Community Baptist Church – Spring Hill, TN.

Community Baptist Church, Spring Hill, TN.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
October 26, 2008

Preamble

By the grace of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, the members of Community Baptist Church ordain and establish the following articles as the guidelines for the operation of this church to the glory of God.

Article I – Name and Place

The name of this organization shall be Community Baptist Church of Spring Hill, TN. It is incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Tennessee.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be exclusively religious: owning and operating a Christian church whose objective shall be to maintain worship, preach and teach Christian doctrine and ethics, spread the Gospel, and otherwise advance the cause of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. This may be accomplished through regular meetings, special services, education, care, and any other ministries and activities, which the church shall deem appropriate or necessary. Community Baptist Church shall be operated as a non-profit corporation and shall have all the powers and privileges conferred upon religious organizations by the State of Tennessee.

Article III – Mission Statement

The purpose of Community Baptist Church is to bring glory to God by worshipping the Lord in righteousness and holiness, by evangelizing the lost at home and abroad, by edifying and equipping the saints through Christ-centered preaching and teaching, and by dwelling together in warm, Christian fellowship.

Article IV – Declaration of Faith

Section 1: Scripture
We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Since the Scriptures are God-breathed, inspiration extends to the very words of the Bible so that the entire Bible, and only the Bible, is the Word of God. As such, the Bible is infallible and inerrant, our only rule of faith and practice (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21; Mat. 5:18; John 10:35; Rev. 22:18-19).

Section 2: God
We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing as one in His essence, yet three in His persons. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, and co-equal in power and glory (Deut. 6:4; Ps. 90:2; Mat 28:19; II Cor. 13;14; I Cor. 8:6).

God the Father. He is eternal, immutable, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is the sovereign God of the universe, the Creator and Preserver of all things. He is holy, righteous, just and loving. Having extended His grace and mercy to men by sending His Son to die in their place. He desires to have fellowship with them (Ps. 65:2; 139:1-24; I Chr. 29:11; John 1:12; 3:16; Eph. 1:3-9; Rom. 11:36).

Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten Son of God. He is one Person, with both a divine nature (He is truly God) and a human nature (He is truly man). He existed from everlasting with the Father, was born of a virgin when He took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, and gave Himself willingly on the cross for the sins of men. He arose from the tomb on the third day, ascended to the Father, and will return to earth one day as Judge and King (John 1:1-3, 18; 5:22-23; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:3, b, 8; 9:24; Phil 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-20; II Cor. 5:21; Mat. 25:31; Rev. 19:11-20:6; I John 2:2).

Holy Spirit. He is a divine Person and not an impersonal force. He is fully God, having proceeded from the Father and the Son. The work of the Holy Spirit included creation and the inspiration of the Scriptures. Today He calls men to salvation through Christ and dwells in the hearts of believers (Mat. 28:19; John 16:7-14; Tit 3:5; Eph 1:13; 5:18; Rom. 8:9-16, 26).

Section 3: Satan
We believe in the reality and personality of Satan as the father of lies and deceiver of mankind, and in the existence of demons (Mat. 4:1-11; John 8:44; Job 1-2; Luke 4:33-36; Matt 25:41).

Section 4: Creation
We believe the Genesis account of the creation of the world as a literal, historical record of the direct creative acts of God, without the involvement of any evolutionary process (Gen. 1:2; John 1:3-10; Col 1:16; Heb. 11:3).

Section 5: Man
We believe that man was created holy, but that when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, sin entered into the world and has passed to all men. Thus all men are sinners by nature and by choice and deserve eternal punishment in hell (Gen. 1-3; Rom. 3:10-12, 23; 5:12; 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3; John 6:44; I John 4:19; Is. 64:6; Jer. 17:9).

Section 6: Salvation
We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and that all who receive Him as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit and become children of God (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:29; I John 2:2; Is. 53:4-12).

Regeneration. When an individual responds in faith to the Gospel, turns to Christ for salvation, and repents of his sin, the Holy Spirit regenerates that person so that he is born again into God’s family (John 3:3-7, 16; 1:12; II Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:22-28; I Pet. 1:23; Tit. 3:5; Acts 2:38, 17:30).

Justification. This is the act of God whereby He declares the sinner to be righteous in His sight. On the basis of the work of Christ, God does not impute sin to the individual, imputing instead the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:22-28; 4:1-8; 5:1-2; Gal. 2:16).

Sanctification. Whereas regeneration is a one-time event in the life of the believer, sanctification is a continuing process by which God gradually transforms him into the image of Christ. This process will be completed when believers join Christ in heaven, perfected in holiness (John 17:17; II Cor. 3:18; Eph. 5:26; I John 3:2; Acts 20:32).

