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4000 E.
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the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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______________________________________________________________________________________________ CONSTITUTION OF ______________________________________________________________________________________________ DECLARATION We,
the members of Grace Bible Church of Gillette, Wyoming, here-in-after
referred to in this constitution and the by-laws as NAME The
name of this church organization shall be the “ PURPOSE The
purpose of this church organization shall be as follows: 1. A GENERAL STATEMENT: "To see each individual believer
spiritually healthy and mature, with a commitment and concern for Christ, one
another, and the world." 2. A
DETAILED STATEMENT: a. To proclaim the good news of salvation to the unsaved people of
our community and area, seeking to reach them for the Lord Jesus Christ. ( b. To
teach and preach the Word of God in such a manner as to build up and
establish the children of God in the faith. (Eph. 4:11-16.) c. To
maintain a missionary program in an effort to reach souls for Christ outside
our own community and area, even unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
(Matt. 28:18-20) d. To
provide a place and means of fellowship whereby God’s people might be a
blessing and encouragement to each other.
(Heb. 10:24,25). e. To
earnestly contend for the faith by proclaiming and defending the great
historic truths of God’s Word and exposing and opposing all that fits into
the category error and false teaching when necessary. (Jude 3) f. To
provide for the Christian education of the members through Sunday School
classes, church services, and any other classes deemed necessary to enhance
the knowledge of the church family. (I Peter 3:15). STATEMENT OF FAITH
(DOCTRINE) Section 1. ARTICLES
OF BIBLICAL FAITH (Part 1) In order to become or
remain a member of the A. The Holy Scriptures We believe the Holy Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final
authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible
and God-breathed. (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20,21). B. The
Godhead We believe in one Triune
God, eternally existing in three persons--Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit--identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same
attributes and perfections. (Matt. 17:5; 28:19-20; John 1:1-4; II Cor. 13:14;
I John 5:6,7). C. The Person and Work of Christ 1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God,
became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy
Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and
redeem sinful men. (Luke 1:35; John 1:1,2,14; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-18). 2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption
through His death on the cross as a representative, substitutionary
sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical
resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24,25; Eph. 1:7; I Peter 1:3-5; 2:24). 3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and
is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He
fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Rom. 8:34; I Tim. 2:4-6; I John 2:1-2). D. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit 1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the
world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He is the supernatural
Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers one time into the body of
Christ, eternally dwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption at the
point of acknowledging Christ as Lord and Savior. (John 16:7-11; Rom. 8:9; I
Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13,14). 2. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers
into all truth; that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be
filled with the Spirit. (John 14:17; 16:13; Eph 5:18; I John 2:27). E. The Total Depravity of Man We believe that man was
created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the race
fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man
is totally depraved, and of himself utterly unable to remedy his lost
condition. (Rom. 3:22,23; Rom. 5:12; I
Cor. 15:21,22). F. Salvation We believe that salvation
is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the
forgiveness of our sins. (John 3:16-18; Rom. 10:9,10; Eph 2:8-10). G. The Eternal Security and Assurance of
Believers 1. We believe that all the redeemed, once saved are kept by God's
power and are thus secure in Christ forever. (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:38,39; I
Cor. 1:4-8; I Peter 1:5). 2. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in
the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word; which,
however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the
flesh. (Rom. 6:1,2; Gal. 5:13; Titus 2:11,12). H. The Two Natures of the
Believer We believe that every saved person
possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over
the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and, that all
claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.
(Rom. 7:18-23; Gal. 5:16-25). I. Separation We believe that all the
saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior
and Lord; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all worldly and
sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded of God. (II Cor.
6:14; II Tim. 3:1-5; I John 2:14-17; II John 9-11). J. Missions We believe that it is the obligation
of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture
and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark
16:15; Acts 1:8). K. The Ministry and Spiritual
Gifts 1. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His
gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers are
sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in
tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased. As the New
Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established,
these signs ended. (Rom. 15:18-19; I Cor. 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 14:33; II Cor.
