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Bylaws

of FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of LAGRANGE, GEORGIA, INC.

As Approved In Church Conference August 23, 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preamble…………………………………………………………………………………3

Section I – Definitions and Intent………………………………………………………3

Section II – Offices and Name…………………………………………………………4

Section III – Members…………………………………………………………………..4

Section IV – Officers…………………………………………………………………….7

Section V – Board of Deacons…………………………………………………………9

Section VI – Committees of the Church………………………………………………12

Section VII – Church Finances, Bank Accounts, and Loans……………………….13

Section VIII – Policies and Procedures Manual…..……………….………………….15

Section IX – Miscellaneous Provisions………………………………………………..15

Section X – Indemnification…………………………………………………………….15

Section XI – Amendments………………………………………………………………16

BYLAWS OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LAGRANGE GEORGIA, INC.

PREAMBLE

The principles, policies and procedures embodied in this document are established for the maintenance and governance of the corporate existence, activities and worship of the First Baptist Church of LaGrange, Georgia, Inc. This document supersedes all prior Bylaws which have heretofore been established for the First Baptist Church of LaGrange, Georgia, Inc. provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to supersede, amend, alter or take precedence over the Articles of Incorporation, and in the case of any conflict between these Bylaws and the Articles, the Articles shall be controlling.

In the use and application of these Bylaws to the existence of the Church, all persons should be mindful that this Church is an autonomous organization which is not subject to the control of any other ecclesiastical body, although nothing contained herein is intended to prevent the mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Southern Baptist churches associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. While this is a legal document and not a statement of faith, the provisions hereof shall be applied in a manner consistent with the principles and standards as reflected by God’s Word and set forth in the Church’s Statements of Faith as adopted by the Membership.

Section I

Definitions and Intent

For purposes of these Bylaws, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

“Articles” shall mean the Church’s Articles of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of Georgia, as the same may be duly amended from time to time in accordance with the Code.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Deacons of the Church; as such Board shall be constituted from time to time.

“Bylaws” shall mean these Bylaws, as the same may be duly amended from time to time.

“Church” shall mean the First Baptist Church of LaGrange, Georgia, Inc., a non- profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia.

“Church Conference” and “Business Meeting” shall mean any meeting of Church Members convened for the purpose of considering matters of Church business, procedure, or to consider or decide matters of a sacred or doctrinal nature.

“Code” shall mean the Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.

“Members” shall mean collectively those persons who are accorded rights of membership in the Church in accordance with the Articles and these Bylaws, and the term “Member” shall mean any one of such persons.

“Resident Members” shall mean those with a local residential address within a radius of 60 miles of the church. Residential membership shall be used for calculating a quorum for voting.

Section II

Offices and Name

  1. Principal Office. The principal office of the Church shall be 100 Broad Street, LaGrange, Georgia 30240.
  • Other Offices, etc. The Church may also have one or more other offices as the Board may from time to time determine to be appropriate and in the best interests of the Church.
  • Name. The legal name of the Church is First Baptist Church of LaGrange, Georgia, Inc. However, the work and business of the Church may be carried on under the names “First Baptist Church of LaGrange,” “First Baptist LaGrange,” “First Baptist Church on the Square,” or any other name which the Board may, from time to time specify in accordance with applicable law.

Section III Members

1. Qualifications of Members. A person shall not be a Member unless such person has: (i) confessed Jesus Christ to be his or her Savior and Lord; (ii) been baptized by immersion in or by the Church or has been accepted into membership upon promise of letter from another Baptist church, or has been received upon statement of baptism by immersion in a church of like faith and order; (iii) willing to accept the Church’s Statements of Faith; and (iv) been affirmed by the Church Members. None of these membership requirements may be waived without the written recommendation of the Senior Pastor and the approval of the Board.

 a) Watch-care membership is available for special situations such as college students and others desiring to come under the Watch-care Ministry of the church.

