SUTTON PLACE CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE I

NAME & PURPOSE

 

Section 1         The name of this housing ministry shall be “Sutton Place.”

 

Section 2         The purpose of this housing ministry, under the sponsorship, and with the cooperation of the Baptist Student Foundation, shall be to provide for residents an opportunity for spiritual and personal growth in a Christian community.  To further this purpose, Sutton Place shall seek to:

 

·      provide a Christian environment in which to live, study, and build skills;

·      provide encouragement for a loving atmosphere in which to live;

·      provide opportunities for personal growth in the Christian faith; and,

·      provide safe, economical, and comfortable living conditions

 

Section 3         Sutton Place is owned by the Baptist Student Foundation (BSF) at the University of Illinois.  The BSF Board of Trustees has final authority on all matters relevant to the property and practices at Sutton Place.  In consultation with the representatives and residents of Sutton Place, this authority shall be exercised by the Board of Trustees through the Executive Director, the Director of Housing, and/or the Resident Manager.

           

 

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP AND RESIDENCY

 

Section 1         Members of Sutton Place shall consist of all residents, including the Resident Manager.

 

Section 2         Guidelines to be used in admission decisions shall consist of the following:

 

(A)        All applicants that subscribe to the Sutton Place purpose statement shall be considered for membership.

(B)        Graduate students at the University of Illinois shall have priority membership.  Other applicants shall be considered for membership on a case by case basis.

(C)        Married couples shall not be considered for membership, excepting the Resident Manger, if applicable.  Married persons living away from their spouses shall be considered for membership eligibility. 

(D)        Efforts shall be made to maintain a gender balance; this shall not be construed to require any proportional mandate.

 

Section 3         An interviewing committee shall be formed each year for the purpose of interviewing applicants for any vacancies to be filled in the house, and for any vacancies expected for the following term. The interview committee shall be composed of:

 

1)    the Resident Manager, who shall serve as the Chairman,

2)    the president of Sutton Place or his or her designee.

 

Section 4         The interviewing committee shall follow the guidelines of Article II, Section 2 and shall stress the understanding of the purpose statement.

 

Section 5         Prospective applicants shall be directed to first contact the Resident Manager to get information about the house and to complete an application.  Once completed, the application shall be forwarded to the members of the interviewing committee.  A meeting between the applicant and the interviewing committee shall be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.

 

Section 6         A simple majority of the interviewing committee shall decide which applicants are to be accepted as new residents. 

 

 

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

 

Section 1         The officers of Sutton Place shall consist of a house President, Vice-President / Treasurer, Social Chair(s), Chaplain(s), Handyman, and Steward.  The officers shall work to facilitate communication within the house, between the house and the BSF, and between the house and the Resident Manager.

 

Section 2         The officers may be nominated by any house member and shall be elected by a simple majority of the house members present and voting at the first scheduled house meeting of the Fall Semester.  They shall serve a one-year term.

 

Section 3         Any officer who is unable to fulfill his or her term shall be replaced by the house members present and voting at the next regularly scheduled house meeting.  The new officer shall be elected by a simple majority vote and shall serve the remaining term of the officer being replaced.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

BASIS FOR BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

 

Section 1         We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God: “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17, NIV).  We therefore hold that the Bible should be relied upon as the primary and authoritative source for guidance in one’s life.  With this in mind, Bible studies shall be promoted at Sutton Place.

 

Section 2         In keeping with Christ’s command to spread the Good News, part of Sutton Place’s purpose is evangelistic.  Because people will come to better know one another in a shared living arrangement, membership shall not be limited to Christians.  We believe that a life lived faithfully for Christ has an intrinsic appeal, especially when experienced close up. 

 

Section 3         We believe that all Christians are called to grow in their faith and are capable of ministering to one another as taught in I Corinthians 12.  We therefore encourage residents to seek out informal opportunities to minister and to be ministered to, including prayer groups, discipling, Bible studies, and fellowship.

 

Section 4         We believe it is important for every person to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior.

 

Section 5         We believe in the importance of religious freedom; therefore, we shall seek to protect that freedom for all residents.

 

 

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

Section 1         Amendments to this constitution may be proposed at any time.  Amendments may be proposed by the BSF or by a petition signed by ¼ (one fourth) of the house members.  If the proposed amendment is approved at the next scheduled house meeting by a 2/3 (two thirds) majority of the members present and voting, the proposed amendment shall then be forwarded to the BSF for its consideration and recommendation to the BSF Board of Trustees.  House members shall be informed and consulted about any changes recommended by the BSF.  When approved by the BSF Board of Trustees, the amendment becomes an official part of the constitution.

 

 

SUTTON PLACE BY-LAWS

 

PART I – NUMBER OF MEMBERS

 

Section 1         The number of members shall equal the number of rented rooms plus the Resident Manger.

