BY-LAWS REVOLUTION CHURCH

Transcription

1 BY-LAWS REVOLUTION CHURCH Adopted March 11, 2012 Amended May 14, 2014

2 BYLAWS of REVOLUTION CHURCH A North Carolina Nonprofit Religious Corporation Adopted March 11, 2012 Amended May 14, 2014 I. CHURCH INVOLVEMENT SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF A REVOLUTIONARY Rather than membership, the Revolution Church will be comprised of a body of Revolutionaries who will be responsible to carry out the work of the ministry. This is designed to avoid the common misconception that members have rights. Instead, we choose to embrace the concept that Revolutionaries have responsibilities. SECTION 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF REVOLUTIONARIES To live by the Revolution Manifesto, and adhere to the following: A. Revolutionaries are required to participate in the Church s orientation class called Revolution Boot Camp. B. Revolutionaries will protect the unity of the Church by acting in love toward others, refusing to gossip, and following its leaders. (Rom. 15:5-6; 1 Pet. 1:22, Eph. 4:29; Heb. 13:17) C. Revolutionaries will share the responsibility of the Church by praying for its growth, inviting the un-churched to attend, and warmly welcoming those who visit. (John 4:35; Matt. 9:37-38; Luke 14:23, Rom. 15:7) D. Revolutionaries will serve the ministry of the Church by discovering their gifts and talents, being equipped to serve by their pastors, and developing a servant s heart. (1 Pet. 4:10, Eph. 4:11-12, Phil. 2:4-7) E. Revolutionaries will support the testimony of the Church by attending faithfully, living a godly life, and giving regularly. (Heb. 10:25; Phil. 1:27; 1 Cor. 16:2; Lev. 27:30) SECTION 3. VOTING RESPONSIBILITIES OF REVOLUTIONARIES A. Adoption of the General Operating Budget of the Church; B. Call or removal of the Lead Pastor; C. Merger or dissolution of the Church; H. Each Revolutionary 18 years of age or older are qualified to vote. SECTION 4. REMOVAL FROM ROLL Names will be removed from the Revolutionary roll in the following ways: A. Death; B. Association with another church; C. Exclusion by disciplinary action; D. Failure to support this church through the full tithe to the general operating budget as outlined in scripture for more than a six month period of time E. Failure to attend church for a period greater than six months unless providentially hindered due to sickness, military service, continuing education, temporary change in residency or imprisonment. F. Resignation in verbal or written form to Staff or Servant Leadership Team 2

3 SECTION 5. DISCIPLINE A. It will be the practice of the Revolution Church that every reasonable measure be taken to assist any troubled member. The Staff and Servant Leadership Team members are available for counsel and guidance. The attitude of revolutionaries toward one another will be guided by a concern for redemption rather than punishment. Should some serious condition exist which causes a revolutionary to become a liability to the general welfare of the Church, the Lead Pastor, his Staff and the Servant Leadership Team will take every reasonable measure to resolve the problem in accord with Matthew 18: Should the problem persist a joint meeting of the Pastor, his Staff and Servant Leadership Team will be held to determine if the individual under discipline should be removed from the roll. A ¾ majority vote of the Staff and Servant Leadership Team will be required to remove the person from the church roll (Pastor and Staff discipline will be handled according to Article 2, Section 1 of this document). B. The Church may restore any person previously excluded, upon request of the excluded person, and by vote of the Pastor, his Staff and the Servant Leadership Team upon evidence of the excluded person s repentance and reformation. A ¾ majority as mentioned in Section 5.A is required. II. CHURCH OFFICERS AND MINISTRY TEAMS The Lead Pastor and the Ministerial Staff will serve as the officers of the corporation. The Ministerial Staff will be comprised of all ministerial staff positions and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Servant Leadership Team. Under the leadership of the Lead Pastor, the Ministerial Staff will implement the vision of the church through their respective ministries and ensure harmony throughout the organization. Should the church grow to a point where the number of ministerial staff positions grows too large for the group to effectively serve as officers, the Lead Pastor will establish Senior Staff Positions. In that situation the Lead Pastor, his Senior Staff and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Servant Leadership Team will serve as the officers over the corporation. SECTION 1. CHURCH OFFICERS A. The Lead Pastor is the Spiritual Leader of the Church and as such will: 1. Lead the Ministerial Staff in the functions of their duties 2. Give himself primarily over to prayer and the study of God s word 3. Serve as pastor/teacher for the purpose of equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry 4. Seek God s will and cast the vision for the church 5. Serve as the ex-officio officer on all ministry teams of the church 6. Serve as the Chief Executive Officer over the corporation 7. Work in coordination and conjunction with the personnel team in selecting and dismissing all Ministerial Staff B. The Ministerial Staff will be comprised of all ministerial staff positions and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Servant Leadership Team. Each staff member will be assigned duties as described in their respective ministry job description and will report directly to the Senior Pastor as officers over their respective ministries in the church as defined in their job descriptions. SECTION 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Servant Leadership Team will serve as the Board of Directors over the affairs of the corporation. They will be comprised of men fulfilling the qualifications of a deacon as found in 1 st Timothy and Acts, chapter 6. 3

