Last Online updated. 12/2/2014
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1. This organization shall be known as the “Fellowship of Christian Magicians”. Hereafter it will be referred to as the FCM.
Section 2. Branches, known as “chapters”, may be established in any country of the world upon the approval of the FCM Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 2 – OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONS
Section 1. To encourage and promote a high standard of presentation of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to the winning of lost souls to Christ.
Section 2. To promote good fellowship, cooperation, and exchange of ideas between the members, regardless of sex, race or denomination.
Section 3. To encourage and assist every effort, both individual and collective, which may tend to foster, elevate, and advance the art of magic and other allied arts, from a Gospel point of view, and to develop new sources of progress thereof, whenever and wherever possible.
Section 4. To publish a magazine as well as other literature in the interest of Gospel magic and the FCM.
Section 5. To hold an annual convention, or a number of area conferences, for the membership of the FCM.
ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership shall be offered to those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior by faith and who believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible Word of God; that Jesus Christ was born of a Virgin and that He died on the cross and shed His blood as the only atonement for our sin; that He rose from the dead; that He ascended to the Father’s right hand in heaven; and will one day come back for those that trust in Him.
Section 2. The types of membership shall be “active” and “honorary”.
Section 3. An “active” member is one whose dues are currently paid in full. He is entitled to receive the official publication, he is allowed to vote in all organizational business, and shall be entitled to hold office and have visiting rights with any chapter.
Section 4. Honorary membership shall be awarded to:
- Those who have offered outstanding service to the FCM, at the discretion of the membership.
- Those active members who have become physically handicapped and are unable to pay the annual dues, at the discretion of a 2/3 vote of Board of Directors of the FCM.
- Honorary members retain the same privileges of active members as defined in Article 3, Section 3 of this Constitution.
Section 5. Classes of Membership – There shall be the following classes of members for those in agreement with Article 3 – Section 1:
Full Regular: Is an FCM member, 18 years or older and has voting rights, may hold office, and receives any generally distributed publications.
Spouse: Is an FCM member and of the same household as a Full-Regular member. Has voting rights as the Full-Regular member, but may not hold office and does not receive generally distributed publications. Membership anniversary date must coincide with the Full Regular member. Name appears on the Full Regular members card. [Annual dues are generally less for this type of member.]
Junior Member: Is an FCM member, between the ages of 12-17. The Junior Membership ends on their 18th birthday and are invited to apply for Full Regular membership. The years as a Junior member shall count toward the accumulation of 25 years for the Heritage Club membership. A Junior member may not hold office and has no voting rights. [Annual dues are generally less for this type of member.] (Amended 7/2013)
ARTICLE 4 – OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers of the FCM shall consist of:
- The President
- 1st Vice-President
- 2nd Vice-President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediate past President.
Section 3. Area representatives shall be appointed by the President. They shall represent the official board in designated areas. They shall have no power in themselves to make or determine policy, but shall act as representatives between the members and the Board of Directors. They shall submit reports when requested by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Offices of the President, 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents, shall be for a three year period.
Said officers may serve upon reelection for not more than two consecutive terms. (Amended 07/16/2008)
Section 5. Offices of the Secretary and Treasurer shall be for a three year period. (Amended 07/16/2008)
Section 6, When the Title of the Office of President, 1st Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Past President is used (unless it is being used by the International Officers of the FCM), reference to the regional or local chapter must also be used.
Example: Andrew Adams, President Rivertown Chapter FCM (Amended 7/19/2000)
ARTICLE 5 – NOMINATIONS
Section 1. A nominating committee consisting of five active members shall be appointed by the President to submit names and recommendations to the membership at large.
Section 2. In the 1st and 2nd issue of the official publication of the election year, notice will be made of the acceptance of mailed nominations for offices for the coming three years. At least five individual votes must be received before a person’s name appears on the ballot. These mailed nominations will be presented at the official annual convention meeting by the Secretary after the nominating committee has made their report, and shall be kept confidential until that time. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor after the report of the nominations committee and the Secretary. (Amended 07/13/2011)
ARTICLE 6 – ELECTIONS
Section 1. The Mail Center Director shall forward one election ballot to each active member by October 1st of that year along with an unmarked ballot envelope and a pre-addressed reply envelope. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 2. Completed ballots shall be returned to the Mail Center Director no later than December 1st of that same year. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 3. The President shall appoint a committee of not less than three members living within the same area to tabulate the results of the ballots returned. The ballots shall not be opened until the ballot committee meets to count the votes. They shall report these results to the Mail Center Director in writing who in turn shall notify the President and editor in writing. Results shall be published in the next issue of the official publication. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 4. The nominee that receives the most votes of the active membership shall be declared the elected officer for that particular office for the term of office.
