THE
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CARO, MICHIGAN
ARTICLE I – NAME,
PURPOSE, GOVERNMENT, AND FELLOWSHIPS
The
corporate name of this organization before the law shall be known as the First
Baptist Church of Caro, Michigan.
The
purpose of this church shall be the preaching and teaching of the Word of God,
the administration of the ordinances of the New Testament, the spiritual growth
of the members, ministry & outreach to the community, and the spread of the
Gospel in all the earth, by which we mean the winning of lost souls to Jesus
Christ. This church shall be a
Christian fellowship, in which believers build up one another in Christ.
This
church shall be independent, strictly self-governing in all matters, and shall
not be under the direction of any denomination or federation.
The
First Baptist Church of Caro is an independent Baptist church. However, while we are an independent Baptist
Church, we recognize the blessings and privileges of fellowship with other
local bodies of believers of like faith and practice. Therefore, we are in fellowship with the state and national
groups of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.
WHAT IS THE G.A.R.B.C.?
The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches is a voluntary fellowship of autonomous, independent, fundamental Baptist churches working together to glorify Christ. It is wholly separated from affiliation with modernism. Its churches are held together, not by elaborate convention machinery, but solely by a common passionate love for and loyalty to Jesus Christ, and a deep, abiding love and confidence for and in each other. Thus, banded together, it moves forward to the accomplishment of the holy tasks which lie before it.
ARTICLE II – CHURCH
MEMBERSHIP
These
conditions are four: First, confession
of faith in Jesus Christ; second, a regenerate life that gives evidence of
faith & transformation; third, obedience to the ordinance of
believer’s baptism; fourth, agreement
with the doctrinal position of First Baptist Church.
(a) By
baptism: The candidate shall be
carefully examined by the Board of Deacons and the pastor concerning his
conversion and transformed life and potential church membership and, if
satisfactory, shall be baptized by immersion and recommended to the
congregation for church membership.
(b)
By
experience: Persons who have fulfilled
the four conditions of Section 1 of Article II may be received into this Church
upon relating their Christian experience.
They shall share their testimony with the Board of Deacons, who will, if
all is favorable, recommend them to the congregation for church membership.
(c) By
restoration: Those members who for any
reason have been excluded or suspended, upon expression of repentance and
evidence of same; and those erased, upon expression of a renewal of interest. Restoration of a person to membership does
not restore him to any office held prior to dismissal.
(d) By
association: An associate membership
may be held by any person living in the area on a temporary basis if he meets
the requirements for membership in the church.
He shall be granted all the privileges of full members, except that he
may neither vote nor hold any elected office.
He is expected to assume all the responsibilities that are placed upon
any other church member.
(a) By
uniting with another church: A member
in good standing may, upon application, receive a letter of commendation and
dismissal from this church in order to unite with another church of like faith
and practice. When one has so united
with another church, his membership with this church shall cease.
(b) By
erasure: When members fail to show
interest for a period of six months, in that they have neither attended at
least three regular services of the church, not communicated with either the
pastor or members of the Board of Deacons in such a way as to reveal interest
and sincerity, and after due effort has been made in the six months to
encourage them to respond, then their names shall be placed on the “INACTIVE
LIST” after due consideration by the pastor and deacons. If the same condition continues for another
six months, their names shall be suspended from the membership of the church
after due consideration by the pastor and deacons. Exceptions to this rule are to be understood in cases of serious
illness or of old age, care of the sick, necessary Sunday duties, or work. Distance shall be no excuse, as a letter to
the pastor or the Board of Deacons shall be sufficient to hold membership
intact.
Any member of this church moving from the Caro area and having not united with some other church shall communicate with the church at least once a year, and if said member shall not be heard from for one year, said member shall, upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons and by a majority vote of the church at a regular business meeting, be placed on the “INACTIVE LIST” and notified by letter by the clerk.
No inactive member shall be privileged to speak or
vote at any business meeting of the church.
c)
By exclusion: When the church, in the exercise of its
lawful authority and discipline, withdraws its fellowship from one proven to be
an unworthy member, his membership ceases immediately. (I Cor. 5:11, II
Thess. 3:6,14,15)
d)
By suspension: When a member so conducts himself as to
cause the serious disapproval of the church, he may be suspended, and any
office held by that member shall be thereby vacated. While under suspension, the member shall neither receive
Communion nor have the right to vote in any affairs of the church.
e)
By resignation: An individual may terminate his membership
with the church by providing written notification of this desire to the church.
f)
General notes pertaining to
Section 3:
·
Note
1 – A member in good standing is one who has been regularly admitted, and who
has not lost his right to membership by any of the above methods.
