Monday, March 31, 2008

1. Mission
The Young Christian Leaders' Alliance is a society of young people, under the supervision and advice of their parents, existing to motivate members and others around them to take action for Biblical principle.


2. Goals
The goals of the YCLA are as follows:

2.1 - To learn to exhibit leadership, ingenuity, and a Christ-like attitude and character, advancing morale and courage in places where we may have influence.

2.2 - To put into practice these qualities at frequent meetings, projects, and creative events, providing accountability and momentum towards Biblical objectives.

2.3 - To produce and distribute materials relevant to the mission of the YCLA, especially to inform and evangelize young people outside our group.

2.4 - To be guided as individuals by the direction of GOD, through prayer together, fasting, reading of His Word, and wise counsel.

2.5 - To encourage the co-operation of pro-freedom organizations under the common banner of Liberty In Law and the Biblical worldview.


3. Principle
3.1 The ultimate principle for the YCLA is that the sixty-six books of the canon of the Bible, as preserved throughout history in the Masoretic Hebrew and Textus Receptus Greek, are to be the sole rule of duty for the individual and for any decisions of our group. We believe that Scripture must be its own final interpreter, according to its literal, historical, and grammatical context. We believe that GOD and His works are never arbitrary, but are always completed according to His revealed will and logical cause-and-effect. Finally, we believe in the fundamentals of the faith and Salvation through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, as expressed in our Creed (Section 5.2).

3.2 We believe it is our responsibility to “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with GOD” (Micah 6:8), to “fear GOD and keep His commandments” (Eccl. 12:13), and to love the LORD with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love one’s neighbor as himself (Mark 12:30-31). We believe that exemplifying this spirit of humility and justice is an integral part of true leadership.

3.3 We believe in endeavoring, wherever possible, to practice Spirit-filled, open reasoning and forethought. Included in this conviction is a commitment to always steer away from rock music, TV, and immodesty, rather promoting health and focus.

3.4 We believe in supporting the Constitution of the United States and its representative, republican form of government. We believe in the principle of Lex Rex, that it is not the government which defines the law, but the law which defines the government. We understand the basis of freedom to be not the abolition of government, nor the empowering of the government, but the limiting of the government's jurisdiction to include only moral and rightful powers.

3.5 We believe in opposing the Evolutionary worldview and its socialist tendencies. We hold that true science is not compatible with the naturalistic origins model. Finally, we believe that the best defense for the Bible's validity is Scripture itself, with natural laws as second in importance.


4. Organization
4.1A - The Legislative Power
The basic legislative power is to be vested in a Legislative Board. Such Legislative Board shall, at the beginning, consist of the whole membership. The first week of July following the arrival at such membership amount as the President shall deem proper, a permanent Legislative Board consisting of five (5) qualified members shall be elected for a term of one (1) year. Such election shall be carried out in the manner which shall have been determined according to Section 6.10. If the President shall not have approved of three (3) or more of those elected, the election shall be held a second time. The candidates disapproved of shall not be included in this election. A quorum for business on the Board shall consist of a majority of the Board members, or four non-honorary Board members (only in the case of the permanent Board).

4.1B – Qualifications for the Board
The members of the permanent Board shall have been young men at least twelve (12) years of age at the time of their election, who shall have been members of the YCLA no less than three (3) months.

4.1C - Authority
The Legislative Board shall have power:
1. To provide for and regulate any finances, fundraising, and dues of the Young Christian Leaders’ Alliance,
2. To establish a system of merits and awards for the members,
3. To delegate tasks and projects to individual members,
4. To request and provide for the participation of other possible contributors,
5. To provide for, oversee and regulate events sponsored by the YCLA,
6. To provide for the emblems and insignia of the YCLA,
7. To divide and regulate the organization into separate Teams according to gender, age, talent, or other characteristics; in which case the Teams may create their own governing bodies, projects, and jurisdictions,
8. To provide for the creation of new chapters in the YCLA network, and
9. To establish and maintain one or more center(s), which shall contain a library of useful material to the members, officers, and Council of the YCLA, as well as other resources and supplies which shall be judged proper for the operations of the organization.

4.1D - Other Legislative Issues
All questions not provided for in this Constitution shall be decided by majority vote of the YCLA membership and parliamentary procedure, except instances requiring immediate attention, which shall be under the jurisdiction of the President. In all cases the Scriptures shall be the final authority and should be considered before any such decision is made.

4.2 - An Advisory Commission
A Council of no more than twelve godly men should be appointed by the President. The Council shall advise the YCLA, and shall upon majority vote, have veto power over any decisions that they deem harmful. The Council may elect a chief among them, who shall hold this office as long as they so desire. Additional non-voting Council members may be appointed.

