COVENANT
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
CONSTITUTION
and
BY-LAWS
/
CENTRAL BIBLE CHURCH
940 West Galena Boulevard
Aurora, Illinois 60507-0144
CONTENTS
OUR COVENANT Page 1
CONTENTS Page 2
CONSTITUTION
Preamble Page 3
Article I Purpose Page 3
Article II Doctrine Page 3
Article III Membership Page 6
Article IV Ordinances Page 7
Article V Finances Page 8
Article VI Government Page 8
Article VII Officers Page 9
Article VIII Meetings Page 10
Article IX Discipline Page 11
Article X Church Property Page 12
Article XI Ordination Page 13
Article XII Amendments Page 14
BY-LAWS
Article I Duties of Pastors Page 14
And Officers
Article II Standing Committees Page 16
And Their Duties
Article III Candidate (Nominees) Page 17
Requirements
Article IV Amendments Page 18
Contents 2
OUR COVENANT
Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus
Christ as our personal Savior, and accepting the Holy Scriptures as our rule of
faith and practice, and recognizing the privilege of uniting ourselves in
Christian fellowship for worship and service, we do now in the presence of God,
and invoking His blessing, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one
another, as one body in the Lord.
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in
Christian love; to seek the growth of this Church in Scriptural knowledge and
holiness; to promote its prosperity and spiritual life; to sustain its worship,
ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly
by tithes and offerings to the support of the ministry, the expenses, work and
extension of the church, and the spread of the Gospel throughout all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private Bible reading and prayer; to seek
the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the
world, separated from the world, and not unequally yoked with unbelievers; to
be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our
deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; and to be
zealous in our efforts to advance the cause of Christ in the world.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each
other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate
Christian sympathy and feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take
offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the admonitions of
our Savior to secure it without delay.
Humbly confessing our sins, we pray for grace and strength to keep this
covenant with one another in letter and spirit to the glory of God.
Covenant 1
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
CENTRAL BIBLE CHURCH
AURORA, ILLINOIS
PREAMBLE
This church is incorporated under the laws
of the State of Illinois as the Central Bible Church.
We, the members of the Central Bible Church of Aurora, do ordain and establish
the following articles to which we voluntarily submit ourselves:
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization is to introduce people to Jesus Christ so they
may trust Him as Savior; to develop them to Christlike maturity; to encourage
them to support and enjoy one another; to equip them and provide opportunities
for service in their church, their community and the world; to honor the Lord
until He comes.
ARTICLE II
DOCTRINE
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES - We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for
faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and Godbreathed
(2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12,13).
THE GODHEAD -
We believe in one Triune God, eternally
existing in three Persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, co-eternal in being,
co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same
attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws
3
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST - A) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Luke 1:35; John 1:12,14).
B) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through
His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, sub stitutionary
sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical
resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24,25; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5;
2:24).
C) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted
at the right hand of God, where as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of
Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9,10; Romans 8:34; Hebrews
7:25; 9:24; 1 John 2:1,2).
THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - A)
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Person who convicts the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the supernatural agent in
regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, indwelling, and
sealing them unto the day of redemption (John 16:8-11; Romans 8:9; 1
Corinthians 12: 12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13, 14).
B) We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all
truth; and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with
the Spirit (John 16:13; Ephesians 5:18; 1 John 2:20,27).
THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN - We believe
that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin
the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God, and
that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost
condition (Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:22,23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3,12).
SALVATION -
We believe that salvation is the gift of
God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our
sins (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18,19).
THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS - A) We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s
power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans
8:1,38,39; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Peter 1:5).
B) We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance
of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly
forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans
13:13,14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 4
THE TWO NATURES OF THE BELIEVER - We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural (Romans 6:13; 8:12,13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9).
SEPARATION - We believe that all the saved should live in such manner as not to
bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord; and that separation from all
religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and
associations is commanded by God (Romans 12:1,2;
14:13;2Corinthians6:14-7:1;2Timothy3:15; I John2:15-17;2John9-11).
MISSIONS -
We believe that it is the obligation of
the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to
seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:19,20).
THE MINISTRY AND SPIRITUAL GIFTS - A)
We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and that
the gifts of evangelists, pastors and teachers are sufficient for the
perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of
sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed
and their authority became established (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians
12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12).
B) We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith in accord with
His own will for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; 1 John 5: 14,15).
