CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS of

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1 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS of Grace Baptist Church 3160 Charles Town Rd. Martinsburg, West Virginia (304) Dr. Craig Bush ~ Pastor September 20, 2012 Amended June 14, 2015 Preamble Desiring to have a simple form of worship along lines of New Testament teaching and early church practice, and believing that the evangelization of the world is the privilege and duty of the body of Christ, a sacred trust committed to us by our ascended Lord, and that we can best carry out His will by working along independent lines; we do, by God s grace, ordain and establish the following articles to which we voluntarily submit ourselves. Article I Name and Affiliation Section 1 - Name The name of this called-out assembly of believers is the Grace Baptist Church of Martinsburg, West Virginia, by which name it shall be organized under the laws of the state of West Virginia. The church is a visible, local assembly of baptized believers, covenanted together under New Testament law, for the purpose of carrying out the great commission with an unbroken history from the personal ministry of Jesus on earth to this present day. This church is a self-governed, independent body having Jesus Christ as the head, the Holy Spirit for its guide and the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice. (Mark 16:15, Ephesians 1:22-23, I Timothy 3, Titus 1) Section 2 - Affiliation This fellowship shall not, and cannot, be affiliated with any denomination, which would have control over this fellowship. Our historic affiliation is Baptist. Article II Purpose The purpose of this church is the edification of Christians through the teaching of God s Word, the salvation of souls and the world-wide proclamation of God s saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary and the defense of the faith once delivered, until He comes. A. The purpose for which Grace Baptist Church is organized is exclusively religious, charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. B. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax 1

2 under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law. Article III Church Covenant Having been born-again by the Word of God and the Spirit of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ according to the provisions of the abounding grace of God, and being forgiven on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and acknowledging our willingness to confess Him as we joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this local assembly, within the body of Christ, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully, scripturally and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout all nations by means of our missionaries and fundamental faith missions. We also engage to maintain family and private devotion; to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; and to seek the salvation of our kindred, our acquaintances, our enemies, and all children and adults within the area of the assembly. Through the provision that God has made for victorious Christian living, it shall be our desire to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul and to live a life of separation from sinful and worldly practices, with a desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through the love of Christ, we will put away from us all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, and be kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ s sake hath forgiven us. We recognize that one of the outstanding evidences of Christianity is love, according to the words of our blessed Lord when He said: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another. We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, remember each other in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Saviour to secure it without delay. This we do depending entirely upon the aid of our heavenly Father, Who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for our salvation, and of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who hath redeemed us with His Own precious blood, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Teacher and Guide. Article IV Statement of Faith Section 1 - The Holy Scriptures We believe that the Bible (the King James Bible of 1611) consisting of Old and New Testament 2

3 Scriptures is the verbally and plenarily inspired Word of God, His Revelation to man, inerrant and that it is therefore the supreme and final authority in all matters of doctrine, faith and life. (II Timothy 3:16-17) Section 2 - The Trinity of the God-Head We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) Section 3 - The Pre-Existence, Deity, and Incarnation of Jesus Christ We believe that Jesus Christ ever existed with the Father and Holy Spirit, and that in His incarnation was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary and is true God and true man. (John 1:1-19, I Timothy 3:16) Section 4 - The Creation and Fall of Man We believe that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God. All human beings are born with a sinful nature and are totally depraved, and for those who reach moral responsibility become sinners in thought, word, and deed, and that they must be born-again to be accepted by God. (Romans 5:12; 3:10, 23; John 3:1-21) Section 5 - The Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ We believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a representative and a substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are saved on the grounds of His shed blood. We believe that He arose bodily from the dead on the third day in the same body in which He suffered and died. We also believe that our Lord ascended into Heaven; that He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and is our High Priest and Divine Advocate with the Father. We believe that, by His finished work on the Cross and His unceasing ministry of intercession in Glory, that Jesus Christ has procured for every believer eternal redemption, eternal salvation, and everlasting life. (I Corinthians 15:3-4; John 20:27; Mark 16:19; Hebrews 5:9; 7:25; 8:1; 9:12; I John 2:1; John 3:16) Section 6 - The Personality and Ministry of the Holy Spirit We believe that there is one true and living God; Creator of Heaven and earth; and that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, equal in divine perfections and exercising distinct but harmonious operations in the great work of redemption. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 3:13-17) Section 7 - Nature of Church We believe that the church of Jesus Christ began during the earthly ministry of Jesus, and that it is composed solely of born-again people who have been called out from among the Jews and Gentiles. Christ, glorified in Heaven, is its Head and the Holy Spirit, on earth, is the active agent of the Godhead Who ever seeks to bring about conformity within its ranks, and obedience to the Word of God and the will of God. The church unites believers to each other, and all to Christ, and its chief purpose of existence is to proclaim the Gospel to the world. (Acts 2; Romans 1:16; Acts 15:14; Ephesians 5:23-24; I Corinthians 12:12-13; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) Section 8 - Ordinances 3

