Affirmation Board Proposes New Charter and Bylaws for Affirmation
On Sunday, May 20, 2018, the Affirmation Board voted to propose a new Charter and Bylaws for Affirmation. Among other things, the new Charter and Bylaws:
- Change the name of Affirmation from “AFFIRMATION: GAY AND LESBIAN MORMONS” TO “AFFIRMATION: LGBTQ MORMONS, FAMILIES & FRIENDS.” (Language in the new Charter and Bylaws is amended throughout to be inclusive of bi, trans, queer, intersex and asexual Mormons and former Mormons.)
- Add language about Affirmation’s principles and values.
- Clarify the roles and responsibilities of the President, Executive Committee, Board and Executive Director. In general the changes give the President and Executive Committee responsibility for setting the goals and overall direction of the organization; they give the Board responsibility for approving policies and ensuring compliance with Affirmation’s mission; they give the Executive Director responsibility for executing policies and supporting the executive committee in accomplishing the goals of the organization.
- Extend the term of the President to two years instead of one year (to go into effect after the end of the current president’s one-year term).
- Add language necessary for compliance with the laws of the various countries in which Affirmation is or will be organized as a legal entity.
Those who wish to compare the proposed changes in Charter and Bylaws to the currently existing Charter and Bylaws can access and download PDF’s of them here:
IN ENGLISH
- Current Charter and Bylaws
- Proposed Charter and Bylaws, approved by the Affirmation Board May 20, 2018
EN ESPANOL
EM PORTUGUES
- Carta e Estatutos atuais
- Carta e Estatutos propostos por o conselho de Afirmacão em 20 de Maio de 2018
Voting members of Affirmation (i.e., members who have paid their membership donation of $25 in the US and Europe and $5 in Latin America within the past year) will receive an electronic ballot this weekend with instructions on how to vote.
If anyone has questions about the proposed Charter and Bylaws amendments, please email us at [email protected].
Changing a rule stating that all dues paying people are members of Affirmation to a new rule stating that the Board of Directors “shall set the criteria by which an individual shall be considered a member of Affirmation.” feels very wrong. It could potentially be exclusive and let the Board select their own voters. These changes also make it easier for the EC and Board to refuse to allow members to vote on proposed changes. That feels authoritarian.
What Jeff brings up is a big concern of mine as well.
I can totally see those concerns. The main reason behind taking away the requirement to pay dues is because this makes money the primary determiner of membership. Many cannot pay money, but put in time and commitment. Many, particularly students and young people, and those within minority populations, have been left out of the voting process who have a stake in the organization because of innability to pay dues. The intention is to provide leeway for other ways to become a member besides money, however those terms have not been fully worked out. Perhaps whatever terms are proposed for membership should be voted on by the body and not just the Board.
I did respond, Thankyou. Do we know who is putting their name forward for president?
Dear Todd,
Thank you for your continued excellent work with Affirmation. I appreciate so much all the work members of the board and others contribute to Affirmation. I feel pleased with the dedication to keeping Affirmation current and sensitive to its changing membership.
For me, the progress shows we are in concert with God’s plan for us on earth at this time. Thanks again, Todd.
1. I prefer that there be no name change to our organization.
2. No issue.
3. Members not the Board should be approving policies and ensuring compliance with Affirmation’s mission.
4. Keep the term of President to only one year.
5. No issue.
Just make sure we comply with our IRS non-profit status.