2. Privileges and Responsibilities.  Members shall have the privileges of voting on all matters to come before the Members, experiencing all opportunities for participating in the ministry of the Church, and to the extent permitted by other policies and/or documents of the Church, holding office positions of leadership in the Church. Members are expected to attend services on a regular basis, give of their time and money to the Church and its ministry on a regular basis, and be faithful on a daily basis to those tenets which govern a Christian life; provided, however, that nothing contained in this sentence shall serve as a basis for denying a Member any privileges of membership described in the first sentence of this paragraph. Watch-care members do not have these privileges.

3.  Annual Meeting. The Annual Business Meeting of the Members (the “Annual Meeting”) shall be held on a Sunday in August or September of each year which is duly designated by the Board, for the purposes of electing Deacons to the Board, receiving annual ministry reports, and the transaction of such other Church business as may come before the meeting. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held in all Sunday morning Worship Services. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given at least ten (10) days prior thereto.

4.  Other Business Meetings. In addition to the Annual Meeting, at which any business of the Church which is properly brought before the meeting may be discussed, the following provisions are made for the transaction of the business of the Church.

(a) Regular Business Meetings or Church Conferences for the transaction of any and all business shall be held at such time as recommended by the Board. Such meetings shall be held at least quarterly but may be held as frequently as weekly at the discretion of the Board.

(b) The Senior Pastor or the Chairman of the Deacons may call special Business Meetings from the pulpit, the particular subject of the meeting being clearly stated in the notice.  Notice of such special business meetings held under this paragraph (b) shall be given at least seven (7) days in advance. The Chairman of the Deacons shall call a Special Business Meeting in like manner upon the written request, submitted to the Board, of either (i) not less than five (5) percent of the Members which specifies the purpose thereof, or (ii) the written request of a majority of the Board specifying the purpose thereof. Business transacted at all Business Meetings of Members pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the request and notice of the meeting.

5.  Notice of Meetings. Documented notice of Business Meetings of the Members shall be given to each Member at least ten (10) days before such meeting unless these Bylaws provide for a different period. Each such notice shall be in writing and shall state the place, day and hour at which the meeting is to be held and, in the case of any Special Meeting, shall state briefly the purpose or purposes of the meeting.

6.  Place of Meetings. All Business Meetings of Members shall be held at the principal place of worship of the Church or elsewhere within a ten (10) mile radius of such place of worship as designated by the person or group having the authority to call the meeting.

7.  Quorum. Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, any transaction of Church business requires a quorum of at least 4 per cent (4%) of the Resident Members. Any transaction of Church business involving more than one per cent (1%) of the Annual Operating Budget requires a recommendation of the Board of Deacons. A quorum for the purpose of the call or removal of a Senior Pastor or the amendment of the Articles or these Bylaws shall be not less than twenty (20) percent of the then Resident Members. If less than a quorum shall be in attendance at the time for which the meeting shall have been called, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority vote of the then Members present or represented, without any notice other than by announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall attend. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall attend, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if the meeting had been held as originally called. Any action regarding a change in the Church’s membership in the Troup County Baptist Association, the Georgia Baptist Convention, or the Southern Baptist Convention shall require at least a 75% approval of the Deacons in a regular scheduled meeting, which is followed by a written notice to Members at least two weeks prior to Church discussion and vote. A quorum for the purpose of voting on this action shall require at least 5% of the Resident Members in each of the Sunday morning services with not less than a church-wide total of 15% of the Resident Members. Approval by the Church shall require at least a 75% vote of the Members voting in all Sunday morning services.

