Constitution and By-laws
of
Clough Pike Baptist Church
1025 Clough Pike
Cincinnati, Ohio 45245
Constitution
and by-laws
of
Clough Pike
Baptist Church
1025 Clough
Pike
Cincinnati,
Ohio 45245
PREAMBLE
We, the Southern Baptists of Clough Pike, Cincinnati, Ohio,
feeling the need of a church in which to unite our efforts to promote the Kingdom
of God on earth,to glorify God by developing devoted
followers of Jesus Christ,and
to teach the true doctrines of Jesus Christ, do establish ourselves into one
church body for these purposes and do ordain this constitution for the
government of the same.
Constitution
ARTICLE I
NAME: This church shall
be known as Clough Pike Baptist Church, a corporation, not for profit,
organized and existing under the Ohio Revised Code.
ARTICLE II
OUR COVENANT: This church adopted the covenant as shown
and will faithfully observe all the provisions in our church covenant.
Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and
scripturally baptized, and being in agreement with Clough Pike Baptist Church’s
statements, strategy, and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite
with The Clough Pike Baptist Church Family.
In doing so, I commit myself to God and the other members, by the aid of
the Holy Spirit, to do the following:
1.
I will protect the unity of my church
By acting in love toward others
members
By refusing to gossip
By following the leaders in
accordance with scripture
&
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace
and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19)
&
…Have sincere love for your brothers; love one another
deeply, from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)
&
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but
only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs... (Ephesians
4:29)
&
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep
watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work
will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews
13:17)
2.
I will share the responsibility of my Church
By praying for its growth
By inviting the unchurched to
attend
By warmly welcoming those who
visit
&
To the Church …We always thank God for all of you,
mentioning you in our prayers. We
continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-3)
&
Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and
country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. (Luke
14:23)
&
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in
order to bring praise to God. (Romans 15:7)
3.
I will serve the ministry of my church
By discovering my gifts and
talents
By being equipped to serve by my
pastors
By developing a servant’s heart
&
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Peter
4:10)
&
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets,
some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's
people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
(Ephesians 4:11-12)
&
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus: Who… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant...
(Philippians 2:4-7a)
4.
I will support the testimony of my church
By living a godly life
By giving regularly
&
Let us not give up meeting together…but let us encourage one
another ... (Hebrews 10:25)
&
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ… (Philippians 1:27)
&
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set
aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
&
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the
soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
(Leviticus 27:30)
ARTICLE III
STATEMENT OF FAITH: This church
has adopted as her articles of faith and practice (Doctrine) the Baptist Faith
and Message statement adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on May 9,
1963. This statement reads in full as
follows:
1.
The
Scriptures: The Holy Bible was
written by men divinely inspired and is the record of God’s revelation of
Himself to man. It is a perfect
treasure of divine instruction. It has
God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of
error for its matter. It reveals the
principles by which God judges us; and therefore is, and will remain to the end
of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by
which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. The criterion by which the Bible is to be
interpreted is Jesus Christ.
Ex. 24:4; Deut. 4:1-2; 17:19;
Josh. 8:34; Psalm 19:7-10; 119:11, 89, 105, 140; Isa. 34:16; 40:8; Jer. 15:16;
36; Matt. 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17;
Acts 2:16 ff.; 17:11; Rom. 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 4:12; I
Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
2.
God: There is one and only one living and true
God. He is an intelligent, spiritual,
and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the
universe. God is infinite in holiness
and all other perfections. To Him we
owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature,
essence, or being.
a.
God the Father: God as
Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the
flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all loving, and all
wise. God is Father in truth to those
who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all
men.
Gen. 1:1; 2:7; Ex. 3:14; 6:2-3;
15:11 ff.; 20:1 ff.; Lev. 22:2; Deut. 6:4; 32:6; I Chron. 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3;
Isa. 43:3; 15; 64:8; Jer. 10:10; 17:13; Matt. 6:9 ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark
1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Rom. 8:14-15; I Cor. 8:6;
Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:6; Col. 1:15; I Tim. 1:17; Heb 11:6; 12:9; I Peter 1:17; I
John 5:7.
b.
God the Son: Christ is the eternal son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ he was
conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of
God, taking upon Himself the demands and necessities of human nature and
identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal
obedience, and in His death on the cross He made provision for the redemption
of men from sin. He was raised from the
dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was
with them before His crucifixion. He
ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is
the one Mediator, partaking of the nature of God and of man, and in whose
Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge
the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present
Lord.
Gen. 18:1 ff.; Psalm 2:7 ff.;
110:1 ff.; Isa. 7:14; 53; Matt. 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16; 27;
17:5; 27; 18:1-6; 19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John
1:1-18; 29; 10:30; 38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16; 28; 17:1-5; 21-22;
20:1-20; 28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5, 20; Rom. 1:3-4; 3:23-26;
5:6-21; 8:1-3; 34; 10:4; I Cor. 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8; 24-28; 2 Cor. 5:19-21;
Gal. 4:4-5; Eph. 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:13-22; 2:9; I Thess.
4:14-18; I Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 12:2;
13:8; I Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Rev.
1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
c.
God the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He inspired holy men of old to write the
Scriptures. Through illumination, He
enables men to understand truth. He
exalts Christ. He convicts of sin, of
righteousness and of judgment. He calls
men to the Savior, and effects regeneration.
