ACTS 29 uses performing arts to continue the book of Acts in the New Testament, which tells of the Apostles mission to teach and preach the Gospel message to the world. Acts 28:31 reads: “Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (NRSV). This embodies the mission of the members and projects of Acts 29.
II. PURPOSE:
ACTS 29 is a ministry team composed of students from Susquehanna University is part of the Center for Civic Engagement, SUN Council and also falls under the Chaplain's office. The book of Acts contains only 28 chapters, which details the work of the apostles, spreading the message of Christ. Acts 29's mission is to continue this work in the contemporary world, in a sense writing the 29th chapter. Acts 29 achieves this goal by traveling to various congregations and organizations spreading this message using the performing arts (such as but not limited to music, mime, dance, clowning, puppetry, speaking, and drama).
III. MEMBERSHIP:
- There are two forms membership in ACTS 29; trial and full.
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Trial and full membership is open to any student of Susquehanna University interested in proclaiming the Gospel message by ministering to and serving Christian congregations, civic organizations, and the university community.
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To become a trial member of ACTS 29, one must attend one business meeting during the academic semester.
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To become a full member of ACTS 29; pone must attend three consecutive business meetings. A full member is allowed all rights given in the constitution except voting and project housing.
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To earn voting rights in an Acts 29 election or the ability to have priority for Acts 29 project housing, one must attend at least two hours of Acts 29 functions per week of full membership and attend at least on service per semester.
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Full membership (including voting or housing status) may be withdrawn of a person misses three consecutive business meetings.
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Exceptions may be granted in conjunction with the previous two sections, if the project manager (or both of the project co-managers) deems that this is necessary.
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Full member ship will carry over to a student's next academic semester spent at Susquehanna University.
Members are expected to be at all required Acts 29 project meetings. Members must let the Project Manager(s) know personally (within 2 hours of meeting) if they will be absent to a required project meeting.
Service Attendance
- Once an Acts 29 member has committed to going on a service they are expected to go.
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Members may withdraw from a service; if the Service Leader of that service deems the notice sufficient (examples include but do not limit to sickness, death of a loved one, emergency situation, abundance of class work, theatre or music mandatory rehearsal).
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The Service Leader has a right to remove a member from a service list if that member has missed a rehearsal for an invalid reason.
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When a service is accepted, there must be an adequate number of members who commit to that service.
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A member, who is providing the necessary transportation to a service, cannot withdraw from that service.
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If any member commits to a service and then withdraws without valid excuse, as determined by the service leader (or in the case of the service leader being that particular member, it will be determined by the project manger(s)), that member can be forced to go to the service.
Consequences
A failure to attend meetings and services will be reflected in project housing status.
IV. ELECTIONS
- The elected positions in ACTS 29 are Project Manager(s) and Secretary. The appointed positions in Acts 29 include Ministry Manager/Historian, Logbook Manager/Webmaster, SUN Council Representative, and Chapel Council Representative.
- Nominations will open two weeks before the final business meeting in December.
- One week prior to elections, candidates will be announced and nominations will be closed.
- Elections are held by secret ballot and counted by a neutral party (senior member(s)); the group should break with prayer.
- Elected officers must be elected by a majority vote of all of the voting members.
- Elected officers are responsible for the project proposal and the Sun council interview process.
- Elected officers will go through a four-week training period by the current elected officers in the beginning of the spring semester. At the end of the training period the new officers will assume their leadership roles, by filling the appointed positions.
V. ORGANIZATION AND POSITIONS
The Acts 29 leadership team shall consist of Project Manager(s), Secretary, Ministry Manager/Historian, Logbook Manager/Webmaster, SUN Council Representative and Chapel Council Representative.
1. Project Manger(s)
- The Project Manager(s) lead the weekly meetings and group devotions (unless other members' desires to present the devotional).
- The group guidelines, general workings of the project, and appointment of officers: Ministry Manager/Historian, Logbook Manager/Webmaster, SUN Council Representative, Chapel Council Representative and Service Leader(s).
