Item Page
Number
ARTICLE 1 - MEMBERSHIP........................................................................5
Section 1: Admission
Requirements and Procedure
Pastor and Wife
Section 2: Removal
Reasons for Removal
Membership Records
Section 3: Responsibilities
Section 4: Privileges
ARTICLE II - CHURCH ADMINISTRATION............................................6
Section 1:
Pastor..............................................................................................6
Qualifications and Nomination
Election..................................................................................................7
Duties
Compensation
Ex Officio Privileges
Pastoral Absences
Section 2:
Staff..................................................................................................7
Administrative Staff
Pastoral/Worship Staff
Section 3: Church
Board..................................................................................8
Composition
Qualifications
Ministerial Duties
Selection and Election
Term........................................................................................................9
Meetings
First Meeting Business
Board Chairman
Vice Chairman
Section 4:
Congregation....................................................................................10
Annual Meeting
Special Business Meetings
Additional Business Meeting Rules
Roll Call
Minutes
Reports
Absentee Voting
Section 5: Appointed
Officials...........................................................................11
ARTICLE III - RELIGIOUS SERVICES......................................................11
ARTICLE IV - FINANCES.............................................................................11
Budget
Counting and Depositing of Offerings
Inspection of Records
Tax Exemption Receipts
Debt, Acquisition, & Disposal
Limitations
Monthly Financial Report
Safe Deposit Box
ARTICLE V - POLICIES AND PROCEDURES...........................................13
ARTICLE VI - REPORTS & POSTED LISTS..............................................13
Annual Business Meeting Reports
Election Results
Board Members and Officials
ARTICLE VII - CHURCH PROPERTY AND
MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS ........................14
Use of Church Property and Possessions
Control of Activities
Church Directory
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENT.....................................................................15
Accepted by Church
Congregation: October, 2001
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - Admission
Para. 1 - Requirements and Procedure: To be admitted to church membership a person must accept and profess
conformance to the constitution, provide acceptable testimony of faith to the
pastor and/or elders, and complete a written application affirming the above. Upon acceptance by the board, membership
shall be registered from the date of board approval.
Para. 2 - Pastor and Wife: The pastor and his wife shall automatically be admitted to membership
upon his acceptance of the office.
Section 2 - Removal
Para. 1 - Reasons for Removal: Any member may be removed from membership by the board as a result of
death, choice, lost contact, non-attendance for one year, or irreconcilable
infractions of faith. Members needing
corrective counsel will be dealt with in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17. Refusal to accept correction shall be grounds
for dismissal by the board. Upon vote of
the board, membership shall be terminated from the date of board action.
Para. 2 - Membership Records: Board minutes shall constitute the official record of membership, but
the church office shall maintain a separate membership file with a list of
current members and any documents related to application, transfer, etc.
Section 3 - Responsibilities
All members are expected to conduct themselves as followers of Christ, support
the church by regular attendance, prayers, service, and finances, seek to
maintain the unity of the church, and participate in all congregational
business. Voting members must be at
least 18 years of age. The board has the
right and obligation to admonish or discipline any member not complying with
these guidelines.
Section 4 - Privileges
Although church ministry and business are administered by the pastor
and board; church members have complete and unlimited rights of discussion,
information, questions, and criticism related to the church and its
activities. Such communication, however,
must fall within the agenda or purpose of the meeting or circumstances. Members must request permission in advance to
attend a board meeting.
ARTICLE II - CHURCH ADMINISTRATION
Section 1 - Pastor
Para. 1 - Qualifications and Nomination: The board shall use any available and
necessary means to seek a needed pastor, including but not restricted to a
pulpit, search, or review committee; congregational suggestions, or seminary
assistance. A prospective pastor shall
be nominated by the board after it has verified that he meets all requirements
for the office as specified in the Bible
(Acts 20:28-31, I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, I Peter 5:1-3), and that
he fully subscribes to the entire doctrinal statement of the church
constitution.
Para. 2 - Election:
The pastor shall be elected by the congregation by secret ballot at a
duly-called business meeting. The
candidate must be accepted by a 2/3 majority of votes cast.
Para. 3 - Duties:
As the spiritual leader of the church, the duties of the pastor shall include:
preaching the whole consul of God, teaching and defending the doctrines set
forth in the church constitution, visiting the church family and visitors,
counseling and helping those with spiritual problems, discipling, equipping and
training leaders, and supervising the regular program of church services.
