CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS
Revised
January 2012
PREAMBLE
This
church is composed of believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ
as our Savior, having joined together as a local
body
for worship and service. Intent on the
preservation
and
security of the principles of our faith, we as a
corporate
body do declare and establish these Bylaws to
direct
this body in the orderly conduct of business and to
protect
the liberties of the church and of its individual
members.
ARTICLE I
NAME and PURPOSE
SECTION
1. NAME
The
name of this body shall be LAKE COUNTRY BIBLE
SECTION
2. PURPOSE
This
church shall support Christ-honoring public worship
designed
to stimulate fellowship and spiritual growth
through
the faithful teaching ministry of the Scriptures.
The
Saints shall be encouraged in private Bible study,
holy
living, active service and proclaiming Christ at home
and
abroad. Our ultimate purpose is to
glorify the Lord
Jesus
Christ always in all things.
ARTICLE II
DOCTRINAL
STATEMENT
WE
BELIEVE:
All
Scripture is verbally inspired as originally written
and
therefore infallible and inerrant. The
Bible IS the
Word
of God. We do not accept the misleading
statement,
"The Bible contains the Word of God."
(2
Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16)
There
is one living and true God who exists in three
persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father is God;
the
Son is God; and the Holy Spirit is God.
(Matthew
28:19; Ephesians 4:4-6; John 14:16-17;
2
Corinthians 13:14)
Satan
is a created being, a Fallen Angel, under God the
Father’s
authority, ruler of the world by God's
permission
at present and destined to be eternally
judged.
All
men inherit a depraved nature and are lost sinners
in
need of salvation.
(Romans
3:23; 5:12; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 53:6)
The
Lord Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit
and
born of a virgin.
(Matthew
1:20-21; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 7:14)
God
has provided salvation by offering His sinless Son
on
the cross of
as
the atonement for our sins.
(2
Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Peter 2:1-2)
Jesus
rose bodily from the dead and ascended unto
God
the Father at Whose right hand He sits interceding
for
the Saints.
(Acts
1:9-11; Hebrews 9:24)
We
are saved and justified when we recognize ourselves
as
sinners and believe in Jesus as the Son of God and in
His
completed and perfect redemptive work.
Salvation is
by
grace through faith alone.
(2
Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Peter 2:1-2;
Colossians
1:14; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:8-10)
Once
saved, we cannot be lost. We are
eternally secure
in
Jesus.
(John
10:28-29)
Jesus
will return with the "dead in Christ," whose bodies will
be
resurrected first and for those believers who are
alive
at His coming. His coming is known as
the Rapture.
This
resurrection precedes the Tribulation and His
subsequent
second coming for a one thousand year rule
on
the earth.
(1
Thessalonians 4:14-15; 1Corinthians 15:51-56)
All
the saved will enter into eternal blessedness and all
other
mankind into eternal punishment.
(Acts
24:14-15; John 5:28-29; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation
20:12-15;
21:8)
The
Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at the time of
conversion
and is God's work of placing the believer into
Christ. It is not a "second work of
grace." It differs from
the
"filling of the Holy Spirit," an ongoing process in the
believer's
life. Neither of these aspects of the
Holy
Spirit's
presence is accompanied by unusual signs such
as
"speaking in tongues."
(1
Corinthians 12:1-13; 14:21-22)
Water
baptism does not secure or complete salvation.
It
is an outer testimony of God's inner work of salvation.
We
baptize by immersion.
(Romans
6:3-4)
The
Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus’ death and the
elements
are symbols of His body and blood. All
believers
are
invited to participate in our regular memorial of the
Lord's
Supper.
(1
Corinthians 11:23-32)
The
grace of God teaches us "to live soberly,
righteously,
godly."
(Ephesians
2:10; 5:25-26; John 17:17; Galatians 5:16)
THIS
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT IS NOT MEANT TO BE A
FULL
OR ADEQUATE EXPRESSION OF THE BELIEFS OF
THIS
CHURCH BUT TO PROVIDE A TOOL TO AID THE
ELDER
BOARD IN SELECTING DOCTRINALLY SOUND
TEACHERS
AND LEADERS AND TO ANSWER THOSE
WHO
MIGHT ASK THE BASIC DOCTRINAL TEACHINGS
EMBRACED
BY THIS BODY.
