ARTICLE 1: NAME AND MOTTO
(a) The name of the Movement shall be, “THE JESUS GENERATION MOVEMENT”, herein referred to as, “THE J.G.M.”
(b) The Motto shall be “LET THE BIBLE SPEAK”.
ARTICLE 2: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
(a) To provide Christian fellowship.
(b) To actively promote Bible Study and Evangelism.
(c) To be interdenominational and to work hand in hand with other Christian organisations.
(d) To work with non-Christian institutions and organisations where necessary.
ARTICLE 3: STATEMENT OF FAITH
The J.G.M. notes Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, “and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also”, which emphasises both the truth and the need for all faithful men. The J.G.M., therefore, re-affirms that it upholds the truths of christianity as revealed in the Holy Scriptures including the Trinity; the indwelling and work of the Holy Spirit in the believer, the one Holy Universal Church which is the body of Christ, and to which all the true believers belong, and finally the expectation of the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership of the J.G.M. shall be open to all persons who profess to be born again regardless of social or racial status.
(b) Membership shall be open to Christians of any or no denominational affiliation.
(c) Application for membership shall be processed by Branch Committees which shall have the right to accept or reject the application.
(d) Visitors are welcome at all general meetings and activities of the J.G.M.
ARTICLE 5: RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
Except otherwise provided in these Articles, all members shall have equal rights in the J.GM.
ARTICLE 6: DUTIES OF MEMBERS
(a) All members of the J.G.M. shall participate in all activities of the J.G.M.
(b) Any document or circular concerning the J.G.M. shall be declared an official J.G.M. statement if it has been approved by the National Executive Committee.
(c) Members may be assigned certain duties by their Branch Committees or the National Executive Committee.
(d) All members must abide by the decisions of the Branch Committee and National Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 7: RESIGNATION AND TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
(a) Any member who wishes to resign from the J.G.M. may do so by notifying his Branch Committee, and shall pay up all dues.
(b) Any member shall be considered a non-member if he absents himself for a period of twelve months after the Branch Committee has made follow-up attempts to bring the member back.
ARTICLE 8: DISCIPLINE
(a) i) Should any member of the J.G.M. act contrary to the Bible faith which the J.G.M. observes and/or act in any way that the Branch Committee may feel is contrary to the interests and smooth running of the J.G.M., the Branch Committee shall be empowered to suspend and/or mete out such disciplinary action as may be deemed necessary by the said Committee. In addition, those vested with certain responsibilities whatever the nature of the responsibility may be, the said Committee may strip such a member or members of those responsibilities.
ii) Any member who is under discipline shall not participate in the J.G.M. activities, i.e., during general meetings such a member shall not be allowed to render any special item, lead choruses, testify and shall also not accompany the rest of the group during evangelical trips. This shall go on for a period which the Committee shall determine. Where applicable, the Committee may dismiss such a member if he does not show any sign of repentance.
(b) Should any member of the National Executive
Committee die, resign or abstain from three consecutive meetings without any valid reason, or go somewhere for one reason or another and not be in a position to contribute to the J.G.M., it shall be entirely upon the Committee to decided what to do. This shall also apply to Branch Committee members.
(c) Should any member to whom disciplinary measures are administered feel dissatisfied with the verdict of the Branch Committee, he shall request his Branch Committee to submit his case for consideration by the National Executive Committee, which shall have the final say.
ARTICLE: 9 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT
(a) The supreme authority of the J.G.M. shall be vested in the Delegates Conference, which shall have the power to amend the Constitution of the J.G.M.
(b) i) Besides the above provision (9)(a), the management of the affairs of the J.G.M. shall be vested in the National Executive Committee, which in executing its duties may appoint commissions, ad-hoc committees, and its decisions will be binding.
ii) The National Executive Committee may also organise intergroup come-togethers and/or conventions.