4 The existing members of the Servant Leadership Team will select new members, but only those appointed by the Ministerial Staff will be approved to serve. They will serve for three years with one-third of their members rotating off each year. A Servant Leadership Team member must remain off the team for one year before being eligible to serve another term. Scripturally, the Servant Leadership Team will function as servant leaders who will minister to the needs of others by modeling and delegating ministerial tasks to the greater populace of the church and the community at large. A Servant Leadership team member will be placed on each specific team to ensure overall harmony. During the unfortunate times when church discipline is deemed necessary, the Servant Leadership Team will serve as the acting body to initiate the disciplinary process as outlined in Matthew 18. The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Servant Leadership Team will serve as the legal officers of the church. As such, they will hold in trust the Church property. Upon a specific vote of the Church authorizing each action, they will have the power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any Church property. When legal signatures are required, they will sign legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or rental of property or other legal documents related to Church approval matters. SECTION 3. STAFF MEMBERS AND PROCEDURES FOR SELECTION A. LEAD PASTOR 1. Selection of Search Ministry Team: A Lead Pastor Search Ministry Team consisting of the Personnel/Finance Ministry Team and three at-large members will be appointed by the Ministerial Staff and the Servant Leadership Team to seek out a qualified Senior Pastor. Its recommendations will constitute a nomination. The election will take place at a meeting called for that purpose, of which at least one week s public notice will be given. 2. The Search Ministry Team will bring to the consideration of the church only one name at a time. The church will not consider any candidate except as recommended by the Search Ministry Team. 3. Election will be by ballot. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of those voting will be necessary for a choice. Should the Lead Pastor candidate recommended by the Search Ministry Team fail to receive the three-fourths favorable vote, the Search Ministry Team will be instructed to seek out another candidate and the meeting at which the vote was taken will be adjourned without debate. 4. The Lead Pastor will serve until the relationship is terminated at his or the Church s request. The Lead Pastor will give at least four weeks notice before terminating his responsibilities. The church retains the right to waive this notice requirement. 5. If circumstances dictate dismissal, the church may terminate the Lead Pastor with threefourths vote taken by ballot of active Revolutionaries present. Such action will take place at a special meeting, called for that purpose, with at least two weeks written notice given to all Revolutionaries. A special business meeting for this purpose may only be called upon the recommendation of the Personnel/Finance Ministry Team with the subsequent agreement of the Servant Leadership Team. 5. In cases where an Interim Pastor is needed, the Personnel/Finance Ministry Team will be responsible for recommending an Interim Pastor to the Ministerial Staff and the Servant Leadership Team who together will appoint the Interim. 6. The church must agree upon the Lead Pastor s salary package before the search begins. 4

