BY-LAWS OF WARRENTON BIBLE FELLOWSHIP (WBF)

Transcription

1 BY-LAWS OF WARRENTON BIBLE FELLOWSHIP (WBF) ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP Sectin 1. Requirements Members shall be individuals wh are prfessed believers in the Lrd Jesus Christ as the Sn f Gd and His atning wrk fr their salvatin, and wh, having accepted Him as their Savir and Lrd, give evidence by their cnfessin and their cnduct that they are living in real fellwship with the Lrd Jesus Christ. A. Applicatin Prspective members will apply t the Bard f Elders using the elder-apprved Applicatin fr Membership frm. The Bard f Elders will determine if the applicant qualifies fr membership. B. Qualificatin f Candidates All candidates will be required t attend the membership classes. Each candidate shall have attended WBF fr at least six (6) mnths. Exceptins t this rule can nly be made by the decisin f the Bard f Elders. Each candidate will submit an ral r written testimny t the Bard f Elders. An elder interview will take place with each candidate. Each candidate must subscribe t the Statement f Faith and the Cnstitutin and By-Laws f WBF. If a candidate cannt fully subscribe t each pint f the Statement f Faith, he r she may submit in writing a descriptin f their cncern(s) alng with their applicatin fr membership. The Elders, at their discretin, may waive this requirement fr membership fr that individual if they believe that the candidate has subscribed t all the essential elements f the Statement f Faith. Sectin 2. Membership A. Respnsibilities Members shall cnsider it their respnsibility and privilege t regularly attend services, t attend cngregatinal meetings fr church decisins and twn hall meetings fr infrmatinal purpses, and t serve in the church. Members are urged t pledge themselves t systematic cntributins frm their incme fr the supprt f the church. 1

2 Tward the wrld and each ther, members are expected t be an example in speech and cnduct, in lve, in faith, and in purity. Every persn must be affrded cmpassin, lve, kindness, respect and dignity. All members are expected t treat everyne as a fellw sinner in need f the same divine and unmerited mercy that we have received. Members shuld mutually supprt and accept each ther as part f the Bdy f Christ at WBF. B. Privileges Members f Warrentn Bible Fellwship wh are 16 years f age r lder may vte in the cngregatinal meetings f the church prvided their names are n the eligible vting list apprved by the Bard f Elders. The items require the affirmatin f the cngregatin are fund in Article II, Sectin 1. Members f Warrentn Bible Fellwship are under the shepherding care f the pastrs and elders. Members als benefit frm: Being part f the lcal manifestatin f the universal bdy f Believers and therefre making a visible cmmitment t the unbelieving wrld. Being part f a Bible believing and Bible teaching lcal church during a time when s many lcal churches are nt fllwing what Gd says in the Bible. Being surrunded by a lving cmmunity f their neighbrs wh encurage, supprt, hld them accuntable and discipline them in Christ-like lve. Having the ability t cnsistently jin with their believing neighbrs t pray fr and financially supprt key missinary activities, lcally and arund the wrld. Enjying like-minded but still diverse Christian fellwship in crprate wrship, varius learning pprtunities and specialized activities like retreats and cnferences. Having a special place t exercise their Spiritual gift(s) and refine them thrugh service t thers. Having a launching platfrm, frm peple wh knw them and have cntributed t their grwth, as they fulfill the great cmmissin t make disciples f all natins. Having a special place with special peple t aid them as they grw int full Spiritual maturity, finish well in this earthly race and transitin nt a heavenly eternity with Gd. Having a safe place t wrk ut yur salvatin with fear and trembling as they grw in grace knwledge f ur Lrd and Savir Jesus Christ. Having a place f living discipline when needed by caring, trained leaders familiar with their persnal situatin and backgrund (see Sec 4 fr details). C. Nn-Members Warrentn Bible Fellwship welcmes any and all individuals seeking t grw in the Lrd Jesus Christ whether r nt they seek membership. Individuals attending any r all activities will be treated with lve and respect by members f the church. In like fashin, nn-members 2

