Constitution and By-Laws of Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cornell

May 8, 2005

1 Constitution

1.1 Name

The name of this organization shall be Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cornell.

1.2 Affiliation

Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cornell (hereinafter, ``the Fellowship'' or ``GCF'') is registered in Cornell University as an independent non-profit Christian organization. It is affiliated with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of the USA P.O. Box 7895 Madison, WI 53707-7895, and International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).

1.3 Mission Statement

To worship God and Jesus Christ and to learn His ways through study of the Bible. We achieve this by affirming the following four commitments:

• Spiritual Formation
• Integration of Faith and Learning
• Christian Community
• Witness and Service

1.4 Doctrinal Basis

We believe in:

1. The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--full of love and glory.
2. The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible.
3. The value and dignity of all people: created in God's image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of our sin and guilt, and justly subject to God's wrath.
4. Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
5. Justification by God's grace to all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
6. The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and a new calling to obedient service.
7. The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
8. The victorious reign and future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.

To God be glory forever.

1.5 Membership

Membership in the Fellowship is open to all registered Cornell University students, faculty, and staff who will participate regularly in the activities of the Fellowship.

Non-Cornell community members may join the Fellowship as volunteers. Excluding eligibility for election as officers, volunteers shall have the same rights and responsibilities as members. Any reference to members hereinafter shall be understood to include volunteers in its definition.

1.6 Officers

The Officers of the Fellowship shall be the President, the Vice-president, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. Officers shall be elected from and by the Fellowship's members at the annual all-member meeting. Term of service shall be one year. A Co-president may be elected in place of a Vice-president.

1.7 Committee Chairs

Committee Chairs shall share leadership responsibilities with the Officers. Committee Chairs shall be elected from and by the Fellowship's members at the annual all-member meeting. The number of Committee Chairs shall not be fewer than three. Term of service shall be one year.

1.8 Advisor

The Officers shall be responsible for selecting an advisor for the Fellowship. The advisor shall be a registered Cornell faculty or staff member who understands the purpose of the Fellowship and is willing to help the Fellowship better carry out its objectives. Term of service shall be one year.

1.9 Meetings

The annual all-member meeting shall be held during the Spring semester of each year to elect the incoming Officers and Committee Chairs, approve the annual report of the Committee Chairs and decide on specific issues that may come before the meeting. Additional all-member meetings may be called by the Officers or Committee Chairs as necessary.

1.10 Quorum

A quorum for an all-member meeting shall consist of more than two-thirds of the Officers and Committee Chairs and more than one-half of the members of the Fellowship.

1.11 Amendments

Proposed amendments to the constitution (except Article III, Mission Statement, and Article IV, Doctrinal Basis) may be presented in writing by any member or group of members to the Officers or Committee Chairs, to be voted on at the next special or annual all-member meeting. Amendments to Article III and Article IV must first be approved unanimously by the Officers and Committee Chairs before being presented to the all-member meeting. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the members present.

1.12 Ratification

Ratification of this constitution and by-laws must be approved by at least a two-third vote of the members in an annual or special all-member meeting.

2 By-Laws

2.1 Membership

2.1.1 Qualifications

Any person who meets the requirements of Article V and who participates regularly in the activities of the Fellowship may be eligible for membership.

2.1.2 Affirmation of membership

A person meeting the qualifications stated in A.1 who desires membership should submit his/her name to an Officer or Committee Chair. Submission can occur with written notification or attendance in the annual all-member meeting. The Officers and Committee Chairs must affirm a submission, unless the petitioner has attended fewer than six GCF events in the past academic year, in which case the submission is affirmed by a majority vote of the Officers and Committee Chairs. Membership is reaffirmed annually before the commencement of official business at the annual all-member meeting.

2.1.3 Duties

Members and volunteers are expected to actively participate in fellowship with others in the organization. They should live their daily lives according to the teachings of Jesus Christ as a demonstration of God's grace and witness to the power of the Holy spirit. They should be committed to spreading the Word of God to the non-believers around them.

2.2 The Committee Chairs

2.2.1 Qualifications of Officers and Committee Chairs

Any currently registered Cornell student who is a member and who has confessed his/her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and affirms the doctrinal basis (Article IV) shall be eligible to be elected as an Officer.

Any member of the Fellowship who has confessed his/her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and affirms the doctrinal basis (Article IV) shall be eligible to be elected as a Committee Chair or appointed as a Bible Study Leader.

2.2.2 Types of Committee Chairs

Officers shall designate Committee Chair positions as determined by the needs of the Fellowship. A Bible Study Coordinator shall be a required Committee Chair position. Additional Committee Chair positions may include but are not limited to Worship/Music Coordinator, Scheduling Coordinator, Prayer Coordinator, Community Service/Outreach Coordinator, Promotions and New Student Outreach Coordinator, Roundtable Coordinator, and Retreat Coordinator.

2.2.3 Bible Study Leaders

Bible study leaders shall be appointed by agreement of the Officers and Committee Chairs after the annual all-member meeting. Bible study leaders shall be ex officio Committee Chairs.

2.2.4 Election

Officers and Committee Chairs shall be elected by a majority vote of and from the members of the Fellowship at the annual all-member meeting.

2.2.5 Replacement of Committee Chairs

If a Committee Chair becomes unable to perform his/her duties during his/her term, the Officers and Committee Chairs shall appoint a new Committee Chair to fulfill the duties for the remainder of the annual term.

If, in the judgment of the Officers, and with the agreement of the Committee Chairs, a new Committee Chair position is needed during the academic year, the Officers shall have the authority to designate a new Committee Chair position.

2.2.6 Replacement of Officers

If an Officer becomes unable to perform his/her duties during the course of the academic year, an all-member meeting shall be convened and a new Officer shall be elected by a majority vote of the members.

2.3 Amendments

Proposed amendments to the by-laws may be presented in writing by any member or group of members to the Officers or Committee Chairs, to be voted on at the next all-member meeting of the Fellowship. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the members present.

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Constitution and By-Laws of Graduate Christian Fellowship, Cornell

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