ARTICLE 7 – ANNUAL CONVENTION
Section 1. There shall be held each calendar year an official annual convention. The date shall be governed by the program of the convention facility with whom the FCM is cooperating in that given year.
Section 2. If no official annual convention can be held in a given year, then, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, an area meeting shall be designated to take its place.
Section 3. The chairman of the official annual convention shall be appointed by the president.
The chairman of the official annual convention shall appoint any needed committee.
ARTICLE 8 – BUSINESS MEETING
Section 1. The annual business meeting of the FCM shall be held in conjunction with the official annual convention and will be announced in the official publication at least two months prior to the date it shall be held.
Section 2. Two thirds (2/3) or 100 of the active members, (whichever is the lesser), registered at the convention and present on the day of the business session shall constitute a quorum. (Amended 07/16/2008)
Section 3. For purposes of order at the business meeting, the latest issue of Roberts Rules of Order shall be adhered to.
Section 4. At this meeting, nominations will be accepted for those offices to be vacated by expiration of term, matters relating to policy and administration will be discussed and determined.
Section 5. The business meeting shall be chaired by the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, or an appointed area representative, in that order.
Section 6. No other business meeting shall be called or held without the knowledge of the Board of Directors and only then after written notice via registered mail has been give, at least 30 days prior, to the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Newly elected officers will begin serving their term at the beginning of the month following the annual convention in the year for which they were elected. Outgoing officers shall continue to serve until the end of the month of the annual convention of that year. (Amended 07/16/2008)
ARTICLE 9 – SPECIAL POWERS
Section 1. In addition to other duties prescribed in the By-laws, the President shall have full and complete administrative powers in conducting the affairs of the FCM, provided, however, the Board of Directors, by proper vote, shall have the right to direct the President to follow a designated administrative plan, if consistent with convention mandates. However, unless thus directed, the President shall not be liable for errors in judgment or administration.
Section 2. The President in any matters requiring official action, shall submit such matters by certified mail with return receipt to sender, or electronic mail with electronic reply, to the members of the Board of Directors and their action thereon shall be determined by vote in writing of a majority of those replying thereto, to the President within a 15 day period from such date of mailing. After announcing his decision, the President shall forward all replies to the Secretary for filing. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 3. In addition to other duties prescribed in the By-laws, the Board of Directors shall have full and complete powers in all matters relating to the policy of the organization, subject to convention mandates.
ARTICLE 10 – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be made at the official business meeting of the FCM by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present as defined in Article 8, Section 2 of this Constitution.
Section 2. Such amendments shall be published in the official publication in an issue previous to the business meeting. These amendments that are published shall be considered as proposed until acted upon at the business meeting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1 – MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Section 1. All applications for membership shall be made on the application blank provided therefore by this organization. The applicant must answer all the queries set forth in such blank and duly sign same.
Section 2. Such application and prescribed fees shall be forwarded to the Mail Center Director or such place as fixed from time to time. (Amended 07/13/2011)
ARTICLE 2 – MEMBERS
Section 1. Applicants for active membership shall be required to pay the then current application fee as stated on the application blank.
Section 2. The Mail Center Director shall notify active members at least one month previous to the end of membership month of the dues for the coming membership year. If said dues are not paid in full by the end of the second month in arrears, a second notice shall be sent to the member. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 3. Any active member whose dues are two months in arrears will be automatically suspended from membership. (Amended 07/13/2011)
Section 4. Reinstatement shall consist of paying the current initiation fee, if any, and reapplying for membership.
ARTICLE 3 – OFFICAL PUBLICATION, EDITOR
Section 1. There shall be published at least six times a year an official publication.
Section 2. Said publication shall be under the supervision of an Editor appointed by the President. This appointment is subject to approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Said Editor shall be subject to the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. It shall be the duty of the Editor to edit all material for publication on the official publication and reject all libelous or doubtful material.
Section 5. He (the Editor) shall be responsible for the prompt distribution of the official publication.
