THE BY-LAWS OF

 THE NATIONAL HMONG CAUCUS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHUCH

 

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be NATIONAL HMONG CAUCUS OF METHODIST CHURCH, herein called NHCUMC.

 

ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATION STATUS

The National Hmong Caucus of the United Methodist Church shall be a non-profit organization and an exclusively religious charitable, literary and educational within the meaning of section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.

 

ARTICLE III - MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the National Hmong Caucus of the United Methodist Church is to empower all Hmong United Methodist churches in the United State and around the world to be in mission and be Christ Centered Christians through networking, fellowship, leadership training, and nurturing in order to make disciples of all nations as commissioned by our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the NHCUMC shall consist of all members of the Hmong United Methodist Churches, fellowship groups, individual United Methodist, and friends and supporters who uphold the mission of NHCUMC either through prayers, and physical and/or financial support.

 

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT

In the event that an individual church or fellowship group encounters conflict, NHCUMC President and two board members will consult with the District Superintendent (DS) of that Conference to look for an acceptable way to mediate the situation. If the conflict remains unsettled, NCHLIMC President and two board members will find appropriate ways to communicate and address the concern with the local church leaders and their clergy. NCHIIMC will only intervene with church related conflicts, not family-to- family or community to church member(s) issues.

 

ARTICLE VI – BRANCHES

This Caucus shall include under its wings: Hmong United Methodist Men Association (HUMMA), Hmong United Methodist Women Association (HUIVIWA), and Hmong United Methodist Youth (HTJMY).

6.1 HLIMMA: Hmong United Methodist Men Association shall have its own by-laws with the mission to support spiritual growth among men in the church and empower them to mature as true disciples of Jesus Christ. HLJMMA shall report to NHCUMC at all meetings.

6.2 HUMWA: Hmong United Methodist Women Association shall be connected to NHCUMC through its mission but be an autonomous organization with its own by-laws and executive board members. HUMWA shall be structurally separate in order to focus on the core areas that are most effective and beneficial to Hmong Women, and to take leadership responsibilities for women's ministry in the Hmong United Methodist Churches. HUMWA shall participate at all meetings and be actively involved with NHCUMC.

6.3 HUMY: Hmong United Methodist Youth shall be connected to NHCUMC through its mission. It will be an organization that has its own board members who work closely with NHCUMC for guidance, recommendations, and mentoring. HUMY shall take leadership responsibilities for youth's ministry in the Hmong United Methodist Churches. HLIMY shall be under the provision of NHCUMC. HUMY shall report to NHCUMC at all meetings and be actively involved with NHCUMC.

 

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL BOARD

The official representatives of NHCUMC shall consist of the Executive Committee Members, the active local church pastors, the lay leaders, the current chairperson of each church council, and the current chairperson of staff Parish Relations committee for each local church.

 

ARTICLE VIII - OFFICERS

8.1 THE EXECUTM COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee of NHCUMC shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Nomination/Personnel, Director of Mission and New Church Development, Director of Program and Communication, President of Hmong United Methodist Men Association (HUMMA), President of Hmong United Methodist Women Association (HUMWA), and the Director of Hmong United Methodist Youth (HUMY).

8.2 TERM OF OFFICERS: Except for the president of HUMMA and HUMWA, all officers shall be elected as part of a class. Each class will serve a two-year term, and there shall be no limitation as to the numbers of terms an individual may serve. The first class will consist of the election Communication, and the Director of HUMY.

8.2.1 The first class will consist of election of the Chairperson, Treasurer, Director of programs and communication, and Director of Mission of HUMY.

8.2.2The second class will consist of the election of the Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Director Nomination/Personnel, and Director of Mission and New church Development.

8.2.3 HUMMA and HUMWA will hold their own elections and send in the name of the president of NCHUMC. He/she will serve according to the terms of their respective by Jaws.

8.3 RESPONSIBILITIES: All officers of NHCUMC shall support the mission of NHCUMC and carry out the goals and visions of NHCUMC. The goals and vision of NHCUMC are: 1) promote peace in the local church, 2) provide leadership skill training to Hmong UM churches, 3) Find ways to network and improve communications among the Hmong churches and clergy, 4) Attend UMC Annual conferences where there are predominantly Hmong congregations, and educate the annual conferences on the mission of NHCUMC, and 5) start new churches in the area of spiritual development and help local church retain and increase membership.

