           Agape Christian Network Constitution and Bylaws
                               (ACNet)
                              05-26-94

ͻ
         *Official Agape Christian Network Document*           
          The terms "ACNet" and " the Net" refer to            
          Agape Christian Network in these documents.          
ͼ
Agape Christian Network is the Official name of this network, and
it's trade mark is ACNet.

* Statement of Faith *
ķ
 ACNet is dedicated to God the Father, and our Lord Jesus      
 Christ. We believe in the Trinity; this being defined as God  
 the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as being     
 three persons of the One True God.  We believe that the Bible 
 is the inspired word of God as spoken through His Son and His 
 Prophets.                                                     
Ľ


Section I - Definition of terms

     1)   ACNet     Official trademark and acronym of Agape
                    Christian Network Ministries

     2)   Zone      Large geographical area that contains linked
                    systems - usually a continental landmass-
                    i.e.,: North America

     3)   Region    Geographical subset of a zones linked systems
                    - usually several, to many States, consisting
                    of many Nets.

     4)   Net       Smaller geographical area of linked systems -
                    usually a large city and its surrounding
                    area. Contains Hubs and Nodes.

     5)   Hub       Subset of the Net.  Hubs are used to handle
                    EchoMail traffic between nodes and the Net
                    Control BBS.

     6)   Node      An individual BBS system. 

     7)   Point     An individual "leaf" off of a Node - NOT
                    ALLOWED IN ACNet, except as a second node
                    on the same system as the first node.

     8)   NetMail   Direct amateur electronic mail sent between
                    any 2 or more nodes and whose primary reader
                    is the Sysops(s) of said node(s).

     9)   EchoMail  Messages contained in Echoed conferences
                    which is  shared between numerous nodes via
                    electronic transfer through designated Hubs.
                    EchoMail is generally traffic which is "open
                    to the public".

     10)  ZC, etc.  ZC = Zone Coordinator
                    ZEC = Zone Echo Coordinator
                    RC  = Regional Coordinator
                    REC = Regional Echo Coordinator
                    HC  = Host or Hub Coordinator
                    HEC = Host or Hub Echo Coordinator


Section II - ACNet Government Structure

               (See file OFFICES for complete list
                of current officers and advisers)

A.  Authority and Voting

    Majority Vote is considered 50% plus one vote.

    Unanimous Vote is 100% of the vote.

    The voting body consists of the officers who have voting
    rights. Veto power is held by the President only.  Counter-veto
    power is held by the Vice Presidents in combined form.

    Example #1: - A measure is passed by majority vote.
                - The President vetos the measure.
                - The combined votes of both VPs override the
                  President's veto.
                - The measure passes.

    Example #2: - A measure is passed by majority vote.
                - The President does not veto the measure.
                - The combined votes of both VPs does NOT veto
                  the measure.
                - The measure is passed.

    In the event of any tie votes which cannot be resolved, the
    tie will go with the President's decision.

B.  Officers: Terms and Selection Process

    1). Officers will serve in permanent positions with no time limits
        placed on their office.

    2). Temporary Leave of Absence will be granted for a period of not
        more than one year if requested and approved by the
        majority of the officers.
        (SEE Section II, B, 4, c : Temporary Leave of Absence)

        a). If at the time that the leave of absence has
            expired, the officer still cannot return to his/her
            duties, The officers in charge must come to a
            UNAMIOUS agreement, by vote that the seat has
            been vacated.

    3). Officers may be retired from their respective office for one or
        more of the following reasons by agreement, with a unamious vote
        of the remaining officers.

        a). Voluntary Resignation.

        b). Death

        c). Leave of Absence has expired and the remaining officers
            feel that the absent officer will not or cannot
            carry on with his/her duties at this time.

        d). Lack of ability, or willingness to perform the official
            duties of his/her office in a proper and timely manner
            that would make it difficult for the remaining officers
            to perform their duties as required.

        e). Deliberately not following the ACNet governmental
            rules for running the ACNet and/or personal BBS(s).
            This would include one's personal witness and
            life that would affect the ACNet ministry.
            (SEE SECTION II, E ON Relief of Duties and Impeachment)

    4). Filling of Vacated Offices.

        a). Officers will be select by God's Holy Spirit, and revealed
            to the selecting officers via intense prayer.

        b). Revelation of God's Holy Spirit speaking in this
            selection process is by unanimous approval of the
            selecting officers.

