Constitution

A member becomes inactive by not attending any services in three consecutive months without just cause. An inactive member loses all voting privileges, and may not hold any church office while on inactive status. If an inactive member does not attend services in the next three months, his/her name is to be removed from the church roll. An inactive member is returned to active member status by attending two services a month for three consecutive months.

Section 3

A member may be disciplined by being voted out of fellowship by a majority vote in a regular business meeting if the guidelines of Matthew 18:15-17 have been followed. To rejoin the church he/she must follow the same guidelines as one seeking membership for the first time.

ARTICLE V – GOVERNMENT

Section 1
BOARD OF DEACONS

All administration affairs of the church shall be in the hands of the Board of Deacons, consisting of the Pastor and up to three other members of good repute and sound doctrine.

Part 1a:
QUALIFICATION OF A DEACON

No person shall be elected Deacon unless he can meet the requirements set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13, and express hearty acceptance of the doctrines of the church as outlined in Article II of this Constitution. He must be a regular member in good standing for one year.

Part 1b:
FIRST ELECTION OF DEACONS

Three Deacons shall be elected with the Pastor acting as Chairman. The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman at least once each month. Notice of said meeting may be given in any manner designated by the Chairman. If for any reason a Deacon is unable to fulfill his duties on the Board, the vacancy shall be fulfilled by an election of the congregation of voting members.

Part 1c:
SUBSEQUENT ELECTION OF DEACONS

Each year after this election, one deacon will be elected to fill the expired term on the Board, whose term shall be for three years.

Section 2
ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Church shall be held in October of each year, at which time there will be reports from the Treasurer, reports from the various organizations of the church, and election of all expired terms of church officers. In the event there is no available candidate for any given office, at such time one becomes available, an election will be held at any regular business meeting with the term of the office being retroactive to the last annual business meeting.

Section 3
BUSINESS MEETINGS

Regular business meetings of the church shall be held the second Wednesday of each month with the Pastor acting as moderator, or a Deacon in his absence.

Special business meetings of church members shall be called by a majority of the Board of Deacons.

Section 4
QUORUM

Eight active voting church members, (must be 18 years or older to be a voting member), shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in all monthly, Annual, and special business meetings of the congregation.
Three members shall constitute a quorum for the Board of Deacons.

ARTICLE VI – THE TREASURER

The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the church and deposit same in an account in the name of the church in a bank designated by the Board of Deacons. The Treasurer shall pay all regular bills and accounts of the church. Items of questionable nature shall be referred to the Board. The Treasurer shall keep books wherein are kept records of all financial transactions of the church. The books of the treasurer shall be the property of the church.

Section 1

All cash monies shall be counted by the Treasurer and one other member. In the absence of the Treasurer, two members appointed by the Treasurer shall count all cash monies, and the complete offering will be held in a safe place until the Treasurer returns.

Section 2

Qualifications of the treasurer shall be the same as those given for the Board of Deacons.

Section 3

Though the term of office for the Treasurer shall be indefinite in length due to the nature of the office, it is under constant review by the Board of Deacons.

ARTICLE VII – ELECTION OF CHURCH OFFICERS

All church officers except the Deacons must be a member in good standing for (6) months. The elected church officers are to include:
Clerk: Take, type, read, and store the minutes from each business meeting. This office is also responsible for all official church letters.

Song Leader: Conduct song services for all church services.
Assistant Song Leader: Conduct song services for church in the absence of the Song Leader.
Music Coordinator: Oversee the scheduling of all music for the church.
Pianist: Play for all church services and, if absent, notify someone to take his/her place.
Organist: Play for all church services and, if absent, notify someone to take his/her place.

Ushers: Greet people, help them be seated, hand out visitor’s cards, and take offerings for the church services. One will be chosen as the head usher to oversee the others.
Church Nursery Worker: Is responsible for overseeing the nursery, its needs, and its workers.
Sunday School Superintendent: Organize and oversee the curriculum, teaching staff, facilities, and visitation of the Sunday School. Do what is necessary Sunday by Sunday to see the school runs smoothly and fulfills its purpose.
Sunday School Secretary and Treasurer: Keep the records of attendance and offerings of the Sunday School and oversee the ordering of the Sunday School material, (under the leadership of the Sunday School Superintendent).
Sunday School Teachers: To pray for the students, prepare his/her lessons and heart each week, to dress modestly and appropriately, to strive to be faithful in church attendance, and to give his/herself to the ministry of getting God’s message to the hearts of the students. When they are going to be absent, they should contact the Superintendent or, in his absence, the Pastor.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

No change shall be made in Article II of the Constitution except in accordance with the following procedure:
The Board of Deacons, by a two-thirds majority vote of their members, shall approve and present such change, and in turn shall give notice of proposed change 20 days prior to the Annual Meeting of the church, at which meeting alone such change may be made, and only upon a two-thirds majority of the active membership, (absentee ballots included in this instance).
All other Articles may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Deacons and a two-thirds vote of the active members present in a meeting of the church lawfully assembled.

ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION

If at any time the church shall cease holding or conducting regular services for a period of one year, the Board of Deacons shall, within the year following the closing service, canvass all members with reference to dissolution. A three-fourths majority vote for dissolution will empower the Board of Deacons, by proper resolution, to authorize the sale of any and all real estate and personal property owned by the corporation. The Board of Deacons shall then distribute the cash remaining in its hands equally among three missionary organizations having or preaching substantially the same doctrines as set forth in the Constitution with preference given to those missionaries supported by this church. The Deacons in office at the time of the discontinuance of services will remain in office and function as Deacons until all the provisions of Article IX regarding disposal of property have been completed.

BY-LAWS
I
CALL OF PASTOR

The Board of Deacons, operating as a pulpit committee, must be unanimous agreement on inviting a candidate to the Church. The candidate will speak in both the Sunday morning and evening Services, teach a Sunday School class, and, with his wife, meet in an open forum with the congregation to answer questions. He then must be voted in by an 80% majority vote of the voting members present.

II
ABSENTEE BALLOT FOR PASTORAL CANDIDATE

The absentee ballot voter must have been present to hear the candidate at one service, or have listened to both messages on tape.

III
DISMISSAL OF PASTOR

Requires majority vote of members present at a regularly scheduled business meeting, where public notice has been given by letter thirty days prior to said meeting.

IV
GIFTS

Gifts of all types become the property of the church. Giver’s rights to said property are null and void and non-returnable.