Global Chin Christian Federation: Constitution

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GLOBAL CHIN CHRISTIAN FEDERATION

Constitution

Article 1: Preamble

1.1 The Global Chin Christian Fellowship is a fellowship of Chin Christians who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior according to the scriptures and, therefore, seek the unity of Chins all over the world as the body of Christ that they work together in God’s mission for holistic salvation around the world.

Article 2: Name and Location

2.1 The name of the organization shall be ‘Global Chin Christian Fellowship’. Its shortened form shall be GCCF.

2.2 The residential place of the Executive Director shall be the location of the organization.
2.3 There shall be Branch Office in Myanmar. If necessary, more Branch Offices can be set up in Bangladesh and Mizoram.

Article 3: Motto

3.1 The motto of the organization shall be ‘Diversity in Worship, Unity in Mission’. [1Corinthians 12:12-20]

Article 4: Vision

4.1 This is good, and it pleases God, our Saviour, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [1Timothy 2:3-4]

Article 5: Mission Statement

5.1 Promoting reconciliation, rooted in the Biblical concept of love, peace and justice, among Chin Christian churches and peoples around the globe.

Article 6: Aims and Objectives

1.              To reach out to all people through the Churches’ evangelical mission
2.              To promote tolerance, harmony and a sense of united purpose through enhancing mutual respects and understanding among all believers
3.              To encourage a giving and caring culture towards the needy and to each other
4.              To care for and preserve the wellbeing of God's creation
5.              To strengthen the standard of theological and secular education of Chin people
6.              To work for physical and spiritual development of the Chin community
7.              To speak for the Chins and others who cannot speak for themselves

Article 7: Membership

7.1 Membership shall be open to all Chin Christian organizations based on the following:

1.              Church/Fellowship
2.              Christian Academic Institution
3.              Corporate (Association/Assembly/Convention)
4.              National Organization/Fellowship
5.              Christian Organization
6.              Individual (There must be screening for individual membership).
[Membership Approval to be included in By-laws]

Article 8: Mission
8.1 The Global Chin Christian Fellowship is constituted by Chin churches around the world to serve God in the sense:
·      First, that all the Chin people become believers and witnesses in the one body of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and
·      Second, the Chin people will establish churches for up-keeping and spreading of the Good News and extension of His kingdom in the areas where they live.

8.2 In order to make all the Chin people a believer in Christ as Lord and Saviour, and to let them become the body of Christ, the Global Chin Christian Fellowship in its evangelism and mission function shall:

1.     Send evangelists and/or church planters to the unreached unbelievers inside Myanmar as well as outside Myanmar.
2.     Seek koinonia in faith and life, witness and service, so much so that Chin churches through the Global Chin Christian Fellowship will:
a.     promote the prayerful search for forgiveness and reconciliation in a spirit of mutual accountability;
b.     create the development of deeper relationships through theological dialogue;
c.     develop the sharing of human, spiritual and material resources with one another and;
d.     engage in using Chin dialects, costumes, and cultures to restore inherited traditions.
3.     Commit in serving human needs to break down barriers between tribes and clans;
4.     Establish one Chin family and one human family in justice and peace;
5.     Uphold the integrity of creation so that all may experience the fullness of life.

8.3 In order to safeguard and to spread the Good News and to extend His kingdom in the areas where they live, the Global Chin Christian Fellowship will encourage and guide Chin people:

a.     To establish churches to worship together,
b.     To promote evangelization and mission strategies to reach neighbors, and
c.     To have good relationship with churches and governments of hosting countries.

Article 9: Authority
9.1 The Global Chin Christian Fellowship shall not legislate for the churches nor shall it act for them in any manner. Rather, the Global Chin Christian Fellowship shall offer support and counsel, and provide opportunity for united action in matters of common interests.

Article 10: Organizational Structure

10.1 The Global Chin Christian Fellowship shall discharge its mission through General Assembly, Global Board of Directors, Office Bearers, Advisory Board and other subordinate bodies/committees as may be established.

