addition, every Term of Office, the Bylaws Committee shall comprehensively review the Bylaws to enhance inclusiveness, address changes in the Christian Church (DOC) or any changes that technology may enable. If the Bylaws Committee believes the Bylaws need amending, they shall present the Proposed Bylaws to the Administrative Committee for approval. Upon approval by the Administrative Committee, the Proposed Bylaws shall be filed with the Regional Council of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest, published prominently on the website of the Christian Church (DOC) in the Southwest, and communicated through all of the regular communications channels of the Department. Once a two-month period has passed, the Proposed Bylaws shall be presented at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Disciples Women for approval by a two-thirds vote.

Revised March 28, 2015 by Bylaws Committee as appointed by the Administrative Committee.

Voted and accepted June 26, 2015 Regional Assembly Business Meeting, CCSW DWM