Adopted by the congregation on December 21, 2008.

Preamble

We, the members of THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EATON/AULT, banding ourselves together in order to effectively carry out the commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ, do ordain and establish the following bylaws to which we voluntarily submit ourselves.

Article I.

Name and Incorporation

The name of this organization shall be THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EATON/AULT.  The church is incorporated under the laws of the state of Colorado for religious purposes. To fulfill these purposes, this corporation gives authority to its governing Board to lead and direct and to operate as officers of the corporation. 

Article II.

Purpose

This Corporation is organized exclusively for religious purposes. Its purpose is to carry out the Great Commission given by Jesus to His followers when He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:18-20).

Article III.

Statement of Faith

Section 1.    The Bible

We believe that the Bible, as delivered in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the Word of God, inspired (breathed out) by Him and without error in the original manuscripts. We believe it was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that it constitutes the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and that it is the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21; Mk. 13:31; Mt. 5:18; Jn. 10:35; 20:31; Acts 20:32).

Section 2.    God

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons -the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; that these three are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption (Gen.1:1, 26; Dt. 4:35; Jn. 1:1-14; 4:24; Mt. 28:19; Ti. 2:13; Col. 1:13-17).  

• God the Father

We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He foreknows all that shall come to pass, that He concerns Himself with the affairs of men, that He answers prayer, that He saves from sin and death and accepts into His family all who come to Him in true faith through Jesus Christ (Mt. 23:9; Jn. 3:3, 16; 6:27; Eph. 1:3-5; I Pet.1:3; Rom. 8:14-17; Rev. 1:5-6).              

•  God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven. We believe that He ever intercedes for His people and that He will return personally, visibly and bodily to earth (Mt. 1:18-25; Lk. 1: 26-38; Jn. 1:1-4; 3:13; 20:28; I Cor. 15:3; II Cor. 5:14-21;I Pet. 2:21-24; Rom. 5:5-6; Heb. 4:14-16; 5:6-8; 7:25; 9:28; I Tim. 3:16).

•  God the Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who was sent forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, indwell and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe the Holy Spirit is an abiding helper, teacher, intercessor and guide (Jn. 3:3-7; 14:16-26; 15:26-27; Rom. 8:9, 26-27; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 12:13; Gal. 5:22-26).

 Section 3.    Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God and originally existed in a state of righteousness and innocence. We believe that he sinned in direct violation of God’s revealed will thereby incurring physical and spiritual death. We believe that as a consequence every person is a sinner, both by nature and by his/her own acts and under penalty of eternal separation from God (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:17; 3:1-24; Rom. 3:9-23; 5:12-19; 6:23; Jer. 17:9;  I Cor. 5:21-22; Eph. 2:1-3).

 Section 4.    Salvation

We believe that man can do nothing to save himself, but that salvation is available to all solely on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that all who repent of their sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, become new creatures and inherit eternal life, having been delivered eternally from condemnation and adopted into God’s family (Lev. 17:11; II Cor. 5:17-21; Rom. 5:6-9; 8:1; 10:9-13; Eph. 2:1-10; Jn. 1:12-13; 3:16; 5:24).

 Section 5.    The Church

We believe that the universal church is made up of believers living between Pentecost and the rapture; that it is the body of Christ and includes all those who have been baptized into that body by the Holy Spirit. True believers are eligible for membership in the local church which is intended for corporate worship, fellowship and service and is the instrument of God’s will in the world. We believe every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs (Acts 2:42-47; 6:1-4; Eph. 2:15-16; 4:7-16; 5:29-30; I Cor. 12:13; Heb. 10:25; I Cor. 12:12-27).

 Section 6.    The Ordinances

We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. We believe that baptism is for believers and, as administered by immersion, depicts the believer’s identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper was instituted as a commemoration of His death. While vitally important, these ordinances are not a means of salvation (Mt. 18:18-20; Acts 10:47-48; Rom. 6:3-5; I Cor. 11:23-34).

 Section 7.    Christian Conduct

We believe that a true believer will live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow man. We believe that his conduct should be blameless before the world; that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions; and that he should seek to realize for himself and for others the full stature of maturity in Christ. We believe that a true believer will progress toward these goals (I Cor. 10:31; Rom. 12:1-3; Heb. 12:1-2; I Jn. 2:3-6, 19-20; Jn. 14:15-24; II Cor. 9:6-9; Col. 1:9-10).