10.1.1. The General Assembly

a.     The General Assembly shall be the supreme decision-making body and shall meet every three years
b.     The General Assembly shall be composed of official representatives of the member organizations as delegates
c.     The General Assembly shall have the following functions:
1.     To decide the attendance quorum of the General Assembly (120), which will include Global Board of Directors from GCCF (9), Global Board of Directors from regions (7), and voting delegates (104)
2.     To determine overall policies of the Global Chin Christian Fellowship and to review programs undertaken to implement policies previously adopted
3.     To confirm working bodies/committees, their members, functions and projects that are mandated to be executed in the time limitations set by the General Assembly

    10.1.2. The Global Board of Directors (GBD)

a.     the Global Board of Directors is accountable for the executions of programs and projects which are mandated to be executed in the time limitations set by the General Assembly,
b.     the Global Board of Directors is composed of persons:
                                               i.     Seven delegates sent by regional committee
                                             ii.     Nine delegates elected by the General Assembly
c.     the GBD shall meet each year at a designated place and time,
d.     the GBD is comprised of
                                               i.     Executive, who will chair the meeting,
                                             ii.     Associate Executive Director
                                            iii.     Executive Secretary
                                            iv.     Financial Secretary
                                             v.     Treasurer
                                            vi.     Heads of Departments
e.     The officers and Executive Secretary (Myanmar) shall present a yearly work report to the Global Board of Directors and the General Assembly.
f.      The GBD represents the General Assembly between the meetings.
g.     GBD shall elect OB.

10.1.3 Office Bearers

1)    OB shall be composed as follows
a)     Executive Director
b)    Associate Executive Director
c)     Executive Secretary
d)    Financial Secretary
e)     Treasurer
2)    OB shall have the following functions:
a)     Shall prepare agenda for BM, GBD and GA meetings
b)    When necessary, shall meet and make decisions
c)     Shall deliberate and work for the success of GCCF programs
d)    Shall act as Oversight Committee
e)     Shall have the power to summon an emergency GBD meeting

10.1.4. Advisory Board

To give a necessary advice for the success and smooth running of GCCF, an advisory board shall be formed.
1.     It shall be composed of 7 members
2.     All members of Advisory Board shall attend and participate in the General Assembly of GCCF
3.     Convenor or one of the board member shall attend and participate in an annual meeting of GBD
4.     The Board shall give advices to OB, GBD and GA

10.1.5. Departments
       
The Global Board of Directors, with the approval of the General Assembly, forms the following departments:
1.     Finance
2.     Development
3.     Youth
4.     Women
5.     Mission
6.     Education and Leadership
7.     Information and Research
8.     Spiritual and Physical Health
9.     Environment

Article 11: Office Term
11.1.        The office term of ES, AB, OB and GBD shall be three (3) years for one (1) term.
11.2.       ES, AB, OB and GBD shall be entitled to continuously work in same position only for two (2) terms.
11.3.       Former ES, AB, OB and GBD can be re-elected after a pause of one term
11.4.       ES, AB, OB and GBD cannot be elected to other positions upon completion of serving the mentioned positions for two terms continuously 

Article 12: By-laws

12.1 The General Assembly or Global Board of Directors will have the authority to adopt and amend by-laws, which are inconsistent with the constitution for the functioning of the departments.

Article 13: Quorum

13.1 A quorum for the conduct of any business by the General Assembly, Global Board of Directors, Office Bearers and departments shall be more than half of its membership.

13.2 In the case of quorum shortfall, the meetings of the General Assembly, Global Board of Directors, Office Bearers and departments shall be cancelled and emergency meetings of the General Assembly, Global Board of Directors, Office Bearers and departments shall be summoned immediately.


Article 14: Termination of Membership

14.1 Any member and any office bearer who is in breach of the constitution and policies of GCCF shall be given a warning in writing by the GBD and if the member continues misconduct, the GBD shall have the power to terminate the membership.

14.2 Any member whose membership has been terminated shall not be refunded the amount of membership fees that has already been paid.

Article 15: Amendments

15.1 The constitution shall be amended by two-third votes of the delegates to the General Assembly present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been reviewed by the Global Board of Directors, and notice of it sent to the member organizations, not less than three months before the meeting of the General Assembly.

15.2 The Global Board of Directors itself, as well as the member organizations, shall have the right to propose such amendments.

Article 16: Dissolution

16.1 The organization shall be dissolved at any time if agreed by at least two thirds of the members present and voting at the General Assembly.

16.2 The General Assembly shall have the power to pass or transfer any assets to the Chin people, churches or organizations all over the world.


Article 17: Adoption

17.1 The constitution was accepted and adopted by the members present at the GA held on April 27, 2012.

(Note: This is just for people who are interested in GCCF.)

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