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By-Laws
Preamble: Purpose and Scope
Member organizations join in the Council of Christian Scholarly Societies to achieve purposes they could not achieve singly or could not achieve as well. CCSS is a vehicle for its members to exchange ideas about their individual and common goals, activities, and procedures. CCSS provides a crossdisciplinary forum in which its members can address major intellectual issues of the day. Through CCSS, member organizations provide practical support to each other and share the responsibility to nurture new generations of Christian scholars.
I. Membership
A. Qualifications
1. Only organizations may be members of CCSS.
2. Organizations qualifying as full members must be organizations of professional scholars actively involved in higher education in a discipline (including music and the plastic arts) typically taught in a college of arts and sciences; or otherwise engaged in the publication, implementation, or encouragement of Christian scholarship.
3. Qualifying organizations must identify themselves publicly as Christian.
B. Process for joining CCSS
1. Organizations who wish to join CCSS must apply in writing to the Chair of the Executive Committee. They must supply a copy of their organizing documents, including but not limited to a constitution and by-laws; list of officers with addresses and institutional affiliations; information on activities; information on the number of members, annual dues, and qualifications for membership; most recent report on financial situation; and any other pertinent information requested by the Chair in consultation with the Executive Committee.
2. Having determined that the applying organization meets the qualifications stated above, the Executive Committee will present its application to the next meeting of CCSS, together with the Committee's recommendation for or against admission. The affirmative vote of the majority of members present at the meeting will suffice for admission.
3. Organizations may withdraw from membership by written notification to the Chair of the Executive Committee.
4. At regular business meetings, the CCSS may establish the category of "Associate Member" and decide on criteria for which organizations might achieve such status. Associate Members may send representatives to business meetings, with such representatives being allowed to speak but not vote.C. Qualifications for continuing membership
1. If a member sends no representatives to three successive annual business meetings of CCSS, the Chair of the Executive Committee will write the executive officer of the member to ask whether the organization wishes to continue or withdraw its membership.2. If a member sends no representatives to a fourth annual business meeting of CCSS, the members present will vote on the question of its continued membership. A majority will suffice to remove the organization from membership.
3. An organization which is more than three years in arrears for membership dues (if any) must pay its arrears before the next business meeting of CCSS. The Chair of the Executive Committee will report to the annual business meeting any organizations which are four years in arrears, and the members present will vote on the question of its continued membership. A majority will suffice to remove the organization from membership.
4. An organization which has been removed from membership through a vote of CCSS members may apply to resume its membership but must pass through the process for joining CCSS outlined above.
D. Observer status1. The following types of entities may be invited by the Executive Committee to send two observers to CCSS meetings:
a. journals, whether disciplinary or interdisciplinary, which are scholarly in nature, and publicly support Christianity;
b. foundations, institutes, centers, or other organizations that do not offer degrees or curricula but bring together scholars to advance Christian scholarship;
c. other categories of entities approved by the members at a business meeting
2. Organizations which are considering joining CCSS may send two observers to CCSS meetings for up to two years.
3. Observers may not vote on any motions before CCSS. The Chair of the Executive Committee will propose extending speaking privileges to observers at the beginning of any meeting where they are present, and the proposal will pass if it receives the votes of a majority of members present. Speaking privileges must be extended either to all observers or none. Speaking privileges may be suspended for consideration of a particular motion by majority vote of the members present
II. Representatives, Executive Committee, and Officers
A. Representatives1. Each member organization may send one of its executive officers (or a substitute) and one other member as its representatives at CCSS meetings. If possible, the two representatives should serve overlapping two-year terms to provide continuity of representation.
2. Each member organization may cast one vote on any motions brought before the meeting.B. Executive Committee
1. The Executive Committee will consist of a Chair and four members, one of whom may be a member from a host institution. The members must come from different member organizations, except that one member will serve as a representative appointed by a host institution, if any.
2. Members of the Executive Committee will serve three-year overlapping terms.
3. The Executive Committee will present to the annual meeting a slate of nominees for any positions on the Committee that have fallen or are about to fall vacant. Members may nominate additional candidates, provided the nominee has consented in advance. Each member may cast as many votes for candidates as there are vacancies, but may not cast more than one vote for a candidate. Those candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. Voting shall be by written secret ballot.C. Officers
1. The Executive Committee will present to the members the name of at least one representative as its nominee to serve as Chair of the Executive Committee. Members may make additional nominations, provided the nominee has consented in advance. The nominee who receives the largest number of votes will be elected Chair. Voting shall be by written secret ballot.
