The Charter of Association of Christian Journalists

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1. GENERAL REGULATIONS

1.1. 1.1. The inter-regional non-profit organization "Association of Christian Journalists", hereinafter named ACJ, is a membership-based inter-regional non-profit association, created on the basis of joint activity for defending the mutual interests of the associated citizens and for achieving their purposes stated by the Charter.

1.2. 1.2. In its activity, ACJ shall be guided by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, The Law "About Non-Profit Associations", the existing legislation of the Russian Federation and this Charter.

1.3. ACJ, is a juridical person from the moment of its state registration, it has the rights and obligations created by the legislation of the Russian Federation for non-profit associations.

1.4. ACJ may, in its individual capability, acquire property and non-property rights, have obligations, be a complainant and a respondent in court, in arbitrary and referees courts, make transactions pursuant to the existing legislation, for achieving the purposes stated by the Charter.

1.5. ACJ has estate in severalty and independent balance, ruble and hard-currency accounts in banking institutions, a round seal with the full name of the organization in Russian, stamps and forms with its name. ACJ is entitled to have its own flag, emblem, bannerettes and other symbolic items liable to registration and recording in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

1.6. ACJ shall act, in accordance with the purposes stated by its Charter, on the territory of Saint Petersburg and Krasnodar Krai (Region), as well on the territories of other subjects of the Russian Federation (in the number smaller than half of the number of the subjects), where structural units of ACJ are created or will be created.

1.7. ACJ makes decisions about establishment of business associations and non-profit organizations for achieving the goals and attaining the objectives of ACJ.

1.8. may function as a member of other non-profit associations.

1.9. The activity of ACJ is open, and the information about its constituent instruments and program documents is accessible to public.

1.10. The activity of ACJ is not terminable.

1.11. The full name of ACJ (translated from Russian) is: Inter-regional non-profit organization "Association of Christian Journalists".

1.12. The abbreviated name is IRNPO ACJ.

1.13. The location of the permanently functioning body of ACJ is: Saint Petersburg, Gribakinykh street 40-A.

2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF ACJ

2.1. The goals of ACJ are:
2.1.1. Promotion of professional creative work of Christian journalists.
2.1.2. Promotion of development of Christian media.

2.2. The objectives of ACJ are:
2.2.1. Participation in creation of necessary prerequisites for functioning of Christian media.
2.2.2. Formation of culture of honest and free journalism, support of independence of Christian media.
2.2.3. Protection of rights and freedoms of Christian journalists, their economical and professionally creative interests.
2.2.4. Raising the general professional level of Christian printed media.
2.2.5. Joining the efforts of different Christian periodicals in the cause of dissemination of good, peace, justice, responsibility for the future of the peoples of the world, active Christian enlightening work.

2.3. For achieving its goals and objectives, ACJ shall carry out the following activities:
2.3.1. It covers the events in the field if Christian journalism.
2.3.2. It cooperates with Russian and foreign organizations and media.
2.3.3. It popularizes the best materials of Christian journalists.
2.3.4. It participates in elaborating the decisions of government bodies on the issues connected with reinforcement of the juridical and material-financial basis of mass media, journalists' labour and improvement of the copyright legislation.
2.3.5. It represents and defends the rights and legitimate interests of its members in the government and local self-government bodies, non-profit associations and mass media.
2.3.6. It participates in elections and referendums in accordance with the existing legislation.
2.3.7. It organizes collection, analysis, saving and dissemination of practical experience necessary for Christian journalists.
2.3.8. It organizes creative competitions which would promote participation of ACJ members in professional competitions held by state-run and other organizations.
2.3.9. It assists in organizing juridical help and juridical service for Christian journalists.
2.3.10. It establishes new periodicals.
2.3.11. It carries out publishing activity.