He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the
spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final
redemption. His presence in the
Christian is the assurance of God to bring the believer onto the fullness of the
stature of Christ. He enlightens and
empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
Gen. 1:2; Judg. 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalm 51:11; 139:7
ff.; Isa. 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matt. 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark
1:10; 12; Luke 1:35; 4:1, 18-18; 11:13; 12:12; 27:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17, 26;
15-26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17; 39; 10:44;
13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 191-6; Rom. 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; I Cor. 2:10-14; 3:16;
12:3-11; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; I Thess. 5:19; I Tim. 3:16; 4:1; 2
Tim. 1:14; 3:16; Heb. 9:8; 14; 2 Peter 1-21; I John 4:13 5:6-7; Rev. 1:10;
22:17.
3.
Man: Man was created by the special act of God,
in His own image, and is the crowning work of His creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and
was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice, man sinned against God and brought sin into
the human race. Through the temptation
of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original
innocence; whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined
toward sin, and as soon as they are capable of moral action become
transgressors and are under condemnation.
Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable
man to fulfill the creative purpose of God.
The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God creates man
in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore every man
possesses dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Gen. 1:26-30; 2:5, 7, 18-22; 3;
9:6; Psalm 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isa. 6:5; Jer. 17:5; Matt. 16:26; Acts
17:26-31; Rom. 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6, 12, 19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18, 29; I
Cor. 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Eph. 2:1-22; Col. 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
4.
Salvation: Salvation involves the redemption of the
whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes
regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.
a.
Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace
whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart brought by the Holy
Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance
toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
b.
Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration,
by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to
progress toward moral and spiritual perfection through the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.
Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.
c.
Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the
final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Gen. 3:15; Ex. 3:14-17; 6:2-8;
Matt. 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22 to 28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,
29; 3:3-21, 36:5-24; 10:9, 28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11;
16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Rom. 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3 ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23;
8:1-18; 29-39; 10:9-10, 13; 13:11-14; I Cor. 1:18, 30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Cor.
5:17-20; Gal. 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Phil.
2:12-13; Col. 1:9-22; 3:1 ff.,; I Thes 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Titus 2:11-14;
Heb. 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8, 14; James 2:14-26; I Peter 1:2-23; I
John 1:6 to 2:11; Rev. 3:20; 21:1 to 22:5.
5.
God’s
Purpose of Grace: Election is
the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and
glorifies sinners. It is consistent
with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with
the end. It is a glorious display of
God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.
All true
believers endure to the end. Those whom
God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His spirit, will never fall away
from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect
and temptation, whereby they grieve the spirit, impair their graces and
comforts, bring reproach on the cause of Christ, and temporal judgments on
themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto
salvation.
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-8; I Sam.
8:4-7, 19-22; Isa. 5:1-7; Jer. 31:31 ff.; Matt. 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22; 31;
25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24;
6:44-45; 65; 10:27-29; 15:16; 17:6, 12, 17-18; Acts 20:32; Rom. 5:9-10;
8:28-39; 10:12-15; 11:5-7, 26-36; I Cor. 1:1-2; 15: 24-28; Eph. 1:4-23; 2:1-10;
3:1-11; Col. 1:12-14; 2 Thes. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:12; 2:10, 19; Heb. 11:39-12:2;
I Peter 1:2-5, 13; 2:4-10; I John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
6.
The Church: A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus
Christ is a local body of baptized believers who are associated by covenant in
the faith and fellowship of the gospel, observing the two ordinances of Christ,
committed to His teachings, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges
invested in them by His word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of
the earth.
This church
is an autonomous body, operating through democratic processes under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ. In such a
congregation members are equally responsible.
Its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons.
The New
Testament speaks also of the church as the body of Christ which includes all of
the redeemed of all the ages.
Matt. 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts
2:41-42, 47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23, 27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Rom. 1:7;
I Cor. 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Eph. 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11, 21;
5:22-32; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:18; I Tim. 3:1-15; 4:14; I Peter 5:1-4; Rev. 2-3;
21:2-3.
7.
Baptism and
the Lord’s Supper: Christian
baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act
of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen
Savior, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the
resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final
resurrection of the dead. Being a
church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and
to the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s
Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through
partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the
Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28-19-20;
Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42;
8:35-39; 16:30-33; Acts 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col.
2:12.
8.
The Lord’s
Day: The first day of the week is
the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian
institution for regular observance. It
commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should be employed in
exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, and by
refraining from worldly amusements, and resting from secular employment, work
of necessity and mercy only being excepted.
Ex. 20:8-11; Matt. 12:1-12; 28:1
ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24-1-3, 33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1, 19-28; Acts
20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Col. 2:16; 3:16; Rev. 1:10.
9.
The
Kingdom: The Kingdom of God
includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular
Kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of
salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus
Christ. Christians ought to pray and to
labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits
the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age.
Gen. 1:1; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6;
Matt. 3:2; 4:8-10, 23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1;
Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7;
17:22-31; Rom. 5:17; 8:19; I Cor. 15:24-28; Col. 1:13; Heb. 11:10, 16: 12:28; I
Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Rev. 1:6; 9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
10.
