Untitled Document

CONSTITUTION – LeCLAIRE BAPTIST CHURCH

EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS

ARTICLE I. NAME
The Corporate name of this Church shall be: LeClaire Baptist Church, Edwardsville, Illinois.

(Name changed to Faith Baptist Church, Edwardsville, IL – July 1, 1976.)

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVE
It shall be the objective of this Church to maintain public services for the Worship of God, the Preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the Promotion of Christian Fellowship, and the Propagation of the Gospel of Christ throughout the World in Obedience to His Command.

ARTICLE III. DOCTRINE
Section 1. This Church believes, accepts, and affirms the following ancient and distinctly baptistic positions:

That the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, is the unique and divinely inspired Word of God, that it is the sole and all-sufficient rule of Christian faith and practice, and that the New Testament constitutes the peculiar doctrinal basis for a local church.
That the individual human soul is competent before God in all spiritual matters, without benefit of priest, prelate, or other human mediator.
That a local New Testament church is absolutely independent and autonomous in all its affairs and free from the domination and control of any other ecclesiastical body, of whatever kind and nature, and is subject only to the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That individual Christians are responsible to the state in all civil matters, but that complete separation of church and state should prevail in things of a spiritual nature.
Section 2. This Church further believes, accepts, and affirms that the Holy Scriptures are rightly divided, interpreted, and understood in the light of the following basic doctrinal truths:

The Trinitarian nature of the Godhead; His unity of Being and purpose: His eternity of existence, absolute holiness, total knowledge and power, and complete sovereignty.
The eternal and absolute Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Godhead; His incarnation by way of the Virgin Birth; His sinless life, vicarious death, bodily resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God the Father; His present intercessory ministry there, and His imminent, personal, and premillennial second advent.
The Personality and absolute Deity of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, the Executor of the will and purpose of God, and the Baptizer, Sealer, Indweller, Comforter, and Guide of the Church which is Christ’s Body, and of all born-again believers.
The personality of Satan, the god of this age and the prince of the powers of darkness, the author of sin, God’s continual enemy, and the tempter and accuser of God’s people, who in God’s own good time will be consigned to the fires of hell, together with all his hosts.
The creation (not by evolution) of man in the image and likeness of God; the fall of the race in and through the disobedience of the first man Adam, the federal head of the race, under the temptation of Satan, and the subsequent total moral depravity of all mankind and their worthiness of divine judgment and eternal perdition.
The salvation of lost men solely through the sovereign-elective grace of God as implemented by the vicarious death and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, upon the exercise of repentance and personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on the part of lost men, as a result of which they are born-again, become the children of God, are forgiven of their sins and receive eternal life.
The eternal existence of human personality and the present, conscious existence of the souls of the dead; the saved in the presence of Christ and the lost in Hades, the vestibule of hell.
The Church, the Body of Christ, composed of all born-again believers, both living and dead, and its resurrection-rapture at the second coming of Christ, and its subsequent reign with Him.
The local New Testament Church, consisting of a body of Scripturally baptized believers associated together in the New Testament pattern, and constituting the only divinely appointed agency of Gospel witness in this age.
The bodily resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked dead, together with the changing of their living counterparts, separated by the millennial reign of Christ: the righteous to eternal bliss in the presence of God and the wicked to the eternal fires of hell, together with Satan and all his hosts.
The consummation of the purpose of God in the New Heaven and the New Earth “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
Section 3. Doctrinal views beyond those outlined above shall in no case whatever be made tests of fellowship and good standing in this Church.

ARTICLE IV. COVENANT
Section 1. This Church accepts and adopts the following Covenant as its basis of Church fellowship and responsibility:

Having, as we trust, been brought by Divine Grace to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to give ourselves to Him, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, relying on His grace, solemnly and joyfully renew our covenant with each other.

We will work and pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We will walk together in brotherly love, as becomes the members of a Christian Church; exercise an affectionate care and watchfulness over each other and faithfully admonish and entreat one another as occasion may require.

We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor neglect to pray for ourselves and others.

We will endeavor to bring up those who may at any time be under our care, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and by a pure and loving example to seek the salvation of our family and friends.

We will rejoice at each other’s happiness, and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to bear each other’s burdens and sorrows.

We will seek, by Divine aid, to live carefully in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and remembering that, as we have been voluntarily buried by baptism and raised again from the symbolic grave, so there is on us a special obligation now to lead a new and holy life.

We will work together for the continuance of a faithful evangelical ministry in this church, as we sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines. We will 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 will, when we move from this place, 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.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.

