i. The officers of the Association will be those specified in the Rule itself: Minister, Visitor, Treasurer, and Messenger, provided that individuals can be found to hold these offices, and other elected leaders. Their terms of office can be established by consent among themselves. The normal term of office will be three years, but anyone can step down from their office after a year. The responsibilities will be as follows:
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Minister:
| a. |
To ensure that the records of the Association are kept current by the headquarters of the Association
| | b. |
To fulfill the requirements of the position as defined in the Rule, namely,
| | c. |
Screen and process membership[14]
| | d. |
Record the dates and places for meetings[15]
| | e. |
Care for needy members directly or through others in the Association[16]
| | f. |
Visit members who are sick[17]
| | g. |
Be true peacemakers[18]
| | h. |
Correct and discipline members if needed [19]
| | i. |
Make sure that appropriate communications with members are maintained
| | j. |
Organize and/or conduct all meetings of the Association
| | k. |
Publish a monthly message of some kind to the general membership either directly or through the newsletter or an appointed spokesperson.
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Visitor:
| a. |
Should be a priest, deacon, or religious. In their absence, the Minister of the Association may act as Visitor if given special permission to do so by the appropriate ecclesiastical authority and agreeable to the affected membership.
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| b. |
To fulfill the requirements of the position as defined in the Rule, namely:
- Provide spiritual direction to the Association particularly and to all members specifically, where they request it[20]
- Monitor membership for Catholicity [21]
- Guide the Association in matters of discipline and correction[22]
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Treasurer:
| a. |
To keep the finances for the Association consistent with the Rule
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| b. |
To distribute any funds acquired by the Association [23]
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| c. |
To provide for the needs of the brothers and sisters and other poor as possible from Association funds or solicitations[24]
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Messenger:
| a. |
To publish what is said and done by members of the Association[25]
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| b. |
Keep minutes of business meetings
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| c. |
Do other miscellaneous assignments as assigned by the Minister or the Board of Directors.
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Every Member
| a. |
To live the lifestyle and promote it for the Love of God within their families and the Church.
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ii. There will be one set of officers for the entire Association, who will constitute the Board of Directors of the Association. They may delegate their authority to any outlying groups to ensure the peace and health of the Association everywhere. They will be selected by professed members of the Association if an election can be held.
The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Association are:
Administrator and messenger
Administrator and minister
Treasurer
Director
Director
iii. ARTICLE III — MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS OF MEMBERS
Section 1 — Regular meetings: Regular meetings of the members shall be held monthly consistent with the Rule, at a time and place designated by the ministers of the Association.
Section 2 — Annual meetings: An annual meeting of the members shall take
place in the summer months, probably at the BSP retreat unless otherwise specified in advance. The specific date, time and location of this meeting
will be designated by the Minister in advance of the meeting. At the annual meeting the members
shall elect directors and officers, receive reports on the activities
of the association, and determine the direction of the association for
the coming year.
Section 3 — Special meetings: Special meetings may be called by the Minister, or a simple majority of the board of directors. A petition signed by 10 percent of voting members may also call a special meeting.
Section 4 — Notice of meetings: Printed notice of each meeting shall be given
to each voting member, by mail or email, not less than two weeks prior to the
meeting.
Section 5 — Quorum: The members present at any properly announced meeting
shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6 — Voting: All issues to be voted on shall be decided by a simple
majority of those professed members present at the meeting in which the vote takes place.
ARTICLE IV — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 — Board role and size: A Board of Directors will be appointed when sufficient professed members are available to serve in the Association. Until then the Minister, Messenger, and Treasurer will lead the Association and utilize available leaders to get the leadership job done. Once in place, the board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Association, and delegates responsibility of day-to-day operations to the staff and committees. The board
shall have up to 10, but not fewer than 3 members. The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses to attend the meeting.
Section 2 — Terms: All board members shall serve three-year terms, but are eligible for re-election for up to three consecutive terms. No term of office is established for the minister, who may remain minister so long as re-elected, given their willingness to do so.
Section 3 — Meetings and notice: The board shall meet at least annually at an agreed upon time and place. An official board meeting requires that each board member have written or e-mail notice at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.
Section 4 — Board elections: New directors and current directors shall be elected or re-elected by the professed members at the annual meeting. Directors will be elected by a simple majority of members present at the annual meeting.
Section 5 — Election procedures: A Committee shall be responsible for nominating a slate of prospective board members representing the Associations diverse constituency. In addition, any member can nominate a candidate to the slate of nominees. All professed members will be eligible to send one representative to vote in the elections, if they do not attend the elections, for up to 10 available positions each year.
Section 6 — Quorum: A quorum is forty percent of board members on the Board for business transactions to take place and motions to be made.
All professed members will be eligible to be officers of either a local chapter or executive body.
iv. A collegial relationship of dependence and care will be established with all religious and priests.
| a. |
Of dependence in that we will obey them in all matters of faith and morals and heed their advice relative to matters of the Rule and Statutes.
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| b. |
Of care, in that they may rely on aid from the Association[26] if they are in need of it.
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v. The general assembly
A collective meeting of all of the members of the Association will be held annually if at all possible, perhaps at a retreat. A Visitor or spiritual assistant will preside at these meetings if at all possible, and guide the proceedings, which will be designed to promote a Catholic spirituality and unite the total Association. Other groups within the Church may be invited to send delegates to these meetings.
vi. Meetings
Monthly meetings will be held in each community or area consistent with the intentions of the Rule and Statutes as stated in the First Rule itself.[27] These meetings can be held in individual’s homes but should always follow the following agenda.
| 1. |
Begin with prayer
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| 2. |
Promote the spiritual formation of the members present
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| 3. |
Involve a faith sharing of all members
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| 4. |
Answer anyone’s questions on life in the Association
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| 5. |
End with prayer, and if time and circumstances permit, fellowship
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vii. Liberties, Rights, or Obligations
The liberties, rights, and obligations of the various members of the Association are those defined by the Gospel itself and the Rule and Statutes of the Association. Questions on these matters should be referred to the Administrators of the Association and/or the Visitor as defined in the Rule and Statutes.
Wherever two or more professed members of the Association are located, an individual chapter of the Association may be established and named. Hence fraternities may be established and named after individual parishes, Saints, or Our Lady. Names in honor of Mary are recommended. For instance, if a new chapter is established at St.James parish, in Medjugorje, it can be appropriately named either as the St. James chapter of the Association of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance or the Queen of Peace Chapter, or otherwise similarly named.
The lifestyle of all chapters and rules of governance are as contained in these Constitutions, which can be revised by members of the Morning Star Chapter of the Association in concert with the will of all chapters as guided by the Visitor(s) of the Morning Star Chapter, which is the founding chapter of the Association. Questions on all matters of formation of new chapters should be directed to the Minister of the Morning Star Chapter of the Association.
viii. Administration of temporal goods and financial policies
The Association of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis of St. Francis is a bona fide non-profit Association. There will be no mandatory dues, fees, or assessments associated with membership in the Association. If money is needed to conduct the business of the Association, the ministers or treasurer may solicit donations from the members after stating their use and extending the blessing of God. Any goods owned by the Association as acquired by donations or purchases belong to the Association and all within it, provided they are so intended and identified.
ix. The Right of Possession
Individual members do not own the possessions of the Association. Association possessions will be held and controlled by the Administrators of the Association unless otherwise delegated for as long as they hold the office.
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