ARTICLE III
AUTHORITY
SECTION
1. SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
The
church acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as its
head,
the Holy Scriptures as its infallible guide in
matters
of faith, church order and discipline, and the
Holy
Spirit as its teacher, according to God’s Will.
It
shall not become accountable to or under the
jurisdiction
or supervision of any ecclesiastical body.
SECTION
2. CONGREGATIONAL AUTHORITY
Under
the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
government
of this church shall be vested in the body
of
believers who compose its active voting membership.
SECTION
3. EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
A. Executive authority in spiritual matters is
vested by
the
congregation in the Board of Elders.
B. Executive authority in material matters is
vested by
the
congregation in the Board of Deacons (subject to
ARTICLE
5, SECTION 3).
The
Boards of Elders and Deacons shall have the power
to
delegate to individuals, committees or organizations
the
right to transact business subject to the supervision
and
control of the Board which so delegated.
SECTION
4. PROCEDURAL AUTHORITY
Robert's
Rules of Order shall serve as the authority in
the
conducting of all business.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION
1. QUALIFICATION
The
membership of this church shall consist of
individuals
who confess their faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ
as their Savior, who affirm their submission to
this
Constitution and Bylaws and Doctrinal Statement
and
who have been examined and approved by the
Board
of Elders and Pastor. A person may request
membership
by verbal expression of such desire to
any
Elder or Pastor. Persons approved for
membership
may
be introduced to the congregation at any worship
service.
SECTION
2. CLASSIFICATION/VOTING ELIGIBILITY
A. Active members are those who have indicated
interest
and concern for the church by regular
involvement
in worship and service. Only active
members
will be considered sufficiently informed to
vote
on matters of church business. Children
recommended
as members to the Board of Elders may
be
received but must be eighteen (18) years of age to
vote.
B. Inactive members are those who have been
accepted
into membership but have not attended
worship
services for a period of six (6) months.
They
shall
be considered uninformed on church matters
and
unqualified to vote.
SECTION
3. MEMBERSHIP ROLL
A
Membership Roll shall be maintained as directed
by
the Board of Elders.
SECTION
4. VOTING
A. Conducting church business shall be
considered a
serious
responsibility and shall be managed in a
manner
conducive to attaining the goals of the church
by
a unified and orderly procedure.
B. The Chairman of the Board of Elders shall
moderate
all business meetings.
C. Prior to each business meeting the Moderator
shall
review
requirements for voting eligibility. The
honor
system
shall be observed, and all votes shall be by
secret
ballot.
D. Challenges may be considered at the
discretion
of
the Moderator, and his decision shall prevail.
SECTION
5. REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
The
scriptural standards set forth in Galatians 6:1,
Matthew
18:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 and 1 Corinthians 5:11
shall
be the guide in any matter of discipline, absence,
withdrawal
or removal of members.
A. Normally a member's name may be removed from
the
Membership Roll only by personal or written
request,
by moving out of the area, by joining another
church,
by at least six (6) consecutive months of
nonattendance
except when disability or illness makes
attendance
impossible or by death.
B. Unrepentant behavior may be cause for removal
when
in the judgment of the Board of Elders such
misbehavior
causes serious disruptions in the church
or
brings reproach to the name or cause of Christ.
Deliberations
and actions of the Board of Elders in
such
case shall be kept confidential. Should
membership
be withdrawn as a disciplinary function,
a
public announcement shall be made from the pulpit
if
the Board of Elders considers such appropriate.
Should
such action be necessary the Scriptures, love
and
prayer shall be controlling factors, and the goal
shall
always be restoration of the offending member.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
The
Officers of the church shall be Pastor(s), Elders,
Deacons
and Treasurer. The scriptural standards
set
forth
in Acts 6:2-4, 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9
shall
be the guide in these selections. All
Officers must
affirm
their submission to this Constitution and Bylaws
and
Doctrinal Statement.
