THE CONSTITUION OF THE
TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONFERENCE OF THE DEAF
ADOPTED
11/11/06
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Tennessee Baptist Conference of the Deaf (TBCD).
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
The object of this conference shall be to promote church attendance, teaching, training, and Christian fellowship among the Deaf people of this state and through the Southern Baptist Convention, SBC and Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf, SBCD; to bring together, unify, and counsel those of like faith and practice; to elect officers and committees; and to arrange for its own meetings. This conference shall accept the Holy Scriptures as the all-sufficient rule for faith and practice.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be composed of Deaf and hearing people who are members of a local Tennessee Southern Baptist (TBC) church with a deaf ministry. Members must be elected by their church to be a messenger to TBCD. There is no limit to the number of messengers a church may elect. Other Deaf and hearing people may attend TBCD as visitors without membership privileges.
ARTICLE IV: AFFILIATION
TBCD shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf. TBCD members shall cooperate with TBC, SBC, and SBCD through prayer, financial, and mission work.
ARTICLE V: ADMINISTRATIVE
The officers of TBCD shall be:
1) President 6) Interpreter Training Coordinator
2) Vice-President 7) Worship and Workshop Coordinator
3) Secretary 8) 2 Trustees
4) Treasurer
5) Youth Coordinator
An Executive Board shall be formed consisting of the elected officers. Leaders or pastors of the local Southern Baptist churches where there are deaf ministries may serve as advisors to the Executive Board. The Tennessee Baptist Convention may send a representative to the Executive Board as Ex Officio. The Executive Board will also serve as a liaison body to the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The Executive Board has the authority to plan the annual conference. This authority includes decisions concerning funding and the expenditure of funds. The Executive Board also has oversight of TBCD related matters, such as the mission fund and the Golden State Mission Offering Fund through the TBC, and our TBCD funding.
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
TBCD shall have the following committees:
1) Credentials 5) Steering
2) Time and Place 6) Necrology
3) Resolution 7) Finance/Audit
4) Nominating
The president shall appoint all committees, and other committees may be formed as needed.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
The regular session of the conference shall be held once a year. The time and place shall be decided by majority vote of those attending the present session. If no decision is reached, the Executive Board may decide time and place.
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS
The constitution may be amended by majority vote of the members present at any regular session. Such an amendment must be handed to the Executive Board in writing at least sixty days prior to the time of proposal, presenting the original to the Executive Board.
THE BYLAWS OF THE
TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONFERENCE OF THE DEAF
ARTICLE I: OFFICERS
The officers of the Conference must be men or women who are members of a Southern Baptist Church. They shall be persons of sound character, recognized ability, and mature experience. The election of the officers shall be held at the close of each regular session. The Officers will serve for two consecutive years in the same office. The officers may not serve in the same office for more than 4 consecutive years, but may be elected in different office.
ARTICLE II: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The president shall preside over regular and called sessions of the Conference and shall be ex-officio of all committees. He/She shall be responsible for the program for the conference. The other officers shall help in the planning and the meeting.
The vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president, or when asked to do so by the president. The vice-president shall serve on the Credentials Committee in addition to the appointed members of that committee. The Vice-President shall work closely with the President and shall use these years to learn and prepare for the office of president at the next election.
The secretary shall keep a permanently written report of all meetings and all proceedings.
The minutes of the TBCD business meeting shall be typed and placed in the website and/or Christian Volunteer at the end of the year. The minutes shall also be available at the beginning of the next conference and be presented in writing during the business meeting of the conference. Additional responsibilities include registration procedures, keeping a daily list of registrants, balancing the number of registrants with the money the treasurer receives and contacting the meeting place about all details of arrangements. A roll call list should be prepared for the Business Meeting.
The treasurer shall have a charge of all the receipts and disbursements; the Executive Board must approve such disbursements. The treasurer must keep a careful account of all contributions. The Trustees and the Finance/Audit Committee shall audit the books at the conference meeting. The treasurer shall be a member of the Finance/Audit Committee. A typed (written) report shall be given at the regular session of the conference. He/She shall also receive the registration forms and fees, send the forms to the secretary, pay the final bill at the meeting place, have change available for registration, count daily receipts, conduct the final count of all receipts at the end of the conference, assist with the registration process.
The Youth Coordinator shall plan and conduct workshops and fellowships for children and youth ages 0 months – senior high school. The Youth Coordinator will plan program for the Jr. TBCD, hearing Jr. TBCD and children’s program; shall be actively involved as sponsor throughout the weekend. He or she shall make a report to TBCD. Jr. TBCD shall have his or her own business meeting and the president of JR. TBCD shall report at the Business meeting.
The Interpreter Training Coordinator (ITC) shall plan and provide interpreting training workshops for church interpreters. He/She shall be responsible for seeing that everything is presented in both voice and sign if both Deaf and Hearing persons are present. Before the conference begins, the ITC shall check on the lighting and sound needed for the interpreters so that both Deaf and Hearing people will not have difficulty understanding. ITC will try to learn from the other officers before the meeting where the interpreters will be needed and the skill level needed, and arrange interpreters before the meeting. A registration sheet will be sent for interpreters to volunteer their willingness and skills. The ITC will plan a workshop for the interpreters. He or she shall make a report to TBCD.
The Worship/Workshop Coordinator will plan and conduct all elements of the worship service based on the theme of the convention, including, but not limited to, the printing of the programs, planning of the music, use of the sound system, sunrise service and the schedule of the worship service. He/She shall plan a workshop for the Deaf Workers that are involved in the ministry for the Deaf and conduct the evaluation of the whole convention and plan a fellowship.
Trustees shall attend all meetings of the officers, shall audit the treasurer’s books at the annual meeting on the first night of the conference and report to the business meeting the next day, shall assist with registration at the annual meeting, shall assist the treasurer in counting the receipts and reconciling the accounts nightly and at the close of the conference, and shall assist with checking registrants at meals. The trustees shall assist the officers when necessary.
All officers shall serve on the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III: DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEES
- The credentials Committee is to examine the application of anyone desiring membership in the conference and provide members with a card bearing the following information: name, address, church affiliation, any church office held and a signature of an elected or employed church leader to be determined who is qualified as a messenger.
- Time and Place Committee is to investigate future conference sites and meeting times and bring recommendations to the annual conference. Conference time and place should be planned at least two years in advance.
- Resolutions Committee is to receive resolutions from members and write appropriate resolutions to be presented to the annual conference.
- Nominating Committee shall nominate one or more person for each office. They shall contact individuals who plan to attend the conference before or during the conference. Each nominee must plan to attend the conference and be willing to serve in the office, if elected.
- Steering Committee is to receive and screen motions from the messengers at each annual conference. The committee is to present their report at the annual conference. This committee shall see that items presented for the business meeting are clearly stated.
- Necrology committee is to collect the names of Deaf Tennessee Baptist and Southern Baptist Deaf ministry workers who have died in the past year and present them at the annual conference.
- Finance/Audit Committee is to review the accounts maintained by the Treasurer and certify their condition at each annual conference.
Article IV: SPECIAL MEETING
Revised 11/11/06The Executive Board shall have the authority to call a special meeting if necessary. They shall give and report of the special meeting given 60 days. They shall send out the flyers of when, where is the special meeting.