Amen.

(Adopted on Sunday evening, January 18, 2004)

Section 2. This Covenant shall be binding upon all members of this Church without exception, and it shall be the primary basis of any disciplinary action taken against any member of this Church.

Section 3. This Covenant shall be recited and reaffirmed by the members of this Church upon every observance of the Lord’s Supper and on the occasions of the reception of new members into the Church fellowship.

Section 4. This Covenant shall be continually and prominently displayed in the principal assembly room of the Church meeting house.

ARTICLE V. ORDINANCES
Section 1. This Church recognizes and adopts two, and only two, Church Ordinances in keeping with the teaching of the New Testament:

Christian Baptism, which consists of the immersion in water of one who has publicly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon the authorization of a local New Testament Church; the Ordinance being the Scripturally appointed and sanctioned emblem of one’s identity with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, and the benefits that accrue there from.
The Lord’s Supper, which consists of the sharing on the part of God’s people of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine in memory of Christ’s sacrificial death for sinners, the elements constituting the Scripturally appointed and sanctioned emblems of His crucified body and poured out blood on behalf of Adam’s sinful race.
Section 2. This Church rejects and protests the unscriptural doctrine that these Ordinances are in any sense sacraments, and therefore means to divine grace, but recognized them simply as divinely appointed emblems of the redemptive work of Christ.

Section 3. These Ordinances shall be held in sacred trust by this Church, and every reasonable effort shall be made to protect them from misrepresentation and abuse from thoughtless or unsaved persons.

Section 4. These Ordinances may be observed and administered at any stated service of the Church, and at other times and places as shall please the Church body. The Ordinances of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed and administered at least once each and every calendar month in a stated service of the Church.

ARTICLE VI. DENOMINATIONAL POSITION
Section 1. This Church shall be forever free, independent, and autonomous in all its relationships and activities; but it may cooperate with other churches and organizations in matters of mutual interest when and if it be possible to do so without compromising its doctrinal position or without violating the spirit and intent of this Constitution. In no case whatever shall such cooperation jeopardize the freedom, independence, autonomy, doctrinal position, or property holdings of this Church.

Section 2. This Church may by resolution declare itself to be in affiliation with other Churches of like faith and order for the purpose of fellowship and the promotion of the cause of Christ; however, it shall be free to disassociate itself from such affiliation and fellowship at any time and for any reason it may itself consider sufficient without placing its freedom, independence, autonomy, doctrines, denomination position, or property holdings in jeopardy.

Section 3. This Church may be represented in conference with other Churches of like faith and order by duly elected or appointed Messengers; but it shall not be bound in any matter whatever by such Messengers without the formal approval of the Church body itself.

Section 4. In no case whatever shall this Church support, affiliate, participate, cooperate, affiliate, or fellowship in and with the aims and programs of the National Council of Churches of Christ in America, The World Council of Churches, their affiliates, counterparts, or successors.

Section 5. This Church shall support whatever missionary, educational, cultural or charitable causes it may choose, provided that such support does not violate its doctrinal position or the spirit and intent of this Constitution.

ARTICLE VII. GOVERNMENT
Section 1. The government of this Church shall be congregational in form and shall be vested in the Body of Believers who makes up its Active Membership as provided for in this Constitution.

Section 2. Under no circumstances whatever shall this Church ever be subject to the control of or be bound by the action of any other ecclesiastical body of whatever kind and nature, whether a denomination, convention, association, conference, synod, diocese, fellowship, board, council, auxiliary, society, committee, delegates, messengers, agents, officers, or person, whether acting individually or collectively.

ARTICLE VIII. FINANCIAL POLICY
Section 1. This Church believes and affirms that the support of the local Church takes precedence of any and all other causes and appeals of whatever kind and nature, and that if other causes are to be supported by its members that support should be over and above the Lord’s tithe, to which the local Church alone is entitled.

Section 2. This Church shall receive its financial support solely from the freewill tithes and offerings of its members and friends, except in cases involving the legitimate sale or temporary rental of real estate and other property, or from interest of dividend returns from surplus funds deposited in banks or invested in stocks and bond. In no case whatever shall such exemption relieve members of their financial obligations to the Church.

Section 3. Freewill tithes and offerings shall be received by this Church at appropriate times and places, for such purposes, and in such manner as shall please the Church body.

Section 4. The monetary funds of this Church shall be deposited in a bank or banks, or invested in stocks, bonds, or real estate according to the will of the Church body; and the same shall be disbursed only in accordance with the will of that body by persons duly elected or appointed for the purpose.