8.  Conduct of Meetings. Business Meetings of the Members shall be presided over by the Senior Pastor or, if the Senior Pastor is not present, by the Chairman of the Deacons, or, if the Chairman of the Deacons is not present, by the Vice-Chairman of the Deacons, or, if none of the aforementioned is present, by a Chairman elected by the Members at the meeting. The Church Clerk shall take the minutes of all Business Meetings, but in the absence of the Church Clerk the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint a person as Clerk for the meeting to record all proceedings in the Church’s minutes. In all questions of procedure at any Business Meeting of the Members, the Church shall be governed by the New Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised and Updated Edition, unless otherwise outlined in these Bylaws. Procedural questions shall be determined by the moderator or by a Parliamentarian appointed by the Senior Pastor or the Chairman of the Deacons.

9.  Voting. At all Business Meetings of Members who are on the Church Membership rolls, every Member entitled to vote shall have one (1) vote. Such vote may be either in person or by proxy on a ballot, prepared by the Church, in writing, bearing a date not more than 14 days prior to said meeting. Such proxy shall be dated, but need not be sealed, witnessed, or acknowledged unless otherwise specified on the ballot.

(a) All elections shall be conducted, and all questions shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast at a duly constituted Business Meeting, except as otherwise provided by law, in the Articles or by these Bylaws.

(b) If the person presiding at a Business Meeting shall so determine, a vote by ballot may be taken upon any election or matter, and the vote shall be so taken upon the request of the ten percent (10%) of all Members entitled to vote on such election or matter who are present at the meeting. In either of such events, the proxies and ballots shall be received and be taken in charge and all questions touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by the tellers. Such tellers shall be appointed by the person presiding at the meeting.

10. Termination of Membership.  Membership shall be terminated upon the first to occur of any of the following: (i) the granting of a letter of transfer for such Member who is in good standing with the Church to any other Church of like faith upon proper request for letter from said other Church; (ii) the granting of a release from membership from such Member upon written request setting out the reason for the request; (iii) the determination by the Board that such Member has become offensive to the Church and its good name by reason of such Member’s immoral conduct or unchristian acts; (iv) the determination by the Board that, based on independent evidence satisfactory to the Board, a Member has united with a Church of another denomination or has converted to a faith that is not a Christian faith. Should any question arise as to whether a particular person is a Member in good standing or such person’s status as a Member has terminated or should be terminated in accordance with any of the foregoing reasons, the determination of the Board shall be binding on all interested parties.

Section IV Officers

1. Officers. The officers of the Church shall consist of the Senior Pastor, the Chairman of the Deacons, the Church Clerk, and the Church Treasurer, and all shall be members of the Church.

2.    Senior Pastor.

(a) The Senior Pastor shall be selected and called by the Church whenever a vacancy occurs. His election shall take place at a meeting called for that purpose of which at least one (1) weeks’ notice shall be given. A Pastor Search Committee shall be elected by the Church to recommend a suitable Senior Pastor. Such Committee shall consist of not less than twelve (12), but not more than fourteen (14) Members of the Church, representing a cross-section of the Membership. This Pastor Search Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the Deacons, Chairman of the Personnel Committee, and a woman selected by the Church Nominating Committee, who will meet to nominate not to exceed eleven (11) additional Members who will be presented to the Board of Deacons for approval and then to the Church in Conference for final approval. The Church must vote to approve this Pastor Search Committee in all of the Sunday morning services by secret ballot with the appropriate quorum1 participating, and an affirmative vote of at least three fourths (3/4) of the total number of Members voting being necessary to elect. Once elected, a Chair, Vice-Chair, & Secretary will be chosen by the Pastor Search Committee. The Committee shall bring to the consideration of the Church for approval only one (1) candidate for Senior Pastor at a time and their recommendation shall constitute a nomination. Election of the Senior Pastor and approval of the Pastoral Search Committee shall be by private written ballot in all Sunday morning worship services with the appropriate quorum1 participating, and affirmative vote of at least three fourths (3/4) of the total number of members voting being necessary to elect. The Senior Pastor, thus elected, shall, if he accepts the election and call, serve indefinitely at the will of the Church, and/or until the relationship is terminated, with both the Senior Pastor and the Church seeking at all times to follow the will of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit in reference thereto.