8.3.1 The Caucus shall hold an annual meeting for all Hmong UMC to come together to share in God’s ministries and fellowship.

8.3.2 The Caucus shall also hold an annual national youth camp for Hmong youth of the United Methodist Churches.

8.3.3 The officers of NHCUMC shall visit local Hmong United Methodist Church to nurtures and confer NHCUMC's goals and visions as necessary.

 

ARTICLE IX - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

9.1 CHAIRPERSON: The chairperson shall set and preside over all the official meetings at least three - times a year. Except for emergencies, he or she must attend all meetings. The chairperson is in charge of implementing the resolution passed by the churches at the annual meeting.

9.2 VICE CHAIRPERSON: The vice chairperson shall assume the responsibilities of Chairperson when called upon, and directly oversee finances with NHCUMC Treasurer, Director of Nomination/Personnel and Ca Sab, the annual national youth camp.

9.3 SECRETARY: The secretary shall record and keep records of all minutes of meetings, including other official documents (i.e., State tax ID, Federal Tax ID, NHCUMC's Bylaws, Article of corporation, legal and illegal papers) related to NHCUMC business, prepare meeting agendas, schedule meetings, and arrange NHCUMC annual gatherings. The secretary shall ensure all minutes are sent to executive members, directors, and board members in a timely manner.

9.4 TREASURER: The treasurer is responsible for NHCUMC's financial account and NHCUMC's annual fundraising. A bank account shall be opened in the name of NHCUMC with two signatures in the account. Only one signature will be required for signing a check. The treasurer shall keep all the financial records up-to-date and accurate as well as report at board meetings as needed. There shall be an annual audit of the financial transactions by a third party (i.e., certified public accounting outside the Caucus) to ensure accuracy.

9.5 DIRECTOR OF MISSION AND NEW CHURCH DEVELOPMENT: The director of mission

and new church development shall promote the course of evangelism, outreach stewardship training, and shall work with fellowship groups and District Superintendent (DS) to establish new congregations and nurture existing congregations to strengthen the local church ministries in the areas of spiritual growth and discipleship. This will be accomplished through direct training or referring the churches to the persons or locations of additional resources. The director of mission and new church development shall serve as a resource person and promote education and awareness of the initiation of new churches. In addition, this person shalt be a facilitator for new ministry by directing the new ministries to the necessary individuals or offices (i.e., annual conference staff, District and GBGM for funding), and resources needed to support the ministries.

9.6 DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM AND COMMT NICATION: The director of program and communication shall serve as the resource person to the Hmong United Methodist Churches by working with the United Methodist Church General agencies, conferences, and General Board of Global Ministries of the UMC to locate financial and human resources to help the Hmong churches, and shall find creative communication channels to educate the various United Methodist Church agencies and conferences about Hmong ministries so that they may be more informed about the Hmong United Methodist Churches. The director of program and communication must also ensure information from the United Methodist Churches is communicated through to the local Hmong churches.

9.7 TIIE DIRECTOR OF HMONG UMTED METHODIST YOUTH (HUMY): The director of Hmong United Methodist Youth shall work closely with the HLIMY board and youth directors in the local churches to promote and prepare the youth to go into the ministry of serving God. The director of HUMY will promote and help provide support of resources and opportunities to serve God in local churches and at the national level. The director of HUMY shall help coordinate the annual national youth camp known as Ca Sab with the HLJMY board. HLIMY director shill work with the HUMY board in finding national youth camp speakers, funding, location, safety, and organizing activities that relate to the youth. HUMY director is to work along with the HUMY board, through attending every HUMY meeting, attending all HUMY events, overseeing their decisions, and offering recommendations. HUMY director shall promote and mentor the HUMY board to grow and become future leaders of Hmong United Methodist Churches.

9.8 THE PRESIDENT OF HMONG UNITED METHODTST MEN ASSOCTATTON (HUMMA): The president of Hmong United Methodist Men Association shall work closely with his executive board to provide ministry to all Hmong men in the United Methodist Church, to teach and train men to be leaders of the Church and make disciples of all nations. The president of HUMMA shall be a member of the executive committee of NHCUMC and will update NHCLJMC on HUMMA activities.