Section 5. Under no circumstances whatever shall the monetary funds of this Church be disbursed for any purpose or cause that is not in harmony with the spirit and intent of this Constitution.

Section 6. The privilege of designating offerings for special causes through the Treasury of the Church shall be accorded members and friends; however, when and if such designations are made for purposes or causes not in harmony with the spirit and intent of this Constitution, the full amount of such designated offerings shall be returned to the donors if their identity is known; otherwise, the contributions shall be placed in the general fund of the Church.

Section 7. Under no circumstances whatever shall this Church or any department, auxiliary, society, guild, or class thereof contribute to the support of any cause whatever that is not in harmony with the spirit and intent of this Constitution; neither shall any form of commercial enterprise or game of chance be participated in for any cause whatever; nor shall any unscriptural or unauthorized solicitation for funds be made for any cause whatever.

ARTICLE IX. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership in this Church shall consist of:

Those persons who have personally appeared before the Church body and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior on the basis of a genuine experience of grace, have been regularly received as candidates for Baptism by the Church body, have subsequently been Baptized into the Name of the Holy Trinity, and have received the official hand of Church fellowship.
Those persons who upon the presentation of formal letters of dismissal from churches of like faith and order, together with their personal testimony of having had a genuine experience of grace, have been regularly approved by the Church body, and have received the official hand of Church fellowship.
Those persons who in the absence of formal church letters have given satisfactory evidence of having had a genuine experience of grace and of having been Scripturally baptized, have been regularly approved by the Church body, and have received the official hand of Church fellowship.
Section 2. Every candidate for membership in this Church shall without exception personally appear before the Church body, publicly confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, subscribe to the Church Covenant and the Doctrinal Statement, in so far as they understand it, and agree to be governed by this Constitution in their every Church relationship.

Section 3. All candidates for membership in this Church shall without exception be subject to reasonable examination before the Church body as to their experience of grace, doctrinal beliefs, and baptism.

Section 4. Should any member of this Church in good standing object to receiving any candidate for membership, he shall so state immediately before the Church body and shall submit his objections in writing at the next midweek service thereafter. Should the Church body sustain the objections, the candidate shall be denied membership; but if the Church body disallows the objections, the candidate shall be received into membership under due process without prejudice.

Section 5. Candidates for membership in this Church who come from churches not of the same faith and order shall meet with the Deacons of the Church for counsel and instruction as the case may require before being presented to the Church body for approval.

Section 6. All members of this Church shall without exception be expected to be exemplary in their personal lives and conduct, to regularly and habitually attend the stated services of the Church, including Sunday evening and midweek services, to contribute to the financial support of the Church as God has prospered them, and to share in the organized work and ministry thereof.

Section 7. The membership of this Church may at the discretion of the Church body be divided into “active” and “inactive” lists by a membership committee which shall consider every case upon its individual merits in the light of the Covenant obligations and the spirit and intent of this Constitution, subject to the approval of the Church body itself. In such a case, only those persons whose names appear on the “active” list shall be consider members in good standing and eligible to enjoy the privileges of voting in Church business meetings, election to Church office, or appointment to committee responsibility. Any member whose name may have been place on the “inactive” list shall have the right of appeal to the Church body, but the decision of that body shall be final. Apart from such listings, all resident members who have participated in the life and activities of the Church within a twelve-month period shall be considered to be in good standing.

Section 8. Membership in this church shall be terminated by death, by letter of dismissal to a church of like faith and order, by the dropping of names of persons known to have united with other churches without formal letters of dismissal, by dropping of names of persons who request same, or by withdrawal of Church fellowship as a result of disciplinary action.

ARTICLE X. WORSHIP SERVICES
Section 1. This Church shall hold regular stated services for the worship of God, the preaching of the Gospel, and the teaching of the Holy Scriptures each and every Lord’s Day, and regular midweek services for prayer, Bible Study, and Christian fellowship. Services may be held at other times and places as shall please the Church body.

Section 2. The New King James Version of the Bible shall be considered the standard for use in all services of the Church, though other reliable versions may be utilized for their comparative or illuminative value. (Changed from King James Version on Sunday evening, January 18, 2004.)

Section 3. The Ordinances may be observed and administered in any stated service of the Church and at other times and places as shall please the Church body. The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed and administered in a least one stated service of the Church each and every calendar month.

