Section 1. Requirements. To become a member of this church one must publicly profess faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior, be or have been baptized by immersion, and subscribe to the views of faith and practice as held by this church. Candidates for membership will meet with the membership committee, where they will testify to their faith in Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and to their desire to join with this church in carrying on the work of Christ in this community. Candidates recommended for membership after this meeting will be voted on at any regular service or duly called business meeting of the church where a two-thirds vote of the members present will determine acceptance.
Section 2. Classification. The membership of the First Baptist Church will be composed of two parts. (1) Active members will be those who, residing in the local area, as far as they are able, contribute regularly to the spiritual and financial needs of the church. (2) Non-resident members will be those who no longer reside within the outreach of the church and are no longer able to participate actively in the church program. In order to retain their membership, they must communicate with the pastor or church clerk at least once each year.
Section 3. Exclusion. Any active member who has extended absenteeism without communication to the church will be contacted by the membership committee to determine the reason for the absence. If such contacts fail to restore the member into active status or the member indicates a desire to remove himself from the fellowship of the church, the membership committee will consider his action as a desire to resign. Members thus considered for exclusion will be voted on for removal at any duly called business meeting of the church where a two-thirds vote of the members present will be necessary to remove such members from the church membership.
Section 4. Discipline. Discipline of members will ultimately be the responsibility of the pastor and the deacons in the spirit of Galatians 6 and other scripture including Matthew 18:15-19. Any member who violates his covenant obligation or conducts himself in any way so as to bring reproach upon the church and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be excluded from the membership by a two-thirds vote of the board of deacons. In any case, the pastor and deacons will seek the repentance and restoration to fellowship of the delinquent.
Section 5. Privileges. All members of the church 18 years of age or older who are on the active list will constitute the voting body of the church and will be eligible to hold office in the church.
Section 6. Dismission. Upon recommendation of the membership committee, a letter of dismission will be granted from the church. Such letters will be granted to those persons who desire to unite with another Baptist church. The letter will be mailed in every case to the church with which the member wishes to unite. Any member wishing to unite with some other evangelical church will be furnished with an appropriate certificate of Christian character, upon recommendation of the membership committee.
Section 1. The work of the church will be carried on under the supervision of officers designated in Section 2 of this Article. The church year for elective officers, and all financial recording will be a calendar year.
Section 2. The elective officers of the church will be:
- The pastor
- Any other ministerial staff members
- Board of deacons composed of nine elected members,
three of whom will be legal trustees
- A church clerk
- A financial secretary
- A general treasurer
- Two auditors
Section 3. Qualifications. To hold office in this church, exclusive of the pastor and other ministerial staff members, a person must be an active member, as stated in Article II, Section 2, for at least one year as of the date of the election of officers. God’s requirements for those who lead a church are found in I Timothy 3:1-13.
Section 4. The senior pastor will for an indefinite term perform all of the scriptural and necessary duties of his office, and will by virtue of this office be a voting member of this church and of the board of deacons. He will work closely with the board as it seeks to form the long term policy of the church. The senior pastor will be responsible for fulfilling the duties discharged to him by the board in its policy. He will be able to create or disband teams consisting of staff and volunteers in order to accomplish the ministry of the church. In accordance with board policy, he will also be able to hire needed non-ministerial staff. Should the pastor need additional ministerial staff he can recommend them to the church in accordance with Section 18. He will receive such compensation for his services as will, upon the recommendation of the board of deacons, be fixed by a majority vote at any duly called business meeting of the church. He will annually appoint two of the members of the nominating committee.
His office will be continuous, unless, upon the recommendation of the board of deacons, it is otherwise ordered by the church. The question of dissolving the pastoral relations may be considered at any duly called business meeting of the church, on the recommendation of the board of deacons, provided, however, that the pastoral relation will in all cases be formed or dissolved by an affirmative secret ballot of a two-thirds majority of the members present at a business meeting of which written notice will have been given in the regular church announcements on the two Sundays preceding such meeting. Whenever the church is without a pastor the board of deacons will delegate those responsibilities as conditions require.
Section 5. The governance of the church will be done by a board of deacons. The board must maintain proper communication between the members of the congregation and itself because it represents the membership. The board will govern through written policy documents maintained in a policy manual. It will be the board’s responsibility to establish the vision, values, and structure of the church, beyond what is spelled out in this constitution. Finally, the board will be responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of its policies and those entrusted with the power to carry them out. It will then ensure that any adjustments that are necessary will occur so that the church can effectively accomplish its ministry.
Section 6. The board will ensure that the custodial matters of the church are taken care of and they will direct any maintenance or improvements done on church property.
The board will ensure that the financial matters of the church are properly managed. The board will have a budget for the following year prepared for their review by October of each year. The proposed budget will then be presented for adoption at the annual budget meeting in November where a majority vote of the members present will determine acceptance.
