Orthodox Christian Fellowship

PREAMBLE

We, the undersigned Orthodox Christians and other persons interested in Orthodox Christianity of the University of New Mexico commu­nity, wishing to establish a profound and lasting fellowship among ourselves and others who share these interests, and seeking ways to dedicate ourselves and each other and our whole life to Christ our God, do ordain and establish this Orthodox Christian Fellow­ship for the University of New Mexico community.

ARTICLE I -- NAME

The name of the organization shall be "The Orthodox Christian Fellowship of the University of New Mexico".

ARTICLE II -- AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. To support fellowship on campus, to experience and witness the Orthodox Christian Church through community life, prayer, service to others, and the study of the Orthodox Christian faith (Acts 2:42). Furthermore, OCF will work to nurture and strengthen love for Jesus Christ through His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, commonly known in its fullness at this most critical juncture of human life as the Eastern Orthodox Church, and to offer an opportunity to Orthodox Christian stu­dents amd those interested in Orthodox Christianity to become more fully acquainted with and informed about the Orthodox Christian heritage.

Section 2. To deepen the spiritual and devotional life of university and college students and to promote earnest study of Orthodox Christian doctrine, practice and living.

Section 3. To strengthen ties between students of the Ortho­dox Christian Faith, to develop a more fruitful fellow­ship among them, and to further cooperation with other religious and civic organiza­tions with similar aims.

Section 4. To bear witness on campus to the unique message of the Orthodox Church by affirming its continuity in the course of history from the Apostolic begin­nings.

Section 5. To further either directly or indirectly, the welfare of students in body, mind and spirit, all in harmony with the Christian purpose.

Section 6. To unite Orthodox students in Orthodox worship.

Section 7. To sponsor activities such as study groups, Chris­tian service, and lectures by specialists on top­ics of interest to the group.

Section 8. To promote and participate in national programs offered by Orthodox Christian Fellowship, which is a national non-profit religious organization authorized by and affiliated with the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas.   

ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the Orthodox Christian Fellowship of the University of New Mexico shall be open to all universi­ty students.

ARTICLE IV -- GOVERNANCE

Section 1. The Orthodox Christian Fellowship of UNM shall be governed and managed by Officers and an Executive Committee as provided for in the Bylaws. 

Section 2. The OCF at UNM shall have at least one religious advisor approved by the national Orthodox Christian Fellowship. The religious advisor(s) to Orthodox Christian students shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee and of all other committees of the OCF at UNM. Prior to seeking approval from the national Orthodox Christian Fellowship organization, each religious advisor must have received the blessing and endorsement from the Bishop of the Archdiocese with whom he or she is affiliated as to his or her service as a religious advisor to the OCF at UNM.

ARTICLE V -- MEETINGS

Section 1. The OCF at UNM shall meet at least monthly during the school year.

Section 2. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the OCF at UNM.

ARTICLE VI – LIMITATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Constitution, this Fellowship shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under IRC Section 501 (c) (3), or contributions to which are deductible under IRC Section 170 (c) (2). All references herein to “IRC” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Section 2. This Fellowship is organized and is to be operated exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501 (c) (3). This Fellowship is not organized, nor shall it be operated, for any pecuniary gain or profit, and it does not contemplate the distribution of gains, profits, or dividends to the members thereof (if any) or to any private individual or private shareholder, as the latter is defined for purposes of IRC Section 501 (c) (3).

No substantial part of the activities of this Fellowship shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as provided in IRC Section 501 (h), nor shall this Fellowship participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publication or distribution of statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office except as provided in IRC Section 501 (h).

The money and property of this corporation are irrevocably and exclusively dedicated to charitable, religious, and educational purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, trustee, officer, shareholder, or member (if any) hereof, or to the benefit of any private individual.

Upon dissolution or winding up of this Fellowship, its assets remaining after payment of, or provision for payment of, all debts and liabilities of this corporation, shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, trust, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, or educational purposes which has established its tax exempt status under IRC Section 501 (c) (3).

ARTICLE VI – BYLAWS

Section 1. The OCF at UNM shall adopt By-Laws for the operation of the Fellowship consistent with this Constitution, and ratified by the vote of three-fourths of the members present at the first meeting of the Fellowship.

ARTICLE VII -- AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by written petition signed by ten percent of the membership and approved by a three-fourths vote of the members present at a meeting of the membership, provided that the secretary shall have sent notice of the proposed amendment to all members of the Fellowship at least ten days prior to the meeting scheduled for this purpose. All amemndments to this Constitution also shall be subject to the approval of the national Orthodox Christian Fellowship organization.

ARTICLE VIII -- ADOPTION

Section 1.  This Constitution has been ratified and adopted by the undersigned initial members of the Fellowship on ______________________.

______________________________ ______________________________

______________________________ ______________________________

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THE BY-LAWS OF THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF

 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO

ARTICLE I -- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Membership in this Fellowship shall be obtained by submitting a membership form to the Executive Commit­tee.

