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II. ARTICLES OF PRACTICE
SECTION 2.1 - NAME:
JUNE 3, 1984
SECTION 2.2 - THREE-FOLD OBJECT
To Glorify God (Romans 15:6); to edify the saints (Acts 20:28); and to proclaim the Gospel at home and abroad (Matthew 28:18-20).
SECTION 2.3 - MEMBERSHIP
(1) RECEPTION:
a. Profession of faith: Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and giving evidence of a change of heart, may, on recommendation of the Pastor and the Board of Deacons, vote of the church and baptism by immersion, be received into the fellowship. All applicants will be required to assent to the Articles of Faith and to the Constitution of the church. (Letters to be accepted)
b. Experience: Any persons not members of any church, or those who have come from churches of other denominations, but have fulfilled the conditions of Section a. may be received by former Christian experience and Baptism.
c. Restoration: Members whose names, for any reason, have been removed from the church rolls, may be restored upon expression of repentance and renewal of convenant duties.
d. All applicants for membership shall meet with the Board of Deacons, who will examine the candidates and explain the purpose, the requirements and doctrines of the church.
e. Responsibility:
(1) Our responsibility as members should include regular attendance at the services of God's house, the daily systemic reading of the Bible, private and family prayer, personal and public testimony, and the winning of others to Christ.
(2) We believe that proportionate giving is in accordance with the teaching of God's Word, and pledge ourselves to a systematic contribution for the support of the church, of such a portion of our income as we believe God requires of us, according to the principle laid down in I Corinthians 16:2.
(2) DISMISSAL:
a. Members in good standing may be granted letters of dismissal, in the usual form, to other churches of like faith.
b. Any member, who for a period of six consecutive months, fails to comply with his/her membership responsibilities as outlined in this constitution, may be removed from the roll upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons. No member whose address is known, shall be removed without being interviewed and/or written to and an effort made to restore him into the fellowship of the church.
c. In all cases of disorderly conduct, or heretical doctrine so opposed to the church's life and faith as to destroy the possibility of fellowship, the church may terminate his membership, only after due notice and hearing, and after faithful efforts have been made to bring such a member to repentance and amendment, according to the Scriptures.
SECTION 2.4 - OFFICERS
(1) OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH:
a. The officers of the church shall be as follows: Pastor, Asst. Pastor(s), Deacons, Trustees, a Church Clerk, a Church Treasurer, a Financial Secretary, an Assistant Financial Secretary, a Sunday School Superintendent, a Head Usher, a Moderator, a Board of Christian Education and Missionary Board.
b. The Pastor and Asst. Pastor(s) shall be called by the Church upon the recommendation of the Church Board and shall be called by at least a two thirds vote of the members present at any regular or special business meeting, providing notice has been given for two consecutive Sundays, and shall continue in office for an indefinite period. When the Pastor/ Assistant Pastor or the church wishes to terminate the pastorate, the party desiring such change shall give the other parties at least one month's notice. The Youth Director (if applicable) shall serve upon the appointment of the Official Church Board.
SECTION 2.5 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(1) PASTOR:
It shall be the duty of the Pastor to arrange for and conduct all stated and regular services of the church, and he shall have general oversight of its spiritual welfare in conjunction with the Board of Deacons. He shall be the primary supervisor of the Asst. Pastor(s) and Church Secretary. He shall publicly extend the right hand of fellowship to all new members and he shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees.
(2) ASSISTANT PASTOR(S):
It shall be the duty of the Assistant Pastor(s) to aid the Pastor with any/all duties as directed by the Pastor and/or Official Church Board. The Asst. Pastor shall be available to provide relief in conducting the regular services of the Church in the absence of the Pastor. The Asst. Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of the Official Church Board and the Christian Education Board.
(3) YOUTH PASTOR/DIRECTOR:
The Youth Pastor shall develop, coordinate, conduct, and take oversight of the teen ministry. This is to include: weekly evening teen meetings, monthly activities, and all teen Bible Conferences or camp outings.
(4) DEACONS:
It shall be the duty of all Deacons to visit the sick, to prepare and distribute the elements of the Lord's Supper, to assist the Pastor in the performance of his duties, general supervision of the spiritual word of the church, and to provide the necessary preparation and assistance for Baptismal services. The Deacons and the Pastor shall have the oversight of membership and discipline.