 

PART II – TIMES OF MEETINGS

 

Section 1         Meetings shall be conducted once a month.  The first meeting shall be held during the first full week of the school term, that meeting time being determined by the Resident Manager.  HOUSE RULES SHALL BE REVIEWED.

 

Section 2         Quorum shall consist of fifty percent (50%) of the house members.  If a quorum cannot be met, the meeting shall be cancelled and rescheduled.

 

PART III – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

Section 1         The house President shall plan and conduct house meetings.  The house President shall create the house duty and kitchen duty schedule for house members.  The house President shall serve on the Sutton Place interviewing committee.  The President shall represent Sutton Place at BSF housing meetings.  The President shall act as liaison between the BSF and the house and shall fairly and accurately represent the views of house members at BSF housing meetings, and the President

 

shall fairly and accurately report all BSF activity at house meetings.  The President shall present grievances on behalf of the house members to the Resident Manager and/or the BSF.  The President shall have the power to call special meetings and to appoint any necessary special committees.  The President shall have the power to fine members of the house according to the guidelines set forth in the House Rules.  In the absence of the Resident Manager, the President acts at his direction.

 

Section 2         The Vice-President / Treasurer shall carry on the duties of the President in his or her absence.  The Vice-President / Treasurer is shall check house duties to ensure that house members have completed their assigned tasks.  The Vice-President / Treasurer shall have the power to fine members of the house according to the guidelines set forth in the House Rules.  The Vice President / Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting monies other than rent from house members.  The Vice-President / Treasurer shall purchase house periodicals.

 

Section 3         The Secretary shall record and maintain minutes of all house meetings and shall provide a copy of meeting minutes to the Resident Manager and any members absent from that month’s meeting.  The Secretary shall forward all first class (non-bulk) mail to former house members in a timely fashion.  The Secretary shall provide the BSF Secretary with the forwarding addresses of all former house members. 

 

Section 4         The Social Chairperson(s) shall be responsible for organizing all social activities for the house.  There shall be no less than three (3) activities per semester.  The Social Chairperson(s) shall be responsible for coordinating these activities with all house members and for facilitating interpersonal relationships within the house and, if desired, between the house and other housing units / organizations.

 

Section 5         The Chaplain(s) shall promote Bible studies, mission opportunities, and other spiritual activities for house members.  The Chaplain(s) shall be responsible for short planned time fellowship and praying at each house meeting.  The Chaplain(s) shall be encouraged to consult regularly with the pastors of University Baptist Church about spiritual resources, planning of spiritual activities, and other opportunities.  THE CHAPLAIN(S) SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THE HOUSE LIBRARY.

 

Section 6         The house Handyman shall be responsible for the completion of small household repairs and shall assist the Resident Manager in other work projects in and around the house as needed.  The house Handyman shall inspect the house regularly for items in need of repair, and if he or she cannot make the repair, the house Handyman shall report those items in need of repair to the Resident Manager.  The house Handyman shall ask the members of the house regularly if they are in need of any repairs to their rooms, and if he or she cannot make the repair, the House Handyman shall report those items in need of repair to the Resident Manager.

 

Section 7         The house Steward shall maintain the inventory of supplies for the house.  The house Steward shall make regular checks of housekeeping closets to ensure that they are stocked as needed (with bathroom tissue, paper towels, cleaning supplies, cleaning products, etc.).  If they are not, the house Steward shall provide those closets with the needed items / inventory, or in the case that more needs to be

purchased, the house Steward shall inform the Resident Manager of the needs for the house.  Once these items are purchased by the Resident Manager, the house Steward shall place them where they are needed (or in their proper place in the house). 

       

PART IV – DUTIES & EXPECTATIONS OF MEMBERS

 

Section 1         Members shall abide by: the provisions of the Sutton Place Constitution, its By-laws, the House Rules, the Sutton Place Contract, the Policy Statement on the Use of Drugs and Alcohol at Sutton Place, and the direction of the BSF and the Resident Manager.

 

Section 2         Intra-house disputes shall be resolved following the guidelines of Matthew 18:15-17.  In this spirit, the following procedure shall be observed.  First, speak to the offending party privately.  Second, if the dispute is still unresolved, ask the other party to meet with the Resident Manager, and/or the house President.  Finally, if still unresolved, bring the dispute to the attention of the BSF.

 

PART V – DUTIES & EXPECTATIONS OF THE RESIDENT MANAGER

 

Section 1         As a house member, the Resident Manager shall abide by and enforce all the provisions of the Constitution, its By-laws, and House Rules, where applicable.

 

Section 2         The Resident Manager shall be an employee of the BSF and shall be responsible for all contractual arrangements thereto appertaining.

 

Section 3         The Resident Manager shall be a regular participant at University Baptist Church functions.