Download A CONSTITUTION FOR THE FUNCTIONALLY ORGANIZED

A CONSTITUTION FOR THE
FUNCTIONALLY ORGANIZED CHURCH
2014
(TIN: 34-0835582)
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the First Christian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio, a congregationallygoverned body, in order to promote the work of the church in the spirit of Christ, and thus
advance His Kingdom, do hereby adopt this constitution.
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
The name of this organization shall be First Christian Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio. This
independent congregation is committed to the historic principles of the Restoration Movement,
whose local congregations are known as Christian Churches or Churches of Christ.
ARTICLE 2 - MISSION
The mission of this Church shall be as revealed in the New Testament:
First Christian Church exists to introduce people to Jesus Christ and to help them become better
acquainted, in order to become more fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP/VOTING RIGHTS
The membership of this Church shall consist of those who are now identified as members of this
congregation and those who shall unite with this congregation by baptism into Jesus Christ by
immersion or by transfer of membership when previously baptized by immersion. Voting rights
are conferred at age 16.
ARTICLE 4 - GOVERNANCE
GENERAL BOARD
Purpose: The General Board is that group of persons vested with the management of the affairs
of the Church between congregational meetings.
Membership: The General Board shall consist of the elected and appointed officers of the
Church, and the chairpersons of the functional committees or their designees.
Officers: The General Board shall organize itself at a special meeting or the first regular meeting
following the annual congregational meeting by electing from the membership of the General
Board a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and also appointing a secretary.
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The Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer. He shall call and
preside over all regular and special business meetings of the congregation and
serve as Chairman of the General Board.
The Vice-Chairman shall fulfill the duties of the Chairman in his absence.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all regular and special business meetings of
the Church, serve as secretary of the General Board, keep a record of all its
regular and special meetings, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.
Duties: The General Board shall perform its duties according to the authority granted in
this Constitution, including:
Review and approve, prior to the annual congregational meeting, the annual
budget to be voted on by the congregation.
Review and approve, prior to the annual congregational meeting, the slate of
officers to be voted on by the congregation.
Approve the by-laws and any amendments to the by-laws.
Establish the functional committees of the church and coordinate their activities.
Approve the monthly Treasurer’s report and payment of bills.
Determine the numbers of Deacons and Deaconesses necessary to efficiently
manage the Church.
Perform other such duties as may be necessary to manage the affairs of the
Church.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
Elders
There will be a minimum of five elders to lead the Church. Elders are elected
by majority vote of the congregation at a congregational meeting.
Duties: The Elders shall be the spiritual leaders overseeing the Church, in
accordance with the principles of the New Testament. They shall lead and
encourage the membership, by word and by example, in regular attendance at the
Lord’s Supper, in visitation of the sick and infirm, and in concern for the morally
delinquent and spiritually indifferent. They shall give thoughtful consideration to
the policies of the Church that will enable it to fulfill its purpose. They shall be
responsible for the supervision of the Senior Minister.
Qualifications: Elders shall be male members of the Church who meet the
Scriptural qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, and
I Peter 5:2-3.
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Term: The initial term of a first-time Elder shall be one year. The subsequent
term of Elder shall be three years. An elder may serve two consecutive terms and
shall have a minimum one-year sabbatical before being eligible for re-election to
any Church office or committee chair.
Elder Emeritus
Those elders who retire from active responsibility because of infirmity or
advanced age, and who have exhibited exemplary service and dedication to the
Church may be granted the honorary position of Elder Emeritus by the Board of
Elders.
Deacons
Duties: The Deacons shall assist the Elders in the work of the Church. They
shall serve the members of the Church with for regard to material and functional
needs. They shall greet and usher worshippers, distribute the Lord’s Supper, visit
the sick and infirm, and perform such other duties as may be appropriate or
necessary.
Qualifications: Deacons shall be male members of the Church who meet the
Scriptural qualifications set forth in Acts 6:3 and 1Timothy 3:8-13.
Term: The term of Deacon shall be two years.
Deaconesses
Duties: The Deaconesses shall prepare the Lord’s Supper, coordinate Church
funeral dinners, assist candidates for baptism, and perform such other duties as
may be appropriate or necessary.
