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Article X

ARTICLE X - THE STANDING COMMITTEES

SECTION A - Election of Committees

The Chairs of Standing Committees shall be elected by written ballot by a majority of votes cast by the members. Elections shall be conducted by mail no less than 30 days preceding the Annual Meeting and the results announced at the Annual Meeting. The Chairs of Standing shall be elected for one three-year term. The term of office shall begin at the adjournment of the Annual Meeting in which their elections are announced.

  1. The term of office shall begin at the adjournment of the Annual Meeting in which their elections are announced.
  2. The members of the Standing Committees shall be the Regional Chairs of the corresponding Regional Standing Committees.
  3. All elected committee members shall be members of the Association with only certified members serving on the Certification Committee

SECTION B - Definition

Standing committees are elected by the Association to implement the mission of the Association, and will establish policy and procedure for respective areas of responsibility. The activities, policy and procedure of Standing Committees are subject to Board of Directors policy, review and approval.

SECTION C - Theological and Social Concerns Committee

The Theological and Social Concerns Committee shall be responsible for:

  1. The encouragement of theological reflection and formulation in order to illume, clarify, and give expression to the religious dimensions, values, and meanings of human life, and of pastoral counseling as a means of this theological practice;
  2. The development of appropriate means to help individual and institutional members to review the implicit theological assumptions in the philosophy and practice of their pastoral counseling;
  3. The applications of pastoral counseling expertise to current social issues in the Association and in society.

SECTION D - Certification Committee

The Certification Committee shall be responsible for:

  1. Establishing and overseeing the procedures for reviewing and approving applications for individuals seeking certified status with the Association as qualified to practice, supervise and teach pastoral counseling.
  2. Reviewing the standards for individuals seeking certified status with the Association and recommending revision of these standards to the Board of Directors.

SECTION E - Institutional Accreditation Committee

The Institutional Accreditation Committee shall be responsible for:

  1. Determining the procedures for the processing of applications for institutional membership and affiliation in the Association;
  2. Overseeing the procedures for election to institutional membership as an accredited Service Center and for approval as an Institutional Candidate or Affiliate of applicants who satisfy the requirements as determined by a Regional Institutional Accreditation Committee, and for election to institutional membership as an approved Training Program in Pastoral Counseling of applicants after their examination by both Regional and Association Institutional Accreditation Committees;
  3. Reviewing the standards for institutional membership and affiliation in the Association and recommending revision of these standards to the Board of Directors when revision seems needed.

SECTION F - Formation Committee - Responsible for, and oversight of, formation and training opportunities for individuals, agencies, regions, and Association leadership.

SECTION G - Leadership Development Committee - In addition to overseeing the development of leadership in the Association, this committee will serve as the nominating committee and shall be responsible for:

  1. Nominating two persons for each office scheduled for election, with the exception of nominations for President, in which case the current Vice President shall be nominated and run unopposed unless there are additional nominations as provided for in paragraph 3 below. Should the Vice President decline to run for President, two names would be placed in nomination for President. It also selects persons to serve on Board of Directors established committees, as appropriate.
  2. Nominating persons for the five "at large" seats on the Board of Directors, as well as for the chairs of Standing Committees, scheduled for election.
  3. Circulating the names of those nominated to the membership three months or more prior to the Annual Meeting;
  4. Receiving additional nominations submitted by petition of ten or more members, which petitions must be received by the Leadership Development Committee Chair not less than 3 months prior to the Annual Meeting;
  5. Preparing a brief biographical statement with the photograph of each candidate nominated and submitting the same with a ballot to all members 2 months prior to the Annual Meeting;
  6. Overseeing receipt of ballots from the membership;
  7. Overseeing the counting of all ballots received not later than 3 weeks prior to the Annual Meeting and reporting the results to the President for announcement at the Annual Meeting;
  8. If a candidate withdraws his/her name prior to the Annual Meeting, the Leadership Development Committee shall present the name(s) of other candidates in another mail ballot. Members shall have thirty days after such a ballot is mailed to respond. The result of such an election shall be announced in the Newsletter of the Association, and that person's term of office shall begin at the time of the announcement.