Organizational Guidelines

Faith Bible Chapel

Revised July 15, 2001

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1.

The church shall be known as Faith Bible Chapel.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

All persons making Faith Bible Chapel their church home at the time these guidelines are adopted shall be entered as members of the church.

Section 2.

All subsequent persons who desire to worship God as revealed by Jesus Christ and become co-laborers with the existing members of the church shall apply to the Board of Elders for membership. The Board of Elders shall interview the applicant and upon rec­ommendation by the Board of Elders, said applicant's name shall be brought before the membership for approval.

Section 3.

There shall be no discrimination because of age, sex, color or national origin in accepting or rejecting potential members. All members age 16 or older may vote on all matters of the church except the electing of elders where a member must be at least 18 years old. Any member shall have full right to express his or her opinion concerning any matter to be voted upon.

Section 4.

Any person who does not attend the church for a period of three months shall be interviewed by the Board of Elders to determine whether he or she desires to be dropped from the roll, or to have his or her membership continued.

Section 5.

The congregation shall, upon the recommendation of the elders, have the right to remove a member from the membership roll for good cause based on scriptural guidelines.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1.

            The officers of the church shall be the treasurer, secretary, Board of Elders and Board of Deacons. All candidates for said offices shall be nominated by the Elders upon receiving recommenda­tions from the members. The candidates' names shall be made public at least seven days prior to the meeting when they shall be brought before membership for approval.

Section 2.            .

The treasurer of the church shall have custody of all monies and other funds of the church and shall pay all obligations of the church as directed by the Elders and Deacons. The treasurer shall be elected annually for the term of one year or until a successor is duly elected and qualified.

Section 3.

The secretary shall have the responsibility of all the records of church meetings and shall faithfully record all new meeting re­cords and be responsible for correspondence directed to Faith Bible Chapel. The secretary shall be responsible for a permanent roll of all members of the church with an indication as to their status. The secretary shall be elected annually for the term of one year or until a successor is duly elected and qualified.

Section 4.

The Board of Deacons should not be less than three. One shall be annually elected and all shall serve for a three-year term or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Deacons' duties shall be to assist the Elders.

Section 5.

The Board of Elders will consist of not less than three. Term of office will be three years, staggered terms, with the body electing one or more each year. The Elders shall see that all properties of the church are properly insured against fire with an extended cov­erage provision. The Elders shall have control over all property as to scheduling its use and shall have the complete authority to allow such non-church uses as do not conflict with use by the church and are deemed compatible with the use as buildings dedi­cated to God's work. The Elders shall not have the power to spend or incur debts over $500 on behalf of the church at anyone time without previously being authorized by the members at the annual or a special meeting.

ARTICLE IV

PERMANENT COMMITIEES

Section 1.

People for these and similar jobs will be designated by meetings as necessary.

ARTICLE V

CHURCH PROPERTY

Section 1.

All property belonging to Faith Bible Chapel shall continue to be owned by said church and disposed of in accordance with its wishes.

Section 2.

All property acquired by Faith Bible Chapel which was not designated at the time of acquisition shall belong to the church and all new property acquired hereafter shall belong to Faith Bible Chapel.

Section 3.

In the event of a dissolution of the church, the property belonging to said church shall be disposed of in accordance with its direc­tions and any property owned by the church shall be, by majority vote of the members, distributed to a succeeding religious or charitable organization.

ARTICLE VI

BUSINESS MEETINGS

Section 1.

The church shall hold quarterly meetings including an annual business meeting and church supper the first Sunday of March of every year, the Deacons being responsible to schedule the re­maining quarterly meeting and suppers if desirable. The business of the annual meeting shall be to fix the number of the Board of Elders and Board of Deacons and to elect all officers and to act upon all such other matters as may be recommended by the Eld­ers or shall be placed on the call of the annual meeting by written petition of 10 active members of the church filed with the secre­tary at least 14 days prior to the annual meeting.

Section 2.

The Elders are to open meetings until a moderator is elected. The moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the church, preserve order and manage the business of the meeting. He shall be elected at each business meeting for the duration of the meet­ing or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Section 3.

Special meetings shall be called by the Elders as necessary. Such special meeting shall be held by elders notifying as many mem­bers as possible.

Section 4.

A quorum for any annual or special meeting shall be 10 members, but a lesser number may adjourn said meeting to a fixed date.

Section 5.

Special meetings may also be called upon agreement of 10 active members.

ARTICLE VII

FINANCES

Section I.

The titles of the physical properties of the church are held by the church. All operation, maintenance, repairs and other expenses connected with the same shall be paid by the church, and all the uses of the properties shall be controlled by the church.

Section 2.

The church shall designate such portion of its funds it desires to contribute to missionary use deemed wise by the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

This constitution and by-laws may be amended or added to from time to time at any annual or quarterly meeting of the members providing written notice has been given in the call for such meet­ing setting forth the language of the amendment.

 

Amendments

The Board would like to amend Article III, Section 5 to read:

ARTICLE III (revised July 15,2001)

Section 5.

The Board of Elders should not be less than three. Term of office will be three years, staggered terms, with the body electing one or more each year. The Elders shall see that all properties of the church are properly insured against fire with an extended cover­age provision. The Elders shall have control over all property as to scheduling its use and shall have the complete authority to allow such non-church uses as do not conflict with use by the church and are deemed compatible with the use as buildings dedi­cated to God's work.

                                 

The Board would like to amend Article VI, Section 1 to read:

ARTICLE VI (revised July 15, 2001)

Section 1.

The church shall hold quarterly meetings including an annual business meeting and church supper. The annual meeting shall be set by the deacons the third Sunday of April each year, but may be changed should conflicts occur if proper notice is given at least 14 days in advance. Quarterly meetings in July, October and January shall be set by the deacons. The business of the annual meeting shall be to fix the number of members on the Board of Elders and Board of Deacons and to elect all officers and to act upon all such other matters as may be recommended by the Eld­ers or shall be placed on the call of the annual meeting by written petition of 10 active members of the church filed with the secre­tary at least 14 days prior to the annual meeting.