Last
Things: God, in His own
time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will
return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised;
and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of
everlasting punishment. The righteous
in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will
dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isa. 2:4; 11:9; Matt. 16:27;
18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27; 30, 36, 44; 25:31-46; 26:64: Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke
12:40, 48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Rom
14:10; I Cor. 4:5; 15:24-28; 35-58; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil 3:20-21; Col. 1:5; 3:4; 1
Thes. 4:14-18; 5:1 ff.; 2 Thess. 1:7 ff.; 2; 1 Tim. 6:14; 2 Tim. 4:1; 8; Titus
2:13; Heb. 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7 ff.; I John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Rev.
1:18; 3:11; 20:1 to 22:13.
11.
Evangelism
and Missions: It is the duty and
privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus
Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the
birth of love for others. Missionary
effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the
regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of
Christ. It is the duty of every child
of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by
all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 19:5-6; Isa.
6:1-8; Matt. 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30; 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:
18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12; 15:7-8, 16:17:15; 20:21; Acts
1:8; 2: 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 3:1-11; I Thes. 1:8; 2
Tim. 4:5; Heb 2:1-3; 11:39 to 12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Rev. 22:17.
12.
Education: The cause of education in the Kingdom of
Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and
should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian schools is
necessary to complete spiritual program for Christ’s people.
In
Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom
and academic responsibility. Freedom in
any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never
absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a
Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus
Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct
purpose for which the school exists.
Deut. 4:1, 5, 9, 14; 6:1-10;
31:12-13; Neh. 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:7 ff.; 119:11; Prov. 3:13 ff.;
4:1-10; 8:1-7, 11; 15:14; Eccl. 7:19; Matt. 5:2; 7:24 ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40;
I Cor. 1:18-31; Eph. 4:11-16; Phil 4:8; Col. 2:3, 8-9; I Tim. 1:3-7; 2 Tim.
2:15; 3:14-17; Heb. 5:12 to 6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.
13.
Stewardship: God is the source of all blessings, temporal
and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to
the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in
their possessions. They are therefore
under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material
possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the
glory of God and for helping others.
According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means
cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the
advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth.
Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut.
8:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4, 19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,
42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; I Cor.
4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; I Peter 1:18-19.
14.
Cooperation: Christ’s people should, as occasion
requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure
cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over
one another or over the churches. They
are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the
energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one
another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent
ministries for the extensions of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony
and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s
people. Cooperation is desirable
between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is
itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience
or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New
Testament.
Ex. 17:12; 18:17 ff.; Judg. 7:21;
Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Neh. 4; 8:1-5; Matt. 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10;
28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1 ff.; Acts 1:13-14; 2:1 ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3;
15:1-35; I Cor. 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2 Cor. 8-9; Gal. 1:6-10; Eph. 4:1-16;
Phil. 1:15-18.
15.
The
Christian and the Social Order:
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ
supreme in his own life and in human society.
Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the
establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful
only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving
grace of God in Christ Jesus. The
Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed,
selfishness, and vice. He should work
to provide for the orphaned, the needy, and the aged, the helpless, and the
sick. Every Christian should seek to
bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the
principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians
should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always
being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty
to Christ and His truth.
Ex. 20:3-17; Lev. 6:2-5; Deut.
10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 8:16; Matt. 5:13-16; 43-48;
22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3 ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25;
John 15:12; 17:15; Rom. 12-14; I Cor. 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23 to 11:1;
Gal. 3:26-28; Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:12-17; I Thess. 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27;
2:8.
16.
Peace and
War: It is the duty of
Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings
of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the
gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of
the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and
nations, and the practical application of His law of love.
Isa. 2:4; Matt. 5:9; 38-48; 6:33;
26:52; Luke 22:36, 38; Rom. 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Heb. 12:14; James 4:1-2.
17.
Religious
Liberty: God alone is Lord
of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments
of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection
and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical
group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it
is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not
contrary to the revealed will of God.
The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its
work. The gospel of Christ contemplates
spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions
of any kind. The state has no right to
impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this
implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men,
and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without
interference by the civil power.
Gen. 1:27; 2:7; Matt. 6:6-7, 24;
16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Rom. 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Gal. 5:1, 13; Phil.
3:20; I Tim. 2:1-2; James 4:12; I Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.
ARTICLE IV
CHURCH GOVERNMENT: Under the authority of Jesus
Christ, and the word of God, the Congregation of the Church is the final
authority within this local church.
This authority is normally exercised through the pastoral leadership and
appointment Ministry Leaders to govern the church. However, the vote of
membership of this church at a properly called meeting, as provided in the in
the By-Laws, shall be required to effect the following actions:
1.
In business meetings, the church shall consider only
the following:
a.
Annual Budget
b.
Purchase/Disposal of Land or Buildings
c.
Changes in the Church Constitution/By-Laws
d.
Senior Pastor Search Committee
e.
Calling the Senior Pastor & Associate Pastors
f.
Termination of Senior Pastor (only at a meeting specially
called by Deacon Body)
g.
Election of Deacons
h.
The Pastor’s recommendations for Ministry Team Captains
i.
Removing inactive members from the rolls
2.
The Senior Pastor may, and shall, when requested by
the deacons, Ministry Council or trustees, call from the pulpit special
business meetings, the particular object of the meeting being stated in the
notice.
3.
The church shall meet annually to approve the annual
budget, and receive annual reports from the Ministry Captains.
