MEETINGS
Section 1: Worship Meetings
Worship services shall be held each Lord’s Day, and may be held throughout the week as the church determines.
Section 2: Members’ Meetings
In every meeting together, members shall act in that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration which is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There shall be a regular members’ meeting every three months, the time for which shall be announced at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
A Pastor shall preside as moderator at all members’ meetings of the church. In the event a Pastor cannot preside, the chairman of the Deacons will preside as moderator.
Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, a quorum shall be understood to be met by those members present. All votes shall be tallied based on the number of votes cast by members present.
A budget shall be approved by the membership at a regular or special members’ meeting prior to the start of the fiscal year.
At any regular or special members’ meeting, officers may be elected and positions filled as needed, so long as all relevant constitutional requirements have been met.
Special members’ meetings may be called as required. The date, time, and purpose of any special meeting shall be announced at all public services of the church at least one week preceding the meeting.
CHURCH OFFICERS
Section 1: Summary
The Biblical offices in the church are pastors and deacons. To assist with record keeping, financial accountability, and legal matters, the church recognizes the administrative positions under this constitution of clerk, treasurer, and trustee. All officers must be members of this church prior to assuming their responsibilities. Also, the church may elect or the Senior Pastor may appoint a committee to assist the officers for a specific purpose.
Section 2: Senior Pastor
The Senior Pastor shall serve as overseer and spiritual leader of the church whose primary responsibility shall be the ministry of the Word and prayer. He serves as the primary preaching pastor in the church. He is the leader of pastoral ministries in the church.
The Senior Pastor may relinquish the office of Senior Pastor by giving notice of resignation to the church. The church may declare the office of Senior Pastor to be vacant by majority vote in a scheduled or called members’ meeting. In the event the church declares the office to be vacant, the church will provide a severance package equal to two months compensation and benefits to the Senior Pastor.
In the event of a “search” for a Senior Pastor, a “Pastor Search Committee” will be elected by the church. The committee will be tasked with securing an interim pastor or supplying the pulpit with preachers, the development of a plan to seek out and secure a Pastor, the vetting of pastoral candidates and the presentation of a candidate (or candidates) to the church for their consideration. The call of an interim pastor, the search plan and the call of a Pastor will each be approved by the church.
Section 3: Pastors
Pastors shall be called as the church determines the need for such offices upon request from the Senior Pastor. Notwithstanding particular assigned responsibilities, the Pastors will work with the Senior Pastor and other staff in all necessary areas of ministry for the glory of God and good of the church.
A Pastor may relinquish the position by giving notice of resignation to the church. The church may declare the office of a Pastor to be vacant by majority vote in a scheduled or called members’ meeting. In the event the church declares the office to be vacant, the church will provide a severance package equal to two months compensation and benefits to the Pastor.
In the event of a “search” for a Pastor, a committee will be elected by the church to work with the Senior Pastor and other Pastors in the development of a plan to seek out and secure a Pastor, the vetting of candidates and the presentation of a candidate (or candidates) to the church for their consideration. The call of a Pastor will be approved by the church.
Section 4: Deacons
In accordance with the New Testament, Deacons are to be servants of the church. The ministry of the Deacon is to serve with the Pastors and shall be to carry out God’s work in the church and community in helping the church members and others in the community any way they can. All Deacons shall actively support, with time and finances, the work of the Lord through the various ministries of the Church. All Deacons are expected to attend members’ meetings of the church as a matter of example and service, in supplying their voice to these deliberations.
All Deacons are expected to attend the church worship services and perform assigned duties incidental to the conduct of the Sunday services.
The church shall elect the number of Deacons desired by the church from time to time. Only those persons who meet the scriptural qualifications (Acts 6:1-6 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13) and who have been members of the church for at least one year shall be elected. Once elected, Deacons shall serve thereafter as long as they are faithful to their duties. A Deacon may be removed from office at any scheduled or called members’ meeting by majority vote of the members present upon recommendation from the Senior Pastor and the Deacons due to moral sin, doctrinal error or misuse of his office. A Deacon may resign his office.
