COSBE POLICIES

Approved: 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.

FINANCIAL

A. All monies will be received by the Secretary-Treasurer and deposited in an account styled: Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists.

B. Funds shall be disbursed on the single signature of either the Secretary-Treasurer or the President only for the following expenditures listed in order of priority.

Printing, telephone, mailing, and all other reasonable related expense
Reasonable travel and lodging expenses for President, Vice President and Music Director to travel to the city of the annual meeting to choose meeting and program sites
Publicity materials as determined by the Executive Committee
Exhibit at the Southern Baptist Convention
Annual meeting, publicity, ticketing and reservations
Other expenditure necessary to carry out the purpose of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists

PROGRAM PERSONALITIES

A. The President and Music Director shall choose all program personalities from individuals that are dues paying members of the COSBE family. No expenses or honorariums shall be paid to any program personalities, unless necessary.

COUNCIL OF ACCOUNTABILITY

A. This council will be put into place to serve as a voice for all members of COSBE. It has been designed to serve as a platform for any Southern Baptist Evangelist who has a legitimate grievance against any person, church, or secular organization which seeks to bring harm, dishonor, or injury to his ministry; to address any issues which bring into question the integrity of any Southern Baptist evangelist and/or his ministry due to unethical conduct or moral impropriety, and, if necessary, take appropriate measures to resolve such issues. Appropriate measures may take the form of:

written correspondence
personal interviews with the council and the parties involved
censorship by the council
most drastic, removal of membership from COSBE.

B. The purpose of this procedure is for the restoration not destruction of ones ministry. It is the intent of the Council of Accountability to serve as an official voice for COSBE by expecting all members of COSBE to maintain the standards set forth in the Statement of Affirmations. This holds us accountable to Christ, ourselves, and our peers. The officers of the Council of Accountability shall consist of three elected officials who are members of COSBE. At least one shall come from the preaching area and one from the music area. At least one-third shall be elected by popular vote of the members of COSBE at its annual business session to serve a three-year term. Evangelists with at least ten years of experience in vocational evangelism are preferred for the Council. Also serving with the elected Council will be the president of COSBE, the liaison of the North American Mission Board, and the pastor advisor of COSBE.

NAMB LIAISON

A. Creates and maintains a close relationship between the Evangelism Department of the North American Mission Board and COSBE

B. Shall be appointed by the North American Mission Board and approved by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists at each annual meeting.

C. Serves as ex-officio member of the Executive Committee without voting privileges

LIFE WAY MINISTRIES LIAISON

A. Help COSBE in the carrying out of it’s varied objectives.

SAMARITANS FUND

A. This has been established to help members of COSBE in times of crisis. All monies are sent to the financial department of the Southern Baptist Foundation, invested by the financial department and distributed by the officers of COSBE in consultation with our pastor advisor and the NAMB liaison. Only a portion of the interest accumulated may be distributed so as not to deplete the entire interest fund. Any member of COSBE may request assistance by writing the President of COSBE and explaining the need. The officers shall prayerfully consider the request. Financial assistance will be immediate. Amount of “fund” and disbursements should be included in the financial report at the annual meeting of COSBE.

POLICY CHANGES

A. Changes in Policies may be moved and approved by a two-thirds majority vote at any annual meeting of the conference. Previous notice is not required.

OFFICER’S DUTIES

A. The duties of the officers shall be:

President

a. Plans and presides over conference programs and meetings

b. Determines, in conference with the Vice President, the place and time of the meeting and program in the Southern Baptist Convention city

c. Serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee

d. Appoints all other committees as deemed necessary

e. Makes financial decisions within the framework of financial policies

f. Is responsible for communication of information and news to conference members, State Executive Directors, State Evangelism Directors, President of the Pastor’s Conference and other entities

g. Pro actively serves as spokesman to the media on behalf of the conference

h. Receives evangelist’s requests for financial aide from Samaritan’s Fund

i. Contacts NAMB Liaison about 5 rooms for officers in Convention Hotel

2. Vice President

a. Assumes the office and responsibilities of President upon the death, resignation, or any other circumstances rendering the president incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities of his office

b. Enlists members to staff the exhibit at the SBC annual meeting

c. Enlists ushers to take the offering and to hand out programs at Annual Worship Service.

d. Helps place posters for Annual Worship service in downtown hotel lobbies

3. Secretary-Treasurer

a. Receives, handles, and disburses all monies in accordance with financial policies

b. Prepares financial report for the annual business meeting

c. Makes books available for audit at the request of the Executive Committee

d. Maintains list of members who are in good standing and have voting privileges

e. Sends letter no later than August 31st to each COSBE member listing those who are current with their dues, and requesting others to pay their dues

f. Sends follow-up letter by April 1 to those who are still not current

    4. Recording Secretary

a. Shall assume office and responsibility of Secretary-Treasurer upon the Secretary - Treasurer’s death or resignation or circumstances rendering him incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities of his office

b. Records all business at meetings, and prepares minutes

c. Assists the Secretary-Treasurer with duties as called upon

    5. Music Director

a. Plans and directs the musical portion of all programs and meetings in cooperation with the president, and as requested by the North American Mission Board Liaison for the retreat.

                                                                                                                                                       6. Assistant Music Director

a. Assists the music director as requested

b. Assumes the office of the music director upon the death, resignation, or other circumstance rendering the Music Director incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities of his office

                                                                                                                                                 7.  Pastor Advisor

a. Serves as the spiritual advisor to the Conference

b. Serves as ex-officio member of the Executive Committee without voting privileges

                                                                                                                                                 8.  Parliamentarian

a. Advises the president and members on parliamentary matters during business meetings

B. Term of office

The term of office shall be for one year.

No one may serve more than two consecutive terms with the exception of the Secretary Treasurer.

MEMBERSHIP

A. Initial membership shall be effective through the annual meeting of the Conference

B. Membership may be maintained by the payment of annual dues, determined by the conference, and received by the Secretary-Treasurer’s office by September 30th of each calendar year.

C. Membership shall be effective for one calendar year from the conclusion of the COSBE business meeting at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting.

D. Only those who are current with their membership dues shall have voting privileges.

E. A group may join as one member, and shall have one vote.

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.