            If the officers cannot reach unanimity to confirm a
            candidate, then they all should submit themselves to
            further intense prayer, making sure that they are hearing
            the Holy Spirit. If one or more selecting officers is
            uncertain that he/she is being led by the Holy Spirit,
            they should openly discuss this doubt in the AN_Admin
            echo, before a vote is taken again.

            Failure to confirm a candidate does not disqualify him/her
            for consideration of other positions, and/or consideration
            for the same position at another time.

            1). The office of President must be filled at all times.
                the 1st Vice-President will be acting temporary
                President in the event of a permanent vacancy.
                This temporary position will last until a
                suitable candidate has been chosen.

            2). Selecting officers are all remaining officers, and/or,

            3). A resigning officer, if and only if, he/she desires to
                participate.

            4). Selecting officers may use, but are not required to use,
                the following method of selecting a candidate to fill
                vacancies:

                First, consider the current officers. Second, consider
                net coordinator, who have served ACNet faithfully
                according to seniority. Third, sysops of nodes and/or
                echo moderators.  Lastly, a candidate not affiliated
                with ACNet.

                The nominations should be for not less than one week
                nor more than one month before voting on the vacated
                seat. Voting should be held for seven days. The acting
                President will announce the results of the vote.

        c). Temporary leaves of absence.

            1). An officer may request a leave of of absence for a
                period not to exceed one year.

            2). If a temporary leave of absence will be greater than
                thirty days it requires the office to be filled in the
                following manner. This temporary measure is
                not to be used in a permanent loss of an officer.

            1). If the position of President is temporarily vacant,
                the 1st Vice-President steps up to President, the 2nd
                Vice-President steps up to 1st Vice-President, the
                Secretary steps up to 2nd Vice-President.  The
                Secretary will carry on with the Secretarial duties
                as well as carry on with the duties of the 2nd
                Vice-President for the period of time that the leave
                of absence has been granted for.

            2). If the position of 1st Vice-President is temporarily
                vacant, the 2nd Vice-President steps up to 1st Vice-
                President, the Secretary steps up to 2nd Vice-President.
                The Secretary will carry on with the Secretarial duties
                as well as carry on with the duties of the 2nd
                Vice-President for the period of time that the leave
                of absence has been granted for.

            3). If the position of 2nd Vice-President is vacant, the
                Secretary steps up to 2nd Vice-President.  The
                Secretary will carry on with the Secretarial duties
                as well as carry on with the duties of the 2nd
                Vice-President for the period of time that the leave
                of absence has been granted for.

            4). If the position of Secretary is temporarily
                Vacant the 2nd Vice President will take over
                the duties of Secretary.

            5). If the position of Treasurer is temporarily
                vacant, the President will take over the
                duties of Treasurer.

            6). If the position of Zone Coordinator is
                temporarily vacant, the 1st President will
                take over the duties of Zone Coordinator.

            7). If the time of the Leave of Absence, expires the
                remaining officers are to unanimously decide
                whether to extend the time of the Leave of Absence,
                or to declare the office vacant.

C.  The Advisory Board   (SEE duties in Section III)

    1). In addition to the Officers, there will be a Board of Advisors.
        The advisory positions do not have voting rights.

    2). Advisory positions are not Officers.  See file OFFICES for
        the Table of Organization which depicts the reporting lines
        of the Officers and Advisors.

    3). Advisors will serve in permanent positions with no time limits
        placed on their office.

    4). It is not mandatory that these positions be filled. When a
        position is vacated, it may be left vacant until it can be
        filled.

###########
THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IS NOT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.  THIS
IS ADDED FOR FUTURE USE.
###########

D.  Selection Committee

    The Selection Committee is to review BBS applications for
    for consideration of become a member of ACNet.  At least
    two members of the Selection Committee will call the
    applying BBS and review the board.  At least one member
    of the Selection Committee will speak with the applying
    member voice.  The applying member must agree to paying
    collect phone charges for the review, if applicable.

