IAMS CONSTITUTION (2016)

1. NAME

1.1 The name of the Association is “The International Association for Mission Studies” (hereafter referred to as the
Association).

2. OBJECTIVES

2.1 The Association is an international, interdenominational and intercultural body committed to the scholarly study
of issues related to Christian mission.

2.2 The main objectives of the Association shall be:

  1. to promote the scholarly study of theological, historical and practical questions relating to the mission of the
    Church;
  2. to disseminate information concerning mission among all those engaged in such studies and among the general
    public;
  3. to relate studies in mission to studies in theological and other disciplines, through the encouragement of
    interdisciplinary research programmes and other appropriate means;
  4. to promote fellowship, cooperation and mutual assistance in mission studies, especially among national,
    regional and denominational mission study associations and equivalents.
  5. to organize international conferences of missiologists;
  6. to encourage the creation of centres of research;
  7. to stimulate publications in the area of the Association’s interest, including an international journal and
    bibliography

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Individuals may be admitted to the Association by vote of the Executive Committee.

3.2 Corporate bodies such as religious orders, institutions and likeminded associations and networks wishing to
further the aims of the association may be admitted to the Association as Corporate Members by vote of the
Executive Committee.

3.3 Honorary Life Members may be appointed by decision of the General Meeting on the nomination of the Executive
Committee.

3.4 The Executive Committee may remove the membership of person or corporate member if it believes it is in the
best interests of the Association to do so.

4. FINANCE

4.1 The financial resources of the Association consist of funds raised by subscriptions from members, donations and
subsidies from supporters, and income from investments.

4.2 Every member shall pay an annual subscription as determined from time to time by the General Meeting of the
Association.

4.3 Funds must only be used for the purposes of the Association.

5. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

5.1 The Officers of the Association are the President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer and the Editor of the
Journal of the Association.

5.2 The Executive Committee comprises the Officers of the Association together with six other members representing
regions, one of whom is the Vice President. The Executive Committee also constitutes the Trustees of the Association.

5.3 Each Executive Committee serves for a period of four years and takes office immediately after the end of the fiscal
year in which the General Meeting takes place, or other date as may be determined by the General Meeting.

5.4 The Executive Committee meets at least once a year. Meetings may be conducted by telephone or video
conference.

5.5 The Executive Committee has power to raise funds, receive grants, donations and subscriptions, to apply funds to
carry out the purposes of the Association, and to act in a manner which is lawful and necessary to achieve the purposes
of the Association.

5.6 The Executive Committee is responsible for oversight of the finances of the Association, for ensuring that a summary
of the most recent annual accounts can be seen by members on request, and that an appropriate financial report is
made to each General Meeting of the Association.

5.7 Officers and members of the Executive Committee are eligible for re-election. The elections shall be governed by the
Byelaws.

5.8 In the event that an Officer or Member of the Executive Committee is unable or unwilling to continue to the end of
the term, they may be replaced by a vote of the Executive Committee.

5.9 The Officers of the Association have the authority to invite former executive members or other suitable members of
the Association to attend a meeting of the Executive in an advisory capacity.

5.10 The Executive Committee appoints Trustees for the Association

6. INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLIES AND GENERAL MEETINGS

6.1 International Assemblies are convened from time to time in different global locations and are normally held
every four years as determined by the Executive Committee. International Assemblies are open to members and
others supportive of the objectives of the Association on the authority of the Executive Committee.

6.2 The Executive Committee has the authority to appoint a Local Arrangements Committee which includes the
General Secretary and the President of IAMS as ex-officio members, to determine the allocation of designated
funds for travel or fee subsidies, and to determine the programme and speakers for the Assembly.

6.3 A General Meeting of the Association is normally held every four years in conjunction with an International
Assembly of the Association.

6.4 Each individual member, and one representative of each corporate member, has the right to attend and to
vote at the General Meeting. By leave of the General Meeting, others present may be permitted to speak but not
to vote.

6.5 At each General Meeting the Executive Committee shall submit for consideration a report of its activities since the
last General Meeting, including a financial report and proposals for advancing the objectives of the Association during
the next four years.