(5) TRUSTEES:
The Board of Trustees shall have charge of all matters pertaining to church property and expense, and their duties shall include the maintenance of the property; they shall have charge and responsibility for the church janitor; they shall authorize the church treasurer to pay all bills, and shall count and record all church offerings. It shall be a duty of the trustees to insure that all church financial records be audited at an interval not to exceed three (3) years. The Trustees shall select, at random, a minimum of one of the three years records for audit in accordance with section 2.9 .
All transactions not having been identified in the annual operating budget, which are in excess of $1,000.00 shall be submitted to the church congregation for approval. They shall be posted and announced at least 7 days prior to voting, except such items as are considered regular, emergency maintenance, or as specified gifts. It shall further be the duty of the trustees to see that insurance is secured for the protection of the individuals responsible for the banking of moneys received.
(6) CHURCH CLERK:
The Church Clerk shall keep the minutes of all church business meetings; and submit same to the Official Church Board within thirty (30) days of the date of the meeting. The church clerk shall also keep an accurate register of Church memberships, baptisms, and perform such other duties as may be reasonably expected or required of the office.
(7) FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
The Financial Secretary shall receive, record and deposit funds received by the church at the bank of record. The Financial Secretary shall mail deposit receipts to the various treasurers, and retain duplicate copies of deposit slips. To ensure anonymity of giving, the Financial Secretary will only know and record amounts and envelope numbers while the Assistant will only know and record names and envelope numbers. The Financial Secretary shall delegate miscellaneous duties to the Assistant Financial Secretary as needed. It shall be the duty and right of the Financial Secretary to sign checks for any of the treasurers (as an alternate) as directed by the Board of Trustees.
(8) ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY:
The Asst. Financial Secretary shall assist the Financial Secretary with his/her duties as directed by the Financial Secretary and in accordance with the bylaws of the constitution.
(9) CHURCH TREASURER:
The General Treasurer shall pay all bills and salaries by check upon the authorization of the Board of Trustees, and shall keep a full record and accurate account of all receipts and expenditures, rendering to the church a written quarterly and annual report.
(10) MODERATOR:
The Church Moderator conducts the Church business meetings and is responsible to oversee that minutes of all general membership business meetings are kept and submitted to the Official Church Board within thirty (30) days after the church meeting.
(11) MISSIONARY BOARD:
This Board shall present a missionary budget and recommendations (as required or deemed advisable by the Board) for the distribution of the church missionary funds. This board shall also develop and promote ways to support missionaries by physical and spiritual means. The Board shall consist of the following members: The Pastor, one Deacon, one Trustee, 3 members at large who shall be elected bi-annually. All missionary funds shall be paid out through the Church Treasurer.
(12) SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT:
It shall be the duty of the Sunday School Superintendent to have the general supervision of the entire school, strive for the salvation of all unsaved members of the school, and to work with the Pastor for the full cooperation of the school and church. The Superintendent shall, with the Pastor and departmental heads, choose and place the teachers of the school.
(13) HEAD USHER:
He shall appoint as many assistants as he may require and, with them, shall welcome and seat all visitors and attendants at the services of the church, so far as is desirable, and promote order and good fellowship. The Head Usher shall assure that one of the Trustees assists in receiving and counting the offerings of the church.
(14) YOUTH DIRECTOR(S):
(In the absence of a Youth Pastor) Shall be appointed by the church board, this one or more shall have general oversight and direction of the teen's activities. In all matters pertaining to the life and policy of this work, the counsel of the Pastor, Asst. Pastor(s) and the church board shall be sought.
(15) CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOARD:
This board shall plan and supervise the total educational program under the church’s auspices. This would include the development of community and Church related outreach activities. The Board shall consist of the following members: The Pastor, Asst. Pastor(s), Sunday School Superintendent, one Deacon, one Trustee, Youth pastor or Director, Day Care Director, Awana Commander, and three members at large who shall be elected bi-annually.
(16) SOCIAL CHAIRPERSON:
The duties of the Social Chairperson shall include the planning and implementation of general fellowship activities which are not planned by other boards or sub-organizations of the church. The duties also include making provisions for families during bereavement and illness.
SECTION 2.6 - REMOVAL OF CHURCH OFFICERS
Any officer of the church, failing to fulfill the duties of the office, may be removed from such office by a three fourths majority vote of the members present at any meeting of the church, providing notice has been given for two consecutive Sundays prior to the date of the meeting, if after being admonished by the Board of Deacons in writing, he/she still fails to perform his/her duties.
