Bylaws

Mission Statement

The Josephology Society International (JSI) is a Catholic theological association dedicated to studying and making known the role of Joseph, the loving earthly father of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, in salvation history. Through its Annual Meetings and its publications, the Society seeks to promote comprehensive and integrated study of the person and role of Saint Joseph, the model husband and model father, so as to foster a well-informed and theologically sound Josephology, which in turn aids and augments theologically sound Mariology and Christology. This is done in fidelity with the Magisterium of the Church.

Article I. Membership

Section 1. Scholars: those who have a degree in theology or religious studies or have longstanding academic interest and expertise in Josephological studies. Workers: those who share the aims of the Society and wish to be associated with its mission. Apprentices: those currently attending an educational institution or seminary. Patrons: those who wish to donate well and above the normal amount for dues.

Section 2. The names and qualifications of those who have applied to be members shall be presented at the Annual Meeting and shall be admitted by a resolution through a majority vote of those present.

Section 3. The annual dues for members shall be proposed by the Administrative Council and approved by the members present at the Annual Meeting.

Section 4. Any member who fails to pay dues for 2 consecutive years loses membership.

Article II. Administrative Council

Section 1. The Society shall be directed by an Administrative Council, composed of 4 Administrative Officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and 10 Council Members: Program Officers (2), Planning Officers (2), Promotion Officers (2), Editor Officer, Assistant Editor Officer, Information Technology Officer, & Bylaws Officer.

Section 2. The Council shall meet for the transaction of business at such times and places as shall be designated by the President, provided the call gives sufficient notice and provides an agenda with the items to be considered.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of 5 members of the Council, provided that either the President or VP is present. A quorum shall not suffice for items which, according to the Bylaws, require the vote of the entire Administrative Council.

Section 4. If any vacancy shall occur on the Council by reason of death or resignation, such vacancy may be filled by the majority vote of the remaining members of the Council to select a member to serve in the vacated position for the remainder of its term.

Article III. The Administrative Officers

Section 1. The Administrative Officers shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and the Treasurer. It shall be the order of succession in the case of absence, disability, or death.

Section 2. The President shall be responsible for animating and coordinating the work of the Administrative Offices in the duties to which they have been assigned, and for presenting the recommendations of the Officers to the Administrative Council for final decision, and the proposals of the Administrative Council to membership for ratification. The President maintains contact with the Officers and Council Members, especially in matters related to planning future meetings. The President shall preside at meetings of the Society and at the meetings of the Administrative Council. The President shall also

monitor the expenditures of the Secretary.

Section 3. The Vice-President, at the request of the President, or in the event of the absence or disability or death of the same, shall perform the duties of the office of the President. The VP maintains a “working relationship” to the Officers and shall assume a special responsibility for planning the 2 meetings which occurs after a current President completes the term.

Section 4. The Secretary shall perform the duties related to the role of secretary, that is, the keeping of the minutes of the meetings of the Society, the maintenance of the membership lists, renewals, arrangements and literature on the Annual Meetings, and is accountable to the Administrative Council.

Section 5. The Treasurer plays a crucial stewardship role in ensuring the financial health and integrity of the Society. His key responsibilities include transparent record keeping, budget management, banking activities, compliance & reporting, and fundraising support. The Treasurer shall make all the ordinary disbursements connected with the annual Symposium, the publication of Josephology Studies, and ordinary course-of-business office expenditures (telephone, printing, website renewal, etc.); however, extraordinary disbursements – those not associated with the office expenditures, the Annual Meetings and Symposium, or Josephology Studies – and impactful decisions (e.g., choice of bank(s), tax preparation, etc.) shall be approved by a 2/3 majority vote of the Administrative Council to ratify the decision of the Treasurer.

Section 6. The terms of office shall begin at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which the Administrative Officers and Council Members were chosen. The newly-elected may be invited to participate in any meetings of the Administrative Council which may occur during the Annual Meetings; however, the newly elected may not vote in the Administrative Council during the meeting at which they were elected.