Qualifications: Deaconesses shall be female members of the Church who
understand the Biblical role of service and exhibit the qualities set forth in 1
Timothy 3:8-13.
Term: The term of Deaconess shall be two years.
Trustees
Duties: The Trustees shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business
matters, with the counsel of the Board of Elders and the approval of the General
Board. They shall hold legal title to all Church property and handle all business
transactions relative thereto, have supervision over all endowment and trust
funds, and perform such duties as required by the laws of the State of Ohio.
Trustees shall also be responsible for keeping the oversight of all real property
and business personal property/equipment. in proper condition, They shall
further be responsible for studying needs, and making recommendations for
improvements, superintending the work of the custodian, caring for the grounds,
and keeping the property adequately insured maintaining adequate insurance on
all real property and business personal property/equipment.
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Qualifications: Trustees shall be members of the Church who exhibit the Biblical
qualities of honesty and integrity understand the Biblical role of service and
exhibit the qualities set forth in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. They shall endeavor to be
knowledgeable of the legal matters of the Church.
Term: The term of Trustee shall be three years, two to be elected each year.
Treasurer
Duties: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the disbursement of all funds of
the Church according to the authority designated to that office by the General
Board, serve as a member of the Stewardship Committee, and make reports at
each regular meeting of the General Board.
Qualifications: The Treasurer shall be a member of the Church who exhibits the
Biblical qualities of honesty and integrity.
Term: The term of Treasurer shall be two years.
Church Historian
Duties: The Church Historian shall be responsible for the historic documents and
artifacts of the Church.
Qualifications: The Church Historian shall have been a member of the Church
for an extended period of time.
Term: The term of Church Historian shall be two years.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Nominations
Organization: A nominating committee consisting of six members shall be
appointed. Three members of the committee shall be selected by the
congregation at the annual congregational meeting and three members shall be
appointed from the General Board. General Board members shall be those
whose terms of office do not expire in the current year. Members selected by the
congregation shall not be members of the General Board. Notice of appointment
of the nominating committee shall be given to the congregation.
Duties: The nominating committee shall make nominations and seek
nominations from the congregation for Church officers. The nominating
committee shall review the individuals in nomination for qualifications and
prepare a proposed slate of nominee candidates for review by the Board of
Elders. The Board of Elders will evaluate the proposed slate with regard to
Scriptural qualifications. The Board of Elders will then return their
recommendations for nominee candidates. The Board of Elders shall secure
consent to serve from Elder nominee candidates. The nominating committee
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shall secure consent to serve from all other nominee candidates. The nominating
committee shall then prepare a slate of candidates for election and present it to
the General Board for approval at least thirty days preceding the annual
congregational meeting.
Elections
Church officers shall be elected at the annual congregational meeting.
Each nominee who receives a majority of the votes cast by ballot of those
members present and voting shall be declared elected to office.
Vacancies
At the direction of the General Board, vacancies in any office of the church,
except Elders, shall be filled for the current term by nomination by the Elders in
consultation with the Senior Minister. The General Board shall then act on the
nomination.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Church officers shall be accountable to God, to each other, and to the Congregation.
ARTICLE 5 - SENIOR MINISTER
The Senior Minister of the Church shall perform the duties which usually pertain to that office,
and, as spiritual administrator of the Church, he shall be a member of the General Board and an
ex-officio member of organized groups, auxiliaries, committees, and departments of the Church.
The Senior Minister shall report to the Board of Elders.
The Senior Minister shall be chosen by the Church as hereinafter provided:
A pulpit committee shall be responsible for recommending a candidate.
The Elders must approve the recommendation.
The General Board must approve the recommendation.
The recommendation must be accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members voting in
a regular or special business meeting of the Church before the call may be extended.
The term of the Senior Minister may be an indefinite period. A written contract setting
the salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy
for the Senior Minister and one copy for the Church.
The Senior Minister may be dismissed and his contract terminated by a majority vote cast
by ballot of those members present and voting at a congregational business meeting.
