CBMU
Our Bylaws
The Chicagoland Black Ministry Unit (CBMU) is comprised of members of Northern Illinois District and English District congregations of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in the Chicago area. The CBMU exists to provide a forum in which the special challenges and struggles of Black Lutherans in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod may be honestly and constructively addressed across organizational District boundaries. Our goal is to generate a stable network of unity, awareness and support for black ministry efforts throughout the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations in the greater Chicago area.
Mission Statement - The CBMU, in assembly in January 1998, adopted the following mission statement:
We will, with the help of God, develop and implement a program that will educate, inspire and motivate people of color, to take ownership of their role in LCMS.
We endeavor to create an environment that fosters cooperation within Chicagoland LCMS churches involved with Black Ministry.
This environment will foster the Great Commission, fortifying relationships between congregations and geographical areas, while working to motivate and encourage the gospel without apologies or denigration, but reaffirmation of being intentional, sacramental, evangelical, apostolic and catholic Lutheran Christians.
We, the congregations and members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, joyfully commit ourselves to the pursuit of God's mission, to teach and witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and hold in common the confession of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We do covenant in the spirit of Christ to live and work with one another in a bond of fellowship, so that we may:
Practice the Apostolic example of speaking and hearing responsibly, in order to achieve agreement in this mission.
Demonstrate the acceptance of God's gifts and our willingness to share them for the common good.
Strengthen one another for bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the World.
Praise our great and gracious God together, giving visible expressions of His earnest desire for unity, and provide a setting for this unity to continue to grow.
Faithful to our covenant, we recognize and hold ourselves accountable as a corporate servant structure to support congregations in their mission and ministry and as a channel by which:
Congregations provide resources, energies, and expertise in the task of assisting one another in love and trust to accomplish their mission and ministry as a body of Christ in and to a local community.
Congregations accomplish certain tasks more effectively together than they can do alone.
Congregations receive information and programming from Synod and provide a responsible and analytical review of Synodical plans and activities.
Further we recognize and affirm-
That the Chicagoland Black Ministry Unit is a voluntary association of congregations working together to preserve confessional unity and to pursue commonly accepted objectives established to support congregations in their God given responsibilities.
That as the CBMU, we uphold the congregational right of self-government.
That all elements of the CBMU structure should foster an attitude of interdependence and stress a relationship of mutual service, rather than emphasizing level of authority..
That we seek to provide for and foster the maximum involvement of people and congregations in the processes of discussion, decision making, and action.
That congregations voluntary comply with the conditions of membership.
In agreement with the foregoing, the affairs of the CBMU shall be managed in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws of Synod, hereby adopted as the Official Constitution and Bylaws hereinafter set forth.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be known as the Chicagoland Black Ministry Unit.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
The Chicagoland Black Ministry Unit invites any member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod with an active concern and a deliberate commitment to see strong congregations effectively addressing the needs and concerns of Black Lutherans and functioning at full potential in an open and supportive church community to join us! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
ARTICLE III - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. The affairs of the Chicagoland Black Ministry Unit shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number, Term, Qualifications. The number of directors shall be less than eight. Directors shall be elected by the general body of the CBMU at the November meeting and installed annually at the January meeting. The term of office of each director shall be two years. There is no limitation of the number of terms a duly elected director may serve.
Section 3. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at the discretion of the Board. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for holding its regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors - "50 percent, plus 1" - must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Board Decisions. The act of majority of the directors present at a meeting shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Removal. A director, appointed or elected by the CBMU, may be removed by the CBMU whenever in its judgment, the best interests of the CBMU would be served.
Section 7. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors and any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled by the general body of the CBMU. A director appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his/her predecessor in office.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the CBMU shall be an Executive Director, Information Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, and such other officers as may be elected in accordance with the provisions of this article. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person except for the offices of executive director and secretary.
Section 2. Election and Term of Officers. The officers of the CBMU shall be elected bi-annually by the members of the CBMU at the November meeting. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been duly elected and installed. The officers shall attend the meetings regularly.
Section 3. Removal. An officer elected or appointed by the CBMU may be removed by the CBMU whenever in its judgment, the best interests of the CBMU would be served.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 5. Powers and Duties. The several officers shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be specified in resolutions or other directives of the CBMU.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
The CBMU and/or the Board of Directors shall appoint such committees as needed to carry out the function of the CBMU.