ARTICLE XI. BUSINESS MEETINGS
Section 1. This Church shall hold such regular business meetings as shall be conducive to its function as a corporate body at such times and places as shall please the Church body. Matters of routine business may be transacted at any stated service of the Church.

Section 2. The Official Year of this Church shall be from October 1 to September 30, and an annual business meeting and election of officers shall conform thereto. (Approved on Sunday Evening, October 19, 2004)

Section 3. At each and every annual business meeting of this Church a quorum shall be established by Church action which shall be necessary to the transaction of Church business during that calendar year, to consist of not less than ten (10) percent of the active members of the Church above 21 years of age.

Section 4. Special business meetings of this Church shall be held as needs may arise, subject to the call of the Moderator, the Deacons, or by common consent of the Church body. The purpose of such meetings shall be clearly stated in the call therefore, notice of which shall be given by voice in at least two stated services of the Church prior thereto. No other business may be transacted at such meetings other than that for which they were called. In cases of extreme emergency, the Deacons may in a Sunday Morning Worship Service recommend that the requirement of two public notices be waived, subject to the approval of the Church body.

Section 5. All business meetings of this Church shall be conducted decently and in order, and according to accepted parliamentary practices.

ARTICLE XII. VOTING PROCEDURES
Section 1. The will of this Church body shall be determined by majority vote of those active and qualified members present and voting on any occasion, provided that a number of votes be cast equal to the prevailing quorum for that calendar year, with the following exception: Calling or dismissing a Pastor, Amending this Constitution, or changing the denominational affiliation of this Church, in which case a two-third (2/3) affirmative vote shall be required.

Section 2. Active members who have attained to the age of sixteen (16) years shall be eligible to vote in Church business meetings.

Section 3. The Moderator or any member in good standing may call for a secret ballot on any matter of business, which call shall be honored without debate or vote thereon.

Section 4. There shall be no appeal whatever from the will of the Church body when expressed as provided for above.

ARTICLE XIII. OFFICERS, BOARDS, AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. The principal officers of this Church shall be those persons who shall be duly elected to fill the Scriptural responsibilities of Pastor (also designated Elder and Bishop) and Deacons in whatever numbers the needs of the Church body may require, together with three or more Trustees to meet the legal requirements of the State of Illinois. Such other persons as may be necessary to the operation of this Church in a business like manner shall be elected or appointed according to the will of the Church body.

Section 2. The elected officers of this Church shall constitute the Official Board of the Church, with the chairman of the Deacons serving as board chairman and chairman of the Trustees serving as vice chairman. The Official Board of this Church shall have advisory powers only, except as the Church body itself may grant otherwise.

Section 3. The Deacons of this Church shall constitute the Membership Committee and the Trustees shall constitute the Building Committee.

Section 4. All officers, Boards, and Standing Committees of this Church shall be designated, named, and their number, qualifications, duties, terms of office, and manner of election or appointment shall be set forth in enabling action outside this Constitution, such action to be as binding as though a part thereof, but subject to changes without the necessity of amending this Constitution.

Section 5. All Officers, Boards, and Committees of this Church shall be subject to the will of the Church body in their every action, and shall make reports thereto as shall be required of them.

Section 6. Any Officer of this Church, or any member of any Board or Committee thereof, may be removed at any time by action of the church body for any cause it may consider sufficient. Any person so removed shall be entitled to a fair hearing before the Church body, but failure to so appear without reasonable excuse shall be considered as admission of charges and adequate grounds for removal.

ARTICLE XIV. AUXILIARIES
Section 1. Auxiliaries of this Church shall consist of such missionary, charitable, educational, cultural, or social groups as shall be organized among its members with the approval of the Church body, provided that the aims, interests, activities, and programs thereof shall be in harmony with the spirit and intent of this Constitution.

Section 2. The principal officer of each and every Auxiliary of this Church shall be subject to the approval of the Church body and subject to the same controls in the case of regular Church officers.

Section 3. Each and every Auxiliary approved by this Church shall make reports thereto as shall be required of them, and their activities, aims, purposes, and programs shall be subject to review by the Church at any time.

Section 4. Church approval of any Auxiliary may be withdrawn at any time by action of the Church body for any cause it may consider sufficient, following which said Auxiliary shall be dissolved and cease to be an Auxiliary of this Church. Any notices or property being in the possession of a dissolved Auxiliary shall revert to this Church.

ARTICLE XV. MISSION ARMS
Section 1. This Church may extend watch-care in the form of a Mission Arm over any company of believers who may request same, provided that the beliefs, purpose, aims, and practices of such groups of believers shall be in harmony with the spirit and intent of this Constitution.