9.9 THE PRESIDENT OF HMONC UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ASSOCIATION (HUMWA): The president of Hmong Methodist Women Association shall work closely with the executive board of HUMWA to minister to all Hmong women in the United Methodist churches and to carry out the mission of HUMWA. The president of HUMWA shall be a member of the executive committee of NHCUMC and shall update HUMWA's activities at all NHCUMC meetings.

9.10 TIIE DIRECTOR OF NOMINATION/PERSONNEL COMMITTEE: The director of the nomination/personnel committee shall oversee the functions of the nomination/personnel committee and ensure that the committee is meeting as needed to complete their responsibilities. The person in this position shall be the primary person representing the nomination/personnel committee during all elections.

 

ARTICLE X – NOMINATION/PERSONAL COMMITTEE

The nomination/personnel committee shall consist of three people: the director, a secretary and an assistant member. The secretary and the assistant member shall be appointed by the NHCUMC executive committee and could be a council chair from a local church or lay person. The nomination/personnel committee members serve an elected term of three years. It is the responsibility of the nomination/personnel committee to seek out and contact local Church Laypersons who may be qualified and interested in the possibility of serving on the NHCITMC Executive committee. At each annual gathering, the nomination/personnel committee secretary will inform individuals currently holding positions in NCHUMC that their terms are coming to an end and will ask whether he/she is interested in the possibility of re-election. This will need to be done so the nomination/personnel committee can begin seeking laypersons to fill the vacant positions and to bring the candidates to the floor for confirmation. (no voting)

 

ARTICLE XI – WHO MAY SERVE AS AN NHCUMC OFFICER

1Timothy 3:1-7 "If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task, one wife, self-controlled respectable, hospitable able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, not violent but gentle"

The officer positions are opened to any layperson, clergy, men, and women, who is a full member of the Hmong United Methodist churches in the United States of America, is open hearted, open minded and loves our Lord Jesus Christ with all his or her heart.

 

ARICLE XII – EXECUTIYE COMMITTEE DUTIES

The duties of the executive committee shall consist of the following:

12.1 Meeting regularly to plan NHCUMC general board meetings and discuss relevant issues affecting NHCUMC and Hmong united Methodist churches in accordance to Article V.

12.2 Ensuring that there are regular NHCUMC general board meetings to carry out the mission of NHCUMC.

12.3 Planning the annual NHCUMC meeting.

12.4 Implementing resolutions passed during NHCUMC official meetings including but not limited resolutions passed at NHCUMC's annual meeting.

12.5 Attending general board meetings as well as the annual NHCUMC meeting.

12.6 Providing support and resources to help confer NHCUMC's goals and visions to all Hmong United Methodist Churches as necessary.

 

ARTICLE XIII - GENERAL BOARD DUTIES

The duties of the general board shall consist of the following:

13.1 Providing support to NHCUMC Executive Committee

13.2 Contributing to annual NHCUMC meeting and any other official meetings sponsored and/or supported by NHCUMC.

13.3 Attending NHCUMC general board and annual meetings.

13.4 Reporting information from the general board meeting to the local church.

13.5 Encouraging the local churches to create a budget to support NHCUMC.

 

ARTICLE XIV - VOTING

VOTING RIGHT: The following members have the right to vote at NHCUMC general board meetings: The Executive committee members, the active pastors of the local church, the Chairpersons of Church Councils, and the chairpersons of Staff Parish Relation committees of the local Churches. The voting procedures at the NHCUMC general board meeting and annual meetings are based on the majority o1 votes, not quorum.

Generally, all members of Hmong United Methodist churches will have a right to vote at NHCUMC annual meetings on decisions relating to documents such as the NHCUMC Bylaws, Funeral Guidelines/Policies, and Wedding Guidelines/Policies that have a major impact on local Hmong United Methodist Churches.

 

ARTICLE XV - ASSETS

The assets of the NHCUMC shall include cash on hand, bank account, properties donated to or purchased by the NHCUMC.

Upon dissolution of the NHCUMC, all assets shall be distributed to or other non-profit organizations for one or more exempt purpose within the meaning of section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue service Code of 1986 or corresponding to any future federal tax code.

 

ARTICLE XVI - AMENDMENT

Any attempt to amend the by-laws, remove or add to the by-laws shall be made in writing to the secretary, of the Executive Committee at least three months prior to the annual meeting of the NHCUMC. The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those in attendance.

 

 

Last updated 2/11/13