Preservation. Since salvation is based solely upon the grace of God and not on the merit of the individual, everyone who truly trusts in Christ as Savior is eternally secure in his salvation and is kept by God’s power. Scripture, however, gives a solemn warning to those who profess salvation but whose lives give no evidence of change because of the willful, continual practice of sin (John 6:37, 39; 10:27-30; Rom. 8;38-39; I Pet 1;5; II Pet. 1:10; I John 3:7-10; James 2:14-26).

Section 7: The Church
We believe that the church, composed of all who have trusted Christ as Savior since Pentecost, is the body of Christ. Christ Himself is the Head of the Church. This spiritual organism is the universal aspect of the church (Mat. 16:18; Eph. 1:23).

Organization. The local church is an organized assembly of baptized believers, voluntarily associated in the faith for fellowship, worship, and service. Its mission is to spread the Gospel to all men and to edify the saints. The local church has the absolute right of self-government. As such, the local church should be free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations, religious or governmental. Jesus Christ is the Head and Chief Shepherd (Eph. 4:11-16)

Ordinances. Christ instructed the church to observe two ordinances, both of which are symbolical rather than sacramental or efficacious.

Baptism. All who profess faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized by immersion in water as a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord (Mat. 28:19; Rom. 6:3-4). Baptism after salvation is an act of obedience and is a prerequisite for local church membership (Matt. 28:18-20; Rom. 6:4; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 26-39).

The Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial service in which the bread and juice represent the body and blood of Christ broken and shed for us (Mat. 26:26-29: I Cor. 10:16; 11:23-34).

Section 8: Separation
We believe that Scripture commands God’s people to be holy and separate from all polluting influences, including sin, disobedient brethren, and false teachers.

Personal. Individual believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit and so must be pure from sin. They are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers nor found to be friends of the world (II Cor. 6:14-7:1; I Jn. 2:15-17; Jms. 4:4).

Ecclesiastical. The Church as a whole must separate from those who teach false doctrine and attempt to subvert the saints (Rom. 16:17; Eph. 5:11; II Thes 3:6-15; II John 9-11; II Cor. 6:14-18).

Section 9: Last Things
We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ, the rapture of the church, and the eternal punishment of unbelievers in hell and eternal blessings for believers in heaven (I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 19:11-20:15, 21-22).

Article V – Membership

Section 1: Admission

Qualifications. Any person may be admitted to the membership of Community Baptist Church who meets the following standards:
Give testimony of conversion and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and subsequent baptism by immersion.
Ascribe to the Declarations of Faith and agree to uphold the Constitution and By-Laws of the church.
Be willing to strive to live a life separated from the sins of the world consistent with the teachings of the Bible.
Support the work of this church by participating regularly in worship, service, and giving.

Procedure. Any persons desiring membership at Community Baptist Church may make their request known to the pastor or a deacon. They shall then meet with the pastor, or a deacon designated by the pastor, to determine if they meet the qualification for membership. If accepted they shall be presented to the congregation during a regular church service to receive the right hand of fellowship.

Section 2: Dismissal
A member of Community Baptist Church may be removed from the membership list for any of the following reasons:

Death.

Request. Either a request from the member personally, or a request for a letter from another church of like faith and practice. Any person who personally wishes to withdraw from the fellowship of Community Baptist Church may do so providing that disciplinary procedures pertaining to that member are not pending. (No letter is granted.)

Exclusion. This is an action taken by the church at the advice of the pastor and deacons for either of the following reasons.
Prolonged absence from the services of the church without satisfactory reason.
Persistent sinful conduct that is clearly contrary to the teachings of the Bible (such as immorality or apostasy). The church shall strive to follow the guidelines given in Scripture (Mat. 18:15-17; I Cor. 5:11) in dealing with such a member. Any member excluded from the church in this manner may be restored upon evidence of confession and repentance that is acceptable to the pastor and deacons.

Inactive Membership
Any member who has not attended more than three regular services in a space of six months, unless providentially hindered, will be placed on an inactive membership roll. This person will be notified by letter or personal contact two weeks prior to being placed on the inactive roll and encouraged to become faithful.

Article VI – Meetings

Section 1: Meetings for Worship
The church shall hold regular meetings for worship, service, and fellowship including Sunday and a mid-week prayer meeting. In addition, the church may hold special meetings at the discretion of the pastor, such as missionary, Bible and evangelistic conferences.

