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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST
BIVOCATIONAL MINISTERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

(As Amended and Approved April 28, 2007)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association, Inc. (the Association). The Association is a not-for-profit corporation operating exclusively for religious purposes limited to those activities which qualify under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Mississippi).

ARTICLE ll – MISSION and PURPOSES

Mission statement: The mission of the Association is doing whatever it takes to encourage, promote and serve bivocational and smaller membership churches, ministers, and families in Christ’s kingdom service within local congregations and communities, the Southern Baptist family, and the larger Christian movement.

Purposes: The purposes of the association are:

1. To provide affirmation and encouragement for the members engaged in bivocational and smaller membership church ministry, and to enlarge their participation in the Association.

2. To establish and maintain ministry teams and groups to address the needs, challenges, and opportunities of bivocational and smaller membership churches, ministers, and ministers’ families.

3. To provide a network to help connect bivocational ministers to ministry opportunities, including planting new churches. Also to connect persons in monovocational ministry positions facing economic pressure, with resources and encouragement to move toward bivocational service.

4. To provide opportunities for professional and personal growth among Bivocationals. To encourage young men and women and second-career persons to prepare themselves intentionally for serving as bivocational ministers.

5. To provide means of recognition of Bivocationals for outstanding contributions to ministry.

6. To provide affirmation, networking, and encouragement for all state and regional fellowships and councils.

7. To select, affirm, encourage, and assist Regional Bivocational Consultants and Regional Resource Centers.

8. To provide affirmation and encouragement to our partners in support of bivocational ministry.

9. To encourage state convention and associational leaders to affirm and encourage participation and mentoring relationships between bivocational and monovocational ministers.


ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

1. Regular Membership. Membership of the Association shall be open to all Southern Baptist bivocational and smaller membership church staff and spouses. Full membership shall also be open to all retired bivocational ministers, ministry students, state bivocational consultants, and others serving specifically with bivocational ministers.

2. Support Membership. Bivocational congregations and support partners may register as Support Members (nonvoting) of the Association, participating in celebrations, leadership training, financial support, and other ministries.

3. Affiliate Membership. Affiliate membership in the Association shall be open to interested persons from other denominations who wish to attend Associational conferences and receive correspondence. The affiliate membership will be a non-voting and non-participating membership.


ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

1. All officers shall be elected from the regular membership on an annual basis by those members attending the annual meeting of the Association.

2. The officers of the Association shall be President, First Vice-President (Program), Vice-President (Membership), Vice-President (Financial Support), Secretary, Treasurer, and three Directors of the Corporation.

3. The President shall not serve more than two consecutive one-year terms of office.

4. No two officers shall be elected from any one Southern Baptist church .

ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

1. President. The President shall preside at all regular and called meetings; serve as chairman of the Executive Committee; serve as ex officio member of all committees; and perform other duties as required by the office.

2. First Vice-President. The First Vice-President shall assist the President in presiding at the meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee and shall serve as Chairperson of the Program Committee.

3. Vice-President (Membership) shall serve as Chairperson of the Membership Committee.

4. Vice-President (Financial Support) shall serve as Chairperson of the Financial Support Committee.

5. Secretary. The Secretary shall maintain all records of the Association. The Secretary will also record the minutes of the meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee.

6. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all income, approve and pay budgeted items, and maintain all financial records of the Association, presenting them to the Audit Committee at each annual meeting.

7. Directors. Three Directors shall be elected by the Association for three-year terms. They shall function in all legal matters of the Corporation required by law; they shall also serve as full participating members of the Executive Committee. The Directors shall be persons known to have a heart and vision for bivocational ministries, whose experience and strategic position of Christian service will allow them to undergird the leadership team of the Association. They will meet with the Executive Committee to facilitate visionary thinking and progressive decision making in support of the work and purposes of the Association.

ARTICLE VI – PERSONNEL

Persons employed or contracted by the Association may be secured and funded by the Association only within its financial resources. Selection is upon recommendation by the Executive Committee and approved by the Association.

1. National Coordinator for Bivocational Ministry: The Coordinator shall be recommended by the Executive Committee for a stated term not to exceed a five-year period, and elected by the Association; may be eligible for reelection for subsequent terms. The Coordinator shall give leadership to and promote the general welfare of the Association and its membership; providing counsel to its officers, committees, and ministry groups. The Coordinator shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and as Chairman of the Ministry Coordinating Council, as well as ex officio member of all committees and ministry groups.

2. Regional Bivocational Consultants: These Consultants shall be nominated by the National Coordinator and approved by the Association or its Executive Committee. They shall promote bivocational work within their regions.

3. Other personnel positions may be established and funded by action of the Association or its Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES AND MINISTRY COORDINATING COUNCIL

Section 1. Standing Committees

The following committees shall be constituted as described below and approved by the Association.

1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall function in behalf of the Association between its sessions, making annual reports of its actions. It shall also serve in the Association’s personnel and budgeting functions. It shall be composed of the following: the National Coordinator, the elected officers and Directors of the Association, and one member chosen by and from each of the following groups: (a) Partners Assisting the Lord’s Servants, (b) Regional Bivocational Consultants, (c) persons relating to bivocational work in the state conventions, and (d) other approved ministry groups. The President of the Association shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee.

2. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall be composed of the Vice-President (Membership), as Chairperson, and three members named by the Executive Committee. It shall actively recruit members for the Association in keeping with the constitutional provisions regarding membership.

3. Program Committee. The Program Committee shall be composed of the Association’s First Vice-President as Chairperson and three members named by the Executive Committee. It shall plan the program, prepare agendas, and circulate them to the membership for the annual and special meetings of the Association.

4. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of a Chairperson and three members appointed by the President of the Association and the National Coordinator. None of the appointees shall be current officers of the Association. The Committee shall nominate the officers listed in ARTICLE IV, Section 2. Nominations from the floor shall also be in order.

5. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall consist of three members of the Association, not presently serving as an officer of the Association. The committee members shall be appointed by the Association’s President at the Executive Committee session prior to the annual meeting. The Audit Committee will receive the books from the Treasurer, review them and report to the Association during the final session of the same annual meeting.

6. Financial Support Committee. The Financial Support Committee shall be composed of the Vice-President (Financial Support) as Chairperson and three members named by the Executive Committee. This committee shall work with the National Coordinator and the Executive Committee to guide the Association in its development and fund-raising programs.

Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees

Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed by the President and the National Coordinator and approved by the Executive Committee and/or the Association.

Section 3. Ministry Coordinating Council

1. A Ministry Coordinating Council shall be maintained by action of the Association or its Executive Committee. Chaired by the National Coordinator, its primary assignment is to develop and implement the several ministries as the Association achieves its mission and purposes. A Secretary shall be selected by the Executive Committee from the Association’s membership.

2. Ministry groups and teams may be structured by approving the team and its leader; other members of the team may be appointed by the team leader or the National Coordinator.

3. Membership of the Ministry Coordinating Council includes the following:
--the elected officers and Directors of the Association
--the National Coordinator and the Regional Consultants
--the elected officers of the ministry groups or teams
--the state and regional bivocational presidents
--the state and regional bivocational staff consultants


ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS

1. Annual Meeting. The Association shall hold an annual meeting. The specific location and time of the meeting shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership in the Annual meeting. Locations for the meetings should be approved at least two years in advance of the meeting date.

2. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once between the annual meetings of the general membership; “virtual meetings” as needed are encouraged.

3. Special Meetings. The leaders of the Association may request a special meeting of the membership. Notification of the Association’s membership shall be made not less than thirty days before the special meeting. The Executive Committee leadership may also request a special meeting of the committee. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be conducted through teleconference.

4. The Ministry Coordinating Council shall also meet at least one time between annual meetings of the Association. The ministry groups or teams may meet as needed; “virtual meetings” are encouraged.


ARTICLE IX – FINANCES

Section 1 – Membership Dues

Annual membership dues shall be established by the Executive Committee and are payable to the Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association and remitted to the Treasurer. The dues help to meet budget expenses of the Association. The membership year will be from January 1 thru December 31.

Section 2—Gifts and Bequests

The Association may expand its ministries by seeking to secure gifts, grants, and bequests from its members, interested persons, supporting partners, and participating organizations.

Section 3 – Irrevocable Trust

Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association, Inc. Trust (Trust) has been established to provide finances to support the work and purposes of the Association. Endowment gifts shall be sought to enlarge this Trust. Up to five percent (5%) of the corpus may be expended annually for the Association’s expense.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting of the Association by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. Notification of proposed amendments shall be made to the membership through publication in The Bivocational Beacon, or its successor communication organs, prior to the annual meeting in which they are to be considered.

ARTICLE XI – DISSOLUTION

The Association may dissolve itself by a two-thirds majority vote of the attending membership in two successive meetings, following this procedure:
--Dissolution is initiated by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee, or by a petition of 20% of the registered members.
--Notification shall be made to the Association membership prior to an annual meeting in which dissolution is to be considered.
--In the event that the Association ceases to exist, any remaining funds, including those in the Trust, shall be designated by the Association and be disbursed by the Treasurer to another organization qualifying under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Tax Code. The funds shall be used by the designated organization totally and completely to support the work and ministry of Bivocational Ministries.

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Constitution Adoption and Amendments:

  • 2007
    Amendments to the 2005 Constitution approved by unanimous vote of the membership present at the Association's annual meeting in Lone Tree, Colorado, April 28, 2007. Amendments were unanimously recommended by the Ministry Coordinating Council and the Executive Committee.
  • 2005
    Constitution of the Southern Baptist Bivocational Ministers Association, Inc. approved by unanimous vote of the membership present at the Association’s annual meeting at the North American Mission Board, Atlanta, Georgia, April 30, 2005. Revisions and amendments to the 1996 Constitution were recommended by members of the Study Task Force, Executive Committee, and Ministry Council serving as a Constitution Committee;
    Writing Committee—Larry Orange, Vernon Beachum, and Lloyd Elder; Ann Hall, Secretary.
  • 1996
    1996 Revised Constitution: Aproved by a unanimous vote of the membership present at the annual meeting on December 7, 1996, held at Florida Baptist Theological College. Recommended by a Constitution Committee: Jean Beachum, Vernon Beachum, and Norman Ponder; Ronald W. Ward, president, and Ann Hall, secretary.
  • Date not available
    Original Constitution of the SBBMA was approved at ______________________________.