BY-LAWS
Principles of Discipline and Rules of Practice
THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Chichester, N. H.
Adopted November 20, 1987
Amended November 18, 1989
Amended November 18, 2000
The purpose of these by-laws is to provide an effective tool and authority for conducting the church business. Each article states the preferred method; however, in some instances the wording allows for flexibility if the situation warrants. Any and all deviations from the preferred method must be fully explained in writing and approved by the membership present by a two-thirds vote.
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this church shall be the CHICHESTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this church is:
1. To worship and glorify God and to teach His Word.
2. To promote spiritual growth in the congregation, and to establish a Christian witness in the community and the world.
3. To equip the body to minister to one another especially in times of need.
ARTICLE III. STATUS
This church is independent, so far as it relates to its internal organization and the regulation of its affairs. It controls the admission, discipline and removal of its members, according to its own understanding of the Word of God. It will extend to other evangelical churches, and will receive from them, that fellowship, advice and assistance, which the laws of Christ require. (Adopted Nov. 20, 1987).
ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATION
1. All business meetings shall be opened with prayer.
2. The annual church business meeting shall be held in the month of November at a time, place, and date to be agreed upon by the Board of Deacons. Notification by mail and posted notice of same is to be made two weeks in advance of the meeting.
3. All votes taken at either the annual meeting or any specially called meeting must be passed by a two-thirds vote of those members present.
4. Twenty-five (25) members present shall constitute a quorum.
5. The moderator may call a congregational meeting upon request of the Board of Elders or the Board of Deacons for all matters of general consideration by the Congregation. These meetings will be announced two weeks in advance.
6. No business meeting will be held on Sunday except for voting on new members.
ARTICLE V. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. All persons who confess Jesus Christ to be their Savior and Lord, covenant to
live a godly life and have been baptized are members of The Church and are eligible for membership in this local body.
2. All Candidates for membership shall:
a. Attend the New Members Orientation Class taught by the Elders.
b. Give their personal testimony of salvation to the New Members Orientation Class or other appropriate church event.
c. Agree with the Articles of Faith and the Covenant of the Church, both in word and deed.
3. The names of qualified candidates shall be presented by the Elders to the congregation two weeks in advance of a regular or specially called meeting. Candidates must be voted into the congregation by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.
4. Inactive Membership Role
We recognize that people who were at one time active in the life of the church, have now for various reasons chosen not to be. It will therefore be the responsibility of the Board of Elders to present to the congregation at a called meeting a list of those who are in this category, that the congregation may by a vote place them on the inactive non-voting membership role. (Nov. 1987)
ARTICLE VI. DISMISSAL
A letter of dismissal and recommendation requested by any member in good standing will be sent to their new church from the Church Clerk and Pastor.
ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS
All officers must be members of the church and of at least the age of eighteen. To be eligible to hold office, a candidate (with the exception of the pastor) must have been a member of the church for at least six months. The slate of officers to be presented at the annual meeting by the nominating committee. Nominations from the floor are also accepted.
1. THE ELDERS
The shepherding of the church will be the responsibility of the elders who will serve together with the pastor. The Elders will be elected at the annual meeting for a renewable term of three years. No more than one-third of the terms should be concurrent. The number of elders should be sufficient to meet the needs of the body, but when possible not less than six.
a. They shall prioritize and energize the implementation of the Purpose of the church.
b. They shall have responsibility of the services of the church.
c. They shall administer the sacraments.
d. They shall work as a team to fulfill the pastoral pulpit responsibilities and to review the professional activities of the pastor.
e. The Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses together shall be authorized to fill any unexpired office terms as they occur.
f. They shall oversee the stewardship of the congregation.
2. THE PASTOR
a. A candidate for the church pastorate must be committed to the inerrancy and authority of the Word of God - The Bible - and regard it as the substance and content of his teaching and preaching. He must be in agreement with the Articles of Faith, Church Covenant and the by-laws of this church and be ordained to the Gospel ministry. A candidate who is already ordained (or is to be independently ordained) shall be ordained by a church or denomination committed to the same doctrinal foundation of loyalty to God's Word as is this church. A candidate for ordination by this church shall be examined by the Board of Elders and demonstrate his commitment to the Word of God and to the beliefs and policies of this church.
b. The pastor will be nominated by the Pulpit Committee and called by a 2/3 vote of the members present at a meeting called for that purpose.
c. The pastor will be one of the elders.
d. Upon installation he shall become a member of the church.
e. The pastor shall submit a written annual report of the status of the church and the community.
f. Termination of the pastor's service shall be effective at least three months after written
notice has been given to the church by the pastor or by similar notice given to the pastor on
behalf of the church after a vote of the members by written ballot. The three month period may be altered by mutual agreement of the pastor and church acting through its Board of Elders.
g. The pastor's term may be immediately suspended at any time, with or without cause, upon 2/3 vote of the Board of Elders but subject to subsequent approval by vote of the church members by written ballot. It is anticipate, but not required, that any immediate suspension by the Board of Elders would be based upon charges of this church of serious moral misconduct supported by two or more witnesses as considered in I Timothy 5:19-20. The pastor's duties and official function shall be suspended during the suspension of his term of office, but his salary and other financial considerations shall continue through the date of termination set in accordance with the preceding section, following membership action.
3. THE BOARD OF DEACONS
a. The Deacons shall minister to the temporal needs of the congregation. In particular those concerns related to food, clothing, shelter and other needs related to quality of life.
b. The Board of Deacons shall consist of at least five (5) men who strive to meet the qualifications of I Timothy 3:8 - 13.
c. They will be elected two every year on a rotating basis of three years.
d. The chairman and secretary of the Board shall be elected at the first regular meeting to serve for one year.
e. The chairman of the Deacons will meet regularly with the elders to facilitate good communication.
f. The Deacons and Treasurer shall act as a budget committee and prepare a budget for the next year.
g. The Deacons shall administer the church finances in accordance with the church budget and other authorizations approved by a congregational meeting. Exceptions to this rule are items of budget maintenance, emergency repairs or other expenses not to exceed $2,000.00 per event.
h. Whenever expenditures appear to be exceeding the total authorized budget (as amended), by 5%, the Deacons shall call a congregational meeting to ask approval to exceed the original budget.
i. Church debt can only be authorized by Congregational vote at a duly called meeting.
j. Deacons shall maintain and disburse the "Deacons Fund" for the
benefit of those in need.
4. THE DEACONESSES
The Deaconesses shall consist of at least five women who strive to meet the qualifications of I Timothy 3:11. They shall serve two years on a rotating basis. Deaconesses may serve for more than two years in succession at the request of the church body. The Deaconesses are devoted to God and His Word. They focus on prayer for the Body and on ministry to women in particular and the Body in general. They will use their gifts to teach other women about Jesus and to equip them to care for their own families and to minister to others. They minister to needs of the sick and elderly as well as any other opportunities which the Lord provides.
a. The Chairman and Secretary of the Board shall be elected at the first regular meeting to serve for one year.
b. The Chairman of the Deaconesses will meet regularly with the Elders to facilitate good communication.
c. The Deaconesses will assist the Deacons in ministering to Church family needs related to food, clothing, shelter and other needs related to quality of life.
5. THE MODERATOR
The Moderator shall be elected at the annual meeting to serve for one year. He shall preside at all church business meetings. In the absence of the moderator, either the Chairman of the Board of Deacons or an Elder shall preside.
6. THE CLERK
The Clerk shall be elected at the annual meeting to serve for one year. He shall keep a complete and accurate record of all congregational meetings. He shall keep a true record of membership and changes in the same due to death, marriage, etc. He shall issue all letters of dismissal and recommendation as directed by the Chairman of the Board of Elders, and he shall preserve all correspondence and records relative to the affairs of the church.
7. THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall be elected at the annual meeting to serve for one year. He shall be responsible for all monies of the church and the keeping of a true and accurate account of the same. He shall pay out monies as provided in the budget and under the authorization of the Deacons. He shall submit a written report of the financial standing of the church at the annual meeting and at each Deacons meeting.
8. THE AUDITOR
The Auditor shall be elected at the annual meeting to serve for one year. He shall go over the treasurer's accounts prior to the annual meeting to verify the report that the treasurer shall submit.
9. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL COORDINATOR AND ASSISTANT COORDINATOR
The Sunday School coordinator and assistant shall be elected at the annual meeting to serve for one year. They shall conduct the affairs of the Sunday school and be in compliance with the Articles of Faith and Covenant of this church.
10. COMMITTEES
a. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members appointed by the Board of Elders. They shall prepare a list of nominees for the next annual meeting. They must contact each person they wish to nominate and have their full agreement to serve in the capacity for which they might be elected.
b. A Pulpit Committee shall consist of the Elders and two other members appointed by the Elders. They shall have the responsibility of drawing up a contract between the Pastor and the church in cooperation with the Deacons. The contract shall be subject to annual review by both the Boards and the Pastor.
c. The Mission Committee shall act in accordance with the established Missions Policy as voted on by the church.
d. Other committees that might become necessary from time to time shall be appointed by the Elders or Deacons to function as needed then retired.
ARTICLE VIII. COMMUNION
The Communion Service shall be conducted on the first Sunday of each month. Variations on the schedule may be made as deemed appropriate by the Pastor and the Elders.
ARTICLE IX. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, SMOKING AND GAMBLING
There shall be no use of alcoholic beverages and no smoking or gambling in church buildings.
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
These by-laws may be amended at a properly called meeting of the members and by a 2/3 vote of the members present, providing that proper notices of any changes or amendments are sent to all voting members of the church at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
PRINCIPLES OF DISCIPLINE AND RULES OF PRACTICE
I. Discipline is the exercise of that authority, and the application of that system of laws to which the Lord Jesus has appointed His Church.
II. The ends of Christian discipline are, the removal of offenses; the vindication of the honor of Christ; the promotion of the purity and edification of the church; and also, the benefit of offenders themselves. The Church must be governed.
III. Offenses are of two kinds, private and public. Private offenses (Matthew 5:23-24) are such as are known only to an individual; or, at most, to a very few. Public offenses (I Corinthians 5:1-3, 9-13) are such as are widely known, and are repeatedly and permanently charged upon particular persons by general rumor.
IV. No complaint or information on the subject of personal injuries shall be admitted by the Church, unless those means of reconciliation and of privately reclaiming the offender have been used, which are required by Christ (Matthew 18:15-16). And in cases of offenses which, though not personal, are private, that is, known only to one, or a very few, it is necessary to take the same steps, so far as circumstances will admit.
V. Public offenses may come under the immediate cognizance of the Church (I Corinthians 5:4-5, 7-13 and 2 Corinthians 2:6), or individual members, if they choose, may take the same steps which are prescribed by Our Lord in regard to private offenses. If, however, the Church takes up the matter of offense, the offenders may be dealt with in the most kind and conciliating manner, it may be proper and expedient to appoint individual members of the body to converse with them privately, in order to reclaim them and obtain satisfaction. If offenders do not listen to the advice and remonstrances of those commissioned by the church to visit them, then the church shall proceed to exercise such discipline as the nature and circumstances of their offenses require.
VI. Immoral conduct, breach of express covenant vows, neglect of acknowledged religious or relative duties, and avowed disbelief of the Articles of Faith to which the members have assented, are considered as offenses subject to the censure of the Church.
VII. No causes shall come to trial before the Church, unless some particular sin or sins be specified against the offender . . .together with the material circumstances with which they are connected.
VIII. Whenever a person is accused to the Church, the particular offenses with which he is charged shall be communicated to him a reasonable time before his trial, to give him the opportunity for preparing his defense, should he think it just and proper for himself to make a defense.
IX. The confession of the party accused -
the concurrence of two competent witnesses to the same fact -
or such circumstantial evidence as shall satisfy the church of the offender's guilt, shall be deemed sufficient for conviction
X. The censures inflicted on offenders are private reproof, public admonition, suspension from church privileges, or excommunication, according to the nature and aggravation of the offense.
XI. Admonition and excommunication are to be administered in conformity to a vote of the Church, by the Pastor, or by individual members of the Church chosen for that purpose. |