2.4. ACJ has the right to carry out business activity, in accordance with the ACJ objectives, which is necessary for the achievement of socially valuable purposes for the sake of which it was created.
2.4.1. For carrying out its business activity, ACJ is entitled to create business associations or participate in them. The business associations created by ACJ, as well as partnerships on faith, in which it participates, have general legal capacity, unless other is stated by the law.
2.4.2. The revenues received by ACJ as a result of its business activity (Both directly and by means of participation in business associations and partnerships on faith) shall not be distributed among its members but directed to socially valuable purposes, for the sake of which ACJ was created.

3. THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ACJ

3.1 For achieving the goals stated by its Charter ACJ has the right:
3.1.1. To disseminate freely information about its activity.
3.1.2. To participate in elaborating decisions of the government and local self-government bodies in accordance with the existing legislation.
3.1.3. To hold gatherings, meetings, demonstrations, marches and picketing on the basis of the existing legislation.
3.1.4. To establish mass media periodicals and carry out publishing activity.
3.1.5. To represent and defend the rights and legitimate interests of its members, as well as other citizens, in the government and local self-government bodies, non-profit associations, legal agencies.
3.1.6. To exercise in full volume the powers states in the laws about non-profit associations.
3.1.7. To take the initiative in different issues of social life, to submit proposals to government bodies.

3.2. ACJ is obliged:
3.2.1. To observe the legislation of the Russian Federation and the generally acknowledged principles of the international law concerning the activity of non-profit associations, as well as the norms stated in this Charter.
3.2.2. To inform annually the body that registers non-profit associations about the continuation of its activity, indicating the actual location of the permanently functioning managing body of ACJ, its name and the information about ACJ executives, in the volume of the data included to the joint state register of juridical persons.
3.2.3. To produce, on the enquiry of the body that registers non-profit associations, information about the decisions of the managing bodies and officials of ACJ, as well as annual and quarterly reports about its activity in the volume of the data submitted to fiscal bodies.
3.2.4. To notify the representatives of the body that registers non-profit associations of the events held by ACJ.
3.2.5. To assist the representatives of the body that registers non-profit associations in their inquiries about the ACJ activity in connection with achieving the purposes stated by the Charter and observation of the legislation of the Russian Federation.

4. MEMBERS OF ACJ, THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

4.1. The following persons may be members of ACJ:
4.1.1. Adult citizens of the Russian Federation, CIS and other Countries, journalists, press photographers, artists, other creative workers of Christian newspapers, magazines, television and radio companies, information agencies, publishing houses, teachers of journalism at higher educational institutions who actively work in journalism, acknowledge the ACJ Charter, paid the entrance fee and participate personally in ACJ work.
4.1.2. Juridical persons - non-profit associations who expressed their solidarity with the goals and objectives of ACJ, acknowledge this Charter, paid the entrance fee and co-operate with ACJ activity.

4.2. New members are admitted to ACJ on the basis of the individual membership application of a physical person or a juridical person, correspondingly, with the attached applicable resolution of the authoritative body of the non-profit organization about the admittance to ACJ membership.

4.3. Admittance to ACJ and expulsion from ACJ is brought into effect by the Association Board.

4.4. The Association Board keeps a record of ACJ members. Admittance to ACJ and expulsion from ACJ is brought into effect on the basis of the correspondent resolution of the Association Board, and also the membership application or the application for resigning from ACJ membership, correspondingly.

4.5. ACJ members have equal rights and equal obligations.

4.6. ACJ members have the rights:
4.6.1. To be supported, protected and provided help by ACJ.
4.6.2. To elect and be elected to the executive and audit bodies of ACJ.
4.6.3. To participate in the events held by ACJ.
4.6.4. To submit proposals concerning the activity of ACJ, to participate in discussing executing the proposals.
4.6.5. To represent, in the name of the elected bodies of ACJ, the interests of the Association in government bodies and other authorities, as well as in relations with other juridical and physical persons.
4.6.6. To receive information about ACJ activity.
4.6.7. To resign from ACJ membership freely.
4.6.8. To be a member of other non-profit associations, including unions of creative workers.
4.6.9. To be defended by ACJ in case of possible violation of rights, whosoever would violate them, to receive legitimate and juridical defence timely and immediately.
4.6.10. To receive creative assistance, participating in creative performances, press-conferences, cultural and social events, activity of sections, committees, competitions, exhibitions, etc. organized by ACJ.
4.6.11. To improve professional skills by means of participation in journalist seminars.
4.6.12. To use, without hindrance and freely, the data bank of materials prepared by the organization, both of printed and visual type.