Section 6. The Editor shall appoint a reasonable number of associate editors, if necessary, to aid him in his work and to such special departments as he designated.
Section 7. The official publication shall be available only to active and honorary members of the FCM. However, the Editor may send copies of the publication to all he deems worthy of receiving it for review, encouragement to membership, etc.
Section 8. Active members and members who have permitted their dues to lapse and who have later become reinstated, may secure back issues as available at a price per copy as the Editor may fix.
Section 9. The Editor shall be responsible for maintaining two (2) complete master files of each edition of said publication for permanent record. Such master files shall be retained by the Editor, but surrendered upon the completion of service to the FCM as directed by the Board of
Directors. (Amended 07/13/2011)
ARTICLE 4 – PRESIDENT
Section 1. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization, select and appoint all committees or persons, from the active membership of the organization, if possible, whenever any normal or special business necessitates. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He also shall have the right to dismiss said persons or committees.
Section 2. The President may make the following appointments from the active membership, if possible, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, to serve during the period of his incumbency:
- Editor of official publication.
- Legal advisor who shall be a person duly authorized to practice law in the U.S.A.
- Publicity Director, preferably a person that has had experience in the newspaper or advertising fields. D. Area representatives.
ARTICLE 5 – 1ST VP
Section 1. The 1st Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the organization where the President is absent.
ARTICLE 6 – 2ND VP
Section 1. The 2nd Vice President shall preside at all meetings of the organization in the absence of both the President and 1st Vice President. (Amended 07/13/2011)
ARTICLE 7 – SECRETARY
Section 1. The Secretary shall keep a true record of all proceedings of the organization together with the minutes thereof, as well as a master file of all correspondence pertaining to the office, and perform each other duties as may be delegated to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Such records and files shall be kept for at least seven (7) years and may be destroyed after that period at the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. He shall preside at all meetings of the organization in the absence of the President, 1st Vice President, and 2nd Vice President. (Amended 07/13/2011)
ARTICLE 8 – TREASURER
Section 1. The Treasurer shall receive all monies paid to the organization and deposit same in a depository of good standing approved by the Board of Directors. He shall promptly pay all properly approved obligations of disbursements of the organization.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall maintain accurate books of account and of all receipts and disbursements of the FCM and shall render an accurate itemized account of said transactions at the annual business meeting.
Section 3. The approved financial statement shall be published immediately following the annual business meeting in the official publication.
Section 4. Disbursements other than the regularly approved costs of publication and administration shall be approved by the President and the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Such records shall be kept on file for a period of at least seven (7) years. They may be destroyed after that period at the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. He shall preside at all meetings of the organization in the absence of the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President and Secretary.
ARTICLE 9 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have general control of the policies, activities, and finances of the FCM within the confines of this Constitution.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall decide whether any special activities shall be entered upon or whether any special commitments shall be made, and shall authorize any expenditures considered necessary in the interests of the FCM.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall report their activities on behalf of the FCM in the official publication.
Section 4. In case of death, resignation, disqualification, or legal disability of any officer to act, the Board of Directors shall appoint his successor to serve until the next immediate business meeting or official election at which time said vacancy shall be filled by the election of a successor for the unexpired term if thus created.
ARTICLE 10 – LEGAL ADVISOR
Section 1. The legal advisor shall assist the President and the Board of Directors in all legal matters pertaining to the FCM.
ARTICLE 11 – PUBLICITY DIRECTOR
Section 1. The Publicity Director shall be responsible for advance publicity of all FCM activities, and serve as a spokesman to the news media at such functions.
ARTICLE 12 – AREA REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1. Area representatives shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties if at all possible. Area representatives shall act as liaison officer between the President, Editor and Chapter or individual members in his area to organize a Chapter where enough members are living reasonably close together.
ARTICLE 13 – FCM LOGO USE
Section 1. Application in writing must be made to the Board of Directors for use of any emblem designs of the FCM for reproduction for other than personal use.
ARTICLE 14 – DISSOLUTION
Section 1. In the event of dissolution of this organization, all of its tangible assets and holdings shall be distributed to such other existing nonprofit religious organizations as would be in full agreement with the letter and spirit of this Constitution. All decisions in this event would be made by the majority vote of the remaining active members of this organization after all outstanding debts and liabilities have been paid and satisfied.
(Policies and Guide lines updated 07/13/2011)