FIRST SOUTH FLORIDA MISSIONARY BAPTIST DISTRICT ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

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In order to carry out the provisions of the Constitution, By-laws are adopted for the government of the First South Florida Missionary Baptist District Association (FSFMBDA)

 

ARTICLE I The Bible ---The Holy Bibles shall be the final guide for faith and practice of this Association

 

ARTICLE II For purposes of Parliamentary Procedure, the Roberts Rules of Order revised, or the New Hiscox Baptist Directory so far as applicable, shall be followed as a guide for parliamentary order, rule, and practice the meetings of the Association.

 

ARTICE III The General Election of the FSFMBDA shall be held on Thursdays at the Annual Session in November at a time not later than 12:00 pm of that day –in each election year. ARTICLE IV- NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Presidents of the Quarterly Congresses.

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ARTICLE V –OFFICIAL MEMBER VOTERS

All certified messengers as listed on the Annual enrollment blank shall be issued identification badges and a ballot for said election with the name of each candidate and office desired in/for the officers of the Association as identified in Article V of the Association Constitution. Eligibility for voting during the election of officers is limited to the certified messengers of the enrolled member church in accord with their financial enrollment choice and allotted messengers. Badges and Ballots will be issued by the Financial Secretary or his/her assistant.

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ARTICLE VI- CANDIDATES

Qualifying Period – The Candidate for an officer in this Association shall if it’s election year, qualify for an office by submitting their written intent to candidate for the office of choice by or during the One Day Praise Session in February of that election year.

 

Requirements of Candidates

A. For Moderator

a. Must be a Pastor is stipulated in the Constitution

b. His church must have been duly/properly enrolled for three (3) years previous to the current enrollment. Page 2 of 5

 

B. Auxiliary Officer- Must be an active member, in good standing with an enrolled member church, and have quality or skills required for the ministry office.

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ARTICLE VII Officer Replacement/Appointment-

In the event of an officer’s death, disability, discipline or resignation of the Moderator shall be empowered to appoint an interim officer until the next General Election at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

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ARTILCE VIII- MANAGEMENT

The work of this Association shall be carried on by the various Boards and Auxiliaries/Ministries, via the Association Administrative Council (Board), The Educational Board, and Pension Board, etc.

 

A) The Association Administrative Council (Corporation Trustees) shall conduct all Association business between the Annual Meeting in November and its next fiscal meeting of the following fiscal year. The Association Administrative shall consist of fifteen members, including the officers, all of whom shall be elected annually as the Tenure Election Year dictate. Nine members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum with power to act in securing the objectives of the Association, in the interim subject to the approval of the Association such matters as have not been committed to other Boards.

 

B) The Education Board shall consist of fifteen members, nine, of whom shall constitute a quorum. Two members of the Education Board of this Association shall serve on the Board of Control of each School supported by this Association, and shall furnish this Board with a report of all work done by the Churches of this Association, and the Education Board of this Association. The Board will make an Annual Itemized Report to this Association, including all finance collected and expended, together with an account of outstanding obligations. Teachers and faculty members who receive remuneration shall not be a member of the Education Board.

 

C) P.I.TA.A./Pastors in Transition Ministry (see the Operations Manual, Policies and Procedures for enrollment and fiscal policy for benefit amounts; subject to change periodically).

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ARTICLE IX- FINANCE

Section 1. Each member church is required to enroll in the Association in accord with the following schedule. Voting messengers are called for and listed only during election year. Eligible churches must have enrolled two consecutive years not including the current year with at least $600.00 by the November meeting. A) $900.00 Ten voting messengers including the Pastor B) $600.00 Seven Voting messengers including the Pastor Page 3 of 5

 

Section 2. All auxiliaries and ministries below are required to enroll annually as stipulated in the Constitution or Operations’ Manual (Manual of Policies & Procedures) *See the Operations Manual, Policies and Procedures for enrollment and fiscal policy for benefits amounts; subject to change periodically.

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District Sunday School & BTU Congress _______________________________________________________

Regional Quarterly Congress (Education $2,000; Association support $1,000) ________________________________________________________

District Women Ministry –Senior Women ________________________________________________________

W.I.A. ________________________________________________________

District Jr. Women/YWA ________________________________________________________

District Ministers/Deacons’ Wives & Widows ________________________________________________________

District Children & Youth Association ________________________________________________________

Brotherhood _________________________________________________________

District Disabled Ministers & Widows _________________________________________________________

P.I.T.A.A. –Ministers’ & Wives Annuity Fund *Benefits apply only to Ministers enrolled ____________________________________________________________

District Health Awareness Team ____________________________________________________________

District Ushers____________________________________________________

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ARTICLE X-REGIONAL LOCAL QUARTERLY CONGRESSES

 

A) Each Congress is required to report to the General/Annual Assembly of the Association in November $2,000.00 for Education of which $400.00 designated for Association Scholarships.

 

B) Each Quarterly Congress is required to report to the Association $250.00 dollars quarterly a total of $1,000.00 dollars annually to support the on-going work of the Association. (This amount will be applied to the Association account and deducted from Congress account, where applicable.)

 

C) Each Quarterly Congress will submit to the Moderator 3 or more persons from their Congress to serve as workshop facilitators. Member churches requesting workshops in area of: Church Administration; Stewardship; Evangelism, etc. (others maybe added) will contact their Congress President unless the request is for the moderator and his education staff to carry out the needed workshop.

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ARTICLE XI –REQUIREMENTS FOR AFFILIATE SCHOOLS

A) Each school supported by the FSFMBDA shall be required to make an annual report financially to the Association of its past fiscal year.

 

B) Each school supported by the FSFMBDA shall have a representative from the Association on its board of directors.—these shall be appointed by the Moderator and approved by the Association.

 

C) FSFMBDA shall support the following schools: 1) Florida Memorial College, Miami, FL 2) Florida Theological Seminary and Bible College, Lakeland, FL.

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ARTICLE XII-DISABLED MINISTERS & WIDOWS’ PENSION FUND

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A) Disabled ministers will receive aid from the Association via this pension fund and free will offering as may be needed

 

B) Widows of former pastors will receive a pension honorarium in the amount of $300 dollars at each Annual Session of the Association. After 5 years the amount will be decreased for the duration of life to $200.oo per enrolled and recognized pastor’s widow. Each Minister is asked to enroll each year $100.00 dollars for the P.I.T.A.A. Benefit Plan *See Operations Manual, Policies & Procedures for enrollment and benefit amounts (subject to change). Page 5 of 5

 

C) Displaced and disabled ministers are eligible for a one-time benefit or 13 weeks @$100.00 per week

 

 

ARTICLE XIII-AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

 

The Association will amend these By-laws by a majority vote of the certified messengers or registered member churches ay any Annual or duly called meeting provided a notice of intent is given at 2 successive calls not less than 30 days before the action is to be taken.

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