ARTICLE 10: DELEGATES CONFERENCE
(a) The Delegates Conference of the J.G.M. shall be convened as soon as possible after the close of the J.G.M. financial year, that is on the 31st October and not later than the end of November. The place, date and time shall be decided upon by the National Executive Committee.
(b) The Delegates Conference shall consist of delegates elected by the Branches, members of the National Executive Committee, Branch Chairmen, Branch Secretaries and Branch Treasurers.
(c) The delegates shall be elected bi-annually by their respective Branches, and shall be eligible for re-election.
(d) The number of delegates to the Delegates Conference shall be determined by the National Executive
Committee.
(c) All members who are not under discipline qualify to be elected as delegates to the Delegates Conference. A preliminary notice of the Delegates Conference stating the date, time and the place where the Conference is to be held, and calling for motions for discussion at the Conference, including those for amendments to the Constitution, and the names of delegates, shall be sent by the General Secretary to all Branch Secretaries not later than TWO MONTHS before the date fixed for the Conference. Every Branch Secretary shall convene a Branch Annual General Meeting within FOURTEEN DAYS after the receipt of the preliminary notice.
(g) The names of the delegates and motions for discussion at the Conference shall be sent by the Branch Secretaries to the General Secretary not later than FOUR WEEKS after the receipt of the preliminary notice.
(h) The General Secretary shall send to the Branch
Secretaries at least THREE WEEKS before the Conference, an Agenda including motions, copies of the minutes and reports, financial statements, etc. A quorum shall be considered as having been formed if the number of delegates present is at least 60% of the total number of delegates eligible to attend the Conference.
(j) If a quorum is not present, the Conference shall be postponed to another date not exceeding TWO MONTHS following the original date, to be decided by the National Executive Committee.
If a quorum is not present one hour after the time and date fixed for the proposed Delegates Conference, the delegates present shall have the power to proceed with the Conference, but shall not have the power to alter the Constitution of the J.G.M.
(k) The business of the Delegates Conference shall be:
i) to receive reports from the Branch Chairmen,
Branch Secretaries and Financial Reports from BranchTreasurers.
To receive reports from the President, General
Secretary and National Treasurer at every Conference of the Delegates Conference convened at the close of the J.G.M. financial year, that is on the 31st October, and not later than end of November.
iii) To consider and determine all matters affecting the welfare of the members and the progress of the J.G.M., to appoint internal auditors and scrutineers, to consider and determine all matters included in the Agenda; and election of the National Executive Committee shall be by secret ballot of delegates present at the Delegates Conference.
(l) The General Secretary shall forward to all Branch
Secretaries a copy of the minutes of the Delegates Conference THREE WEEKS after the conclusion of the Conference.
(m) All correspondence shall be by REGISTERED POST.
(n) The Delegates Conference shall stand dissolved at the notice of the convening of the new Delegates Conference.
ARTICLE: 11 SPECIAL DELEGATES CONFERENCE
(a) A Special Delegates Conference shall be convened when:
i) The National Executive Committee deems it necessary; or
ii) At the joint request in writing by the Branch Committees of two or more Branches stating the reason(s) for such a conference.
(b) A Special Delegates Conference requested as (a) (ii) above shall be convened within THREE MONTHS after:-
i) The General Secretary has received the request or motion from the complaining Branch(es);
ii) The General Secretary shall send copies of the letter(s) to other Branches and an acknowledgment of receipt of such a letter to the Branch(es) of origin;
iii) Other branches shall respond to the General Secretary for or against the request of the motion.
(c) The Agenda and any other information relevant to the subject(s) to be discussed at the Special Delegates Conference shall be sent by the General Secretary to all Branch Secretaries at least ONE MONTH before the date fixed for the Conference.
(d) If a Special Delegates Conference is called, all Branches are compelled to send their delegates. Paragraphs (b), (d), (e), (i), (j) and (m) of Article 10 shall apply to the Special Delegates Conference.
