The partial Constitution and By-Laws for “Joiners” Missionary Organization
Tentative as of 2 July 2016
Article 1. Identity and Location
We state the founding of an organization called Joiners Missionary Organization, doing business as “Joiners Inc.” Said organization shall be regulated by the appropriate federal and state laws that stipulate the legal guidelines for religious “not-for-profit” organizations. The headquarters of this organization will be located in Fort Walton Beach, FL. The headquarters may be transferred to another location by a decision of the board of directors.
Article 2. Foundational Beliefs
2.1 Theological
2.1.1 The Baptist Faith and Message (1963 edition)
2.1.2 Historic Baptist distinctives, such as the autonomy of the local church, soul competency, believer’s baptism, the priesthood of the believer, and religious freedom
2.1.3 Women in ministry leadership
2.1.4 In general, the missional objectives of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) churches
2.2 Missiological
2.2.1 The Context-indigenous approach to cross-cultural church planting and training will be followed
2.2.2 The principle of consciência of the teaching of Paolo Freire in the missioner acting as a catalyst (by knowing the language and culture well enough) to bring self-awareness to the focus people and allowing them to discover their own expression of the church under Christ’s lordship and the Scriptures.
2.2.3 Don Richardson’s (Peace Child, Eternity in their Hearts) missional model of redemptive analogy – that in every culture the missioner (by doing his/her cultural homework) can find a link to the biblical revelation of Christ, and therefore present Christ as One who “fulfills tradition, and doesn’t destroy it” (Matthew 5:17).
Article 3. Vision and Mission
3.1 The vision of Joiners is to be an agent for empowering and enabling indigenous church planting/development movements and leadership training models in Madagascar.
3.2 The mission of Joiners shall be to:
3.2.1 Provide a stewardship development and missiological legacy for Malagasy churches
3.2.2 Provide training and research for church planting movements.
3.2.3 Provide training and evaluation of church stewardship development through the translation of appropriate documents
3.2.3 Provide training in missiology through the translation of appropriate documents
3.2.4 Provide financial support for effective cross-cultural projects that can be self-sustaining
3.2.5 Provide financial expenses for church extension ministries in areas where no missionary is using church planting movements
3.2.6 Provide Bibles and ministry materials to Malagasy church leaders
3.2.7 Promote women’s organizations to empower them to live out their Christ-centered faith through:
3.2.7.1 Bible education
3.2.7.2 AIDS awareness education
3.2.7.3 First aid education
3.2.7.4 Literacy education
3.2.7.5 Family education
3.2.8 Joiners will work primarily with the fellowship of churches known as CEIM – in French, la Communauté Evangelique Independante de Madagascar; in English, the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches of Madagascar), which at present represents the closest church organization in Madagascar to CBF’s ecclesiology.
3.2.9 Joiners will provide training and orientation to U.S. local churches and organizations in sending mission teams
Article 4. Method and Purpose
The method of governance shall be by the election of a self-perpetuating board of directors who seek to implement effective missiological methods under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and prayer.
4.1 Officers
4.2 The method of functioning for this organization shall be “not-for-profit.” It is understood by that term that method of operation for Joiners shall be to serve as conduit for the envisioning, creating, funding, implementing, and developing materials contextually appropriate to Madagascar church growth and development.
4.2.1 The board will create field-driven special projects that can carry out the mission of Joiners
4.2.2 The board will create an ongoing, annual working budget for missionaries and materials to accomplish the mission of Joiners.
4.2.3 Funding of budgetary items and special projects shall come from free-will donations from individuals, groups, donor agencies/foundations, churches and religious organizations, other not-for-profit organizations, “for-profit” enterprises, and appropriate government agencies.
4.2.4 The board or board chair may contact said organizations for the funding of board-approved projects and/or annual working budget
4.2.5 All said, this organization operates by faith as a “clearing-house” in view of achieving its goals with the general objectives of the biblical mission and the world-wide mission of Baptistic churches (although not restricted to any particular denominational structure).
4.3 Securing and distributing funds
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4.3.5 Field funds will be distributed to projects/workers by the Field Admin
4.3.6 The field admin will provide receipts for accountability
Article 5: Political Activity
Joiners expressly forbids its members, associates, and employees to be involved in any political activity in the name of this organization.
Article 6: Tax Status
This organization is intended to qualify as an exempt organization under the provisions of Section 501(C)3 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America. All donations will be tax exempt. In addition, Joiners will be registered as a non-profit corporation in the state of Florida or where it is situated.
Article 7: Fiscal Accountability
The fiscal year of the organization shall be January 1 to December 31. An Independent Auditor shall be appointed by the board to examine all financial statements, books and records of the organization. Corporate records will be submitted to the Independent Public Accountant no later than 30 days after the end of the fiscal year. Audit report will be completed and submitted to the Board of Directors within 45 days of submission to Independent Public Accountant for their review, approval or action, if deemed necessary.
Article 8: Dismissal of Board Members
A member of the Board of Directors may be removed from office upon the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members of the Board of Directors. Provided, however, that no such removal shall take place until after the member whose removal is sought shall be given an opportunity to appear before the Board of Directors and present such information as he/she believes may have a bearing upon the question of his/her removal from membership on the Board of Directors.
Article 9: Changes and Dissolution.
9.1 This constitution may be modified, altered or amended by three-fifths vote of the Board of Directors who are present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, as long as written notice of the proposed modification, alteration or amendment is given to all members of the Board of Directors seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.
9.2 This constitution may be modified by creating a minute in the by-laws of Joiners by a majority vote of Board of Directors after a notice of convening the meeting has been given 7 days prior to the meeting.
9.3 Upon a decision of the board of directors to terminate the activities of Joiners, the proceeds of the remaining funds will be divided among like-minded ministries to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article 10: Communication and Accountability
10.1 Joiners will send annual tax-deductible receipt letters for donations during the fiscal year.
10.2 Progress reports will be sent to those who subscribe to and donate to its specific projects.
10.3 The Board Chair will submit an annual report to the Board of Directors outlined the general direction, progress, and challenges of the organization.
10.4 The Treasurer will submit an annual financial report to the Board which will be combined with the President-Field Director’s report to the Board of Directors.