·
Note
2 – Action upon dismissal of members must be first taken by the Board of
Deacons and pastor and then recommended to the church at any regular church
meeting. A majority of votes by those
present at the meeting will be final.
·
Note
3 – When a member in good standing desires to unite with a church of some other
denomination, a certificate of recommendation may be given upon vote of the
church
·
Note
4 – The names of those called by death shall be taken from the church roll.
a)
To themselves: The Duties of members to themselves shall be
the acquisition of Christian knowledge, constant progress in grace and
spirituality, support of their own church by personal presence and financial
commitment, and a consistent demonstration of righteous living.
b)
To the Church: It shall be the duty of each member of the
church to faithfully attend the Lord’s Day and mid-week services, to invite and
encourage others to attend, to be friendly and social to members and others at
the meetings of the church, and to contribute regularly to the support of the
church.
c)
To the brethren: The duty of members of their brethren shall
be to cultivate and cherish brotherly love, to visit and sympathize with them
in affliction, to administer pecuniary relief to those in need, to tenderly
regard their reputation, and to promote their spirituality, benefit, and
prosperity.
d) To the pastor: It is the duty of members at all times to
honor, esteem, and love their pastor; to pray for him fervently and daily; to
submit to him in the Scriptural exercise of his official authority; to attend
constantly to his ministration and manifest a tender regard for his reputation.
e)
Toward outsiders: It is the duty of members to bear a prudent
testimony against evil practices to those who are not connected with the
church; to so live as to represent and commend the Savior both by word and
deed; to be exact in paying all promises; to live in a peaceable manner; to
perform offices of kindness and charity; to set an example of industry,
honesty, and generosity; and as opportunity and ability may enable, to commend
the Gospel of Christ unto them.
f)
General notes pertaining to all of Section 4:
·
Note
1 - Salaries; No officer shall receive a salary except the pastor, whose salary
shall be fixed and altered as to amount and method of payment by the church at
a regular business meeting or at a special meeting thereof called for that
purpose, and in no other manner.
·
Note
2 - All officers shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified
so that neither neglect nor failure to elect a successor nor the failure of any
person so elected to accept and enter upon the duties of his office shall cause
a vacancy to exist in the office. They
shall faithfully and promptly deliver to their successors in office all monies,
papers, and property of the church.
ARTICLE III
– OFFICERS
The
Executive Board shall consist of the Board of Deacons, the Board of Trustees,
the clerk, and the Sunday School Superintendent. Anyone serving on the Executive Board must have a consistent
Christian testimony in the church and in the community, meet the qualifications
of (1 Timothy 3:8-13), and not be divorced
or married to a person who has been divorced.
It
shall be the duty of the pastor to perform the duties incumbent upon his office
as outlined in the Word of God.
1.
Take the oversight of the
flock of God. (1
Peter 5:2b)
2.
Feed (shepherd the flock of
God.) (1
Peter 5:2b)
3.
Rule the house of God
well. (1
Tim. 3:45, 5:17)
4.
Equip the saints for the
work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12)
5.
Edify the saints of
God. (Eph.
4:11-15)
6.
Give account to God for the
flock of God. (Heb.
13:17)
7.
Preach the Word and
administer the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) (2 Tim 4:1-5)
He
shall, therefore, be moderator of all boards and all congregational meetings,
and he shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees of the
church.
His
tenure of office shall be for an indefinite period of time, but may be
terminated upon three months notice by either pastor or the church. These terms may be waived by mutual consent.
Any
prospective pastor shall be willing to endorse all of Article I of this
constitution, meet the qualifications of (1 Timothy
3:1-7), and must not be a man who has been divorced, or who is married
to a woman who has been divorced.
The
pastor’s responsibilities to the church shall be laid out in his call, and this
job description shall be binding on both parties unless altered by mutual
agreement.
