NEW MT. HEBRON BAPTIST CHURCH
BYLAWS
CHURCH OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
All who serve as officers of the church and those who serve on church committees shall be members of this church.
SECTION 1. CHURCH OFFICERS
The officers of this church shall be the pastor, the deacons, a clerk, a treasurer, the trustees and other officers, as the church shall deem necessary.
PASTOR
The pastor is responsible for leading the church to function as a New Testament Church. It shall be the duty of the pastor to direct and supervise the public, religious instruction of the congregation in the pulpit and in all other departments of the church. He is the spiritual guide of the church, and must stand up for the defense of the Gospel. He must see that no false doctrine is taught to the church; he must administer the ordinances of the church.
The pastor is leader of pastoral ministries in the church. As such, he works with the deacons and church staff to: lead the church in the achievement of its mission, proclaim the gospel to believers, and care for the church’s members and other persons in the community.
The pastor is to participate in: church business meetings, watching over the personal experiences and lives of the members, counseling, exporting, admonishing, and reproving, as one entrusted with the care of souls. The period set for vacation shall be four weeks. The time of vacation is optional to the pastor.
A pastor shall be chosen and called by the church whenever a vacancy occurs. The election shall take place at a meeting called for that purpose, of which at least two week’s public notice has been given.
The pastor may relinquish the office as pastor by giving at least thirty-days notice to the church at the time of resignation. If the pastor be deemed overbearing or inefficient in the discharge of his official duty or by his occupation, deportment, or conversation is regarded as an improper person to hold such office, provided he has been previously warned in accordance with Matthew 12:15-17, the church may declare the office of pastor to be vacant. Such action shall take place at a meeting called for that purpose, of which at least one week’s public notice has been given. The meeting may be called upon the recommendation of a majority of the church council or by written petition signed by not less than one fourth of the resident church members. The moderator for this meeting shall be designated by the members present by majority vote and shall be someone other than the pastor. The vote to declare the office vacant shall be by secret ballot, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present being necessary to declare the office vacant. Except in instances of gross misconduct by the pastor so excluded from office, the Church will compensate the pastor with not less than one twelfth of his total annual compensation. The termination shall be immediate and the compensation shall be rendered in not more than thirty days.
The Church shall elect the pulpit committee whose duty it shall be to seek out a minister with qualifications as stated above, and present him to the church congregation for consideration of said pastoral qualifications and ministerial ability. The pulpit committee shall consist of not less than five nor more than nine member, preferably members of the deacon board and trustee board, who by their training and experience are thoroughly qualified to evaluate and determine the pastoral and ministerial qualifications of a candidate. The church, after recommendations by the pulpit committee, shall elect by two-thirds vote, of the members present at the meeting, a candidate to the pastorate.
DEACONS
The church nominates deacons to the pastor. In accordance with the meaning of the work and practice in the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. In every case in the selection of deacons, only such persons who possess scriptural qualifications, as found in the 6th Chapter of Acts and 1st Timothy Chapter 3, shall be recommended by the pastor and approved by the current deacon board. From the time of approval until ordination, the period being not less than six months shall be known as the trial period.
Their primary task is to serve with the pastor and staff in: (1) leading the church in the achievement of its mission; (2) proclaiming the gospel to believers and unbelievers; (3) caring for the church’s members and other persons in the community. They shall assist the pastor with distributing the element of the Lord’s Supper and take a general interest in the welfare of the church, cooperating with and assisting the pastor in the performance of his duty. They shall be active participants in church services and functions and shall be responsible for assisting the pastor in the prayer meeting service designated on Wednesday evenings.
If any deacon be deemed overbearing or inefficient in the discharge of his official duty, or by his occupation, deportment, or conversation is regarded as an improper person to hold such office, provided he has been previously warned in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17, upon recommendation by a majority of the church council, he may be removed from office by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting called for that purpose.
TRUSTEES
The church shall elect three or more trustees to serve as legal officers for church. They shall hold in trust the church property. Upon a specific vote of the church authorizing each action, they shall have the power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease or transfer any church property. When the signatures of trustees are required, they shall sign legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or rental property or other legal documents related to church approved matters. Trustees shall have power to keep all church property in good condition. In event of necessity, emergency or current need, the trustees shall have the power to make whatever repairs or adjustments necessary and report same to the chmch at the next scheduled church meeting.
TREASURER
The church shall elect annually a church treasurer as it’ s financial officer. The treasurer shall be a person of fair education, a legible writer and reputable character. The duty shall be to keep an itemized account of all monies collected and expended by the church. The treasurer shall be a member of the trustee board.
The treasurer shall counsel with the finance committee, maintain records of funds received and disbursed, maintain records of contribution and make reports to the appropriate committees and to the church, cosign checks in accordance with church policies and procedure. The treasurer shall be bonded.
CHAIRMAN OF DEACONS
The chairman of the deacons shall be elected by the deacons and act as moderator to preside over all church business meetings. The duties shall be to maintain the fellowship, conduct business orderly, execute business with dispatch, and clarify matters voted for later action.
