Constitution of the BACOLOD UNION OF DIOCESAN SEMINARIANS
Diocese of Bacolod
PREAMBLE
We, the organization of Philosophy and Theology Diocesan seminarians of the Diocese of Bacolod, conscious of our call from the Father, our mission from the Son and our charisms from the Holy Spirit, heed our Lord’s Gospel to love and bear one another as He has shown and commanded us.
We belong to the Church whose teaching about justice and peace, freedom and liberty, human rights and human dignity, love and reign of God – has inspired us to commit and pursue our ideals to bring unity and cooperation to spreading the Good News, to live out our solidarity with the poor and their struggle to promote a just and humane society, to defend life in the fullness of its dignity, and to preserve the dignity of creation.
Wherefore, we, do hereby ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
Diocese of Bacolod
PREAMBLE
We, the organization of Philosophy and Theology Diocesan seminarians of the Diocese of Bacolod, conscious of our call from the Father, our mission from the Son and our charisms from the Holy Spirit, heed our Lord’s Gospel to love and bear one another as He has shown and commanded us.
We belong to the Church whose teaching about justice and peace, freedom and liberty, human rights and human dignity, love and reign of God – has inspired us to commit and pursue our ideals to bring unity and cooperation to spreading the Good News, to live out our solidarity with the poor and their struggle to promote a just and humane society, to defend life in the fullness of its dignity, and to preserve the dignity of creation.
Wherefore, we, do hereby ordain and promulgate this Constitution.
Article I
NAME and SEAT of the ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The organization shall be called BACOLOD UNION OF DIOCESAN SEMINARIANS. Henceforth, it shall be referred to us BUDS. Its official seat shall be at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Lizares Avenue, Bacolod City.
Article II
NATURE of the ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The Bacolod Union of Diocesan Seminarians is an organization of Diocesan Seminarians of the Diocese of Bacolod – Philosophy and Theology adhering to a constitution, orientation, program of action, and the policies and decisions promulgated by its duly authorized bodies.
Section 2. The organization is composed of four clusters representing the different level or status of the seminarians and the different localities of their respective houses of formation namely:
a. Bacolod Cluster comprised of seminarians studying at Sacred Heart Seminary.
b. Jaro Cluster comprised of seminarians studying at St. Joseph Regional Seminary.
c. Manila Cluster comprised of seminarians studying at UST Central Seminary, San Jose Seminary and any other house of formation in Manila.
d. Regency Cluster comprised of seminarians on Regency.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. BUDS shall be composed of all Diocesan Seminarians of the Diocese of Bacolod who ascribe to the objectives, vision, mission, constitution, program of action and policies of the organization.
Section 2. Members-on-regency will be admitted to the organization depending on the nature of the regency he is in.
Section 3. Members who are ordained deacons are considered as auxiliary members.
Article IV
RIGHTS and DUTIES
Section 1. Rights
a. All members shall have the rights to participate in the deliberations, decision-making and election process.
b. All members shall have the right to be elected into the office in any level of the organization.
Section 2. Duties
a. All members shall have the duty of promoting the objectives, vision and mission of the organization at all times whenever possible.
b. All members shall have the duty to attend and participate in meetings and activities of the organization.
c. All members shall have the duty to pay the membership dues regularly and promptly.
Article V
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Secretary-General and two representatives from every cluster. Committee Chairmen will be taken from the group.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have the following duties and functions:
a. To ensure the implementation of program policies and decisions of the organization.
b. To formulate specific plans, guidelines consistent with the constitution, programs of action, policies and decisions set by the organization.
c. To organize auxiliary groups/committees to help facilitate the implementation of different programs and projects.
d. To represent the organization in necessary external involvements.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall hold meetings every semestral break, summer break and Christmas break. Special meetings will be held whenever necessary.
Section 4. All members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for one year open to at most three consecutive terms.
Section 5. Newly elected members of the Executive Committee shall automatically assume office on the first day of June.
Article VI
The PRESIDENT
Section 1. The President shall have the following functions:
a. To call and preside over all Executive Committee meetings
b. To direct and coordinate Executive Committee agenda
c. To monitor and moderate the Committee’s agenda
d. To make final decisions on administrative matters
e. To represent the organization in all necessary external involvements.
Article VII
The SECRETARY-GENERAL
Section 1. The Secretary-General shall have the following functions:
a. To record minutes of all BUDS meetings
b. To send all necessary communications
c. To keep all records and files of the organization as well as those of the committees and to attend to all other secretarial tasks.
d. To preside over meetings in the absence of the President.
Article VIII
The COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Section 1. The Committee Chairpersons shall have the following functions:
a. To call and preside over all their committee meetings.
b. To take initiatives in conjunction with the basic agenda of their respective committees
c. To ensure collaboration and coordination among the different committees especially in matters of common concerns.
d. To implement duly approved committee plans, projects and activities.
Article IX
ELECTIONS
Section 1. All active members of BUDS may be elected to any of the offices of the organization with a simple majority of the votes through casting of ballots.
Section 2. In case of vacancy, the president or any member of the Executive Committee shall call for a special meeting of the Executive Committee to elect or appoint its successors and serve the remaining term of office of the position.
Section 3. Elections will be held during the Summer General Assembly of the organization.
Article X
FINANCES
Section 1. The primary source of the organization’s fund shall come from the membership fees, solicitations, donations and other fundraising activities undertaken by the organization.
Section 2. Members shall be required to pay annual membership dues, the amount of which will be determined by the Executive Committee.
Article XII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. All members of BUDS are bound by the Constitution, the By Laws, the General Program of Action as well as the policies and decisions of the organizations and the duly authorized bodies.
Section 2. As a matter of policy, decisions of the Executive Committee, except those made on the election of officers, shall be made consensus, provided that decisions are made only after a free and thorough discussion of the issues involved.
Section3. Collective leadership shall govern all leading bodies and committees of the organization.
Article XIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Any member may propose an amendment of the Constitution during the General Assembly.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall form an ad hoc committee to study the proposed amendments and present it to the body on the next General Assembly meeting for deliberation and approval.
Section 3. The Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the organization.