Section 2. Upon approval of this Church body, a Mission Arm shall be subject to the provisions of this Constitution and the full jurisdiction of this Church. The specific conditions under which a Mission Arm shall function shall be set forth in the enabling resolution, beyond which this Church shall assume no responsibility what ever.

Section 3. Mission Arms approved by this church shall be organized into regularly constituted churches as soon as circumstances will permit; however, no such Mission Arm shall so organize itself without the formal approval of this Church body. Following the organization of an approved Mission Arm into a regularly constituted church body, this Church shall be relieved of all responsibility thereto except such as it shall voluntarily assume.

Section 4. Watch-care may be withdrawn from any approved Mission Arm by this Church for any cause it may consider sufficient, in which case any and all responsibility for such Mission Arm on the part of this Church shall cease, except as the interests of this Church need to be protected, Public Notice of the withdrawal of such watch-care shall be made thereafter in the Public Press.

XVI. ADVISORY COUNCILS
Section 1. This Church may at its discretion invite any person or persons it may choose to sit with it for counsel, inquiry, or advice, or it may call an Advisory Council to consist of Pastors and Messengers from other churches of like faith and order for the same purpose in relation to any matter that it may choose to place before such a body.

Section 2. In no case whatever shall this Church be bound by the recommendations of decisions of such persons or Councils, but it reserves to itself alone the final decision on all matters related to its internal affairs.

Section 3. Under no circumstances whatever shall the pastor, and Officer or Officers, or any member or members of this Church presume to personally invite any outside person or persons, or any denominational representative or representatives into any Church meeting for the purpose of giving counsel, making inquiry or giving advice upon any subject whatever without the prior approval of the Church body itself. Any attempt to do so shall be sufficient grounds for whatever disciplinary action the Church may choose to take and sufficient reason for the public rebuke of any person or persons presuming to accept such an invitation.

ARTICLE XVII. LICENSING AND ORDAINING
Section 1. This Church may extend a License to Preach to any male member who gives evidence of having been so called of God and who qualifies under the conditions of First Timothy 3:1 – 7 and Titus 1:5 – 9, whose personal life is consistent with such a call and whose doctrinal views are in harmony with the Doctrinal Statement set forth in this Constitution.

Section 2. This Church may ordain to the Gospel Ministry any male member who shall have proved himself able and worthy under a License to Preach, with or without the recommendation of an advisory council.

Section 3. A License to Preach or a Certificate of Ordination held by any male member of this Church, whether originally issued by this Church or not, may be canceled and recalled by this Church for any cause it may consider sufficient under the provisions of this Constitution. Further, this Church reserves the authority to cancel to recall any License to Preach or Certificate of Ordination originally issued by this Church whether the holders thereof are yet members of this Church or not.

Section 4. Any person holding a License to Preach or a Certificate of Ordination which has been canceled or recalled by this Church shall have the right to a fair hearing before the Church body, but failure to so appear without reasonable excuse shall be considered as admission of charges and sufficient ground for the cancellation or recall of such credentials.

ARTICLE XVIII. DISCIPLINE
Section 1. Disciplinary action against any member of this Church is reserved exclusively to the Church body itself, though it shall be appropriate for any member thereof to rebuke and admonish any other member who may be considered to be at fault in any matter, provided such rebuke and admonition be exercised in the spirit of Christian love and keeping with Matthew 18:15-17.

Section 2. Causes for the exercise of Church discipline shall be: denial of the Christian Faith, gross neglect of duty, abuse of delegated authority, violation of the Covenant Obligations, conduct unbecoming a Christian, or contempt toward this Church, its Constitution, or its duly elected officers.

Section 3. Any accused member of this Church shall have the right of a fair hearing before the Church body, but failure to so appear without reasonable excuse shall be considered as admission of charges and sufficient ground for disciplinary action.

Section 4. Any member of this Church who is under discipline may be restored to good standing and full fellowship upon repentance and confession before the Church body.

Section 5. No member of this Church who is under discipline at any particular time shall enjoy the privilege of voting in Church meetings or have access to the Lord’s Table.

ARTICLE XIX. ENABLEMENT
Section 1. This Constitution shall be implemented wherever necessary by motions, resolutions, or actions, all of which shall be as binding as the Articles and Sections they implement.

Section 2. Motions, resolutions, or actions implementing this Constitution or any part of it may be changed, amended, revised, or repealed at any regular business meeting of the Church or at a special business meeting called for that purpose without revising or amending this Constitution.

