Magis Ministries Club Constitution

Article 1: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name:
Magis Ministries (will be referred to as Magis for the remainder of this constitution)

Section 2: Purpose/Mission:
The primary purpose of Magis is to provide an opportunity for students of all faith backgrounds to grow in their faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our mission is to uphold and use biblical teachings to create a longing for Jesus Christ on our campuses. We believe that abiding by and dedication our lives to biblical teaching, while attending St. Ben’s and St. John’s, will be influential to changing the spiritual state of our campuses. Our responsibility is to provide resources that encourage students to experience the full love of Jesus and share in His mission. As a club of the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, we agree to uphold the mission of the institutions.

Section 3: Affiliation:
Magis Ministries is not affiliated with any Christian group or creed. Our only obligations are to each other, the teachings of the Bible and to God.

Article 2: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership:
Magis is open to any and all CSB/SJU student(s). These members will make up the non-voting members. All non-voting members have the ability to voice their opinion to the ministry by e-mailing the account with any concerns or questions, or by talking directly to a Leadership Team member or the Team as a whole. In addition, we have created committees that any member may choose to take part in. Those who have committed themselves to being a part of one or more committee may be asked to have a more influential voice regarding voting issues. Voting members will consist of a smaller group of members that make up the Leadership Team.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria:
The voting members of Magis will be made up of First-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors on the Leadership Team. To join the Leadership Team, individuals will apply and be voted on by the current members of the Leadership Team. In the case that there is a club issue that needs to be voted on, all members will have the right to voice their opinion and vote through e-mail. The Leadership Team reserves the right to make the final decision regarding voting issues.

Section 3: Removal of Members:
Magis will not ask any student to discontinue their attendance at our weekly meetings. However, if a problem arises with a member of one of the committees, he/she may be asked to leave the position, depending on the severity of the case. Before any disciplinary action takes place, the member in question will be approached by a member of the Leadership Team and will be asked to remedy the troubled behavior. If this approach does not prove to have an adequate influence, the student may be asked to leave his/her committee. Members who are asked to leave will have an opportunity to meet with the Leadership Team and discuss the possible removal. Immediately following this discussion, the Leadership Team will meet and vote on the removal of the specific member from his or her committee position. If the Leadership Team approves, the removed member may be invited to return to his/her position at a later time. This action will also be preceded by a Leadership Team vote.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications:
Members of the Leadership Team must be current CSB/SJU students. Magis desires to have leaders who are active in their personal faith and growth in Jesus Christ.

Section 2:Elected Officers:
The Magis Ministries Leadership Team will consist of approximately twelve (12) students (6 males, 6 females) representing each class evenly (First-year, sophomore, junior, senior). Each member will contribute equally but may have specific responsibilities within the Team (see below).

Section 3:Duties of Officers:

President/Student Activities (SA) Contact
As the SA contact, this person will attend meetings and communicate with Student Activities. This team member will facilitate Leadership Team meetings and help fill individual responsibilities. He or she will also organize and coordinate the details of Magis, as well as oversee the following ministry committees.

Vice President/ Join Club Board (JCB) Contact
This member will be responsible for attending meetings with the president and communicating with JCB. He or she may also help facilitate Leadership Team meetings.

Treasurer/Co-Funding Board (CFB) Contact
This person will be responsible for keeping financial records, submitting monthly audits to CFB and communicating with CFB. He or she may also attend meetings.

Secretary
Takes notes during the Leadership Team meetings, e-mails the members of Magis Ministries, and helps with organization.

Speaker/Events Coordinator
Responsible for finding weekly speakers, contacting and praying with them. Events coordinator will be responsible for booking facilities, shopping for prizes and food/drinks. Encouraging and active role in campus-wide outreach.

Service Leaders
Organizes, set-up and coordinating group volunteer activities.

All of the above positions share responsibility equally and make decisions based on the Leadership Team’s vote. Each Leadership Team member may hold his or her position for potentially three (3) years (First-year spring to senior year fall).

Section 4: Vacancy in Office:
In the even of a vacancy in office, the Leadership Team will call a special meeting in order to discuss the need to fill the position. Depending on the position of vacancy, the Team will discuss which Leadership Team member would be available to fill the position until a new member applies and is voted in. Because the responsibilities are shared as equally as possible, it is the up to the current Leadership Team to fill the vacant members roles and responsibilities until a new member is added.