- The Project Manager(s) also maintains the proper environment for spiritual growth and provides support for the other leadership offices.
- They are responsible for meeting regularly with the Center for Civic Engagement and may consult with the advisor (Chaplain) as necessary.
- If the group receives any form of donation t a service, the donation(s) will be turned over to the group's accounts to be updated and corrected.
- Oversees the maintenance of the electronic logbook and the recording of the group's activities. These responsibilities include handing the logbook in on time and making sure that all members complete logbook forms.
2. Secretary
- Taking the minutes and attendance at the weekly meetings, as well as continued written contact after a service with an organization or a religious institution.
- In the event that the Project Manger (or both of the Project Managers) should not be present for a required meeting, the secretary is responsible for leading that business meeting.
- Email copies of the minutes promptly available to all members.
- The secretary also deals with correspondence within the group, when necessary, to help maintain a close fellowship within the group.
3. Ministry Manager/Historian
- The Road Manager is responsible for the uptake, organization and improvement of the props that belong to ACTS 29. The tasks of organizing and creating, or supplying, the necessary props for each service, and keeping an inventory of ACTS 29's props.
- The Road Manger is also the group's historian and, thus, keeps a record of group activities that occur during the semester(s).
- The Ministry Manager(s) is/are responsible for the uptake, organization, and improvement of the props that belong to ACTS 29. The tasks of organizing and creating, or supplying, the necessary props for each service, and keeping an inventory of ACTS 29's props.
4. Service Leader
- Service Leader is a volunteer from the group who will be attending the service
- The Service Leader plans the specifics of a service including which songs to sing, puppet skits to act out, transportation etc.
- This position is available between the members of Acts 29, giving each member an opportunity to organize the specifics of a schedules service
- They fill out the necessary forms to the Ministry Manager/Historian after the service
- The service leader is responsible for scheduling rehearsals for practicing various skits and activities that will be performed during a service
5. Sun Council and Chapel Council Representatives
- They are required to attend all meetings of their respective councils
- If they are unable to attend, they must contact the Project Manager(s) prior to the meeting.
- They must find someone else to replace him or her at a meeting, in which they will not attend.
- Finally, if no one can be found to replace them they are responsible for contacting the SUN Council of Chapel Council Secretary.
VI. Removal of Officers
- Any ACTS 29 member may request the impeachment of any officer/elected position (hereafter known as “the officer” within this section). If a simple majority of the project agrees to hold impeachment hearings, the hearings will begin the next week at a time agreed upon by the Project membership.
- After the impeachment hearings, three-quarters of that meeting's voting membership (assuming quorum is present) is required for removal.
- The procedure for impeachment is as follows:
- The member of the project that wishes removal of an officer mush list his/her grievances in a formal letter to the project at large to be presented to the project at the meeting
- Once the letter is presented, a motion shall be made and seconded in order to open impeachment hearings.
- If the officer is not at the meeting at which the impeachment processes have begun the Project Manager(s) shall notify said officer immediately following the meeting and before the secretary sends out the minutes.
- The following week, the officer in question shall be permitted to present their defense to the project.
- If said officer does not choose to present a defense, or is unexcused from this meeting, the position is forfeited and treated as an official resignation.
- Nominations shall be opened immediately if forfeited
VII. ADVISOR:
ACTS 29 is required to have a faculty advisor who is the chaplain of the University. The advisor's role is to give advice and support to the group and should be called upon to mediate controversy (as a neutral party). However, the group as a whole has final say on the issue at hand.
VIII. MEETING STRUCTURE:
As a group, ACTS 29 will meet weekly. Project M.anger(s) will lead the meeting with devotion, prayer and reports made by Ministry Manger, SUN Council Representative and Chapel Council Representative. A time will be allotted for announcements and any other project concerns. Meetings will be carried out in an orderly fashion with an agenda.
IX. LOGBOOK:
- Logbooks are collected periodically by SUN Council to monitor the groups' progress.
- ACTS 29 is part of the Susquehanna University Neighborhood Council (SUN Council), and is required to keep an up to date logbook.
