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Organization By-LawsARTICLE I:
NAME AND PURPOSE
1.
The legal name. The
legal name of this religious organization, which was incorporated in the
State of Kansas in 2004, shall be United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. 2.
The purpose.
The purpose of this organization shall be set forth in the
following statements: Mission:
United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. is dedicated to promoting
interfaith awareness and harmony, throughout the world, through the use of
service, ministry, and education. Vision:
The vision of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. is to be
recognized internationally as an organization that promotes interfaith
awareness and harmony. ARTICLE II:
MEMBERSHIP
1.
Qualifications.
All persons who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and are
actively interested in the purpose of this ministry may become members by
completing a membership application and receiving approval from the
director of the organization. Members
do not have to give up membership with their current religious or
denominational affiliation, as the spirit of interfaith invites people of
all faiths to take part. 2.
Duties. Members have no required
duties, but are encouraged to promote the organization’s message of
interfaith awareness and harmony by being involved in service (ie. Helping
the homeless, hungry, misguided, etc.), by contributing financially to the
organization if possible, and by being actively involved in interfaith
dialogue when the opportunity presents itself. 3.
Resignation / Termination. Members
may terminate their membership with the organization at any time.
United Interfaith Ministries, Inc., has the right to terminate
membership at anytime and for any reason including, but not limited to,
ethical violations, and/or any other violations that may tarnish the image
and reputation of the organization. ARTICLE III:
ORGANIZATION GOVERNANCE
1.
Board of directors.
The board of directors of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. shall
consist of three members of the organization.
Members of the board of directors will help in the decision making
process of the organization, and will provide counsel for any action the
organization may wish to take. 2.
Officers. The officers of the
organization shall be: President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. The
officers of the organization shall perform all duties as are customarily
incident to their respective offices.
All officers may hold more than one office and have more than one
title. President:
The founder of the organization, Rev. Raymond Muñoz, shall always
serve as the President of the organization unless illness or injury
prevents him from doing so. If
incapacitated in such a manner, the Secretary and Treasurer will share the
role of President until Rev. Muñoz has recovered, or, if recovery is not
possible, a permanent replacement has been elected by a majority vote of
all the members of the organization.
The President shall reside over all meetings of the governing
board, shall oversee the general direction of the organization, shall act
as the spokesperson for the organization, and shall have the authority to
act in the business affairs of the organization as delegated by the
governing board. The
President is an ex officio member of any committees that may be formed. Secretary:
The Secretary shall perform duties as designated by the governing
board including, but not limited to: (a)
Keep minutes of any meetings that may take place; (b)
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these by-laws or as required by law; (c)
Be custodian of the organization’s records; (d)
Keep records containing the names and addresses of all members; and (e)
Any other duties that may be deemed assignable to the office of
Secretary. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall perform duties as designated by the governing
board including, but not limited to: (a)
Be the principal financial officer of the organization; (b)
Be the principal accounting officer of the organization; (c)
The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the organization
and be responsible for cash receipts and disbursements; and (d) Any other duties that may be deemed assignable to the office of Treasurer. ARTICLE IV:
COMMITTEES
1.
Description. The
board of directors and/or officers may at any time appoint from among the
members, an Executive, Finance, or other committee or committees,
consisting of such number of members, as the board of directors and/or
officers deem advisable. Each
committee shall keep full and complete records of all meetings and
actions, which shall be open to inspection by the board of directors and
officers. 2.
Procedure. Unless
otherwise ordered by the board of directors and/or officers, any such
committee may prescribe its own rules for calling and holding meetings,
and for its own method of procedure, and may act at a meeting by a
majority of its members, or without a meeting by a writing or writings
signed by all of its members. ARTICLE V: FISCAL INFORMATION
1.
Fiscal year. The
fiscal year of the organization shall run from January 1 to December 31. 2.
Financial assessment. The
organization shall have the power to ask its membership for financial
support of the organization by the following methods: donations,
tithes, pledges, fees for services rendered by the organization (including
tuition for courses offered through the educational arm of the
organization), fees for products sold by the organization (including books
and publications sold by the organization), fund raising projects,
borrowing, or other methods approved by the officers and/or board of
directors 3.
Use of finances. Financial
support given to the organization may be used for contributing towards our
mission statement, vision statement, payment of expenses, and salary
expenses of the officers. No
salaries will be paid to members of the board of directors, with the
exception of expenses incurred while performing official duties of the
organization. ARTICLE VI:
ORDINATION
1.
Requirements. To
be ordained through United Interfaith Ministries, Inc., and associate
churches, the following
requirements must be met: (a) You must be a member of the organization; (b) You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age; (c) You must have completed our interfaith minister training program with an overall GPA of 70% or better (or completed an M.Div. or comparable seminary program); and (d) You must agree to, sign, notarize, and submit our code of ethics for ministers. 2.