Section 5: Removal of Officers:
A petition for the removal of any specific member of a Leadership Team member must be submitted during a meeting. The member in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing. At any meeting where a petition has been submitted, there will be a vote by the Leadership Team, facilitated by the President and/or Advisor (depending on availability). If there is a majority vote favoring the removal of a specific member, that person will be asked by the Leadership Team and our Advisor to step down. However, he/she will still be welcome to participate in weekly Wednesday night Praise in the Pub gatherings.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers:
A member who has been removed from the leadership role has the right to appeal the decision of the Leadership Team. However, he/she must make their appeal at the very next Leadership Team meeting. There our Advisor will administer a re-vote. Again, a majority vote is needed for removal of that person from their leadership position.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process:
Candidates for leadership positions will strictly be the responsibility of the current Leadership Team. Nominations will be made by asking a prospective member to complete an application. A prospective member who is highly involved and interested may also ask to apply. Applications will be handed out during the middle to late part of the fall semester.

Section 2: Election:
The applications will be reviewed by the Leadership Team in an anonymous fashion and will vote for applicants to follow up by an interview. Four to five Leadership Team members including the President, Vice President, and members representing each grade level will hold the interviews. At the point of election, a majority vote is required for the installation of a new Leadership Team member. Voting will take place with a heads-down-hands-up method and the President and/or Advisor will administer the vote. A Leadership Team member may be asked to continue to serve and be able to be on the Team for an unlimited amount of semesters.

Section 3: Special Elections:
After the removal or resignation of a member from the Leadership Team, the Leadership Team must fill the necessary position as soon as possible. The Team will meet and vote to replace the position or elect a new member preferably within a week to two weeks.

Advisor V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection:
The appointment of an advisor will be the responsibility of the Leadership Team. The Leadership Team will discuss and vote on possible advisors. The potential advisor will be approached by one or two members of the Leadership Team (President and Vice President) and ask if he/she is interested in the position.

Section 2: Duties:
Our advisor will have minimal duties. Specifically, our advisor will act as a voice to the faculty, monastic community, and the institution of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University on behalf of Magis Ministries. Our advisor will facilitate voting when necessary and available and will have the opportunity to be involved in weekly Praise in the Pub gatherings.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meeting/Club Activities:
Weekly e-mails will be sent out to the entire CSB/SJU student body to invite attendance to Praise in the Pub. In addition to e-mails, the CSB/SJU Planner and Student Activities W.O.W will announce our weekly meetings. Praise in the Pub will meet every Wednesday from 8:50-10:00 in Brother Willie’s Pub. However, meetings may take place at a different location or at a different time because of a special event (ex. bonfire, concert, BBQ).

Section 2: Special Meetings:
Any leader of the Leadership Team may call a special meeting for the Leadership Team for any reason he/she would deem necessary. As with regular meetings, special meetings will take place in a very casual, non-hierarchical fashion. Members who must be present at the special meetings will be contacted through e-mail.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority:
All Leadership Team meetings will be run in a non-hierarchical, casual setting. The President and/or Vice President may prepare an outline for the weekly meeting with necessary information to address, but all members will have an equal opportunity to voice opinions, concerns, etc.

Section 4: Quorum:
A quorum will occur in the case of Leadership Team meetings. For official business (namely voting) to be conducted, there must be at least 75% of the Team’s members present.

Article VII: Committees:

Section 1: Committee Structure:
As stated in previous sections, Praise in the Pub gatherings will consist of a weekly meeting in which all students (our members) are welcome to attend. Aside from those meetings, there will be various Leadership Team responsibilities that are described in greater detail in Article III, Section 2.

Section 2: Special/ Ad-Hoc Committees:
Additional committees may be formed as needed.

Article VIII: Finances:

Section 1: Co-Funding Board:
During the year, Magis Ministries will propose to obtain funds from the Co-Funding Board for the growth of our ministry. The monies will be used to promote and operate events that all CSB/SJU students have the opportunity to benefit from. The budget proposal will be designed based on the previous years expenses and event success.

Section 2: Honorariums:
No members of the Magis Ministries Leadership Team, or members/attendees of Praise in the Pub or any other event will receive a stipend.

Section 3: Dues:
No Leadership Team Member or Praise in the Pub attendee is required to pay a fee to participate. Certain events may call for the purchase of a meal ticket or apparel but will be considered optional and available to all members.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification:
In the case of a ratification to the constitution, there must be a 2/3 vote by the Leadership Team. The Leadership Team may call a special meeting to address the ratified issue and ratifications will be made by using voting and will be done collectively as a Leadership Team.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board:
If a ratification to the constitution takes place, both Student Activities and Joint Club Board will be notified of the changes and be given a new constitution.

Article X:

Magis Ministries admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and other activities generally accorded of made available to members of the organization.

Article XI:

Magis Ministries considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity, which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. Magis Ministries recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes any and all forms of hazing.