Should
it occur that any considerable number of the membership of the church believe
that the ministry of the pastor is completed, a special meeting of the church
may be called by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Deacons. Notice shall be given from the pulpit for
two successive Sundays immediately preceding the date of the meeting. At such a meeting the chairman of the Board
of Deacons shall state that a vote of confidence has been called for but shall
allow no public discussion of the matter and shall proceed to take a vote by
ballot. A two-thirds affirmative vote
of the eligible voting members present shall be necessary to give a vote of confidence,
which shall mean that the ministry of the pastor shall continue. Should the vote of confidence not be
sustained, it shall thereby be due notice to the pastor that his term of office
shall cease at a time not more than three (3) months from the date of the
vote. Three (3) months salary shall be
allowed.
Under
extreme conditions, such as an open conflict between the pastor and the church,
if the church feels it would be in the best interest of the church, the pastor
may be asked to refrain from exercising his pastoral duties, but shall have the
privilege of living in the parsonage and drawing full salary for sixty
days. Such a recommendation must come
from the Board of Deacons and must be passed by two-thirds majority of those
present at the meeting. This
recommendation must be announced two Sundays prior to the date of the vote.
Term
of office of deacons shall be so arranged that one-third of the board shall
retire each year (Their term of office shall be for three years). Six deacons shall be elected to serve the
first three hundred members of the church, and three deacons shall be added
each time the membership increases by one hundred members. This process shall continue so long as the
church continues to grow. If the number
falls below the stipulated numbers, the number of deacons shall be decreased at
the next annual meeting of the church.
Each
trio of deacons added shall be elected according to the division of the
deacons: one senior deacon, one middler
deacon, and one junior deacon. They
shall retire according to the year of their division. Should a decrease become necessary in the size of the Board of
Deacons due to a decrease in the membership of the church, one deacon shall not
be elected each year until the desired number is reached.
Deacons
shall meet the qualifications of (1 Timothy 3:8-13). A Deacon must not be a man who has been divorced or who is
married to a woman who has been divorced.
It shall be their duty to assist the pastor in the oversight of the spiritual
interest of the church and in the administration of the ordinances. It shall be their duty to make calls upon
new converts, to visit the sick, and to assist in the visitation program of the
church.
They
shall also appoint the ushers of the church from an approved list which has
been cleared with the pastor and make other such needful arrangements as may be
advisable for the orderly conduct of the church worship.
Two-thirds
of this board present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. The chairman of the Board of Deacons shall be vice-moderator to the
pastor and in the absence of the pastor shall moderate the board and
congregational meetings. He shall be elected
by the rest of the deacons in office after each annual business meeting, but
must be one of the senior deacons.
The
term of office of the trustees shall be so arranged that one-third of the board
shall retire after each year (Their term of office shall be for three
years). It shall be the duty of the
trustees to have the oversight of the temporal affairs of the church; to keep
the property of the church in good condition, making whatever repairs,
alterations, or additions that may be thought necessary, acting within the
guidelines of the budget established by the church; to employ a janitor for the
care of the church properties; and to count and deposit the church offerings.
Two-thirds
of this board present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
The chairman of this board shall be the senior trustee until such time as the
workload of the board becomes so heavy that additional members are needed;
then, the chairman shall be elected by the rest of the trustees in office after
each annual business meeting, but must be one of the senior trustees. Trustees shall be added in groups of three
at the annual meeting. The original
board shall consist of three trustees.
Each
trio of trustees added shall be elected according to the division of the trustees
– one senior trustee, one middler trustee, and one junior trustee. They shall retire according to the year of
their division. Should a decrease
become necessary in the size of the board due to a decrease in membership of
the church, one trustee shall not be elected each year until the desired
number is reached.
The
treasurer shall be elected annually by the church. There is no limit on the number of times that the treasurer may
be re-elected. He shall sign the checks
of the Current Expense Fund. No
unbudgeted church bill shall be paid except upon the order of the Board of
Trustees. All budgeted items shall be
paid upon the receipt of bills, but must not exceed the budgeted
allowance. The treasurer shall submit a
monthly report to the pastor, Executive Board, and congregation.
Section 6 – The
Clerks
a)
The clerk of the Executive
Board shall
keep a record of all the business transacted by the Executive Board of the
church. These records are confidential
to the Executive Board, and no unauthorized person may consult them except by a
three-fourths majority vote of the Executive Board. The term of office is for one year.
b)
The Clerk of the
Congregation
shall take charge of the church records, not allowing them to pass permanently
from his or her possession except on vote of the church; to preserve a correct
record of the business transacted by the church, and other items of interest
that occur in its history; to keep a correct list of the members and their
addresses; to present a report of the membership statistics to the annual
meeting; to prepare the church statistics for presentation to the G.A.R.B.C.;
and to perform such other duties as are entrusted to him or her by the
church. The clerk of the congregation
does not have Executive Board status.