2. If a person already a member of the Executive Committee is elected Chair, that person's place on the Executive Committee will be filled as specified above.
3. The Chair will serve for two years.
4. The Chair will be a voting member of the Executive Committee.
5. The Chair will designate a Secretary for each meeting. A staff member may serve as Secretary.
6. The Chair will serve as treasurer and will report to the Executive Committee and to the annual business meeting on the finances of the organization.D. Committees
The organization may establish such committees as it sees fit. It may delegate to the Chair, to the Chair in consultation with the Executive Committee, or to the Executive Committee the power to appoint members of committees or it may reserve to itself the election of such members.III. Meetings
A. Call and Agenda
1. There shall be at least one annual business meeting of the organization. Members will be notified by the Chair in writing of the place and time of any meeting at least six months before the date. The Chair will develop an agenda for any meeting in consultation with the Executive Committee and will send notice of the agenda to members at least three months before a scheduled meeting.
2. If a majority of members express by written notice to the Chair a request for a special meeting, the Chair will schedule such a meeting, allowing at least one month's notice. A special meeting may be proposed only for consideration of specific agenda items, and those calling for such a meeting must state in writing their agreement to consideration of those agenda items. No other matters of business may be considered at a special meeting than those agreed to in the call for that meeting.
3. The Executive Committee may meet at times and places of its choice. The Chair will call meetings and will notify members of the Committee in writing of the time and place of the meeting at least two months before it is scheduled to occur. The requirement of notice may be waived, if no member of the Executive Committee objects. If a majority of members of the Executive Committee so petition, the Chair will arrange a special meeting of the Committee and will notify the Committee members of its time and place. The petition must specify the agenda items to be considered and no other items of business may be considered at the special meeting.
4. Minutes will be kept of all meetings, regular and special. All members will be notified of any Executive Committee meetings and will receive copies of minutes of all meetings.
5. Any member may send a representative to observe an Executive Committee meeting. Such an observer will not have voting or speaking rights. The Executive Committee may declare a meeting closed only for the consideration of personnel matters relating to staff or for slating nominees.
B. Staff
CSS may employ such staff as its members allow. The Executive Committee may propose to a meeting the hiring of staff and shall present information including a job description for the position; information about monetary resources to support the position; the proposed compensation and duties; and the line of reporting for the staff person. Substantive changes in these must be reviewed by the Executive Committee and presented to the members for approval. Compensation may be considered in closed session. Staff may be present at meetings of the organization or its Executive Committee as those bodies decide.IV. Dues
By vote at the annual meeting, CCSS may establish dues for member organizations and / or for observer members. Dues will be apportioned equitably based on guidelines proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by the members.V. Initial Organization and Relation to IFACS
A. Initial Organization
1. The Board of IFACS invited the first group of organizations to form CCSS. These invitations remain valid through 1999. Organizations who wish to accept the invitation must so signify in writing to the Chair of the Executive Committee by the end of 1999. Organizations that do not take up the invitation and any other organizations may apply for membership in the way specified above.
2. Only organizations who have accepted IFACS' invitation are eligible to vote for the initiating adoption of these By-laws.
3. An interim subcommittee of CCSS members was charged to draft these By-laws. That subcommittee will propose the initial slate of nominees for election to the Executive Committee at the same meeting at which the By-laws are presented for adoption.
B. Relation to IFACS
1. The IFACS Board commits itself to three-year rolling support of CCSS. Support includes reasonable round-trip air fare for one representative from each member organization to the annual meeting and housing and meals for two representatives from each member organization.
2. In recognition of IFACS' founding role and for as long as it continues its financial support, the IFACS board may designate two of its members who will serve both as its representatives to CCSS and as voting members of the CCSS Executive Committee. The IFACS representatives will not be eligible for election as Chair.
VI. Ratification and Amendment
A. Ratification
These By-laws will take effect upon ratification by a majority of members present at an annual business meeting of CCSS. The proposed plan may be amended before adoption.B. Amendment
Once ratified, the By-laws may be modified by majority vote of the members. Proposed changes to By-laws must be presented to the Chair in writing. The proposal will be transmitted to members as agenda items for the next meeting of the organization, observing the timely notice requirements specified above.