SECTION 2.7 - CHURCH MEETINGS
1. Regular Sunday services shall be held both morning and evening, and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be administered on the first Sunday of each month, unless postponed by action of the Board of Deacons, during regular pastorates and as often as possible between pastorates.
2. Regular prayer services shall be held on each Wednesday night.
3. The annual business meeting of the church shall be held on the Wednesday following the second Sunday of March. The election of officers shall take place at this time. It shall be the duty of all chairmen of the Church Boards, Committees, and heads of departments to give reports of their activities at this meeting.
4. Special business meetings may be called at any time by the Pastor, Asst. Pastor(s), Board of Deacons, Board of Trustees, or by a petition signed by at least five members of the church and submitted to the moderator. In any case, the call states the purpose of the meeting and shall be announced at the regular meeting of the church at least 7 days prior to the date of the meeting.
5. Any regular meeting of the church may be resolved into a business meeting for the transaction of routine or ordinary business without previous notice, provided there is a quorum present, and provided that the question of previous notice is not raised by any member present at the session.
6. Thirty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum to transact business, except in matters pertaining to a Pastor, Asst. Pastor(s), or for mortgaging, or for amending the constitution, or selling church property. Then it shall require forty percent of the active membership.
7. All meetings, other than specified services, to be held in the church must be approved by the Church Board.
8. The order of business at the annual business meeting shall be: Prayer; Reading of Minutes; Election of officers; Report of Officers; Report of Sub organizations; Report of Committees; Unfinished Business; New Business; Adjournment; Prayer.
9. Special services, as evangelistic meetings, missionary conferences, etc., shall be arranged by the Pastor and the Church Board.
SECTION 2.8 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
(1) THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Consisting of the Pastor, one Deacon, one Trustee, and two members at large (members at large to be selected by the church body) shall present a slate of nominees to the church and post it at least three weeks prior to the annual meeting. This list shall include one or more nominees for each office that is to be filled at the annual or bi-annual election.
(2) NOMINATIONS:
Nominations, other than those presented by the Nominating Committee, may be made at the request of any five members, who shall present same in writing, signed by themselves, and presented to the Nominating Committee at least two weeks prior to the election.
(3) NOMINEES:
Each nominee is subject to the approval of the Pastor and Deacons. He shall be submitted a list of the following questions, which must be answered before favorable consideration of his candidacy can be entertained:
a. Do you believe the entire Bible to be the verbally inspired Word of God?
b. Have you read the scriptural qualification of the office of Deacon? (I Timothy 3:8-15)
c. Have you read the Constitution of the
d. Do you read your Bible and pray daily?
e. When the Holy Spirit presents opportunities, do you witness to the lost concerning their need for Jesus Christ?
f. Do you practice "proportionate giving" as taught in the scripture? (I Corinthians 16:1-3)
g. Do you, by God's Grace, deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and strive to live soberly, righteously and Godly in the present world?
(4)
A. The Deacons, Trustees, and Church Treasurer shall be elected for three year terms and shall meet monthly. The Church shall maintain a Board consisting of a minimum of 4 Deacons and 4 Trustees and a maximum of 6 Deacons and 6 Trustees. In the event that a Deacon or Trustee is unable to complete his term of office, the vacancy will be filled at the next annual meeting. Deacons and Trustees shall serve no more than 6 consecutive years on the Church Board.
B. Each April, the Official Church Board shall elect/appoint a Deacon Chairman, a Trustee Chairman, and a Board Chairman. (elected from the Deacon and Trustee Chairman) The board shall also designate representatives to serve on other recognized boards.
C. The Church Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the Church Board in order to give guidance as to the availability of funds on any/all financial matters involving the Church.
(5) ELECTING OFFICERS:
The Church Clerk, Financial Secretary, Asst. Financial Secretary, Missionary Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Head Usher, Christian Education Board, Social Chairperson, and Moderator shall be elected Bi-Annually. In the event that an unanticipated vacancy occurs in any offices listed above, the Official Church Board may fill the vacancy by appointment for the remainder of the term. A majority vote shall be necessary for election of officers, except as otherwise provided in these articles.
(6) TAKING OFFICE:
All officers are to be elected by ballot and shall take office on the first Sunday of April following the annual or bi-annual election.
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