SECTION
1. PASTOR
A. The Pastor(s) shall exercise spiritual oversight
of the
congregation
as God's undershepherd(s). All Pastor(s)
shall
serve as non-voting, ex officio members of all
boards
and committees.
B.
The calling of a Pastor shall begin with the
appointing
of a search committee by the Board of Elders.
The
search committee shall consist of one Elder, one
Deacon,
the Youth Pastor, a representative of the
Children’s
Ministry, a member of the Missions Committee,
the
Music Director, a representative of the Women's
Ministry
and two church members chosen and approved
by
the Board of Elders.
C. The recommendation of the search committee
shall
be
presented to the Board of Elders. Upon
the unanimous
approval
of this recommendation by the Board of Elders,
the
recommendation shall be presented at a church business
meeting
called for this specific purpose.
Confirmation of the
recommendation
shall be by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of
the voting members.
D. Dismissal of a Pastor shall require a vote by
the Board of
Elders,
with no more than one of its members dissenting, and
the
confirmation of at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
voting
members at a church business meeting called for this
specific
purpose.
SECTION
2. ELDERS
A. Elder candidates shall be selected by the
Board of
Elders
and presented for confirmation at the annual
business
meeting. A candidate must receive a
two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the voting members to confirm his
nomination. Each Elder's term shall be three (3) years
unless
specified otherwise on the ballot. If an
Elder is
unable
to complete the term of office and a man serving
as
Deacon is appointed by the Elder Board to serve in
his
place, he shall complete the Elder’s unexpired term.
After
completing this unexpired term, he shall not be
eligible
to serve in either office until one (1) year has
elapsed.
B. There shall be no more than five (5) Elders.
C. At the first meeting of each new Board of
Elders,
a
Chairman and Secretary shall be elected.
Before the
first
meeting of each new Board of Elders, copies of
the
current Constitution and Bylaws shall be provided
by
the outgoing Chairman and read by each Elder.
D. Elders are expected to be diligent about
attending
each
meeting.
E. The Board of Elders shall have oversight of
the church
and
final approval of the membership of all committees
of
the church.
F. The Board of Elders must approve any church
involvement
in ministries outside the church.
G. The Board of Elders shall be responsible for
filling
the pulpit when the office of Senior Pastor is
vacant.
H. The Board of Elders shall consider Mission
Committee
recommendations
for support and shall as seems
appropriate
forward such recommendations to the Board
of
Deacons for funding consideration.
I. Unless specified otherwise in these Constitution
and
Bylaws, decisions of the Board of Elders shall be
by
simple majority vote.
J. The Chairman of the Elders shall have the
following
responsibilities:
1.
Call Elder Board meetings as necessary.
2. Set
and distribute meeting agenda.
3. Chair
all Elder Board and church business meetings.
4.
Appoint an Elder to preside at any meeting in
which
he is unable to attend.
5.
Appoint personnel to any committee of the
Board
of Elders.
6.
Acquaint new Elders with old business under
consideration.
7.
Arrange quarterly meetings of Elders, Deacons
and
heads of other ministries.
8.
Serve as president of the church corporation.
K. The Secretary of the Elders shall have the
following
responsibilities:
1. Keep
minutes of each Board meeting, submit them
to
the Board for approval at the first of each new
meeting
and securely maintain them.
2.
Serve as Church Clerk, keeping the minutes of
church
business meetings and maintaining the
church
Membership Roll.
3.
Securely deliver all documents in his possession
to
the new Elder Secretary.
4.
Serve as secretary of the church corporation.
L. An Elder may be removed from office by
unanimous
vote
of the other Elders based on violation of
1
Timothy 3:1-13 or Titus 1:5-9 and a report may be made to
the
congregation if appropriate.
SECTION
3. DEACONS
A. Deacon candidates shall be selected by the
Board
of
Elders. A candidate must receive a
two-thirds (2/3) vote
of
the voting members confirming his nomination.
The
Deacon's term of office shall be subject to the same
conditions
and restrictions as that of an Elder. If
a
Deacon
is unable to complete his term, the Board of
Elders
may appoint a replacement to complete the
unexpired
term.
