Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE CHRISTIAN GAMERS GUILD

Last revision: October 17, 2005

  • Article I: Name

    The name of this organization shall be the Christian Gamers Guild. It will in some contexts be identified by its initials, CGG.

  • Article II: Mission Statement

    The Christian Gamers Guild’s vision is to facilitate the reclamation of the imagination to be conformed to the image of Christ through the use of gaming as a creative art form.

  • Article III: Membership

    • Section 1:

      Membership in the CGG is open to anyone age 14 (fourteen) and over, who professes faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (in agreement with the group’s statement of faith), and has an interest in gaming and related activities.

    • Section 2:

      Membership will not be denied for reasons of race, gender, handicap, political affiliation, or denomination. Members are expected to honor the Statement of Faith of the CGG. The list will not entertain posts promoting beliefs contrary to that Statement of Faith, and membership may be revoked and/or list participation denied for persisting in such publication.

    • Section 3:

      Membership shall confer the right to participate in all discussions on the CGG list and to introduce new topics for discussion within the limits of the purpose of the CGG and the list. Non-members may also participate in the list within the limits of the purpose of the CGG and the list.

    • Section 4:

      Membership shall confer the rights of voting on all group issues relating to the election of officers and direction of activities of the CGG.

      An individual will be deemed a voting member of the CGG if they have not been banned from participation and they vote. Voting on any issue presented for consideration by the membership of the CGG shall constitute agreement with the Statement of Faith of the group and confession of faith in Christ as outlined therein, and support of the mission of the CGG as expressed in this constitution.

    • Section 5:

      Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, handicap, or political affiliation will not be tolerated and is grounds for the suspension or revocation of membership and/or posting rights and privileges. Discrimination on the basis of denominational affiliation will not be tolerated and is grounds for the suspension or revocation of membership and/or posting rights and privileges, except that the CGG reserves the right to suspend or revoke the rights of any person who persists in posting materials contrary to the Statement of Faith of the CGG.

    • Section 6:

      Membership in the CGG may be suspended for cause by the president pending review by the board. The process for such action will be outlined in other official CGG documents¹, but will permit the member in question reasonable notice and an opportunity to respond to any charges or questions raised.

    • Section 7:

      A membership in the CGG may be revoked for cause. The process for revocation of membership will be outlined in other official CGG documents¹, but will permit the member in question reasonable notice and an opportunity to present a case in his defense.

    • Article IV: Meetings

      Since the CGG is an internet based group, regular meetings will not be scheduled. Instead, all business by the CGG Board will be conducted on the cgg_board e-mail list or by such means as are agreed to by unanimous consent of the members of the board.

      Procedural rules for the conduct of business will be included in the By-Laws and other documents of the CGG.

      • Section 1:

        Items will be brought up for discussion on the list, and after not less than a 48 hour period of time after the issue is brought up, a poll will be issued asking the board members to vote on the issue.

      • Section 2:

        Board resolutions will be available to all members of the CGG through such means as the board chooses. The board retains the right to hold closed discussions to protect the integrity of the discussions and the privacy of any members of the CGG requesting review of concerns about the group or the list.

      • Section 3:

        Any resolution proposed for consideration by the CGG Board shall be put to a vote. The time allowed for voting shall be determined at the time the vote is called. A vote is not valid unless a quorum of at least two thirds of all eligible CGG board members is met; such quorum is met if a sufficient number enter a vote indicating their awareness of the issue, even if that vote indicates no position on the issue. If a quorum has been established, the proposal passes if supported by a simple majority of all those casting a vote, and fails otherwise. The results of the vote shall be final, unless there is a formal grievance as to the form, mode, or process of the resolution.

      • Section 4:

        Any member of the CGG who feels that they have been wrongly treated, or that an issue has been wrongly resolved or represented, may file a grievance with the CGG Board² stating the terms of their complaint. The CGG Board will review the grievance and resolve it according to rules provided in the By-laws of the CGG.

    • Article V: Officers

      The Officers of the CGG shall consist of a President, a Vice President, and a Chaplain.

      • Section 1: President

        The president is responsible for the overall supervision and management of the CGG, including moderating the CGG list. He or she sets the direction for the group’s activities, and works to keep the group moving in the direction of the group’s mission statement. He presides over all discussions of the board, and has the authority to close discussions, call for votes, and establish agendas of the board. He also executes decisions of the board in any case in which the action does not clearly fall within the authority of another officer, including taking any disciplinary action deemed necessary under the rules of the list. As primary moderator of the CGG list, he may declare an issue off-topic and require that it be discontinued or taken to private communications. In consultation with the board he may take other actions deemed appropriate, and may act on his own initiative in what he views an emergent situation, subject to review by the board.

      • Section 2: Vice-President

        The vice-president assists the president in his duties as the president requests. He or she serves in the office of president when the president does not respond to efforts to contact him within a reasonable time under the circumstances, and succeeds to the presidency under any circumstances in which the president no longer serves except when the president is replaced by normal election. A vice-president who succeeds a president shall serve in that office for the remainder of the original term unless he or she resigns or is removed from office as provided under the rules of the CGG.

      • Section 3: Chaplain

        The chaplain helps to maintain the spiritual focus of the group, and provides biblical and theological accountability. This person also works to help coordinate and arrange any ministry outreach activities of the CGG.

      • Section 4: Qualifications for Office

        1. All officers must be members in good standing of the CGG at the time of their appointment and while they are serving.
        2. All officers must subscribe to the Statement of Faith of the CGG, and must declare their adherence thereto before being listed on the ballot.
        3. Officers must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

      • Section 5: Vote of No Confidence

        Failure to comply with the standards of office is automatic grounds for a “Vote of No Confidence.” Such a vote must be called by the agreement of a simple majority of voting members of the board under the rules governing their procedures. Officers may be removed from an office by vote of the membership of the CGG.