12:12; Eph. 4:7-12; Heb. 2:1-4). 2. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith,
in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted. (Matt. 7:7-11; John
15:7; James 5:14-16; I John 3:22; 5:14). L. The Church 1. We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused
bride of Christ is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of
this present age. (I Cor. 12:12-14; Eph. 5:25-27). 2. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local
churches is clearly taught by example and defined in the New Testament
Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; I Tim. 3:1-15). 3. We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free of any
external authority or control.
(Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-4). 4. We recognize the ordinances of water baptism and the Lord's
Supper as scriptural means of testimony for the church of this age. (Matt.
28:19,20; Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; I Cor. 11:23-26). M The
Personality of Satan We believe that Satan is a
person, the author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and
declared enemy of God and man; and, that he shall be eternally punished in
the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6,7;
Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; I Peter 5:8; I John 3:8; Rev. 20:10) N. The Eternal State 1 We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved
to eternal life and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment.
(Matt. 25:46; John 5:28,29;
11:25,26; Rev. 20:5,6,12,13). 2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death,
absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they
await the first resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be
glorified forever with the Lord. (Luke 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; I Thess.
4:16,17; Rev. 20:4-6). 3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death,
in a conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body
reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgment, and shall be
cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting
conscious punishment. (Mt. 25:41-46; Mk 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-26; II Th. 1:7-9;
Rev. 20:11-15). Section 2. ARTICLES OF BIBLICAL FAITH (Part 2) We at Grace Bible Church
recognize that in matters of eschatology (doctrine pertaining to the last
days), many Bible scholars who undoubtedly are sincere believers in the Lord
Jesus Christ have honest disagreements. It is the position of Grace Bible
Church that the following articles of faith will be taught at Grace Bible
Church. An applicant for membership into the fellowship of Grace Bible Church
may write upon his/her application form itemized explanations in regard to
those articles of faith with which he/she may have honest disagreement.
Disagreement with these articles will not automatically preclude an
individual from becoming a member of Grace Bible Church, but rather upon
interviewing with the pastor and/or the Board of Elders on an individual basis,
recommendation may still be made to the congregation for a favorable
acceptance of the applicant into membership. A. Dispensationalism We believe that the
Scriptures interpreted in their natural, literal senses reveal divinely
determined dispensations or rules of life which define man's responsibilities
in successive ages. These dispensations are not ways of salvation, but rather
divinely ordered stewardships by which God directs man according to His
purpose. Three of these--the Age of Law, the Age of Grace, also known as the
Church Age and the Age of the Millennial Kingdom-- are the subjects of
detailed revelation in Scripture. (John 1:17; II Cor. 3:9-18; Gal. 3:13-25;
Eph. 1:10; 3:2-10; Col. 1:24,25; Heb. 7:19;
Rev. 20:2-6). B. The
Second Advent of Christ We believe in that
"Blessed Hope", the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and
premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in
His subsequent return to Earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom.
(Zech. 14:4-11; I Thess. 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 19:11-16;
20:1-6). Section 3. MOVEMENTS CONTRARY TO THE FAITH A. Ecumenism : Ecumenism is that movement which seeks the
organizational unity of all Christianity, and ultimately of all religions.
Its principal advocates are the World Council of Churches and the National
Council of Churches of Christ in the United Stated of America. B. Ecumenical Evangelism
: Ecumenical evangelism is that effort
to promote the Gospel by bringing fundamentalists into an unequal yoke with
theological liberals and/or Roman Catholics and other divergent groups. C. Neo-Orthodoxy : Neo-orthodoxy is that theological movement
which affirms: the transcendence of God, the finiteness and sinfulness of
man, and the necessity of supernatural divine revelation of truth; but, while
using evangelical terminology, seriously departs from criticism, in denying
the inerrancy of the Bible as historic revelation, in accepting religious
experience as the criterion for truth, and in abandoning important
fundamentals of the Christian faith. D. New Evangelicalism
(Neo-Evangelicalism, New Conservatism) : These terms refer to that movement
within evangelicalism characterized by a toleration of and a dialogue with
theological liberalism. Its essence is seen in an emphasis upon the social
application of the Gospel and weak or unclear doctrines of: the inspiration
of Scripture, Biblical creationism, eschatology, dispensationalism, and
separation. It is further characterized by an attempt to accommodate Biblical
Christianity and make it acceptable to the modern mind. E. Charismatic Movement : Due to problems and confusion which have
existed in churches where tongues and signs such as healings have become an
issue, we request that all members refrain from the use of these
"gifts" within the church. We will not tolerate the use of these
"gifts" among our members outside the church. Section 4. COVENANTS CHURCH MEMBER'S COVENANT: I have trusted Jesus Christ
as my personal Savior, and desire to enter into the fellowship of the Grace
Bible Church, and to engage with its members in efforts to achieve the
purposes set forth in its Statements of Faith. I have read and studied
prayerfully the doctrinal statements, and believe them to be doctrines set
forth in the Word of God. I have thoughtfully and prayerfully read the
constitution of the church, and am willing to abide by all of its provisions.