 Section 8.    Future Things

We believe in the imminent, personal, and pre-millennial return of Jesus Christ and that this “blessed hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. We believe in the ultimate bodily resurrection of the dead, of believers to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord and of unbelievers to judgment and everlasting punishment (I Th. 4:13-18; Phil. 3:20; Mt. 24:15-21, 41-46; Jn. 14:1-6; Dan. 12:2-3; Rev. 20:7-15; 21:1-22).

Article IV.

Membership

Any individual who has given public testimony of receiving Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior, who has been baptized as a believer and who gives evidence of living a godly lifestyle may apply for church membership.

Section 1.    Admission to Membership

 Admission to membership in this church shall be obtained in the following manner:

1. Anyone who desires membership shall complete one of the regularly scheduled membership classes.
2. An individual younger than 18 may become a member but will not be able to vote until attaining the age of 18.
3. Having completed the membership class, the candidate shall fill out an application for church membership.
4. Upon testimony of, or completion of believer’s baptism, the candidate shall meet with an Elder(s) of the church to give his/her personal testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
5. Having successfully completed the Elder interview, the candidate’s name is presented to the Board of Elders. Application for membership shall be 1) by transfer of satisfactory letter from another church, 2) by baptism by immersion in the event the candidate has not been previously baptized, or 3) by experience based on a clear testimony of faith in Christ. Upon approval, the candidate shall be presented to the church with a recommendation for acceptance into membership.
6. If it is the determination of the Elder(s) conducting the interview that the prospective member does not confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, or that there is a lack of evidence of a godly lifestyle, membership will be denied.

Section 2.    Maintaining Good Standing

1. The voting membership of the church shall consist of those who remain active in the life and ministry of the church. Those who, because of sickness, age or disability cannot regularly attend services and support the church shall also be considered voting members.
2. Any voting member who has not been active in the life and ministry of the church for a period of two years may, at the discretion of the Board of Elders, be removed as a member following reasonable attempts to contact the member to determine his/her intent.
3. A non-resident member shall consist of anyone who is not able to attend services regularly for reason of temporary residence in another locality, membership in the armed forces, and those in missionary and other Christian work.
4. Withdrawal from membership will be allowed upon request of the member. Members of good standing will receive a letter of recommendation.

Section 3.    Responsibilities of Membership

Members shall participate in the fellowship and the worship of the church on a regular basis. It is further their responsibility to discover, develop and utilize the spiritual gift(s) that God has given them for the good of the body as a whole. They shall support the church financially as God makes it possible, and they shall support the church through their own willing service and prayer. 

Upon recommendation from the Elder Board, voting members of the congregation shall approve or disapprove Elder, Deacon and Deaconess candidates, candidates for membership, annual budget, bylaw changes, and major decisions regarding property or building projects, and the calling or dismissal of a Senior Pastor. Members shall seek to progress in their spiritual walk by carrying out their membership responsibilities.

Section 4.    Congregational Meetings

1. Annual business meeting - The annual business meeting of the church shall be held in January. Notice shall be given the two Sundays prior to the meeting.
2. Special business meetings - Special business meetings for the transaction of legitimate business shall be called by the Board of Elders as deemed necessary or when petitioned in writing by ten percent of the voting membership of the church. Notice of such special meetings shall be given by announcement at the regular services of the church, and written notice mailed in time to reach voting members at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting.
3. Rules of Order - The rules of order contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all annual and special meetings of the church except in instances of conflict between said Rules of Order and the Articles or Bylaws of the Church, or provisions of law.
4. The chairman shall take appropriate measures to ensure that only eligible members vote.

Section 5.    Quorums

1. The quorum for the annual meeting of the church and any other specially called business meetings shall be the members present.
2. The quorum for a specially called meeting for the purpose of hiring or removing the Senior Pastor or major acquisition of property shall be a majority of the voting membership of the church.

Section 6.    Voting Privileges

Voting privileges are restricted to members who are in good standing, who are not under any disciplinary action, and who have passed their eighteenth (18th) birthday.  Membership and voting privileges may not be assignable nor vest in any personal representative, heir or devisee. Members must be present to vote. 

