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THE HYDE PARK AND KENWOOD INTERFAITH COUNCIL 1448 E. 52nd Street, Box 117 Chicago, IL 60615

Interfaith Council By-Laws

March 3, 2009 Version

Bylaws of the Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council

Article One: Name

The name of this organization shall be "Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council; hereafter it shall be referred to as the "Interfaith Council" or the "Council."

Article Two: Mission & Vision

The Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council is an association of congregations and religious bodies in the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhood. Our purpose is to provide effective channels for cooperative expression of our shared mission for the care of the community. These channels include: community service, social justice, mutual spiritual enrichment and understanding.

We thus bind ourselves together in association for mutual enrichment and community service and agree to honor the differences among us in theology, polity, worship, and practice. Inspired by our different faiths and our common values, we seek ways to offer support in times of need. Together we witness to values that heal and repair division in order to create more understanding and acceptance of people of every race, religion, age, ability, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and economic circumstance.

Article Three: Membership

The Interfaith Council shall embrace all religious organizations between 43rd St. on the north, 60th St. on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, and Cottage Grove Ave. on the west, that indicate their desire to be so associated. We also welcome individual supporters.

A. Organizational Membership: Member organizations shall pay an annual membership fee and shall pledge to work together in a respectful manner. Member organizations are requested to pay one dollar per member per year, with a minimum of 25 dollars for organizations with 25 or fewer members.

All member organizations may appoint up to two representatives to the Interfaith Council Governing Body, and it is preferable that one be a spiritual leader or executive of the member organization. These representatives are voting delegates to the quarterly, annual and special meetings of the Council.

B. Associate Membership: Member organizations who are not able to meet the financial and volunteer requirements of membership, but who participate in Council programs, may become Associate Members. Associate Members may participate in all activities and programs of the Interfaith Council but may not vote at Council meetings. Associate Members may become Organizational Members at any time by satisfying the minimum financial and volunteer requirements.

C. A religious organization interested in membership or associate membership will submit to the Executive Committee a membership application which includes their organization's mission/vision statement, their ideals and goals, and how they see themselves in relationship with the Interfaith Council. The Executive Committee will present the membership application to the Interfaith Council who may confirm or deny the membership request.

D. The Executive Committee may recommend the removal of a member organization from membership for conduct that does not reflect the common values and ideals of the Interfaith Council, expressed in Article 2.

E. Inactive Membership Status: Member organizations, who within the previous year have shown no involvement in the Interfaith Council, have not participated in quarterly meetings, and have not paid yearly dues, may be moved to inactive status by the Executive Committee. Inactive members may not vote at quarterly or yearly meetings. The Executive Committee may return a member organization to active Member or Associate Member status at a time when they believe the organization has shown an appropriate level of interest in the work of the Interfaith Council.

F. Affiliate Organizations. A religious organization that is based outside of Hyde Park and Kenwood, or a non-religious organization within or outside of Hyde Park and Kenwood, may request recognition as an Affilitate Organization. Where there are shared values and a desire to engage in a cooperative relationship, the Interfaith Council will be open to recognizing the organization as an Affilitate Organization. Affiliate Organization may participate in Interfaith Council activities, but do not have a vote.

G. The action of the Executive Committee to confer or deny membership, to remove membership, to recognize an organization as an affiliate, or to move a member to associate or inactive status must be affirmed by the governing body at the next Quarterly Meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. The Executive Committee will present all applications for membership to the Quarterly meeting, along with it's recommendation, for a vote. The Executive Committee will also present its reason for any member to be removed from membership or for being moved to associate or inactive status. The governing body of the Interfaith Council may affirm the decision of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote.

Article Four: Individual Supporters

Individual Supporters are recognized by the Interfaith Council as follows:

• Patrons: Individuals who contributed $500 dollars or more to the Interfaith Council within the prior 12 months.
• Sustainers: Individuals who contributed $100-499.99 within the prior 12 months
• Contributors: Individuals who contributed $ 25 - 99.99 within the prior 12 months.

Article Five: Governing Structure & Meetings

A. Governing Body: The work of the governing body includes:

• Establishing and continuing committees and functions in accordance with the mission of the Council
• Electing an Executive Committee from among the representatives of the membership
• Voting on policies and procedures, bylaw changes, and social justice concerns
• Approving the annual budget
• Giving direction to the work of the Executive Committee and to the greater Council.

B. Quarterly Meetings: Quarterly Meetings are the foundation of the Interfaith Council's governing structure, and most of the decisions, activities, communication and work of the Council will take place during these meetings. The President of the Executive Committee, elected by the governing body of the Council, will serve as moderator of the Quarterly Meetings.

C. Annual Meeting: The Quarterly Meeting held in the month of May or June will be the Interfaith Council's Annual Meeting. The meeting may include a presentation or program for mutual enrichment. During the Annual Meeting members of the Executive Committee will be elected, and a report will be given on the years' activities, including a financial report and approval of the budget for the next year.

D. Special Meetings: Special meetings, including meetings to remove an organization from membership, to remove an Executive Committee member, or to purchase or sell real estate, can be called by the Executive Committee, the President, or a petition signed by representatives of at least twenty-five percent of active member organizations of the Interfaith Council. The reason for the meeting must be stated in the written notice of the meeting and in any petition for a Special Meeting. No other issues/business may be addressed at the meeting. Fifteen representatives of at least eight member organizations will constitute a quorum. A simple majority vote of members present is required for any action/motion to be passed.