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ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS
MEETINGS
The Church shall hold an annual business meeting of the congregation in the month of
December.
Special business meetings of the congregation may be called as required. Such meetings
may be called by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the General Board, or upon request
of the General Board, or by written petition of at least seventy-five voting members of the
Church.
An emergency meeting of the congregation may be called by the Senior Minister,
Chairman of the General Board, and Chairman of the Board of Elders, or their respective
designees, providing that written notice has been given to each member of the
congregation at least one full week prior to the meeting date.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Notice of all regular and special meetings of the congregation shall be given at the
regular Sunday worship services of the church each week for a period of three weeks in
advance of the meeting. Announcements of special meetings and emergency meetings
shall include a statement as to the purpose of the meeting.
MEETING CONDUCT
All business meetings of the Church shall be conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of
Order.
ARTICLE 7 – BY-LAWS
The General Board may establish such By-Laws, consistent with this Constitution, as may be
deemed appropriate for the conduct of its business.
ARTICLE 8 - AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the Church by a two-thirds
majority vote of the members voting on the amendment, provided that written notice of the
proposed amendment has been given to each member of the congregation at least one full week
prior to the meeting, or that the proposed amendment has been read at the regular Sunday worship
services each week for a period of three weeks prior to the vote.
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____________________________
Chairman of the Elders
____________________________
Chairman of the Board
____________________________
Chair of the Constitution Committee
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FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO
BY-LAWS
(Revised 2014)
Article 1 - Governing Laws
Definition of By-laws
The By-laws constitute the code of rules adopted by First Christian
Church of New Philadelphia, Ohio, hereafter referred to as ‘the Church’ or
‘this Church’ for the regulation and management of its affairs.
Purpose and Powers
This Church is organized exclusively for religious purposes. Its activities
shall be conducted for the aforesaid purposes and comply with the
requirements for tax-exempt status under Section 501c3 of the Internal
Revenue Code
No part of the income of the Church shall be distributed to its members,
directors or officers, provided, however, that the payment of reasonable
compensation for services rendered shall not be deemed a distribution of
income.
In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the First Christian Church,
and after payment of just debts and liabilities, all remaining assets shall be
distributed to the members of Church.
Article 2 - Membership
Definition of Membership
The membership of this Church shall consist of those who are now
identified as members of this congregation and those who shall unite with
this congregation by confession of Jesus Christ as Savior, repentance of
sins, and baptism into Jesus Christ by immersion, or by transfer of
membership from a church with identical membership requirements.
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Termination of membership
Membership in the Church will terminate only for the following reasons:
Notification to the Church of withdrawal of membership.
Transfer of active membership to another church.
Death of the member.
For cause, i.e., activities inconsistent with membership in First
Christian Church or the body of Christ, as determined by Biblical
scriptures, after an appropriate hearing with the Board of Elders.
Article 3 - Congregational Meetings
Location
Meetings of the congregation of the Church will be held in the Church
building unless determined otherwise by the General Board.
Date
The Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held in the month of
December. Other meetings may be called according to the provisions of
the Church Constitution.
Definition of Quorum
A quorum for a duly called meeting of the Church shall consist of not less
than seventy-five voting members.
Procedures
All business meetings of the Church shall be conducted according to
Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Voting
Only members of the Church of voting age (age 16) are eligible to vote at
a congregational meeting.
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Article 4 - Church Officers
Selection
Church officers must be members of the Church and shall be elected and
serve, as set forth in the Church constitution.
Dismissal
A Church officer may be dismissed only by a two-thirds majority
agreement of the Board of Elders. Prior to dismissal, a written statement
of cause for dismissal of the Church officer will be presented to the officer
under consideration. That officer will have five days to offer a rebuttal to
the Board of Elders, after which a hearing will be scheduled to determine
if the officer will be dismissed.
Article 5 - Operations
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Church will be January 1 through December 31.
Checks and Drafts
All checks and drafts for the payment of money, notes or other evidence
of indebtedness issued in the name of the Church shall be signed by the
Church Treasurer.