Section 2.  Active members shall consist of those members who regularly participate in the activities of the Fellowship.

Section 3.   Only active members shall have the right to vote. All other members shall have the privilege of attending meetings and of participating in discussion but not of voting.

Section 4.  The Fellowship may require a payment of dues by the members by a vote of its active members.

ARTICLE II -- GENERAL MEETINGS

Section 1.  The regular meeting time for general meetings of the membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee with due regard to the conve­nience of the membership.

Section 2.  No vote shall be taken on any matter of business at any meeting unless a week's notice of the issue shall have been given to the active members.

Section 3.  A quorum shall consist of the active members. 

ARTICLE III -- OFFICERS

Section 1.  The day to day operations of the Fellowship shall be managed by elected officers consisting of a president, a vive-president, a secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 2.  The President shall perform all duties usually pertaining to that office and shall be ex-officio member of all committees of the Fellowship.

Section 3.  The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the president, perform all duties of that office with the approval of the Executive Committee. The vice-president shall serve as the liason between the individual committees the Executive Committee.

Section 4.  The Secretary shall keep minutes of all business transacted at meetings and minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee, shall keep an up-to-date list of active members as determined by the Executive Committee, shall conduct all official correspondence of the Fellow­ship, and shall maintain a bulletin board for posting all required notices and postings of the Fellowship.

Section 5.  The Treasurer shall collect all money due the Fellowship and keep accurate records of all re­ceipts and disbursements and shall make a report of the conditions of the Fellowship's finances at each Executive Committee meeting. He shall pay any such bills as have been approved by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the Pres­ident, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,­ Religious Advisor, Faculty/Staff Advisor(s) and such other committee persons as may be authorized from time to time by the membership.  The Executive Committees responsibility will be to implement policy decisions of the Fellowship.

Section 2.  The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

a. To transact all ordinary business of the Fel­lowship.

b. To approve disbursement of funds by the Trea­surer, and to arrange for an annual audit of the accounts of the treasurer at the end of April.

c. To facilitae the program of the Fellowship.

ARTICLE V -- ELECTIONS

Section 1.  Annual elections of officers and of additional Executive Committee members shall be held in April on a date set by the Executive Committee and posted at least one month in advance of the election.

Section 2.  A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President from the active graduating members of the Fellowship.

Section 3.  The nominations made by the Nominating Committee shall be posted at least one week prior to the April election. Additional nominations may be submitted for consideration by petition signed by at least ten percent of the active members of the Fellow­ship who shall have submitted it to the secretary at least two days before the election. The secretary shall post the names of the additional nominees along with those made by the Nominating Committee.

Section 4.  The annual terms for the elected officers and other Executive Committee members positions shall be from May 1^st to April 30^th.

Section 5. Whenever a vacancy in an officer or other Ececutive Committee position shall occur, the President may fill the vacancy by appointment, with the appointee to serve until the vacancy shall be filled by an election of the membership arranged by the Executive Committee at its next meeting.

Section 6. An officer may be removed from his office by a two-third vote of the active members present at any meeting provided that a quorum of the total membership is present and that the secretary has sent notice of the proposed removal to all members of the Fellowship at least ten days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. Recall proceedings may be initiated by a written petition signed by ten percent of the active membership stating the reasons why such a recall is desireable.   

ARTICLE VI – NOTICES AND POSTINGS

Section 1. All official notices and postings required to be given to the members under these Bylaws shall be given through the secretary of the Fellowship. Items required to be posted shall be posted in writing at a notice board maintained by the secretary of the Fellowship and conspicuously displayed in a location at the business office of the Fellowship which is accessible to the members during regular business hours. Items required to be posted also shall be posted on any website or other communications media regularly maintained by the Fellowship.

Section 2. Any notices provided to be delivered to the Fellowship under these Bylaws shall be effective on delivery in writing to the secretary of the Fellowship by certified mail, by receipted courier or overnight delivery service, or by hand delivery, at the regular office of the Fellowship.

ARTICLE - AFFILIATIONS

Section 1.  The Orthodox Christian Fellowship of the University of New Mexico shall not affiliate with any outside orga­nization whose aim is not in accord with the stat­ed aim of the Fellowship.

Section 2.  Any affiliation with an outside organization shall be authorized by a three-fourths vote of the ac­tive members present at a meeting, and so long as notice of the vote on the proposed affiliation has been posted at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

Section 3. Any affiliation with an outside organization shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions applicable to tax-exempt organizations organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as provided in the Constitution.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  These By-Laws of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship of the University of New Mexico may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the active members present at a meeting, and so long as notice of the vote on the proposed amend­ment has been posted at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE IX – ADOPTION

Section 1.  These By-Laws shall become effective upon ratific­ation by three-fourths of the active membership of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at UNM.