TURFLOOP LUTHERAN YOUTH LEAGUE

ELCSA YOUTH CONSTITUTION

1. NAME.
The name of the league shall be the "Youth League of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa" abbreviated ELCSA Youth League, hereinafter referred to as the "League".
2. STATUS.
ELCSA Youth League shall be constituted according to the provisions of the constitution of ELSCA.

3. MOTTO.
"Here am I Lord, send me." Isaiah 6:8b

4. AIM
4.1 To help, co-ordinate, inspire, lead and direct the youth in Church
4.2 To grow in love, patience and faith in Christ through worship and study of God’s word;
4.3 To share experience and to reflect, deeply upon the Christian faith in relation to their daily lives;
4.4 To take part in all the duties of the congregation in order to develop leadership qualities within the Church;
4.5 To win others for Christ;
4.6 To develop in body; mind and spirit;
4.7 To grow in responsibility within the family and community;
4.8 To strive for the values of peace, justice, freedom and righteousness as embodied in the kingdom of God;
4.9 To perform such acts to further progress of the League.

5. MEMBERSHIP.
5.1 Membership shall be open to young people from 12 years upwards including those who are in confirmation or baptismal classes.
5.2 After a period of (six) 6 months a pastor shall install new members.
5.3 The names of members shall be recorded in a member book.
5.4 Any member who persistently disobeys the rules and regulations of the League or who falls under church discipline shall forfeit the right and privilege to use the emblem.
5.5 Any member who forfeited the above right and privilege shall be re-instated after a probationary period of at least three (3) months or if under church discipline, after absolution.
5.6 The Pastor of the congregation shall do such suspension and re-instatement.
5.7 The ELCSA Youth committee shall prescribe uniform for all members of the League.
5.8 Each member shall receive the emblem of the League, which shall remain its property. The member shall be liable for its replacement in case of loss.

6. ORGANISATION AND DUTIES ON THE CONGREGATION LEVEL.
6.1 Members of the congregation youth League shall:
6.1.1 Meet at least once per week
6.1.2 Elect from the registered members a committee consisting of chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer. Two additional members shall be elected.
6.1.3 Abide by the decisions of the local League.
6.1.4 Have the right to ask for reports.

6.2 The congregation Youth Committee shall:
6.2.1 Hold office for a period of three (3) years being eligible for re-election.
6.2.2 Be installed by a Pastor according to the Altar Book.
6.2.3 Prepare the programme and see to its execution.
6.2.4 Contact those who are lax
6.2.5 Keep order among the Youth
6.2.6 Give reports to the Youth League and the congregation council.
6.2.7 Nominate sub-committees for special activities.
6.2.8 Prepare for the installation of new members and see to their registration.

6.3 The Chairperson of the congregational youth league shall:
6.3.1 Be responsible to the Pastor and the congregational council and shall co-operate with the Parish Youth organiser.
6.3.2 Safeguard the property of the Youth League.

7. ORGANISATION AND DUTIES ON THE PARISH LEVEL.
7.1 There shall be a Parish Youth Committee which shall:
7.1.1 Consist of all chairperson of the congregational Youth Leagues and Parish Youth Organizer.
7.1.2 Elect from amongst its members an executive committee consisting of Parish Youth Organizer as chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer. The parish Pastor shall conduct the elections.
7.1.3 Meet at least once a quarter.

7.2 The Parish Youth Organizer shall:
7.2.1 Be elected by the parish Council out of the three nominees made by the Parish Youth Conference.
7.2.2 Give an annual report to the Parish Youth conference, the Parish council and the circuit youth conference.
7.2.3 Be a delegate to the Parish Council.
7.2.4 Hold office for a period of three (3) years, being eligible for re-election.

7.3 The Parish Youth Committee shall:
7.3.1 Take care of all activities of the league on Parish Level.
7.3.2 Co-operate with the circuit committee concerned
7.3.3 Have the chairperson, treasure and any of the two secretaries as signatories of Parish Youth Funds.
7.3.4 Hold office for a period of three (3) years, being eligible for re-election.
7.3.5 Be responsible to the Parish Pastor and Parish Council.

8. ORGANISATION AND DUTIES ON CIRCUIT LEVEL.
8.1 The Circuit Youth Committee shall be elected at a Circuit Youth Conference.
8.2 Nominations and voting shall be done by parish delegates.
8.3 Up to five (5) nominees shall be suggested for the chairperson. The two highest in the election shall be appointed chairperson and assistant respectively.
8.4 Up to five (5) nominees shall be suggested for the secretary. The two highest in the election shall be appointed secretary and assistant respectively
8.5 Up to five (5) nominees shall be suggested for treasurer and the one with the highest votes shall be appointed treasurer.
8.6 The Circuit youth Committee shall have all parish youth organisers as its ex-officio members.
8.7 The Dean shall chair every election of the Circuit Youth Committee.