Deposits
All funds of the Church shall be deposited regularly to the credit of the
Church in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the
Stewardship/Finance Committee may select in consultation with the
Trustees and Treasurer.
Books and Records
The Church will keep correct and complete books and records of all
Church accounts and funds, and will also keep minutes of the
proceedings of its members, Board of Elders, and General Board. The
Church will keep at its principal office a record of names and addresses of
all members entitled to vote.
Inspection of Books and Records
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All books and records of this church may be inspected by any member, for
any proper purpose, at any reasonable time, with the exception of
individual member contribution records. At the discretion of the General
Board, books and records may be made available to other persons or
organizations for auditing purposes.
Not-for-Profit Operations
This Church will not have or issue shares of stock. No dividend will be
paid, and no part of the income of this Church will be distributed to its
members, Elders, or officers, except in the form of a benevolent gift.
However, the Church may pay a reasonable compensation to members,
Elders, or officers for services rendered.
Article 6 – Pastoral Staff
Senior Minister
The senior minister shall be selected and serve as set forth in the Church
Constitution.
Associate Ministers and Directors
Associate ministers and directors shall be called for employment by a twothirds majority vote of the General Board present and voting at a duly
called meeting of the General Board.
Upon accepting the call, all ministry staff shall enter into a written contract
with the General Board, as mutually agreed upon by the minister or
director and the General Board.
Associate ministers and directors shall be responsible to the Senior
Minister and the Board of Elders for the performance of their office and
the character of their doctrinal teaching.
Dismissal of an associate minister or director shall require a simple
majority vote of the General Board present and voting at a duly called
meeting of the General Board.
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Article 7 – Operational Staff
The operational staff is comprised namely, but not limited to, the Facilities
Manager, the Office Manager and the Treasurer.
Operational staff members shall be hired for employment by a two-thirds
majority vote of the General Board present and voting at a duly called
meeting of the General Board.
Operational staff members shall be responsible to the Senior Minister and
the General Board for the performance of their duties.
Dismissal of an operation staff member shall require a simple majority
vote of the General Board present and voting at a duly called meeting of
the General Board.
Article 8 – Groups Within The Church
The organization and maintenance of all groups within the Church shall be
under the oversight of the General Board. Members of standing
committees of the Church shall be appointed by the Chairman of the
General Board, subject to the approval of the General Board. Special
committees shall be formed in similar manner, as needed. Committee
chairmen shall be elected by committee members at the first
organizational meeting.
Standing committees shall be appointed to execute the four avenues of
church development – Worship, Growth, Service, Outreach – that have
been established to fulfill the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40)
and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). At least one elder shall
oversee each of these four avenues.
The means of receiving or gaining monies for committees shall be
overseen by the General Board. The disbursement of funds shall be
executed by the committee and the Church Treasurer, upon approval by
the General Board.
Committees shall meet as determined by committee chairmen, at least
quarterly.
All groups within the Church shall establish their policies and procedures,
which shall be subject to review by the Board of Elders and the General
Board.
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Article 9 - Property
Exclusive ownership of Church property shall be in the name of First
Christian Church of New Philadelphia, an Ohio not-for-profit corporation,
and shall be legally and ecclesiastically independent of any and all
denominations and denominational agencies, councils, or groups.
Only the General Board and/or its designees may authorize the following
transactions: purchase or otherwise acquire, lease, sell, exchange,
transfer assets, or borrow funds, without the authorization of the
congregation, provided that such transactions do not incur indebtedness
in excess of $250,000. Transactions which incur indebtedness greater
than $250,000 or the sale of the building and/or its immediate grounds
shall require a majority vote of the congregation at a duly called meeting.
Article 10 - Amendments
The By-Laws may be considered for amendment by a two-thirds majority
vote of the members present at a duly scheduled meeting of the General
Board. Notification of such a meeting shall be at least three weeks prior
to the scheduled vote. Documents under consideration shall be available
for review.
Article 11 - Effect
Upon adoption of these By-Laws by a two-thirds majority vote of the
members present at the duly scheduled meeting of the General Board,
such By-laws shall become effective and all former By-laws shall be
nullified and voided.
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