4.
Moderator:
The Senior Pastor of the church may serve as Moderator or he may appoint
a member of the church to serve as Moderator.
In the absence of the pastor, the chairman of the deacons shall preside;
or in the absence of both, the clerk shall call the church to order and a
moderator pro-tem shall be elected.
5.
At any regular meeting, for worship the church may
act upon the affirmation of new members, but not upon other matters of business
outside of a specially called business meeting.
6.
In all questions of procedure at any business
meeting, the church shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.
7.
This Church is not to be subject to the control of
any other ecclesiastical body, but shall recognize and sustain obligation of
mutual counsel and cooperation, which are common among Southern Baptists.
So far as may be consistent with
the principles and teachings of God’s Word, this church shall cooperate with
and have representation in the denominational causes sponsored by Southern
Baptist, including the Southern Baptist Convention, the State Convention of
Baptists in Ohio, the Southern Hills Baptist Association of Southern Baptists,
and other affiliated auxiliaries and causes of the Southern Baptist Churches of
the city, county, state and nation. As
many messengers or representatives as may be allowed this church at any
convention, meeting, or council may be elected by the church at any regular
business meeting, or in the case of necessity at a specially called
meeting. The church may use its
discretion in the matter of electing said messengers or representatives provided
that the manner of election meets with the approval of the majority of the
members present at the meeting.
ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS
This
constitution and accompanying by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of
the members present and voting at:
1.
any regular business meeting of the church or
2.
any business meeting specially called for that
purpose, with the purpose having been communicated to the church body.
In either case, the proposed
amendment must be presented to the church in writing followed by notice from
the pulpit on at least two Sunday mornings immediately prior to the meeting in
which the amendment is to be voted on.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION I. General: Membership in this church shall consist of all persons who have
met the qualifications for membership and are listed on the membership
roll. Qualification for membership
should in no means be interpreted as causing or influencing one’s
salvation. Salvation is offered freely
to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood
obtained eternal redemption for the believer.
We believe that Scripture calls believers to associate with a local body
of believers.
SECTION II. Qualifications for Membership: Any interpretation of qualifications for
membership shall be addressed by the Lead Pastor and Deacon Team. Membership
shall be effective after fulfillment of all membership qualifications and are
listed on the membership roll.
1.
A personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for
salvation and the public profession of Baptism by immersion as testimony of
salvation. Having confessed Jesus
Christ to be their Savior and Lord and after due examination as to their
Christian experience are then baptized, or coming from other Baptist churches
of like faith and order, shall be accepted upon receipt of letters of transfer
and recommendation from said former church, or coming upon statement of their Christian experience and having been
previously scriptural baptized in a church of like faith, and upon due
examination of the circumstances precluding the securing of a letter.
2.
Completion of the Church’s membership class
3.
Commitment to active support of the church as
indicated by signing the membership covenant after completion of the membership
class.
SECTION III. Duties: Members are expected to be faithful in all of the duties
essential to the Christian life, to attend faithfully the services of the
church; to give regularly for its support and its causes; and to share in its
organized work in accordance with the membership covenant.
SECTION IV. Rights: Active members are equal in rank and privilege and may act and
vote in the transactions of the church.
With the exception of legal transactions, children under the age of
eighteen who are active members may act and vote in the transactions of the
church while in the presence of their parent or guardian. Inactive members may not vote or participate
on matters of church business nor serve in elected positions within the church.
SECTION V. Termination: The termination of membership shall be effective on the following
conditions:
1.
By death.
2.
By request of the member and recommendation of their
Deacon.
3.
By transfer.
Any active member who desires a letter of transfer to any other Baptist
church of like faith and order is entitled to said letter upon the request of
that church. Letter of transfer shall
not be granted directly to the individual.
4.
By vote of the church after remaining on the inactive
list for an extended period of time. At
least once a year the Deacon Body shall review the inactive member list with
the church, recommending the removal, as they deem appropriate, of any member
that has remained on the inactive list for an extended period of time. They shall be removed from the membership
roll of the church by a majority vote of members present.
5.
By disciplinary action. In harmony with the scriptural teaching of the Christian faith,
discipline must be a functional part of the local church. (Matthew 18:15-20; Galatians 1:8-9; II
Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 5:1-3)
The Church shall discipline any member who knowingly holds false or
heretical doctrine, who knowingly lives inconsistently with their Christian
profession, or who knowingly would disturb the unity and peace of the
Church. The goal of discipline is to
restore the person to the church whenever there is repentance and evidence of
spiritual change. The Body of Deacons
shall oversee all disciplinary action.
After prayerful consideration and the implementation of the biblical
discipline process, by a 2/3 majority vote of the Body of Deacons, a quorum
being present, and recommendation of the Senior Pastor, any person may be
dismissed from membership and the church clerk shall remove them from the
membership roll of the church and notify the congregation of the same.
SECTION VI. Inactive Members: The church will make a constant effort to
keep in touch with all members at all times.
As a responsibility of the Deacon Family Ministry, a Deacon may
recommend to the Deacon body that a member, due to willful failure to fulfill
terms of the membership covenant, be placed on an inactive list, which shall be
reviewed monthly by the Deacon Body.