1 A quorum for the approval of a Pastor Search Committee and the election of a Senior Pastor shall be not less than twenty percent (20%) of the then Resident Members.

(b) The Senior Pastor shall be charged with the welfare and oversight of the Church; shall minister unto the Church at regular and appointed times for worship and service, and to the individual Members. He shall supervise the Church ministerial, administrative, and support staffs and shall have management responsibility for such staff and the Church office. He shall be the chief administrative officer of the Church, and shall be ex-officio member of all committees of the Church with the right to receive notice of meetings, and the right to participate in the meetings with voting rights. He shall be the leader of pastoral ministries of the Church, and as spiritual leader of the Church, he shall lead the congregation and Church organizations to perform their tasks and to engage in worship, fellowship, discipleship, missions, and ministry, and he shall proclaim the Gospel to believers and unbelievers.

(c) The Senior Pastor may be removed from office at any time with at least a written two weeks’ notice of a meeting with the appropriate quorum participating by the affirmative vote of at least sixty percent (60%) of the total number of Members voting in all Sunday morning services being necessary to remove. (For example, if by adding the three worship services’ attendance, it reaches 1000, a minimum vote to remove a Pastor would be at least 600.)

3.  Church Clerk. The Church Clerk shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Church and shall serve for a term of one (1) year and until his successor is elected and qualified. The Church Clerk shall, in cooperation with the Church Staff, keep an accurate record of all actions of the Church, attend all Business Meetings, and keep a register of the names of the Members and last known addresses, with the dates of admission and dismissal or death, together with a record of baptisms. The Church Clerk shall, in cooperation with the Church Staff, issue letters of transfer or removal as authorized by these Bylaws, preserve and file all communications and written official reports and give legal notice of all meetings where such notice is necessary in these Bylaws.

4.  Church Treasurer. The Church Treasurer shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee, shall be elected by the Members, and shall serve for a term of one (1) year and until his successor is elected and qualified. The Church Treasurer, in close conjunction with the Church Staff and the Church Finance Committee, shall receive and disburse all Church funds for authorized expenditures and pay authorized obligations in compliance with the Financial Policies and Procedures of First Baptist Church. The Church Treasurer, in close conjunction with the Church Staff, shall keep a true and fair book of accounts, and shall render monthly to the Board a statement of all receipts and disbursements. The Church Treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.

Section V

Board of Deacons

1.         General Powers and Responsibilities.

(a) The mission of the Deacons is, in addition to managing the business affairs of the Church as provided herein, to provide Christ-like care for the Members. The Deacons shall, with the advice and counsel of the Senior Pastor, have as their responsibility the spiritual affairs of the Church and to provide a servant ministry to the Church and community.

(b) The property and business of the Church shall, in cooperation with the Church Staff, be managed under the direction of the Board, which shall exercise all powers permitted under the Articles, these Bylaws and the Code of Ethics for Deacons. The Board may, from time to time, appoint or employ such persons in such capacities as the Board may consider necessary to assist in the proper conduct of the activities and management of the Church. The terms and conditions of any such appointment shall be at the discretion of the Board.

(c) Each Deacon shall be an active Member in good standing for at least two years, shall be at least twenty-one (21) years or older, and shall be willing and able to actively participate in the affairs of the Church. Deacons who become Members and who have been previously ordained in other churches as Deacons shall not be considered Deacons of the Church until elected by the Members. Deacons shall receive no compensation for their services as such. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude any Deacon from serving the Church in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such other service.

2.  Number and Term of Office. The number of Deacons serving on the Board at any particular time shall be determined by the Church, but not to exceed forty-eight (48). The Deacons shall serve on the Board for a period of three (3) years or until their successors are elected and qualified at the next Annual Meeting. At each Annual Meeting, successor Deacons shall be elected to hold office for a term of three (3) years.