He or she must be a member of the church. The minutes kept by this clerk are open to every member of the
church, but must always be read in the presence of the clerk or an Executive
Board member. This practice is to
safeguard the purity and the factuality of the records.
The
Sunday school superintendent shall hold office for one year and shall be
charged with the administration of the Sunday School, subject to direction by
the Church Educational Committee.
The
financial secretary shall keep a record of all monies which come into the
church by envelope, a number system or name system or both systems may be
used. This person must not give any
information to anyone about the giving of any person in the church except by a
three-fourths majority vote of the congregation. No other person shall have access to these records. A yearly statement shall be provided to all
who give to the church.
The
financial secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Board. The tenure of this office shall be
determined by the availability, capability, and integrity of the person.
·
Note
1 – All members of the Executive Board shall be members of the church.
·
Note
2 – All members of the Executive Board shall be males at least 21 years of age.
·
Note
3 – Anyone serving on the Executive Board shall have been a member of the
church for at least six months prior to election to office.
·
Note
4 – Any vacated office may be filled by board appointment or by vote of the
congregation.
·
Note
6 – Anyone serving on the Executive Board must have a consistent Christian
testimony in the church and in the community.
ARTICLE IV – SUNDAY
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
The
Sunday school is an integral part of the church and as such shall be directly
related to and supervised by the church.
The purpose of the Sunday school is to serve as the educational arm of
the church, training its members in the knowledge of the Scriptures and
carrying on the work of evangelism through its classes. The Sunday school should attempt to lead all
its membership to Christ and to identify its membership with the life of the
church.
The
officers and teachers of the Sunday school shall be members of the church in
good standing and shall subscribe annually to the Articles of Faith and
By-Laws. The officers of the Sunday
School shall consist of a superintendent, an assistant superintendent,
departmental superintendents, a secretary, an assistant secretary, and the
necessary officers and teachers of the various departments.
The
superintendent shall be elected at the annual business meeting and shall
appoint his own assistant.
The
remaining officers and teachers of the Sunday school shall receive their office
as follows. The new superintendents and
pastor, with the Christian Education Committee, shall appointment the remaining
general officers and the departmental superintendents. In turn, the pastor, superintendents,
departmental superintendents, and two officers and/or representatives from each
adult class, along with the Christian Education Committee shall appoint
teachers for the respective departments.
All these appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Board of
Deacons.
The
Sunday school superintendent shall take office immediately after the annual
business meeting. His newly appointed
assistant superintendent shall take office immediately also. All appointments shall be made for one year,
with appointees taking office the first Sunday of September, and concluding the
last Sunday in August. The overlap in
election and appointment is for the continuity of the Sunday school (the Sunday
school superintendent having seven months to study the Sunday school before
making changes, and the Sunday school having five months to function before
experiencing a possible change in superintendents).
The
superintendents shall be responsible for the spiritual welfare and growth of
the Sunday school. They shall be
responsible for the general oversight of the entire Sunday school and shall
perform all duties usually associated with that office. If either of the superintendents should
resign, his resignation should be presented to the Christian Education
Committee for their consideration. An
unexpired term will be filled by appointment of this committee.
If
other teachers and officers need to resign, their resignation shall be given to
the superintendent, who shall be authorized with the pastor and the Christian
Education Committee to fill the unexpired term by appointment.
If
changes are needed during the course of the year in the teacher-office-administration,
the superintendent, with the pastor and Christian Education Committee, shall be
invested with power to make such changes as are deemed necessary for the
spiritual well-being of the Sunday school.
All changes shall be subject to approval by the Board of Deacons.
ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES
This
committee shall consist of three deacons, one Sunday school teacher, two from
the congregation (holding no Sunday school or board positions), and the pastor. The church shall elect these committee
members three months prior to the annual business meeting by ballot at a
regular monthly business meeting.
They
shall prepare a ballot of two candidates for each of the various offices vacant
and shall submit that ballot four weeks before the annual business meeting to
the congregation by bulletin notice.
Any additional names submitted by the congregation must be in the hands
of this committee two weeks prior to the annual meeting. Upon approval, these names shall be added to
the ballot at the annual meeting. When
the committee has presented its report at the annual meeting, it becomes
automatically dissolved. No nominations
shall be made from the floor.