THE CHURCH - A) We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride
of Christ, is a spiritual organization made up of all born again persons of
this present age
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:25-27).
B) We believe that the establishment and
continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New
Testament Scriptures (Acts 14:27; 20:17,28-32; 1 Timothy 3:1-13;
Titus 1:5-11).
DISPENSATIONALISM - We believe in the dispensational view of Bible interpretation
but reject the extreme teaching known as “Hyper-Dispensationalism,” such as
that teaching which opposes either the Lord’s Table or water baptism as a
Scriptural means of testimony for the Church in this age (Matthew 28: 10,20;
Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN -
We believe that Satan is a person, the
author of sin and the cause of the fall; that he is the open and declared enemy
of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire
(Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; 25:41; Revelation 20:10).
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution I By-Laws
5
THE SECOND
ADVENT OF CHRIST -
We believe in that “Blessed Hope,” the
personal, imminent, pre-tribulational, and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth with His
saints to establish His millennial kingdom (Zechariah 14:4-11; 1 Thessalonians
1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Revelation
3:10; 19:11—16; 20:1—6).
THE ETERNAL STATE -
A) We believe in the bodily resurrection
of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and
everlasting punishment (Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29; 11:25,26; Revelation 20:4,6,12,13).
B) We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the
body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first
resurrection, when spirit, soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever
with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 3:2 1; 1
Thessalonians 4:16,17; Revelation 20:4-6).
C) We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious
misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited, they
shall appear at the Great White Throne judgment, and shall be cast into the Lake
of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment
(Matthew 25 :41-46; Mark 9:43 -48; Luke 16:19-26;
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Jude 6,7; Revelation 20:11-15).
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - Persons can be received into membership upon
confession of faith, or re-statement of faith conditioned upon an examination
satisfactory to the Official Board of the Church. They shall then be
recommended to the Church to be voted into its membership at any regularly
called or stated meeting.
Section 2 -
Any person who has accepted Christ as
Savior, and gives assurance of a desire to live a consistent Christian life,
and has received or gives assurance of a willingness to receive the ordinance
of the Lord’s Table, and who gives assurance of a willingness to abide by the
Constitution and By-laws, having read the same, and shows evidence of a
satisfactory attitude toward the doctrinal standards of this Church, shall be
eligible for membership.
Section 3 -
Members are expected to conscientiously
strive to live according to the light revealed to them, by the Holy Spirit
through God’s Word and to wholeheartedly support the services, activities and
finances of the Church accordingly.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 6
Section 4 - Children under eighteen years of age can be received into membership upon confession of faith and an examination satisfactory to the Official Board of the Church. These members may not vote or take part in the discussion of business. Upon reaching the age of eighteen these members shall be re-examined by the Official Board of the Church and, if approved, shall be recommended to the Church for acceptance as regular and voting members.
Section 5
-
Upon the recommendation of the Official
Board, the Church shall receive the candidate into membership and extend the
right hand of fellowship in the presence of the worshipping congregation at a
regular communion service as soon as possible after the congregation has voted
their acceptance.
Section 6-It is recommended that candidates not possessing sufficient
Scriptural knowledge become members of a class conducted by the Pastor, or one
whom he may appoint. Children who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior
should also join this class for a period sufficient to ground them in the
faith.
Section 7 -
Should any member be absent from the
Church services for a period of six months, his name may be erased from the
roll of the Church members, PROVIDED that an Elder, Deacon or the Pastor has
called upon or communicated with the absent member and a satisfactory
explanation of the absence had not been given. Erasure is to be reported at the
first regularly called Church business meeting.
Section 8 -
Letters of recommendation to other
churches may be granted.
ARTICLE IV
ORDINANCES
Section 1 - The ordinance of baptism is to be administered by
immersion, and at such time as shall be arranged for with the Pastor.
Section 2- The Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly on the first
Sunday of each month, unless another time is designated by the Elders and
Pastor.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution I By-Laws 7
ARTICLE V
FINANCES
Believing that the Bible teaches that the proper method of financing the Lord’s
work is by the free-will offerings of consecrated people, in systematic,
proportionate giving of money, this Church shall under no circumstances consent
to the collection of money through bazaars, entertainments, or any like method.
Free-will offerings will be accepted at any time. (Members are requested to keep
in touch with the Treasurer when they are forced to be absent.)
ARTICLE VI
GOVERNMENT
Section 1 -
The government of this Church is vested
in its membership, executed through the Official Board.