3.  Nomination and Election of Deacons. At least ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting held in August or September of each year, nominations for Deacons shall be accepted from the Church at large. The nominees may be men who have already been ordained as Deacons or men who must be ordained if they are chosen. Those who have not been ordained must meet the qualifications of the office and have been tested by the Board of Deacons. From the list of nominees, the Nominating Committee shall, with the advice and counsel of the Senior Pastor, review and select those men who are to receive further consideration to actively serve a term as Deacons. These men shall be further considered upon their completion of a Spiritual Survey, adherence to Scriptural qualifications, acceptance of the Church’s Statements of Faith, demonstrated active participation in Church programs, and acceptance of the Church’s Code of Ethics for Deacons. Upon successful completion of these requirements by the nominees who desire to be further considered, the Nominating Committee shall select a final slate of candidates. These candidates will be voted upon by the Board of Deacons and then presented to the Church at large for election at the Annual Meeting.  

4. Removal. In the event of gross misconduct, or in case of acts involving moral turpitude or unchristian-like conduct on the part of any Deacon during his term of office, he may, upon written complaint made to the Board and after investigation and confirmation of such conduct, be removed from office by vote of the Board, consistent with the Code of Ethics adopted by the Deacons.

5.  Filling of Vacancies. In the case of any vacancy on the Board through death, resignation, disqualification, removal, or other cause, the remaining Deacons, by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board, may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the Deacon whose place shall be vacant, and until the election of his successor. Similarly, and in the event of the number of Deacons being increased as provided in these Bylaws, the additional Deacons so provided for shall be elected by a majority of the entire Board already in office until the next Annual Meeting of Members.

6.  Place of Meetings. The Board may hold its meetings either within or outside the State of Georgia, at such place or places as they may from time to time determine by resolution or by written consent of a majority of all Deacons then on the Board. The Board may hold special called or emergency meetings by conference telephone or other similar electronic communications equipment in accordance with the provisions of the Georgia Code.

7.  Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board will be held without notice on the Monday after the 3rd Sunday of each month. At each such meeting, minutes shall be kept by the Secretary of the Deacons or by another person appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons.

8.  Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Deacons or the Senior Pastor or at least seven (7) Deacons. The Chairman of the Deacons shall give notice of each special meeting of the Board. The Chairman of the Deacons shall give notice to each Deacon of any special meeting by mail at least three (3) days prior to the meeting or by telephoning the same at least two (2) days before the meeting; but such notice may be waived by any Deacon. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at any special meetings. At each such meeting, minutes shall be kept by the Secretary of the Deacons or by another person appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons.

   a) An emergency meeting may be called by the Chairman of the Deacons or the Senior Pastor for specified reasons by giving as much notice as possible to all Deacons. Emergency Meetings will be conducted in the same manner as other Deacon Meetings.

9.  Quorum. A majority of the entire Board membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board, but, if at any meeting less than a quorum shall be present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until another time.

10. Required Vote. An affirmative vote of a majority of members of the Board present at meetings of the Board shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or approving any matter before the Board at such meeting unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

11. Conduct of Meetings. In all questions of procedure at any Business Meeting of the Board, the Board shall be governed by the New Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised and Updated Edition, unless otherwise outlined in these Bylaws. Procedural questions shall be determined by the moderator or by a parliamentarian appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons.

12.  Committees of the Board. The Chairman of the Deacons may create and appoint Church Members to committees. Each committee will have at least two or more Deacons.

