MCCA MEN
ARTICLE I: IDENTITY
Whereas (i) the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas is the autonomous body of Christian believers established by that name under the constitution provided for by the Deed of Church Order made the 18th day of May 1967 under the Methodist Church Ordinance 1967 of Antigua;
(ii) it is desired to establish within the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (hereinafter abbreviated as “the MCCA”) an organisation of men with the name, purposes and constitution hereinafter set out.
Now let it be known as follows:
a) The name of this organization shall be the Methodist Church of the Caribbean and the Americas Men, hereinafter abbreviated as “MCCA Men”.
b) MCCA Men is the Connexional umbrella organisation primarily responsible for the promotion and oversight of men's work in all Districts of the MCCA.
ARTICLE II: MISSION
a) It shall be the mission of MCCA Men to provide inspiration, leadership and opportunities for Methodist men in the Caribbean and the Americas to fulfil the ministry to which they are called in their homes, churches and communities.
b) MCCA Men shall promote its work as part of the whole mission of the MCCA, and in conformity with the provisions of the constitution of the MCCA.
c) It shall develop and offer resources and empower men at district, circuit and congregational levels to engage in a dynamic, vibrant and meaningful Christian ministry.
ARTICLE III: OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of MCCA Men shall be:
a) To provide avenues for the constituent groups and their members to be nurtured in their spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual growth, consistently with the Standing Orders of the MCCA.
b) To build and sustain effective men's ministries in Congregations, Circuits, Districts and the Connexion by enabling men to understand their identity in Christ, thereby cultivating a real commitment to Christian discipleship.
c) To develop effective leadership skills which men can use to fulfil their ministries wherever they are.
d) To identify and develop the gifts and talents of the males in our churches and communities, so that they can participate in activities that meet the mission needs and social challenges within their own environments.
e) To promote wholesome growth and transformed lives among males through our Church's Christ-centered programmes.
f) To promote and facilitate collaboration amongst member Districts towards the general welfare and continued development of the Church within the Connexion.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERS & MEMBERSHIP
a) All male confirmed members of the MCCA in good standing are full members of MCCA Men.
b) Men who are members of other churches, but who are in sympathy with the mission and objectives of MCCA Men, may be admitted as associate members by the relevant District Commission.
c) Men who are not members of any church, but who are in mission and objectives of MCCA Men, may be admitted as adherents by the relevant District Commission.
d) Associate members and adherents of MCCA Men are entitled to membership of their branch, and may be co-opted on special committees and attend the Assembly, but only full members may hold office at any level or be voting delegates to the Assembly.
ARTICLE V: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
a) The basic unit, or branch, of MCCA Men at congregational leave shall consist of all the male confirmed members in good standing in the Congregation, together with any other men associated with that Congregation who have been admitted as associate members under Article IV(b) or as adherents under Article IV(c).
b) The branches within a Circuit shall together form a circuit MCCA Men's Commission, in order to facilitate and implement the programmes of MCCA Men within the Circuit. The executive of the circuit Commission shall comprise, at a minimum, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer.
c) Each circuit MCCA Men's Commission within a District shall select a minimum of one representative to attend an MCCA Men's district Commission, to be held annually, in order to facilitate and implement the programs of MCCA Men across the District. The executive of the district Commission shall comprise, at a minimum, a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Relations Officer. Each district Commission shall be responsible for the financial affairs of MCCA Men within its District, and shall make annual financial contributions, as required, to support the work of MCCA Men connexionally.
d) For the purpose of Vice-Presidential oversight and zonal representation on the executive Sub-Committee only, MCCA Men shall be divided into three zones, as follows:
Zone 1: Bahamas Turks and Caicos, Haiti and Jamaica
Zone 2: Belize Honduras, and Panama and Costa Rica
Zone 3: Guyana, Southern Caribbean and Leeward Islands.
e) At connexional level there shall be an Assembly and an Executive Council.
f) The Assembly shall meet once every three years to elect officers and to plan the business of MCCA Men for the ensuing triennium. Any full member, associate member or adherent of MCCA Men may attend, but only full members present as officers or appointed as voting delegates by district Commissions may vote in elections or on motions which, if adopted, will become decisions of the Assembly. A quorum of the Assembly shall require the presence of at least one third of the voting delegates, from at least five Districts. The voting delegates from each zone shall also elect a representative to the executive Sub-Committee prescribed by (j) below.
g) The number of voting delegates from each District shall be as follows:
Bahamas Turks and Caicos 3
Haiti 21
Jamaica 20
Belize Honduras 4
Panama Costa Rica 2
Guyana 4
Leeward Islands 28
Southern Caribbean 18
h) The Executive Council shall meet annually to discharge the administrative and management functions of MCCA Men. It shall consist of the officers elected by the Assembly, together with two representatives appointed by each district Commission, and the officers of the connexional Conference of the MCCA shall also be entitled to appoint one of their number, or a representative, to be a member of the Executive Council. District representatives shall be appointed for three years, and shall be eligible for re-appointment, but shall not serve continuously for more than two terms. A quorum of the Executive Council shall be eleven members.
j) There shall be a Sub-Committee of the Executive Council, consisting of the officers specified in Article VII(a) and a representative of each zone, which shall act in the name of the Executive Council between meetings. A quorum of the Sub-Committee shall be six members, one of whom is the President or a Vice President.
k) The MCCA Men's year shall be concurrent with that of the MCCA, that is from 1 September.
ARTICLE VI: EMBLEM, MOTTO, PLEDGE & PRAYER AND HYMN
The MCCA Men shall have a logo/emblem which shall be used to recognize the organisation.
The following shall be the official motto, pledge, prayer and hymn of the organisation.
a) The Motto Of MCCA Men shall be:
"Through Love Serve one Another" Galatians 5:13
b) The pledge of MCCA Men shall be:
"I promise by God's help, to work through MCCA Men:-
i) To fellowship with others in Christian comradeship.
ii) To actively participate in all aspects of Christian stewardship.
iii) To exercise all diligence in knowing Christ and making him known and to be fervent in encouraging other males into discipleship.
c) The Prayer of MCCA Men shall be:
"Teach us good Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deservest: to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord". (Saint Ignatius of Loyola)
d) The Hymn of MCCA Men shall be:
"Rise up O Men of God”
ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS
a). The officers elected by the Assembly shall be:
i) President
ii) Three Vice-Presidents
iii) Secretary
iv) Assistant Secretary
v) Treasurer, who shall also be Director of Finance.
b) The powers and duties of the officers shall be as set out in the Appendix to this Constitution.
ARTICLE VIII: BY-LAWS
The Assembly shall have power to make and amend by-laws, conformably with this Constitution, for any aspect of the government and management of MCCA Men
ARTICLE IX: PROMULGATION AND AMENDMENT
a) MCCA Men is established, and this Constitution is promulgated, by the connexional Conference of the MCCA.
b) Subject to (c) below, this Constitution may be amended by the Assembly by the votes of two thirds or more of the voting members present and voting, provided that at least 60 days before the commencement of the meeting notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to each district Commission for comment, that any comments received from district Commissions have been reported to the Assembly, and that the terms of the amendment, as adopted by the Assembly, do not, in the judgment of the President, depart so widely from those of the proposed amendment notified to the district Commissions as to be of a wholly different character.
c) Any such amendment shall require ratification by the Connexional Conference of the MCCA, and shall come into effect when so ratified."
APPENDIX
[Powers and duties of officers]