Section 7. Any deacons or officers who violate their covenant obligation or conduct themselves in any way so as to bring reproach upon the church and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be removed from the position of deacon or officer by a two-thirds vote of the board of deacons. In any case, the board and pastor will seek for the repentance and restoration to fellowship of the delinquent.
Section 8. The members of this board will be elected to a three year term. One-third of the membership of the board of deacons will be elected each year. No person can serve on the board more than three years in succession. Quorum will be set at six board members, not counting the pastor.
Section 9. This board will fill by appointment any vacancies that may occur, except the pastorate, until the next annual election, when such will be filled by election. This board will also annually elect four members of the nominating committee. No later than the end of the November board meeting, the newly elected deacons and deacons with continuing years of service will elect its chairman and secretary for the coming year. The chairman of the board is responsible for the integrity of the board process, namely making sure the board follows the policy it has already set for itself. The secretary is responsible for the integrity of all board documents. Newly elected deacons will attend the November and December board meetings, as observers only, without power to vote.
Section 10. Three of the members of the board of deacons will be elected by the church to serve as legal trustees, one being elected each year to serve for a term of three years.
Section 11. The board will be able to create or disband any teams or committees it feels would be helpful in accomplishing its non-policy responsibilities or in creating preparatory material for the board’s use in setting or evaluating policy.
Section 12. The committees that will keep the membership, board, officers, and pastorate positions filled are as follows:
A pulpit committee will be formed whenever the pastor’s term of service is to be officially terminated. This committee will be elected by the church membership. The board of deacons will present to the church, at a duly called business meeting, their recommendations as to the size of the committee and nominations of candidates available to serve. Each nominee must have been a First Baptist Church member for at least one year as of the date of the election.
A nominating committee will present nominees for the elective officers of the church other than the senior pastor and other ministerial staff members. The nominating committee will be formed in February of each year and will consist of four members elected by the board of deacons, and two members appointed by the pastor. Each committee member must have been a First Baptist Church member for at least one year as of the date of the committee formation. No person can serve on the nominating committee two years in succession. This committee will nominate a list of officers to be presented at the annual election and ensure that the list is posted in the church foyer at least two weeks prior to the annual election. Nominations from members of the congregation must be presented to the nominating committee at least three weeks prior to the annual election to be considered for inclusion on the ballot. Except for legal trustee, there will be no nominations accepted from the floor at the annual election. The election of officers will be by ballot, and a plurality of the votes cast will be necessary to accept a choice. The newly elected officers will not take office until January 1.
A membership committee will serve under the direction of the board of deacons and will include at least one deacon. It will have as its duties: (1) examination of all candidates for church membership to ensure that they are familiar with and in agreement with the faith and practice of this church, (2) reclamation of inactive and delinquent members, (3) submission to the board of deacons the names of those members who have not responded to the committee’s efforts of reclamation, and (4) assistance to the church clerk in keeping accurate records of the church membership.
Section 13. Subject to board policy, the church clerk will keep accurate record of proceedings of all business meetings of the church. The church clerk will notify all officers of their election or appointment, and handle correspondence for all church letters of admissions and dismission. The church clerk will keep accurate records of church membership, reporting annually and quarterly on the numerical status of the church membership.
Section 14. The three legal trustees will acquaint themselves as necessary with the laws of the state and the ordinances of the city that pertain to churches, seeing that such laws are obeyed. They cannot purchase, sell, or mortgage church property without the official approval of the church members nor can they assume for the church any financial obligations in excess of $1000.00. The trustees will have the duties and powers provided by statute.
Section 15. The financial secretary will be elected for a period of one year at the annual election. The financial secretary will receive all monies paid to the church, and will turn over receipts to the general treasurer weekly. The financial secretary will provide contributors with contribution envelopes, and will send annual statements of account to each contributor.
Section 16. The general treasurer will be elected for a period of one year at the annual election. The general treasurer will keep accurate records of all receipts and disbursements. All expenditures will be in accordance with the provisions of the approved budget unless otherwise provided for by the board’s policies. Substantial variance from the approved budget will need to be brought by the board before the members of the congregation for approval. Disbursements will be by check and will be covered by vouchers approved by the account controllers specified in the approved budget. The treasurer will coordinate the formation of the annual budget in accordance with board policy.
Section 17. Two auditors will be elected at the annual election for a period of one year. They will make annual audits of all accounts, which will date from the last audit. The transfer of accounts and funds to a new treasurer will be attended by an audit. Where records are not in a satisfactory condition, report will be made to the board.
Section 18. Ministerial staff members will, upon recommendation of the pastor and the board of deacons, be elected by the membership at any duly called business meeting of the church. The term of office will be continuous until the church or the staff member dissolves the relationship. Such persons will be elected or dismissed by a secret affirmative ballot of a two-thirds majority of the members present at the business meeting. Written notice must be given in the regular church announcements on the two Sundays preceding such meetings. Examples of the ministerial staff are the offices of pastor, assistant pastor, director of Christian education, director of music, and youth director.