- Members are required to record all ACTS 29 time in group logbook entries. Entries should include a brief description of what the time incorporated.
- Appropriate service hours should incorporate meeting times for ACTS 29 required meetings where preparation and planning occur, SUN Council and Chapel Council meetings, rehearsals, services and any other services accepted by ACTS 29 as a group.
- Any questionable hours are subject to a group vote and discretion of the advisor.
- Hours not recorded within three weeks after earning them will not count as hours.
X. REIMBURSEMENTS:
All receipts must be handed in to Nancy Musser for reimbursement. Purchases made without prior approval may or may not be reimbursed.
XI. AFFILIATIONS:
ACTS 29 is affiliated with both SUN Council and Chapel Council, and is subject to the rules and regulations of both groups. ACTS 29 is required to have a representative present at all of the meetings for these councils.
XII. DRESS CODE:
ACTS 29 members should present a positive and professional appearance. The Service Leader will determine attire according to the desires of the congregation/organization for which ACTS 29 is performing. Modesty should be considered when choosing attire. If attire is questionable, the member will be asked to change. If he/she refuses to change, he/she will not attend the service.
XIII. PROPERTY:
All items purchased with ACTS 29 funds remain as property of the group and need approval for all non-service functions. The request for the approval should be made to the Ministry Manager and Project Manager(s). The items taken out of storage must be in a member's name and that person's responsibility. At the end of the year, all property must be returned. No property of ACTS 29 is permitted to leave campus for the summer, with the possible exception of books without the expressed permission of the project and/or the Chaplains office.
XIV. TRAVEL:
- Congregations or individuals (referred to throughout as congregations) wishing to schedule an ACTS 29 team should contact the Ministry Manager, Project Manager and/or the Chaplain's office of Susquehanna University.
- Requests should be submitted at least one month in advance, if possible. The request shall be presented to the members at the next Project meeting where the group will decide whether to confirm or decline the request. The Ministry Manger shall then contact the congregation with the group's decision.
- Confirmation cannot be given until the semester in which the service falls. ACTS 29 has the right to confirm or decline any request for any reason.
- Due to the academic schedule ACTS 29 services are available startling the second full week of September through November, and again in February through April. A few services can be accepted in December, January and May. ACTS 29 is available at these times when the following conditions have been met:
- There must be a sufficient number of members available to conduct the requested service. ACTS 29 must be able to provide or find suitable transportation. ACTS 29 will not leave campus before 6:30am.
- If a service would require this, overnight housing and breakfast are requested.
- ACTS 29 will attempt to accommodate the congregation's wishes as much as possible. If requested ACTS 29 will give the congregation an Order of Worship before the requested date of the service.
- Congregations desiring to cancel an ACTS 29 team should contact either the Project Manager or Ministry Manager as soon as possible. In the event that neither can be reached, the Chaplain's office should be contacted.
- Once a service has been confirmed, ACTS 29 is committed to the service, except in situations beyond control. ACTS 29 can only cancel services with the Chaplain's permission. If the drivers feel that the driving conditions are hazardous, the Chaplain shall be consulted. If the Chaplain cannot be reached, the Project Manager makes the decision. In the event that neither party can be reached, the decision is up to the drivers.
- ACTS 29 tries to arrive at least one half-hour before a service. ACTS 29 will make every effort to arrive on time, however there are occasional delays. In the event of such a delay, ACTS 29 will contact the congregation as soon as possible. The requested donation is $.27/mile (or current rate as deemed by the University) for each vehicle round trip. This is only a suggestion however; ACTS 29 is willing to travel to congregations despite the financial situation.
XV. AMENDANTS:
- This constitution should be evaluated every year and changed as necessary. This shall happen at the second project meeting in January. In order for a change to be made, the majority of voting members must vote in favor of the change. Any full member of the group may propose an amendment in written form.
- Voting shall occur two weeks after the proposal of the amendment allowing one week for discussion. An amendment shall be ratified by majority vote of the voting members (assuming that quorum is present at the meeting)
- The new version of the constitution shall take effect immediately upon ratification