|
Adopted December 2-3, 2001 by the Annual Forum, Alexandria, VA.
Download Guidelines
Adobe
I. Name, Vision, Mission and Objectives
- a. The name of this group is COMISS Network; incorporated as a 501.c3 in Atlanta, Georgia.
- b. The Vision of the COMISS Network is: “We will be a pre-eminent network; a unified voice for the preparation and practice of spiritual care through chaplaincy and pastoral counseling.”
- c. The Mission of the COMISS Network is: “We are a network of professional organizations, institutions, and faith communities that promotes and supports collaboration among its membership and is the collective voice of advocacy to a variety of publics on behalf of the network.”
- d. The Objectives of the COMISS Network are:
- i. To provide a forum for dialogue among those who share a similar mission.
- ii. To develop shared programs/resources in order to increase collaboration and reduce duplication among members.
- iii. To advocate regarding professionalism in standards and service in the provision of professional, faith-based care and counseling.
- iv. To educate regarding the value of professional faith-based care and counseling.
II. Members
- a. Any group which subscribes to the vision and mission and is a professional certifying organization, a professional accrediting organization, a religious endorsing body, a professional pastoral care organization, or a chaplain and pastoral counselor employing organization may apply for membership in the COMISS Network. The definition of these groups are as follows:
- i. Professional Certification Organizations: These organizations certify individuals for the practice of and or training for professional pastoral care. A certifying organization will be able to demonstrate a process for certifications of individuals which includes standards/categories in compliance with CCAPS (formerly The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Pastoral Services). They will also demonstrate how certified chaplains, pastoral counselors, or other pastoral care professionals conform to a code of ethics that prohibits proselytizing, conflicts of interest, and crossing of professional boundaries.
- ii. Professional Accreditation Organizations: Organizations in this category accredit institutions, facilities, centers, or systems for the practice, education, and training of chaplains, pastoral counselors, and/or other pastoral care professionals. An accreditation organization will be ale to demonstrate a process for accreditation which includes standards/categories in compliance with CCAPS (formerly The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Pastoral Services).
- iii. Religious Endorsing Bodies: Organizations in this category include faith groups, denominations, or religious organizations which endorse individuals of their respective group for chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and/or other professional pastoral care ministries. A Religious Endorsing Body will be ale to demonstrate a process of endorsement which includes a clear accountability between the endoser and the endorsed individual. Also, these organizations will be able to demonstrate recognition as a religious endorsing body by showing that they are listed on one or more of the following: the list published by the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, the list published by the Department of Veterans Affairs National Chaplain Center, or the Handbook of Denominations in the United States published by Abingdon Press.
- iv. Professional Pastoral Care Organizations: These organizations exist as groups of chaplains and/or other pastoral care professionals, and whose work focuses on ministry in specific specialized settings. Membership in these organizations may be for the purpose of consultation, information sharing, encouragement, education, collaboration, and other types of supportive activity.
- v. Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor Employing Organizations: Organizations in this category utilize the services of chaplains and/or pastoral counselors who are certified by one of the Certifying Organizations of the COMISS Network. These organizations may be for profit or not for profit, but they must demonstrate, via their mission statement and table of organization, that they operate in accordance with the mission, values and objectives of the COMISS Network. Institutions in this category include, but are not limited to, hospitals, healthcare systems, prisons and other correctional facilities, business and industrial centers, educational institutions, religious centers, and pastoral counseling centers.
III. COMISS Network Forum
- a. Membership
- i. Each member organization may be represented by up to three participants.
- ii. There will be one vote per member organization.
- b. Annual Forum
- i. The COMISS Network will gather for one or more meetings annually in Forum.
- ii. The conduct of business at the Annual Forum will include presentations, discussion and action on:
- 1. Annual report
- 2. Financial report
- 3. Election of officers
- 4. Election of nominating committee
- 5. Presentation of and orientation for new members
- 6. Proposed new initiatives
- 7. Propose and ratify any change in annual dues.
IV. COMISS Network Leadership (Officers and At-Large Members)
- a. Network Leadership shall be members of one of the member organizations of the COMISS Network.
- b. The COMISS Network Leadership annual elections shall take place at the Annual Forum. New COMISS Network Leaders will begin their terms of office at the conclusion of the Annual Forum.
- c. The officers of COMISS Network will be:
- i. Chair
- 1. Presides at all meetings of the COMISS Network Forum and the COMISS Network Leadership.
- 2. Submits the annual report to the Forum.