13. Chairman. Prior to the end of each Church calendar year, a Chairman of the Deacons of Deacons shall be selected to serve a one year term for the upcoming Church calendar year. The new Chairman of the Deacons shall be determined by a Selection Committee appointed by the current Chairman of the Deacons, who shall also serve as the Chairman of the Selection Committee. There shall be at least three (3) other members on the Selection Committee. All members shall have previously served as the Chairman of the Deacons, preferably from those currently active. The new Chairman of the Deacons shall be selected from the currently active Board of Deacons who shall have at least one year remaining on his three (3) year term or shall be selected from the new slate of Deacons who have been approved by the Board of Deacons and the Members. The new Chairman of the Deacons shall be an ordained Deacon and shall have served at least one year as a Deacon. Prior to making a final selection, the Selection Committee shall consult with the Senior Pastor. The Chairman of the Deacons shall preside at all meetings of the Board. He may appoint a Vice Chairman to preside at meetings of the Board and otherwise exercise the authority of the Chairman of the Deacons in the absence of the Chairman of the Deacons. He may also appoint a Secretary of Deacons to record the minutes of all meetings of the Board. As an officer of the Church, the Chairman of the Deacons may sign and execute all authorized bonds, contracts or other obligations in the name of the Church and shall be an ex officio member of all Standing Committees of the Church.

Section VI

Committees of the Church

1.         Establishment.

(a) There shall be certain standing committees (“Standing Committees”) as described in paragraphs numbered 2 through 5 below. Membership on Standing Committees shall be as set forth in this Section. Individual members on a Standing Committee shall not serve on a Committee for more than three (3) consecutive years.

(b) There shall be, in addition to Board Committees, certain committees  and/or ministry teams to perform the tasks deemed necessary for the operation of the Church.  Committees and ministry teams may be created by these Bylaws or by the Members. Committees and ministry teams shall have such authority, members, duties and duration as set forth in these Bylaws or resolution of the Members. Unless directed otherwise by the Members or by these Bylaws, committees and ministry teams shall operate beginning in October.

(c) Special committees and ministry teams may also be created by the Senior Pastor or Board with the approval of the Members (except for Board Committees, which shall not require approval of the Members).

2.  Bylaws Committee.  There shall be a Bylaws Committee consisting of a Chairperson and at least six (6) Members. Ex-officio members will be the Chairman of the Deacons, the Senior Pastor, and Administrator. This committee shall meet when necessary, but not less than once per year to review the Bylaws and consider proposed changes in the Bylaws. It shall be the duty of the Bylaws Committee to review any proposed changes in the Bylaws received by the committee together with their recommendation to the Board and to the Members for action. Any proposed change not recommended by the Bylaws Committee may still be considered by the Church in Conference as set forth in these Bylaws. It shall also be the duty of the Bylaws Committee to interpret the true intent and meaning of any part of the Bylaws with the assistance of legal counsel if the Committee deems such counsel necessary.

3.  Nominating Committee.  There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of a Chairperson who is an ordained Deacon, four additional ordained Deacons and four (4) other at large Members. The members of the Nominating Committee shall be nominated by the current Chairman of Deacons, the current Personnel Committee Chairman and a woman from the Church at large chosen by the Chairman of Deacons and Personnel Committee Chairman. All of the nominees shall be active Members of the Church. These nominees shall be approved by the Board and elected by the Members. Ex-officio members will be the Chairman of Deacons, the Senior Pastor, and Administrator. This committee shall recommend for election all Deacons, Church Clerks and Church Treasurers for the Church and its organizations and committees as approved by the Church, unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws. They shall fill vacancies during the year as necessary. They shall nominate any representative that the Church may have on an Associational Executive Committee.

4.  Finance Committee.  There shall be a Finance Committee consisting of a Chairman who is an active Deacon (appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons), at least four (4) active Deacons (appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons), and no more than four (4) other members nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Members. Ex-officio members will be Chairman of the Deacons, the Church Treasurer, the Senior Pastor, and Administrator. The Finance Secretary shall serve as an advisory member. It shall be the responsibility of the Finance Committee to establish appropriate procedures for handling Church finances; to verify the adherence to such procedures; to prepare and submit to the Board and the Members a proposed budget for the Church’s expenditure of money, such budget to be presented to the Board for prior review and approval before presentation to the Members; to also explain any questions relating to matters of church finance. It shall approve any special offering not mentioned by the budget, or drive for money in the name of the Church. It shall annually review Church financial records. Individual members may not serve more than three (3) consecutive years.

5.  Personnel Committee. There shall be a Personnel Committee consisting of a Chairman who is an active Deacon (appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons), at least four (4) active Deacons (appointed by the Chairman of the Deacons), no more than four (4) other members nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Members. Ex-officio members will be the Chairman of the Deacons, the Senior Pastor, and Administrator. This Committee shall establish policies and procedures for the management of personnel issues related to the mission of the Church. A primary purpose of this committee is to assist and enable the Ministerial Staff, the General Staff and the Lay Members in their joint and cooperative service to the Church. Individual members may not serve more than three (3) consecutive years. The Senior Pastor and the Administrator will serve as ex-officio members for all matters except those pertaining to the performance and conduct of the Senior Pastor and Administrator. The Personnel Committee shall ensure compliance by the Ministerial Staff, the General Staff and Lay Members with all personnel policies and procedures as defined in any policies and/or procedures manual.

Section VII

Church Finances, Bank Accounts and Loans

  1.  Budget. The finances of the Church shall operate on a budget, which shall include all anticipated revenue and expenditures, made each year, item by item, and submitted by the Church staff to the Finance Committee and then to the Board and the Members for consideration.  The budget may be adjusted in part, or as a whole, at any time upon recommendation of the Finance Committee, and such adjustment then approved by the Board and the Members. 

 (a) The Church shall not borrow funds from outside sources to meet its Operating Budget.

2.  Voluntary  Contributions.  The  Church  has  no  assessment  plan  or compulsory method of Christian giving. Each member shall be encouraged in Christian giving according to the teachings of the Scriptures. Members and visitors shall be given the opportunity at each Sunday worship service to give to the Church. Special offerings may be sought by the Church, only after approval of the Board following the recommendation of the Finance Committee. This shall not preclude individuals from making special offerings at any time as the Holy Spirit may move them.

3.         Bank Accounts. 

(a) In accordance with the approved Policies and Procedures of the Church, such agents of the Church, as from time to time shall be designated by the Finance Committee, shall have authority to deposit any funds of the Church in such banks or trust companies as shall from time to time be designated by the Finance Committee. Such agents from time to time shall be authorized by the Finance Committee to withdraw any or all of the funds of the Church so deposited in any such bank or trust company, upon checks, drafts, or other instruments or orders for the payment of money, drawn against the account or in the name or behalf of the Church, and made or signed by such agents. Each bank or trust company with which funds of the Church are so deposited is authorized to accept, honor, cash, and pay, without limit as to amount, all checks, drafts, or other instruments or orders for the payment of money, when drawn, made or signed by such agents so designated by the Finance Committee until written notice of the revocation of the authority of such officers or agents by the Finance Committee shall have been received by such bank or trust company. There shall from time to time be certified to the banks or trust companies in which funds of the Church are deposited, the signatures of the agents of the Church so authorized to draw against the same.

(b) In the event that the Finance Committee shall fail to designate the persons by whom checks, drafts, and other instruments or orders for the payment of money shall be signed, all of such checks, drafts, and other instruments or orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chairman of the Deacons and countersigned by the Senior Pastor.

  • Loans. Any request for a loan shall be submitted to the Finance Committee for consideration and shall contain the amount and the purposes for which the loan is to be made. If the Finance Committee decides to go forward with the loan, the Finance Committee shall obtain at least three quotes from financial institutions to obtain the best lending rate, terms, and conditions of the loan. The Finance Committee shall vote on whether or not to approve the loan with the financial institution selected. If the Finance Committee approves of the loan, the Finance Committee shall appoint at least two agents of the Church to make and execute such documents as are necessary to put the loan into effect. The Finance Committee shall then present their approval of the loan along with the names of the Agents to execute the documents to the Board of Deacons in the form of a motion for the Board members to approve. The motion shall be presented to the Board for approval. Upon approval by the Board, it will then be presented for approval by the Members. This motion shall be presented at each Sunday Worship Service which shall be called into a business session as set forth in these Bylaws. The motion must be approved by a majority of the members voting. The vote of the Church members shall be recorded by the Church Clerk and certified to the Financial Institution as required. The financial institution is authorized to rely upon such certification until written notice of the revocation by the Board of the authority of such Agents shall be delivered to such financial institution.

  • Any unbudgeted transaction of Church business involving more than one per cent (1%) of the Annual Operating Budget requires a recommendation of the Board of Deacons and approved by the church in conference.

Section VIII

Policies and Procedures Manual

1. Purpose and Approval. The Church shall create and maintain written policies and procedures concerning the various aspects of the ministries and operations of the Church. The approved policies and procedures shall be maintained in a Members manual and made readily available to all members of the pertinent committees, staff, Members or other authorized persons.

2.  Content. The policies and procedures will include, but not be limited to, those relating to personnel, voting procedures, receipts, expenditures, disbursements, building and grounds use, kitchen use, Christian Family Life Center, Child Development Center, weddings and vehicle use. Voting procedures shall be approved by the Board of Deacons.

3.        Precedent. All policies\ and procedures shall be consistent with the church’s Statements of Faith. In the event that the Policies and Procedures Manual shall conflict with the Bylaws, the Bylaws shall take precedent.

Section IX

Miscellaneous Provisions

1.  Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Church shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each calendar year. The Board may, from time to time, change such fiscal year if it determines a change to be in the best interest of the Church.

2.  Notices. Whenever, under the provisions of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any Deacon or Member, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but unless otherwise specified in the Articles or these Bylaws, such notice shall be given in writing, by United States first class mail, (by depositing the same in a post office or letter box, postage prepaid, addressed), or by electronic transmittal by e-mail, to each Member, or Deacon, at such contact information for such Member or Deacon as appears in the records of the Church, in default of any other address. Such notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time the same shall be thus mailed or transmitted. Any Member or Deacon may waive any notice required to be given under these Bylaws.

Section X Indemnification

1.  Definitions. As used in this Section X, any word or words that are defined in the provisions related to indemnification of directors and officers in the Code (the “Indemnification Section”) shall have the same meaning as provided in the Indemnification Section.

2.  Indemnification of Deacon and Officers. The Church shall indemnify and advance expenses to a Deacon or Officer of the Church in connection with a proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance with the Indemnification Section.

3.  Indemnification of Employees and Agents. With respect to an employee or agent of the Church other than a Deacon or Officer, the Church may, as determined by the Board, indemnify and advance expenses to such employee or agent in connection with a proceeding to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Indemnification Section.

Section XI Amendments

1. Amendment of Bylaws. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be made in accordance with the procedures set out in this Section. Such amendments may be recommended by the Bylaws Committee, or by the Board as hereinafter provided.

2.  Recommendation of Board. Any Deacon may present a written proposal for one or more amendments to the Board. The Board may, in its discretion, deliver the proposal to the Bylaws Committee for review and recommendation, or may on its own motion (with or without a recommendation from the Bylaws Committee) determine to recommend the proposed changes to the Members or present the proposed changes to the Members without a recommendation from the Bylaws Committee.

3. Presentation to Members. All proposals and/or recommendations to amend the Bylaws shall be presented to the Members of each Sunday worship service called into Church Conference (with copies furnished at the meeting) no less than one (1) month prior to the date of a second meeting at which the Members are to vote on such changes. On the Sunday following expiration of such one (1) month period, the Members at each Sunday worship service called into Church Conference shall vote on the proposed changes. Approval of such changes shall be at a meeting where a quorum is present by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all Members present as set forth in these Bylaws (Section III, Paragraph 7).