Article IV. The Officers (Program, Promotion, Planning, Bylaws, IT)

The 10 Council Members are the following:

1) Program Officers (2): responsible for proposing themes or topics for future meetings; for evaluating both the proposals for papers to be delivered at the meetings and for the articles to appear in Josephology Studies; for establishing and maintaining contacts with academic and religious organizations.

2) Promotion Officers (2): responsible for promoting the annual meetings through publicity; for attracting and retaining members; for overseeing the finances of the Society; for promoting the sale and distribution of Josephology Studies; for monitoring the JSI website.

3) Planning Officers (2): responsible for recommending sites for future meetings; planning and overseeing hospitality; making local arrangements; and for organizing the social and religious activities at the meetings.

4) Editor Officers (2): the Editor is responsible for all facets (editing, writing, layout, publishing, etc.) of the journal, Josephology Studies. The Assistant Editor Officer is responsible for assisting the Editor.

5) Bylaws Officer (1): responsible for maintaining the Society’s bylaws, assisting in the amendment process as needed, and ensuring compliance with the Society’s bylaws via recommendations to the Administrative Council.

6) IT Officer (1): responsible for maintaining the Society’s online presence, keeping it user-friendly, up-to-date, and secure. Liaises with Secretary to ensure new member registrations are captured. Liaises with Promotion Officers to advertise

each year’s annual Symposium and journal. Small content changes may be actioned with notification to the Administrative Council, whereas significant changes (ISP, domain, etc.) require a 2/3 majority vote of the Administrative Council beforehand.

Article V. Voting, Elections, Terms of Office

Section 1. All voting for elections and motions shall be either by ballot, by voice-vote, or by a show of hands. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a majority of the votes cast. If no candidate receives a majority vote after 2 rounds of voting, a short petition to the Holy Spirit will be made and the tied candidates will flip a coin to determine the winner similar to Acts 1:26.

Section 2. A majority of the votes cast shall be sufficient to carry any motion or resolution presented at any meeting.

Section 3. Members shall be eligible to vote in elections; those members who have attended at least three meetings shall be eligible to hold office. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed. In order to hold office as an Administrative Officer, one must be a practicing Catholic in communion with the Church.

Section 4. The persons elected by majority vote as President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer and individual Officers, shall serve for a term of 3 years. The VP has the responsibility to oversee the planning and preparation for the 2 meetings over which he/she will preside as President.

Article VI. The Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Founder, Charter Members, and Honorary Advisors. At least a month before the Annual Meeting, in consultation with the Administrative Council, the Nominating Committee shall determine names of

candidates. At the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall then present a ballot for the elective offices as provided in the Bylaws. At that point, additional nominations from the floor must be seconded by 3 individuals.

Article VII. The Annual Meeting and Order of Business

Section 1. The Society shall have an Annual Meeting each year at a time and place to be designated by the Administrative Council. Members as well as all interested individuals, may attend.

Section 2. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given at least 2 months in advance thereof, signed by the Secretary. This notice shall comprise the program and registration form –containing the date, place, and time of the meeting, as well as the costs and other practical information.

Section 3. At the Annual Meetings of the Society:

1) Sessions shall begin and end with a prayer or song;

2) The Administrative Council shall approve an order of business for the Annual

Meetings, so that the Secretary can organize the program for each session.

3) The general program for each Annual Meeting shall provide time for the following:

a) Presentation and discussion of papers;

b) Meeting of the Administrative Council;

c) Reports of the Officers and Council Members;

d) Election of Administrative Officers and Council Members;

e) Admission of new members;

Section 4. This regular order of business may be temporarily suspended by a majority vote of the members present.

Section 5. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the deliberations of this Society in all cases where it does not conflict with a standing rule of this Society or with the Code of Canon Law.

Article VIII. Publications

Section 1. The official organ of the Society, Josephology Studies, shall be published at least once each year, subject to the approval of the Administrative Council.

Article IX. Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended at any Annual Meeting by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the members present, provided notice of such proposed amendment, with copy thereof, shall have been distributed to the entire voting membership not less than 1

month in advance of said meeting and may be amended by proposals approved by a 2/3 vote of all the members of the Administrative Council and then submitted for ratification by 2/3 affirmative vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting.