By Laws

 

BY-LAWS

OF

THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP

 

 

ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP

 

A. Membership Categories, Qualifications, Rolls.

 

1.               MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES AND QUALIFICATIONS:  Members in this Church shall seek to follow God as revealed by the Holy Spirit. Our membership is to include all who wish to have a relationship with God. Membership shall consist of two categories: Active and Inactive.

 

a.   An Active Member shall be persons who have been approved by majority vote of the Church, regardless if they maintain their membership in another Church.  Such approval shall be based upon affirmation of the Purpose and ownership of the Covenant.

 

b.   An Inactive Member is a former Active Member; Whose address has been unknown for two years; or Who, in spite of kindly reminders, has not, for a two-year period, participated in the services of worship or the organized work of this church, or contributed to its financial support or otherwise shown an interest in this church; and Who has been designated an Inactive Member by the majority vote of the congregation.

 

 

2.                REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP; Membership in this Church shall cease: Upon      transfer or voluntary termination; At death; After three consecutive years as an Inactive Member; or Upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present at a Business Meeting.

 

3.             RECEPTION OF MEMBERS  Persons, having been approved by the vote of the Church, shall be received into membership at a regular Sunday worship service, or at some other time as determined by the Church, by public acceptance of the  Purpose and the Covenant, and thereafter shall be entitled to all privileges of membership.

 

B.  Members’ Powers and Authority

           

The Active shall have sole authority to vote the business of the Congregation.

 

C.  Membership Meetings

 

1.  ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP:  The Church shall have an Annual Meeting, to be held on the First Sunday in March each year.

 

2.     SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERSHIP:  The Church may have a Special Meeting for any purpose relevant to the Church, upon a written request, signed by any three (3) members.

 

3.    NOTICE:  Notice of a Business Meeting shall be announced from the pulpit at least twice, and for at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

  

4.  QUORUM:  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Active Members present at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any  Meeting.

 

5.        MEETING PROCEDURE:

 

a. Business Meetings shall be called to order by the Moderator or, in the Moderator’s absence, any Active Member of the church may call the Meeting to order for the election of a Moderator pro-tem by majority vote.

 

b.      Order of Business: An agenda shall be presented at each meeting.

 

c.     Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all Membership Meetings, except as these By-Laws may require otherwise.

 

6.        ELECTION PROCEDURES:

 

a.       All positions shall be held by Active Members.

 

b.      All positions shall be initially elected at the Annual Meeting.

 

c.       Voting shall be by ballot in event of contest.

 

d.      No nomination may be presented at an Annual Meeting unless the nominee shall have consented to serve if elected.

 

e.    Terms shall commence immediately upon their election, and shall terminate on proper election of their successor or upon their written resignation.

  

f.      If any position becomes vacant between Annual Meetings, the Nominating Committee shall fill the vacancy by an interim appointment until the next Annual Meeting.

 

ARTICLE II

GOVERNANCE

 

Our Congregation seeks to have the least possible organization. We create boards and committees only to help us better.  No position is granted any real authority.  We are all servants to God and one another.

 A.     Boards

Except as reserved to the Boards, the Servants shall be responsible for all matters of the Church when a Membership Meeting is not in session.

 

1.                  BOARD DESIGNATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

 

a. The Board of Giving shall consist of no less than three (3) members.  The duties of this Board shall be to promote among the Members the giving of time, talent, and possessions.  It shall investigate, correlate, promote and direct mission projects.  Funds collected or allocated for mission purposes shall be disbursed by this Board after approval of the Membership.  A list of current mission projects and their respective funding shall be published to the Membership annually.

 

Three (3) members-at-large elected at an Annual Meeting, a representative of the Trustees,  Deacons, Educational Committee, the clerk,  the Pastor, and such other Members specified by the By-Laws.  Their manner of selection, terms, responsibilities, and authority shall be set forth in the By-Laws.