Section 7.    Church Discipline         

If any member shall conduct himself or herself in a manner which in the studied opinion of the Senior Pastor and the Board of Elders is not in harmony with scriptural principles and for which he/she does not show evidence of repentance, the member shall be interviewed and counseled by the pastoral staff and/or the Board of Elders after the manner clearly indicated in the Word of God (Mt. 18:15-17 and Gal. 6:1). The sole motivation of the disciplinary process is love for the erring member and a desire for his/her repentant heart. The process of discipline may be halted at any time by a confession on the part of the erring member and a commitment to turn from his/her sin. Confrontation of a member in sin with the goal of restoration shall proceed as follows:

1. The offending member will be warned of his/her sin by a member of the church who has first-hand knowledge of the offense (Mt. 18:15).
2. If the offender has been warned and maintains his/her sin, the one who first gave  warning shall go in company with at least one other member to provide a second warning to the offender (Mt. 18:16).
3. If the offender continues in his/her sin, the problem shall be brought to the attention of the Elders.
4. The Elders shall determine whether the sin has taken place and whether the offender has been appropriately and adequately warned by membership.
5. If the offender has committed the offense, the Board shall lovingly urge the repentance of the offender with the goal of restoration (Mt. 18:17).
6. If, after the above steps have been taken, the offender persists in his sin, the Board shall “tell it to the church” with a recommendation to dismiss the offender from membership (Mt. 18:17). There shall be no appeal from any court from the final decision of the Elders and the church.
7. If, after dismissal, the erring member demonstrates repentance, and requests reinstatement to the Elders, he/she will be publicly restored to membership upon the recommendation of the Elders.

Section 8.    Removal

Members who request transfer to another church, request removal in writing or have been subject to church discipline shall be removed from the Membership List.  Members who have been inactive and out of communication with the church for a period of two years may be removed from membership by action of the Board of Elders following purposeful and reasonable attempts to contact such members to determine their intent.

Article V.

Government

The First Congregational Church of Eaton/Ault shall be an Elder-led body where all decisions regarding church ministry, business and government are made by the Board of Elders except those specifically reserved for the congregation as noted herein.

Section 1.    The Board

The Board of Elders shall be men selected from among the church body to provide spiritual oversight and management of the business affairs of the church. It shall establish policies and practices for the church that shall be consistent with Scripture.

Section 2.    Annual Meeting

An annual meeting shall take place in January with the specific date being selected at the discretion of the Board. All members of the church shall be invited. The purpose of the meeting shall be the election of Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses, presentation of reports and the transaction of any unfinished or new business.

Section 3.    Election of Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses

In September of each year, a Nomination Committee shall be formed consisting of the Senior Pastor, Board Chairman, Board Vice Chairman and one other Elder appointed by the Board who shall serve as chairman. In the event that any of the Elders defined above is at the end of his term, another Elder (or member from the congregation at large in the event no Elder is available) shall be appointed by the Board to the Nomination Committee in his place. The Nomination Committee shall proceed as follows:

1.  Recommendations for candidates to fill open positions shall be taken from the congregation at large and from within the committee.
2. The committee shall evaluate each candidate presented against the scriptural list of qualifications. Any candidate that the committee does not unanimously believe qualified shall be eliminated from further consideration.
3. Of the qualified candidates who remain, the committee shall select one person for each open position.
4. The candidates selected shall be notified and polled for their willingness to serve.
5. The Nomination Committee shall be responsible to propose one person for each position to be filled, assuming availability of qualified candidates.
6. The slate of candidates shall be presented to the congregation at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting. At the annual meeting the congregation will vote to affirm the candidates presented.
7. If any candidate is not affirmed by majority vote, the Nomination Committee shall present another qualified candidate for the position, if possible.

If no qualified candidate can be affirmed within two months of the annual meeting, the Board may appoint a qualified interim candidate, if available, to fill the position until the next annual meeting.