After approval of the Deacon Body they shall have their name placed on an
inactive list by the church clerk, who shall inform the membership of the
same. After recommitment to the
membership covenant and satisfactory evidence of a fulfillment of the
membership covenant, the individual may be restored to active membership by approval
of the Deacon body who shall inform the congregation of the same.
SECTION VII. Restoration: The church also has the responsibility of restoring dismissed
members who give satisfactory evidence of repentance (II Corinthians 2:6-8) and
who have corrected the offense. Such
membership restoration occurs only by a two third majority vote of the Body of
Deacons, a quorum being present, who shall inform the congregation of the same.
ARTICLE II - RECONCILIATION &
UNITY
SECTION I. Should
any unhappy differences arise between members, the aggrieved member shall
follow in a tender spirit, the rules given by our Lord in the 18th Chapter of
Matthew.
SECTION II. In
accordance with Matthew 18, after going to the individual and then going to the
individual with brothers or sisters in Christ, if the aggrieved member shall be
unable to resolve the issue they may ask the Deacon Body, which shall act as a
committee for the church, to entertain a complaint, which must be made in
writing. If the Deacon Body votes to
entertain a complaint, it shall appoint a reasonable time of hearing and notify
the person in question thereof; furnishing him or her a copy of the charges.
SECTION III. The
accused member may call to his aid any member of the church as counsel who was
witness or has direct knowledge of the complaint.
SECTION IV. A
spirit of Christian kindness should pervade all such proceedings. Redemption rather than punishment will be
the guideline that governs all proceedings.
SECTION V. Should
any cases of gross breach of covenant, or public scandal occur, the Deacons
shall endeavor to remove the offense; and if such efforts fail, shall proceed
according to Article I Section V. Part 5.
ARTICLE III
- CHURCH STAFF
SECTION I. Senior Pastor:
1.
Call of
Senior Pastor: The Senior Pastor
shall be chosen and called by the church whenever a vacancy occurs. He shall be elected at a meeting called for
that purpose, with at least one week’s public notice having been given of said
meeting. A Senior Pastor Search
committee shall be elected to seek out God’s will for the Pastor of the church,
and their recommendation shall constitute a nomination. Only one man at a time shall be before the
church for their consideration as pastor.
Election shall be by ballot, an affirmative vote of three-fourths of
those present and voting being necessary to call him as pastor. The pastor thus elected, if he accepts the
call, shall serve indefinitely at the will of the church, and/or until the
relationship is terminated by mutual consent, both the pastor and the church
seeking at all times to follow the will of God and the leadership of the Holy
Spirit in reference thereto.
2.
Termination: If
termination of a Senior Pastor is sought by either church or pastor, the other
party is to be given, in writing, a thirty day advance notice prior to the
termination being effective. By mutual
consent, this thirty-day notice may be dispensed.
a.
Termination of the Senior Pastor by the church shall take
place at a meeting called for that purpose, with notification given to the
church at a Sunday morning service at least seven days prior. The moderator for this meeting shall be the
Chairman of the Deacon body.
b.
Any accusation shall first be taken to the deacon body who
shall then consider such accusation and the validity thereof in due
consideration of I Timothy 5:17-19.
They shall then counsel with the Senior Pastor and or make further
recommendations to the church. A church
meeting to consider the termination of the Senior Pastor may be called upon a
three-fourths vote of the body of deacons.
c.
The Senior Pastor may be terminated by a three-fourths vote
of the church at such specially called meeting.
3.
Privileges and Duties:
a.
The Senior Pastor shall have charge of the welfare and
oversight of the church, and shall be to it a true shepherd.
b.
He shall minister to the church at all regular and appointed
times of worship and service, and to the individual members whenever possible.
c.
He shall be an ex-officio member of all organizations of the
church.
d.
He is expected to attend the meetings of the State Convention
of Baptists in Ohio and of the Southern Baptist Convention (the expenses for
attendance at such meetings being defrayed by the church), and such other
meetings, as he deems necessary, within the established budget for such
meetings.
e.
The pastor shall have two (2) weeks paid vacation each
year. After five years of service in
the denomination, the pastor will receive three (3) weeks. After ten years, he will receive four (4)
weeks.
f.
He shall not be absent from his pulpit more than eight (8)
Sundays in any one year, and not more than two (2) Sundays in succession at any
one time, except as otherwise authorized by the Ministry Council.
g.
He shall have full supervision of the church staff.
SECTION II.Associate
Pastors: Associate Pastor positions
may be recommended to the Ministry Council by the Senior Pastor and approved by
the Ministry Council. Associate Pastors shall be under the general direction of
the Senior Pastor, aided by the Personnel Committee. The leadership of Associate Pastors shall be recognized by the
Ministry Team(s) in their area of service.
1.
Staffing: A search committee shall be selected by the
Ministry Council to seek out God’s will for the Associate Pastor for the
church. They shall council with the Senior Pastor and upon his approval, bring
their recommendation before the church. Calling an Associate Pastor requires
approval by a two-thirds vote of the church.
2.
Termination: If
termination of the employment of an Associate Pastor is sought by the church or
the pastor, the other party is to be given, in writing, a thirty day advance
notice prior to the termination being effective. By mutual consent, this thirty-day notice may be dispensed. Termination of the employment of an
Associate Pastor by the church requires the recommendation of the Personnel
Committee and a three-fourths vote of a joint body of the Ministry Council and
Active Deacon Body, with the concurrence of the Senior Pastor.