Section 2 – The
Missionary Committee
This
committee shall consist of one third-year deacon, one second-year deacon, and
one first-year deacon. The senior
deacon shall be chairman of this committee.
All members of this committee shall be elected by the Executive Board.
Their
function shall be to draw up the missionary budget for the coming year, and to
present it to the Church at the annual business meeting, after having it
approved by the Executive Board. They
shall interview all prospective missionary candidates, and shall review all
returning missionaries. No missionary
person or project shall be presented to the Church except with the approval of
this Committee. They shall have the
authority to vote out any surplus monies in the missionary budget.
When
a pastorate is terminated for any reason, a Pulpit Committee consisting of the
Board of Deacons shall act as the Pulpit Committee. It shall be the duty of this Committee to take such steps as may
be thought best for the securing of a Pastor.
The election of the Pastor shall take place only in a meeting called for
that purpose by public announcement giving at least one week’s notice. The vote shall be by ballot, and
three-fourths majority of the members present shall be necessary to extend a
call to the prospective Pastor. The
following procedure is recommended, but is not obligatory.
·
Note
1 – A prospective candidate list should be obtained from the state office, a
seminary placement service, or respected pastors, which does not exceed nine in
number. The three best prospects should
be chosen from this list.
·
Note
2 – At least two members of the Pulpit Committee should hear each prospective
candidate speak in his own church, if possible.
·
Note
3 – A priority list should be drawn up from the conclusions reached by the
pulpit committee, not to exceed three in number.
·
Note
4 – The prospective candidate highest on the priority list should be contacted
to see if he is willing to meet with the Executive Board (wife and wives
included) on a week night for a fellowship dinner followed by a time of
questioning of the candidate. An
honorarium should be paid on the mileage driven by the prospective candidate.
·
Note
5 – The Pulpit Committee and the Executive Board should decide whether to
recommend the prospective candidate to the Church, or whether to seek another
candidate from the priority list. The
candidate interviewed should be notified of the Board’s decision immediately.
·
Note
6 – If the candidate is approved by the Board, a date of candidating should be
chosen so as to meet the requirements of the Constitution, and then the
candidate should be recommended to the Church for the agreed date.
·
Note
7 – Repeat steps 4-6 if the first prospective candidate does not meet the
requirements of the Board or Constitution, and repeat steps 1-7 if your first
priority list is exhausted.
This
Committee shall consist of the Minister of Christian Education, the Sunday
School Superintendent, the Boys’ Club Director, the Girls’ Club Director, the
Youth Director, and two members of the Board of Deacons elected by the
Executive Board. The Pastor and/or the
Minister of Education shall preside at the meetings. The Minister of Education shall be Executive Secretary of this
Committee. This Committee shall set all
policy in the Church concerning Christian Education, and shall have the general
oversight of all youth activities.
This
Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board of Trustees (one
from each year of office) and the Treasurer.
Their duty shall be to audit all financial books of the Church and
Sunday School, and prepare a report of the same to be used at the annual
business meeting. An outside audit by a
C.P.A. may be called for at any time this committee deems it necessary.
They
shall also prepare a proposed general and building budget to be presented to
the Church at the annual business meeting, after having it approved by the
Executive Board.
The
Pastor and Board of Deacons shall constitute a Committee of Discipline. In the discharge of its duties, the
Committee of Discipline shall always use kindness, consideration and Christian
love throughout the proceeding in such a case.
The
Board of Deacons with the Pastor shall safeguard the purity and peace of the
Church and shall move with special promptness and vigor against anyone who is
obstructing the work or disturbing the peace of the Church by slander,
falsehood, unseemly gossip, conspiracy or other unfair or un-Christian methods.
Any
member of the Church in good and regular standing may prefer charges to the
Committee of Discipline against any other member who has violated the Covenant
or been guilty of immoral or other conduct contrary to the principles and
practice of the Baptist Church and unbecoming to a follower of Christ.
