Constitution of Boonville Baptist Church

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, and the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale of and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage; to use our influence to combat the abuse of drugs and the spread of pornography; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

All internal groups created and empowered by the church shall report to and be accountable only to the church, unless otherwise specified by church action.

This church is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist churches. Insofar as is practical, this church will cooperate with and support the association, the state convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

BYLAWS

Section 1. General

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:

(1)    By profession of faith and for baptism according to the policies of this church.

(2)    By promise of a letter or recommendation from another church of like faith and order.

(3)    By restoration upon a statement of prior conversion experience and baptism by immersion when no letter is obtainable.

Section 3. Rights of Members

(1)    Every member of the church is entitled to vote at all elections and all questions submitted to the church in conference, provided the member is present.

(2)    Every member of the church is eligible for consideration by the membership as candidates for elective offices in the church.

(3)    Every member of the church may participate in the ordinances of the church as administered by the church.

Section 4. Termination of Membership

Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:

(1)    Death of the member.

(2)    Dismission to another Baptist church.

(3)    Exclusion by action of this church.

(4)    Erasure upon request or proof of membership in a church of another denomination.

Section 5. 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.

The membership of any person may be terminated by a 2/3 vote of the church membership present, for reasons that the membership considers sufficient to warrant such action, but only after such person has been given due notice and opportunity for hearing, and every kindly effort to make such action unnecessary has been extended to such person.

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.

Section 1. Church Officers

The officers of this church shall be the pastor, the church staff, the deacons, a clerk, a treasurer, and trustees.

The officers of this church shall be the pastor, the church staff, the deacons, a clerk, a treasurer, and trustees.

(1)    The pastor is responsible for leading the church to function as a New Testament church. The pastor will lead the congregation, the organizations, and the church staff to perform their tasks.

The pastor is leader of pastoral ministries in the church. As such he works with the deacons and church staff to: (1) lead the church in the achievement of its mission, (2) proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (3) care for the church’s members and other persons in the community.

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 one week’s public notice has been given.

A pastor selection committee shall be elected by the church to seek out a suitable pastor, and its recommendations will constitute a nomination. Any church member has the privilege of making other nominations according to the policy established by the church. The committee shall bring to the consideration of the church only one name at a time. Election shall be by ballot, an affirmative vote of 3/4’s of those present being necessary for a choice. The pastor, thus elected, shall serve until the relationship is terminated by his request or the church’s request.

The pastor may relinquish the office as pastor by giving at least two weeks’ notice to the church at the time of resignation. 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 deacons or by written petition signed by not less than one fourth of the resident church members. The moderator for this meeting shall be the chairman of the Board of Deacons. 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 three months of his total annual compensation. The termination shall be immediate and the compensation shall be rendered on regular pay schedule including compensation for housing as determined by the deacons.

(2) The ministerial staff shall be called and employed as the church determines the need for such offices. A job description shall be written when the need for a staff member is determined. Those staff members of whom the church requires evidence of a personal call of God to minister shall be recommended to the church by the selection committee and called by church action. Election shall be by ballot, an affirmative vote of 3/4’s of those present being necessary for a choice. At the time of resignation at least two weeks’ notice shall be given to the church. The church may vote to vacate such positions upon recommendation of the fellowship of deacons, such termination being immediate and the compensation conditions being the same as for the pastor, except that the amount shall relate to the individual’s compensation.

(3) Nonministerial staff members shall be employed as the church determines the need for their services. The deacons shall have the authority to employ and to terminate services of nonministerial staff members. Such employment and termination of services shall be with the consultation of the supervising staff member and, as appropriate, with related committees of the church.

(4)    The church shall elect deacons by ballot on the fourth Sunday in October. A ballot shall be presented to the members present on the third Sunday in October, and each member is allowed to nominate three persons for the office of deacon. The ballots are then counted and the six persons with the largest number of votes who are willing to serve shall be presented to the church on conference Sunday as nominees. The three receiving the largest number of ballots shall serve on the fellowship of deacons taking office on January 1. The fellowship of deacons shall be composed of nine elected members until the church deems it necessary to change this number, and this would require an amendment to the constitution.