4.7. ACJ members are obliged:
4.7.1. To observe the Charter of ACJ.
4.7.2. To promote execution of the objectives stated by the Charter of ACJ.
4.7.3. To fulfill the resolutions of the executive bodies of ACJ.
4.7.4. To contribute, with their activity, to the effectiveness of ACJ work.
4.7.5. To commit any actions that would violate the ACJ Charters, the ethics of partnership relations, nor any actions causing moral or material damage to ACJ.
4.7.6. To commit any actions that would violate the ACJ Charters, the ethics of partnership relations, nor any actions causing moral or material damage to ACJ.
4.7.7. To pay membership fees in time.

4.8. ACJ members have a uniform membership card.

4.9. ACJ members, on the resolution of the Association Board, may be expelled for activity contradicting the goals and objectives of ACJ, as well as for actions discrediting ACJ or causing moral or material damage to it.

5. THE STRUCTURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BODIES OF ACJ

5.1. The executive bodies of ACJ are Conference, Association Board, President, Auditor.

5.2. The highest executive body of ACJ is Conference, which is assembled once every two years. An extraordinary Conference session may be assembled by the Association Board.

5.3. The exclusive competence of Conference covers the following:
5.3.1. Determining the priorities of the ACJ activity.
5.3.2. Approving the Charter of ACJ, as well as its alterations and amendments liable to the state registration in accordance with the existing legislation.
5.3.3. Electing the Association Board and the Auditor, for a term of four years.
5.3.4. Electing the President of ACJ for a term of four years.
5.3.5. Approving reports of the Association Board and the Auditor.
5.3.6. Adopting resolutions about reorganization and liquidation of ACJ.

5.4. A Conference has the quorum if more than half of ACJ members are present. Resolutions shall be adopted by open vote.

5.5. Resolutions about approval of the Charter, its alterations and amendments, determination of the activity priorities, election of the Association Board and the President, reorganization and liquidation of ACJ shall be adopted by 2/3 votes of the ACJ members present at the Conference. In other cases resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes.

5.6. In the period between Conferences the management of ACJ activity shall be executed by the Association Board, the number of members of which shall be determined by a general meeting. The Association Board, the candidates to which shall be nominated by the President, shall be elected by general vote.

5.7. The term of office of the Association Board shall be four years. A member or members of the Association Board may be re-elected if they do not cope with their responsibilities or disorganize the work of the Association Board. In this case the President of the Association may submit a correspondent suggestion to a general meeting, which shall vote on this issue.

5.8. The competence of the Association Board covers the following:
5.8.1. Determining the ways of exercising the resolutions of ACJ Conference.
5.8.2. Adopting the resolution about assembling a conference, as well as about assembling an extraordinary ACJ Conference.
5.8.3. Preparing the issues to be discussed at ACJ Conference.
5.8.4. Exercising control over fulfilling the resolutions of ACJ Conference.
5.8.5. Determining the rate and the procedure of paying the entrance and membership fees.
5.8.6. Establishing media periodicals.
5.8.7. Considering and approving purposive programs, determining the sources of their financing.
5.8.8. Establishing creative competitions, approving the regulations about them.
5.8.9. Adopting resolutions about creation of structural units of ACJ - sections, branches or representative offices, approving applicable constituent documents.
5.8.10. Adopting resolutions about participation and about forms of participation in activity of other non-profit associations.
5.8.11. Bringing to decisions questions about acquiring shares of business associations, as well as about establishing, jointly with other persons, enterprises and organizations.
5.8.12. Admitting new ACJ members and expulsion from ACJ.
5.8.13. Creation of permanent and working commissions.