In
case of personal differences between members of the Church, the Board of
Deacons shall recommend that the parties endeavor to settle their differences
in the manner laid down by our Savior in (Matthew
18:15, 16). If the differences
cannot be settled, the persons involved shall be requested to appear before the
Board of Deacons and Pastor. At least
two weeks notice of such meeting shall be given to the parties involved. A full and fair hearing shall be given and
the Deacons shall recommend a just settlement of the controversy and shall
recommend to the Church that those unwilling to accept the decision shall be
disciplined or suspended from the membership, as the case may warrant. The accused shall have the right to an
appeal from the decision of the Board of Deacons and Pastor to have a hearing
at a stated meeting of the membership before a final action is taken. If the party or parties involved do not
appear in response to the summons, unless a satisfactory reason is given for
such non-appearance, the Board of Deacons shall recommend to the Church the
exclusion of such a person or persons.
This
committee shall consist of as many men as the Board of Deacons shall
approve. All ushers must be members in
good standing.
It
shall be their duty to pass out the bulletins; greet and make all members and
guests feel welcome; see that the Church is properly lighted and heated; and to
promote the general friendliness of the Church.
The
Board of Deacons shall appoint a head usher each year. For dress code and specific duties, see the
Usher Job Description.
The
Flower – Decorating Committee shall consist of six members elected by the
congregation, to serve two-year terms.
Voting shall be arranged so that three committee members are elected
each year, while the other three members continue their terms for another
year. The committee shall choose a
chairman.
It
shall be the duty of this Committee, working with the church secretary, to see
that members of the church receive expressions of concern in times of special
need, such as hospitalization and the death of an immediate family member.
The
committee shall also have the responsibility of providing for the proper
adornment and decoration of the church building. This committee should be consulted concerning new furnishings
placed in the church building.
The
Music Committee shall consist of the Minister of Music, the Pastor, the Choir
Director, representatives from the various areas of music ministry (worship
leaders, sound booth, Jr. Choir, etc.), and up to three members at large,
selected by the committee. It shall
assist in the arrangement and engagement of music for the services of the
Church. The Minister of Music shall be
the Chairman of this Committee.
The
Nursery Committee shall consist of four members elected by the congregation to
serve two-year terms. Voting shall be
arranged so that two committee members are elected each year, while the other
two members continue their terms for another year. The committee shall choose a chairman.
It
shall be the duty of this committee to see that the nursery is staffed, cleaned
properly, and has adequate facilities for the care of babies. The committee has the authority to set up
the governing rules and regulations of the nursery.
The
Hospitality Committee shall consist of six members elected by the congregation
to serve two-year terms. Voting shall
be arranged so that three members are elected each year, while the other three
members continue their terms for another year.
The committee shall choose a chairman.
The
duties of the hospitality committee shall be:
·
To
see to the preparation of a funeral dinner for the family of any member who
dies/
·
To
assist in planning, organizing, and serving of church dinners and socials.
·
To
be responsible for the organization, stocking, and care of the church kitchen.
·
To
arrange for lodging and meals for visiting speakers and ministry groups, when
necessary.
·
To
arrange for appropriate church bridal and baby showers
This
Committee shall consist of the Board of Deacons. It is their duty to help any needy members of the
Church. They may also help any
outsiders they deem worthy. They have
the authority to disburse funds from the benevolence fund, but may give cash to
no one. Bills may be paid, and
groceries purchased, but cash cannot be given to anyone.
Three
deacons and two Trustees shall be elected by the Executive Board to examine the
parsonage at a time convenient to the Pastor.
This examination shall take place during April each year. They shall report to the Church any repairs
that should be made.
The
Communion Committee shall consist of two members elected by the congregation to
serve two-year terms. Voting shall be
arranged so that one member is elected each year, while the other member
continues his/her term for another year.
The
Communion committee shall prepare the elements for the Lord’s Supper and
properly care for them following the communion service.
ARTICLE VI – PASTORAL
CHURCH PERSONNEL
Any
Pastoral Assistant shall be directly responsible to the Pastor in all areas of
service. Their services shall be
secured in the following manner:
1.
Personally interviewed and
approved by the Pastor.
2.
Personally interviewed and
approved by the Executive Board; then recommended to the Church.
3.
Approved by the congregation
by a three-fourths majority vote.
Salary,
duties, and tenure of office shall be laid out in a job description that shall
be presented to the prospective Assistant after being approved by the Executive
Board and the congregation.
Since
the needs of the Church vary from time to time, no one type of Assistant shall
be designated, nor will any one type of job description be of a permanent
nature. Each Assistant shall be chosen
to meet the need of the church. He may
sit on the Board as an observer, and may express his opinions; but does not
have the privilege of voting.
The
Church Secretary shall be chosen by the Pastor after her name has been approved
by the Executive Board. The Secretary
must meet the requirements of the office.