Section 4.    Church Governance

The Board of Elders has the responsibility and authority to make all decisions relative to the spiritual and business matters of the church with the following exceptions which are reserved to the congregation as a whole and require a majority vote by members present:

1. Affirmation of Senior Pastor (requires 3/4 vote by members present)
2. Affirmation of candidates presented for membership
3. Decision to purchase or dispose of church property
4. Decision to build, relocate or perform major remodel
5. Affirmation of Elder recommendation to remove offending member
6. Affirmation of candidates for Elder, Deacon and Deaconess
7. Affirmation of Elder recommendation to remove the Senior Pastor (2/3 vote)
8. Approval of annual budget

Section 5.    Financial Planning

Members shall be encouraged to give regularly and sacrificially to the church to enable its ministries. Gifts and any other income shall be used to support a unified (consolidated) budget. The Board of Elders may designate certain special projects which fall outside the operating budget and against which designated offerings may be given. 

Section 6.    Reports

Written reports shall be presented to the congregation at the annual meeting by the pastoral staff, treasurer, and by the chairman of the Board of Elders. All church committees and approved organizations shall report through the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders shall make a written evaluation of the year's activities, giving special emphasis to the spiritual aspects.

A quarterly written financial report shall be provided to the Board of Elders and the congregation. In addition, the Board of Elders shall make an oral report to the congregation on a quarterly basis. 

Article VI.

 Board of Elders

Section 1.    Composition and Term

The Board of Elders shall be comprised of no fewer than 4 men (including the Senior Pastor, who shall be a permanent member of the Elder Board during his tenure) chosen as indicated above. The number of board members may be expanded by Elder decision as deemed necessary to carry out the ministry of the church and in keeping with the call and qualification of men in the church. Each Elder shall be elected for a term of 3 years with at least one position being open for election each year.

Section 2.    Qualifications                

Elders and nominees for Elder shall be qualified for the office as specified in the Bible. Relevant texts include I Tim. 3:1-7, Ti. 1:6-9 and I Pet. 5:1-4. Elders are also required to be in agreement with the Statement of Faith.

Section 3.    Responsibilities

The fundamental responsibility of the Elders is to devote themselves to prayer and the Word. The Elders are responsible for governing the Church, teaching the Word and tending the flock of God in this Church. Beyond this, the Elders are responsible for all ministry and business functions for the church. Responsibilities, many of which may be carried out by appointed committee, include but are not limited to the following:

1. Examine prospective members, acquaint them with the Statement of Faith and recommend acceptance of those who meet the qualifications for membership
2. Mobilize the church for world mission
3. Equip the membership for the work of ministry including helping members discover, develop and utilize spiritual gifts to the edification of the body
4. Establish, oversee activities of, and appoint members to such committees or special projects teams as deemed necessary to accommodate the gifts and to carry on ministries consistent with the Lord’s leading for the church
5. Appoint and oversee the work of Deacons and Deaconesses in accordance with scriptural guidelines.
6. Assist the Senior Pastor in administering ordinances of communion and baptism
7. Oversee the process of church discipline
8. Provide for the teaching of the whole counsel of God both formally and informally
9. Assist the pastoral staff in visitation, praying for the sick, and caring for such other spiritual needs as may exist
10. Schedule and lead business meetings
11. Provide for recording and reporting of official church business
12. Examine and recommend candidates for office upon recommendation from Nominating Committee
13. Select and present a candidate for affirmation of the congregation in the event of a vacancy in the office of Senior Pastor
14. Annually create and administer a unified budget as approved by the congregation
15. Designate such special projects as may be required to enable the ministry of the church
16. Establish and annually review compensation and benefits for church employees
17. Plan worship services and make arrangements for someone to fill the pulpit when the position of senior pastor is vacant
18. Staff permanent committees and designate and staff other committees required to carry out church ministries.  Delegate tasks as appropriate.

Section 4.    Officers

The Board of Elders shall appoint corporate officers yearly. The corporate officers shall be the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer. The chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary shall be Elders. The Senior Pastor may not be appointed to any of these offices. The treasurer is not required to be an Elder. These officers shall sign all official documents pertinent to the corporation and approved by the Board of Elders. The Elders shall also appoint such other officers as deemed necessary, none of whom needs to be an Elder.

•  Chairman

The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Elders, have general supervision, direction, and control of the activities and officers of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Elders, which are to be conducted according to the scriptural principle as set forth in Phil. 2:2-8. He shall be an ex officio member of all the standing committees, if any, and shall have powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Elders or the Bylaws. He shall also preside over any congregational meetings.