4 We believe that two ordinances are significant above any other that Christians are commanded to observe, namely, water Baptism and the Lord s Supper. While recognizing that water Baptism has no saving merit, it is our conviction that after one is saved, Baptism is the next step in order to portray to the world the believer s union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. It is our conviction that the scriptural method of water Baptism is immersion. We believe that Jesus Christ instituted the Lord s Supper to commemorate His death until He comes. We further believe that water Baptism by immersion is observed but once, and is a sign of identification, and a testimony to newness of life, but the Lord s Supper is commemorative and is to be observed as a memorial of the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19; I Corinthians 11:23-33; Acts 3:31-38) Section 9 - Our Lord s Second Advent We believe in the blessed hope, the personal, pre-millennial, pre-tribulation, and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which is known as the Rapture of the church. We also believe in the personal, visible and glorious return of Christ to the earth with His saints at the end of the Great Tribulation. This phase of His coming is known as the Revelation of Jesus Christ. When He returns to earth with His saints, we believe that Jesus Christ will establish His millennial kingdom and will reign for one thousand years. (Titus 2:13; I Thessalonians 4:13-17; John 14:3; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6) Section 10 - Israel s Place in God s Program We believe that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, and therefore His covenant people, Israel, now blind and scattered, shall be redeemed and re-gathered to the Land of Promise which is commonly known as Palestine; and under the personal and millennial reign of Christ upon David s throne in Jerusalem, shall become the head of the nations and the Gentiles shall come to their light and kings to the brightness of their rising. (Romans 11:25-29; Psalm 72; Isaiah 60:3) Section 11 - The Resurrection of the Dead We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just at the Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:16; I Corinthians 15:51-57) and of the unjust at the Great White Throne Judgement. (Revelation 20:11-15; John 5:28-29) Section 12 - The Eternal State of the Saved and the Lost We believe in Heaven and Hell: Heaven, the place of eternal conscious joy for all who receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour; Hell, the place of conscious punishment for all who reject Jesus Christ and those dying in their sin until the final judgement at which time death and Hell are cast into the Lake of Fire which is the place of eternal conscious punishment. (John 14:1-6; Psalm 16:11; Philippians 1:21, 23; Psalm 9:16; John 8:24; II Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:10-15) Section 13 - The Personality of Satan We believe that Satan is a personal being, a fallen angel, prince of demons, the god of this age, the great enticer and deceiver, the adversary of Christ and His people, the accuser of the 4

5 brethren, whose end is the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; II Corinthians 4:3-4; Revelation 20:10) Section 14 - 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. (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19) Section 15 - The Assurance of Believers 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) Section 16 - Eternal Security We believe that salvation is an eternal state, that once truly secured cannot be lost. (John 5:24; 10:27-29; Romans 11:29; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 4:13-14; 4:30; I Peter 1:3-5) Section 17 - 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: 2-13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; I Peter 1:14, 15; I John 3:5-9) Section 18 - Separation and Sanctification We believe that the Scripture clearly teaches non-conformity to the world for every believer; that born-again people should be separated from the world unto Christ; that it is clearly commanded by God to all believers to live lives of separation from all worldly and sinful practices and to be Holy as He is Holy. We believe that positional sanctification occurs at the moment of regeneration and that practical sanctification is to be progressive throughout the entire life span of a believer here on earth. God s provision for holy living is in the believer s identification with Christ in His death, resurrection and ascension; the indwelling person and power of the Holy Spirit and the believer s yieldedness to Him; and by the powerful Word of God. (Colossians 3:1-4; II Corinthians 6:14-17; Titus 2:14; I Peter 1:14-16; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 10:1, 10:14; II Corinthians 7:1; 3:18; II Peter 3:18; Romans 6:1-14; Ephesians 1:15-2:6; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 5:25-27; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Galatians 5:16-23; Romans 6:13) Section 19 - Sexuality We believe that the only legitimate marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Genesis 2:24; Romans 7:2; I Corinthians 7:10; Ephesians 5:22-23). We believe that men and women are spiritually equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home and men are to be the leaders (pastors and deacons) of the church. Accordingly, only men are eligible for licensure and ordination by the church. (Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:18; I Timothy 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12). We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman. We 5