    All BBS reviews and findings are to turned over to
    2nd Vice-President for his approval/disapproval.  These
    reviews/findings are to be placed in AN_Sysops echos, in open
    forum.  Nominations and voting is to be done in the AN_Sysops
    echo, in open forum.  The AN_Admin echo is not the
    appropriate place for the selection process.

E.  Relief of Duties and Impeachment

    An Officer, Selection Committee member, or Advisory Board member
    can be impeached and removed from Office if the member is found
    to be in deliberate violation of the Charter (Preamble and By-Laws)
    and refuses to repent.

    If charges are made against an Officer, Selection Committee
    member, or Advisory Board Member of the ACNet, the position
    may be declared temporarily vacant by a majority vote of
    the officers.  Then charges are to be posted in the AN_Admin
    echo, by the person(s) making charges, for the officers to review.
    A discussion of not less than than seven (7) nor more than forty-
    five (45) days are to be allowed before it is decided whether the
    charges may possibly be valid. If it is agreed by the ACNet
    Officers that the charges could be true, a vote is to be called for.
    The voting time must be a minimum of seven (7) days with no more
    than fourteen (14) days allowed before the final talley is taken.
    The vote must be open, in the AN_Admin echo with a majority vote
    ruling.  The acting ACNet President will then declare the final
    decision.  A impeachment process against a member cannot exceed
    sixty (60) days from the day of formal charges were brought up
    against the accused member, in the AN_Admin echo.  After sixty (60)
    days, if no resolution or action has been taken, the issue
    must be dropped.

Section III - Duties of the Offices and Advisors of ACNet

                See file OFFICES for Table of Organization.

President       Responsible for the overall organization of ACNet
                and is charged with maintaining the Charter in
                the appropriate manner.  He/she may delegate
                that responsibility to someone else if he/she
                chooses.  Responsible for approving the addition
                or deletion of any echo or moderator.

Vice Pres #1    Responsible for seeking and selecting moderators
                for the echoes.  All suggestions of moderator
                positions should be made to VP #1.  Responsible
                for moderating the AN_Netchat echo. Responsible
                for directly assisting the President upon
                request.  Responsible for VP #2 duties in the
                event of vacancy.  Responsible for President
                duties in the event of vacancy.

                For the reason of Automatic Shifting, any Vice
                President officer must agree (at the time of
                selection) to serve as President if the need
                arises. The office of President must be filled at
                all times.

Vice Pres #2    Responsible for the initial investigation of any
                BBS that desires to join ACNet.  All officers are
                responsible for providing information to any BBS
                that desires admission, but the VP #2 is
                responsible for verifying the application form
                after the form is submitted to the Zone
                Coordinator (ZC).  VP #2 must call the BBS to
                determine that the environment is suitable after
                the application is approved by the ZC.  The
                Selection Committee will assist the VP #2,
                and help where needed.  Responsible for VP #1 duties
                in the event of vacancy. Responsible for Secretary
                duties in the event of vacancy.

                For the reason of Automatic Shifting, any Vice
                President officer must agree (at the time of
                selection) to serve as President if the need
                arises. The office of President must be filled at
                all times.

Secretary       Responsible for maintaining a copy of ALL traffic
                that occurs in the AN_Sysop, AN_Admin, and AN_Net
                echoes. Responsible for maintaining a copy of all
                netmail that is cc:'ed to other Officers.
                Responsible for maintaining a copy of ALL
                approved applications to join ACNet.  All
                archives will be maintained on IBM compatible
                floppy disks.  The disks are to be transfered to
                future Secretaries.  The archives are to be
                maintained for all data of two years.

ZC              Responsible for managing the network and echomail
                flow, managing the selection of appropriate Hosts
                and Hubs, and for the assignment of node numbers.
                Responsible for maintaining and distributing the
                nodelist to any directly linked ACNet node which
                include Hosts, Hubs, and Nodes.  The ZC must
                follow Fidonet policy in the areas of maintaining
                a standard nodelist and provisions for National
                Mail Hour (NMH) which is 3:00AM - 4:00AM EST.