Deacons shall serve on a rotation basis. Each year the assigned term of office of one third of the number of deacons shall expire, and election shall be held to fill vacancies. In case of death or removal or incapacity to serve, the church may elect a deacon to fill the unexpired term. After serving a term of three years’ assignment, a deacon shall be eligible for reelection only after the lapse of at least one year. There shall be no obligation to constitute as an assigned deacon one who has been a deacon in another church; but in such instances as one might be chosen by this church for assignment as a deacon, his previous ordination by another church of like faith and order shall suffice for this church.

In accordance with the meaning of the work and the practice in the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. Their task is to serve with the pastor and staff in performing the pastoral ministries tasks of (1) leading the church in the achievement of its mission, (2) proclaiming the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (3) caring for the church’s members and other persons in the community.

(5)    The chairman of deacons shall serve as moderator. In the absence of the moderator, the vice chairman of the deacons shall serve as moderator.

(6) The church shall elect annually a clerk as its clerical officer. The clerk shall be responsible for keeping a suitable record of all official actions of the church, except as otherwise herein provided. The clerk shall be responsible for keeping a register of names of members, with dates of admission, dismission, death, or erasure, together with a record of baptisms. The clerk shall issue letters of dismission voted by the church, preserve on file all communications and written official reports, and give required notice of all meetings where notice is necessary, as indicated in these bylaws. The clerk shall be responsible for preparing the annual letter of the church to the association.

The church may delegate some of the clerical responsibilities to the church secretary who will assist the elected clerk. All church records are church property and shall be kept in the church office when an office is maintained.

(7) The church shall elect annually a church treasurer as its financial officer. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive, preserve, and pay out, upon receipt of vouchers approved and signed by authorized personnel, all money or things of value paid or given to the church, keeping at all times an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to render to the church at each regular business meeting an itemized report of the receipts and disbursements of the preceding month.

(8) The church elect three or more trustees to serve as legal officers for the 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 of property, or other legal documents related to church-approved matters.

Trustees shall serve on a rotation basis with one new trustee elected every year.

(2) The deacons shall serve as the personnel committee. They shall determine staff need, employment, salaries, benefits, other compensation, policies, job descriptions, and personnel services.

(3) The building and grounds committee assists the church in matters related to properties administration. Its work includes such areas as maintaining all church properties for ready use, recommending policies regarding use of properties, consulting with the personnel committee and the church staff regarding the needs for, and the employment of, maintenance personnel, and regarding the assignment of supervisory responsibility to appropriate personnel.

(4) The stewardship committee shall prepare annually a proposed budget including local expenses, education, and benevolences, and submit the same to the church two weeks prior to the announced church conference at which it will be voted upon. The proposed budget shall be voted on by ballot with a majority required for adoption. The budget shall be presented to the fellowship of deacons prior to submitting to the church. In preparing the budget the committee shall confer with the head of each organization of the church. Upon adoption, it becomes the duty of the stewardship committee, together with such others as may be needed, to promote giving according to the teachings of the scriptures.

This committee shall be composed of five members -one being the chairman of the deacons and the remainder selected by the nominating committee and presented to the church at annual conference for adoption. The chairman of the stewardship committee cannot be the chairman of the deacons.

(5) The local missions seeks to discover possibilities for local missions projects, shares findings with church program organizations, and serves the church in establishing and conducting such missions projects as may be assigned to it.

The nominating committee shall present nominees for the building grounds committee, the personnel committee, the stewardship committee, and the trustee on the third Sunday in October and they will be voted on to serve on the fourth Sunday in October. These committees will take office on January 1.

(1) 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 director elected by the church.

(2) The Discipleship Training organization shall serve as the training unit of the church. Its tasks shall be to train church members to perform the functions of the church; train church leaders; orient new church members; teach Christian theology, Christian ethics, Christian history, and church polity and organization; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.