SECTION III.Staff
Members: Staff positions may be
recommended to the Ministry Council by the deacons, trustees or Senior Pastor
and approved by the Ministry Council. Staff members shall be under the general
direction of the Senior Pastor, aided by the Personnel Committee.
1.
Staffing: Vacant
staff member positions may be filled by the recommendation of the Personnel
Committee and the concurrence of the Senior Pastor.
2.
Termination: If
termination of the employment of a staff member is sought by the church or
staff member, the other party is to be given, in writing, a thirty day advance
notice prior to the termination being effective. By mutual consent, this thirty-day notice may be dispensed
with. Termination of the employment of
a staff member by the church requires the recommendation of the Personnel
Committee and the concurrence of the Senior Pastor.
ARTICLE IV - MINISTRY TEAMS
SECTION I. All
organizations of the church shall be under church control. It is understood that the Senior Pastor is
ex-officio head of all organizations named, and his leadership is to be
recognized in them all. Unless otherwise specified, the term of office for all
team members shall be one year, commencing September 1.
Selecting Ministry Council Members: Individuals may not serve as captain on more
than one Ministry Team simultaneously.
Ministry Captains: The Senior Pastor shall counsel with the Deacon Body, and then in
March, he shall recommend to the church the captains for each of the Ministry
Teams, excluding Ministry/Service. On approximately the second Sunday in April
of each year, at the close of the morning worship service, church shall approve
the Ministry Team Captains. The
Ministry Team Captains shall take office on June 1. Ministry Captains shall serve a two-year term and shall serve no
more than one consecutive term and then must rotate off the Ministry Council
for one year.
Ministry Team
Leaders: Each Ministry team
captain shall recommend a leader for each ministry that is part of their
team. The ministry leaders shall be
approved by the Ministry Council.
Ministry Team
Members: For each Ministry,
the Ministry Team Captain and the Ministry Leaders shall comprise the Ministry
Leadership Team. Each member of the
ministry team shall be recommended by the incoming Ministry Leader and approved
by the incoming Ministry Leadership Team.
SECTION II. Ministry
Council: This shall consist of the
Ministry Captains and on any issues unrelated to personnel, the Pastor(s) of
the church.
Duties:
1.
All duties specifically assigned to the Ministry
Council by this document.
2.
All matters of church business not specifically
assigned to the Church Body shall be under the authority of the Ministry
Council.
3.
The Ministry Council may, on matters that are not
specifically assigned to it by this document, choose to delegate decision
making as they see fit, however, they retain the right to reassume decision
making authority as required.
4.
The Ministry Council is responsible for maintaining
total expenditures within the total expenditures approved by the church in the
annual budget. If receipts exceed
projections, then as good stewards, they may exceed the approved total amount
of budgeted expenditures.
SECTION III. Service
Ministry Team: Service Team Captain
shall be the Chairman of the Deacon Body.
The Service team may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems
necessary in support of the service purposes of the church. The Service team shall include the Deacon
Family Ministry. Members of the Service
team, with the exception of Deacons, shall be selected in the manner prescribed
in Article IV, Section I.
Deacons:
1.
Qualifications: The basic requirements for a deacon are
found in the Bible in Acts 6:1-7 and I Timothy 3:8-13; and these are always to
be held over and above the specific requirements for the deacons of this
church.
a.
A deacon shall be a man of moral integrity and spiritual
maturity. His life shall be a clean one
with no question mark concerning his basic Christian character.
b.
The business life of a deacon shall be in harmony with
Christian principles.
c.
The deacon should be able and willing to be regular in
attendance at the deacons’ meetings, worship services, and at the business
meetings of the church. The roll shall
be called at each deacon’s meeting. Absences
from three consecutive deacons’ meetings, except those, which have been reported
to and approved by the deacons, shall cause the offending deacon to be brought
before the Deacon Body for such disciplinary action as the Deacon Body may deem
necessary.
d.
A deacon should possess teaching ability of a degree
necessary to present, effectively, the plan of salvation to the lost, and to
participate in the teaching and training programs of the church.
e.
The deacon shall be a good steward of his income,
recognizing the tithe as the minimum of his giving, being in agreement with and
participating in the financial programs of the church.
f.
The deacons’ wives shall share in like manner in Christian
consecration and church loyalty.
2.
Duties:
a.
They are to be zealous to guard the unity of the spirit
within the church in the bonds of peace.
b.
They shall serve as a council of advice in conference with
the pastor in all matters pertaining to the welfare and work of the church.
c.
They are to establish and maintain personal and fraternal
relations with, and inspiring oversight of, all the membership of the church.
d.
In counsel with the pastor, and by such methods as the Holy
Spirit may direct in accordance with the New Testament teachings, they are to
have the oversight of the discipline of the church, in administering which they
are to be guided by the principles set forth in Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians
5:9-13; and I Thessalonians 5:12-14.
e.
The deacons shall serve as a general pulpit committee. In case of absence or inability of the
pastor, subject to advice from and conference with him, they will provide for
the pulpit supplies. In any period when
the church is without a pastor, unless the church shall otherwise provide, the
deacons will arrange for the temporary ministry, and shall take counsel with
reference to securing a pastor. It is
not intended in any way to prejudice herein the method by which the church
shall proceed in the securing of a pastor.
f.
