ARTICLE I
NAME AND OBJECT
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the African Heritage Network (here after referred to as “the Network”) of the Free Methodist Church of North America.
Section 2. Vision and Mission Statements
The vision of the Network is to help lead the Free Methodist Church of North America to be established in its roots of inclusiveness of all people to know God as revealed in Jesus Christ and to make him known.

The mission of the Network is to be a healthy biblical community of African American Free Methodist leaders supporting one another and assisting the Free Methodist Church of North America in understanding the societal distinctive in the African American community in order to recruit and multiply disciples, leaders, groups and churches.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.Any elder or pastor in the Free Methodist Church, member of the ministerial staff of a local Free Methodist congregation, or faculty member of an institution of higher education affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, active or retired, of African
descent or leading an African American ministry, and who is in
accord with the mission and vision of this organization may
become members of the Network by accepting the terms of the By-
Laws of the Network and the consent of the membership. The
Executive committee may accept members in between the meeting of the Network, to be approved at the next meeting of the Network.
Section 2. All members in good standing shall be entitled to vote on all matters pending before the Network. In no instance will proxy votes be counted or recorded.
Section 3. The organization’s business year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. The elected officers of the Network shall be Director, Assistant Director, Administrative Assistant/Treasurer, and Public Relations Officer. Elected officers shall be limited to two consecutive three (3) year terms.
Section 2. The duties of the Director shall be:
To preside at the meetings of the Network and to chair the Executive Committee.
To appoint Chairs of all committees, either standing or ad hoc, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
To exercise general authority on behalf of the Network between meetings of the membership and the Executive Committee, subject to the approval of the Network membership
To report to the liaison from the Board of Bishops as designated by the Board of Bishops.
Section 3. The duties of the Assistant Director shall be to perform all of the duties of the Director on her/his absence or disability.
Section 4. The duties of the Administrative Assistant/Financial shall be:
To act as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Committee and to the Network, to give due notice of all meetings to the Network and the Executive Committee, and to keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Network and the Executive Committee.
To keep a record of all Network members.
To act as chief financial officer of the Network
To report all receipts and expenditures at the regular meetings of the Executive Committee and the Network.
To produce quarterly and annual financial statements and maintain an accurate record of the financial condition of the Network at all times.
To serve as ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the Nominating Committee.
Section 5. The duties of the Public Relations Officer shall be to promote the work of the Network to the Denomination, the Annual Conferences, local churches and the denominational publications.

ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of all elected officers and two members elected at-large.
Section 2. At-large members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Network.
Section 3. The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be two-thirds of the Committee’s membership.
Section 4. The terms of service of the at-large members of the Executive Committee shall be the same as that of elected officers.
Section 5. Persons to fill vacancies of at-large members that occur between the annual meetings of the network shall be appointed by the Executive Committee
Section 6. Members of Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by the Director and approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 7. Standing Committees shall be created upon a majority vote of the Network’s members.
Section 8. The duties of the Standing Committee shall be to achieve the goals set forth in those portions of the Mission Statement that pertain to that committee.
Section 9. The terms of office of Standing Committee officers and chairs shall be the same as those of the Director.
Section 10. The members of Standing Committees shall be elected by majority vote of the membership at the annual meeting of the Network.

ARTICLE V
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The Director shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at least three members no later than thirty days prior to the annual meeting of the Network.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall present the Administrative Assistant/Treasurer with a slate of officers to be elected no later than three weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Network.
Section 3. The Administrative Assistant/Treasurer shall publish the slate of officers to the members of the Network no later than two weeks prior to the annual meeting of the Network.
Section 4. The voting shall take place by secret ballot for each office and a simple majority of the members present and voting shall be necessary and sufficient to elect a member to an office of the Network.
Section 5. Vacancies of elected offices that occur between annual meetings of the Network shall be filled by majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee.
Section 6. Persons appointed to complete the remainder of a vacated term shall be eligible to run for their own terms of office as outlined in Article III, Section 1.
Section 7. The terms of the office of Director and Administrative Assistant/Treasurer shall be staggered by one year with those of Assistant Director and Public Relations Officer.

ARTICLE VI
EXPENDITURES
Section 1. The Administrative Assistant/Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the network as approved by the Executive Committee
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall delegate to the Director, at its discretion, the authority to approve ordinary expenditures on behalf of the Network including Annual and Executive Meeting. All other expenditures shall be approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Administrative Assistant/Treasurer shall arrange for a yearly audit of all accounts under the control of the network. Such report shall be distributed to the membership at the annual meeting.

Revised 2/24/2006 by E. Jackson

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