Legal Advisor   Provides suggestions and advice to the President.

Technical Adv.  Provides suggestions and advice to the ZC.

Policy Adv.     Provides suggestions and advice to the President
                and Vice Presidents.

##########
FINANCIAL ADVISOR IS NOT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME,
IT IS FOR FUTURE USE.
##########

Financial Adv.  Provides suggestions and advice to the President
                and Vice Presidents.

Section IV - BBS Requirements for Membership to ACNet

===========================================================
                       Bylaws

Article I:

A)   New BBS systems must be approved by the voting body before
     the new systems are authorized to send, receive, disseminate
     or participate in any ACNet NetMail or EchoMail exchanges or
     activities.

     1)   Authorization can be considered only after receipt of
          our "Request for ACNet Membership" form by the
          President or his designated representative.  This form
          will be copied to VP #1 and the Secretary to insure
          that the Net has a valid copy of said agreement in case
          of loss and/or damage to the original copy (held by the
          ZC).

          Approval must be made by the ZC and VP #1.  Disapproval
          requires majority vote.

     2)   The "Request for Membership" must be signed by the
          primary sysop of the BBS making application. If the
          form is submitted via Netmail, the Sysop name,
          printed in the signature line, will suffice as a legal
          signature.

     3)   Applicants must provide a password and sufficient
          access to their BBS in order that an appointed ACNet
          official may verify the applicant's BBS.

     4)   A BBS carrying "adult" files and/or conferences after
          signing the agreement is immediately removed from
          ACNet.

     5)   In the event that a BBS Sysop changes the status or
          operation of his/her system to one that is no longer
          operating within Christian principles, the Sysop of
          said BBS will immediately be disconnected from any and
          all links to their EchoMail Hub, and their membership
          in ACNet will be immediately revoked after the President
          agrees with the action.  The affected BBS will immediately 
          notify any and all BBS's which are down-line nodes from
          them (if they are a Hub or Host), that they are un-linking 
          from ACNet so the affected down-line nodes can change their 
          feeds to the Zone for continuation of traffic.  The ZC will
          take steps to immediately appoint a new Host/Hub in the event
          that the un-linked BBS is a Host or Hub.

     6)   Required qualification of a BBS for access to ACNET
          does not require the BBS to prominently DISPLAY
          Christian wording or symbols.  The BBS is to have
          Christian principles, that is, the sysop must be a
          Christian, and run his or her BBS with Godly values. A
          copy of the ACNET statement of faith must be posted within 
          the BBS bulletins and made available for users to read, if the
          BBS carries ACNET.


Article II:

Message Posting Rules:

A)   User's responsibilities:

     1)   To refrain from the use of profanity, except in an accepted
          Biblical context, is prohibited.

     2)   Personal attacks of any sort are prohibited.

          a)   A personal attack includes name calling, insulting
               another, "flaming" a persons beliefs, race or
               religion, making disparaging remarks toward others
               or any other abusive comments towards another,
               either directly or by implication.

          b)   Saying negative things about one or a group's
               persona either directly or by implication, if
               the person or group is professing Jesus Christ 
               as Lord and Savior, and isn't classified as a cult, 
               or bordering on cultish behavior. Negativism will only 
               be used as a warning to protect our brethren, not as an
               attack against any person. We hate the sin, but love 
               the sinner.

     3)   Users are expected to read and follow any and all
          conference-specific topic rules and regulations
          for the echo areas that are participated in.

B)   Sysop and Conference Moderator Responsibilities.

     1)   All moderators must be a Christian and must have read
          and agree with the ACNet Charter.

     2)   Each Sysop is responsible for the conduct of his/her
          users and themselves.

     3)   Each Conference Moderator is responsible to overseeing
          and enforcing the rules of their respective conference.

     4)   Conference Moderators are responsible for notifying the
          Sysop of the originating BBS when a user continually violates 
          the rules or requirements of his or her conference echo.
          The Sysop of the originating BBS(s) are expected to manage
          the user and to stop further violations.

     5)   Moderators are required to post the rules of their
          respective conferences in a timely manner (minimum once
          per month, preferably twice per month).