If at any time I find that I am out of sympathy with the doctrinal positions
of the church, I shall quietly withdraw from the fellowship without
attempting to cause trouble in any way, and hereby authorize the Board of
Elders, in such event, to erase my name from its membership records. ELDER BOARD COVENANT: I covenant myself to defend
the Word of God, and our constitution, and willingly submit to the Scriptural
standard for a church officer as is given in I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9;
knowing that I will be looked up to by the young and old alike as a spiritual
leader. If at any time I find I am out of harmony with the declarations of
this constitution I will quietly resign, seeking to cause no harm to the
testimony of this church in the community. DEACON BOARD COVENANT: I covenant myself to defend
the Word of God, and our constitution, and willingly submit to the Scriptural
standard for a church officer as is given in I Tim. 3:8-13 knowing that I
will be looked up to by the young and old alike as a spiritual leader. If at
any time I find I am out of harmony with the declarations of this
constitution I will quietly resign, seeking to cause no harm to the testimony
of this church in the community. TEACHER'S COVENANT: I am conscious of the great
responsibility laid upon me as a teacher. I will refrain from teaching
anything which might be contrary to the doctrines of this church, contained
in Section 1 of the Articles of Biblical Faith. In the event that I may have
opportunity to express my personal understanding of the Scriptures in regard
to eschatological doctrines, as contained in section 2 of the Articles of
Biblical Faith, I will do so with a spirit of humble graciousness and will in
no manner disrespectfully belittle or demean the official stance which Grace
Bible Church holds in regard to these doctrines . If at any time I find that
my views are in conflict with the doctrines contained in Section 1 of the
Articles of Biblical Faith and/or the policies of the church, I will quietly
give up my teaching position without attempting to cause trouble in any way.
I will be faithful in my support of the church in regard to each part of its
ministry so that I might set an example before those whom I teach. In my
teaching I shall earnestly seek to exalt the Person of Jesus Christ and do my
part to help accomplish the purpose set forth in this constitution. PASTOR'S COVENANT: As pastor of the Grace
Bible Church, I shall strive to exercise the duties of my office in such a
way as to have a conscience void of offense toward God and man. God helping
me, I shall strive to see that the flock of God will enjoy a balanced
ministry in shepherding, teaching and evangelizing. Furthermore, I shall seek
above all things to promote unity of the Spirit, being ready always for
suggestions when given for the glory of God, and the furtherance of His work. If at any time I am out of
harmony with the constitution, I will appreciate the Board of Elders calling
it to my attention. I shall seek to be sensitive to God's leading to know
when my services are done, and upon sixty (60) per cent majority vote of the
church members, and at the recommendation of the Board of Elders, I shall
quietly leave the position, causing no trouble which would hurt the church. CHURCH COVENANT: Having been led, as we
believe, by the Spirit of God, we, the members of this church, do most
solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in
Christ. God helping us, we covenant
together that as we have opportunity we will do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith, (Gal. 6:10); that as strangers
and pilgrims we will abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
(I Peter 2:11). As long as we continue in the membership of this church we
will gladly co-operate, making its testimony far reaching in effect. By
co-operating we specifically mean to pray for one another, and to assist
those who have rule over us, who preach the Word of God (Heb. 13:7); refusing
to gossip or listen to gossip in any form against them or any fellow members,
(James 3:5-18). Furthermore, in co-operating we shall give as God prospers,
not grudgingly or of necessity, to the work of our church (II Cor. 9:7);
realizing its needs first and the needs of other Christian works subsequently;
that this fellowship, into which we have been led of God, will not be
hindered because of any shortcomings on our part. RESTATEMENT OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF GRACE BIBLE CHURCH Amended, Retyped, Reformatted by GBC/CAS, February
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ______________________________________________________________________________________________ BY-LAWS OF GRACE BIBLE CHURCH ______________________________________________________________________________________________ ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP A. Admission
into membership: The membership of this
church shall consist only of those who give clear evidence of faith in Jesus
Christ as Savior and who sincerely desire to live a Godly Christian life for
the glory of God. Any person desiring to