3 are expected t reciprcate. Actins deemed t be disruptive, harmful r nt in cnfrmance with the Wrd f Gd will be acted upn expeditiusly by the Bard f Elders as necessary. Sectin 3. Pastrs Pastrs, upn assuming a pastral psitin n staff, will be granted membership in this cngregatin, and will be released frm membership upn leaving pastral duties with this cngregatin unless therwise determined by the pastr and apprved by the Bard f Elders. Sectin 4. Discipline Leading t Restratin A. Discipline The gal f any church discipline, as with everything we d, is t glrify Gd. Church discipline accmplishes this by maintaining purity in the lcal church, by deterring sin and by making a way f redemptin and restratin t all wh cnfess their sin, seeking Gd s mercy and frgiveness thrugh Jesus Christ. (1 Cr. 5:6, 1 Tim. 5:20 and Gal. 6:1) If it is determined by the Bard f Elders that any member (r nn-member) is in vilatin f scripture by engaging in sinful and ungdly activities r wh is causing divisin by teaching dctrine which is in errr, that member shall be subject t church discipline up t and including immediate dismissal frm membership accrding t Matt. 18: Hwever, befre such an individual is dismissed, there are steps that shuld generally be fllwed: Step 1: Any attendee f this church wh has knwledge f the erring individual s miscnduct shuld g t this individual in private and seek t cnvince that brther r sister f their need fr repentance s he r she might be restred. Step 2: If this is nt successful, the attendee wh has knwledge f the miscnduct shuld g again t the erring individual alng with ne r tw ther individuals wh can cnfirm that the miscnduct has ccurred r is cntinuing t ccur. These witnesses shall als be able t cnfirm that the erring individual has been apprpriately cnfrnted and still refuses t repent. Step 3: If the erring individual cntinues t refuse t repent, the Bard f Elders shuld be ntified. The Bard f Elders will then cnduct a thrugh investigatin as mandated in Scripture (see Matt. 18:15-18 and 1 Tim. 5:19) and members f the Bard f Elders will cnfrnt the individual again seeking his repentance and warning him r her f the cnsequences fr unrepentant sin, which may, in the case f members, include public ntificatin t the cngregatin. Step 4 fr members: If there is crrbrating evidence that the sin has ccurred r is cntinuing and the erring individual has been apprpriately cnfrnted and still refuses t repent, then the Bard f Elders will infrm the church regarding the member s unwillingness t repent at a regularly scheduled wrship service. The purpse f this ntificatin is t advise the cngregatin in rder t call that erring member t repentance. If the Bard f Elders subsequently determines that the disciplined member has demnstrated repentance, they will ntify the cngregatin at anther regularly scheduled wrship service. Hwever if the disciplined individual still des nt chse t repent, then the Elders will g t the final step f church discipline and publicly dismiss this individual frm membership and fellwship f the cngregatin at a regularly scheduled wrship service. 3

4 Step 4 fr nn-members: Fr nn-members wh refuse t repent, the Bard f Elders will nt publicly infrm the cngregatin but will immediately and privately dismiss this individual frm fellwship f the cngregatin. B. Restratin If the disciplined member later demnstrates repentance and requests reinstatement befre the Bard f Elders, then the Elders, at their discretin, may restre this individual t all f the rights, duties, privileges and respnsibilities f membership and will annunce this publicly at a regularly scheduled wrship service. Likewise, if the Bard f Elders subsequently determines that the disciplined nn-member has demnstrated repentance, and requests t be restred t fellwship, the Bard f Elders will privately infrm the nn-member that he r she may be restred t fellwship with the cngregatin. There is n specific time limit within which any f these steps must ccur. C. Special Circumstances If the Bard f Elders, at their sle discretin, determines that it is in the best interest f the church, they may prceed directly t step fur abve when ne r mre f the fllwing have ccurred: The member s transgressin was against the entire church and bth the transgressin and the refusal t repent have been dne publicly (1 Cr 5:1-5); When the member t be disciplined has first taught r therwise disseminated dctrine that the Elders have determined t be false and then has chsen t ignre the directin and reprf f the Elders and has cntinued t teach r disseminate this false dctrine (Rm. 16:17). When the individual has twice ignred the warning f the Elders t cease frm factius and divisive cnduct (Tit. 3:10-11). D. N Civil Recurse Bth members and thers wh participate with the church agree that there shall be n appeal t any curt due t any church discipline. This includes, but is nt limited t the dismissal f a member r t statements that are made publicly t the cngregatin during church discipline. At the discretin f the Bard f Elders, any member r nn-member may be ntified that he r she is nt t be present n church premises r t participate in any church-spnsred activity fr any time perid that the Elders determine is necessary fr the safety and well-being f thers in the church. This may, but need nt, be dne as part f the church discipline prcess described abve. Sectin 5. Resignatin frm Membership Only members wh are in gd standing may vluntarily resign frm membership. Members wh are in any step f church discipline described abve r wh have been subject t any ther disciplinary actin waive the right t resign frm membership until the church discipline prcess has been cmpleted (see Sectin 4). 4

5 Sectin 6. Absence and Withdrawal If any member f the church in gd standing leaves the area r desires a letter f cmmendatin fr an evangelical church, the letter shall be written by a pastr r an elder upn request. Church membership is autmatically revked when the Bard f Elders determines that a member has mved ut f the area r therwise has stpped attending services fr mre than three mnths. A member, hwever, may submit a verbal r written request t the Bard f Elders that their membership be temprarily extended because their absence is temprary (i.e. due t schl, temprary jb assignments, health issues, family respnsibilities r at the Elders discretin). Upn the apprval f the Elders, their membership may be extended fr up t ne year. Members may submit additinal requests if the temprary absence cntinues past ne year. Individuals whse membership has been revked may reapply fr membership. The membership will be reinstated prvided they still meet the qualificatins in Sectin 1B and upn the apprval f the Elders. ARTICLE II - GOVERNMENT Sectin 1. Cngregatin A business meeting shall be called by the Elders at least nce per calendar year. Additinal meetings may be called by the Bard f Elders as the need arises r when twenty-five (25) percent f the members sign a written ntice requesting the meeting. Cngregatinal meetings must be called t affirm the annual budget (r t subsequently affirm an amended budget that exceeds the already affirmed annual budget by mre than 3%), t affirm elders and deacns, t affirm the purchase, sale r rental f prperty, t affirm changes t the Cnstitutin r By-Laws, r t call a senir pastr. Vting shall be by members as described in Article I wh are 16 years ld r lder. Ntice f the meeting must be psted in the church bulletin r ther printed medium and annunced during the Sunday mrning services fr at least tw cnsecutive Sundays befre the date f any such meeting. Hwever, if the situatin is urgent, this ntice requirement may be met by attempting t ntify all vting members persnally, by , r by phne. A qurum cnsisting f twenty-five percent (25%) f the members wh are eligible t vte is necessary t cnduct any cngregatinal meeting. If, after annuncements have been made f a cngregatinal meeting fr tw cnsecutive Sundays and a qurum is nt present at the cngregatinal meeting, the annuncement shall be made again fr tw cnsecutive Sundays fr anther cngregatinal meeting. If then a qurum is nt present at that meeting, decisins shall be made by thse Elders present. If the necessary qurum is present, decisins shall be by a 75% majrity f thse attending members vting. Vting by prxy r absentee vting is nt permitted. Sectin 2. Elders A. Purpse Elders are thse men wh are respnsible fr shepherding the flck at Warrentn Bible Fellwship, ver which the Hly Spirit has made them verseers. The Bard f Elders includes men appinted 5

6 by the cngregatin and may include members f the pastral r ministerial staff, as deemed apprpriate by the Elder Bard and affirmed by the cngregatin. The senir pastr alne will act in the dual rle f elder as well as representative f the staff and pastrs n the Bard f Elders in matters requiring vting. He will be alltted a single vte as such. He may chse a designee frm the staff t vte in his absence. Hwever, as prvided in Sectin 2C, bullet ne, this vting privilege is null and vid in matters regarding terminatin and suspensin f any member f the pastral staff. The Elders are respnsible fr determining the church s fficial dctrinal psitins and fr ensuring that the teaching presented t the cngregatin is biblically sund and accurate. They will guard the cngregatin frm false teachers, dangerus dctrines, and ther influences that culd harm the flck that Gd has placed in their charge. The Elders are t pray fr, and t prvide spiritual versight, pastral care and cunsel t the cngregatin. Executive authrity t administer, guide, prtect and direct the church and its ministries is vested in the Bard f Elders. B. Selectin Prcedure The Bard f Elders will select men as candidates fr the Bard based n the qualificatins fr an elder as listed in 1 Timthy 3 and Titus 1 alng with the candidate s dctrinal beliefs and demnstrated pastral and teaching abilities, and ther factrs determined by the Bard f Elders. Elders must als be members f the church. Each recmmended man will be asked t prvide infrmatin abut his qualificatins and, alng with his wife (if married), t be prepared t cme befre the Elders fr an interview. The Bard f Elders will then make its recmmendatin t the cngregatin. This will be dne bth frm the pulpit in all services and in the church bulletin. The cngregatin shall have a minimum f tw weeks prir t a twn hall style meeting where they may prvide input t the Bard f Elders n its recmmendatin. This twn hall meeting is a discussin-nly meeting with n vting and may be held during the Sunday schl hur. At a cngregatinal meeting, the candidates selected by the Elders will be vted n fr affirmatin. Within ne mnth, the Elders will then cnfirm the cngregatinal affirmatin by a Service f Installatin. C. Terminatin and Suspensin Prcedure N pastral staff member serving n the Bard f Elders shall have a vte in the issue f dismissing r disciplining anther member f the pastral staff. If, after prayerful cnsideratin, the ther members f the Bard f Elders unanimusly request the temprary suspensin f an elder, he shall immediately submit t the suspensin. During the perid f suspensin, all duties assciated with the psitin f elder r pastr will be suspended. (In the case f an elder wh is a pastral staff member, cntinued pay during suspensin shall be at the discretin f the Elders). 6

7 If, after prayerful cnsideratin, the ther members f the Bard f Elders unanimusly request the resignatin f an elder, he shall immediately resign. If he fails r refuses t resign, his psitin is autmatically terminated. Ntificatin t the cngregatin will be made at the first Sunday service fllwing such actin. Any elder wh des nt fulfill the qualificatins r duties f his ffice, fails t attend three cnsecutive Bard f Elders meetings withut gd reasn r des nt regularly attend the Sunday services f the church shall, after ntice and attempt t restre said member, be asked by the Elders t resign frm the Bard f Elders and ntificatin f such actin shall be made at the first Sunday service fllwing. If he fails r refuses t resign, his psitin will be autmatically terminated. D. Term f Office Once initially cnfirmed, elders shall cntinue t serve unless remved by the ther elders fr ne f the reasns abve r until 75% f the members vting at a cngregatinal meeting request the elder t resign. An elder wh is nt facing terminatin r suspensin may request t be temprarily relieved f his respnsibilities n the Bard f Elders. He may resume his place n the bard upn his request. E. Authrity and Respnsibilities Ensure that the Purpse f Warrentn Bible Fellwship, as set frth in Article II f its Cnstitutin, is being fulfilled. Apprve and maintain statements utlining majr dctrinal and plicy, minutes f Bard f Elders meetings and ther apprpriate gvernance recrds. Annually review the jb descriptin, including duties and respnsibilities f pastral staff and their perfrmance. Prvide general supervisin and assume final authrity ver all ministries f the church, the respective ministry teams and all staff and vlunteers. Cntinually encurage, supprt and pray fr each ministry f the church, their respective ministry teams and the pastral staff, bth individually and cllectively. Annually review and apprve the gals, directin, rganizatin and accmplishments f all prgrams and ministries f the church, including, but nt limited t, the statements f purpse, perating prcedures, bylaws, and budget prir t year end cngregatinal business meeting. Set cmpensatin packages fr the staff subject t the cngregatin s affirmatin f the church budget. Recmmend senir pastr candidates t the cngregatin. Establish the need fr additinal paid and unpaid staff and vlunteer psitins including pastral and ther ministerial psitins, and t determine the requirements fr these psitins (i.e. qualificatins, backgrund checks, etc.). Based n their interpretatin f scripture, the elders may determine that sme psitins may be limited t males nly. Hire paid and unpaid staff, including ther pastral and ministerial staff (except fr the Senir Pastr) and versee the assignment f vlunteers. 7

8 Terminate emplyment f any member f the pastral staff. Terminate emplyment f any nn-pastral staff member. Nte: the Elders may delegate this respnsibility t the Senir Pastr. Recmmend t the cngregatin fr affirmatin candidates t the Bard f Deacns. Request the suspensin r dismissal f members f the Bard f Deacns. Review and authrize the frmatin f any ministry teams, bards, cmmittees r auxiliary rganizatins f the church and t apprve their respective charters, bylaws, membership rsters and leadership. Act as verseer t the teams, bards, cmmittees and rganizatins f the church and, if necessary, verrule the decisins f any particular team r rganizatin. Cnsider fr apprval all recmmendatins brught befre it by the ministries f the church, teams, partnership ministries, auxiliary rganizatins, r individual members f the church. Present the annual budget t the cngregatin fr affirmatin. Oversee all expenditures f the church. Infrm and submit t the cngregatin its recmmendatins fr an amended budget that exceeds the already affirmed ttal annual budget by mre than 3%. Authrize, apprve and versee prcedures fr the raising and cllecting f funds. Appint a financial cmmittee t make budget recmmendatins, handle rutine financial peratins and make recmmendatins n financial matters t the Bard f Elders. Oversee thse assigned the respnsibility fr the purchase, use and maintenance f all prperty and assets f the church. Review and make recmmendatins t the cngregatin fr the purchase and sale, mrtgage and rental f the real prperty f the church. Oversee the preparatin f an Annual Reprt fr ral r written cmmunicatin t the cngregatin at the year-end cngregatinal business meeting. Chse, versee, supprt, and pray fr Partnership and Assciate Ministries. Cnvene, arbitrate, and make final decisins regarding church discipline in accrdance with Article I, Sectin 4. F. Bard f Elders Meetings Bard f Elders meetings shall take place at least nce a mnth. Special meetings shall be held upn request f any tw r mre bard members. A qurum f 75 percent f the vting members f the Bard f Elders must be present t make decisins. Each Bard f Elders meeting shuld have an acting chairman (usually the elder with mst tenure) and an acting secretary. 8

