Salvation Army Student Fellowship Charter

Houghton College

Purpose

The purpose of the organization described in this charter shall be to provide a supportive environment, which will foster and enhance the members’ spiritual lives and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, to encourage Salvationist students to consider fulfilling God’s will for their lives through active service in the Salvation Army, to introduce non-Salvationist students to the professional opportunities in the Salvation Army upon graduation, and to encourage in its membership a commitment to Holy living.

Article I- Title

The organization described shall be called the Salvation Army Student Fellowship at Houghton College (hereafter referred to as the SASF).

Article II- Membership

A.All students, Salvationists and non-Salvationists, will be encouraged to join this fellowship.

B.Dues may be required of every member and will be determine by the Executive Committee and liaison officer.

Article III- Organization

A.Leadership

The Executive Committee shall have authority over the SASF at Houghton College. The Executive Committee shall:

-be elected to their positions.

-Consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplin.

-include non-elected members, such as faculty/staff advisor and liaison officer, a divisional headquarters representative.

-strive to accurately represent the Houghton College SASF membership.

-appoint other members of the SASF to specific committees.

-consider a quorum to equal a majority of all elected members.

Each member of the Executive Committee shall have one vote. The President of the SASF (or his/her designate) shall preside over all Executive Committee meetings. She/he shall be the head of the Houghton SASF, spiritual leader and supervisor of all activities. The Vice President shall have responsibility primarily for the social activities of the Houghton SASF. He/she shall perform the duties of an absent President and shall succeed the President in the event of vacancy. The Secretary shall be the official recorder of all Houghton SASF Executive Committee and Fellowship meetings. He/she shall maintain a correspondence file. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the administration of SASF finances in association with the liaison officer. The Chaplain shall be responsible for the spiritual emphasis in every fellowship meeting, organize the devotional segment of the official meetings, and plan the spiritual retreat with the Vice President.

B.Committees

All committees will be chaired by a member of the Executive Committee. The following is a list of example of the types of committees that can exist within the SASF at Houghton College: Social Activities Committee, Committee on Spiritual Life, Committee on Retreat Planning, Finance Committee, etc.

  1. Liaison Officer (THQ Representative)

This person shall be recommended by the Divisional Commander and appointed by the Territorial Commander. He/she shall serve as a point of contact between divisional headquarters, Territorial Education Secretary, and the Houghton College SASF. She/he shall have full voting rights but may not exert undue influence over the executive Committee.

  1. Faculty/Staff Advisor (Houghton College Representative)

This person shall be selected from within the Houghton College administration by members of the SASF Executive Committee. The faculty/staff advisor shall serve as intermediary between the Executive Committee and the administration of the college. The faculty/staff advisor shall give advice to the Executive Committee and serve as a voting member. The faculty/staff advisor will mediate matters of scheduling, use of campus facilities and program activities.

  1. Divisional Headquarters Representative

This person shall be appointed by the Divisional Commander. He/she shall serve as a point of contact with the liaison officer, the Territorial Youth Secretary, and the Houghton College SASF.

Article IV- Discipline

All SASF members are required to submit to the Responsibilities of Community Life of Houghton College.

Article V- Removal of an Executive Committee Member

  1. Any officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the regular members of the SASF.
  2. Requests for removal may be made by a two-thirds vote of all voting members of the Executive Committee or a petition by 50% of the membership.
  3. If the requirement in Section B is fulfilled, the membership of the SASF shall be informed in writing of the action no later than three days prior to the vote for removal.
  4. If the officer is removed from office, the President shall notify the member in question with a written statement of removal immediately.
  5. The faculty/staff advisor and liaison officer shall monitor all removal proceedings.

Article VI- Meetings

  1. The SASF shall meet at a time and place to be determined annually by the Executive Committee.
  2. The meetings’ express purpose is for the fellowship and devotions.
  3. There will be a monthly business meeting for the SASF to be scheduled by the Executive Committee.
  4. The Territorial Youth Secretary of his representative will make an annual visit to the college campus and meet with eh SASF.

Article VII- Amendments

Because of the uniqueness of this fellowship, special emphasis is placed upon the amendment clause. As needs arise, it will be necessary to amend this document. Proposed amendments should be submitted, preferably typewritten, to any Executive Committee member. Following review by the Executive Committee, the proposal will be present at the next fellowship monthly meeting. Upon a three-fourths fellowship vote, the proposal may be amended to the Houghton SASF charter and submitted by the liaison officer to the Territorial administration for consideration.