unite with this church shall be examined by the Pastor and/or Elders to
determine that individual's qualifications for the church membership. Each
prospective member shall be acquainted with the Constitution and doctrines of
the church. It shall be the responsibility of the Pastor and/or Elders to
adequately instruct prospective members in regard to the constitution and
doctrines of the church. After having examined a prospective member, and upon
the approval of the Board of Elders, the prospective member shall be received
into the membership of the church. On the following Sunday, the new member
shall be presented to the rest of the membership at the close of the morning
service to be publicly welcomed into the church membership. Believer's baptism by
immersion is required for church membership. A believer's baptism from
another church is acceptable. B. Voting
Membership: An individual who is 18
years of age, or over, and who is received into membership of this church
shall automatically be entitled to vote at any congregational meeting
providing he is an active member. C. Duties of Members: It shall be the duty of
each member of this church: 1. To recognize the Holy Scriptures as
authoritative in every aspect of daily life and to read, study, and apply
those Scriptures in an effort to know and to do the will of God. 2. To
love and respect the spiritual leadership of the Pastor, Board of Elders, and
church family. 3. To
sincerely endeavor to maintain a Christian testimony in the home, community,
and church which is consistent with the doctrine set forth in this
constitution. 4. To
cheerfully support the church in a financial and a sacrificial way as God
enables. 5. To
actively support the services, programs, and spiritual ministry of the church
in an effort to accomplish the purposes set forth in this constitution. D. Active and Inactive Members: An active member is one who regularly
attends at least a portion of the various services of the church. An active
member is one who contributes in a consistent way to the financial needs of
the church. An inactive member is one
who for some legitimate reason is unable to attend the services of the church
regularly or one who makes no attempt to attend or support the ministry of
the church in a consistent way. The
Board of Elders shall have the authority to determine when a member should be
placed on the inactive roll of the church. If a member does not attend or
support the ministry of the church over one year period, he/she will be
automatically placed on the inactive roll, before the annual business
meeting. E. Termination
of Membership: Any member desiring to
sever relations with the church may be granted a letter of termination and
standing. Upon uniting with another church, any member shall be automatically
dropped from the membership of the church. Any member who is inactive for two
years will receive a letter from the Board of Elders requesting whether he
desires his membership to be continued. If the member fails to respond,
termination of membership will follow. ARTICLE II: BOARD
OF ELDERS A. The
Board of Elders shall fulfill all the duties and have all the power of the
Official Church Board specified in the Certificate of Incorporation. The
Board of Elders shall be composed of spiritually qualified men who meet the
qualifications expressed in I Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. In keeping with the clear
teaching in God's Word concerning women being in a position of leadership or
authority over men (I Tim. 2:12), no woman may serve in the capacity of a
pastor or be a member of the Board of Elders. B. The
Board of Elders shall be composed of from two (2) to twelve (12) members. The
number constituting this Board shall be determined each year by the Board of
Elders. C. All
Board members shall be elected by the membership at the annual meeting for a
three year term of office. Each Board
member may succeed himself for an additional three year term, but then will
be required as a general rule to be off the Board of Elders for at least one
year before serving additional terms. However, should the Board of Elders be
in unanimous agreement that an
elder who has completed two terms of office could best serve the church by
remaining on the Board of Elders, this requirement to retire for one year can
be waived by a two-thirds majority vote of the congregation upon such
recommendation to the annual meeting of the congregation by the Board of
Elders. Such a re-elective procedure would occur on a yearly basis for an
indeterminate number of years. There are two ways to
remove a person from the Board of Elders of Grace Bible Church. They are: 1. Resignation from the Board 2. Two-thirds vote by the Board of
Elders In the event an elected
board member or other elected position in the church resigns from the
position before completing his full term, the Board of Elders shall appoint
someone to complete that term. Nominations for elected
positions will be presented to the board from a committee consisting of the
pastor, one board member, and one member from the church membership at large. D. The