CLERK
The church shall elect annually a clerk as it clerical officer. The clerk shall be responsible for recording minutes of church business meetings, preserve records for present and future use, correspond with other churches and members, and provide records for church history. The clerk shall be responsible for keeping a register of name of members, with dates of admission, dismissing, death, and erasure, together with a record of baptism.
SECTION 2. CHURCH COMMITTEES
The committees of this church shall be: membership committee, building and planning committee, finance committee, benevolence committee, and scholarship committee. Committees shall be prepared to make a report at quarterly meetings if there has been progress or if there are objectives to be presented to the church council.
The membership committee shall maintain an accurate roster of all members, maintain a line of communication between members and the general congregation, develop and implement an orientation program for new members, distribute spiritual literature to members on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis.
The building and planning committee responsibilities are: to gather, study and analyze information about the church and the community; study the property owned and the church’s location in the community to determine the relationship of these factors to the church’s ministry and growth; make recommendations concerning property needs; design the space available to accommodate the church’s programs; determine what furnishings and in consultation with music staff, what musical instruments are needed; survey the income potential of the church; conduct a fund-raising campaign; see that the building is constructed according to specification and is ready for use.
The finance committee develops and recommends an overall financial development plan, a unified church budget, and budget subscription plans. It advises and recommends in the administration of the gifts of church members and others, using sound principles of financial management. It works with the treasurer in the preparation and presentation to the church of required reports regarding the financial affairs of the church. It administers the budget process: approving budget expenditure; reviewing expenditures; recommending needed adjustments; recommending an adequate financial system; requesting an annual audit of the financial records; promoting financial education. The finance committee shall inspect all church properties periodically and maintain an inventory of all church property. The purpose of inspecting and keeping an inventory is to plan for preventive maintenance work.
The benevolence committee is primarily responsible for studying the needs of the church families and families in the community to which the church should minister and design a plan for meeting those needs. The finance committee shall develop guidelines for the work of the committee; study the needs for assistance in the church membership and in the community; work with other groups that have benevolent actions; survey and determine available community agencies; recommend budget request for monies needed for ministering to people; investigate and administer benevolence resources as needed; make reports to the church.
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. GENERAL
This is a sovereign and democratic Baptist Church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. The membership retains unto itself the exclusive right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of this church.
The membership reserves the exclusive right to determine who shall be members
of this church and the conditions of such membership.
SECTION 2. CANDIDACY
Any person may offer himself as a candidate for membership in this church. All such candidates shall be presented to the church at any regular church service for membership in any of the following ways:
By profession of faith and for baptism according to the polices of this church
By promise of a letter of recommendation from another Baptist church
By restoration upon a statement of prior conversion experience and baptism in
a Baptist church when no letter is obtainable.
SECTION 3. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be terminated in the following ways: (1) death of the member,
dismission to another Baptist church, (3) exclusion by action of this church, or (4) erasure upon request or proof of membership in a church of another denomination.
SECTION 4. DISCIPLINE
It shall be the practice of this church to emphasize to its members that every
reasonable measure will be taken to assist any troubled member. The pastor, other members of the church staff and deacons are available for counsel and guidance. The attitude of members toward one another shall be guided by a concern for redemption rather than punishment.
Should some serious condition exist which would cause a member to become a
liability to the general welfare of the church, the pastor and the deacons will take every reasonable measure to resolve the problem in accordance with Matthew 18. If it become necessary for the church to take action to exclude a member, a two-thirds vote of the members present is required is required; and the church may proceed to declare the person to be no longer in the membership of the church. A spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance shall pervade all such proceedings.
The church may restore to membership any person previously excluded, upon
request of the excluded person, and by vote of the church upon evidence of the excluded person’s repentance and reformation.
CHURCH PROGRAM AUXILIARIES
The church shall maintain programs of bible teaching; church member training, church leader training, mission education: action and support, and music education: training and performance. All organizations related to the church programs shall be under church control, all officers being elected by the church and reporting regularly to the church, and all program activities subject to church coordination and approval. The church shall provide the human resources, the physical resources and the financial resources for the appropriate advancement of these programs.
The Sunday school shall be the basic organization for the bible-teaching program. Its task shall be to teach the biblical revelation, reach persons for Christ and church membership, perform the functions of the church within its constituency, provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.
The Sunday school shall be organized by departments and/or classes as appropriate for all ages and shall be conducted under the direction of the Sunday school superintendent.
The Women’s missionary union shall be the mission education, mission action and mission support organization of the church for women, young women, girls and preschool children. Its task shall be to teach missions; engage in mission action; support world mission through praying and giving; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.
The Mission union shall have such officers and organizations as the program
requires.
The Brotherhood shall be the church’s organization for mission education, mission action and mission support for men, young men and boys. Its task shall be to teach missions; engage in mission action; support world mission action; support world mission through praying and giving; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.
The Brotherhood shall have such officers and organizations as the program requires.
The church music organization, under the direction of the church selected music director, shall be the music education, training and performance organization of the church. Its task shall be to teach music; train persons to lead, sing and play music in the church and community; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.