(e) The General Secretary shall forward to all Branch
Secretaries a copy of the minutes of the Special Delegates Conference THREE WEEKS after the conclusion of the Conference.
ARTICLE 12: NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(a) The government of the J.G.M. and the conduct of its business in the period between the Delegates Conferences shall be vested in the National Executive Committee.
(b) The National Executive Committee shall be composed
– The President
– Vice President
– General Secretary
– Vice General Secretary
– National Treasurer
– Two Additional Members
(c) The members of the National Executive Committee shall be termed “Officers” of the J.G.M., and shall be elected by secret ballot of the delegates attending the Delegates Conference.
(d) No person shall be eligible to be an Officer of the J.G.M. unless he is a member of the J.G.M.
(e) The National Executive Committee shall meet at least THREE times a year and FIVE members of the National Executive Committee shall form a quorum. The minutes of the National Executive Committee meeting shall be confirmed at the ordinary business meetings of the Committee.
(f) Where any urgent matter requires the approval of the National Executive Committee, and it is not possible to convene a meeting, the General Secretary may obtain such approval by means of a circular letter. The following conditions must be fulfilled before a decision of the National Executive Committee is deemed to have been obtained:-
i) The issue must clearly set out in the circular letter and f0rwarded by registered post to all the Officers.
ii) At least FIVE Officers must reply in indicating ‘for’ or ‘against’ the proposal. iii) The decision must be sent by a majority Any decision obtained by a circular letter shall be reported by the General Secretary at the next National Executive Committee meeting following the decision and in the minutes.
(g) The National Executive Committee shall protect the funds of the J.CJ.M. against any misuse including extravagance and/or unauthorised expenditure, Should any of the above happen, it shall be upon the National Executive Committee to decide hat action to take,
(h) The National Executive Committee shall instructions to the General Secretary or other Officers of the J.G.M. for the conduct of the affairs of the J.G.M. It may remove from office, suspend or dismiss any Officer of the for neglect of duty, incompetence, refusal to carry out instructions of the National Committee, or for any other reason which the National Executive Committee considers is in the best interest of the J.G.M.
(i) Between the Delegates Conferences, the National Executive Committee shall interpret the Constitution and, when necessary, determine any point on which it is silent.
(j) Except where a ballot vote of the membership is required, or a decision by the Special Delegates Conference, the decision of the National Executive Committee shall be binding on all the members of the J.GaM.. unless and until counter-mended by a resolution of the Delegates Conference.
ARTICLE 13: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(a) President
He shall preside at all meetings of the National Executive Committee, the Special Delegates Conference, and the Delegates Conference; and shall be responsible for the proper conduct of all such meetings. He shall have a casting vote in case of a tie. In conjunction with the General Secretary and the National Treasurer, he shall be a signatory on behalf of the J.G.M. He shall superintend the general administration of the affairs of the J.G.M., and shall be the principal spokesman for the J.G.M. in all matters relating to the work and objects of the J.CJ.M. However, every decision of the National Executive Committee shall bc final by a majority.
(b) Vice President
He shall, during the absence of the President, act for and have the power vested in the President and shall assist the President in his day to day duties.
(c) General Secretary
He shall perform all duties assigned to him by the
Special Delegates Conference(s) and the Delegates Conference, including minutes, overall membership register and all records belonging to his office. In conjunction with the President and the National Treasurer, he shall be a signatory on behalf of the J.CJ.M.
(d) Vice General Secretary
He shall assist the General Secretary in all his duties, and shall act for him in his absence.
(e) National Treasurer
He shall be responsible for the keeping of monies and financial matters of the National Executive Committee and also keep financial records of the Branches. He shall also be responsible for the safe keeping and running of all property under the control of the National Executive Committee. He shall present a financial report to each meeting of the National Executive Committee and shall prepare or cause to be prepared annually, an audited statement showing a true and fair view of the financial affairs of the J.G.M.
