Preamble
Article I – Pastor
Article II – Assistant Pastor
Article III – Deacons
A. Nomination
B. Election
Article IV – Board of Deacons
A. Meetings
B. Officers
C. General Responsibilities
Article V – Missionaries
Article VI – Church Property
Article VII – Amendments
BYLAWS
PREAMBLE
These Bylaws are adopted for the Church government. No bylaws shall be effective that are contrary to the Articles of Incorporation of this Church.
ARTICLE I – PASTOR
1. The Pastor shall watch over the spiritual life of this Church, preach and teach the Word, administer the ordinances and have charge of the worship services. He will have final authority, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in all matters relating in any way to Bible Doctrine, except in those concerning the Statement of Faith. He shall be a voting member of the Deacon Board and all committees.
2. He shall conscientiously and without reservation accept the Constitution of this Church, as amended, in its entirety.
3. A candidate for Pastor shall be considered only after he has subscribed in writing to the Constitution of this Church. He shall be recommended to the Members by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of Deacons in a duly called meeting of the Deacons, or by written petition signed by at least one half (1/2) of the Members. A candidate for Pastor so recommended shall be called to serve by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting at a duly called Business Meeting.
4. The Pastor may be recommended for dismissal by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of Deacons in a duly called meeting of the Deacons, or by written petition signed by at least one half (1/2) of the Members. If so recommended for dismissal, the services of the Pastor shall be terminated by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting in a duly called Business Meeting. At least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting, the Pastor shall be notified in writing of the reason(s) for the recommended dismissal, and at his election may be represented by two Members, introduce evidence, present and cross-examine witnesses.
ARTICLE II – ASSISTANT PASTOR
1. The Assistant Pastor shall have duties and responsibilities as defined by the Pastor.
2. He shall conscientiously and without reservation accept the Constitution of this Church, as amended, in its entirety.
3. The Assistant Pastor shall be called or dismissed in the same manner as the Pastor.
ARTICLE III – DEACONS
A. NOMINATION
1. The nominating committee for Deacons shall consist of the elected Deacons and the Pastor. The proceedings of the nominating committee shall be unrecorded and confidential.
2. All candidates for Deacon shall be nominated by the nominating committee or by a written petition signed by at least one half (1/2) of the Members. Names of persons nominated, who have accepted such nomination, shall be included in the agenda for the meeting at which the election is to be held.
3. Not more than two candidates shall be nominated for each position to be filled.
4. A Deacon must conscientiously accept the Constitution of this Church, as amended, in its entirety and shall conform to the Biblical qualifications for that office as stated in the following passages:
a. 1Tim 3:1-13
b. Col 3:1-17
c. 2Cor 10:17,18
d. Gal 6:9-16
e. Rom 12:1,2; 9-16
B. ELECTION
1. The Deacon shall be elected who receives the largest number of votes of the Members present and voting at the Annual Business Meeting or a duly called Special Business Meeting of the Members.
a. Votes may be cast for one of the candidates or neither of the candidates. No write-ins or absentee votes, except for nursery and Sunday school staff present in the building, shall be counted.
b. If there is a tie vote between two candidates, or if the most votes are cast for neither candidate, no Deacon shall be elected. A tie vote between the two candidates may be decided on a coin toss by the Chairman if approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting.
c. If no Deacon is elected, two different candidates shall be nominated and the Deacon Board shall call another Special Business meeting for their election within six (6) weeks.
2. Each Deacon shall be elected for a term not exceeding three (3) years, or until his successor is elected, and a Deacon who has served a three (3) year term shall be eligible for immediate reelection. The term of approximately one-third (1/3) of the deacons shall expire each year. If more than one Deacon is being elected, then votes shall be cast sequentially for each position.
3. The number of Deacons shall be not less than three (3), and not more than seven (7). The vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting at a duly called Business Meeting shall be required to change the number between three (3) and seven (7) from the existing number of Deacons.
4. A Deacon or any officer of this Church may be removed from office by the vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting at a duly called Business Meeting.