Section 2: Meetings for Church Business

Regular Business Meetings. The church shall conduct quarterly business meetings during a regular service in April, July, and October. Announcements of such meetings shall be made on at least one Sunday before the meeting.

Annual Business Meeting. The annual business meeting shall be held in January and announcement at least two weeks in advance. At that time the church shall elect officers, adopt a budget for the following year, and take up other pertinent matters of the church business. The church fiscal year shall begin on January 1 and conclude on December 31.

Special Business Meetings. Special business meetings may be called by the pastor or a majority of the deacons to consider matters that require action prior to the next regular business meeting. Announcement shall be made at least two services in advance, one being a Sunday service.

Moderator. The pastor shall act as moderator at all business meetings of the church. In his absence, the chairman of the deacons or another deacon appointed by the pastor may moderate.

Quorum – In all business meetings not less than twenty-five percent of the members shall be considered a quorum.

Voting. All members at least 18 years of age and in good standing shall be eligible to vote. Voting shall be either open or secret at the discretion of the moderator. A three-fourths majority vote of all voting members present shall be required for passage of any item of business. No inactive member may vote.

Article VII – Officers

Section 1: Pastor

Qualifications. The pastor shall be a male who is ordained to the Gospel ministry. He must meet the Scriptural qualifications for the office set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and Titus 1:5-11. He must ascribe to the Declaration of Faith and adhere to the Constitution and By-Laws of this church.

Authority. The pastor shall be the chief spiritual leader and chief administrative officer of the church. As such he shall be an ex officio member of every church committee and organization. He shall be responsible for all the church services, including the approval of speakers, music, and all other matters pertaining to the operation of the church. He shall be charged with the responsibility to preach the Word of God and administer the ordinances. As Christ’s undershepherd, he is the overseer of all aspects of the church.

Call and Tenure. A pulpit committee, composed of the deacons, shall seek and recommend a qualified man to be pastor of the church. Following careful examination and an opportunity to hear the man preach, the church shall vote on the candidate at a special business meeting. Only one man may be considered at a time, with a vote taken before another candidate is considered. Once elected, the pastor will continue to serve indefinitely until he either resigns his office (with thirty days notice) or is dismissed by the church (with sixty days severance pay). Dismissal must be by congregational vote in a special business meeting called for that purpose.

Section 2: Staff
In order to meet the needs of the church, the pastor, with the deacons, is at liberty to fill positions, salaried and unsalaried, with personnel who are equipped for a particular task and meet the spiritual qualifications. Special pastoral staff positions, such as assistant pastor, music or youth pastor, shall be nominated by the pastor and deacons and approved by the church by vote. Other positions shall be appointed by the pastor and deacons. Salaried personnel may only be hired after the congregation has allocated funds for that position in the budget. The pastor and deacons are also entrusted with the responsibility of dismissing those staff members who, in their opinion, either fail to maintain the standards of the church or have not satisfactorily performed their duties.

Section 3: Deacons

Qualifications. Deacons shall be males who meet the Scriptural qualifications of the office as set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13. They must have been active members of the church for at least six months.

Responsibilities. According to the pattern set forth in Acts 6:1-6, the deacons shall assist the pastor in the work of the church. They shall recognize the pastor as the leader of the church and advise him in matters spiritual and secular that pertain to the operation of the church. The pastor shall serve as moderator at all deacons’ meetings. The deacons shall direct the operation of the church in the absence of a pastor, including the search for a new pastor. No deacons’ meetings may be held without the pastor or without his consent, with the exception of dismissal of the pastor.

Election and Tenure. Church members may submit recommendations for deacons. From that list the pastor and deacons will submit nominations at the annual business meeting. Upon election, a deacon shall serve for three years. No deacon may serve two terms in succession, but is eligible to be nominated again after having not served for one year. The number of deacons shall be determined by the pastor and deacons according to the needs of the church.

Section 4: Other Officers

Trustees. The trustees shall be the legal agents of the church and act only at the direction of the pastor, deacons, and congregation. They shall be elected by the congregation at the annual business meeting and shall serve a term of three years according to a staggered system.

Clerk. The clerk shall keep the minutes of each business meeting and present those minutes to the congregation at the next business meeting. The clerk shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a term of one year. The clerk maintains the record of the church’s membership. All names of members are added to or deleted from the church roll at the direction of the church. He/she shall keep a register of the names of members with dates of admission, dismissal, or death, together with baptisms. The clerk shall issue letters of dismissal voted by the church and preserve on file all communication and written official reports. An assistant clerk may be elected when needed.

Treasurer. The treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and present a financial report at each regular business meeting. The treasurer shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a term of one year. The treasurer and other designated individuals shall sign all checks.