ARTICLE XX. AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS
Section 1. This Constitution may be revised or amended at any regular business meeting of the Church, provided such proposed revisions or amendments shall have been presented in writing at the last previous regular business meeting of the Church and shall have been posted on the Church Bulletin Board during the intervening period.

Section 2. Proposed amendments or revisions of this Constitution shall be studied carefully by committees appointed for that purpose prior to final action thereon to avoid repetition, duplications, or contradictions.

Section 3. Amendments to or revisions of this Constitution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon their approval by this Church body, and shall repeal, nullify, and set aside any and all other Articles, Sections, paragraphs, or portions of this constitution that are contrary thereto.

ARTICLE XXI. APPROVAL
Section 1. This Covenant shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its approval by the Church body by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote in a regular business meeting of the Church or in a special meeting called for that purpose.

Section 2. When approved this Constitution shall repeal, nullify, and set aside any and all prior Constitutions and any and all prior resolutions, motions, and actions contrary thereto.

Section 3. A copy of this Constitution shall be continuously available in the Church meetinghouse for reference by members of the Church, and sufficient copies thereof shall be provided for each family of the Church to have one.

This Constitution was approved and adopted by unanimous vote of those members present and voting in an adjourned Quarterly Business Meeting of LeClaire Baptist Church on Wednesday, April 16, 1969, at 7:30 o’clock.

FRANCES SMITHSON, Church Clerk

L. E. MUSTAIN, Moderator

CLIFTON W. WECKMAN, Chairman Church Board

IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE XIII, SECTION 4
CONSTITUTION OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH

OFFICERS: GENERAL REGULATIONS

All officers of this Church shall be persons of good moral character, exemplary in their conduct, and members in good standing of the church; they shall be regular in their attendance at the stated services of the Church, faithful in their financial support, and shall have reached the age of 21 years prior to taking office.
All officers of this Church shall be elected to one-year terms and shall be eligible for re-election to two more consecutive one-year terms in the same office, after which they shall be ineligible to serve in the same office until one full calendar year has elapsed, except in the case of Pastor as provide below.
The term of Church Officers shall correspond to the calendar year.
Deacons and/or Trustees shall not serve on both Boards at the one and same time, and no officer shall serve in three elective offices at the one and same time.
All offices of the Church shall be considered as vacant as of December 31, with the three-year time limit in any office to be date from January 1.
PASTOR

Candidates for the Pastorate of this Church shall be considered separately and one at a time, in the order in which they are contacted, until one shall receive a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote to call on the part of the Church body and shall accept the call. The Church body shall act on the matter of a call at the next regular Mid-week Service after a candidate has appeared before the Church Body on a Lord’s Day. A candidate shall be notified immediately of the result of the vote on his candidacy, by telephone, if possible. A candidate for the pulpit shall have ten (10) days in which to accept or reject a call. In no case shall any candidate be brought before the Church body until the case of the last previous candidate has been disposed of.
A Pastor shall be called to an indefinite term of service by two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote to call by the Church body. (See Article XII, Section 1, of the Church Constitution.) He shall subscribe to the Church Covenant and Doctrinal Statement, and to the spirit and intent of the Church Constitution.
It shall be the duties of the Pastor to preach the Gospel, minister to the Spiritual needs of the congregation, administer the Ordinances, serve as Church Moderator, and exercise general oversight and leadership of the Church program. He shall be an ex-officio member of all Boards and Committees.
The Pastoral term of office may be terminated by:
His own resignation, in which case he shall give the Church body notice of his intention of not less than 30 days, and not more than 60 days, except as this provision shall be waived by the Church body itself.
His dismissal by the Church body for any cause it may consider sufficient by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote to dismiss, in which case he shall be given notice of not less than 30 days, and not more than 60 days, except as this provision shall be voluntarily waived by him; with the following exceptions;
Should his dismissal be for moral reasons or unbecoming conduct, his term of office shall be terminated immediately upon a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote to dismiss by the Church body, in which case he shall be paid two weeks’ salary in advance and shall vacate the church parsonage within ten (10) days.