Board of Elders shall have the legal right to hold in the corporate name of
the church, the deeds, titles, etc., of any and all property and funds used
to carry on the ministry of this church. The Board of Elders, in the
corporate name of the Church, may purchase, lease, own, use, manage, control,
maintain, improve, encumber, sell, exchange any real or personal property
necessary for the best interest, welfare, and development of the church and
its membership. The Board of Elders may spend, without consulting the church
body up to $10,000.00; subject to funds being available from non-borrowed
sources. The Board of Elders may also spend designated donations of any given
amount, if the desired project is approved by the Board of Elders. Any
purchase involving land or long-term obligation, of any type, must be
approved by a majority vote of the church membership. It shall be the duty of the
Board of Elders to choose from its number, a Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary, Church Treasurer, and Mission Chairman. The Board shall determine
and specify the duties of each of these officers. However, other officers and
special committees may be appointed when necessary. It shall be the
responsibility of the Board of Elders to oversee all of the executive matters
of the church and to see to it that the church is provided with spiritual
leadership at all times. The Board of Elders shall
meet at regular intervals as determined by the members of the Board. All
business of the Board shall be decided by a majority vote, except as
otherwise stated herein. Matters of church business may be presented by any
member of the church at any of the regular meetings of the Board. All members of the Board of
Elders must be active members of the church and must be in full agreement
with the doctrines of the church as specified in Section 1 of the Statement
of Biblical Faith, and respectful of the position taken by the church in
regard to doctrines specified in Section 2 of the Statement of Biblical
Faith. Each Board member shall be elected by at least a majority vote of the
church membership present at an official business meeting of the church. All officers,
organizations, boards, and departments within the church shall be subject to
the authority of the Board of Elders. E. OFFICES
1. Chairman: a. He
shall preside at all meetings of the congregational business assembly and the
Board of Elders. b. He
shall represent the congregation in conducting all business affairs of the
corporation, as directed by the voting members. He may delegate at his
discretion, his duties in conducting the business affairs of the corporation
to other duly constituted officers, who shall conduct such delegated duties
under his supervision, and subject to the approval of the voting membership of
the church. c. The chairman shall, on
behalf of the corporation, sign all deeds, bills of sale, mortgages, notes,
and other, contracts and legal documents, upon the approval of the voting
membership, EXCEPT his signature shall not be necessary for the validity of
any checks or drafts issued by the corporation. 2. Vice-Chairman: The vice-chairman shall assume all
the duties of the Chairman in his absence. 3. Secretary: a. The secretary shall be responsible for the safe keeping of all
permanent minutes, past and present, of the congregation. b. He shall faithfully record in permanent records all minutes of
the congregational business meetings and the Elder Board meetings. c.
He shall conduct official correspondence of the church membership or
the Board of Elders. d.
He shall provide a copy of the constitution and by-laws to all new
members. e.
He shall maintain an accurate list of all voting members of the
corporation. f. He shall be responsible for notifying members of the voting
membership of the date, time, and place of special meetings. g. He shall submit a list of amendments to the constitution and
by-laws passed during the past year in the annual congregational meeting. h. He shall affix the corporate seal to all legal documents
signed by the Chairman as authorized by the voting membership, and shall
attest to the signature of the chairman thereon. i. He may appoint a member to serve as church clerk, to assist
in proper maintenance of the official records. 4. Church
Treasurer: a. He
shall approve any bills to be paid by the Financial Secretary. b. He
shall request a church financial statement from the Financial Secretary for
any official meeting, such as annual, special, or board. c. He
may appoint a financial secretary to assist in the financial transactions of
the church. 1. The Financial Secretary shall keep
accurate and up-to-date records of all financial transactions of the church. 2. The Financial Secretary shall have the
authority to write and sign checks and to pay all bills of the church out of
the church bank account, subject to approval by the Church Treasurer. 3. The Financial Secretary shall submit a
financial report to the Board of Elders by way of the church treasurer, at
the regular Board meetings, special business meetings, and shall report the
financial condition of the church at the annual congregational meeting. 5.