7. HEADQUARTERS

7.1 The Executive Committee has the power to determine the location of the Headquarters of the Association.
Usually, the location of the General Secretariat is regarded as the Headquarters of the Association.

8. FUNDS

8.1 The funds of the Association shall be held in the United Kingdom but if at any time the members resolve at a
General Meeting that the funds should not be so held the Executive Committee shall inform the UK Charity
Commissioners of the terms of the resolution.

8.2 In the event of the winding up of the Association any money or property remaining after payment of debts must
be given to an organization whose purposes and values are consistent with those of the Association to be
determined by the Trustees.

9. BYELAWS

9.1 Byelaws must be approved by a majority of members present and voting at a duly constituted General Meeting
of the Association.

9.2 Byelaws may be provisionally amended and adopted by majority vote of the Executive Committee pending
presentation to the next General Meeting of the Association.

10. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

10.1 Additions and alterations to the Constitution shall be made only by resolution of the General Meeting, carried by
a majority of not less than two thirds of those voting.

10.2 No amendment may be made which may cause the Association to cease to be a charity in law.

Adopted 29 August 1972
Amended 31 July 1974
Amended 24 August 1978
Amended 28 January 2000
Amended by the XIth Quadrennial General Assembly, Malaysia, 3. August 2004
Amended by the 14th Quadrennial General Assembly, Seoul, 15 August 2016

IAMS BYELAWS (2016)

1. Membership

1.1 Individual Members
1. 1.1 Criteria for Individual Membership are

  • Acceptance of the objectives of the Association
  • Academic qualifications, normally doctorate or equivalent Research active (publications within the last 5
    years) or enrolment in a doctoral level research program
  • Recognition by peers (recommendations by two sponsors required, who are IAMS members.)

1.2 Corporate Members
1.2.1 Corporate Members are institutions engaged in or who wish to support the development of mission
studies. Included in this category are libraries, schools, national associations for mission studies, mission
councils, mission agencies, etc.

1.3 Honorary Life Members
1.3.1 The executive committee may appoint IAMS Honorary Life Members on the basis of their exceptional
services to IAMS and to mission studies. They should be retired from official posts. A unanimous decision of the
Executive is required.

1.3.2 Honorary Life Members are entitled to free membership of IAMS and free subscription to Mission Studies.
Any two members of IAMS can nominate a person for Honorary Life Membership. A nomination shall be
submitted in writing to the Executive with a motivation for the nomination.

2. Executive Committee Byelaws

2.1 In addition to the provisions of the IAMS Constitution clauses 5.2 to 5.9 the Executive Committee is
responsible for:

  • Determining the location and arrangements for the next international assembly of the Association.
  • Ensuring there is adequate support and oversight for the Officers of the Association.
  • Considering membership applications following the guidelines of the membership byelaws.
  • Deciding and notifying the date and convening a General Meeting of the Association normally every four
    years in conjunction with an international assembly of the Association.
  • Ensuring the continuity of the secretariat and determining the location of the headquarters of the
    Association
  • Acting on behalf of the Association in all matters except those expressly reserved to the General Meeting.
  • The Executive Committee may appoint an academic committee to maintain high academic standards.

2.2 Quorum: The presence of at least four members of the Executive Committee is necessary for a legal
meeting. The President or Vice-President must always be among the four.

2.3 Voting: A simple majority vote of those present and voting is required for the passage of any act of the
Executive Committee while in session.

3. International Assembly Byelaws

3.1 The Executive Committee is to determine the timing and location of the next International Assembly of the
Association taking into account the location of previous Assemblies, the existence of any invitations from
credible local groups which include members of the Association, the cost and safety of travel and of a proposed
venue, the significance of an historical or missiological anniversary near the time of the Assembly, and the
ability of the Association to raise funds for the purpose.

3.2 The programme of the Assembly will be designed to facilitate the objectives of the Association and provide
for the orderly election of a new Executive Committee. It is expected to encourage fellowship, inter-disciplinary
and inter-confessional interaction among attendees, exposure to the mission dynamics of local churches, and
the support of documentation and scholarship in the region. It will provide for regional meetings and meetings
of interest groups as well as for occasional ad-hoc gatherings.

3.3 The Assembly will in particular seek to leave a modest but positive footprint as guests of the host country,
facilitating understanding of their needs and perspectives, and giving space to emerging scholars in mission
studies and related disciplines.