- ii. Vice-Chair
- 1. Assumes the duties of the Chair in absence or disability of the Chair.
- 2. Serves as chair of Forum Program Planning Task Force.
- iii. Treasurer
- 1. Is responsible for financial management.
- 2. Provides financial reports to the COMISS Network Leadership and to the Annual Forum.
- 3. Will convene a Finance Task Force to be made up of the Chair of CCAPS, the Chair of PCW, and one member of the COMISS Network Leadership, to prepare an annual budget.
- iv. Secretary
- 1. Attends all sessions of the COMISS Network Leadership and Annual Forum and records all votes and minutes.
- d. The officers of the COMISS Network will serve as the officers of the corporation and as such are responsible for its business and direction as approved by the COMISS Network.
- e. At-Large Members: There shall be four at-large members elected at the Annual Forum by and from the membership.
- f. The COMISS Network Leadership will act on business responsibilities between meetings of the Forum. They will:
- i. Contract services
- ii. Hire staff
- iii. Implement decisions of the Forum
- iv. Be responsible for th budget and for strategic planning
- g. Terms of Service
- i. All members of the COMISS Network Leadership will serve a two year term and may be re-elected to one successive term.
- ii. The Chair and Treasurer and two At-Large members will be elected in even numbered years; the Vice-Chair, Secretary, and two At-Large members will be elected in odd numbered years.
- iii. PCW Committee members will serve two year terms and may be re-elected to one successive term.
- iv. CCAPS Commissioners will serve three year terms and may be re-elected to one successive term.
V. Standing Committees and Commission
- a. A Nominating Committee of three (3) will be nominated and elected annually by the members at the Annual Forum. They will be responsible for the process of nominations and conducting the election.
- i. Solicit names from membership groups.
- ii. Secure agreement to being nominated from the nominee.
- iii. Prepare the slate to be mailed to the membership with registrations packets for the Annual Forum.
- iv. Conduct the election at the Annual Forum.
- v. They are administratively accountable to the COMISS Network Leadership.
- b. A commission, the COMISS Commission for Accreditation of Pastoral Services (CCAPS) consisting of eight members will be established.
- i. The Network Leadership will appoint three commissioners drawn from the Certifying and Accrediting groups, two from the Religious Endorsing Bodies, one from one of the other two Network groups, and two at-large drawn from outside the COMISS Network. When there is a commissioner vacancy, CCAPS will receive applications from individuals representing the appropriate membership group. CCAPS will then make their recommendation to the National Leadership who will make the appointment.
- ii. CCAPS will:
- 1. Propose and revise CCAPS standards
- 2. Conduct accreditation site visits of pastoral services
- 3. Represent the COMISS Network to external national accrediting bodies
- 4. Submit an annual report to the Network
- 5. Submit a proposed budget to the National Leadership
- 6. Recommend Network Leadership nominees for the two at-large commissioners from outside the Network.
- iii. COMISS Leadership will:
- 1. Approve membership criteria for CCAPS
- 2. Appoint CCAPS commissioners. The commissioners will then elect their own chair from among themselves.
- 3. Act on policies, procedures and standards of CCAPS.
- 4. Act on CCAPS accreditation recommendations for pastoral services.
- c. Pastoral Care Week Committee
- i. A committee consisting of five members wil be appointed from among the five membership categories to plan and implement the annual observance of Pastoral Care Week. The PCW observance is intended to raise awareness of the importance of pastoral/spiritual care. This includes, but is not limited to:
- 1. Determination of a theme for the year
- 2. Design and production of publicity and educational materials to support the theme
- 3. Contract with and supervise a manufacturer to supply materials
- 4. Arrange for and supervise sale and distribution of materials
- ii. The COMISS Network Leadership will elect committee members upon the recommendation of the PCW Committee.
- iii. The committee will elect is own chair from among themselves.
- d. The COMISS Network Leadership may establish such task forces as required to support the mission and objectives.
VI. Amendments to the Guidelines: Additional guidelines may be developed by the COMISS Network Leadership as required. Revisions of the Guidelines will be sent by mail to member organizations 60 days prior to the Forum for their review. Any change to the guidelines must be ratified by a simple majority of the member organizations present at the annual forum.
VII. Required Quorum
- a. At the COMISS Network Leadership meetings or Annual Forum, a simple majority (one more than half of the voting members present) is sufficient for an action to pass.
- b. A quorum at the annual forum will consist of the member organizations present, whose dues have been paid.
|