E. Notice, Representation and Quorum:

• Notice, along with proposed agenda and supporting materials, of quarterly, annual, or special meetings will be given in writing to all member organizations at least thirty days prior to the scheduled meeting date.
• A simple majority vote of the governing body present will decide all issues unless otherwise stated in these bylaws.
• Fifteen individuals representing at least eight member organizations will constitute a quorum for Annual, Quarterly and Special Meetings. If a quorum is not present representatives of member organizations shall be polled as necessary.

Article Six: Officers and The Executive Committee

A. The Officers of the Interfaith Council will be: President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer.

B. Executive Committee: Elected from among members of the governing body of the Council, the Executive Committee is the administrative body of the Council, and is directed to do the work of the Council in between Quarterly meetings. The officers along with the immediate Past President, eight representatives from member organizations, and the chairs of any other special committees will constitute the Executive Committee of the Interfaith Council.

C. Election of Executive Committee: a Nominating Committee will be appointed and will present a slate of candidates for the Executive Committee to be elected at the Council's Annual Meeting. Other individuals may be nominated from the floor.

D. Executive Committee Meetings: The Executive Committee will meet at least six times a year. The President is the moderator of the meeting. Seven members of the Executive Committee representing at least five member organizations will constitute a quorum. At its discretion, the Executive Committee may poll members not present for any vote. Meetings are open to representatives of all member organizations.

E. Role and Responsibility of the Executive Committee: Acting on the direction of the Council, the Executive Committee:

• is responsible for implementing the ongoing work of the Interfaith Council
• will have charge of all matters pertaining to the Articles of Incorporation, documents of legal organization, Interfaith Council property, and physical and financial affairs of the Interfaith Council.
• will have the responsibility of collecting and disbursing funds, keeping Interfaith Council records, and reporting its actions to the Interfaith Council.
• will assist in coordinating and evaluating functions, committees, etc. in accordance with the mission of the Council.
• will be the official representatives/spokespersons for the Council to the wider community.

Staff members may be hired by the Executive Committee to facilitate its responsibilities.

F. Removal of a member of the Executive Committee: Removing an officer or member of the Executive Committee requires a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Committee. The action of the Executive Committee to remove any of its members or officers must then be affirmed at the next Quarterly Meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. At the Quarterly Meeting or special meeting the Council may affirm the action of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote of the representatives present. Removing an officer or member of the Executive Committee may also be initiated by the Governing Body, and then acted on by the Governing Body by a two-thirds vote of the representatives present.

G. Individual Executive Committee Member's Roles and Responsibilities:

1. President:

• Develops the agenda.
• Moderates Executive Committee meetings and quarterly meetings.
• Appoints members to and encourages committees and task forces.
• Communicates with the community, members and individual supporters
• Writes a regular column for the newsletter and annual appeal letters to members and individual supporters
• Serves as the spokesperson for the Interfaith Council at community events.
• Supervises and coordinates with paid administrative staff.
• Represents the Council in correspondence and legal documents

2. Vice President: Moderates meetings in absence of the President.

3. Secretary:

• Takes minutes of Executive Committee meetings, Quarterly Meetings, Annual Meetings, and other special meetings.
• Sends out written and/or verbal announcements of Executive Committee meetings.
• Takes attendance and confirms quorums at meetings.
• Maintains Executive Committee membership list.
• Maintains historical records of meetings, including minutes and hand-outs

4. Treasurer:

• Presents regular income and expense reports to the Executive Committee.
• Presents a financial report at Interfaith Council meetings
• Creates annual budget to be finalized by the Executive committee and presented at the Annual Meeting.
• Approves expenditures consistent with the budget or as authorized by the Executive Committee.

5. Members At Large:

• Attend Executive Committee Meetings.
• Participate in other Interfaith Council committee activities.

6. Immediate Past President

• Advises President as needed
• Attends Executive Committee Meetings

Article Seven: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the governing body present at the Annual or Quarterly Meeting. All proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to all member organizations at least thirty days prior to the Annual or Quarterly Meeting.

Article Eight: Other Financial Matters

A. The purpose for which the Interfaith Council is formed is exclusively to receive and administer funds for educational, religious, and charitable purposes in accordance with the meaning of section 501 C3 of the Internal Revenue Code and to that end:

• to take and hold by bequest, devise, gift, grant, purchase, lease, or otherwise any property, real, personal, tangible, or any undivided interest therein, without limitation as to amount or value
• to sell, convey, or otherwise dispose of any such property and to invest, reinvest, or deal with the principle or the income thereof in such manner that, in the judgment of the Executive Committee will best promote the purposes of the Interfaith Council subject to law
• to perform any other act incidental to or connected with the foregoing purposes or in advancement thereof, but never for the pecuniary profit or financial gain of its officers or members of the Executive Committee.

B. No part of the net earnings of the Interfaith Council shall be to the benefit of any member, trustee, or officer of the Interfaith Council, or any private individual, except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the Council affecting one or more of its purposes. No member, trustee or officer of the Interfaith Council, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the Councils assets on dissolution of the Council.

C. No substantial part of the activities of the Council shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation. The Interfaith Council shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

D. The Interfaith Council shall not conduct or carry on any activities not permitted to be conducted or carried on by organizations exempt under section 501 C3 of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may be amended.

E. Upon dissolution of the Interfaith Council or the winding up of its affairs, the assets of the Council shall be distributed exclusively to charitable or educational organizations, which would then qualify under the provisions of section 501 C3 of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may be hereafter amended.