Sample Local Group By-Laws

By-laws are useful to ensure that members of the group are in unity regarding the group's purpose and structure. Following are samples of the by-laws of several existing FOR groups.

Salem Fellowship of Reconciliation

By-Laws

The Salem Fellowship of Reconciliation is a fellowship of persons who complement their membership in the national and state FOR by participation in the local fellowship, and of persons who express their adherence to FOR peace principles through participation in the local fellowship. Salem FOR meets monthly on the fourth Sunday at four o'clock. Election of officers is held at the January meeting. All meetings are open unless closed by a two-thirds vote of the members.

OFFICERS: At the January meeting, members elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson who acts as program chairperson, and secretary-treasurer, each for a one-year term. When a vacancy occurs in an officer position a replacement is elected at the next monthly meeting.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary-treasurer shall constitute the executive committee; two members shall constitute a quorum. The executive committee shall meet monthly between regular monthly meetings. It shall be responsible for setting up the standing committees.

STANDING COMMITTEES:

1. The Program Committee (chaired by the vice-chairperson) plans the program for the year with the help of the members and the executive committee.

2. The Membership Committee facilitates participation by members and friends in the program of the Salem FOR.

3. The Nominating Committee identifies nominees for officers and reports at the November meeting.

4. The Publicity Committee publicizes activities of the Salem FOR through a newsletter and the local news media.

5. The Literature Committee has responsibility for stocking, displaying and selling relevant literature.

6. The Arrangements Committee sets up the meeting room, kitchen and dining area for the monthly meeting and afterwards returns them to their usual order.

By-Laws of

The Fellowship of Reconciliation, Louisville Chapter

ARTICLE I - Name and Nature

The name of this organization shall be "The Fellowship of Reconciliation" Louisville Chapter. It Is an unincorporated, non-profit membership organization.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The Fellowship of Reconciliation brings together men and women who recognize the essential unity of all humanity and wish to explore the power of love and truth for resolving human conflict. It seeks the company of those of whatever faith who wish to confront human differences with nonviolent, compassionate and reconciling love, and to resolve cultural conflicts by the united efforts of people of many faiths.

ARTICLE III- Membership

Membership is open to persons of all religious beliefs and philosophies Persons in the Louisville area who join the national organization are automatically members of the Louisville Chapter. Officers and voting members must belong to the national organization.

ARTICLE IV - Steering Committee

The steering committee shall be representative of as many religious heritages and institutions of the community as possible, such as Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Humanist, etc. No creedal or political standards shall be required of any officer.

ARTICLE V - Elections

A nominating committee shall be appointed in January to report at the February meeting. The election will be held following the report, with the floor being open for other nominations. Officers will serve for one year beginning in March, and will be eligible for re-election.

ARTICLE VI - Meetings

Meetings shall be held at the discretion of the steering committee.

ARTICLE VII- Finances

Expenses shall be met by the solicitation of the members. A treasurer shall be appointed from among the steering committee members. Financial reports shall be made regularly by the treasurer. None of the income shall inure to any member of the organization or other individual. In event of dissolution all assets shall be turned over to the national organization.

Approved by a quorum of the Louisville Chapter, 3/25/76.

By-Laws of the

Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR

AFFILIATION: The Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR is officially affiliated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation based in Nyack, New York.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Supreme Being is the creator and principle of order and interdependence. Our universal destiny is the relationship in which all people and nature live within the divine intention.

Works of peace which move humanity and creation towards that destiny are works of love and justice. Teachings similar to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" are central to the morality of all religions. Every human has the right of trust. Love and trust are inseparable in the human journey in and toward the Supreme Being, Creator, God. Allah.

In these days of increasing international tensions and increasing capacities for mutual annihilation the members of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR affirm love and trust as the divine choice for all areas of human relations.

The members pledge in their faith in the Divine, to identify the interdependence of all nations and to advocate love and trust as the way of resolving conflict and living together on the earth without war.

The purpose of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR is to promote education, dialogue and action at every level about the universal threat of the arms race and to advocate a way for peace based on faith, love, trust and justice.

MEMBERSHIP: Membership is open to all who subscribe to the statement of purpose of the organization. An annual membership fee is required to cover administrative costs. The membership fee schedule shall be set by the membership on the recommendation of the Board of Directors. Members are encouraged to seek the endorsement and/or financial sponsorship of their religious communities.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall consist of ten (10) members, elected in groups of five, serving staggered two-year terms. Board members must be members of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR and may serve only two successive terms.

The process of the Board shall be:

- to choose from their ranks two co-moderators (one from each elected group), a recorder and a treasurer;

- to require half of the active Board members to make a quorum;

- to meet monthly to transact pertinent business;

- to operate according to consensus and/or a simple majority vote.

The role of the Board shall be:

- to formulate policy and plan objectives within the stated purpose;

- to involve the membership in task groups to accomplish these;

- to speak on behalf of the membership in the public domain on matters of concern to the organization;

- to hire staff as needed.

Role descriptions for Board Members:

- shall participate in monthly Board meetings, notifying a moderator of expected absences;

- shall take leadership in task groups, when able, and report progress of groups to the Board and the membership.

OFFICERS: All officers shall be members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation of Nyack, New York.

Co-Moderators:

- shall formulate the agenda and preside over the Board and Membership meetings;

- shall see that the official membership roll is maintained;

- shall speak the voice of the Board and, if needed, consult beforehand with a quorum of the Board;

- shall agree upon and clearly specify the purpose of a specially called board meeting;

- shall with the Board evaluate the effectiveness of the carrying out of the objectives of the organization.

Recorder:

- shall maintain written records of the decisions of both the Board and Membership meetings, which shall be submitted to the respective bodies for subsequent approval;

- shall mail out notices of meetings to the Board and, when necessary, to the Membership.

Treasurer:

- shall maintain all financial records of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR;

- shall send notices of fees due and receipts of contributions made;

- shall submit monthly reports to the Board and advise about cash flow;

- shall submit the required annual statement to the Fellowship of Reconciliation;

- shall chair a finance committee to analyze the status and prepare a budget for the coming year.

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: Regular meetings shall be held at a place and time determined by the Board of Directors. These meetings shall be for the transaction of business; the reception of reports from task groups, committees and/or staff; counsel and recommendation to the Board; worship and fellowship; and becoming acquainted with peacemaking materials and programs. One-tenth of the active Membership shall be required for transaction by official vote.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: A committee of at least three members of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR, who are not Board members, shall present a slate of Board nominees at the annual Membership meeting. Unexpired terms shall be filled on an informal basis by the Board. Nominations may be made from the floor at the annual Membership meeting.

BY-IAWS CHANGES: These By-laws may be amended by a majority vote of a quorum of the member- ship after having been submitted for approval to the Board of Directors.

AFFIRMATION: Pursuit of peace activities is possible through involvement of the members of the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR. Our efforts should be grounded in a sense of the Transcendent God. The interfaith dimension of the Peaceforce bears witness to the diversity of human vision and understanding of the reality. The interfaith dimension bears witness to the Human experience when that Reality is chosen as the basis for active pursuit of peace. We can serve the peacemakers of Houston by ever recalling to minds and hearts this Transcendent Reality of God. Let this be the calling to which the Interfaith Peaceforce of Houston/FOR continually aspires

 

Revised in September 1987