Article III:

A)   The Officers will approve a Zone Coordinator, Regional
     Coordinators, and Hub Coordinators, as needed, for the
     administration of the net. These Coordinators will be
     responsible for the proper administration of the Rules and
     Regulations, as well as the distribution of message traffic
     in their areas.

     All Regions, Nets, and other segments will be established as
     required by the ZC.  Respective coordinators must receive
     formal approval prior to implementing, attaching, or linking
     any down stream system or node.  Points that are not merely
     additional nodes of the "boss" node are not allowed to carry
     any ACNet traffic.

B)   No system may Echo, Link, Transfer, Pass or otherwise convey
     any ACNet conference or message base, or the messages
     contained in them, or their content, to any other system,
     via any and all means, unless and until said system has been
     approved for membership by the Officers.  All Conference
     traffic will be disseminated through the local Hub, after an
     individual system is approved for membership by the
     Officers.

     All echoes carried by ACNet and listed in the ECHOLIST,
     must originate from ACNet or be an approved echo that is
     gated by ACNet.  All echo message origin lines must contain
     a valid ORIGIN line of the originator's zone, net, and node
     number.

     No message originating from another network may be quoted
     within ACNet.  Quotes from ACNet conferences to another
     network must contain the entire message, and not merely an
     excerpt.  This provision may be revoked at any time without
     notice. Violation of this rule is cause for immediate
     suspension of the offending systems membership.

C)   It is each Net Coordinators (NC) responsibility to monitor,
     control and enforce the policies, rules and regulations for
     their Net.  Said NC may delegate these tasks for the
     individual nodes to their individual Hub Coordinators (HC),
     but the responsibility for compliance remains with the NC.

D)   In the event that an NC or HC determines that a node is out
     of compliance or in violation of the rules, the NC or HC
     will immediately take steps to correct the situation.  Such
     steps may include, but are not limited to, calling the
     violation to the node Sysops attention for correction,
     suspension of said nodes EchoMail privileges, and revocation
     of said nodes membership in ACNet.  However, Suspension or
     Revocation of a node's privileges or membership shall only
     be done by the NC or higher, after the NC, NEC, RC, REC, and
     ACNet Officers have reviewed the request for suspension or
     revocation.

E)   If a node's privileges are suspended or membership revoked,
     the system may appeal to the Officers for relief and/or
     restoration of membership or privileges.  If the Officers
     choses to review the case, the Officers will issue its
     decision to the involved parties. The Officers decision to
     review or not review and its decisions will be final and no
     further appeal exists.


A)   Amendments to the By-Laws

     1)   The PREAMBLE cannot be alterred or amended except for
          cases of misspelling or use of improper grammatical
          style. Any change of such nature must be unanimously
          approved by all Officers.  No other alteration can or
          will ever be allowed in the PREAMBLE.  No other
          alteration can or will ever be be made to THIS
          paragraph in the By-Laws or to the PREAMBLE.

     2)   Amendments to the By-Laws with the above exception may
          be made at any time by agreement of 2/3 of all
          Officers.

     3)   ACNet is open to suggestions for the improvement of the
          Network.  Any such suggestions should be presented via
          private Netmail to a member of the BoD.

            A)   The original Charter of Agape Christian Network
                 became effective at 6:00 P.M. EST, August 20,
                 1993.

            B)   The Charter was renamed from "Constitution" on
                 November 13, 1993. The first modified Charter
                 was made effective on November 02, 1993 at 6:00
                 P.M. EST.

            C)   The Charter has been revised and reorganized on
                 May 26, 1994

                    ACNET.ZIP includes:

                    ACLIST  .ACN
                    AGREENET.ACN
                    BYLAWS  .ACN
                    OFFICES .ACN
                    OFFICERS.ACN
                    PREAMBLE.ACN

                 Upon approval, it supercedes all previous
                 versions.

All voting members please store a written copy.

Drafted by: Harry E. Whitehead, President
            Agape Christian Network

Edited by:  John H. Doughtry, Vice President #1
            Tom Gregory, Zone Coordinator
            Nancy Powers, Secretary