B. There shall be no more than five (5) Deacons.
C. At the first Board of Deacons meeting
following
the
annual business meeting, a Chairman and
Secretary
shall be elected. Before the first
meeting
of
each new Board of Deacons, copies of the
current
Constitution and Bylaws shall be provided
by
the outgoing Chairman and read by each Deacon.
D. Deacons are expected to be diligent about
attending
each meeting.
E. The Deacons shall handle the routine
financial
matters
of the church.
F. The Deacons shall oversee the publication and
distribution
to the church of regular financial reports
detailing
the church's income and expenditures.
G. The Deacons shall oversee church facilities,
assess
the performance of personnel who care for
such
facilities, equipment and furnishings, and
determine
salaries and oversee and approve other
expenditures.
H. The Deacons shall consider the feasibility of
funding
any new mission or missionary.
I. The Board of Deacons shall have the sole
power
to
direct and authorize the Treasurer in the writing
of
checks.
J. Unless specified otherwise in these
Constitution
and
Bylaws, decisions of the Board of Deacons shall
be
by simple majority vote.
K. The Chairman of the Board of Deacons shall
have
the following responsibilities:
1.
Call Deacon Board meetings as necessary.
2. Set
and distribute meeting agenda.
3.
Chair all Deacon Board meetings.
4.
Appoint a Deacon to preside at any meeting
in
which he is unable to attend.
5.
Appoint personnel to any committee of the
Board
of Deacons.
6.
Acquaint new Deacons with any old business
under
consideration.
7.
Coordinate with the Chairman of the Board of
Elders
concerning the quarterly meetings of the
Elders,
Deacons and heads of other ministries.
8.
Arrange with Chairman of Elders the
consideration
and approval of any extraordinary
or
large non-budgeted expenditures.
9.
Establish a schedule for a Deacon to aid the
Church
Treasurer in the collection of gifts and
the
maintenance of a permanent record of all
cash
contributions for audit purposes which
shall
be initialed by both the Deacon and Church
Treasurer.
10. Report in writing to the Chairman of the
Board
of
Elders the decision of the Board concerning
funding
of recommended new missionaries or
organizations.
L. The Secretary of the Board of Deacons shall
have
the
following responsibilities:
1.
Keep minutes of each Board meeting, submit
them
to the Board for approval at the first of each
new
meeting and securely maintain them.
2. Securely
deliver all documents in his possession
to
the new Deacon Secretary.
M. To remove a Deacon from office, the remaining
Deacons
on the Board must agree unanimously on the
necessity
of such removal and shall recommend such removal
to
the Elders for their consideration and
final
action. Should the Elders agree
unanimously that
such
removal is necessary (based on Acts 6:3 or
1
Timothy 3:8-13), a report on the action may be made to
the
congregation.
SECTION
4. TRUSTEES
A. Trustees of the church corporation shall hold
all real
property
in the corporate name of the church.
B. Upon specific vote of the church authorizing
each
action,
they shall have the power to buy, sell, mortgage,
lease
or transfer any church property.
C. When signatures for such transactions are
required,
all
Trustees shall sign such documents.
D. Up to three (3) members of the church shall
be
nominated
by the Board of Elders to serve an indefinite
term
as Trustee. A candidate must receive a
two-thirds (2/3)
vote
of the voting members at an annual business meeting
or
at a special meeting called for that purpose in
compliance
with legal requirements and the Articles of
Incorporation.
E. A Trustee may be removed by a three-fourths
(3/4)
vote
of the voting members at an annual business meeting
or
at a special meeting called for that purpose.
F. Should a Trustee resign or his office become
vacant
through death or debilitating illness, the Board
of
Elders shall present a candidate for the church's
approval
at the next regular business meeting unless
pressing
business requires that a new Trustee be
elected
sooner.
SECTION
5. TREASURER
A. A Church Treasurer shall be nominated by the
Board of
Elders
and elected for a one-year (1) term at the annual
business
meeting or at a special meeting called for that
purpose. The candidate must receive a two-thirds (2/3)
vote
of the voting members.