• Vice Chairman

In the absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall perform all the duties of the Chairman, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed for him by the Board of Elders or the Bylaws.

• Secretary

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes at the principal office or such other place as the Board of Elders may order, of all meetings of the members, the Board and its committees, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at the meetings, the Board and the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall keep the seal of the Corporation in safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as prescribed by the Board. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, a church membership register, or a duplicated membership register, showing the names of the members and their addresses.

• Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Elder. The Treasurer shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Elders. He/she shall disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Elders, shall render, or cause to be rendered, to the Chairman and the Elders, whenever they request it, an account of all the transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Elders. The Treasurer shall make, or cause to be made, the financial reports at each regular Board meeting and at the annual meeting of members.

Section 5.    Organization

The Board must designate the officers mentioned in Section 3. Beyond that, the Board is free to organize itself as it sees fit to best carry on the ministries and business of the church. Any standing committee which is designated under Article VII shall be under the direction of one of the Elders.

Section 6.    Quorum

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Board currently serving.

Section 7.    Resignation or Removal

An Elder may leave the Board of Elders of his own free will at any time by written resignation, or he may be removed from office if 2/3 of the Board of Elders believes that he is incapacitated or spiritually unqualified to continue serving. 

Article VII.

 Committees

Section 1.    General Provision

To promote efficient handling of Board matters, the Board of Elders may appoint various committees from within its membership, the staff, and from members of the church at large. These committees shall perform tasks solely in accordance with the duties and powers specifically delegated by the Board of Elders. The general functions of committees are the following:

1. To bring considered recommendations to the Board concerning ministries.
2. To provide a wider base of counsel to the Elders having the oversight of specific ministries.
3. To plan and implement tasks associated with the assigned area of responsibility.

All committees shall exist for the period specified by the Board or as designated in Article VII, Section 4. In addition, there shall be a permanent Committee of Deacons and Deaconesses. As with other committees, they shall report to a designated Elder who shall serve as an ex officio member of the committee. 

Section 2.    Deacons and Deaconesses

• Composition, Term and Calling

There shall be a combined Committee of Deacons and Deaconesses consisting of a minimum of 4 deacons and 4 deaconesses.  The number of members may be expanded by the Board of Elders to accommodate the needs of the ministry and the call and qualification of members in the church. Each Deacon and Deaconess shall be nominated and affirmed as designated in Article V, Section 3 for a normal term of 3 years with at least one deacon and one deaconess position being open each year.

• Qualifications

Deacons and Deaconesses shall be qualified for the office as specified in the Bible. Relevant texts include I Tim. 3:8-12 and Titus 2:3-5.

• Responsibilities

The Deacons shall advise and assist the Elders in any service that shall support and promote the ministry of the Word. They shall assist in new and existing ministries of the Church and in the care of members of the congregation. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

A.  Administering a fund to assist the poor and needy and otherwise providing aid in times of crisis or distress

B.  The greeting and welcoming ministries of the church

C.  Assisting in administering the ordinances

D.  Assisting at fellowship gatherings of the church

E.  Ministering to those in need due to illness or other afflictions

F.  Caring for and maintaining the Church properties

G.  Administering the business affairs of the Church which pertain to its material assets under the direction of the Board of Elders

H.  Ensuring adherence to conditions attached to any special bequests, wills, trusts or other endowments accepted by the church

I.  Ministering to gender specific needs for counseling, prayer and encouragement

• Organization

The Deacons and Deaconesses shall organize themselves however they determine best to achieve the mission of the church. The Elders or the Deacons and Deaconesses may designate any specific Committee member(s) to specialize in some particular Deacon function. Meetings of the Deacons and Deaconesses, or subcommittees thereof, shall be held as needed to best fulfill the responsibilities of the Committee.

• Resignation or Removal

A Deacon or Deaconess may leave the Committee of his/her own free will at any time by written resignation, or he/she may be removed from office if 2/3 of the Board of Elders believes that he/she is incapacitated or spiritually unqualified to continue serving. 

Section 4.    Other Committees 

As provided above, other committees may be appointed by the Board of Elders for specific purposes and duration. However, as a minimum, the following committees shall be appointed each year, with each reporting to a specific Elder who shall be responsible for the overall function of that committee.