5. A Deacon may voluntarily remove himself from office by submitting his resignation in writing or stating his resignation verbally to at least two members of the Deacon Board.
6. The office of Deacon shall be considered vacant upon the occurrence of any one of the following: Death, resignation, refusal to serve, removal from office, or absence from three (3) consecutive meetings of the Deacons without excuse satisfactory to the Deacons.
7. A vacancy shall be filled by election of a Deacon by the Members at a duly called Business Meeting. A deacon so elected shall serve the unexpired term of his predecessor.
ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DEACONS
A. MEETINGS
1. The Board of Deacons shall consist of the elected Deacons and the Pastor.
2. A regular meeting of the Deacon Board shall be held not later than thirty (30) days after the annual meeting of Members for the purpose of electing Officers of the Deacon Board. Other regular meetings shall be held at such times and places as the Deacon Board may determine but at least once a month.
3. A special meeting of the Deacons may be called any time at the request of the Pastor, the President of the Deacon Board, or the majority of the Deacons.
4. A quorum for conduct of business at a meeting of the Deacon Board shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the total number of Deacons. The acts of the majority present and voting shall be the act of the Deacon Board unless otherwise specifically required by law, by this Constitution, or within the motion itself.
5. All meetings of the Deacons shall be held at the principal place of worship of this Church unless otherwise specified in the notice of the meeting.
6. Notice of a regular or special meeting of the Deacons shall be given at least three (3) days prior to such meeting. Notice may be waived by unanimous consent of the Deacons. The purpose of the meeting need not be stated in such notice.
7. The minutes of all meetings of the Deacon Board shall be posted on the Church bulletin board within two (2) weeks following the meeting.
B. OFFICERS
1. The Board of Deacons shall elect one of their number (except the Pastor) to be President, one to be Secretary, and one to be Treasurer.
2. The President shall be responsible for the convening of all Deacon Board meetings; special and annual church business meetings; presiding over these meetings as Chairman, and preparation of the order of business for these meetings.
3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the business meetings of the Members and the Deacon Board; issue notice of all business meetings of the Members and the Deacon Board; be custodian of the Corporate records; keep current a roster of all Members with addresses; maintain a record or attendance at the Deacon Board meetings; prepare and sign instruments authorized by the Deacon Board or Members, and prepare the agenda of all business meetings of the Members and Deacon Board.
4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the handling of all church funds; payment and disbursement of all church debts, including payroll; preparation and presentation of all financial reports or documents and proper keeping of books of account. He shall annually disclose an income and expense account verified by at least one other Member who is not a member of the Deacon Board and was not a member of the Deacon Board during the period that the accounts being verified were recorded.
C. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
General responsibilities of the Board of Deacons in addition to the above shall include; coordination and use of all physical facilities for church services or meetings; selection of church ushers and attendants; overall administration of the Sunday School and nursery; church publicity; forming committees; hire and discharge of employees (except the Pastor and Assistant Pastor); determination of salaries; authorizing the use of church facilities for any spiritual or extra secular purposes; and execute all instructions by the Members adopted in a duly called Business Meeting.
ARTICLE V – MISSIONARIES
1. Support of missions or missionaries by this Church, and termination of such support, shall be decided by a vote of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the Members present and voting at a duly called Business Meeting.
2. The money amount of support and schedule of payment shall be determined by the Deacon Board.
3. No mission or missionary shall be supported unless the Deacon Board confirms that the doctrinal position of such mission or missionary conforms with the Articles of Incorporation, Article VII, the Statement of Faith, Sections A-F.
ARTICLE VI – CHURCH PROPERTY
Except upon prior specific instruction and authority given by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present and voting at a duly called Business Meeting, the Deacon Board operating on behalf of the Corporation, shall not contract for any loans over five thousand dollars ($5,000), leases of one year or longer, or purchase real or personal property at a cost of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the previous years total annual income, nor shall the Deacon Board sell real or personal property at a market value of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the previous years total annual income.
ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended with the same procedure and requirements as amendments to the Articles of Incorporation.
This page has the following sub pages.