6 believe that any form of homosexuality, transgenderism, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one s gender by surgery or appearance. (Deut. 22:1-5) Any employee of the church becoming pregnant or causing pregnancy as a result of consensual intercourse, outside of the marriage relationship, shall be terminated from employment. (Genesis 2:24; 19:5-13; 26:8-9; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:1-8; Hebrews 13:4). Section 20 - Abortion We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life. Abortion is murder. We reject any teaching that abortions of pregnancies due to rape, incest, birth defects, gender selection, birth or population control, or the mental well-being of the mother are acceptable (Job 3:16; Psalms 51:5; 139:14-16; Isaiah 44:24; 49;1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44). Section 21 - Missions We believe that God has given the church a great commission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ, we must use all available means to go to the foreign nations and not wait for them to come to us (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:20). Section 22 - Lawsuits Between Believers We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32). Article V Ordination and License Section 1 When in the judgement of the Official Board, a man in the membership of this church is called to the Christian ministry it shall be within the power of the board to call and conduct a Council of Ordination. This Council may consist of the board and other representatives of the church or it may be a council composed of ordained ministers and two representatives of the church served by each minister. The Ordaining Council shall examine the applicant for ordination as to Christian experience, reputation, His call to the Christian ministry, his preparation, character, doctrinal belief and demonstrated ability in Christian service. Section 2 The following shall not be ordained to the ministry: 6

7 A. One who has not graduated from a Bible college or not served two years as pastor or assistant pastor, or in some definite Christian work in such manner as to convey reasonable evidence of God s call to the ministry. B. One who uses intoxicating beverages, drugs, or tobacco in any form, or one who has brought disrepute upon his Christian life and ministry through worldly practices and associations. C. No woman shall be ordained by this church. D. No divorced person shall be ordained by this church. Section 3 It shall be within the power of the Official Board to call an Ordination Council for the purpose of ordaining a man who is not a member of this church, but it shall not be a common practice to do so. 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, if the said minister is found guilty of any of the practices named in Sub-division B, Section 2, of this Article, after an impartial trial conducted by a trial board made up of at least three-fourths of the membership of the Official Board. After a full hearing has been granted to the accused, the trial board shall express by vote their decision to either revoke the ordination credentials issued by this church, or to permit the ordination credentials to continue in effect. The decision of this trial board shall be final. If any minister, who is found guilty by the trial board, can produce within six months after his credentials have been revoked, evidence, that had not entered into his trial that may establish his innocence he shall have the right to declare that evidence to the Official Board, and if, in their opinion, it is valid they may order a re-trial. Article VI Membership Section 1 - Qualification Membership in this church shall be composed of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour, who have been baptized by immersion and who agree to the church covenant. No one may join if they are practicing sodomy or are part of the LGBT movement in any way. Section 2 - Active Membership The active membership shall consist of those who have partaken of the Lord s Supper at least twice in the past one year and who regularly attend the services of this church (this means weekly) unless providentially hindered. Section 3 - Termination of Membership A. Any member may terminate his membership upon request to the church. The request itself constitutes termination. B. Any member absenting himself from regular Sunday services for a period of one year without bonafide reason approved by the church board shall have his membership 7

8 terminated. Anyone whose membership has been terminated, but who wishes to be restored to membership in this church must reapply for membership under the regulations as stated above. C. The membership of any individual shall automatically terminate without notice if the member states that he or she is actively involved in conduct associated with sodomy or LBGT. D. The membership of any individual shall automatically terminate without notice if the member files a lawsuit in violation of Article IV section 22. Article VII Congregational Meetings Section 1 The members of the church shall meet once a year and elect officers for the coming year. This meeting shall be held on a Wednesday evening in October. The pastor shall make an announcement at least two weeks prior to the date of this meeting. The said announcement is to be included in the church bulletin. Section 2 Special congregational meetings may be called by the Official Board at the request of 15% members of the church, or by the Official Board at their own option; such meetings shall not be held until two weeks verbal and printed notice has been given to the church. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting other than that for which the meeting was called. Section 3 At all such meetings active eligible members, only 18 years of age or older, may have a voice and vote. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all such business meetings. Article VIII Organization Section 1 At all congregational business meetings, the pastor shall be the presiding officer, or, in his absence, a senior assistant pastor or in the absence of an assistant pastor, a deacon appointed by the body of deacons. In all elections, a majority of votes cast shall determine an election. Section 2 It shall be the duty of the presiding officer to act in an impartial manner, to preserve order, to appoint all committees unless otherwise provided. Section 3 It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a correct record of the minutes and discharge all duties normally pertaining to that office. Section 4 The officers of this church shall be as follows: the pastor, deacons and trustees. The officers to be elected are as follows: At least four deacons and four trustees. There shall also be a 8