B. The Church Treasurer's term may be successive
without
limitation.
C. The Treasurer shall have the following
responsibilities:
1. Collect all gifts with
assistance of an appointed
Deacon
representative.
2.
Maintain records of gifts so as to be able to
provide
statements of total annual contributions to
those
requesting such.
3. Record and bank all revenues
as the Board of
Deacons
shall direct.
4. Pay all bills within their due
dates unless directed
otherwise
by the Board of Deacons.
5.
Reconcile accounts using usually accepted business
practices
in a timely, monthly report of all revenues
and
expenditures to the Board of Deacons.
6. Attend the Board of Deacon meetings to
present said
report.
D. To remove the Treasurer from office, the
Deacons must
agree
unanimously on the necessity of such removal and
shall
recommend such removal to the Elders for their
consideration
and final action. Should the Elders
agree
unanimously
that such removal is necessary, a report on
the
action may be made to the congregation.
SECTION
6. UNEXPIRED TERMS
Should
the position of any Officer of the church become
vacant
before the expiration of that person's term, the Board
of
Elders shall nominate a replacement for the approval of
the
congregation for a term equal to that time remaining on
the
unexpired term. The candidate for
replacement must
receive
a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members at an
annual
business meeting or at a special meeting called for
that
purpose.
ARTICLE VI
MISSIONS
SECTION
1. MEMBERSHIP
Members
of a Missions Committee shall be
appointed
by the Board of Elders to serve the church in
its
missions outreach under the supervision and oversight
of
the Board of Elders. The Chairman of the
Missions
Committee
shall report to the Elders and Deacons at
the
quarterly meeting of the Elders and Deacons and
at
such other times when deemed necessary or as
requested
by the Chairman of the Elders or Deacons.
SECTION
2. PURPOSE
The
Missions Committee shall consider all
requests
for support from all persons or organizations
seeking
such support from the church. Requests
for
support
are to be considered only if they are presented
in
writing and include a brief description of the ministry
and
a summary of financial needs.
SECTION
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
The
Missions Committee shall consider such
requests
by examining doctrinal beliefs, ministry practices
and
goals, financial integrity of the institution requesting
support,
and the overall consistency and harmony with
the
faith and purposes of the church.
SECTION
4. APPROVAL
The
Missions Committee shall forward any
completed
investigation of a request to the Board of
Elders
in written form, giving reason for their
recommendation
to approve or deny such request per
ARTICLE
V, SECTION 2-H.
ARTICLE VII
CONGREGATIONAL
MEETINGS
SECTION
1. ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
The
annual business meeting shall be held in January
of
each year. The meeting shall be during
or following
the
regular morning worship service as the Board of
Elders
shall direct. The date and time of the
meeting
and
the agenda shall be announced at every worship
service
for two weeks preceding the meeting. A
quorum of
active
members shall be required.
SECTION
2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
The
Board of Elders may call a special meeting as
needed,
but the date, time and agenda requirements
pertaining
to the annual business meeting may not be
waived. A quorum of active members shall be required.
SECTION
3. AGENDA
Only
matters included on the agenda shall be
considered
during any congregational meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
These
Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by
a
three-fourth (3/4) vote of the voting members at
an
annual business meeting or at a special meeting
called
specifically for that purpose. Any
member
may
submit proposed amendments to the Board of
Elders
so long as they are in written form and clearly
note
the particular section and a concise statement
of
the proposed revision. If the Elders
choose not to
forward
a revision for the consideration of the
congregation,
they shall provide an explanation for
their
rejection of the proposed change to the member
making
the suggested revision.
ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION
In
the event of the dissolution of this corporation, all
debts
and obligations shall be paid before assets are
distributed. No member, officer or private
organization
shall share or financially benefit in any
way
from the distribution of assets.
Assets
remaining after payment of all debts and
obligations
shall be divided and distributed equally
to
the various mission boards, organizations and
missionaries
receiving support from the corporation
at
the time of dissolution provided they are 501(c.3)
compliant.
Webpage prepared by Paul Coppinger