(f) Additional Members
They shall be an integral part of the National Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 14:1NTERNAL AUDIT
The Delegates Conference shall appoint an internal auditor who shall be a member of the J.G.M., and should not be a member of the National Executive Committee. He shall audit the accounts of the J.G.M. every SIX MONTHS and shall submit a report to the National Executive Committee. HC must have free access to all books and documents necessary to complete an audit.
ARTICLE 15: EXTERNAL AUDIT
(a) Annually, an external audit shall be carried out in accordance with the Societies Act. The auditor shall have free access to all books and documents necessary for the completion of the audit.
(b) The audited reports shall be presented at the Delegates Conference. Each Branch Secretary shall also receive a copy which shall be presented at the Branch Committee meeting following the financial year end and/or the Delegates Conference.
ARTICLE 16: FINANCES
(a) The National Executive Committee shall be run from funds raised in the following methods:
i) Funds given by Branches; and the amount will be decided upon by the National Executive Committee, together with Branch Committees.
ii) Donations.
iii) Various fund raising efforts.
iv) Loans from lending agencies or organisations.
(b) The accounts of the J.G.M. shall be maintained by the National Treasurer in conjunction with Branch Treasurers.
(c) The financial year of the J.G.M. shall be 31st October.
(d) The National Executive Committee shall grant authority for the use of funds for any purpose.
ARTICLE 17 INSPECTION OF BOOKS
Any member having an interest in the funds shall, after having submitted due notice to the General Secretary and National Treasurer, be allowed to inspect all books and accounts of the J.G.M., and also the membership register, at any reasonable time at the place where such records are kept.
ARTICLE 18: PROPERTY
(a) The National Executive Committee shall be permitted to acquire movable and immovable property on behalf of the J.G.M. by the Delegates Conference.
(b) All property acquired in the name of the J.G.M., movable or immovable, shall remain the property of the J.G.M. However, Branches have the right to buy and control it within the jurisdiction of the J.G.M.
(c) The J.G.M. shall print some clothing bearing the J.G.M. Emblem especially designed for its members. The said clothing shall remain the property of the J.G.M.
ARTICLE 19: DISSOLUTION
The J.G.M. shall not be voluntarily dissolved except with the consent of 80% of the membership obtained by secret ballot.
In the event of the J.G.M. being dissolved as provided for above, all the debts and liabilities constitutionally and legally incurred on behalf of the J.G.M. shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds and/or assets shall be disposed off in such a manner as shall be decided upon by a Special delegates Conference. If the number remaining in the membership of the J.G.M. is too small to convene a Special Delegates Conference, a special general meeting of all shall be convened to decide upon the disposal of the remaining funds and/or assets.
ARTICLE 20: DISSOLUTION OF BRANCHES
(a) The National Executive Committee may establish a branch in any area or place wherein there are at least FIVE members.
(b) The application to form a branch shall be made to the National Executive Committee.
(c) The branch shall be deemed to have been established upon receipt of a letter of acceptance from the General Secretary and he shall also send copies of the acceptance letter to other Branches of the J.G.M.
(d) The National Executive Committee may dissolve a branch:- If the Branch refuses to abide by the Constitution of the J.G.M. or the decision of the National Executive Committee, or, the Special Delegates Conference. or in the opinion of the
National Executive Committee, the Branch is guilty of conduct detrimental to the interest and good name of the
(e) The decision to dissolve a branch shall be by majority vote at the National Executive Committee meeting; provided that before a decision IS taken to dissolve a branch on the grounds stated in paragraph (d) above, the Branch concerned shall be given THIRTY DAYS notice and an opportunity to answer the allegations.