Missions Chairman: a. An
Elder appointed annually by the Board of Elders will function as chairman of
the missions committee. b. It
will be the responsibility of the Missions Chairman and Missions committee to
actively promote missionaries and missionary organizations that are dedicated
to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in accordance with the
doctrinal statement and missions policy of Grace Bible Church. F. PASTOR: 1. It
shall be the responsibility of the Board of Elders to extend calls to
prospective Pastors and to see that the church is provided with supply
Pastors when without a regular Pastor. 2. Calling
a Pastor: A pulpit committee chosen by the Board
of Elders shall be responsible for making contact with prospective Pastors.
After examining the qualifications of the prospective pastors, the pulpit
committee shall send the prospective Pastor a copy of the constitution for
his prayerful consideration. If he is in accord with the declarations of the
Constitution and By-laws he may be invited to the church to preach in the
Sunday services before the congregation. The prospective Pastor shall then
meet with the Board of Elders for examination. If the Board of Elders
approves him unanimously, then they shall call a special business meeting of
the church membership for the purpose of voting on the prospective Pastor. If
a seventy five (75) per cent favorable vote of members present is cast, the
prospective Pastor shall be called to the pastorate of the church. If the
vote is unfavorable, the candidate shall be notified and a new candidate
shall be called. The Pastor shall serve so long as it is
mutually agreeable to him and the church. When either the Pastor or the
church wishes to terminate the pastorate, the party desiring such a change
shall give the other party sufficient notice. Insofar as possible, two
months’ notice of such action shall be given. 3. Duties
of the Pastor: It shall be the duty of the Pastor to
preach regularly at the church, to administer the ordinances of the gospel,
and to perform the various duties incumbent on his office. He is to serve as
a voting member of the Board of Elders. He may not be called upon to serve as
Chairman of the Board of Elders. He shall assume, with the Board of
Elders, the spiritual leadership of the church, working closely and directly
with various officers of the church and supervising, with the Board of
Elders, the spiritual program of the entire ministry of the church. The pastor is in charge of and
responsible for the pulpit and shall see that the preaching ministry is
provided for in his own absence, subject to approval by the Board of Elders. ARTICLE III: BOARD
OF DEACONS A. The
membership of the Board of Deacons shall be subject to similar qualifications
regulating the Board of Elders. B. The
Board of Deacons shall be composed of up to six (6) members. They shall be
elected for a two year term of office. C. It
shall be the responsibility of the Board of Deacons to meet monthly and care
for the physical needs of the church property and such other physical duties
that the Board of Elders brings to their attention. They shall report the
activities of the Board of Deacons to the Board of Elders along with
appraisals of upcoming needs and activities as far as possible. D. They
shall be allowed to purchase necessary materials or services not to exceed
one hundred dollars ($100) if available for the maintenance and repair of the
church property. E. They
shall advertise, organize, and supervise all approved repair, maintenance,
construction, alteration, or work day activities of church property. F. The
Board of Deacons shall organize themselves and elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
and Secretary. G. The
secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting and shall provide one copy of
the minutes of each meeting to the Chairman of the Board of Elders. H. If
a Deacon resigns from his position before completing his full term, the Board
of Elders shall appoint someone to complete that term. (See Article II, B.) ARTICLE IV: CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION BOARD A. Each
member of the Christian Education Board shall be active members of Grace
Bible Church. B. Each
member of the Christian Education Board shall be elected for two year term
with the exception of the Pastor who is always a member of this board. C. It
shall be the responsibility of the Christian Education Board to coordinate
the entire teaching ministry of the church. The Christian Education Board
shall function within the guidelines of the accepted Christian Education
Board policy. D. The
Christian Education Board shall be comprised of five persons with the
following titles: Pastor, Chairman of Events, Chairman of Youth, Chairman of
Committees, and Sunday School Superintendent. E. The