9 If a qurum is present, the chairman will determine if all the vting members f the Bard f Elders must be present befre vting n a particular item. N decisin by the Bard f Elders shall be apprved if there is mre than ne dissenting vte. All elders must be infrmed f all Bard f Elders meetings. This includes when the dismissal r discipline f an elder is being cnsidered. During such a meeting it is understd that an elder being cnsidered fr discipline r dismissal may be excluded frm the meeting but nt the ntificatin f such a meeting. Sme r all elders may gather tgether fr fellwship, training, r wrk sessins withut calling an fficial meeting. Discussins n any tpic and prayer may be cnducted at these gatherings prvided n decisins are made. G. Officers 1. Chairman The Elders shall appint an elder frm their number t serve as Chairman f the Bard f Elders. The Chairman shall nt be a pastr r ther paid emplyee f the church. In additin t presiding at all meetings f the Bard f Elders, the Chairman r his designee shall preside as mderatr at all meetings f the cngregatin. 2. Secretary The Elders shall appint a secretary annually. The secretary must be a vting member f the church. The secretary shall keep the minutes f all cngregatinal meetings. The secretary shall als serve as clerk f the cngregatin and shall versee the church rll f members and registratin at cngregatinal meetings. The secretary shall be charged with the duty f giving prper ntice t the Bard f Elders and the cngregatin f all cngregatinal meetings. 3. Elder ver Finances The Elders shall appint ne elder t be respnsible fr the accunting f all mneys cllected and disbursed by the church and each f its ministries. He shall make regular financial reprts t the ther elders fr them t use t mnitr and versee all expenses. The Elder ver Finances may serve as lng as the Bard f Elders deems him cmpetent and he desires t serve. The Elder ver Finances shall ensure that the cngregatin receives a Financial Reprt at regularly scheduled annual cngregatinal business meetings and that the cngregatin is infrmed peridically f the status f church finances and arrange audits as required by the Elders. The Elder ver Finances will serve as the Treasurer. He may recmmend t the Elders, fr their apprval, thers t serve as assistant treasurer, bkkeeper, finance cmmittee members and/r all ther helpers he deems necessary. He will als assist the Elders in the selectin f prfessinal accunting r auditing services t insure: (a) the crrect and timely payment f bills and salaries t staff, (b) the rderly and accurate maintenance f recrds and reprts f disbursements and incme, and (c) prvisin f accurate accunting and tax advice. 9

10 He chairs the Finance Cmmittee, and versees the finances f the Missins Cmmittee, the benevlence fund and all ther church funds and activities. He shall als prepare individual giving reprts t the members f the cngregatin by the end f January fr tax purpses. 4. Other Chairpersns Adequate bards and teams shall be appinted and maintained by the Bard f Elders as needed fr efficient service in the church. The Chairpersn(s) f each respective bard and team shall be affirmed by the Elders. The Bard f Elders shall ask each bard r team t prduce jb descriptins fr their chairpersns fr the Elders apprval Sectin 3. Pastral and Ministerial Staff A. Calling When the need arises t call a man as senir pastr the intent t d s must be frmalized as a mtin frm the Bard f Elders and put t a vte at a cngregatinal meeting. Passage f such a mtin bliges the Bard f Elders in a timely fashin t: Define the particular qualities expected in the senir pastr which wuld include the candidate s training, experience, reputatin, ministerial standing, dctrine, and required giftedness. Prduce a jb descriptin that cvers gals, duties, tasks, and salary/cmpensatin package. Appint a Pastral Search Team. Such a team wuld cnsist f five persns: three members f the Bard f Elders and tw ther vting members f the church. These tw vting members must first be affirmed by the cngregatin at a cngregatinal meeting. The team will identify ptential candidates, and after apprpriate, careful investigatin and persnal interviews, ne candidate will be invited t meet with the Bard f Elders. Fllwing their apprval the candidate will then be invited t minister the Wrd at a service f the church. Additinally, the candidate and his wife (if married) will be invited t meet with the cngregatin at an infrmal gathering r dinner fr the ccasin. The candidate the Bard f Elders agrees upn will then be recmmended t the church fr a vte. B. Pastral r Ministerial Staff When the Elders determine that there exists a need t hire additinal pastrs r ther ministerial staff, the Bard f Elders must: Define the particular knwledge, skills and abilities fr a specific psitin. This includes the candidate s training, experience, reputatin, ministerial standing, dctrine, and required giftedness. Prduce a jb descriptin that cvers gals, duties, tasks, and salary/cmpensatin package and length f term. Identify ptential candidates, and after apprpriate, careful investigatin and persnal interviews, hire the ministerial staff member. 10