(f) The order of dissolution shall be signed by the General Secretary and sent by registered post to the Branch concerned, other Branches shall also be sent a copy of the order. On receipt of such an order, the Branch concerned shall cease to function. If, however, the Branch concerned wants to appeal to the Special Delegates or Delegates Conference, it may do so in writing by registered post to the General Secretary within THIRTY DAYS of the receipt of the dissolution order or notice. Notwithstanding such appeal, the order of dissolution shall continue to be operative, until and unless it is rescinded by the Special Delegates or Delegates Conference.
In such circumstances however, the National Executive Committee shall be empowered to deal with the affairs of the Branch pending the hearing of the appeal. In the event of a branch being dissolved in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Article, the National Executive Committee shall be empowered to decide which members shall remain in membership of the J.G.M. and to which Branch, if necessary, they shall belong. Those whose membership is cancelled shall have the right to appeal to the Special Delegates Conference whose decision shall be final.
(h) It shall be the responsibility of the Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer of a dissolved branch to deliver to the General Secretary of the J.G.M., all books, records, money and other property of the J.G.M. in the possession of the dissolved branch from the date of the last submission of accounts to the date of the order of dissolution.
(i) If a branch is considering seceding from the J.G.M. before it (the J.G.M.) can do so, it (the Branch) shall carry out a secret ballot vote of all the members of the Branch at a special convened Branch general meeting. If the secret ballot vote gives approval for the Branch to secede, the National Executive Committee shall be informed and the Committee members of the Branch shall forthwith prepare and deliver to the General Secretary all books, records, money, etc., as stated in paragraph (h) of this Article.
ARTICLE 21: BRANCH COMMITTEE
(a) A branch committee shall consist of:
– Chairman
– Vice Chairman
– Secretary
– Vice Secretary
– Treasurer
– Two Additional Members
(b) If, however, a branch does not have enough membership to warrant the above structure, with the permission of the National Executive Committee, it shall elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, until such time when it can comply with (a) above.
(c) All members of the Branch Committee shall be elected by secret ballot and shall be eligible for re-election.
(d) The duties of a branch committee shall be to manage the affairs of the Branch in accordance with the Constitution of the J.G.M., and also to carry out the instructions of the National Executive Committee, and the decisions of the Special Delegates or Delegates Conferences. It shall meet as often as it deems it necessary and TWO THIRDS of its number shall form a quorum. The Branch Secretary shall forward to the General Secretary a copy of the minutes of each meeting not later than FOURTEEN DAYS after the meeting.
(e) The duties of the Branch Committee shall follow the pattern in Article 13, i.e., the Chairman shall have the duties in the Branch as those of the President, etc.
ARTICLE 22: BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
Each Branch shall hold an Annual General Meeting each year.
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon as possible after the close of the financial year of the J.G.M.
(b) In the case of a year in which Delegates Conference is convened, the Branch Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than FOURTEEN DAYS after receipt of the preliminary notice of the Delegates Conference. The business of the Branch Annual General Meeting shall be to review the work of the Branch during the past year, to approve when applicable, resolutions to be submitted to the Executive Committee for inclusion in the Agenda for the Delegates Conference; to elect Branch Committee on completion of their office after two years, and when applicable, to elect Delegates to the Delegates Conference”. A quorum shall be 60% of the membership of the Branch.
(d) An extra-ordinary general meeting of a branch shall be convened:-
i) On the instructions of the National Executive Committee; or
ii) Whenever the Branch Committee deems it necessary; or
iii) At the joint written request of at least one third of the members who may find it necessary. The meeting shall be convened not later than FOURTEEN DAYS after the written request has been received by the Branch Secretary. A quorum shall be 60% of the members of the Branch.
ARTICLE 23: BRANCi1 FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS
(a) The Branch Treasurer shall forward to the National Treasurer before the 21st of the fourth month, a statement of the income and expenditure of the Branch for the previous three months.
(b) All Branch funds shall be deposited in the name of the Branch.
(c) Methods of raising funds shall be as in Article 16(a) ii), iii) and iv).
(d) Should a branch acquire a loan. it shall be solely responsible for repayments.
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