4.3A - The Executive Power
A President shall be elected by majority vote of the membership for a term of two (2) years. The President shall be responsible foremost for the execution of this Constitution, and secondly, for the decisions of the Legislative Board. He may for this purpose have authority to delegate tasks and projects to individual members, or to specific Teams. The President shall also have a vote on the Board in the case of a tie. Finally, he shall approve all non-unanimous decisions of the Board. The President may appoint a Vice-President to assist him if desired.

4.3B – Future Qualifications for President
1. Be a member of the YCLA for at least one (1) year.
2. Be a young man from ages fifteen (15) to twenty (20).
3. Exhibit consistent skills of organization and leadership.
4. Prove himself well-versed in the Scriptures.
5. Be a confident public speaker.

4.4 - The Judicial Power
A Constitutional Court shall determine appeals regarding the meaning and intention of this Constitution and the legality of the decisions of the Board. It may also require from time to time a statement from the President reviewing the current strategy, actions or plans of the YCLA. Such Court shall consist of the Executive Director, two members of the YCLA for whose election or appointment he shall provide, and any members of the Council who may wish to participate. The Board shall determine a uniform rule for the manner of Court decisions.

4.5 - Popular Override
All official decisions of the YCLA may be overturned upon a two-thirds majority vote of the membership.

4.6 - Continuity of the Founders
Mr. R. Josiah Magnuson may retain the title of “Executive Director” until such time as he shall determine. Furthermore, the original members of the YCLA may hold honorary memberships on the Board after achieving the age of twenty-two years.

4.7A - Membership
The qualifications for voting membership in the YCLA shall be as follows:
1. Be from ages ten (10) to twenty-one (21) years.
2. Be a born-again believer, striving to be more like Christ and regularly reading the Bible.
3. Exhibit a Christ-like, obedient, and creative spirit.
4. Agree to adhere to this YCLA Constitution.
5. Participate in at least two (2) YCLA meetings or activities prior to joining.
6. Have approval of parent(s).
7. Be certified by a majority vote of the Board or by such leader(s) as they may provide for.

4.7B - Suspension
Members may be suspended by a three-fourths majority vote of the YCLA membership; Provided, the President or Executive Director may remove such suspension after thirty (30) days. Members also retain the right to resign from the group should the YCLA become deviated from its purpose or principles.

4.8 - Meetings and Events
The President shall have power to convene meetings when necessary and proper, for the discussion of business or news, application of skills, and creating of ideas. The President shall be responsible to coordinate transportation or communication for the members for the purpose of such; Provided, that neither the YCLA nor any officer thereof shall be held responsible for the finances or payment for such transportation, unless such responsibility be determined and appropriated for by the Legislative Board. All meetings and events shall be conducted according to the manner provided for by the Board, as vested by this Constitution, Section 4.2A(5).

4.9 - A Journal of Proceedings
The proceedings and major decisions of the YCLA shall, whenever possible, be listed in a web log, and/or some other archiving or filing system, which shall be accessible on demand by all the members, as well as by the Council.

4.10 - Elections
Elections shall, whenever possible, be held every year in the first week of July. The Board shall have jurisdiction over the date, time, place, and manner of such elections, which shall be published according to Section 4.9B no less than thirty (30) days in advance.

4.11 - Amendments
Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be submitted by individual Board members, gain a majority vote on the Board, gain a two-thirds majority vote of the YCLA membership, and receive the approval of the President, in order to be enacted; Provided, that the Council shall be notified of the amendment, and may by majority vote until thirty (30) days after their receipt of the notification, declare it null and void. Any amendment proposed before the appointment of at least three Council-members for the YCLA shall additionally be approved by unanimous consent of the Legislative Board before it may take effect.

4.12 - Previous Constitution
The Constitution of the YCLA dated September 5, 2007 is no longer to be regarded as in effect; Provided, that all content under the Sections entitled “Vision,” “Doctrinal Statement,” “Philosophy,” and “Acknowledgements” is to be regarded as currently enacted as statements of the Legislative Board, until repealed by a majority vote of the said body.


5. Pledge and Creed
The pledge and creed, which the members of the YCLA shall from time to time quote and review for remembrance, shall be as follows:

5.1 - As a member of the YCLA, I shall ultimately strive to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to promote the Biblical worldview, to restore liberty by the keeping of the just laws of God, to actively support those groups which have the aforementioned goals, and to lead not only fellow members of the YCLA, but also others I influence, to pursue the same objects.

5.2 - The philosophy I espouse shall be based on the truth that the Bible is the verbally inspired, infallible Words of God; that God created man and all things ex nihilo according to the Scriptures; that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became incarnate and was born of a virgin for the purpose of atoning for the sins of mankind by His blood on the cross; that He rose bodily the third day; that He ascended to the Father's right hand to intercede for us; and that He has power to save men from sin, that thereby all who believe on Him should have eternal life.