Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Constitution and By-Laws
ARTICLE XIII - Reserved and Implied Powers
Section 1.
The PCLO shall be vested with full authority to make its own Constitution, By-Laws, rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper and orderly conduct of its affairs and for the governing and regulations of its officers-and members. It shall have the authority to establish its own Executive Board, raise funds and in general, perform all duties incidental to its existence as a body except, however, that said organization shall make no Constitution, By-Laws, rules and/or regulations which shall conflict with or abridge the Constitution and By-Laws of the Connectional or District Lay organization.
Section 2.
This organization shall be subject to and governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Connectional and Third Episcopal District Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Section 3.
This organization and each of its component or subordinate parts shall at all times be subject to and governed by the Book of Discipline, laws, doctrine and tenets of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Section 4.
The Constitution of the local church lay organization shall conform to the Constitution of the PCLO and the Presidents of the local church lay organization shall bear the same relation to the PCLO as the Conference Lay Organization Presidents bear to the Episcopal District Lay Organization.
ARTICLE XIV - Committees
Section 1.
All committees shall be appointed by the President, by and with the consent and approval of the Executive Board.
Section 2.
The records of all officers handling funds of the PCLO shall be audited by an Auditing Committee which shall report to the PCLO in its Annual session, before the close of the meeting.
Section 3.
The Finance Committee of the PCLO shall submit its final report to the regular Annual session of the PCLO before the close of the day.
ARTICLE XV - Subordinate Bodies
Section 1.
The PCLO shall be composed of the elected officers of the organization, the President of the PCLO, the President of each local church lay organization, six (6) elected delegates (of which one (1) shall be a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30) from each local church lay organization.
Section 2.
The Constitution and By-Laws of the organization must conform to and harmonize with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Connectional and DISTRICT Lay Organizations.
Section 3.
The President and Director of Lay Activities of the Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization are members of the Third District Organization and the President is a member of the Third District Executive Board. The Conference is entitled to six (6) elected delegates (of which one (1) shall be a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30) to the Annual meeting of the Third District Lay Organization.
Section 4.
The Conference Lay Organization shall be composed of the elected officers of the organization, the Presidents of the local church lay organizations and six (6) elected delegates (of which one (1) shall be a young adult between the ages of 18 and 30) from each local church lay organization within the Annual Conference boundaries and shall meet annually.
Section 5.
The Conference President shall make a full report of the activities to the Episcopal District Lay Organization.
Section 6.
There shall be organized in each African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Conference a local lay organization which shall be affiliated with and subject to the Conference Lay Organization and the Third Episcopal District Lay organization.
Section 7.
The local church lay organization may elect the following officers:
- President
- Vice Presidents
- Recording Secretary
- Assistant Recording Secretary
- Corresponding Secretary
- Treasurer
- Financial Secretary
- Chaplain
- Historiographer
- Parliamentarian
- Director of Lay Activities
Section 8.
The duties of the officers of the local lay organization shall be to perform the duties usual and customary to their office and such tasks or duties as may be assigned to them from time to time by the conference president.
Section 9.
The object and purpose of the local lay organization shall be:
- To encourage a systematic study of the Book of Discipline of the A.M.E. Church.
- To encourage the laypersons of the local church to participate more largely in the administrative affairs of the local church.
- To seek, by every lawful and acceptable means, to enroll among its active members a majority of the members of the church.
- To dissipate the erroneous idea that the organized laity in the local church represent a rare species and exist for the purpose of opposing the program of the pastor and Stewards in the development of the spiritual and religious life of the membership.
- To aid and assist the pastor and Stewards in the development of the spiritual and religious life of the membership.
- To advocate greater responsibility and duty in the activities of the church by the laity.
- To work incessantly for the betterment of the A.M.E. Church in all of its religious aspects and departmental activities, and to seek a practical realization and fulfillment of its traditional motto, to wit: "The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man."
- To actively aid and assist in the promulgation of a constructive program for the youth of our church.
- To encourage greater evangelism among the laity.
Section 10.
The local lay organization shall wherever possible, be organized by and with the approval of the pastor and shall be confirmed by the Quarterly Conference.
Section 11.
The local lay organization may do any and all things necessary to carry out the objectives and purposes as herein set forth, provided however, nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving authority or permission to violate and contravene any laws, tenets, or faith of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
ARTICLE XVI - Amendments
Section 1.
Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws may be made by delivery of a copy of the proposed amendment to the President and Recording Secretary at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual meeting of the Conference Lay organization. The secretary shall send notices of the proposed amendments to all voting members of the Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization by certified mail. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote shall be necessary for the passage of any proposed amendment.
Section 2.
This Constitution shall be reviewed annually.
Section 3.
This Constitution shall in no manner conflict with the Constitutions of the Connectional Lay Organization OR THIRD DISTRICT of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and any provision(s) in this Constitution that are inconsistent with or repugnant to any provision(s) of the Connectional OR THIRD DISTRICT Lay Organization, is hereby expressly annulled, repealed and declared void.
Section 4.
This Constitution shall not be effective until after the Annual meeting of the Pittsburgh Conference Lay organization in September, 1991.