 

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  The Servants shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

 

1. Handle the affairs of the Church between membership meetings by coordinate the overall Church program and policy, and resolve matters of overlap or conflict between two or more Boards, Committees, or Officers;

 

2. Approve job descriptions, establishing compensation, and evaluating performance of the Ministerial staff

 

3. Report at each Annual Meeting on work accomplished in all aspects of the Church program;

 

4. With the advice of the Board of Trustees, formulate a budget for the upcoming year, and approve the purchase, sale, or mortgage of real property, the annual audit, and investments of the Church;

 

5. Keep minutes in writing of its deliberations and determinations.

 

4. MEETINGS:  The Servants will meet on a regular basis and upon the written call of  any  three (3) members. A quorum for all business shall be a majority of members of the Servants.
   

 

B.  Boards 

 

There shall be five (5) Boards, officially known as the Board of Giving, the Board of Caring, Board of Education, Board of Deacons and the Board of Trustees.

 

1. BOARD DESIGNATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

1. The Board of Giving shall consist of three (3) members.  The duties of this Board shall be to promote among the Members the systematic and proportionate giving of time, talent, and possessions. It shall investigate, correlate, and promote benevolent/mission projects to all Members.  It shall direct benevolent/mission projects of the Church itself, and seek out and encourage means of expanding the service of the Church beyond its own Membership. Funds collected or allocated for benevolent/mission purposes shall be disbursed only upon the authority of this Board, and a list of current benevolent/mission projects and their respective funding shall be published to the Membership annually.  This Board, in conjunction with the Board of Trustees, shall be responsible for the raising of funds to maintain the annual operating budget, including organizing and soliciting annual pledge support and engaging in the maintenance of the individual Member pledge commitments. It shall encourage the development of bequests, trust funds, and memorials.

 

2. The Board of Caring shall consist of three (3) members.  It shall be responsible for the fellowship programs of the Church.  It shall also be responsible for administering the congregational caring ministry programs of the Church through program development and coordination.  These expressions will include provisions of appropriate emotional, spiritual, and physical support and nurture of Members and interpersonal relationships.

 

3. The Board of  Education shall consist of three (3) members.  The duties of this Board shall be to formulate and administer the educational programs of the Church.  It shall have the authority to appoint and dismiss teachers.

 

4. The Board of Deacons shall consist of six (6) members.  It shall have particular responsibility, in conjunction with the Board of Giving, for Church Membership.  It shall also be responsible for matters relating to the service of worship and the spiritual interests of the Church, including pulpit supplies, ushers, greeters, assisting in the sacraments, and the Church rolls. It shall also serve as an advocate for Pastoral relations.

 

5. The Board of Trustees shall consist of three (3) members.  It shall exercise all statutory powers and duties and respect to Church property and secular business matters.  It shall have no power to buy, sell, or mortgage real estate without specific authority being granted by vote of the Servers or of the Membership.  It shall manage and safeguard the funds of the Church, designate depositories, authorize routines for approval of the Treasurer, audit, and present the audit to the Servants prior to the Annual Meeting.  It may, upon receiving Servant or Membership approval, invest reserve funds and establish separate foundations or trusts for specific purposes and name the trustees therefor.

 

2. BOARD ELECTIONS, OFFICES, AND PROCEDURES:

 

1. Each Board shall be composed of Members elected for three (3) year terms.  A Board member may not be elected to successive terms on the same Board.  Election to each Board shall be such that the terms of no more than one third (1/3) of its members expire annually.

 

2. Each Board shall include, in an ex-officio capacity without vote, the member or members of the Ministers or staff who are most closely associated with the function of the Board.  The ex-officio members are expected to attend all regular meetings of those Boards to which they belong.

  

3. Each Board shall hold at least six (6) meetings during the year to accomplish its stated purpose.  In addition to regularly scheduled meetings, special meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson or any three (3) members, upon notice.

 

4. Each Board shall elect from among its membership a Chairperson, to be elected at the last Board meeting before the Annual Meeting, and to assume office immediately following the Annual Meeting.  Eligibility for office shall require the completion of at least one (1) year on the Board.

 

5. A Board quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Board.

 

6. Each Board shall appoint a representative to serve as its representative to the Servers.

 

7. Each Board shall keep minutes in writing.  Copies of the minutes shall be furnished to each member of the Board, the Pastor and to the Servers.

 

8. Upon request of the Pastor or the Servers, each Board shall submit, in writing, a statement of its goals, programs, and activities for the ensuing year.

 

9. Annually, at a date determined by the Servants, each Board shall submit to the Trustees an itemized budget of proposed expenditures for the next two (2) years.

 

10. As a guide for carrying out their duties and preserving their experience, all Boards shall maintain an official Manual of Procedure.  The Manual shall be subject the Servers approval.  A master copy of the Manual of Procedure shall be kept in the custody of the Clerk.

 

C.   Committees

All committees, and their members, shall be advisory to the Pastor and the Servants, except as otherwise set forth in these By-Laws.

 

1. COMMITTEES:  

 

A. At the discretion of the Servants or Membership, committees may be created and dissolved, for the purpose of conducting Church business.

 

B.  Any member can be on as many committees as called.

 

C. The duties and responsibilities shall be determined, specified, and submitted in writing to the clerk for the Church records.  

D.     Officers

All Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by the Members, and shall serve without compensation.

 

1. MODERATOR:  A Principal Officer of the Church shall be elected, as needed, for the conducting of church meetings. The elected person shall be acting Moderator until the next meeting vote.

 

The responsibilities of this Officer in each position are as follows:

 

1. As Moderator, this Officer shall preside at Membership Meetings.

 

2. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall be responsible for custody of all Church funds and valuable papers, and for the deposit thereof as the Board of Trustees directs.  The Treasurer shall give such bond as the Board of Trustees prescribes, at Church expense; shall make such payments from general Church funds and such investments as the Board of Trustees shall have authorized; and shall account for all receipts and disbursements.

 

3. CLERK: The Clerk shall be elected as an Officer of the Church at the Annual Meeting, and shall act as Secretary for the Church, keep official records, issue letters of transfer as directed by the Board of Deacons, and give legal notice of Membership Meetings.

 

E.      Ministers

 

All Ministers shall have been ordained, or willing to seek ordination, and, before being recognized, each shall have become a Member of the Church.  They shall have responsibility for the spiritual welfare of the Church, shall seek to enlist followers, preach, administer the Sacraments, and have under their care all services of worship.  As appropriate to their individual responsibilities, they shall be non-voting members of the Council and of the Board of Deacons, and advisory members of all other Boards and Committees.

 

1. SENIOR MINISTER:

 

1.  The Senior Minister shall be called by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of Active and Associate Members present at a Meeting to which, upon due notice, the election of a Senior Minister is proposed by the Council.

 

The Senior Minister shall continue in office for an indefinite term.  The Senior Minister’s tenure may be terminated at any time upon at least sixty (60) days notice given to the Council by the Senior Minister or give to the Senior Minister by a majority vote of Active and Associate Members present at a Special meeting called for the purpose.

 

4. ASSOCIATE OR ASSISTANT MINISTERS:

 

1. The Active and Associate Members may authorize any number of Associate or Assistant Minister positions.  Approval by the Active and Associate Members of a budget containing compensation for any such positions shall constitute authorization by the Active Members of such positions.  Upon authorization of such positions by the Active Members, the Council may select and call Associate or Assistant Ministers upon terms fixed by written agreement, subject to all other provisions of these By-Laws.

 

5. Staff

All staff shall be hired by the Council and shall serve at the pleasure of the Council. Personnel decisions relating to the staff shall be made after consultation with the Senior Minister.

The staff shall be paid by the Church, and shall include:

1. Staff:  The Council may establish a position(s) and hire staff to perform the necessary administrative and financial functions of the Church, including a Director of Music, a Director of Education, accounting and payroll, maintenance, clerical, and custodial.

ARTICLE III

RECORDS AND EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS

All contracts and other documents pertaining to Church property shall be executed in the name of the Church by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees or, if absent, some other person as is duly authorized by that Board.   Such instrument shall be attested by the Clerk or other Officer of the Church, who shall affix the official seal of the Church.

The Church shall maintain records of the business and affairs, including Membership, financial affairs, and property.

All checks, drafts, or other draws on the funds shall be executed by the Treasurer or, if absent, as authorized by the Board of Trustees with approval of the Council.

ARTICLE IV

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Church shall be the calendar year.

 ARTICLE V

AMENDMENT

These By-Laws may be amended at any Membership Meeting upon the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present.