5.9. Plenums of the Association Board shall be assembled not less often than once every year. An extraordinary plenum of the Association Board may be assembled on demand of not less than half of the Association Board members.

5.10. A plenum of the Association Board has the quorum if more than half of its members are present. Resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes of the members present at the plenum.

5.11. The heads of the structural units of ACJ in the regions shall elaborate draft plans of main events, as well as other draft documents and proposals to be submitted to the Association Board.

5.12. President is a member of the Association Board according to his post, he is the Chair of the Association Board.

5.13. The competence of the ACJ President covers the following:
5.13.1. Taking decisions about assembling plenums of the Board.
5.13.2. Preparing the issues to be discussed at the Board plenum.
5.13.3. Informing annually the body that registers non-profit associations about continuation of ACJ activity, in the volume required by the existing legislation.
5.13.4. Considering and solving urgent issues of current organizational, international, financial-business and other activities not referred to the competence of Conference and ACJ Board.
5.13.5. Sending petitions, to government and local self-government bodies, about bestowing honourable titles to ACJ members and about awarding them state awards.
5.13.6. Taking decisions on the results of creative competitions established by the Board and nominate candidacies for prizes in creative competitions established by state bodies, non-profit and other associations and organizations.
5.13.7. Making civil transactions in the name of ACJ.
5.13.8. Organizing exercising of the resolutions adopted by Conference and Board, directing ACJ activity.
5.13.9. Representing ACJ, without a power of attorney, in its relations with state bodies, non-profit associations, and other juridical and physical persons in the Russian Federation and abroad.
5.13.10. Commanding the ACJ property, approving the budget of current financial activity.
5.13.11. Signing decisions of he ACJ Board, as well as the constituent documents of business associations created by ACJ and the documents about establishment and activity of structural units of ACJ - sections, branches, or representative offices.
5.13.12. Approving the structure and the staff list of the ACJ managerial personnel and stating the fund of remuneration of labour for the staff workers.
5.13.14. Exercising other functions connected with the management of the ACJ activity that are not covered with the competence of ACJ Conference and Board.

5.14. In the absence of ACJ President, his functions shall be exercised by a Board member appointed by the President. The ACJ President shall be considered absent if he cannot function on the score of ill health or is on vacation, on business trip, etc.

5.15. ACJ Auditor shall be elected by Conference for the term of four years.

5.16. The competence of the ACJ Auditor covers the following:
5.16.1. Organizing audit of financial-business activity of ACJ.
5.16.2. Getting audit organizations involved in audit in the case of necessity.
5.16.4. Controlling the work on consideration of ACJ members' applications and appeals.
5.16.5. Controlling the observation of the Charter requirements for the terms of assembling Conference and Board plenums.

5.17. The Auditor cannot be a member of the Board or the executive bodies of ACJ.

6. ACJ SECTIONS

6.1. The structure of ACJ shall include regional Sections (hereinafter "Sections"). In case of adoption of an applicable resolution by ACJ Board, ACJ Section may be registered in accordance with the existing legislation and may acquire the rights of a juridical person or function without state registration and without acquiring the rights of a juridical person.

6.2. ACJ Sections shall exercise their activity on the basis of this ACJ Charter and, in the case of adoption an applicable resolution, on the basis of their own charters.

6.3. The supreme managing body of Section shall be General Meeting of the Section (hereinafter "Meeting of the Section", assembled not less often than once (1 time) a year.

