Constitution of
New Covenant Student Fellowship
Article I
-Name-
The name of this organization/association shall be "New Covenant Student
Fellowship."
Article II
-Purpose-
1. To provide an on-campus fellowship between like minded MTSU students who hold
to Baptist principles and experimental knowledge of God.
2. To learn, study, discuss, and promote truths of various disciplines of learning from the primitive Christian perspective.
3. To add and to broaden knowledge as provided by the university.
4. To work toward the establishment of a near campus facility for the continuance of these goals.
Article III
-Membership-
1. Active membership will include Middle Tennessee State University students,
full or part time, who are members of regular Old Time Baptist Churches,
"Missionary" or "United", which are generally recognized by
one another as sound in principles and practice.
2. Associate membership will include alumni of Middle Tennessee State University, who meet the same church membership qualifications, and other MTSU students whose church affiliations may be other than that named in number 1. Associate members may participate in all but the governing decisions of student fellowship activities and affairs. They are free to hold open discussion, but cannot vote or hold office.
3. We are wanting to invite, Murfreesboro Missionary Baptist Church, Victory Missionary Baptist Church, and Rocky Mound Missionary Baptist Church to sponsor this endeavor, each church lending their pastor ( or another chosen in his place ) as a "Spiritual Trustee," along with one other person elected by each church, designated a "Secular Trustee," to advise and help guide the student fellowship activities. The trustees will need to be voted on by the church they represent. The trustees also need to be a person who will be committed to the student fellowship and able to attend at least business meetings. Other willing and like minded churches may later be invited to share this sponsorship. Constitutional provisions for their addition and jurisdiction will be added as needed with the consent of the active student membership and the churches already serving as sponsors.
4. Before any real estate is acquired, an appropriate corporation will be formed and a constitution approved by each of the sponsoring churches, for the government of the student fellowship in perpetuity.
5. Activities, such as trips, community service, and general fellowship of the student union will be determined by majority vote of the active membership. Should the majority of the trustees deem it necessary to refer any matter to the sponsoring churches to obtain their consent, it shall be done before proceeding.
Article IV
-Faculty Advisor-
1. An on-campus advisor will be chosen from among the faculty of MTSU by the
active student membership in accordance with university standards. The advisor
will be a member of the same church affiliation. In the event that no such
qualified faculty member can be obtained, a retired professor or some respected
alumnus or any active faculty member may be chosen instead.
Article V
-Officers-
1. The active membership will choose by majority vote a president and
vice-president to preside over meetings, and a secretary/treasurer to record the
minutes of such meetings. These officers will preside over meetings once every
week.
2. The possibility for re-election is indefinite.
3. Elections will be held every four months (each session for a different office) for the office of President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. The elections for the officers will be held at monthly business meetings. Each officer will serve a term of one year from the time of their election. The office of President will be filled every May. The office of Vice-President will be filled every September. The office of Secretary/Treasurer will be filled every January.
4. The following is the duties and responsibilities of the office of President: He/She is to be moderator over business meetings. They are in charge of delegating devotionals and inviting speakers. They should also oversee the well-being of the group and provide spiritual leadership.
5. The following is the duties and responsibilities of the office of Vice-President: He/She is to assist the president. In the absence of President, the Vice-President assumes all responsibilities and duties. The Vice-President is to give spiritual support to the President. They are also responsible for a monthly newsletter to be sent to all sponsoring churches.
6. The office of Secretary/Treasurer includes: writing the minutes and being
responsible for reports other than the newsletter. They are to assist the
Vice-President with information for that newsletter. They are also responsible
to keep records of funds and the use of those funds.
Article VI
-Meetings-
1. The organization is to meet once a week for the purpose of Biblical studies,
fellowship, and outreach. Other activities should not interfere with the
meetings.
2. Business meetings will be conducted once a month, after the general meeting of the first week of each month. These meetings will be held in accordance with Robert*s Rules of Order.
Article VII
-Amendments-
1. This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of active members who are not
associate members, and a 2/3 vote of all trustees. If a member or trustee is
unable to attend, then they may send their vote by proxy. If the amendment fails
to gain a 2/3 vote by either the members or trustees, then the amendment is
dropped. The student fellowship will be able to vote on that particular
amendment one year from the date it failed.