ARTICLE VI - CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND GIFTS
Section 1. Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers or agents of the CBMU, in addition to the officers so authorized by these bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the CBMU and such authority may be general or may be confined to specific instances.
Section 2. Checks, Drafts, or Orders. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the CBMU, shall bear two official signatures: they are the Executive Director, the Treasurer, or two other appointed members of the general body of the CBMU, in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination by the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned. by the Executive Director of the CBMU.
Section 3. Deposits. All funds shall be deposited to the credit of the CBMU in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors shall select.
Section 4. Gifts. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the CBMU any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for any purpose of the CBMU.
ARTICLE VII - BOOKS AND RECORDS
The Secretary of the CBMU shall keep complete and accurate books and records of accounts and keep minutes of the proceedings of the CBMU.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new bylaws may be adopted by a majority of the members present at any regular meeting or at any special meeting, provided that sixty days written notice is given of intention to alter, amend, repeal or to adopt new bylaws at such meeting.
ARTICLE IX - JOB DESCRIPTIONS
THE FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTION
Few people perform well unless they know what they are trying to accomplish. The CBMU Officers and members are no exception. Leaders need to know what is expected of them. Accountability is impossible without accurate job descriptions of some sort. Consider the following job descriptions for the Officers of the CBMU:
Section A. Executive Director
1. Preside at meetings and act as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
2. Build the CBMU Leadership Team.
3. Organize Committees.
4. Appoint Audit Committee.
5. Make election arrangements.
6. Shall be ex-officio member of all committees.
7. Schedule annual planning meetings.
8. Countersign all requisitions for disbursement from the CBMU's treasury.
9. Establish congregation and/or community contact.
10. Develop member interest files.
11. Recommend committee members.
12. Coordinate CBMU Member Awareness activities.
13. Recognize CBMU Achievements.
14. Contact officers and congregational representatives.
15. Perform such other functions and exercise such further duties as may be voted from time to time by CBMU or Board of Directors.
Section B. Information Coordinator
1. The basic objectives of this position is to present to all the member congregations within the English and Northern Illinois Districts, Synod, and the public a positive image which will reflect favorably upon the work of the CBMU as a concerned and joyfully committed Instrument in pursuit of GOD'S Mission.
2. The publicizing of the work of the CBMU through various channels.
3. Prepare CBMU publicity.
4. Establish and vigorously pursue a program of awareness for the CBMU and its activities which reflects favorable on our commitment to spreading the Good News throughout Chicagoland.
Section C. Secretary
1. To serve as secretary and record the minutes of meetings of the CBMU and the Board of Directors.
2. To handle CBMU and Board of Directors correspondence.
3. Maintain CBMU planning calendar.
4. Maintain a file of receipts and disbursements.
5. Maintain CBMU membership records, including a register of addresses of all Officers and Board of Directors.
6. Report to the members and receive reports.
7. Prepare meeting agenda under direction of the Executive Director.
8. Keep records of all CBMU members and their dues.
9. To give receipts of all funds received and transmit same to CBMU's treasury.
Section D. Treasurer
1. To receive all monies of the CBMU, and properly deposit the same in the CBMU bank account.
2. Establish and maintain a bank account for the CBMU.
3. To act as the CBMU Chief Financial Officer.
4. In conjunction with the Executive Director, sign all
requisitions for disbursements from the CBMU treasury.
5. Pay all approved orders.
6. Keep a balanced record of all CBMU income and disbursements.
7. Report to the membership at regular meetings in writing.
8. Submit an audited ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT.
Section E. Pastoral Advisor
1. To serve the CBMU as an example of Christian conduct.
2. To earnestly endeavor to live in brotherly unity with the members of the CBMU, fellow workers, and congregations in the English and Northern Illinois Districts and Synod.
3. To assist us to do everything possible within the sphere of our calling toward the edification of the CBMU and the building up of our group, by the Grace of God.
4. To guard and promote faithfully the spiritual welfare of the members of the CBMU.
5. To guide the CBMU in applying the divinely ordained discipline of the membership agreeably to the WORD OF GOD.