Christian Education Board shall organize themselves with the stipulation that
the Chairman be a male. The Chairman will appoint a Secretary. F. The
Secretary shall keep minutes of each meeting and provide one copy of the
minutes of each meeting to the Chairman of the Board of Elders. 1. Sunday School Superintendent: The Sunday School Superintendent must be
a male and an active member of the church and in full agreement with the
doctrines of the church. It shall be the responsibility of the
Sunday School Superintendent to appoint as appropriate, a Sunday School
Secretary, a Sunday School Treasurer, a Sunday School Pianist, and teachers
for each class. Each of these appointments shall be approved by the Christian
Education Board. The Sunday School Superintendent shall see to it that each
part of the Sunday School Ministry is cared for in a proper manner. He shall
work closely with the Pastor to develop and maintain a Bible-teaching
ministry in the Sunday School that will be effective in producing spiritual
results in the lives of individuals. a. Sunday
School Secretary: The Sunday School Secretary may be
appointed by the Superintendent on an annual basis. The Secretary must be an
active member of the church and must be approved by the Christian Education
Board. It shall be the responsibility of the
Secretary to keep a proper record of the entire ministry of the Sunday
School, including a record of enrollment and attendance. It shall be the duty
of the Secretary to keep a record of Sunday School materials and supplies as
needed. The Secretary shall work closely with the Superintendent and the
Pastor in regard to materials and supplies ordered for the Sunday School. b. Sunday
School Treasurer: The Sunday School Treasurer may be
appointed by the Superintendent on a yearly basis. The treasurer must be an
active member of the church in full agreement with the doctrines of the
church. The treasurer's appointment must be approved by the Christian
Education Board. The treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all money
received into the Sunday School. He must keep an accurate and up-to-date
record of all financial transactions of the Sunday School. He shall be responsible for the deposit
of all Sunday School funds and bills into the hands of the Financial
Secretary. c. Teachers:
(1). Appointment of Teachers: All Sunday School teachers
shall be appointed by the Sunday School Superintendent. Each appointment shall be approved by the
Christian Education Board and shall be for a period of one year. (2). Duties of Teachers: All Sunday School teachers, youth
leaders or other persons responsible in a teaching ministry in any department
of the church shall be a member of the church in full agreement with the
doctrines and constitution. 2. Youth
Chairman: The Youth Chairman will be a male,
elected by the congregation and will be an active member in full agreement
with the doctrines of Grace Bible Church. 3. Chairman of Events: The Chairman of Events shall be elected
by the congregation and will be an active member in full agreement with the
doctrines of Grace Bible Church. 4. Chairman
of Committees: The Chairman of Committees shall be
elected by the congregation and will be an active member in full agreement
with the doctrines of Grace Bible Church. ARTICLE V: MEETINGS A. Annual
Meeting: The regular annual meeting shall be held
during the month of January each year, as determined by the Board of Elders.
The regular annual meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing members
of the Board of Elders, Board of Deacons, Board of Christian Education,
standing committees and all other elected positions; and for submitting
reports from each department of the church. B. Special
Business Meetings: Special business meetings
may be called at any time by the Pastor or the Board of Elders. The same
rules and regulations shall apply to the special business meetings as are
applied to the annual business meetings, with the exception of a special
meeting called for the purpose of calling a Pastor. In the case of a business
meeting called for the purpose of calling a Pastor, there need be no
announcement made of the meeting two Sundays prior to the date thereof.
However, a written notice of the meeting must be sent to each member as soon
as possible, announcing the meeting, its purpose, and the date. C. Notice
of Annual Meeting: Notice of the annual business meeting
shall be announced in the church, during both Sunday School and Church
services, on the last two Sundays prior to the date thereof. D. Business: All business shall be conducted with a
quorum of at least one fourth of the active membership of the church. E. Amendment
of the Constitution: For amending the constitution, notice
of such meeting and the amendments to be voted upon must be submitted to the
church member in writing at least two Sundays in advance of the meeting.