11 C. Term f Service Senir pastrs serve an indefinite term. Other pastrs and ministerial staff members may be appinted t serve fr an unlimited r limited perid f time as specified in their jb descriptin at the time f appintment. D. Oversight The daily supervisin and training f the ther pastr(s), ministerial staff and nn-ministerial staff is the respnsibility f the Senir Pastr. All pastr(s) and ministerial staff are accuntable t the Bard f Elders in matters f pastral ministry and deprtment. E. Terminatin f a Pastr s Ministry The relatin between any pastr r ministerial staff member and the church may be disslved at the ptin f either party by the giving f a three-mnth ntice r by mutual cnsent. If a member f the pastral r ministerial staff shuld radically depart frm the Wrd f Gd in his cnduct r in dctrine as cntained in the Statement f Faith f Warrentn Bible Fellwship as determined by the Bard f Elders, the Elders shall admnish him in lve. Shuld this nt have the desired result, the Elders shall take the initiate prcedures t terminate the ffending pastr s emplyment. Sectin 4. Bard f Deacns A. Qualificatins Candidates fr Deacn must meet the spiritual qualificatins fr leadership as stated in Acts 6:3, 1 Timthy 3, and Titus 1. They must als be members f the church. B. Appintment The Bard f Deacns will select candidates wh meet with their apprval and then present the names t the Bard f Elders fr review. The Elders will frmulate a rster f candidates and present the candidates names t the cngregatin during all services tw weeks prir t a twn hall style meeting where they may prvide input t the Bard f Elders n its recmmendatin. This twn hall meeting is a discussin-nly meeting with n vting and may be held during the Sunday schl hur. At a cngregatinal meeting the men will be intrduced and a vte f affirmatin will be cnducted. C. Bard f Deacn Meetings Bard f Deacn meetings shall be held at least nce a quarter r mre ften as determined by the Chairman f the Bard f Deacns. Special meetings shall be called at the request f any tw r mre bard members. D. Term f Office Once initially cnfirmed, a Deacn shall cntinue t serve unless remved by the Bard f Elders (see Sectin 4F) r until he resigns. 11

12 E. Duties The Bard f Deacns shall recmmend its wn chairman, secretary and treasurer and submit thse names t the Elders fr apprval. Each Deacn is t be respnsible fr a specific area f service in the church. He will als be respnsible fr enlisting and crdinating vlunteers t help. These areas include such things as: Maintenance and care f the building, infrmatin technlgy, vehicles, etc. Maintenance and care f the grunds Purchase f equipment, supplies and ther day-t-day needs f the church Sunday mrning activities such as security, fferings cllectin, greeters, sund system and/r audi-visual Disbursement f the benevlence fund fr internal needs and cmmunity scial actin under the versight f the Elder ver Finances Crdinatin f schedules t facilitate requirements fr special functins and the needs f varius ministries including partnership ministries Assistance t the Bard f Elders with planning fr building and maintenance prgrams, equipment replacement, budgeting and financial planning, and special prjects. Visitatin as requested by the Pastral Staff Oversight and crdinatin f utreach r administrative activities and ther ministries f mercy as determined by the Bard f Elders Other duties as assigned by the Bard f Elders F. Discipline and Dismissal Effrt must be made t restre a deacn ensnared in sin accrding t Article I, Sectin 4. The Chairman f the Bard f Deacns must attempt t restre any deacn wh des nt fulfill the qualificatins r duties f his ffice, fails t attend three cnsecutive Bard f Deacn meetings r functins withut gd reasn, r des nt regularly attend the Sunday Services f the Church. If these effrts are nt successful, the Chairman f the Bard f Deacns will make a recmmendatin t the Elder Bard that they cnsider requesting the suspensin r dismissal f the ffending deacn. If the Bard f Elders requests the temprary suspensin f a deacn, he shall immediately submit t the suspensin. During the perid f suspensin, all duties assciated with the psitin f deacn will be suspended. If the Bard f Elders requests the resignatin f a deacn, he shall immediately resign. If he fails r refuses t resign, his psitin is autmatically terminated. Ntificatin t the cngregatin will be made at the first Sunday service fllwing such actin. 12

