Young Life Gloucester County
Committee Bylaws
These Bylaws are intended for use in conjunction with and deference to Young Life International’s Bylaws, Policies, Statement of Faith, Mission, Vision, and Values.
Statement of Purpose
The Young Life Gloucester County Committee is a body of Christ centered adult believers committed to actively support the ministry of Young Life for middle school and high school students in the greater Gloucester County Area. This support for the local ministry is exemplified by the following:
· Praying diligently for the ministry
· Protecting the integrity of the ministry
· Encouraging staff and volunteers
· Providing Biblical counsel to staff and volunteers
· Helping staff and volunteers implement, maintain, and plan the ministry
· Working closely with area and regional staff
· Organizing a strong financial foundation
· Ensuring fiscal responsibility
Bylaw Article I Name
A. OFFICIAL NAME. This committee shall bear the official name of “Young Life Gloucester County”
Bylaw Article II Relationship
A. RELATIONSHIP. This committee shall be connected to and subordinate to Young Life International, as well as Young Life Metro East Region.
Bylaw Article III Membership
A. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Committee members should come from the various Bible believing churches in the Area and each adult should share the following:
· Believes in Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior
· Is committed to actively growing in his/her faith and regularly attends and supports his/her local church
· Supports the purpose and doctrinal statement of Young Life
· Personally called and enthusiastic about serving on the Committee
· Willing to share his/her personal time, talents, and resources with the ministry
· Cannot be a member of any secret society or any organization that conflicts with Young Life’s Statement of Faith and/or basic Christian tenets
B. COMMITTEE SELECTION
Adults who qualify for the Committee will have an informal interview with the Committee Chairperson. During this interview expectations for the potential committee member will be clearly stated. Upon recommendation from the Committee Chairperson, they must attend 3 consecutive Committee meetings and be approved of by the Area Director.
C. TYPES OF MEMBERS
The committee shall be composed of regular members and associate members.
- Regular members. Regular members have “voting” privileges at the Committee meetings. They shall serve a term of at least two consecutive years, but can choose to serve more.
- Associate members. Associate members may be the spouse of a regular member or a Friend of Young Life (those who volunteer to serve through prayer, serve on a sub-committee, give financially, or work at events). Associate members are welcome to share in all regular meetings of the committee, but may not be involved in the steering of the Committee or the ministry.
D. RESPONSIBILITIES OF A REGULAR MEMBER
Committee members participate as partners in ministry with the local staff and the regional director in the direction and management of the area programs and affairs. The responsibilities for regular members on the committee include:
1. Personal Service
- Attend and participate in all meetings unless permission is requested to be absent
- Develop personal friendships with staff
- Actively serve on at least one sub-committee
- Visit a Young Life club or kid’s activity at least once a year
- Work on special events and fundraisers
- Sponsor 2 or more leaders (explained in the leader care section)
- Spiritual Support
- Seek and follow God’s wisdom and attempt to lead an exemplary Christian life
- Fellowship with other believers
- Pray for the Young Life ministry, staff, volunteers, and kids
- Act as a personal and loyal friend to staff
- Provide prayer, fellowship, and counsel to staff and volunteers
- Financial Support
- Regularly support Young Life with finances
- Public Relations
- Promote Young Life’s current programs and activities in the community
- Recruit new committee members
- Be available to handle inquiries by parents and other adults about the local Young Life ministry
Bylaw Article IV Government
A. MEETINGS
There are two types of meetings: regular and special
- Regular Regular meetings shall be monthly (3rd Tuesday of the month) unless agreed upon by the committee.
- Special Special meetings can be called upon the request of a majority of regular members for any special business appropriate to Young Life. This could include special meetings for Committee training or a banquet preparation meeting.
B. QUORUM
Fifty percent of the regular members shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting.
C. VOTING
Only regular members have voting privileges. All voted matters shall be carried by simple majority of a quorum except where otherwise noted.
D. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall be October 1st - September 30th.
Bylaw Article V Officers
A. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS
1. Chairperson The committee chairperson should be:
a) Walking faithfully with Christ
b) Confident that God has called him or her to this role
c) A leader and a motivator
d) Known and respected in the community
e) 100% sold on the ministry of Young Life, convinced of what we do and why
f) Experienced enough in Young Life to appreciate strengths and understand weaknesses
g) Able to lead and facilitate meetings effectively
h) In agreement with Young Life’s faith and conduct policies
i) Willing to stand with the staff and bring the rest of the committee along
j) Committed to forming close relationships with the staff so they can communicate their needs and problems, as well as successes
k) An advocate for the staff to the committee, and an advocate for the committee to the staff
i) Able to communicate issues of accountability from the committee’s perspective
2. Secretary The committee secretary should be:
a) Walking faithfully with Christ
b) Confident that God has called him or her to this role
c) Able to organize and summarize meeting discussions in a written format
3. Treasurer The committee treasurer should be:
a) Walking faithfully with Christ
b) Confident that God has called him or her to this role
c) Honest and trustworthy
d) Talented with finances, budgeting and/or accounting
4. Prayer Coordinator The committee prayer coordinator should be:
a) Walking faithfully with Christ
b) Confident that God has called him or her to this role
c) Have a heart for prayer and the ability to rally others to do the same
Bylaw Article VI Duties of Officers
A. CHAIRPERSON
The committee chairperson will:
a) Represent the committee to Young Life International
b) Stand alongside the staff and bring the rest of the committee along
c) Maintain close relationships with the staff so staff can communicate needs and problems as well as successes
d) Act as a liaison and advocate between staff and committee
e) Communicate issues of accountability from the committee’s perspective
f) Build trust in the ministry
g) Provide leadership in the recruitment, selection, orientation and retirement of committee members
h) Place committee members in positions to utilize their talents
i) Lead in developing a vision for Young Life’s potential in the community
j) Call meetings to order and prepare a proposed agenda for adoption
B. SECRETARY
The committee secretary will:
a) Records actions taken during the meetings
b) Keeps a legible record of all actions
c) Reads the minutes at each meeting
d) Conducts any regular correspondence of the committee
C. TREASURER
The committee treasurer will:
a) Together with the area director, assume administrative responsibility for funds involved in committee projects
c) Record and review income and expenditures for the local area (accountability)
d) Submit annual financial report on the local area and initiate preparation of the budget for the next year
e) Collect & deposit money from area fundraisers or camp fundraisers
f) Maintain the local checking account
D. PRAYER COORDINATOR
The prayer coordinator will:
a) Encourage other Committee members to attend one Adult Prayer Team meeting per quarter.
b) Coordinate with all the Adult Prayer Teams (1 per school ministry) with emails, letters, or phone calls
c) Get prayer requests from leaders and staff and send them to the Prayer Teams
d) Rally our Prayer Warriors together to support our two major “Prayer” events per year, All Area Prayer (Sept) & Prayer Vigil (Jan).
Bylaw Article VII Sub-committees
A. SUB-COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND TERMS OF SERVICE
Each sub-committee must have regular members (1 or more) and as many associate members as the sub-committee chair deems necessary.
B. SUB-COMMITTEES
The following are the standing advisory sub-committees:
- PRAYER: The purpose of the Prayer sub-committee is to provide the prayer support that under girds the ministry, get out prayer requests to Young Life prayer partners (1 adult prayer team per school), take part in the planning of the two major “prayer” events each year (All Area Prayer in Sept and Prayer Vigil in Jan), and other such things as may be required by the committee. Prayer Coordinator will oversee this sub-committee.
- LEADER CARE: The purpose of the Leader Care sub-committee is to make sure staff and volunteer leaders feel appreciated and cared for. This could include attending a Club or Campaigners meeting, sending a birthday card, or making a phone call to see how they’re doing and to take prayer requests. Each Committee member should sponsor one or more staff or volunteer leader. This subcommittee also plans events like the Committee/Leader Christmas Party, and the Year-End Committee/Leader Celebration.
3. EVENTS: The purpose of the Events sub-committee is to plan and organize the Fall Fundraiser (ie – The Annual Banquet in October) and the Spring Fundraiser (ie - Bowling Event in Apr/May). For the banquet, this sub-committee books the restaurant, sends out invitations, rallies the table hosts, coordinates the program with the area director, and conducts follow up in order to ensure a successful event. For the Bowling Event, this sub-committee coordinates with Bowling Center, gets the word out to potential participants (kids, parents, donors), and whatever else necessary to ensure a successful event.
- PUBLIC RELATIONS: The purpose of the Public Relations sub-committee is to handle media contacts, publish newsletters, coordinate mailings, and photograph Young Life fundraising events. It also seeks help from major foundations, such as United Way.
- CAMP FUNDRAISERS: The purpose of the Camp Fundraisers sub-committee is to provide opportunities for kids to raise money to go to Winter Camp in December and Summer Camp in July/Aug. In October-November we conduct a fundraiser for Winter Camp, which has included a wreath and garland sale or a candle/Christmas gift sale. In preparation for summer camp, we do a cookie dough sale (Feb), a candle sale (Mar/Apr), and a car wash (May).
- 5 - Fiscal Year 2005-06