Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality

CONSTITUTION

Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality

Name: Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality

Purpose: To foster study and scholarly exchange in the field of Christian spirituality.

Membership: The Society welcomes to membership all persons who express their interest in the Society's work, and support the Society, by subscribing to the Society's journal, Spiritus .

Governing Board: The Governing Board consists of the following elected members: six persons serving staggered three-year terms; a President (for a one-year term); and a Vice- President/President-Elect.

The following serve as ex officio members of the Governing Board: the Past President (for a one-year term); the Secretary-Treasurer (elected by the SSCS Membership every three years, renewable indefinitely); the Editor of the journal, Spiritus , appointed by the Governing Board every five years (renewable indefinitely); and the two Co-chairs of the AAR Christian Spirituality Group (appointed by the Governing Board to staggered three-year terms, renewable once). After serving a term on the Governing Board, whether as an elected or ex officio member, a member may be nominated to the Board again after a hiatus of three years. By exception, this statement does not apply to the Vice-President/President-Elect, who may be elected at any time to this position.

Duties of the Governing Board: To plan for meetings of the Society, propose to the membership ways to foster the study of spirituality, carry out directives of the membership, and oversee the financial affairs of the Society. Only current members of the Society may be nominated to the Governing Board.

Elections of the Governing Board: Election of the two new members of the Governing Board to replace those rotating off the Board at the close of the Annual Meeting shall be as follows: The Nominations Committee, using the list of names obtained by the mail-in suggestions from the membership, formulates the slate of two persons to be elected to the Board to replace the two who rotate off that year, ascertains before the Annual Meeting that the nominees are willing to serve on the Board for the three-year term, and proposes and moves the ratification/election of these nominees at the Annual Meeting. In the event that a member of the Governing Board is unable to complete his/her term, the Nominations Committee shall propose an additional person for election at the Society's Annual Meeting, following normal procedures; this person shall serve a full three-year term. The members present at the Annual Meeting constitute a quorum to ratify (or repudiate) the slate proposed.

Election of the Vice-President/President Elect: The Vice-President/President Elect shall be nominated by the Governing Board from among its present or past elected or ex officio members.

The Board will make every effort to rotate the Presidency between women and men, members of different denominations, etc. The Board ascertains the willingness of the person to serve as Vice-President/President-Elect and, the following year, as President. The Nominations Committee moves the ratification/election of the Vice-President/President-Elect at the Annual Meeting, and the members present constitute a quorum.

Nominations Committee: The Nominations Committee shall be composed of two members elected at large from among those who have regularly attended the Annual Meetings, have their dues up to date, and have volunteered to the Board for this service; and one ex officio member from the Board, namely the current Vice-President/President-Elect. The elected members serve staggered three-year terms. The role of the elected members of the Nominations Committee is to assure that the preferences of the membership, expressed through the mail-in suggestions of names, is honored. The role of the ex officio member is to represent the needs of the Board, in regard to gender and denominational balance, specific abilities and talents needed on the current Board, etc.

Selection of the Co-chairs of the AAR Christian Spirituality Group: These two persons shall be selected when necessary by the Governing Board, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, following the rotation established by the AAR guidelines which specify that no one may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms in this position. These persons shall be recommended to the Society at the Annual meeting to be nominated to the AAR , and the members present constitute a quorum.

Dues: The dues will be proposed by the Secretary/Treasurer and submitted by the President for approval by majority vote of the membership attending the Annual Meeting.

Constitutional Amendments: The Constitution of the Society may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members voting at an Annual Meeting, or by 2/3 of the votes cast by the membership voting by mail.

Voted on at October 2001 Meeting
Amended at the Annual Meetings of:
November 23, 2002
November 22, 2003
November 18, 2006


CONSTITUTION Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality Name: Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality Purpose: To foster study and scholarly exchange in the field of Christian spirituality. Membership: The Society welcomes to membership all persons who express their interest in the Society's work, and support the Society, by subscribing to the Society's journal, Spiritus . Governing Board: The Governing Board consists of the following elected members: six persons serving staggered three-year terms; a President (for a one-year term); and a Vice- President/President-Elect. The following serve as ex officio members of the Governing Board: the Past President (for a one-year term); the Secretary-Treasurer (elected by the SSCS Membership every three years, renewable indefinitely); the Editor of the journal, Spiritus , appointed by the Governing Board every five years (renewable indefinitely); and the two Co-chairs of the AAR Christian Spirituality Group (appointed by the Governing Board to staggered three-year terms, renewable once). After serving a term on the Governing Board, whether as an elected or ex officio member, a member may be nominated to the Board again after a hiatus of three years. By exception, this statement does not apply to the Vice-President/President-Elect, who may be elected at any time to this position. Duties of the Governing Board: To plan for meetings of the Society, propose to the membership ways to foster the study of spirituality, carry out directives of the membership, and oversee the financial affairs of the Society. Only current members of the Society may be nominated to the Governing Board. Elections of the Governing Board: Election of the two new members of the Governing Board to replace those rotating off the Board at the close of the Annual Meeting shall be as follows: The Nominations Committee, using the list of names obtained by the mail-in suggestions from the membership, formulates the slate of two persons to be elected to the Board to replace the two who rotate off that year, ascertains before the Annual Meeting that the nominees are willing to serve on the Board for the three-year term, and proposes and moves the ratification/election of these nominees at the Annual Meeting. In the event that a member of the Governing Board is unable to complete his/her term, the Nominations Committee shall propose an additional person for election at the Society's Annual Meeting, following normal procedures; this person shall serve a full three-year term. The members present at the Annual Meeting constitute a quorum to ratify (or repudiate) the slate proposed. Election of the Vice-President/President Elect: The Vice-President/President Elect shall be nominated by the Governing Board from among its present or past elected or ex officio members. The Board will make every effort to rotate the Presidency between women and men, members of different denominations, etc. The Board ascertains the willingness of the person to serve as Vice-President/President-Elect and, the following year, as President. The Nominations Committee moves the ratification/election of the Vice-President/President-Elect at the Annual Meeting, and the members present constitute a quorum. Nominations Committee: The Nominations Committee shall be composed of two members elected at large from among those who have regularly attended the Annual Meetings, have their dues up to date, and have volunteered to the Board for this service; and one ex officio member from the Board, namely the current Vice-President/President-Elect. The elected members serve staggered three-year terms. The role of the elected members of the Nominations Committee is to assure that the preferences of the membership, expressed through the mail-in suggestions of names, is honored. The role of the ex officio member is to represent the needs of the Board, in regard to gender and denominational balance, specific abilities and talents needed on the current Board, etc. Selection of the Co-chairs of the AAR Christian Spirituality Group: These two persons shall be selected when necessary by the Governing Board, in consultation with the Nominations Committee, following the rotation established by the AAR guidelines which specify that no one may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms in this position. These persons shall be recommended to the Society at the Annual meeting to be nominated to the AAR , and the members present constitute a quorum. Dues: The dues will be proposed by the Secretary/Treasurer and submitted by the President for approval by majority vote of the membership attending the Annual Meeting. Constitutional Amendments: The Constitution of the Society may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members voting at an Annual Meeting, or by 2/3 of the votes cast by the membership voting by mail. Voted on at October 2001 Meeting Amended at the Annual Meetings of: November 23, 2002 November 22, 2003 November 18, 2006		The Governing Board Annual Meeting The Society Constitution Contact Us