4. General Meeting Byelaws

4.1 A General Meeting of the Association is normally held every four years in conjunction with an
International Assembly of the Association. Its business includes the reception of reports from the Executive and
Officers of the Association and the election of the Executive Committee.

4.2 The Procedure for the election of the General Secretary, Treasurer and Editor of the Association Journal is
as follows.
4.2.1 The election is carried out by voting on persons nominated for the roles of General Secretary, Treasurer
and Editor of the Association Journal by the outgoing Executive Committee.

4.2.2 For the purposes of nomination a candidate must be an individual member of the Association, or a
member of a corporate body which is a member of the Association.

4.2.3 The General Meeting may elect the persons nominated for the roles of General Secretary, Treasurer and
Editor of the Association Journal, or it may request the Executive Committee to consider other names for
particular positions.

4.3 Procedure for the election of President, Vice President, and other members of the Executive Committee
4.3.1 The election is carried out by voting on a slate of candidates prepared by a Nomination Committee in
accordance with the criteria and procedure below.

4.3.2 The General Meeting may elect the slate of candidates prepared by the Nomination Committee, or it
may request the Nomination Committee to consider other names for particular positions.

4.3.3 For the purposes of nomination a candidate must be and remain an individual Member of the
Association, or a Member of a Corporate Body which is a member of the Association, for the tenure of
Executive service.

5. Nomination Committee

5.1.1 As early as convenient in the Assembly, Regional Meetings are held for the purpose of appointing one
representative from each of the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, North America and
Oceania who will not be eligible to serve in the Executive Committee.

5.1.2 The Nomination Committee constitutes itself as soon as possible during the Assembly. It elects its own
chair. It will provide guidance to the Assembly on the election processes. It may seek the advice of the
outgoing Executive Committee.

5.2 Preparation of the slate of candidates for the Election of President, Vice President and Executive
Committee.
5.2.1 Regional Meetings are invited to propose three persons and an alternate to be considered for nomination
to the Executive Committee, taking into account the criteria in clause 6 below.

5.2.2 Regional Meetings must obtain the consent of persons they propose for nomination.

5.2.3 The Nomination Committee has the right to return to all the Regional Meetings to request an additional
person be proposed by each region.

5.2.4 The Nomination Committee will, from names proposed by the Regional Meetings, prepare one slate of
candidates for consideration by the General Meeting for the positions of Vice-President, and five Executive
Committee members.

5.2.5 The nominee for President will be the current Vice-President or other suitable candidate.

5.2.6 The six regional areas of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, North America and Oceania, are to
be represented by the Vice-President and five Executive Committee members.

5.3 Criteria
Regional Meetings and the Nomination Committee are required to ensure that those proposed for
nomination for election and included in the final slate of candidates represent a good mix and balance of
persons, taking into account:

  • continuity,
  • geographical and denominational
  • representation,
  • gender,
  • skills,
  • regional leadership
  • availability to participate in the work of the Association.

5.4 Voting
5.4.1 Right to vote: Only paid-up IAMS members, (either individuals or the designated representative of a
corporate member) present at the General Meeting are eligible to vote. Each eligible person has only one vote.

5.4.2 Voting for elections is conducted by means of a secret ballot.

5.4.3 The IAMS General Meeting is entitled, by simple majority vote of members present at the meeting, to
accept or reject the slate proposed by the Nomination Committee.

5.4.4 The meeting may require the Nomination Committee to present an amended slate and suggest alternative
nominees for the Nomination Committee to consider.

6. Study Groups

6.1 Study Groups exist to foster the academic life of the Association. Each study group is expected to function
as a track or subject during an International Assembly.

6.2 Each IAMS Study Group:

  • Must have its role approved by the Executive Committee.
  • Has a convenor or convenors whose position is confirmed by the Executive Committee
  • Reports annually to the Executive Committee and the Assembly
  • Provides information which may be communicated to the IAMS membership
  • Is subject to review by the General Meeting of the Association.

Adopted by the XI Quadrennial Assembly,
Malaysia, 3. August 2004

Amended by the 14th Quadrennial General Assembly, Seoul, 15 August 2016