6.4. Meeting of the Section shall have the right to adopt resolutions on all issues connected with the activity of the Section.
Собрание Отделения:
6.4.1. Electing Section Board for a term of 4 (four) years, on coordination with ACJ Board.
6.4.2. Solving the issue of termination of the authority of the Chair and members of the Section Board on coordination with ACJ Board.
6.4.3. Approving the Section Charter, introducing alterations and amendments into it (in the case if the Section acts on the basis of its own Charter), on coordination with ACJ Board.
6.4.4. Electing its representative for participation in ACJ Meetings.

6.5. A Section Meeting has the quorum if more than half of its members are present.
Resolutions of a Section Meeting shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes of those present at the Meeting.

6.6. The issues covered with the exclusive competence of a Section Meeting and the procedure of adoption of resolutions by a Section Meeting acting on the basis of its own Charter shall be determined by the Section Charter in accordance with the existing legislation.

6.7. The permanently functioning managing body of a Section shall be Section Council (hereinafter " Section Council".
Meetings of a Section Council shall be held if the need arises, but not less often than once every half a year.

6.8. The competence of the Section Council covers the following:
6.8.1. Preparing Section Meetings.
6.8.2. Carrying out work on exercising the resolutions of Council Meeting and ACJ managing bodies.
6.8.3. Approving current working plans of the Section.
6.8.4. Solving other issues of the Section activity that are not covered with the competence of general Section Meeting.

6.9. A meeting of a Section Council has quorum if more than half of its members are present.
Resolutions shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes of those who are present.

6.10. Chair of Section shall be elected by Section Meeting from Section members for a term of 4 (four) years on coordination with the ACJ Board.

6.11. Chair of Section shall be personally responsible for the activity of the Section and shall be accountable to the ACJ Board.

7. SOURCES OF PROPERTY FORMATION

7.1. In its possession, ACJ may have buildings, constructions, housing facilities, lands, transport, equipment, inventory, money funds, shares, other stocks and other property that is necessary for material security of the ACJ activity stated by its Charter.
7.1.1 In ACJ possession may be institutions, publishing houses, mass media, created and acquired at the own expense of ACJ, in accordance with the purposes stated by its Charter.

7.2. Sources of formation of ACJ property may be:
- entrance and membership fees;
- voluntary contributions and donations;
- income from lectures, exhibitions, lotteries, auctions, sport events, and other events held in accordance with the ACJ Charter;
- revenues from business activity of ACJ;
- income from civil contracts;
- income from international business activity;
- other sources not forbidden by law.

7.3. It shall be ACJ that will be the owner of the property. No separate member of ACJ has ownership of a share of the property owned by ACJ.

8. THE PROCEDURE OF INTRODUCING ALTRATIONS AND AMENDMENTS INTO THE CHARTER

8.1. Alterations and amendments to this Charter shall be introduced by ACJ Conference and are liable to state registration according to the same procedure as the state registration of ACJ.

8.2. A resolution about introducing alterations and amendments to the Charter shall be adopted by 2/3 (two thirds) of the votes of those who are present at ACJ Conference.

9. 9. THE PROCEDURE OF TERMINATION OF ACJ ACTIVITY

9.1. ACJ activity shall be terminated by means of its reorganization or liquidation.

9.2. Reorganization of ACJ shall be realized through a Conference resolution by 2/3 votes of the Association members present at the Conference. After reorganization of ACJ its property shall pass into ownership of the newly emerged juridical person in accordance with the Civil code of the Russian Federation.

9.3. Liquidation of ACJ shall be realized either through a Conference resolution by 2/3 votes of the ACJ members present at the Conference or judicially according to the existing legislation of the Russian Federation. The property remaining as a result of liquidation of ACJ shall be directed, after answering the claims of the creditors, to the purposes stated by this Charter and shall not be distributed among the Association members.

9.4. In the process of liquidation of ACJ, the documents on the personnel shall be passed to the state custody as established by law.

9.5. The resolution about liquidation of ACJ shall be sent to the body that registered ACJ, to eliminate ACJ from the unified public register of juridical persons.