Amendments can only be adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the membership
present. ARTICLE VI: ORDER OF BUSINESS A. The
rules contained in the "Robert's Rules of Order" shall govern the
basic meeting procedures at all regular meetings of the voting membership,
except where these may be inconsistent with the by-laws of the corporation. B. The
following shall be the order of business for regular business meetings of the
voting membership: 1. Devotion 6. Pastor's Report 2. Roll Call 7. Unfinished Business 3. Reading of minutes 8. New Business 4. Recognition of New Members 9. Adjournment 5. Reports of Officers and Boards 10. Closing
Prayer ARTICLE VII: FINANCIAL POLICY A. The
financial needs of this church shall be raised by free-will offerings. No
canvass of members or of persons outside the church shall be made for
financial support. Neither shall pressure of any kind be brought to bear upon
members of this church for financial support. However, each member of the
church shall be expected to bear his share of the financial needs of the
church with a willing heart. An annual audit shall be made of the
financial records of the church by a committee appointed by the Board of
Elders. B. The
Board of Elders shall determine to whom authority shall be given for the
purpose of purchasing materials and supplies. Only those persons who have
been granted authority by the Elder Board shall purchase items for the
church. ARTICLE VIII: MISSIONS This church shall be a missionary church
with a missionary fund being established and maintained especially for the
purpose of supporting missionaries and missionary organizations that are
dedicated to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a Scriptural
way. The Board of Elders shall have authority to administer and care for the
missionary ministry of the church. ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION All funds and properties of disbanded
or dissolved organizations or classes of this church and Sunday School shall
automatically become the property of the church to be dispersed by
recommendation of the Board of Elders and members of the church. In the event
that this church organization should cease to exist and function as a church,
all properties and funds would be disposed of and distributed to some other
organization of a similar nature as designated by the United States
Department of Internal Revenue. Dissolution of the corporation shall
require the following: A. An
affirmation vote of 75% of the membership at a regular or special meeting and
following such affirmative vote the matter shall be referred to the Board of
Elders. B. Should
75% of the Board of Elders vote for dissolution, the Board shall have the
authority to proceed to dissolve the corporation in accordance with these
by-laws. In the event of dissolution
other than incident to merger or consolidation, the assets of the corporation
shall be transferred to an organization of similar purpose so long as that
organization is exempt under the provisions of Title 26, United States Code;
Section 501 (C), (3), and contributions to which are deductible under Title
26, United States Code; Section 170 (C), (2). AMENDMENT To the By-Laws of Grace
Bible Church AWANA STAFF Levels of leadership were
ordained by God, and there are many illustrations of such leadership organization
in the scriptures. An effective AWANA leader will be: 1. A saved person with a consistent Christian
testimony and Godly walk who will be able to graciously handle, guide, and
work with boys and girls, other leaders, and the administration of the local
church. 2. A person with a burden and a vision that
many boys and girls will trust Christ as Savior and become established in the
Christian faith. 3. A person with a youthful attitude (not
necessarily a youth). 4. A person who is patient and gentle, yet
firm in his convictions (II Tim. 2:24-25). 5. A person who is interested in others.
(Phil. 2:4). 6. A humble person who is willing to do
anything for the Lord (Acts 20:19). 7. A person who loves God's word and lives it
(II Cor. 6:1-10). A. AWANA
Commander - a member appointed annually by the Board of Elders. The Commander
is responsible for the oversight of the AWANA Clubs and reports to the
Pastor. The AWANA Commander must be a male, an active member of Grace Bible
Church, and in full agreement with the doctrines of the church. B. AWANA
Director - a member appointed annually by the Pastor and Commander. A
Director oversees the activities of his/her club, must be an active member,
and in full agreement with the doctrines of the church. C. AWANA
Secretary - a volunteer position which assists the club director with record
keeping, ordering of supplies, and other organizational duties. This position
may be filled by a club leader or director, but it is preferable for another
person to be given this responsibility. Secretaries must pass the basic
training test and be in agreement with the AWANA doctrinal statement. D. AWANA
Leader - a volunteer position which is under the guidance of the club
director, and works directly with the clubbers. (While every position is one
of leadership, the term leader is used in the AWANA structure to designate
those specifically working in this particular position.) Leaders must pass
the basic training test and be in agreement with the AWANA doctrinal statement. RESTATEMENT OF THE BY-LAWS
OF GRACE BIBLE CHURCH Amended, Retyped, and Reformatted, GBC/CAS February 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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