Section 5: Administrative Positions
(1) Clerk and Assistant Clerk
The church shall annually elect a Clerk and Assistant Clerk who shall be responsible for maintaining the minutes of church business and the church membership roll in cooperation with the church business office. They shall provide a written report of the church’s members’ meeting minutes and membership activity at each regular members’ meeting.
(2) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
The church shall annually elect a Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer who shall serve as the financial officers of the church. They shall be responsible for the oversight of the handling of all church funds, including receipts and disbursements. They shall also be responsible for the regular reporting of all church funds to the church.
(3) Trustees
The church shall elect, as needed, five to serve as Trustees, representing the church in any legal matters.
CHURCH POLITY
The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who comprise it under the headship of Jesus Christ. Persons duly received by the members shall constitute the membership. All internal groups created and empowered by the church shall report to and be accountable to the church, unless otherwise specified by church action. This church is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it enjoys mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist churches.
AMMENDMENTS
The Statement of Faith and Church Covenant may be amended by a three-quarters vote of the members present and voting at a members’ meeting, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members’ meeting, and shall have been announced from the pulpit at church services two successive Sundays prior to such vote.
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a members’ meeting, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members’ meeting, and shall have been announced from the pulpit at church services two successive Sundays prior to such vote.
OPERATION AND DISSOLUTION
This church is organized and operated primarily for the purpose of engaging in religious worship or promoting the spiritual development or well-being of individuals. It is to be operated in a way that does not result in accrual of distributable profits, realization of private gain resulting from payment of compensation in excess of a reasonable allowance for salary or other compensation for services rendered, or realization of any other form of private gain.
The church pledges its assets for use in performing the organization’s religious functions. It directs that on discontinuance of the church by dissolution or otherwise the assets are to be transferred by vote of the remaining membership to a charitable, educational, religious, or other similar organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 1: Worship Meetings
Worship services shall be held each Lord’s Day, and may be held throughout the week as the church determines.
Section 2: Members’ Meetings
In every meeting together, members shall act in that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration which is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There shall be a regular members’ meeting every three months, the time for which shall be announced at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
A Pastor shall preside as moderator at all members’ meetings of the church. In the event a Pastor cannot preside, the chairman of the Deacons will preside as moderator.
Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, a quorum shall be understood to be met by those members present. All votes shall be tallied based on the number of votes cast by members present.
A budget shall be approved by the membership at a regular or special members’ meeting prior to the start of the fiscal year.
At any regular or special members’ meeting, officers may be elected and positions filled as needed, so long as all relevant constitutional requirements have been met.
Special members’ meetings may be called as required. The date, time, and purpose of any special meeting shall be announced at all public services of the church at least one week preceding the meeting.
CHURCH OFFICERS
Section 1: Summary
The Biblical offices in the church are pastors and deacons. To assist with record keeping, financial accountability, and legal matters, the church recognizes the administrative positions under this constitution of clerk, treasurer, and trustee. All officers must be members of this church prior to assuming their responsibilities. Also, the church may elect or the Senior Pastor may appoint a committee to assist the officers for a specific purpose.
Section 2: Senior Pastor
The Senior Pastor shall serve as overseer and spiritual leader of the church whose primary responsibility shall be the ministry of the Word and prayer. He serves as the primary preaching pastor in the church. He is the leader of pastoral ministries in the church.
The Senior Pastor may relinquish the office of Senior Pastor by giving notice of resignation to the church. The church may declare the office of Senior Pastor to be vacant by majority vote in a scheduled or called members’ meeting. In the event the church declares the office to be vacant, the church will provide a severance package equal to two months compensation and benefits to the Senior Pastor.