Rights and privileges. Our
ministers are authorized to perform all ministerial services such as
baptisms, marriages, funerals, preaching, conducting church meetings, and
any other rights usually entitled to ministers. 3.
Adherence to law. The
minister must understand and comply with all local, state, national, and
international laws when performing any of the ministerial functions
granted through ordination. 4.
Responsibility. United
Interfaith Ministries, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any actions
taken by an ordained minister of the organization. 5.
Certificate. If
ordained, our interfaith ministers will be issued a certificate of
ordination. 6.
Fees. There are no
fees involved when granting ordination and an ordination certificate.
However, a minister may choose to purchase an ID card identifying
them as clergy members of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc.
The fee for the ID card is $15.00. 7.
Term. Ordination
is granted for life, and may only be revoked by United Interfaith
Ministries, Inc., if it is deemed necessary, due to ethical violations
and/or any other violations that may tarnish the reputation of the
ministry. ARTICLE VII:
CHURCH CHARTERS
1.
Petition for charter. A
group wishing to form an associate church of United Interfaith Ministries,
Inc. must submit a petition for charter consisting of at least five (5)
names, addresses, and signatures. 2.
Agreement. Along
with the petition for charter, the group must sign a written agreement
stating that it will abide with the by-laws of United Interfaith
Ministries, Inc. along with any future amendments and resolutions passed
by the board of directors and/or officers. 3. Fees. There are no fees involved when granting a church charter. 4.
Approval. Associate
churches of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. may be chartered upon
approval of the President of the organization.
Approval may not be granted in all cases. 5.
Independent operation. Associate
churches of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. must set themselves up as
independent religious organizations in their own State.
Groups must contact their Secretary of State for more information
on incorporating as a nonprofit religious entity and must contact the IRS
if wishing to pursue 501(c)3 nonprofit status. 6.
Church name. All
churches must take on the name of “United Interfaith Church of
(City).” If a United
Interfaith Church already exists in that city, the church may use an
alternate name approved by United Interfaith Ministries, Inc.
Churches must
also identify themselves as being associate churches of United Interfaith
Ministries, Inc. 7. Ordination of new ministers. All ordinations for ministers affiliated with associate churches of United Interfaith Ministries, Inc., must take place through our minister training program and official ordination process, as it is important to keep uniformity in education and training among all ministers associated with United Interfaith Ministries, Inc. 8.
Adherence to law. Associate
churches must understand and comply with all local, state, national, and
international laws when performing any of the functions of the church. 9.
Responsibility. United
Interfaith Ministries, Inc. assumes no responsibility for any actions
taken by associated churches of the organization. 10.
Certificate. If a
church charter is approved, churches will be issued a church charter
certificate. 11.
Term. Church
charters are granted for life, and may only be revoked by United
Interfaith Ministries, Inc., if it is deemed necessary, due to ethical
violations and/or any other violations that may tarnish the reputation of
the ministry. ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
These by-laws may be
amended at any regular or special meeting of the governing board by a
two-thirds vote of board members present.
All amendments of the by-laws will be presented to all members of
the organization for their comments and ideas before being voted on. ARTICLE IX:
INDEMNIFICATION
The organization
shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted or authorized by Kansas
Corporation Law as it may from time to time be amended, any person made or
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit of proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that they are or were a member,
minister, board member, officer or employee of the organization, or is or
was serving at the request of the organization as a member, minister,
board member, trustee, officer or employee of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. In the case of a
merger into this organization of a constituent organization which, if its
separate existence had continued, would have been required to indemnify
members, ministers, board members, officers or employees in specified
situations prior to the merger, any person who served as a member,
minister, board member, officer or employee of the constituent
organization, or served at the request of the constituent church as a
member, minister, board member, trustee, officer or employee of another
organization, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall
be entitled to indemnification by this organization (as the surviving
organization) for acts, omissions or other events or occurrences prior to
the merger to the same extent they would have been entitled to
indemnification by the constituent organization if its separate existence
had continued. The indemnification provided by this Article IX shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking
indemnification may be entitled under the articles of Incorporation or the
By-Laws, or any agreement, vote of members or otherwise, both as to action
in the official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to
be a member, minister, board member, trustee, officer or employee and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of
such a person. ARTICLE X:
DISSOLUTION
In the event that this organization decides to dissolve the Corporation, such dissolution shall be in accordance with the applicable sections of Kansas General Laws. At that time, assets of the organization will be transferred to another not-for profit organization for its general purpose. The receiving organization will be determined by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. |