CURSILLO MINISTRY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
BYLAWS
ARTICLE 1
ORGANIZATION & AUTHORITY
SECTION 1. ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization is Cursillo Ministry of Northern California ("The Ministry"), a lay-led Christian Renewal Ministry within the Episcopal Church. The Ministry exists under the auspices of the National Episcopal Cursillo Ministry. No provision of these by-laws shall be implemented or construed in such a way as to conflict with our agreement with or our obligations to the National Episcopal Cursillo Ministry.
ARTICLE 2
PURPOSE
SECTION 1. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE
The primary objective of The Cursillo Ministry of Northern California is to promote ongoing religious renewal experience among Christians in our local area, according to the practices and traditions of "The Cursillo Method", as that method is defined and documented by The National Episcopal Cursillo Ministry.
To that end, the local Ministry will continuously seek to pursue the following goals:
To plan, administer and execute authentic three-day Cursillo Weekends within Northern California
To promote, support, and nurture "Pre-Cursillo" activities, as defined in The Cursillo Method, such as Sponsor training, Team selection and training, and Candidate selection.
To promote, support, and nurture "Post-Cursillo" activities, as defined in The Cursillo Method, such as Ultreya and Group Reunion.
SECTION 2. AUTHORITY OF THE BISHOP
In the Diocese of Northern California, The Ministry operates with the consent of, and under the authority of the Bishop of the Diocese of Northern California. Should any provision of these by-laws be, at any time, in conflict with the expressed will of the then-Diocesan Bishop, those provision(s) shall be deemed, for that time to be null and void to the extent necessary to remove the conflict.
SECTION 3. AUTHORITY OF THESE BY-LAWS
These by-laws shall govern the operation of The Ministry. No action shall be taken in the name of The Ministry that is contrary to these by-laws except as provided in sections 1 and 2.
SECTION 4. ADOPTION OF THESE BY-LAWS
These by-laws shall be considered adopted when they have been accepted by a 2/3 or greater vote of members attending a Secretariat meeting. Note: To be eligible to vote, a member must have attended a minimum of three meetings during the 12 months prior to the vote.
Any member may offer proposed amendments to these by-laws at any Secretariat meeting. Such proposals must be submitted in writing to the President at least 7 days prior to the scheduled meeting date,
Such proposed amendments for shall be considered adopted when they have been accepted per Section 4.
ARTICLE 3
SECRETARIAT
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY
The Secretariat is the governing body of the Ministry, and, as such, shall have the authority to administer the regular business and operations of the Ministry as it shall see fit.
In Christian love with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Secretariat provides oversight for the running of Cursillo weekends. The secretariat has ultimate responsibility for rector/a training, finances, venue and dates, selection and removal of a rector/a, and post Cursillo debriefing. The rector will have primary responsibility for the conduct of the weekend, including the schedule.
SECTION 2. REGULAR MEETINGS
The Secretariat shall conduct regular meetings (at least quarterly) at a time and place that is publicly announced at least 30 days prior to each meeting. The secretariat may elect not to meet during the summer.
A quorum is necessary for a binding vote; a quorum is 51% of those attending the meeting.
Additional meetings may be called by the president or by any three members of the secretariat. One week’s notice must be given to the membership prior to these additional meetings.
All business shall be conducted in a spirit of Christian love and in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
The secretariat meetings are open to all Cursillistas. However, if the nature of the discussion requires confidentiality, that meeting or the necessary portion of that meeting may be closed at the discretion of the president to all but secretariat officers. These deliberations will not be included in the meeting minutes.
The secretary or appointee will record all meetings. The minutes will be submitted at the next meeting for approval and filed permanently by the secretary.
SECTION 3. MEMBERS
A "member" is any person who meets all of these criteria:
Has attended and completed a Three-day Cursillo weekend, The Secretariat may, as it sees fit, expand this criterion via policy to qualify those who have attended multi-day Christian renewal conferences that are similar in purpose and content to a Cursillo weekend including but not limited to, Tres Dias, Walk to Emmaus, Trinity Alps Christian Community, or Kairos
Is active in a church community
All members are entitled to attend regular meetings of the Secretariat, and all members who attend a meeting are entitled to vote on all matters that may come before that meeting.
SECTION 6. ADOPTION OF POLICY
The Secretariat may, from time to time, as it sees fit, adopt articles of "Policy". No Policy may be considered or adopted that is in any way contrary to these by-laws.
Once adopted, articles of Policy shall be deemed to have the full force and authority of these by laws. Except that, where a provision of policy and a provision of the by-laws are in conflict, the by-laws shall prevail, and, to the extent necessary to remove the conflict, the policy shall be deemed to have been revoked.
Any member may, at any Secretariat meeting, propose any of the following:
A new Policy
Amendment(s) to existing Policy(s) Revocation of existing Policy(s)
Such Policy proposals must be presented in writing, and such proposed Policy amendments shall be considered adopted when they have been accepted by majority vote of members present at a Secretariat meeting. A given article of Policy may specify its own effective date if such date is in the future at the time that the policy is adopted. Otherwise, an article of Policy is to be considered to be in effect as of the date that it is adopted.