Section 2 -
The Official Board shall be the executive
of the congregation in its dealings with the Pastors, employees, affiliated
organizations, branch works, and any outside denominations and organizations.
Section 3 -
The Official Board shall have supervision
over the business transactions and general work of the Church, its
organizations and branch works.
Section 4 -
The Official Board shall have the
management and control of all property belonging to the Church. It shall not encumber
with loan, transfer, sell or purchase any real estate for the Church except by
express authorization conveyed through a majority vote of the membership
present at a constitutionally called business meeting.
Section 5
-
The Official Board shall have authority
to appoint individuals or committees for the transaction of its business.
Section 6 -
The Official Board shall have authority
to call congregational meetings for the purpose of recommending such actions as
call for a vote of the congregation, and for the purpose of receiving advice or
instruction from the congregation.
Section 7- The Official Board shall handle and consider suggestions,
recommendations and grievances upon the part of any member or organization
affiliated with the Church.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 8
Section 8 - The Official Board will appoint the
Chairpersons of the Missions Committee, Christian Education Committee and the
Auditing Committee. Should other committees be established, the Official Board
will assume the responsibility of appointing the Chairpersons for those
committees also.
Section 9 - The Official Board shall approve of the nominees of all organizations in the Church before they are elected to their respective offices.
Section 10 -
The deciding factor in any vote taken in
an Official Board meeting shall be a majority vote of the members present.
Section 11 -
The Officers shall be selected by a
nominating committee and elected by a vote of the membership.
Section 12 -
In case of vacancies in offices on the
Official Board, the Board shall call upon the nominating committee to submit
candidates for the unexpired terms to the congregation for election; and said
committee is to be composed and function in accordance with Section 5 of
Article VII. In the event an unexpired term be six months or less, said vacancy
can be filled at the discretion of the Official Board.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
Section 1 -
There shall be elected as Officers of the
Church two or more Elders, two or more
Deacons, a Church Clerk, a Financial Secretary and a Treasurer. These Officers,
with the
Pastor and Associate Pastor, shall constitute the Official Board of the Church.
Section 2 -
There shall be two Elders and two Deacons
for the first one hundred members, and one additional Elder and Deacon may be
elected for each additional one hundred members or majority fraction thereof.
Section 3 -
The term of office for the Elders shall
be three (3) years and for the Deacons shall be three (3) years and so arranged
that a majority of either body will not go out of office at the same time. The
term of office for the Church Clerk, Financial Secretary and Treasurer shall be
one (1) year.
A) The Elders or Deacons, upon completion of one full term in office, shall not
be eligible for election to the office of Elder or Deacon during the year
immediately
following his term. This shall apply to any person elected to fill the
unexpired term of an EIder or Deacon, provided said unexpired term is two (2)
years or more in length.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 9
B) Any Pastor’s or Officer’s service may
be terminated for just cause at any time by vote of the congregation, after a
fair and impartial trial, conducted under the supervision of the Official Board
at a meeting called in accordance with Section 5 of Article VIII, or Section 6
of Article VT.
C) All officers shall serve until their successors are elected, except as
provided
in Paragraph B of Section 3 of Article VII.
Section 4 -
A Pastor or any assistant or associate
Pastor may be called upon a vote of the congregation, after recommendation by
the Official Board, or by a pulpit committee appointed by the Official Board
and congregation. Pastors shall serve until their pastorate is terminated by
resignation or by request of the congregation. Pastors shall give a minimum of
thirty (30) days notice before termination of their service. In the event of
the congregation voting that the Pastor’s or any assistant or associate
Pastor’s service be terminated abruptly, the salary involved shall continue for
thirty (30) days.
Section 5 -
At the Annual Meeting the Church shall
elect the members of the Nominating
Committee for the coming year, the same to be submitted on the report of the
Nominating
Committee then acting. This committee shall consist of five (5) people: the
Senior Elder, the
Senior Deacon and three people from the active membership. The senior Elder
shall serve as
the Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
Section 6 -
All officers and other members shall be
elected by separate ballot at the January business meeting of the Church. A majority
of all votes cast shall be necessary to constitute an election.
Section 7- On the first Sunday in February the newly elected officers
shall appear before the assembled congregation and, after having been
instructed by the Pastor as to their duties and privileges, are to be by him
installed in their offices.
ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS
Section 1 - There shall be three (3) regular Church services held
weekly: the Sunday morning and Sunday evening services, and the mid-week prayer
and fellowship meeting.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 10
Section 2- The fiscal year of the Church shall end on the thirty-first (3 1) day of December in each year, and the Annual Meeting shall be held within the month of January of the succeeding year, the date to be determined by the Official Board and announced to the congregation for two (2) successive Sundays from the pulpit, preceding the said meeting.
Section 3 -
The Pastor or, if there is none, the Senior Elder shall preside at all
business meetings. The order of business at regular Church business meetings
shall be as follows:
Scripture reading and prayer, roll call, minutes of the previous Church
business meeting, Treasurer’s report, reports from chairpersons of standing
committees, affiliated organizations, unfinished business, new business, report
of the Nominating Committee and election of officers (if it is the Annual
Meeting), prayer and adjournment.
Section 4- Any regular or called meeting of the congregation may be
constituted a meeting for the transaction of business, provided announcement of
said meeting be given from the pulpit for two (2) successive Sundays preceding
the said meeting.
Section 5 -
The Official Board shall call a special congregational business meeting
upon the written request often (10) percent of the members with power to vote,
said meeting and its purpose to be announced as provided in Section 4 of this
Article VIII, and convened within two (2) weeks after filing request with the
Official Board.
Section 6 -
A majority vote of the voting members present at any constitutionally
called congregational business meeting shall be required for the election of
officers or to render final decisions in any matter under consideration, except
where otherwise stated in this Constitution and By-laws.
Section 7- The voting members present at any business meeting called in
accordance with the requirements of this constitution shall be considered a
quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 8 -
In the conduct of business meetings, any parliamentary questions not
covered by this Constitution and By-laws, shall be decided by the latest
edition of “Roberts Rules of Order.”
ARTICLE IX
DISCIPLINE
Section 1 -
It shall be within the province of the Pastor and Elders to
investigate at any time any member or members who seem to manifest
inconsistency or flagrant sin in their Christian lives, a wrong attitude toward
the Church’s doctrinal standards, or who show indifference toward the life and
work of the Church, for the purpose of remedying any weakness in their
Christian lives. It shall be within the province of the Official Board to place
such persons on an Inactive Roll.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution I By-Laws
11
Section 2- Persons on an Inactive Roll shall not be entitled to hold office or vote in Church matters.
Section 3-Persons on an Inactive Roll may be restored to full membership
standing by action of the Official Board.
Section 4- Should any member be accused of assenting to such doctrine or
such conduct as shall in the judgment of the Pastor and Elders be so opposed to
the Word of God as to threaten the life and the faith of the Church by
destroying the basis of our fellowship, that member may be ex-communicated and
his name be stricken from the roll of Church members.
It is recommended to the Pastor and Elders that the procedure be as follows:
A) Charges should be delivered, in writing only, to the accused, and in the
charge should be incorporated a request to meet with the Pastor and Elders at
some time, not more than two (2) weeks nor less than one (1) week subsequent.
B) At the trial, the accused shall be allowed to ask an Elder to assist him in
his case. The Pastor shall likewise appoint an Elder for prosecution.
C.) Should the trial result in a verdict of guilty, the member shall be
publicly stricken from the roll and publicly announced as ex-communicated at
the first reception of members succeeding the trial (1 Corinthians 5:4,5).
ARTICLE X
CHURCH PROPERTY
Section 1 - The title to all real estate and personal property
acquired by purchase, deed, gift,
transfer, inheritance, or other conveyance shall be held in the name of the
Church as follows:
Central Bible Church, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue
of the laws of the State of Illinois.
All property so held shall be maintained and administered for it by its duly
elected Deacons subject to the supervision and direction of the Official Board.
Section 2 -
Members severing their connection with
the Church, for whatsoever reasons, relinquish all claims to its property.
Section 3 -
In case of a division of the Church, the
property shall revert to that group that adheres to this Constitution and
By-laws.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 12
Section 4- Dissolution - No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any donor, member, director or officer of the Corporation or any private individual and no donor, member, director, officer of the Corporation, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the Corporation assets. Upon dissolution, any assets of the Corporation must be distributed to the INDEPENDENT FUNDAMENTAL CHURCHES OF AMERICA, TNCORPORATED if it then exists and is exempt from Federal Income Taxotherwise to one or more organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as one organized exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes.
ARTICLE XI
ORDINATION
Section 1 - When in the judgment of the Official Board a man is
called to the Christian ministry, it shall be within the power of the Official
Board to call and conduct a council for ordination, providing such authority is
granted by vote of the congregation.