• Worship          

The Worship committee shall be responsible for planning and coordinating worship activities each week under the direction of the Senior Pastor. The committee shall be responsible for insuring that music and other activities support the theme of the message and that every part is aimed at glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Special worship services may be designated and planned by the committee for special occasions throughout the year.

• Christian Education

The Christian Education Committee shall be responsible for insuring that a coordinated program of learning is carried out with the goal of presenting the “whole counsel of God” to each age group. The times and means of providing these teaching opportunities shall be at the discretion of the committee, subject to approval by the Senior Pastor and Board of Elders. Responsibilities shall include the evaluation and provision of appropriate materials, staffing, and ongoing evaluation.

• Missions and Evangelism

The Missions and Evangelism Committee shall be responsible to insure local evangelism effort and to create and motivate a vision for world missions in accordance with the command of Acts 1:8. The committee shall also be responsible for administering, with the approval of the Board of Elders, a budget to support both local and worldwide mission’s efforts. The budget for Missions shall be at least 10% of congregational giving (excluding special projects) and may be increased by action of the Board of Elders.

Article VIII.

 Ministerial Staff

Section 1.    Senior Pastor

• Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Pastor shall be responsible for the general oversight of the spiritual welfare of the church. This shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. His primary responsibilities as designated in Scripture shall be to teach the Word of God with accuracy, clarity and passion; to lead by example and precept, insuring against doctrinal error; and to shepherd the congregation.
2. He shall arrange for and conduct, or designate someone to conduct, all public and regular services of the church
3. As spiritual leader and coworker, he shall assist the Board of Elders in shaping the policies, objectives, plans, and courses of action for implementing the stated purposes of the church. The Senior Pastor shall be a voting member of the Board of Elders and an ex officio member of all committees. 
4. He shall, with the approval of the Board of Elders, hire, direct, and supervise any other members of the paid staff, delegating responsibility and authority where appropriate, establishing priorities in the ministries, and promoting the effective functioning of the total staff. With the approval of the Board of Elders, he may dismiss members of the staff.

(b) Qualifications

The Senior Pastor shall meet the biblical qualifications for an Elder as specified in I Tim. 3:1-7, Ti. 1:6-9 and I Pet. 5:1-4. He shall be in agreement with the Statement of Faith. He shall also meet such requirements for experience, training, and education as set forth by the Board of Elders at the time of any pastoral search.

(c) Election

In the absence of a Senior Pastor, it is the responsibility of the Board of Elders, in conjunction with a search team designated by them, to search for, evaluate and propose a candidate to fill the position. A successful candidate must be affirmed by secret ballot totaling at least three-fourths of the votes cast by the members present at any annual or specially called business meeting.

(d) Removal

The Senior Pastor may resign with three months written notice to the Board of Elders. The church may dismiss the Senior Pastor with three months written notice (or with notice in accordance with terms of the original call) upon recommendation by the Board of Elders affirmed by two-thirds vote by secret ballot of members present.

Section 2.    Other Ministerial Staff

• Duties and Responsibilities

Additional ministerial staff may be added as approved by the Board of Elders.  Duties of such additional staff shall be in accordance with the written job description provided by the Senior Pastor and approved by the Board of Elders. Additional ministerial staff need not be part of the Board of Elders, but may be if selected as part of the election process for Elders. In his/her ministerial capacity, the additional staff shall be responsible to the Senior Pastor.

• Qualifications

Any additional ministerial staff shall be in accord with the church’s Statement of Faith. They shall be of exemplary character and meet such requirements for experience, training, and education as set forth in the Statement of Work or Job Description as approved by the Board of Elders that defines the position.

• Election

He/she shall be called to serve at the request of the Senior Pastor with the approval of the Board of Elders.

• Removal

If he/she desires to resign, or the Senior Pastor with the approval of the Board of Elders, desires the termination of his/her ministry, a notice shall be given in writing by either party two months in advance of the termination date, unless waived by mutual consent.

Article IX.

 Amendment of Bylaws

Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Elders. If any member of the church wishes to recommend an amendment, it shall first be presented to the Board of Elders in writing for approval. Any amendment approved by the Board of Elders must be presented to the church membership at two separate meetings with a period of at least two months in between. Voting at the second meeting shall be by secret ballot and shall require a two-thirds majority of ballots cast to pass.