The church music program shall have such officers and organizations as the program requires.
The church shall maintain an usher board. The church usher board responsibility includes the following: greet people before and after worship service; seat people during services; provide information to persons concerning church services, programs and facilities; distribute bulletins; receive offerings; be alert to the need of persons during service; help maintain order. The usher board shall have such officers and organizations as the program requires.
The church shall maintain a recreation board. The recreation board will seek to meet the recreational needs of the members and groups. Its personnel will provide recreation activities, consultation, leadership assistance and resources.
The church shall maintain an audio services group. The audio services group suggested duties are: to study and recommend the appropriate sound system; operate the sound system; provide a maintenance program for the upkeep of the equipment; and recommend changes in the audio system.
The church shall maintain a Pastors-aid auxiliary. The Pastors-aid is established to aid and assist the pastor with his personal necessities and operate and function under the established guidelines.
CHURCH COUNCIL
The church council shall serve the church by leading in planning, coordinating, conducting and evaluating the ministries and programs of the church and its organizations.
The primary function of the church council shall be to recommend to the church suggested objectives and church goals; to review and coordinate ministry and program plans recommended by church officers, organizations, and committees; to recommend to the church the use of leadership, calendar time and other resources according to program priorities; and the evaluate achievements in terms of church objectives and goals.
The regular members of the church council shall be the pastor, other church staff members, officers of the church organizations, auxiliaries or committees, church officers, chairman of the deacons.
All matters agreed upon by the council which call for action not already approved, shall be referred to the church for approval or disapproval.
CHURCH ORDINANCES
SECTION 1. BAPTISM
This church shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as savior by personal faith, who professes him publicly at any worship service and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord.
Baptism shall be by immersion in water;
The pastor, or whomever the church shall authorize, shall administer baptism. The deacons shall assist in the preparation for and the observance of baptism.
Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church.
The pastor and or staff of deacons shall counsel the person who professes Christ and is not baptized after a reasonable length of time. If negative interest is ascertained on the part of the candidate, he shall be deleted from those awaiting baptism.
SECTION 2. COMMUNION (THE LORD’S SUPPER)
The church shall observe the Lord’s Supper the first Sunday of each month, unless otherwise scheduled by the church. The pastor and deacons shall administer communion, the deacons being responsible for the physical preparations.
CHURCH MEETINGS
SECTION 1. WORSHIP SERVICES
The church shall meet regularly each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening for the worship of almighty God. Prayer praise, preaching, instruction and evangelism shall be among the ingredients of these services. The pastor shall direct the service for all the church members and for all those who may choose to attend.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL SERVICES
Revival services and other church meetings essential to the advancement of the church’s objectives shall be placed on the church calendar.
SECTION 3. BUSINESS MEETINGS
The church shall hold business meetings on a quarterly basis on or around the last Sunday of every quarter ending month (March, June, September, December).
SECTION 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS
The church may conduct call meetings to consider matters of special nature and significance. A one-week notice must be given.
SECTION 5. QUORUM
The quorum consists of a majority of the church council, provided it is a stated meeting or one that has been properly called.
SECTION 6. PARLIAMENTARY RULES
Robert’s Rules of Order is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church.
CHURCH FINANCES
SECTION 1. BUDGET
The finance committee, in consultation with the church council, shall prepare and submit to the church for approval an inclusive budget, indicating by items the amount need and sought for all local and other expenses. Offering envelopes will be provided for member’ s use.
It is understood that membership in this church involves financial obligation to support the church and its causes with regular, proportionate gifts. Annually, there shall be opportunity provided to secure worthy commitments of financial support from the church members.
SECTION 2. ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES
All funds received for any and all purpose shall pass through the hands of the church treasurer and be properly recorded on the books of the church. Those who have responsibility that involves actual handling of funds shall be bonded, the church paying the bond.
A system of accounting that will adequately provide for the handling of all funds shall be the responsibility of the finance committee.
SECTION 3. CALENDAR YEAR
The church shall operate on a calendar year basis.
CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL
A special committee of the church shall develop a church operations manual to include church policies and procedures and organization charts depicting line of responsibility in the administration of the church. The manual shall be kept in the church office and made available for use there by any member of the church. The church secretary shall maintain the manual. The church council or special committee shall review the manual at least annually, with authority to recommend changes for the church to consider. Any church member or church organization may initiate suggested changes to the manual.
Addition, revision, or deletion of church policies requires: (1) the recommendation of the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the policy relates, (2) discussion by the church council, and (3) approval by the church.
Procedure may be added, revised, or deleted by: (1) recommendation of the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the procedures relate, (2) approval by the church council, and (3) approval of the church, if the church council deems necessary.
AMENDMENTS
Changes to this charter and bylaws may be made at any regular business meeting of the church provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous business meeting and copies of the proposed amendment shall have been furnished to each member present at the earlier meeting. Amendments to the charter shall be by two-thirds vote of church members present. Amendment to the bylaws shall have a concurrence of a majority of the members present and voting.