Constitution, Bylaws, and Appendices

Constitution, Bylaws, and Appendices

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

MONTICELLO ARKANSAS

413 NORTH MAIN STREET

MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS 71655

TABLE OF CONTENTS

constitution 5

ARTICLE I - Name 5

ARTICLE II - Purpose 5

ARTICLE III - Statement of Faith 5

ARTICLE IV - Church Government and Affiliations 6

ARTICLE V - Adoption and Amendments 6

BYLAWS 7

SECTION I – Church Membership 7

A. General 7

B. Requirements for Church Membership 7

C. Responsibilities of Church Membership 7

D. Voting Rights of Church Membership 7

E. Termination of Church Membership 7

F. Restoration of Church Membership 8

SECTION II – Church Business Conferences 8

A. Place 8

B. Scheduled Church Business Conferences 8

C. Called Church Business Conferences 8

D. Notice Requirements 8

E. Procedures 9

F. Quorum 9

G. Change in Affiliations, Dissolutions and Mergers 9

SECTION III – Church Officers and Staff 10

A. General 10

B. Administrative Leadership Team (ALT) 10

C. Senior Pastor 10

1. Qualifications and Responsibilities 10

2. Composition and Selection 11

3. Term 12

D. Other Church Staff 12

1. Pastoral Leadership Team 12

2. Church Support Staff 13

SECTION IV – Ministry Leadership Teams 13

A. Biblical Guidance on the Office of Deacon 13

B. Equipping Ministry Team 13

C. Nominating Committee 13

SECTION V – Finance 14

A. Annual Budget 14

B. Church Financial Statements 14

C. Acquisition of Land, Buildings, Borrowing of Funds, Sale of Property 14

D. Review of Church Finances 14

E. Financial Integrity of the Church 15

F. Financial Policies and Procedures 15

SECTION VI – Records and Reports 15

SECTION VII – Policy and Fiscal Maintenance 16

A. Year End 16

B. Policies and Procedures Manual 16

SECTION VIII – Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws and Appendices 16

A. Adoption 16

B. Amendment 16

C. Records 16

Appendix I 17

Appendix II 18

Appendix III 21

Appendix IV 24

Appendix V 31

Appendix VI 33

constitution

We adopt, declare, and establish this Constitution for the purpose of preserving and securing the principles of our faith, and to the end that this body of believers may be governed in an orderly manner consistent with the teachings of Holy Bible.

ARTICLE I - Name

This body of believers shall be known as First Baptist Church of Monticello, Arkansas (referred to as the “Church”).

ARTICLE II - Purpose

Desiring to glorify God the Father through His unique Son, Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and affirming the five eternal purposes of worship/magnification, evangelism/ missions, fellowship/membership, discipleship/maturity, and service/ministry, the purposes of First Baptist Church, Monticello are to magnify God, bring people to Jesus, call believers to membership, develop members in spiritual maturity, and equip them for ministry.

ARTICLE III - Statement of Faith

We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible were written by men divinely inspired by God, are completely trustworthy, and are the basis for our beliefs. This Church accepts “The Baptist Faith and Message” (2000 edition), which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof, as an affirmation of our basic Christian beliefs and as a general statement of our faith.

We believe that term “marriage” has only one meaning: marriage is sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in the Holy Bible.

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves accordingly.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church.

ARTICLE IV - Church Government and Affiliations

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the membership retains the exclusive right of self-government of this Church. This Church is not subject to control by any other ecclesiastical body, but recognizes the obligations of Southern Baptist churches to carry out ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. While maintaining its autonomy, the Church will, as the members of the Church determine, cooperate with and support the Bartholomew Baptist Association, the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention so long as these entities continue to adhere to the principles outlined in Appendix I “The Baptist Faith and Message” (2000 edition). (www.sbc.net/bfm2000)

ARTICLE V - Adoption and Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of the members present and voting at the church business conference in which it is submitted for adoption.[1]

Section 2. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of those members present and voting at any regular or called Church business conference. Notice of such amendment shall be given through distribution of written material to the members in attendance at Sunday services at least two consecutive Sundays in advance of the Church business conference in which the amendment is to be considered.[2]

BYLAWS

SECTION I – Church Membership

A. General

1. The members of the Church shall consist of all persons who have met the requirements for membership and are listed on the Church membership roll.

B. Requirements for Church Membership

The requirements for Church membership are as follows:

1.  A personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior;

2.  Baptism by immersion as a believer as a symbol of salvation;

3.  Affirmation by the majority of members present and voting

C. Responsibilities of Church Membership

The responsibilities of membership are described in the Church Membership Covenant (“Life Together at First Baptist Church, Monticello, AR”) set forth in the Appendix II of this document.

D. Voting Rights of Church Membership

Every member of the Church present in person at a Church business conference shall have the right to vote on all matters presented to the Church for consideration at such Church business conference. Each member of the Church is entitled to one vote. Voting by proxy or absentee ballot is prohibited.

E. Termination of Church Membership

A member shall be removed from the Church membership roll and his or her Church membership shall be terminated for any one of the following reasons:

1. Death;

2. Transfer of membership to another church; (When FBC is informed that a member has joined another church, the Church office will make contact for verification and adjust the Church membership accordingly.)

