By-Laws

Conference of Mississippi Baptist Evangelists (COMBE)

Adopted at the annual Winter Meeting of 01/22/02

I.  Qualifications for Membership

    In determining eligibility for membership in the Conference of Mississippi Baptist Evangelists, membership is divided into 2 classes:

1.  A Mississippi Vocational Evangelist shall be defined as one who derives the major portion of his or her income or devotes the major portion of his or her vocational activity to the ministry of evangelism. He or she must maintain primary residence in the state of Mississippi and be an active member of a Southern Baptist church that is a cooperating member church of the Mississippi Baptist Convention. He or she must also sign and adhere to COMBE's Affirmations of Accountability.

2. An Associate Vocational Evangelist shall be defined as one who derives the major portion of his or her income or devotes the major portion of his or her vocational activity to the ministry of evangelism who resides in another state. He or she must be a member of a Southern Baptist church which is a cooperating member of their state's convention, must be a member of their state's Conference of Evangelists and must be recognized as a vocational evangelist by their state. He or she must also sign and adhere to COMBE's Affirmations of Accountability.

Ministry activity may include preaching, music, or other forms of public ministry which is directed toward presenting the gospel and /or serving the church.  One who holds a fulltime, salaried staff position at a local church, except the position of staff evangelist, or who holds a fulltime secular position shall not be considered a vocational evangelist.

If more than one individual is active in a ministry (as in a family group), they may hold a single membership and will be entitled to a single vote on any matter; or each active member of the ministry may hold an individual membership and be entitled to an individual vote.

Each new applicant will receive a COMBE Biographical Data Information Sheet and a COMBE Affirmations of Accountability statement. The applicant will return these items when completed to the Secretary/Treasurer, who will submit them for approval by the Membership Committee. If approved, each new member of COMBE is to pay his/her yearly dues ($25.00) to the Secretary/Treasurer for final inclusion into the COMBE fellowship.

II.  Operating Year

    The operating year of the Conference of Mississippi Baptist Evangelists shall be from January 1 through December 31, coinciding with the calendar year.

III.  Meetings and Voting

    The annual meeting of the Conference of Mississippi Baptist Evangelists shall be scheduled by it's officers in conjunction with the annual State Evangelism Conference sponsored by the Evangelism Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.  This meeting shall be known as the Winter meeting. Membership dues for the year can be paid by either check or cash to the Secretary/Treasurer at the Winter Meeting. If you are unable to attend the Winter Meeting, you will receive a letter informing you of any action taken by COMBE members at the Winter Meeting, as well as your need to pay the annual fee for continued membership. Following receipt of this letter, you must mail your dues to the Secretary/Treasurer no later than February 28th in order to maintain your fellowship in COMBE for that calendar year.

    An optional additional meeting of the Conference of Mississippi Baptist Evangelists may be scheduled by it's officers in conjunction with the annual meeting in the fall of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.  This shall be known as the Fall Meeting.

    The officers may call a special meeting of the membership at another date if they determine that it is necessary to handle a specific urgent matter or matters of business.  However, for such a special meeting, it will be required that notice of the meeting be mailed to each current member of the organization at least 60 days before the special meeting, that the notice state the specific matter or matters of business to come before the special meeting and that the notice provide members the opportunity to vote by mail on the issue or issues to be presented at the meeting.  Votes submitted by mail shall count equally with the votes of those present in person and no matters of business other than those stated in the notice of special meeting may be presented or acted on at a special called meeting.   Further, the members not present for such a special called meeting shall be notified by mail within 30 days following the meeting of any action taken. 

    The members attending any properly scheduled business meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

Ony Mississippi Vocational Evangelists are eligible to vote. Mississippi vocational evangelists eligible to vote at the Winter Meeting shall include all those whose dues were paid, and who were qualified for membership at the end of the calendar year preceding the Winter Meeting and who have already paid dues for the current calendar year.  At all other meetings, members eligible to vote shall include those who have paid dues and been qualified for membership in the current calendar year.  

IV.  Election of Officers

    Election of officers shall be conducted as follows:  Each year at the Winter Meeting a member shall be elected to serve a