DEACONS

The church shall elect three (3) or more Deacons, who shall constitute the Board of Deacons.
Deacons shall meet the Scriptural qualification of the New Testament in general and those of I Timothy 3:8 – 13 in particular.
The Deacons shall assist the Pastor in his duties, administer the Ordinances in his absence, visit the sick and needy of the congregation, and visit, admonish, and counsel with delinquent and unruly members; they shall also serve the Church as Ushers.
The deacons may spend up to $25 in charity cases without bring the matter before the Church Body. (Amended to $100)
The Deacons shall constitute the Church Membership Committee, of which the Church Clerk shall be an ex-officio member.
The Chairman of the Board of Deacons shall be the Chairman of the Official Board of the Church and shall serve as Church Moderator in the absence of the Pastor.

DEACONESSES

Wives of the elected Deacons shall fill the responsibilities of Deaconesses and shall meet the same general requirements as Deacons.
Deaconesses shall assist the Pastor and/or Deacons wherever their services may be required.
The Deaconesses shall constitute the Flower Committee of the Church.

TRUSTEES

The Church shall elect three (3) or more Trustees, who shall constitute the Board of Trustees.
The Trustees shall be the Corporate Officers of the Church body and the legal custodians of all Church property.
Trustees shall provide for the maintenance, repairs, and improvements of the Church property; shall provide for adequate insurance thereon; and shall sign all legal papers and documents pertaining to Church property, subject to the will of the Church body. They shall constitute the Church Building Committee.
Trustees may not obligate the Church in any single matter beyond the sum value of $100 without the approval of the Church body (Amended to $200)

CHURCH CLERK AND ASSISTANT CHURCH CLERK

The Church shall elect a Stated Clerk, who shall be competent in matters of recording minutes, keeping records, and attending to correspondence.
The Church Clerk shall keep accurate and permanent minutes of all Church Business Meetings, keep and preserve Church records and documents, keep and maintain an accurate and up-date Membership Roll, attest all legal papers and documents pertaining to the Church, handles such correspondence as the office may require, and maintain an up-to-date Official Copy of the Church Constitution, together with amendments, revisions, and implementation thereof.
The Church Clerk shall with Deacon serve on the Church Membership Committee and shall be the Secretary thereof.
The Church shall elect an assistant to the Church Clerk, who shall assist him in his duties and serve in his absence.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY

The Church shall elect a Financial Secretary who shall receive, count, and make permanent records of all monetary offerings and contributions to the Church with the help of at least one other member of the Finance Committee (provided for below) or a Deacon, Trustee, or the Church Clerk. He shall deliver said offerings or contributions to the Church Treasurer for deposit in a bank or banks in the name of the Church.
The total of offerings and contributions at any and all services shall be recorded by the Financial Secretary in a bound volume which shall be kept at the Church Building and be open to inspection at all times. Those person counting said offerings and contributions shall inscribe their initials opposite each total.
The books and account of the Financial Secretary shall be made available for examination or audit at any time according to the will of the Church body, with the exception of the records of individual givers or record, which shall be strictly confidential.
The Financial Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all givers of record for income tax purposes, shall preserve offering envelopes, and shall provide givers of record statement of the contribution for each calendar year, along with envelopes in which they were made, by January 30 of each calendar year.
In the absence of the Financial Secretary, the Church Clerk or the Assistant Clerk shall count and record offerings and contributions, delivering same to the Treasurer as provide for above, and turning information relative thereto over to the Financial Secretary at his earliest convenience.

TREASURER

The Church shall elect a Treasurer who shall receive all monetary offerings and contributions from the Financial Secretary and deposit the same in a bank or banks in the name of the Church. He shall make deposit slips in duplicate, retaining one for his records and delivering one to the Financial Secretary for his records, and shall disburse Church funds by check according to the will of the Church body.
The Treasurer shall make his records and accounts available for the examination or audit at any time according to the will of the Church body.
The Church shall elect an Assistant Treasurer who shall assist the Treasurer in his duties and serve in the capacity in his absence.

CHURCH PIANIST AND ASSISTANT

The Church shall elect a Church Pianist (or organist) and an Assistant, who shall furnish instrumental music for Church services, including Sunday Evening and Midweek Prayer Service.

MISSIONARY SECRETARY

The Church shall elect a Missionary Secretary, whose duty it shall be to correspond with missionaries supported by the Church, keep the Church informed of their needs and activities, and keep records of missionary activities in the Church.

YOUTH DIRECTOR

The Church shall elect a Youth Director, whose duty it shall be to actively supervise Youth Activities in the Church program (with the exception of Sunday School), appoint Youth Sponsors for the various youth groups and cooperate with them in formulating suitable youth programs and activities in the Church.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSISTANT

The Church shall elect a Sunday School Superintendent, whose duty is shall be to organize and supervise the Church School, appoint teachers and assistants and have over-all direction of that department.
The Church shall elect an Assistant to the Sunday School Superintendent who shall assist him in his duties and serve in his absence.

