Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA National Commission on Hispanic Affairs
Diocesan Press Service. February 23, 1972 [72023]
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE U. S. A. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON HISPANIC AFFAIRS
La Comision Nacional de Asuntos Hispanos
RAZON DE SER
Raison D 'etre
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the National Commission on Hispanic Affairs (NCHA) a/k/a La Comision Nacional de Asuntos Hispanos (CNAH).
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
1) Established as a continuing and expanding program of the Church; CHAH shall work to fulfill the needs and aspirations of Hispanic peoples, and serve the ministry of this church among the Hispanic peoples within and outside the Church.
2) The Commission shall review this Church's work and involvement with Hispanic peoples within PECUSA and recommend developments, plans and programs for such work to the Executive Council and to the future General Conventions, and, that the Commission, functioning under the guidelines approved by the 63rd General Convention shall review and approve all grant requests originating from CNAH and make recommendations concerning all other grants affecting Hispanic peoples.
3) To stimulate the development of the process of " concientizacion".
4) To stimulate active involvement of all local congregations and community groups in the aforementioned pursuits.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
A) The membership of the Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members representing the following areas:
NW 1
SW 7
NE 4
SE 1
Mid-West 2
B) One-third of the members shall be elected every year at the annual meeting, be- ginning 1974.
C) No member of the Commission shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive years. Such member may be eligible after one year of ineligibility.
D) Any vacancy which occurs shall be filled by another person from the same region. Recommendations shall be made to the Chairman and the Executive Officer in consultation with Hispanic people of the region and/or by members of the Commission. Nominations shall be made by the Chairman and election shall be by a majority of the Commission.
E) Absenteeism of two (2) consecutive meetings by any Commission member without justified cause or proper notification to the Executive Officer will be considered reason for removal from the Commission.
F) Quorum: Nine (9) members shall constitute Quorum. There will be no proxy votes.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
This commission shall have three (3) officers:
1) Chairman
2) Vice-Chairman
3) Executive Officer
ARTICLE V: DUTIES
a) The Chairman will be elected from the Commission membership at the annual meeting. He shall preside at all Commission meetings. He shall present all proposals from the Commission to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church and/or any other Institution or Organization as the situation may require.
b) The Vice-Chairman will assume the duties of the Chairman in his absence and will be elected at the annual year meeting.
c) The Executive Officer will or shall interpret, develop and implement the policies and programs as defined by the Commission in consultation with the Executive Council. He or she shall be selected by the Commission and confirmed by the Executive Council.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
The Commission shall meet no more than four times a year at least 30 days prior to the Executive Council meetings. The Executive Officer shall set the dates. Minutes of every meeting shall be sent out within 30 days after the date in which the meetings were held.
ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS
Amendments for this charter may be made by two-thirds majority vote of those present at the first meeting of every year; provided that such amendments be consistent with the purposes and guidelines above mentioned and reported to the Executive Council.