(3) Woman’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 tasks shall be to teach missions; engage in mission action; support world missions through praying and giving; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.

Woman’s Missionary Union shall have such officers and organizations as the program requires.

(4) The Brotherhood shall be the church’s organization for mission education, mission action, and mission support for men, young men, and boys. Its tasks shall be to teach missions, engage in mission action, support world missions through praying and giving, and provide and interpret information regarding the work of the church and denomination.

The Brotherhood shall have such officers and organization as the program requires.

(5) The Church Music organization, under the direction of the church elected minister of music, shall be the music education, training, and performance organization of the church. Its tasks shall be to teach music; train persons to lead, sing, and play music; provide 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 organization as the program requires.

The primary 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 to evaluate achievements in terms of church objectives and goals.

Regular members of the church council shall be the pastor, other church staff members, directors of church program organizations, chairman of deacons, and church officers.

All matters agreed upon by the council which call for action not already approved shall be referred to the deacons prior to being presented to the church for approval or disapproval.

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.

(1)    Baptism shall be by immersion.

(2)    The pastor, or whomever the church shall authorize, shall administer baptism.

(3)    Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church.

(4)    A person who professes Christ and is not baptized after a reasonable length of time shall be counseled by the pastor and/or staff or deacons. If negative interest is ascertained on the part of the candidate, he shall be deleted from those awaiting baptism

The church shall observe the Lord’s Supper quarterly. The observance shall alternate between the morning and the evening services of worship. The pastor and deacons shall administer the Lord’s Supper. This observance is open to all professing Christians.

The church shall meet each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, 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 services for all the church members and for all others who may choose to attend.

Section 2. Special Services

Revival services and any other church meetings essential to the advancement of the church’s objectives shall be placed on the church calendar.

Section 3. Regular Business Meetings

The church shall have monthly business meetings. The meetings will be scheduled on Wednesday nights and each fifth Sunday morning. The day and time of these meetings shall be placed on the church calendar.

Section 4. Special Business Meetings

The church may conduct called business meetings to consider matters of special nature and significance. A one-week notice must be given for the specially called business meeting unless extreme urgency render such notice impractical. The notice shall include the subject, the date, and time and place; and it must be given in such a manner that all resident members have opportunity to know of the meeting.

Section 5. Quorum

A quorum consists of at least 20 members who attend the business meeting, provided it is a stated meeting or one that has been properly called.

Section 6. Parliamentary Rules

<u>Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised,</u> is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church.

The stewardship committee, in consultation with the church council, shall prepare and submit to the church for approval an inclusive budget, indicating by items the amount needed and sought for all local and other expenses. Offering envelopes will be provided for members’ use.

It is understood that membership in this church involves financial obligation to support the church and its causes with regular, proportionate gifts.

Section 2.

All budgeted funds received for any and all purposes shall pass through the hands of the church treasurer, or financial secretary, and be properly recorded on the books of the church.

Any unbudgeted expenditure which exceeds two hundred dollars must be referred first to the Stewardship Committee for review. If approved it shall then come as a recommendation from the above committee to the church in regular or special conference. An affirmative vote by a simple majority of those present and voting shall authorize the treasurer to disburse payment. This does not concern budgeted items. In emergency situations the following committee chairpersons: Deacons, Stewardship, and Building & Grounds may act by majority vote in what is felt to be the best interest of the church.

Section 3.

The church fiscal year shall run concurrently with the church year which begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.

Deacons shall serve on a rotation basis. After serving three years, the total number of deacons in that year will have their terms expire. In case of death or removal or incapacity to serve, the church may elect a deacon to fill the unexpired term. After serving a term of three years’ assignment, a deacon shall be eligible for reelection only after the lapse of at least one year. There shall be no obligation to constitute as an assigned deacon one who has been a deacon in another church; but in such instances as one might be chosen by this church for assignment as a deacon, his previous ordination by another church of like faith and order shall suffice for this church. (8/08)