ARTICLE 4
OFFICES
SECTION 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The principal office of The Cursillo Ministry is co-located with the offices of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, also known as "The Office of the Bishop". Currently, that location is:
350 University Avenue Suite 280
Sacramento, CA 95825
In Sacramento County, California
SECTION 2. CHANGE IN OFFICE
The principal office may be changed by Policy.
Unless otherwise stated in policy, the office of the ministry will continue to co-locate with the Diocesan office, and any change in the location of the Diocesan office shall be considered a change in the office location of the Ministry.
ARTICLE 5
ELECTED OFFICERS
SECTION 1. ELECTED OFFICERS.
There shall be four (4) elected officers:
President
Vice-President Secretary Treasurer
Those who qualify as a Member may serve as an elected officer.
For the office of President only, nominees must also be active in an Episcopal Church within our Diocese, and/or must have been confirmed or received in an Episcopal church (in any Diocese) by a Bishop.
SECTION 2. TERM OF OFFICE.
All elected officers serve for one (1) calendar year. No more than three (3) consecutive terms may be served by any one person in any one office. For purposes of determining "consecutive terms", a person who serves a fractional term of six (6) months or longer shall be deemed to have served a full year.
SECTION 3. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS.
Elected officers are elected by majority vote of members voting at the November meeting of the Secretariat. A vote may be cast in person by attending the Secretariat meeting, or via electronic submission as determined by the Secretariat. Proxy voting is not permitted. All members are entitled to one vote each, except that, the currently seated President shall vote only as necessary to break a tie.
Nominations shall occur no later than October 31. Elections shall occur at the November Meeting, with officers being seated effective January 1.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The duties of the President are:
To be the representative of The Ministry to the Bishop, the Diocesan Office, and to the Diocese at large.
To create the Secretariat meeting agenda and preside at all meetings of the Secretariat
To designate appointed offices and officers, as he/she shall see fit.
To remove appointed officers, as he/she shall deem necessary.
Sets the date, time and place for Secretariat meetings
Maintains communication with the Cursillo community at large
Oversees the business of the Ministry
Assigns special projects as needed
Provides leadership for the future of Cursillo of Northern California
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT
The duties of the Vice-President are:
To preside over meetings of the Secretariat in the absence of the president.
To assist the president in the performance of his/her duties.
To distribute copies of proposed amendments, modifications or additions to the bylaws to the leadership group
Serves as custodian of the policy and procedure manual.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The duties of the Treasurer are:
To maintain all bank accounts, cash, or any other financial assets of the Ministry.
To maintain accurate and complete records of all financial transactions of the Ministry.
To prepare and present financial reports at meetings of the Secretariat,
To inform the rector/a of the financial responsibilities on each Cursillo weekend.
To make appropriate banking arrangements, with the approval of the secretariat president.
To collect, maintain and distribute secretariat funds.
To prepare and submit the secretariat books for auditing annually.
To maintain the treasurer’s manual and team financial guidelines, revising as necessary.
Do annual IRS tax return.
SECTION 7. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
The duties of the Secretary are:
To take, distribute and maintain electronic copies of minutes for all meetings of the Secretariat
To present the minutes from the prior meeting at each Secretariat meeting.
To provide copies of the bylaws and/or policy(s) of the Ministry and any materials from meetings to any member who so requests.
SECTION 8. VACANCIES
If, at any time, the Office of President shall become vacant, then the Vice-President shall immediately assume the Office of President.
Vacancies in any other elected offices shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled Secretariat meeting by majority vote of the members attending. Persons so elected to office shall serve for the remainder of the current calendar year. Such elections are to be conducted in the same manner as regularly scheduled annual elections.
ARTICLE 6
APPOINTED OFFICERS
SECTION 1. SPRITUAL ADVISOR.
The President and the Secretariat shall appoint one or more Spiritual Advisor(s) to the Secretariat, with the approval of the Bishop. All Spiritual Advisor(s) shall be ordained minister(s) (Deacon, Priest or Bishop) in the Episcopal Church.
Each person so appointed shall serve for as long as his/her service is mutually desired by the, the Secretariat, and the person serving.
SECTION 2. OTHER APPOINTED OFFICERS.
The President shall, as he/she sees fit, designate other appointed officers to assist in the administration and operation of The Ministry. Officers thus appointed will have title and duties as may be specified by the President.
Each of the persons so appointed by the President shall be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of members attending the Secretariat meeting at which the President first declares the appointment.
An appointed officer may be removed from office in either of these ways:
By a two thirds or greater vote of the members present at any Secretariat meeting
By declaration of the President
Except as provided in the prior paragraph, an appointed officer shall serve for as long as he/she shall choose.
Those, and only those, who are qualified as a Member may serve as appointed officers.
ARTICLE 7
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Bylaws of the Cursillo Ministry in the Diocese of Northern California and that such Bylaws were duly adopted by the Secretariat of said organization on the date set forth below.
Approved: November 21, 2017
Revised and approved August 7, 2021