They shall assist the pastor in the administration of the
ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
g.
In no case will the deacons act for or in behalf of the
church except by specific authorization from the church in legal actions.
h.
The officers of the Deacon body (Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
and Secretary) shall serve as the personnel committee for the church,
conducting evaluations of pastors and staff, prepare salary recommendations and
other duties as assigned by this document or directed by the Ministry
Council. Input shall be provided by the
Senior Pastor to aid in the evaluation of Associate Pastors and other staff and
by the Associate Pastors for staff within their areas of responsibility.
3.
Number,
Election, Terms of Service:
a.
There shall be one deacon for each ten to fifteen active
families on the church rolls on an approximate basis. However, this is not to be construed that the church is obligated
to elect this number of deacons, where circumstances would dictate otherwise.
b.
The deacons will take office on June 1st in the
year elected.
c.
On approximately the first Sunday in March of each year, at
the close of the morning worship service, the nomination of deacons will be
held.
d.
Before March of each year, the Body of Deacons will meet to
nominate individuals (21 years of age or older) who they believe would make
worthy candidates for the office of deacon.
Representatives from the Body of Deacons will meet with each potential
candidate to determine their eligibility and willingness to serve. After a stated time period has elapsed, each
candidate shall give the pastor and the deacon officers an affirmative or
negative response as to whether he would serve if elected by the church. Those men who indicate that they are
eligible and willing to serve shall have their names placed on a list for
nomination by the church. Each member
will choose up to the number of men needed to serve as deacon in that calendar
year. Members will be able to write in
candidates that are not currently on the nomination list. Ballots containing more than the specified
number of nominations will be discarded.
e.
The pastor and the deacon officers (Chairman, Vice Chairman,
and Secretary) will meet with the top nominated candidates who will be given
the opportunity to withdraw their name at that time. The pastor and deacon
officers will not consider any candidate who has not been nominated by at least
10% of the church body, (i.e. If 300
people nominate 20 men, each candidate must have been nominated by at least 30
members). In the event of a tie in the number of nominations, a poll of the
three deacon officers shall be used to determine the order in which the
nominees shall be selected. Only up to
the number of candidates needed shall be brought before the church for
examination and affirmation.
f.
The top nominated candidates who have not been previously
ordained and who have been investigated by the pastor and deacon officers and
found to be in compliance with Biblical qualifications for service as a deacon,
shall be examined by an ordination council made up of all ordained men who are
active members of the church. Upon the
recommendation of the ordination council, the candidates shall be brought
before the church for a time of examination in the presence of the church
body.
g.
The top candidates who have been previously ordained in a
Southern Baptist Church, and who have been investigated by the pastor and
deacon officers and found to be in compliance with Biblical qualifications for
service as a deacon, shall be brought before the church for a time of
examination in the presence of the church body.
h.
At the conclusion of a Sunday Morning Service one week after
the examination of the candidates by the church body, the candidates shall be
placed before the church for a vote of affirmation. Each candidate will need to have a 2/3 majority vote to serve in
the office of deacon. In the event that
all candidates to be placed before the church also were listed on 2/3 of the
nomination ballots, a vote of affirmation will not be needed. These
deacons will serve a three-year term of office and then should rotate off the
Body of Deacons for a one-year period.
In the event that the Body of Deacons determines that
circumstances dictate otherwise, the deacon may continue to serve for an
additional year.
4.
Method of
Procedure:
a.
The whole body of deacons shall be organized as a unit for
consideration of all larger problems and general policies, and shall meet
regularly each month. They may organize
themselves into such committees as their wisdom may direct for efficiency in
service. It is understood, however, that
this body of Deacons is hereby granted advisory power only and all matters must
be taken before the church or Ministry Council for action unless the church or
Ministry Council delegates to them specific authority to act.
b.
They shall apportion the membership of the church among
themselves, or make plans whereby the entire membership may have the benefit of
the oversight in Christ of their brethren.
c.
(c) Each deacon shall freely confer with the pastor about
all matters and cases of discipline, which in his judgment would be most wisely, and spiritually handled in
private.
SECTION IV. Education Ministry Team: The Education
team may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems necessary in
support of the educational purposes of the church. Members of the Education team shall be selected in the manner
prescribed in Article IV, Section I.
SECTION V. Outreach Ministry Team: The Outreach
team may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems necessary in
support of the outreach purposes of the church. Members of the Outreach team shall be selected in the manner
prescribed in Article IV, Section I.
SECTION VI. Worship Ministry Team: The Worship team
may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems necessary in support of
the worship purposes of the church.
Members of the Worship team shall be selected in the manner prescribed
in Article IV, Section I.
SECTION VII. Community Ministry Team: The Community
team may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems necessary in
support of the community purposes of the church. Members of the Community team shall be selected in the manner
prescribed in Article IV, Section I.
SECTION VIII. Stewardship Ministry Team: The
Stewardship team may be comprised of whatever ministries the team deems
necessary in support of the stewardship purposes of the church. Members of the Stewardship team shall be
selected in the manner prescribed in Article IV, Section I. The Stewardship team shall include the
Trustees, the Church Clerk, and the Finance Team.
Trustees: The team of trustees shall consist
of as many members they deem necessary.
The
trustees shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any
property without a specific vote of the church authorizing such action. It is only when they are authorized by vote
of the church or Ministry Council to sign legal papers or deeds on behalf of
the church, that they can do so.