In the event of a “search” for a Senior Pastor, a “Pastor Search Committee” will be elected by the church. The committee will be tasked with securing an interim pastor or supplying the pulpit with preachers, the development of a plan to seek out and secure a Pastor, the vetting of pastoral candidates and the presentation of a candidate (or candidates) to the church for their consideration. The call of an interim pastor, the search plan and the call of a Pastor will each be approved by the church.
Section 3: Pastors
Pastors shall be called as the church determines the need for such offices upon request from the Senior Pastor. Notwithstanding particular assigned responsibilities, the Pastors will work with the Senior Pastor and other staff in all necessary areas of ministry for the glory of God and good of the church.
A Pastor may relinquish the position by giving notice of resignation to the church. The church may declare the office of a Pastor to be vacant by majority vote in a scheduled or called members’ meeting. In the event the church declares the office to be vacant, the church will provide a severance package equal to two months compensation and benefits to the Pastor.
In the event of a “search” for a Pastor, a committee will be elected by the church to work with the Senior Pastor and other Pastors in the development of a plan to seek out and secure a Pastor, the vetting of candidates and the presentation of a candidate (or candidates) to the church for their consideration. The call of a Pastor will be approved by the church.
Section 4: Deacons
In accordance with the New Testament, Deacons are to be servants of the church. The ministry of the Deacon is to serve with the Pastors and shall be to carry out God’s work in the church and community in helping the church members and others in the community any way they can. All Deacons shall actively support, with time and finances, the work of the Lord through the various ministries of the Church. All Deacons are expected to attend members’ meetings of the church as a matter of example and service, in supplying their voice to these deliberations.
All Deacons are expected to attend the church worship services and perform assigned duties incidental to the conduct of the Sunday services.
The church shall elect the number of Deacons desired by the church from time to time. Only those persons who meet the scriptural qualifications (Acts 6:1-6 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13) and who have been members of the church for at least one year shall be elected. Once elected, Deacons shall serve thereafter as long as they are faithful to their duties. A Deacon may be removed from office at any scheduled or called members’ meeting by majority vote of the members present upon recommendation from the Senior Pastor and the Deacons due to moral sin, doctrinal error or misuse of his office. A Deacon may resign his office.
Section 5: Administrative Positions
(1) Clerk and Assistant Clerk
The church shall annually elect a Clerk and Assistant Clerk who shall be responsible for maintaining the minutes of church business and the church membership roll in cooperation with the church business office. They shall provide a written report of the church’s members’ meeting minutes and membership activity at each regular members’ meeting.
(2) Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
The church shall annually elect a Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer who shall serve as the financial officers of the church. They shall be responsible for the oversight of the handling of all church funds, including receipts and disbursements. They shall also be responsible for the regular reporting of all church funds to the church.
(3) Trustees
The church shall elect, as needed, five to serve as Trustees, representing the church in any legal matters.
CHURCH POLITY
The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who comprise it under the headship of Jesus Christ. Persons duly received by the members shall constitute the membership. All internal groups created and empowered by the church shall report to and be accountable to the church, unless otherwise specified by church action. This church is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it enjoys mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist churches.
AMMENDMENTS
The Statement of Faith and Church Covenant may be amended by a three-quarters vote of the members present and voting at a members’ meeting, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members’ meeting, and shall have been announced from the pulpit at church services two successive Sundays prior to such vote.
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a members’ meeting, provided the amendment shall have been offered in writing at the previous members’ meeting, and shall have been announced from the pulpit at church services two successive Sundays prior to such vote.
OPERATION AND DISSOLUTION
This church is organized and operated primarily for the purpose of engaging in religious worship or promoting the spiritual development or well-being of individuals. It is to be operated in a way that does not result in accrual of distributable profits, realization of private gain resulting from payment of compensation in excess of a reasonable allowance for salary or other compensation for services rendered, or realization of any other form of private gain.
The church pledges its assets for use in performing the organization’s religious functions. It directs that on discontinuance of the church by dissolution or otherwise the assets are to be transferred by vote of the remaining membership to a charitable, educational, religious, or other similar organization that is qualified as a charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code.