She shall be employed so long as there is a need, and so long as she
meets the requirements of the office.
Each new Pastor should have the privilege of selecting his secretary.
The
annual business meeting shall be held at the call of the Pastor and/or the
Executive Board on a convenient Wednesday after the close of the Church’s
fiscal year, but must be within thirty days after the close of the fiscal
year. This meeting must be announced by
bulletin two Sundays prior to the meeting.
At this meeting all officers of the Church, except those otherwise
provided for, shall be elected by ballot.
The Church’s fiscal year shall end December 31.
Annual
reports shall be read or submitted by the various departments of the
Church. If these reports are contained
in an annual report, the reading may be omitted. The Church Clerk may file the annual report for his records.
Congregational
meetings to care for church business matters may be called for by the Pastor
and Executive Board whenever necessary.
Written copies of the church’s monthly financial statements shall be
prepared and made available to the church each month.
The
Lord’s Supper shall be held regularly at services determined by the Pastor and
Executive Board, following the guideline of doing so at least six times per
year.
This
Constitution and these by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any
regular meeting of the Church, provided, however, that two weeks notice of the
proposed change has been given in the Church bulletin at any of the regular
Church meetings and shall require two-thirds vote of the members present for
acceptance.
This
Church holds to the thorough and entire independence of the local Church. No outside organization, ecclesiastical
machine, or corporation may have any control over this Church except in an
advisory capacity. This Church may
fellowship with or withdraw fellowship from any or all existing outside
agencies at will.
All
activities of the Church, whether conducted through societies, or committees,
or otherwise, are a part of the single Church organization, and the Pastor and
Board of Deacons shall have a general oversight of them all, and the elected
officers of all departments and societies shall be members of the Church, or
other Christians approved by the Church and shall be responsible to the Church
at all times.
All
Bible Studies conducted by any member of the Church shall first be approved by
the Pastor and/or the Board of Deacons, and must comply with the doctrinal
position of the Church Confession of Faith, Constitution, and Covenant. Any Bible study not complying with these rules
shall be immediately dissolved by order of the Board of Deacons.
All business of the Church shall be conducted according to “Roberts” Rules of Order.
The
right to vote upon Church affairs is limited to members of the Church in good
standing, eighteen (18) years of age or older.
When
any question of dispute arises in any branch of the Church work or regarding
these by-laws, the same shall be settled by the majority action of the Board of
Deacons or be referred by them to the Church membership for decision.
The
sale, mortgaging, leasing, pledging or encumbering of any part or all of the
church property shall first be authorized by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the
Church membership present at any regular Church business meeting, and must be
presented in writing and read on two consecutive Sundays before such meeting
takes place, and when so authorized, shall be duly executed and carried into
effect by the Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Deacons for and on behalf
of the Church.
Three
absences during the year or two consecutive absences from any Board meeting,
without an excuse acceptable to that Board, shall remove from office.
No
one shall circulate a petition in the Church without having submitted it to the
Board of Deacons and received their permission.
No
person (member or non-member) shall be given permission to use our church
directory for selling purposes, nor shall the church endorse any person to sell
any article to the members of the Church.
A member, however, may contact other members with the purpose of
selling, but may not use the Church’s name to do so.
This
Church is supported by voluntary contributions.
At
any legally called congregational meeting, one-tenth of the voting membership
of any given year shall constitute a quorum.
The active membership shall be determined by the Board of Deacons
annually, and must be presented at the annual business meeting or in the annual
report.
No
one shall hold an elected office over three years in succession, and at least
one year shall elapse before he can be re-elected to any Church office. This rule does not include the Clerk of the Congregation
or the Treasurer.
All
matters of business must be presented to a committee or the Executive Board
before they can be brought before the Church.
See the proper committee member, or the Pastor with your proposed
business items prior to the monthly Board meeting.
Since
this Church has a unified budget, it shall break every dollar received down
into percentages to meet the need of each budgeted item.
THE COVENANT OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CARO MICHIGAN
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We
engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian
love, to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and
comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality, to sustain its worship,
ordinances, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the
support of the ministry, the expenses of the Church, the relief of the poor,
and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We
also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our
children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk
circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements,
and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and
excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a
beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our
Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We
moreover engage that, when we remove from this place, we will as soon as
possible, unite with some other Church where we can carry out the spirit of
this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.