The
trustees’ duties will be to maintain the upkeep of the church property. The trustees’ responsibilities also include:
1.
Maintenance
2.
Light, heat, water
3.
Insurance program
4.
Miscellaneous duties, as requested by the Ministry
Council
Clerk: The clerk of the church shall maintain an
accurate record of all the actions of the church, and shall attend all business
meetings and fulfill the responsibilities indicated in this constitution and
bylaws.
Finance Team:
The team shall consist of the church treasurer, the assistant church
treasurer(s), the financial secretary, and additional members, as they deem
necessary.
Duties:
a.
Prepare the annual church budget.
b.
At least two members shall count the church offerings each
Sunday and deliver the offering to the assigned finance team member for
deposit.
c.
Monitor the budget receipts and expenditures during the year
and make recommendations to the Ministry Council as necessary.
d.
The team shall consider it a part of their responsibility
and duty to promote in every proper way, scriptural giving (tithes and
offerings) on the part of the entire membership of the church.
1.
Treasurer:
Duties:
a.
Receive, preserve, and pay out, all money, or things of
value, paid or given to the church, keeping at all times an itemized account of
all receipts and disbursements. Payment
of bills for local work and expenses shall be made promptly, and all funds
received for denominational or other causes shall be remitted at least monthly.
b.
Render to the finance team at each regular meeting an
itemized report of receipts and disbursements for the preceding month, and this
report shall be presented to the church in written form. Within thirty days after the end of the
fiscal year, the treasurer shall render to the financial team and to the church
an annual report showing the total amount of receipts and an itemized statement
of all disbursements. Prior to the
rendition of this annual report, upon its completion by the treasurer, the
report shall be audited by the trustees, and their signatures shall be placed
at the end of the report before it shall be accepted by the church.
c.
Maintain all books, records, and accounts kept by the
treasurer which shall be considered the property of the church. The books shall be open to inspection at all
times by any active member of the church except the individual giving
record. Upon tendering the annual
account at the end of each fiscal year, and its approval by the church, the
same shall be delivered by the treasurer to the church clerk, who shall keep
and preserve it as a part of the permanent records of the church.
2.
Financial
Secretary:
Duties:
a.
Receive the empty collection envelopes after the money has
been removed and counted by the proper persons elected by the finance team; and
from these shall give each donor individual credit as provided in the record
system approved by the finance team.
b.
Be responsible for preparing and mailing annual statements
to all contributing members.
c.
Duties other than these may be delegated at the wisdom and
discretion of the finance team.
ARTICLE V - CHURCH FINANCES
SECTION I. The
pastor, deacons, and finance team will bring recommendations to the Ministry
Council from time to time concerning the budget and the financial needs of the
church. The Ministry Team Captains
shall present preliminary budget recommendations to the Finance Team who shall
consider those recommendations and the anticipated receipts of the church and
recommend to the Ministry Council the annual budget. After approving the recommendation, the Ministry Council shall
take the annual budget to the Church for approval.
SECTION II. Receipts
from all sources shall be kept in such accounts as the church may care to
designate. From these accounts payment
of bills for local work and expenses shall be made promptly and all funds
received for denominational or other causes shall be remitted at least monthly.
SECTION III. All
funds, for any and all purposes, shall pass through the hands of the treasurer
and be properly recorded on the books of the church. The expenses of all organizations, as approved by the church,
shall be paid from the accounts of the church.
SECTION IV. The means of
financial support for the church are to be provided through tithes and free
will offerings.
SECTION V. Special
offerings may be sought by the church or by any of its organizations, only upon
the approval of the Ministry Council.
This does not preclude individuals making special offerings at any time,
as the Spirit of God may move them.
SECTION VI. It is the
policy of the church that the church’s offering and disbursement facilities
shall not be used as a conduit for the donative purposes of any
individual. Accordingly, designated
offerings where the donor provides an indication for an end recipient cannot be
accepted and will be returned to the donor.
SECTION VII. In the case
of benevolence offerings, a benevolence fund will be administered separately
and independently by the deacon body.
Donors may designate offerings to the benevolence fund and may make
recommendations to the benevolence team.
However, designations to an individual, an entity, or a external
ministry as a condition of the contribution will not be accepted.
SECTION VIII. Memorial
funds may be established by the request of a donor and the approval the
Ministry Council. At establishment all memorial funds shall have a stated
purpose and be assigned to a specific ministry for administration. All funds
donated to memorial funds become the immediate property of the church and may
be dispensed by the church without consultation of the donor. Once the stated purpose for a fund has been
completed, remaining funds shall be transferred to the general operating fund
of the church. At the time of the
donations, the donor may make recommendations to the administering
ministry. Gifts given with a specific
designation as a condition of the contribution will not be accepted. At the recommendation of the administering
Ministry and 2/3 vote of the Ministry Council, a memorial fund may be closed
and any remaining funds transferred to the general operating fund of the
church.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
SECTION I. For Worship:
1.
Public services shall be held upon the Lord’s Day
(Sunday) and on some regular evening or
evenings each week.
2.
The Lord’s Supper shall be celebrated as often as the
church shall desire to do so, but at least on a quarterly basis.
3.
Occasional services may be scheduled by the pastor at
his discretion.