9 General Treasurer and Financial Secretary, but these positions are not to be that of an elected officer. Section 5 Deacons and trustees shall hold office for an indefinite term subject only to the qualifications that are listed in the Word of God. Section 6 Qualifications of a deacon shall be as follows: A. Spiritual qualifications: 1. The spiritual qualifications of a deacon are found in I Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:3 B. Church qualifications: 1. Must be a member of Grace Baptist Church at least one year prior to consideration for office. 2. Must be actively involved in the soul-winning program of the church. 3. Must be separate from the world. a. No man can be a deacon who drinks alcohol in any form. b. No man can be a deacon who uses tobacco in any form. c. He must live a life of above reproach, living a clean moral life. d. He must be faithful to all services of the church, both regular and special. This includes Sunday school attendance. e. He must be loyal to the church program and to the pastor. f. No divorced person may be a deacon of Grace Baptist Church. g. He must be in agreement with the church covenant. h. He is to assist the pastor in every way possible as he is needed. Section 7 Qualifications of a trustee shall be as follows: A. Must be a member of Grace Baptist Church at least one year prior to consideration for office. B. Must be actively involved in the soul-winning program of the church. C. Must be separate from the world. 1. No man can be a trustee who drinks alcohol in any form. 2. No man can be a trustee who uses tobacco in any form. 3. He must live a life of above reproach, living a clean, moral life. D. He must be faithful to all services of the church, both regular and special. (This includes Sunday school attendance) E. He must be loyal to the church program and to the pastor. F. He must be in agreement with the church covenant. G. He should be one who exhibits business acumen and in all points must be equal to that of a deacon. H. He should understand the requirement of the state law. 9

10 Section 8 A person shall be an active member of the church one year before being eligible for a church office. Article IX The Official Board Section 1 The Official Board shall be composed of the pastor, deacons and trustees and General Treasurer and Secretary. The organization of the board shall be: President, Secretary and Treasurer. The board shall meet regularly (at least 6 times per year) and at such times as may be required to properly conduct the business of the church. Section 2 Board members are required to be faithful in attendance at all regular and called meetings. If a member willfully absents himself from any meeting and can give no valid reason for nonattendance he shall be notified to report and give reason for his absence. If he does not report and give a satisfactory explanation he automatically surrenders his office. Section 3 By virtue of his position, the pastor shall be the President of the board, except as he may desire otherwise. It shall be the duty of the pastor to appoint all committees, councils or other church groups when not otherwise provided. He, the pastor, shall be ex-officio member (i.e. head/president) of all such councils, church groups or committees, and to perform such other duties as normally relate to this office. In all voting matters, the pastor shall hold the tie breaking vote. In his absence, a senior assistant pastor or in the absence of a senior assistant pastor a deacon appointed by the body of deacons shall perform the duties of the President. Section 4 A member may be appointed by the pastor to act as recorder and will keep a correct record of all the proceedings. Section 5 Official board members are required to be in every regular and special service of the church unless providentially hindered, which includes sickness, death in the family, vacation, work requirements or official release by the pastor. Section 6 The Board of Trustees shall meet at the direction of the pastor, but not less than semiannually. The Board of Trustees will be bound by the vote and direction of the Official Board. 10

11 Article X Institutions Section 1 Grace Baptist Church shall have authority to operate schools, publish literature and operate an orphanage or other similar institutions as so approved by the church congregation. Article XI Order of Business, Board Business The following shall be the order of business at all board meetings; 1. Prayer 2. Reading and approval of previous month s minutes 3. Roll call of members 4. Treasurer report 5. Old business 6. New business 7. Other business 8. Adjournment Article XII Order of Business, Annual Meetings 1. President-in-charge 2. Minutes of last meeting 3. Election of officers 4. Deferred business 5. New business 6. Adjournment Article XIII Property Section 1 The trustees shall carry out the desires of the congregation in the procuring of loans for the purchase of property, financing of buildings, or for any other financial needs of the church. The trustees may make, execute and deliver notes of the church evidencing such indebtedness and secure the payment thereof by executing in behalf of the church mortgages or deeds of trust on any property real or personal owned by the church or pledge the same as collateral security for any such loans, and execute in behalf of the church agreements with reference thereto on renewals thereof. Article XIV Indemnification 11