Para. 4 - Compensation: The pastor=s compensation shall be set by the board
and approved by the congregation.
Para. 5 - Ex Officio Privileges: The pastor shall be an ex officio and voting member of the board and
all committees of the church, although he is not required to attend all
meetings.
Para. 6 - Pastoral Absences: In the absence of a pastor, the board shall assume leadership of the
church. When the church is without a
pastor, the board may appoint an interim pastor from in or outside the church
membership.
Section 2 - Staff
Para. 1 - Administrative Staff: The board, in consultation with the pastor, is responsible for the
hiring, utilization, and termination of the administrative staff of the church,
including but not restricted to secretary, receptionist, administrator, and
activity specialists.
Para. 2 - Pastoral/worship Staff: The pastor, with prior board approval, is responsible for the hiring,
utilization, and termination of the pastoral/worship staff of the church,
including but not restricted to assistant pastor, youth pastor, and activity
specialists. The hiring of pastoral staff,
excepting for activity specialists, shall fall under the same guidelines as the
pastor as spelled out in Section 1 above.
Section 3 - Church Board
Para. 1 - Composition: The ministry and business of the church shall be conducted by a board
composed of 6-12 elders and the senior pastor.
Para. 2 - Qualifications: Elders must be members in good standing for at least one year prior to
becoming an elder. They shall meet the
requirements of I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9 where applicable and 1 Peter
5:1-3. Board members must be men.
Para. 3 - Ministerial Duties: The elders shall work with the pastor to oversee the spiritual ministry
of the church in counseling, teaching, prayer, the programs of Sunday and
special services and programs, and authorization of pulpit speakers.
Para. 4 - Selection and Election: Names of prospective elders may be submitted to the board by any church
member. The board is responsible for
selecting and announcing the final slate of candidates. Board members shall be elected by the
congregation at the annual meeting by secret ballot, election decided by simple
majority.
Para. 5 - Term:
Elders shall serve for a 3 year term and may be elected for no more than two
consecutive terms. Service shall
commence on the first day of the month following election. When a vacancy occurs in the board, the board
may appoint a qualified member to serve until the end of the current fiscal
year (September 30).
Para. 6 - Meetings:
The board shall meet monthly. A quorum
shall consist of 51% of the board members.
Special board meetings may be called by the chairman, the pastor, or 51%
of the members. Roll call and minutes of
each board meeting shall be recorded and permanently retained.
Para. 7 - First Meeting Business: At the first regular meeting of each fiscal year the board shall elect
from its membership a chairman, vice chairman, and treasurer, plus a secretary
from the entire congregation. If the
secretary is not a board member he or she will have no voting rights but will
attend board meetings as arranged by the chairman. The board shall also designate by name those
responsible to sign checks and documents on behalf of the congregation.
Para. 8 - Board Chairman: The chairman shall moderate board and congregational meetings and shall
be the chief representative of the board to the congregation.
Para. 9 - Vice Chairman: When the chairman is absent, the vice chairman will preside at board
and congregation meetings.
Section 4 - Congregation
Para. 1 - Annual Meeting: The annual business meeting of the congregation shall be held on the
third Sunday in Oct. The agenda and
board nominees shall be published for three consecutive Sundays preceding the
annual meeting. A list of members
present and minutes of the procedures shall be recorded for all meetings of the
congregation. The constitution, by-laws,
and Robert=s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct
of a meeting.
Para. 2 - Special Business Meetings: Special business meetings may be called by the board. Such meetings must be announced beforehand in
as many church services as possible but at least two Sunday morning
services. Only business for which the
meeting was called may be considered. A
quorum of 51% of the voting members present shall be required. The constitution, by-laws, and Robert=s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct
of a meeting.
Para. 3 - Additional Business Meeting Rules:
Roll Call: A list of members present shall be taken
and recorded at all business meetings.
Minutes: Minutes shall be taken at all business meetings, and the reading of all
business meeting minutes to and including the last annual meeting shall be
required at all business meetings.
Reports: No regular reports shall be required to be given except at the annual
business meeting.
Absentee Voting: Absentee voting shall be permitted if the
choice is indicated in writing for each specific item, and the vote is
accompanied by the absentee=s signature.
Section 5 - Appointed Officials
The board may from time to time appoint elders or deacons to organize
and/or coordinate activities or establish committees, clubs, or groups
appropriate for the conduct of the church ministry and business. All such designations and establishments
shall be for a designated term (preferably the fiscal year) and must
specifically be renewed upon expiration.