Financial Records Secretary. The financial records secretary shall keep a record of all monetary gifts and provide a copy to each individual contributor of his own annual contributions. Those counting the offerings turn over the empty offering envelopes to the secretary. The Financial Records Secretary shall send a copy of the record of the person’s contributions annually. He/she is responsible for distributing the offering envelopes at the beginning of the year to the membership and others so desiring them. The financial records secretary shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a term of one year. The records and personal knowledge of the financial records secretary shall be confidential.

Article VIII – Committees

The pastor and deacons shall appoint special committees as the need arises, which shall serve under their direction and authority.

Article IX – Ministries

All ministries of the church are under the authority of the pastor and deacons and are subject to their approval. The pastor shall administer the Sunday School, including the selection of staff and teachers.

Article X – Standards for Workers

Since the officers and workers of the church occupy positions of authority and responsibility, they are expected to observe high standards of Christian conduct as examples for the rest of the membership. For that reason, all officers and workers in the church shall be expected to abide by the standards of modesty, decency, and Christian testimony, as set by the pastor and deacons.

Article XI – Licensing and Ordination

Any male person giving evidence of a divine call to the gospel ministry by the possession of gifts and graces belonging to the ministry, and accepting without reservation the Articles of Faith of Community Baptist Church, may be licensed or ordained to preach by the congregation at any regular or called meeting of the church upon a majority vote of the members present, provided such person has first been recommended by the pastor of this church. The church shall call an ordination council, moderated by the pastor, and composed of the deacons and any other ordained ministers invited by the pastor. They shall examine the candidate with regard to his doctrinal soundness, moral and spiritual qualifications, personal fitness, and manifestation of spiritual gifts. This meeting shall be open to all church members, who will have an opportunity to ask questions after the council has finished. After satisfactory examination and recommendation by the council, the church will vote concerning the ordination of the candidate during a church service.

Article XII – Financial Support Policy

We believe that every Christian is obligated to support his local church through the stewardship of his time, talent, and treasure. The financial needs of this church shall be met by the voluntary giving of tithes, offerings and contributions by its members and friends (Mal. 3:8-10; I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:6-7). The church shall not resort to entertainment, suppers, bingo, raffles, etc., for the purpose of raising funds.

Article XIII – Affiliation

Section 1: Autonomy
This church shall be completely autonomous and non-affiliated and remain an independent Baptist Church. It shall not, as a church, become a member of any denomination, convention, fellowship or religious alliance.

Section 2: Authority
The government of this church is vested in its membership.

Section 3: Association
This church shall not hold organized affiliation with any association, convention, conference, or council of churches. This church will, however, recognize and sustain the obligations of mutual conviction, counsel, and cooperation which are common among independent churches and seek to maintain fellowship with those organizations which consistently uphold the truth of God’s Word and the spirit of this Constitution.

Article XIV – Amendments

Section 1: Restriction
No part of Article IV, Section 1, or Article XIII may ever be amended.

Section 2: Procedure for Amendments
This document may be amended as long as the proposed amendments are consistent with the teaching of the Word of God, do not violate the purpose for which Community Baptist Church was established and the doctrinal basis on which it was founded, and is to be perpetuated and meet the needs of this church. Amendments to this Constitution, with exceptions noted in Section 1, may be adopted only by a three-fourths majority vote of the congregation at any regular or special meeting, provided that such amendment be distributed in written form to the membership at least two weeks prior to said congregational meeting.

Article XV – Miscellaneous Provisions

No part of the net earnings of the church shall inure to the benefit of or be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for the services rendered, and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.

No substantial part of the activities of the church shall be carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. The church shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. However, the church may oppose any legislation that threatens the freedoms of the church and its activities.

The church shall have a racially nondiscriminatory policy and therefore shall not discriminate against members, applicants, and others on the basis of race, color, or national or ethnic origin.

All employees and all volunteers, whether a member of Community Baptist Church or not, must agree to and submit to a background investigation and that the results of the investigation must be approved by the appropriate staff at Community Baptist.

All volunteers and employees must agree that there will be no illegal, fraternizing, inappropriate, or offensive touching of any child.

We believe that God has commanded that intimate sexual activity be engaged in solely by one man with one woman, united in permanent, monogamous, heterosexual marriage for as long as they both shall live. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).

Article XVI – Dissolution of Corporation

In the event of the dissolution of Community Baptist Church as a non-profit corporation, the assets of this church shall be given to other non-profit organizations of like faith and order which would satisfy the remaining membership and qualify under the provision and regulations of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations.