COSBE BY- LAWS

Approved on June 14, 2004 Amended on June 09, 2008

NOTE: These policies supercede any and all other previously adopted policies. The adoption of these policies renders the previous documents null and void.

ARTICLE I – NAME

A. The name of this organization shall be: “Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists.”

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

A. The purpose of the “Conference” shall be to share the Gospel with as many persons as possible in order to accomplish this, it shall:

Promote fellowship among its members.
Provide inspiration and information to assist its members to more effectively fulfill the ministry to which they are called.
Provide a means of expressing its convictions and positions to the Southern Baptist Convention, and to the world.
Provide opportunities for the evangelists to be a source of inspiration to the pastors, ministers, and laymen of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Act as a teaching instrument to share with, and to encourage the convention and pastors to recognize the scriptural gift and ministry of the evangelist, according to Eph. 4:11-12, as a partner in fulfilling the Great Commission.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

A. Membership shall be available to all Southern Baptist Evangelists who:

Notify, in writing, the Secretary-Treasurer’s or designated officer of their desire to join this organization.
Complete the membership application form, designating their category of membership from the following:

Vocational Evangelist (VE): Available on a full-time basis for focused ministry to various churches and other areas of evangelism activity missionary and otherwise. The evangelist is responsible to determine to what extent they can do other areas of ministry and still maintain their focus, agenda, and title of “Full Time Vocational Evangelist”
Bi-vocational Evangelist (BV): A working interest and involvement in the “work of an Evangelist” while also doing other task both religious and secular and being paid for same and having responsibilities that would prohibit full-time effort toward the work of evangelism. The Bi-vocational member shall have no voting rights. Election as a COSBE officer is forfeited but a Presidential appointment in any other capacity is allowed. Membership fees shall be $25.00 less than the Vocational Evangelist rate.
Evangelist Emeritus (EE): A present or former member of COSBE that has served Southern Baptist faithfully for many years and wishes to have fellowship with COSBE and privileges when they reach the point of withdrawing from the role of an active vocational evangelists. Each application would be evaluated by the officers individually, but, several factors would be considered; (a) years of service as an evangelist, (b) age, (c) years of COSBE membership, and (d) references. The Evangelist Emeritus member shall have full voting rights but election as a COSBE officer is forfeited. A Presidential appointment in any other capacity is allowed. Annual membership fees are waived for anyone given the status of Evangelist Emeritus.
Honorary Member (HM): Because of their commitment and support of the work of the Evangelist and the COSBE organization, the COSBE officers shall confer on behalf of the membership the status of honorary member. No membership fees or voting privileges are associated with this membership.

Pay the membership dues and maintain future annual dues.
Are approved by COSBE at the annual business meeting or by the Executive Committee

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

A. Officers shall be nominated from the floor, and elected by a simple majority of those voting.

In the event that no nominee receives a majority, a run off will be held between those who receive the largest number of votes of those whose total votes are 50% or more.
This procedure will be repeated until one of the nominees receives a majority.

B. The officers shall consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Music Director, Assistant Music Director, Pastor Advisor, and Parliamentarian.

C. The officers shall serve as the executive committee between sessions.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

A. The annual meeting of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists shall be held in the city of and during the week of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. The Executive Committee shall conduct any necessary business which may arise between annual meetings, as well as that assigned to it by the Conference. It shall give a report of all its activities at the annual business meeting.

B. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of all elected officers.

C. The President of COSBE shall be the Chairman of the Committee.

ARTICLE VII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

A. Robert’s Rules of Order (latest revised edition) shall be recognized as the standard authority to guide the “Conference” on questions of parliamentary law and custom.

B. Those members in attendance and voting shall constitute a Quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting.

C. The minutes of the meeting shall indicate a Quorum was present.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

A. These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote at the annual meeting provided:

Committee sponsored amendments are announced at the preceding meeting of the Conference, or submitted in writing to all members with voting privileges at least two months in advance of the annual meeting in which they are to be considered.
Amendments from the floor are announced at one annual meeting and acted upon at the next.

Frequently asked Questions (By-laws and Policies)

1. Why By-laws and Policies?

Hopefully, the by-laws will be changed very rarely while policies may be changed almost yearly.

2. Who chooses the speakers and singers at the retreat?

Presently, Toby Frost, Liaison for evangelists from the North American Mission Board chooses the speakers and some of the Musicians. The Officers of COSBE can make suggestions and the Music Director of COSBE takes care of 90% of the music at the retreat.

3. What are the President’s duties concerning the Media?

He is to write, phone, meet with and by all means communicate with Baptist Press, State Papers and all other outlets to further the work of evangelists and evangelism. He should further be in contact with as many denominational leaders as possible. Constant vigilance is required to keep evangelists and evangelism at the forefront of Baptist life.

4. What are the requirements for a 25 or 50-year plaque?

Men or women who have been in the work 25 years and preached at least 500 meetings or musicians and other specialized evangelistic ministries who have held at least 1,000 concerts, engagements, meetings etc. Those who have been in vocational evangelism for 50 years deserve a special recognition.