        1. The officer must be notified in by e-mail or other written electronic means at least two (2) weeks before the matter is brought before the membership.
        2. A designated member of the board will post an official statement to the list, stating the action to be taken and the reasons for that action.
        3. The officer shall be permitted forty-eight (48) hours to reply by posting to the list, presenting his case to the membership.
        4. The board shall establish a means of voting on the matter, and announce this to the list. Voting shall remain open not less than seven (7) days. Each member wishing to do so may vote once.
        5. Regardless of the number of persons casting a vote on the matter, if at least two-thirds of those voting vote for removal, the officer shall be removed from serving in that office. His membership in the list will not be affected.

      • Section 6: Resignation

        Any officer may resign from office for any reason or no reason at any time by submitting such resignation to the board through whatever means are used for normal discussions of the board.

      • Section 7: Selection of Officers

        All officers will serve in their current position for a term of two years, until they decide to vacate the position, or are voted out.

        1. Elections will be held October 1st to the 15th, Pacific Standard Time (GMT + 8 hours)
        2. Nominations will be held September 16th to 30th, Pacific Standard Time (GMT + 8 hours)

          Nominees must state their eligibility for office as described in this constitution prior to being listed on the ballot. They may also campaign by posting to the list information regarding their views about the office and its duties and their visions for its future. Contacting members off list from whom the candidate has not received prior private messages is not permitted unless invited by the contacted member.

        3. If an office is vacated prematurely, the board will conduct a special election.
        4. All officers will serve for two years. Terms will be staggered so that some offices will come up for election each year. The president and vice-president will be elected on alternate years.
        5. [repealed]
        6. Officers will take office immediately upon completion of the election.

    • Article VI: The CGG Board

      The CGG Board consists of the president, vice-president, chaplain, plus three additional members at large. Board members must be qualified as officers.

      • Section 1.

        As stated above, there will be no regularly scheduled meetings of the CGG board. All board business will be conducted by electronic means as agreed by the board.

      • Section 2.

        The CGG Board shall establish the procedures of administration.

      • Section 3.

        Decisions made by the CGG Board may be overruled through the grievance procedure.

      • Section 4.

        The various aspects of the ministries of the CGG shall be overseen by the board. The board may appoint its own members or other members of the CGG to oversee specific ministries.

    • Article VII: Intellectual Property

      Any copyrightable material developed in whole or in part by a CGG member which is submitted to the CGG (or the WT&D) for use by the CGG (e.g. artwork, adventures, fiction, seminar notes) remain the property of the original owner(s)/author(s). The owner(s)/author(s) shall be free to use the property in any way they wish, including submission to other sources for publication. Any such submission to the CGG recognizes the right of the CGG an unrestricted license to use, publish, and distribute said works in perpetuity.

      The CGG reserves the right to revise, copy and edit any accepted version of said materials for content, style, clarity, and grammatical content in accordance with standard usage.

    • Article VIII: Amendments to the Constitution

      • Section 1

        When the need arises, the constitution of the CGG may be amended by vote of the membership.

        1. Any member of the CGG may request or propose an amendment to the constitution by submitting such request or proposal to the board² for consideration. The board may edit, revise, alter, or reject any amendment on a majority vote provided a reasonable time for discussion is afforded. After such consideration, the board may submit a proposed amendment for consideration by the group provided such proposal is approved by two thirds vote of the board and a quorum exists.
        2. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the list in a written format such as by e-mail or URL of a web page two (2) weeks prior to the vote.
        3. Between two (2) and four (4) weeks from the presentation of the amendment in final form the board will announce the procedure for voting thereon.
        4. The vote will be kept open not less than seven (7) nor more than twenty-one (21) days.
        5. Notwithstanding the number of votes cast, the amendment shall pass if at least two-thirds of those voting cast a favorable vote.

      • Section 2

        The CGG will publish and maintain a Statement of Faith, incorporated by reference into this constitution³. Changes to the Statement of Faith shall only be made by those procedures required for amendments to this constitution.

      • Section 3

        The CGG may have other governing documents including but not limited to by-laws, Statement of Purpose, and such others as deemed appropriate by the Board. Nothing in those documents will be valid if it contradicts anything in this constitution. Amendment of such documents does not require the standards for amendment of this constitution.

 

¹ The Christian Gamers Guild’s Abuse Policy:

FIVE-STEP PROCESS FOR DEALING WITH ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR
  1. As soon as abusive behavior is noted by a Board member, or a complaint is registered by a list member, the member will be contacted privately by a board member and concern expressed. This does not require approval by the board, but the board should receive a blind carbon copy of all such discussions.
  1. If the behavior continues, the matter will be brought before theboard and the behavior reviewed. If the board agrees, the member will be served with a warning from the entire Board stating the problem, our agreement it is a problem, and our intent to unsubscribe if the problem is not resolved.
  1. If the behavior still continues, a vote of the Board will be conducted to unsubscribe the member.
  1. Such members will only be allowed to resubscribe upon their request, and requiring a majority vote of the Board.
  1. Renewed abuse leads immediately to a Board vote on a permanent ban from the list.

²To communicate with the CGG Board, send an email to CGG_BOARD@yahoogroups.com

³The Statement of Faith is currently hosted at http://christian-gamers-guild.org/wp/about-us/statement-of-faith/

This document was found to have discrepancies as compared to the official form hosted in the Yahoogroups file area and was updated to conform on Oct 7, 2019.