A current list of deacons, committees, clubs, or groups and their
leaders and members shall be included in the annual report distributed at the
time of each annual meeting.
ARTICLE III - RELIGIOUS SERVICES
The pastor and board shall be responsible for establishing the times,
place, and conduct of worship, prayer, communion, and fellowship activities.
ARTICLE IV - FINANCES
Para. 1 - Budget:
The basis for all financial transactions lies in the annual budget presented by
the board and as approved by the congregation at the annual meeting. The board is obligated to comply with the
budget or to call a special congregational meeting to discuss substantial
deviations.
Para. 2 - Counting
and Depositing of Offerings: All
offerings to the church shall be counted by at least two church members
designated by the board. All monies
received by the church are to be deposited in a local financial institution
designated by the board as soon as practical after receipt and counting.
Para. 3 - Inspection
of Records: All financial information except donor records shall be
available for inspection by any voting member of the congregation.
Para. 4 - Tax
Exemption Receipts: A record shall be kept of all known donors with the
amount and date of their gifts for the purpose of issuing tax exemption
receipts, which must be done annually no later than Jan. 31 for the prior
calendar year.
Para. 5 - Debt,
Acquisition, & Disposal Limitations: The board may not borrow any money
or acquire or dispose of church possessions valued at more than $3,000 without
the consent of the congregation.
Para. 6 - Monthly
Financial Report: A detailed financial report covering the preceding
calendar month shall be prepared by the treasurer and presented to the board
each month. An abbreviated summary shall
be made available to the congregation each month.
Para. 7 - Safe
Deposit Box: A safe deposit box shall be rented as a storage place for
important documents. The board shall
designate those with access to the box.
ARTICLE V - POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Board-approved policies and procedures governing the operation and
conduct of the Mountain Home Bible Church are contained in the APolicy Addendum@ attached to these By-Laws. Policies and procedures are subject to open
discussion at any annual meeting or any special meeting of the congregation
called for that purpose.
ARTICLE VI - REPORTS & POSTED LISTS
Para. 1 - Annual
Business Meeting Reports: The board is responsible for presenting a report
to the annual meeting of the congregation including but not restricted to the
following:
a. A twelve month, fiscal year, financial
report.
b. The net worth of all church possessions.
c. The pastor=s
state-of-the-church observations.
d. The board chairman=s summary.
e. Reports of committees or activities as
determined by the board.
Any member at the annual meeting has the right to question or comment
on any report or ask for reports of activities not reported.
Para. 2 - Election
Results: The results of the annual election or other votes shall be
included in the church bulletin the Sunday following the annual business
meeting.
Para. 3 - Board
Members and Officials: A list of the current board members and church
officials shall always be posted on the primary church bulletin board and
appear in the weekly bulletin and church directory.
ARTICLE VII - CHURCH PROPERTY AND
MISCELLANEOUS REGULATIONS
Para. 1 - Use
of Church Property and Possessions: The control and use of church property
and possessions shall be the responsibility of the board and detailed in the APolicy Addendum@ attached to these By-Laws.
Para. 2 - Control
of Activities: All religious or semi-religious activities conducted by the
congregation or on church property shall be regulated by the pastor and board.
Para. 3 - Church
Directory: A church directory containing the names, addresses, and
telephone numbers of the church family shall be published as deemed necessary
by the board.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended at any duly-called congregational business
meeting by the approval of a majority of those voting on the amendment.
Mountain Home Bible Church
1-9-2003
Title: Amendment to Existing By-Law Policy
Dated March 14, 2002
Article Amended: Article VII - Church Property and Miscellaneous Regulations.
Item 4) AThe use of Church property for purpose other than normal church use
shall be subject to Board approval.@
Purpose of Amendment: To expand in detail the procedure in handling Item 4 listed above.
Item 4A: Missionaries may set up a place in the Narthex to sell tapes, books, videos, etc. for the purpose of funding their ministry.
Item 4B: No garage sales will be permitted in the church building or outside property.
Item 4C: Anyone who has a desire to sell something in or about the church property will present their project to the Board. The Board will consider it and make a decision for or against.
Amendment to the By-Laws
July 29, 2007
Para.1 – Budget: The basis for all financial transactions lies in the annual budget
presented by the Elders and as approved by the congregation at the annual
meeting. The Elders and Deacons can
spend up to $3,000 for items not included in the annual budget, provided funds
are available. Expenditures for non-budgeted
items in excess of $3,000 require prior approval by the congregation.