12 The church shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the church by reason of the fact that he/she is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, attorney or accountant of the church or is or was serving at the request of the church as a director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, attorney or accountant of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney s fees, judgements, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him/her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he/she acted in good faith and in a manner he/she reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the church and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his/her conduct was unlawful. Such rights of indemnification and reimbursement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right to which director, trustee, officer, employee, agent, attorney or accountant of the church may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of members or otherwise. By-Laws 1. The Lord s Supper shall be observed quarterly at the direction of the pastor. 2. The government of the church shall be vested in the pastor, the Official Board and the congregation. The Word of God (the King James Bible of 1611) is the supreme and final authority in all such matters. 3. All voting in annual elections of church officers shall be done by ballot, except when otherwise designated. 4. Each member is advised to use the envelope and financial number system as provided by the church for giving tithes and offerings. 5. This church will only perform marriages for people when at least one member of the couple being married is a member of this church. We will also only perform marriages between 1 man and 1 woman. 6. Grace Baptist Church will not rent out our facilities for non-church related activities or to nonmembers. 7. The officers of this church shall be Pastor, Deacons and Trustees. A. Pastor 1. The duties of the pastor shall pertain to the scriptural oversight of the church. 2. The qualifications of the pastor are those given in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus1: The pastor shall have general oversight of the scriptural life and the regular services of the church; he shall be ex-officio member of all church groups and committees and act as moderator in the meetings of the church unless otherwise directed by the vote of the church. He shall serve for an undesignated period of time. The pastor shall not be removed from office except by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of members present at a regularly scheduled business meeting. 12

13 4. In calling a pastor, the deacons and any full-time assistant pastors shall act as a pulpit committee to present names of candidates to the congregation for consideration. The candidates shall have the opportunity to preach to the church. Only one candidate shall be considered and voted upon at a time. The pastor shall be called by a three- fourths (3/4) majority of the members present and voting at a business meeting of the church, such meeting being announced at church services for two Sundays. Voting shall be by ballot. A pastor accepting a call shall be admitted into the membership in accordance with the constitution. 5. All pastoral assistants such as secretary, youth director, associate pastor, etc., are to be hired by the pastor, and may be dismissed by the pastor. B. Deacons 1. Deacons are to assist the pastor in every way possible as he needs them. They shall serve in a variety of ways including member watch care, soul winning, missions, property development and care, finances, and will be available to do anything that needs to be done to get the work of the church accomplished. 2. Deacons are to serve as the nominating committee for all elected officers on the Official Board, nominations to be presented a month in advance of the annual election. Only a 75% vote of the congregation in the case of no pastor, can override the Board. C. Other Offices 1. Secretary/Treasurer: the Secretary/Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all church business, shall read the minutes of the last business meeting at each business meeting, and shall keep a register of the names of all members. Term of office shall be an undesignated period of time subject to an annual pastoral review. The Secretary/Treasurer shall update and provide the church office a current register of names every six months. The secretary/treasurer shall keep accurate records of all receipts and expenditures of the church. He/she shall make regular monthly reports to the pastor and shall read the same at all regular business meetings. He/she shall timely disburse by check all transactions voted by the church and shall maintain all normal obligations as required. 2. Other Officers/Appointees: these may be added as needed upon recommendation of the pastor and deacons, and by vote of the church. 8. Meetings and Elections A. Services of the church shall consist of regular morning and evening services each Lord s Day, mid-week service and such other services as may be deemed necessary. B. Special business meetings may be called at any time by the pastor or by a majority of the deacon board. No other group or member shall have this authority. Special meetings must be announced at least one week in advance and must be announced publicly or in the church bulletin. C. Only members eighteen (18) years of age and older have voting privileges. 13

14 D. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of the business meetings. 9. This document may be amended or altered so long as the proposed amendments or changes are consistent with the teachings of the Word of God. A two thirds (2/3) majority of eligible voters present at a congregational business meeting shall be required for any change of this document. 10. Dissolution In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Grace Baptist Church shall be distributed in accordance with a plan of distribution adopted by the pastor and deacons to one or more religious, charitable, or educational organizations which are not for profit and which are engaged in affairs substantially similar to those of Grace Baptist Church, and which would qualify under the provisions of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations. 14