Samaritan Ministries

Section III	Table of Contents	Section V
IV. Member Participation in SMI A. Nominations and Elections From SMI’s inception, members have participated in determining how the ministry functions. Members continue to participate in important decisions by voting. Each household receives one ballot. Family member ballots count for 3 votes, single parent households 2.5, couples 2, and singles 1. 1. For Board Members: There are five board members. Samaritan Ministries founder and international president, Ted Pittenger, is a permanent board member and appoints another board member each year. The remaining three board members are elected by members for staggered three year terms. Members nominate candidates and vote by mail. To be eligible for board membership, the nominees must: a. agree with the following statement of faith: I believe the Bible alone is the inspired Word of God; therefore it is the final and only source of absolute spiritual authority. I believe in the triune God of the Bible. He is one God who is revealed in three distinct Persons—God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus Christ was God in the flesh—fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, was bodily resurrected on the third day, and now is seated in the heavens at the right hand of God, the Father. I believe that all people are born with a sinful nature and can be saved from eternal death only by grace alone, through faith alone, trusting only in Christ’s atoning death and resurrection to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. I believe in the bodily resurrection of all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, and the bodily resurrection to judgment of all who have not. All I believe and do should be for the glory of God alone. b. be at least 30 years old c. not have any financial interest in SMI d. have been an active member of SMI for at least 2 years e. have been in good standing for all periods of membership in the past five years If the position is contested, the candidate receiving the most votes is elected. If there are more than two candidates, the candidate with the plurality will be the winner unless the Board determines that a runoff should occur between the two highest candidates. If there is only one candidate, members will be provided with a “Yes/No” ballot, and the candidate must receive a simple majority of ballots cast to be elected. 2. For Share Increases: If needs submitted are greater than shares available and “pro-rating” of needs occurs for three consecutive months, we will provide an opportunity for the members to vote on whether they want to increase the monthly share. The Board may propose share increases to the members at other appropriate times, such as when it believes that the occurrence of pro-rating demonstrates the inadequacy of the share amounts to meet all the needs which members have agreed to publish. For a proposal to increase the share amount to pass, it must receive a 3/5 majority of the weighted votes cast. 3. For Advisory Input on Other Issues: The board may seek an advisory vote of the members on any issue, e.g. whether to make changes in the Guidelines concerning what medical needs should be published. B. Communicating With Each Other At SMI we believe all members of the body of Christ should give input for the mutual edification of the whole body. We encourage members to communicate with staff about all issues of health care. Your input can help us be more aware of ways to improve the ministry. You may know about new and effective medical treatments. You may know of ways to negotiate discounts or use alternate treatments to keep costs down. You may know of specific medical, spiritual, or financial needs. You may know of ways the staff can better serve our members and encourage a spirit of community. Input offered in a spirit of love is highly valued, and we welcome it.
Section III	Table of Contents	Section V

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