FBC Restructure Team 2013 Proposal BYLAWS OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MARSHVILLE, INC. ARTICLE I – Name First Baptist Church of Marshville This body shall be known as First Baptist Church of Marshville, a non-profit corporation, having its address in Marshville, North Carolina. Wherein these bylaws the word “church” appears, the same shall also mean “nonprofit corporation”. ARTICLE II - Purpose The general purposes of this organization are stated in the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws. It shall be the specific purpose of this body to: Proclaim and embody the Good News of God’s kingdom by becoming a family of faith that worships God, grows in Christ and serves others. ARTICLE III – Statement of Faith We affirm that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and with the Spirit’s guidance, forms the basis for our beliefs. We steadfastly maintain the divine privilege, given to every believer, to hear and receive God’s Word under the direction of God’s Spirit. We hold fast to the autonomy of the local church body, and the priesthood of the believer as found in the “Baptist Faith and Message” of the Southern Baptist Convention adopted in 1963 which the church adopts as its statement of faith. This statement, though respected, should not be regarded as complete, final, infallible, or binding on the conscience of the individual. We have no creed but Christ. ARTICLE IV – Church Polity The church is a free, autonomous, independent body, congregational in nature, with authority to determine for itself in the manner set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and by these bylaws, free of any outside control, authority or power, whether governmental or otherwise, all church policies and this use of its property. ARTICLE V – Relationships/Affiliations First Baptist Church of Marshville is a cooperating church. We are affiliated and share in the mission endeavors of several Christian organizations. They include, but are not limited to: the Union Baptist Association, the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In addition, First Baptist Church works with, and in the future may work with, other churches and groups in projects of mutual interest. Revised ____________________ Page 1 of 15 FBC Restructure Team 2013 Proposal ARTICLE VI – Church Covenant We the members of First Baptist Church of Marshville, having been led by the Holy Spirit to embrace the grace and love that are offered to us in Jesus Christ, do acknowledge that God has called us together to proclaim and embody the Good News of God’s kingdom. Scripture alone can fully express the blessings and responsibilities inherent in this call. We acknowledge, however, several key commitments that shape our understanding of what it means to be part of God’s church. Therefore we do solemnly and joyfully covenant together: We will become a family of faith. We will participate faithfully in the life of our church. We will act in love toward one another. We will refuse to gossip, and will guard each other’s reputation. When we disagree we will avoid a divisive spirit. We encourage each other and bear each other’s burdens. We will expand the boundaries of our fellowship by inviting others to participate in the life of our church and offering hospitality. We will worship God. We will live in a manner that brings glory to God. We will gather regularly to celebrate the grace of Christ our Savior, the love of God our Father, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the call to join in God’s redemptive mission to the world. We will offer our abilities and financial support to advance the work of God’s kingdom through our church. We will grow in Christ. We will make it our aim, individually and corporately, to mature in the character of Christ. Through teaching and personal study, we will commit our hearts and minds to understanding and obeying God’s Word. We will nurture our children in faith. We will serve others. We will find the ministries to which God calls us, both as individuals and as a church. We will spread the love of God by meeting needs in our community, our nation and our world. ARTICLE VII – Membership Section 1: Admission An invitation for membership shall be regularly extended. Any person desiring membership will be given the opportunity to come forward and declare what method he/she seeks to unite with the church, whether by baptism, letter, or statement. Each candidate shall share his/her reasons for seeking membership and his/her prior relationship with other churches. The Pastor shall then present the names to the congregation for affirmation. Persons wishing to become members may present themselves in any one of the following ways: Baptism: Any believer who has never been baptized shall be immersed in the manner practiced by this congregation. Letter: Members of churches of like faith and practice shall be accepted by transfer of letter of membership. Statement: Members may be accepted by a statement of faith after having practiced believer’s baptism. Immersion is not required for those baptized as believers. Immersion will be required for membership by persons who were christened as infants. Revised ____________________ Page 2 of 15 FBC Restructure Team 2013 Proposal Section 2: Deletion Letter: Upon requests of a member desiring to unite with another church, a letter shall be sent to the designated church confirming the membership of that person in First Baptist Church. Death: The clerk shall remove the names of those persons who are deceased and shall report their removal to the church. Removal: The clerk, upon recommendation of the church in conference, shall remove from the roll a. The names of members who cannot be located b. The names of members requesting removal of their names. Section 3: Member Rights Members of First Baptist Church shall have a voice in all church affairs and are entitled to vote in all elections and on all questions, submitted to the church in conference. Section 4: Responsibilities It shall be the responsibility of members of First Baptist Church to pattern their lives after the teachings of Christ, to attend regularly the services of the Church, to give regularly and systematically to its support, to share in its work, and to assume the mutual obligations set forth in the Church Covenant. Section 5: Publication of Membership Rights and Responsibilities At the beginning of each business conference, the moderator (the Pastor), or person appointed by the moderator, shall remind those present of the rights and responsibilities of membership as described in the sections 3 & 4, titled Member Rights and Responsibilities. ARTICLE VIII – Meetings Section 1: Place of Meeting All meetings of members shall be held at First Baptist Church of Marshville, or at such other places as agreed upon by a majority of the members entitled to vote at the meeting. Section 2: Annual Meeting There shall be an annual meeting of the members for the election of deacons, church committee members and other positions as recommended to the Church by the Nominating Committee and for the transaction of any other business. The meeting shall be on the second Sunday in August of each year. If for any reason the meeting cannot be held on the 2nd Sunday, the Pastor, Deacons and Nominating Committee will work together to reschedule this meeting to another Sunday in the month of August. Section 3: Regular Business Meetings The Church shall hold regular business meetings quarterly on the second Sunday of the month. Additional meetings may be called as deemed necessary by the Pastor and Deacons. The 1st and 3rd quarter business meeting will include updates and information regarding opportunities to serve from each of the standing committees. Revised ____________________ Page 3 of 15 FBC Restructure Team 2013 Proposal Section 4: Notice of Meeting Written or printed notice of meetings shall be published and announced at least two weeks (to include two Sundays) before the meeting is to take place, unless inclement weather makes such notice impractical. The notice shall always include the subject, date, time and place, and any item that the Church will be asked to vote upon. The notice must be communicated in any manner in which members already receive church information to ensure that all members have the opportunity to be made aware of the meeting (i.e. weekly newsletter, phone tree, church bulletin, etc). Section 5: Governing Rules of Procedure The Pastor, who is the Moderator, may appoint a parliamentarian. The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church in areas not addressed by these bylaws. Section 6: Quorum A quorum shall consist of not less than twenty five (25) members who are entitled to vote at a meeting. If there is no quorum at a meeting, the meeting may be adjourned to a future date/time by vote of a majority of the members present at the time. Business planned to be address at the original meeting will be transacted at the adjourned meeting. The moderator has a duty to declare the absence of a quorum if he sees that a quorum is no longer present during a meeting. Section 7: Voting Each member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members. Voting on all matters may be by voice or by a show of hands. The exception is the election of deacons which shall always be by ballot. Should one tenth of the present members desire for a particular matter to be voted on by ballot, they may request such prior to voting on the manner.