Section 2- The ordaining council shall thoroughly examine all applicants
for ordination as to their call to the Christian ministry, education, Christian
experience, reputation, character, doctrinal belief, and demonstrated
efficiency in Christian service.
Section 3 -
The following shall not be ordained to
the ministry:
A) One who has not served six (6) months as pastor, assistant pastor or in
definite Christian work in such manner as to convey reasonable evidence of
God’s call
to Christian service.
B) One who is addicted to the use of intoxicating liquor, drugs or tobacco in
any form, or who belongs to a secret society; or one who brings disrepute upon
his ministry through worldly practices and associations. (Romans 12:1,2;
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15)
Section 4-It shall be within the province of the Official Board to
discipline even to revoking the ordination credentials of any minister ordained
under this Constitution and By-laws if the said minister is found guilty of any
of the above practices after an impartial trial conducted in the spirit of 1
Corinthians 13.
Section 5 -
The minister under trial shall have the
privilege of appealing his case to the congregation within sixty (60) days
after the decision of the Official Board.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 13
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1 -
This Constitution may be amended by a two
thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present and voting at any regular or
special meeting, properly called, provided the proposed amendment has been read
to the congregation at each regular Church service for the two (2) Sundays
preceding said meeting, and provided an exact copy of the proposed amendment
has been conspicuously posted in the Church exits on four (4) Sundays
immediately preceding said meeting.
Section 2 -
Articles X (ten) and XII (twelve) cannot
be changed.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
DUTIES OF PASTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1 - The Pastor shall have the general oversight of the
spiritual life, regular services and ministration of the ordinances of the
Church, shall be ex-officio member of all Board and committee meetings
connected with the Church or any of its organizations, act as moderator in the
meetings of the Church unless otherwise directed by this Constitution or
ordered by vote of the Church, and shall conscientiously perform such duties as
may be arranged between the Official Board and himself. If at any time his
personal belief, preaching or teaching shall not be in full accord with the
doctrinal standard and statement of this Church, his services as Pastor shall
be terminated.
Section 2 -
Any assistant Pastor or Pastors or any
other employee of this Church shall perform such duties as may be designated by
the Pastor, Official Board, or its authorized representative.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 14
Section 3 - The Elders shall be responsible, with the Pastor, for the spiritual welfare of the Church; they shall assist in ministering the ordinances of the Church and shall make necessary provisions for the same. They shall be expected to assist in visiting the sick and sorrowing of the congregation and those who are delinquent in their attendance and involvement at Church and to endeavor to remedy any spiritual weakness in the lives of its members. They shall cooperate with the Pastor in suggesting missionary or benevolent expenditures for approval of the Official Board. They shall be responsible for updating the Church membership roll, admissions, resignations, deaths, dedications, baptisms and ordinations. They shall also faithfully perform all other duties designated by this Constitution or pertaining to their office. They will endeavor by God’s grace to live and serve in full conformity with the standards set forth in this Constitution for their particular office, and especially as found in the Word of God (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
Section 4- The Deacons shall have the care of the physical properties
and physical assets of
the Church and shall hold themselves in readiness to assist in guiding the
spiritual life of the
Church, ministering its ordinances, and perform necessary calling. They shall
endeavor by
God’s grace to live and serve in full conformity with the standards set forth
in this
Constitution for their particular office and especially as found in the Word of
God (1 Timothy
3:8-13).
Section 5
-
The Church Clerk is the recording
secretary of the Official Board and of the
Congregation. It is his responsibility to record minutes of the Official Board
meetings and of
all Congregational meetings. He shall also perform other duties as requested by
the Official
Board or Congregation.
Section 6- The Financial Secretary shall arrange for the receiving,
counting, proper recording and depositing in the bank of all offerings and all
money received by the Church on any occasion. He shall work in conjunction with
the Treasurer to prepare complete reports for the Official Board. He shall, in
compliance with I.R.S. regulations, furnish receipts to all who contributed to Central Bible Church during a calendar year. His records shall be available at any time for
inspection by the Treasurer or the Audit Committee. If the Financial Secretary
is unable to perform his duties or there is a vacancy in this office, the
duties of the Financial Secretary will be assumed by the Treasurer until action
is taken by the Official Board for a replacement.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution I
By-Laws 15
Section 7 - The Treasurer shall account for all money spent. He shall keep accurate records and prepare a monthly statement for the review of the Official Board of the true status of the various finds of the Church. He shall also prepare a complete report of the expenditures for the year to be presented at the Annual Congregational Meeting. Monthly reports shall be posted in a prominent location in the church building after review by the Official Board at their regularly scheduled meeting. His records shall be available at any time to the Financial Secretary and the Official Board and must be submitted to the Audit Committee after each fiscal year. In the event the Treasurer is unable to perform his duties or there is a vacancy in this office, the duties of the Treasurer may be taken care of by any person authorized by the Official Board until action is taken by the Official Board for a replacement.
Section 8 -
The Church Clerk, Financial Secretary and
Treasurer shall be men capable of performing the duties of their respective
offices, as well as meet the candidate requirements of Article III of the
By-laws.
Section 9 -
Within one (1) month after each Annual
Meeting, the Pastors and all elected officers shall be required to sign the
doctrinal standards of the Church each year; said signatures to be filed with
the Church Clerk.
ARTICLE II
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1 - The Missions Committee shall have a Chairperson appointed by the
Official Board. Other members shall be selected, subject to Official Board
approval, in accordance with the Missions Policy. The Committee shall have
authority to evaluate missionaries and organizations, oversee missions
education in the Church, develop and administer the missions budget, and
supervise the preparation of candidates for missions. The structure,
responsibilities, and financial considerations shall be governed by the
Missions Policy. A current copy of the Missions Policy is in the Central Bible
Church Policy Manual located in the Church Library.
Section 2 -
The Audit Committee shall have a
Chairperson appointed by the Official Board and any other members chosen by the
Chairperson subject to Official Board approval. The Committee shall make an
annual audit of the Church financial records for the fiscal year in which they
are appointed. This audit shall be made immediately after the end of the fiscal
year or upon the retirement of the Treasurer or Financial Secretary. The Audit
Committee shall submit a written report of their audit to the Official Board
through the Elders as soon as possible but no later than the March Official
Board meeting.
Jan. 31, 2001 Constitution / By-Laws 16
Section - The Nominating Committee, elected as specified in Section 5 of Article VII of the Constitution, shall prayerfully consider the matter of officers and members to be elected for the ensuing year, and shall recommend to the Church one (1) or more persons to fill each vacant office, or office to be made vacant by the end of terms of service. The committee may require any candidate placed in nomination to sign the doctrinal statement and any standards that may be established by the Church or the Official Board.
Section 4 -
The Christian Education Committee shall
have a Chairperson appointed by the Official Board. Other members shall be
selected, subject to Official Board approval, in accordance with the Christian
Education Policy. The Committee shall have authority to develop and administer the
educational budget, and to coordinate and supervise all aspects of the Church
educational ministries as assigned by the Official Board. The structure,
responsibilities, and financial considerations shall be governed by the
Christian Education Policy. A current copy of the Christian Education Policy is
in the Central Bible Church Policy Manual located in the Church Library.
ARTICLE III
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
Section 1 - It shall be impossible for the Nominating Committee or
any member to place in nomination any candidate who cannot answer in the
affirmative and does not subscribe in writing to the following questions:
A) Have you publicly confessed Christ as personal Savior and experienced the
New Birth as set forth in John 3:3-6?
B) Are you in hearty agreement with the doctrinal statement of this Church and
this Constitution?
C) Are you living a surrendered, prayerful Christian life especially as regards
loyal obedience to the moral precepts taught in the Word of God for believers
such as,
1) Separation from the world or worldly amusements (1 John
2:15-17; James 4:4; Titus 2:11-15?
2) Freedom from membership in oathbound
secret organizations or other entangling alliances with unbelievers (2
Corinthians 6:14-7:1)?
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3) A moral conduct beyond reproach and freedom from carnal indulgence such as the use of intoxicating liquors, tobacco in all its forms and narcotic drugs, all of which are harmful, a stumbling block and out of harmony with a dedicated life as set forth in Romans 8:12,13; 12:1,21; 13:14; 14:21; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians4:22-24; Colossians3:1-1O; 1 Peter 1 :14-16; 1 John 3:5-9?
Section 2 -
No member shall be eligible to hold
office without having completed one (1) full year as a Church member.
ARTICLE IV
AMENDMENTS
Section 1 -
These By-laws may be amended at any
meeting of the Church, properly called, if a resolution to that effect has been
presented in a fore-going meeting, and if two-thirds (2/3) of those present are
in favor of such amendment.
Section 2- These By-laws should be reviewed and updated as
necessary every five (5) years beginning in 2005.
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