Association of

Presbyterian Tent Makers

Bylaws

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers will be:

1)    To be advocates for alternative models of ministry throughout the church.

2)    To define and affirm tentmaking as a valid expression of Christian ministry.

3)    To nurture and support tentmakers as continuing active members of presbyteries in good standing.

4)    To foster mutually beneficial contacts and relationships with similar organizations in other denominations and other parts of the world.

5)    To organize conferences which shall provide opportunities for worship, fellowship, spiritual growth, and for meetings of the Association.

 MEMBERSHIP

 Individual membership in the Association of Presbyterian Tentmakers will be open to any active member or Minister of the Word and Sacrament of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Affiliate member- ship will be open to any individual or associate of other denominations.   Institutional membership will be open to any congregation or governing body or association in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Membership in the Association will be defined as those persons and/or institutions that have paid dues for the current year.  Annual dues for individual members and institutions will be set at the annual conference.  The yearly cycle for dues will end on the first of October or at the close of the annual conference, which ever come later, and the next yearly cycle will begin at that point. 

MEMBERSHIP RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Individual members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will receive a subscription to the newsletter and have the right to vote and hold office in the Association.  Institutional members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will receive a subscription to the newsletter, and may designate a representative who will have the right to vote and hold office in the Association.  Affiliate members will receive a subscription to the newsletter, and have the right to participate in business meetings of the Association but without vote.

OFFICERS

Officers will include:

a)    A moderator

b)    A moderator-elect

c)    A treasurer

d)    A secretary

To reflect the needs of the organization, the Executive Committee will discern officer job descriptions.  An individual may hold no more than two offices at the same time.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee will consist of the following:

1)    Moderator

2)    Moderator-elect

3)    Treasurer

4)    A member-at-large, elected by the membership of the Association at the annual conference

5)    Secretary, who may be one of the above mentioned members as elected or appointed by the executive committee

6)    The Conference Chairperson, who, if possible, will be elected at the annual conference, if not, he or she will be designated by the above members of the Executive Committee

7)    The immediate past moderator

8)    The newsletter editor

9)    Members of General Assembly staff invited by the Moderator or the Executive Committee, who will serve ex officio and without vote

The Executive Committee will meet at the call of the Moderator, or at the request of any two members of the Executive Committee., or at the request of any three active members of the Association.  The Executive Committee will have the authority to carry out any mandates decided by the membership at the annual meeting, and to disburse funds from the treasury of the Association.

 ELECTIONS

At the beginning of the Annual Conference, the Executive Committee will appoint a nominating committee of at least three persons who are currently members of the Association, and one member of the General Assembly staff.  The nomination committee will be approved by the members at a business meeting.  The nominating committee will present one nominee for each office at a business meeting of the Association at the Annual Conference, at which time there will be given opportunity for nominations from the floor.  If there is more than one candidate nominated for an office, the voting for that office will be by secret ballot.  The newly elected officers and members of the Executive Committee will assume their responsibilities at the close of the annual conference.  The moderator, moderator-elect, and member-at-large of the Executive Committee may serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms.  There is no limit on the number of consecutive one-year terms for the treasurer and secretary.

BUSINESS MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Business meetings of the Association will be held at the time and place of the annual conference.  They shall meet at the call of the moderator, who is required to convene a meeting if three or more members of the Association so request.  Active members of the Association, and designated representatives of institutional members, will have the right to both voice and vote at all business meetings.  Staff of governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who are not members of the Association, spouses of active members, and guests at the annual meeting, will have the right to speak at business meetings, but without vote.

CHANGING THE BYLAWS 

Bylaws may be changed at any business meeting of the Association.  Proposed changes must be submitted in writing to the Association as a whole, and must be approved by 3/4 of those present and voting.

Adopted at the APT Conference, Pittsburgh, PA – October 1993

Amended at the APT Conference, Chicago, IL – November 2000

Amended at the APT Conference, Bangor, ME – November 2003