13 Sectin 5. Trustees There shall be at least three Trustees t serve in a fiduciary capacity fr all church assets and t perfrm such duties as are prescribed by the Statutes f the Cmmnwealth f Virginia gverning religius crpratins and duties pertaining t trusteeship. Only elders r deacns may serve as a Trustee. One f the three must be the church Treasurer. Pastral and ministerial staff may nt serve as Trustees. The Bard f Elders will appint Trustees and will ntify the cngregatin f their appintment. Trustees will cntinue t serve in that capacity until they resign r the Bard f Elders requests their resignatin r the Cngregatin vtes t ask fr their resignatin at a dulycalled cngregatinal meeting. Applicatin shall be made t a curt f cmpetent jurisdictin fr the judicial appintment f thse Trustees t serve as juristic representatives f the cngregatin in financial and prperty cncerns f the church. The Trustees shall have the authrity t buy, sell, mrtgage, lease, r transfer any real r persnal prperty as authrized by cngregatinal vte and may execute any legal dcuments required fr that sale, mrtgage, purchase, r rental f that real r persnal prperty. They have the authrity t execute any legal dcuments required t hld in trust all savings, investments, r accunts where assets must be held in trust. Trustees als have the authrity t sign, execute, r therwise authenticate all dcuments required by State r Federal law t be executed by Trustees n behalf f the church. The private prperty f the Trustees f this church shall be exempt frm crprate debt. ARTICLE III. KEY MATTERS Sectin 1. Services Wrship services, Sunday Schl, and ther church services shall be cnducted at such times as decided by the Elders. Sectin 2. Baptism Fllwing Jesus cmmand recrded in Matt. 28:19, we believe that all Christians shuld be identified as believers in Jesus Christ thrugh baptism. The biblical example that we fllw is baptism by immersin in the name f the Father, Sn and Hly Spirit. Pastrs, elders r any ther Christian may administer this rdinance. Sectin 3. Cmmunin We believe that during the Last Supper described in Matt. 26, Jesus cmmanded the church t celebrate the Cmmunin, regularly sharing the bread and wine (r grape juice) as an act f remembrance/participatin f the sacrifice He made t atne fr ur sins and save us. Membership is nt required t participate in this celebratin. Individuals wh d nt recgnize Jesus Christ as their Lrd and Savir shuld refrain frm participating. Sectin 4. Marriage Marriage is the riginal and fundatinal institutin f human sciety, established by Gd and described in Scripture (i.e. Matt. 19:5) as a ne-flesh, cvenantal unin between a man and a wman 13

14 that is intended t be life-lng (until separated by death), exclusive (mngamus and faithful), and prcreative in nature (designed fr bearing and rearing children). It is t reflect the relatinship between Christ and the Church. We believe that Gd intends sexual intimacy t nly ccur between a man and a wman wh are married t each ther. We believe that Gd has cmmanded that n intimate sexual activity be engaged in utside f a marriage between a man and a wman. This definitin f marriage is intimately cnnected t ther fundatinal matters f ur faith as described in ur Statement f Faith. Therefre, we regard any restrictins and definitins we apply in ur church cncerning marriage t be an exercise f the freedm f religin clause f the First Amendment t the U.S. Cnstitutin. Only marriages that are determined by the Bard f Elders, at their sle discretin, t be in cnfrmity with biblical dctrine may be cnducted n church prperty and/r fficiated by members f the cngregatin (including pastral r ministerial staff). Sectin 5. Building Use The use f the facilities fr meetings, family/scial functins, nt-fr-prfit classes & functins and ther purpses deemed apprpriate by the Elders, will be restricted t vting members f the cngregatin. Any such use shall be in harmny with ur thelgy, dctrine and the Elder Bard s determinatin f hw the Scriptures wuld apply t any given situatin. In the event f any dispute ver hw the building r grunds may be used, the Elders decisin will be final. ARTICLE IV. - AMENDMENTS These By-Laws may be amended r altered by a 75% majrity f thse vting at a cngregatinal meeting prvided ntificatin f the amendment(s) r alteratin(s) prpsed by the Elders has been made in writing, and annunced t the cngregatin at least tw Sundays in successin prir t such meeting. 14