3. Personal written request by the member;

4. Exclusion by the action of the Church when the member’s life and conduct are inconsistent with the Scriptures in such a way that the member hinders the ministry influence of the Church. All matters of church discipline, including exclusion, shall be guided by a concern for redemption, reformation, and reconciliation rather than punishment, and shall be first handled by the Administrative Leadership Team in the spirit of Matthew 18:15-17, before any presentation by the Administrative Leadership Team, only, to the Church. If the Administrative Leadership Team determines that church discipline of any member of the Church is appropriate, the Administrative Leadership Team, only, may present to the Church a motion for church discipline of a member of the Church during a Church business conference. Any church discipline of a member of the Church shall require a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of the members present and voting in favor of such motion for church discipline. In every case the person who is the subject of such motion for church discipline shall have the privilege to address the Administrative Leadership Team at a meeting at which the member’s church discipline is considered; or

F. Restoration of Church Membership

Upon evidence of the excluded person’s repentance and reformation, such person excluded by action of the Church shall be restored by a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of the members present and voting for such motion during a Church business conference, upon the recommendation of the Administrative Leadership Team in the spirit of II Corinthians 2:5-11.

SECTION II – Church Business Conferences

A. Place

Church business conferences shall be held at 413 North Main Street, Monticello, AR 71655, or such other place as may be designated by the Administrative Leadership Team, in accordance to Section II, D.

B. Scheduled Church Business Conferences

The scheduled business conferences of the Church shall be held quarterly with the annual Church business conference being in October in accordance to Section II, D.

C. Called Church Business Conferences

The Senior Pastor or the Administrative Leadership Team shall have the authority to call the Church to conference for business whenever it is deemed expedient.

D. Notice Requirements

Notice of scheduled and called Church business conferences shall be provided to members two consecutive Sunday mornings prior to the Church business conference. Notice shall include place, date, time, a general description of any business to be transacted. Notice may be given by distribution of written material to the members in attendance at Sunday services, and/or by a verbal announcement to the congregation in attendance at Sunday services. In the rare case of an emergency, the Administrative Leadership team may recommend the suspension of Section II.D for stated purpose; allowing the church to act quickly.

At any of the regular meetings for worship the church may, without special notice, act upon the reception of members, or upon the dismissal of members to other churches, and upon the appointment of messengers to councils or convention.

E. Procedures

1. In conducting all Church business conferences, the Church shall be guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, except in cases otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws. A person may be designated by the Chairman of the Administrative Leadership Team to serve as Parliamentarian.

2. The Senior Pastor shall serve as the moderator of all Church business conferences. In the absence of or at the pleasure of the Senior Pastor, the Chairman of the Administrative Leadership Team shall serve as moderator. In the absence of both, the Family Pastor shall serve as moderator. In the absence of all of these, the Chairman of the Administrative Leadership Team shall designate the moderator.

3. All matters requiring Church approval shall be brought to the attention of the Administrative Leadership Team at least seven (7) calendar days before being placed on the agenda of a Church business conference.

4. The Chairman of the Administrative Leadership Team shall establish the agenda for each Church business conference. No item presented for agenda inclusion by a church member shall be excluded provided the requirements of the section II. E. 3. have been fulfilled.

F. Quorum

Those members entitled to vote and present and voting at a Church business conference duly noticed and called shall constitute a quorum of the membership for the transaction of business.

G. Change in Affiliations, Dissolutions and Mergers

1. All matters relating to any proposal or plan:

The Administrative Leadership Team, only, may recommend a proposal or plan:

(a) for affiliation with another church, convention, or association of churches other than Southern Baptist churches; and/or,

(b) for dissolution of the Church and/or for disposition of real and personal property and other assets of the Church upon dissolution of the Church; and/or,

(c) for merger of the Church with another church or entity; and/or,

(d) to alter the incorporated charter of the Church,

to the Church members entitled to vote thereon during any Church business conference.

If the Administrative Leadership Team recommends such a proposal or plan, a vote thereon shall be required, and a two-thirds (⅔) affirmative vote of the Church members present and voting shall be required to approve and adopt such proposal or plan.

1. In the event of the dissolution of the Church, all real and personal property and other assets of the Church shall be distributed in accordance with applicable law.

SECTION III – Church Officers and Staff

A. General

1. The Administrative Leadership Team shall be the Trustees of the Church. The Officers of the Administrative Leadership Team shall be elected by the Administrative Leadership Team and shall be the Officers of the Church. The same individual may not hold more than one officer position of the Church.

2. The Officers of the Administrative Leadership Team shall be Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Church.

3. The officers of the Church are authorized to execute and deliver agreements, contracts, deeds, evidences of indebtedness, and other legal documents on behalf of and binding to the Church, provided that all such agreements, contracts, deeds, evidences of indebtedness, and other legal documents shall be signed by not less than two such Officers.

4. The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes and records of all Administrative Leadership Team meetings and all Church business conferences, and the Secretary shall, upon request, authenticate all such minutes and Church records.

B. Administrative Leadership Team (ALT)

Qualifications and Responsibilities

The Administrative Leadership Team shall include men and women who are members of the Church, exemplary in their conduct, discreet in judgment, of honest report, full of faith, a generous giver, and conscious of the fact that they shall set worthy examples of cooperation, love, and loyalty for all members of the Church. For details of responsibilities, composition, selection, election, term, and meetings see Appendix III.