8.8 The Circuit Youth Committee shall:
8.8.1 Organise all activities of the League on Circuit level.
8.8.2 Guide and educate Parish and Congregational Leaders and committees in the Circuit.
8.8.3 Submit an annual report to the Circuit Youth Conference and Circuit Council.
8.8.4 Hold office for a period of six (6) years, being eligible for re-election.
8.8.5 Be responsible to the Dean and the Circuit Council.

9. ORGANISATION AND DUTIES ON DIOCESAN LEVEL
9.1 The Diocesan Youth Committee shall consist of the Director, the chairperson, and secretaries of the Circuit Youth Committees. Up to three (3) additional members may be co-opted.
9.2 The Director shall be the chairperson of the Diocesan Youth Committee.
9.2.1 The committee shall elect among its members a vice-chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer.
9.2.2 The executive of the committee shall consist of the director, the vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer.
9.3 The Diocesan Youth Committee shall meet at least twice (2) a year.
9.4 The chaiperson, secretary and treasurer shall be signatories t the Diocesan Youth funds.
9.5 The Bishop shall conduct the elections.
9.6 The duties of the Diocesan Youth Committee shall be:
9.6.1 To guide the work of the League on Diocesan level.
9.6.2 To educate the Youth Leaders at all levels to co-ordinate and to plan programmes and youth activities at that level.
9.6.3 To report to the Diocesan Youth Conference, the Diocesan Council and Synod and the Church Youth Conference and to receive their directives.
9.6.4 Be responsible to the Bishop and the Diocesan Council.
9.7 The Diocesan Youth Director shall:
9.7.1 Be appointed by the diocesan council of the diocese concerned.
9.7.2 Be appointed for a period of six (6) years and may be re-appointed.
9.7.3 Work full-time during his/her term of office.
9.8 The task of the Diocesan Youth Director shall be:
9.8.1 To lead, organise, co-ordinate and administer youth work in the diocese.
9.8.2 To report to the Diocesan Council at least once a year.

10. ORGANISATION AND DUTIES ON CHURCH LEVEL
10.1 The Church Youth Committee shall consist of all Diocesan Youth chairperson and one additional delegate from each Diocesan Youth Committee.
10.2 The presiding Bishop shall chair every election of the executive of the Church Youth Committee.
10.3 The committee shall hold office for a period of six (6) years being eligible for re-election.
10.4 The committee shall elect from among its members the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer who shall elect form the executive of the committee.
10.5 The Church Youth Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
10.6 The Church Youth Committee shall have the Diocesan Youth Directors as its ex-officio members.
10.7 The duties of the Youth committee shall be:
10.7.1 To guide and encourage youth work in the church
10.7.2 To give reports to the Church Youth Conference, the General Assembly and the Church Council.
10.7.3 To convene a Church Youth Conference every two years
10.7.4 To administer youth funds at church level and to appoint signatories at Church Level.
10.7.5 To be responsible to the presiding Bishop and Church Council.

11. FINANCES
11.1 The annual statements shall be determined from time to time by the ELSCA youth committee.
11.2 On every level other ways and means of
raising funds shall be devised as long as they do not violate Christian ethics.
11.3 The congregational Youth league shall forward such percentages of the annual fee to the parish, the circuit, the diocesan and church levels as will be determined from time to time by church youth committee.
11.4 The funds of the Youth at its different levels shall be used to promote the League at the respective levels.
11.5 All moneys shall be kept in a bank account.
11.6 All treasurers shall be responsible to their respective committees and councils of the church.
11.7 All books shall be audited annually and audited statements be submitted to respective councils.

12. RULES OF PROCEDURE.
12.1 All committees shall draw up their own rules of procedure within the framework of its constitution.
12.2 Committee members not attending three consecutive meetings without reporting shall forfeit their positions in the committee.
12.3 All reports and apologies shall be given in written form.
12.4 The quorum of any committee shall be formed if half plus one of its members is present.
12.5 Vacancies in any committee shall be filled for the remaining period.
12.6 The church worker responsible on every level shall be an ex-officio member of the committee on that level.
12.7 A person serving in any committee at any level shall be eligible for re-election once only.
12.8 Voting shall be done by secret ballot.

13. DISSOLUTION.
If Youth Leagues are dissolved all their property shall become the property of the church.

14. AMENDMENTS.
14.1 Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Church Youth Committee at least two months before its meetings.
14.2 Amendments of this constitution shall need the approval of the Church Youth Conference and Church Council.
14.3 Any amendments shall require a two-third majority vote.

posted by Proudly South African @ 1:17 AM