SUNDAY SCHOOL GENERAL SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT

The Church shall elect a Sunday School General Secretary who shall keep accurate and complete records of Sunday School Attendance and activities and attend to such other duties, as the Sunday School Superintendent shall assign to him.
The Church shall elect an Assistant to the Sunday School General Secretary who shall assist him in his duties and serve in his absence.

OTHER OFFICERS

The Church may elect other officers in addition to those listed above as needs arise without amending the Church Constitution.

BOARDS AND STANDING COMMITTEES

OFFICIAL BOARD

The Official Board of this Church shall consist of all the elected officers of the Church Body.
The Chairman of the Board of Deacons shall be the Chairman of the Official Board, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees shall be the Vice-Chairman. A Clerk shall be elected from the members of the board, or the Church Clerk may serve.
The Official Board shall hold regular meetings as it please (either quarterly or monthly) to consider the over-all life and program of the Church, to counsel with and advise the Pastor, and to make recommendations to the Church body relative to the life and interest of the Church.
The Official Board shall have no authority to appropriate funds for any purpose whatever, or to determine Church policy in any matter, but its function shall be of an advisory nature only.

BOARD OF DEACONS

The elected Deacons shall constitute the Board of Deacons, whose duties and responsibilities shall be those set forth under the section headed “Deacons”, above.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The elected Trustees shall constitute the Board of Trustees, whose duties and responsibilities shall be those set forth under the section headed “Trustees”, above.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Membership Committee. To consist of the elected Deacons and Church Clerk.
Building Committee. To consist of the elected Trustees.
Finance Committee. To consist of the Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and one other member at large to be appointed by the moderator.
Nominating Committee. To consist of three or more persons to be appointed by the Moderator from the congregation for each calendar year. The shall nominate persons to fill vacancies in office as they occur, and shall at least 30 day before the Annual Election of Officers circulate a Nominating Preference Ballot in the congregation from which it shall make up a slate of nominees for Church offices to be presented to the Church in the form of an Official Ballot for the election of the officers. Said Official Ballot to provide spaces for writing in further nominations, which may be made from the floor in the annual election of officers. The Nominating Committee shall not be bound by the Preference Ballot, but shall give careful consideration to the opinions expressed thereon, but shall exercise its own discretion in cases clearly contrary to the provisions of the Church Constitution and/or the implementation thereof or contrary to the good of the Church. The democratic process shall be guarded by the privilege of members to make nominations from the floor.
Auditing Committee. To consist of three persons to be appointed from the congregation by the Moderator, who shall audit the books, records, and accounts of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer, at least once each and every calendar year.
Pulpit Committee. To consist of the Church Clerk, the Chairman of the Board of Deacons, and at least one other person appointed from the congregation by the Moderator, at such time as the pulpit shall become vacant, whose duty it shall be to contact and bring before the congregation candidates for the pulpit in keeping with the provisions of Paragraph 1 of the section entitles “Pastor”, above.
Social Committee. To consist of three or more persons to be elected by the Church body at the Annual Election of Officers, whose duty it shall be to plan and supervise the social life and activities of the Church. The Committee may spend reasonable amounts of money in connection with their duties subject to the assent of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Flower Committee. To consist of the wives of elected Deacons. They shall extend condolence on behalf of the Church body in the form of floral offerings in case of death in Church families, limited to the death of parents, husband wife, and/or children of Church members. Hospital flowers shall be sent on the same basis.
Other Standing Committees may be added to the above as needs arise without amending the Church Constitution.

STATED BUSINESS MEETINGS

The Church shall hold regular Stated Business Meetings for the transaction of any and all Church business on the first Wednesday evening after the first Monday in January, April, July, and October.
The January Quarterly Business Meeting shall be the Annual Business Meeting of the Church, at which time reports for the previous calendar year shall be made in writing by all Officers, Boards, and Committees as shall be required of them.
The time for holding business meetings of the Church body may be changed without amending the Church Constitution.

ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Officers of the Sunday School shall be elected on the first Wednesday evening after the first Monday in September by Secret Ballot, to take office October 1 and serve until the following September 30.
Officers of the Church shall be elected on the first Wednesday evening after the first Monday in December of each calendar year by Secret Ballot, to take office on January 1, following, and to serve through that calendar year.
Regulations concerning the election of officers may be changed without revising the Church Constitution.