5 B. OTHER MINISTERIAL STAFF 1. All other full-time ministerial staff members will be chosen and called by the Personnel/Finance Ministry Team in consultation with the Lead Pastor when vacancies occur. 2. If circumstances dictate dismissal, the Lead Pastor, in conjunction with the Personnel/Finance Ministry Team and the Servant Leadership Team, will have the authority to dismiss a person serving in a Ministerial Staff position. Ministerial Staff shall give at least four weeks notice before terminating his or her responsibilities. The church reserves the right to waive this requirement. SECTION 4. SPECIFIC MINISTRY TEAMS As deemed necessary by the Ministerial Staff, specific ministry teams will be established. Their membership will be comprised of people selected by the Servant Leadership Team and appointed by the Ministerial Staff. They will serve for three years with one-third of their members rotating off each year. A specific ministry team member must remain off the team for one year before being eligible to serve another term. Specific ministry teams will include, but not be limited to a Personnel/Finance Team (which can be divided into two separate teams should circumstances dictate). The Finance Ministry team will select and appoint the church Treasurer. All Ministry Teams will make written recommendations annually to the Finance Team for the preparation of the budget. The Finance Team will provide an annual accounting form for the ministry teams to use. Qualifications for Serving on Specific Ministry Teams: 1. Has played an active roll in the church for at least one year; 2. Supports the vision and direction of the Church; 3. Has demonstrated knowledge and giftedness in the specific field of service. 4. Be involved, supportive, and an active Revolutionary, faithful in attendance and the biblical model of stewardship. 5

6 III. CHURCH GOVERNMENT The Revolution Church believes that a unified purpose around a single vision is the simplest and most effective way to do church. We strive to be in one place and in one accord. To accomplish this goal we lay aside our personal wants and desires and seek out the heart of God by placing Him at the center of all we do. We determine His will through prayer and the study of His word; the both of which, if correctly administered, will always be in perfect harmony with each other. With that in mind, the following diagram best illustrates our structure of government with the order of delegation moving clockwise. SECTION 1. BAPTISM IV. CHURCH ORDINANCES The Revolution Church will receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who professes Him publicly and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord. A. Baptism will be by immersion in water. B. The Lead Pastor, or whomever he authorizes, will administer baptism. C. Baptism will be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the Church. SECTION 2. THE LORD S SUPPER The Lord s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Church, through partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine, commemorate the death of Jesus Christ, remember their salvation and 6

7 anticipate His second coming. The Lord s Supper will be observed quarterly, or as deemed appropriate by the Lead Pastor. SECTION 1. WORSHIP SERVICES V. CHURCH MEETINGS The Church will meet regularly for the worship of the Almighty God. Prayer, praise, preaching, instruction and evangelism will be among the ingredients of these services. The Lead Pastor will direct the service for all Church members and for all others who may choose to attend. SECTION 2. SPECIAL SERVICES Any other Church meetings essential to the advancement of the Church s objectives will be placed on the Church calendar. SECTION 3. CHURCH CONFERENCE The term Church Conference will include both Regular and Special Meetings. A. Regular Meetings will be held annually at a date and time designated by the Senior Pastor. They will be used to disseminate information to the church body and to vote on matters described in Article 1 Section 3 of this document. B. A called Special Meeting may be held to consider matters of a significant or urgent nature. No matter will be discussed at a Special Meeting except that for which it was called. Only the Lead Pastor or the Servant Leadership Team can call a Special Meeting. SECTION 4. OFFICIAL NOTICE REQUIRED FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS; A. Regular Meetings: A one-week notice of the subject, date, time, and location will be given for a called Regular Business Meeting. B. Special Meetings: A one-week notice of the subject, date, time, and location will be given for a called Special Business Meeting. SECTION 5. QUOROM The quorum consists of those active Revolutionaries as described in Article 1 Section 2 of this document who attend the business meeting, provided it is a regularly scheduled meeting or one that has been properly called. SECTION 1. BUDGET VI. CHURCH FINANCES The Finance Ministry Team, in consultation with the Chairman of each Ministry Team, will prepare and submit to the Church for approval an inclusive budget indicating the amount needed and sought for all local and other expenses. 7

8 It is understood that active participation in this Church involves a financial obligation to support the Church and its causes with regular, proportionate gifts to the general operating budget. Annually there will be opportunity provided to secure worthy commitments of financial support from Church members. The Church fiscal year will run January 1 to December 31. VII. AMENDMENTS Recommendations to change the Constitution and By-Laws of The Revolution Church should be brought up through the proper channels, consisting of appropriate Ministry Teams who are directly related to the issue at hand. After the amendment has met the approval of the Servant Leadership Team it will be sent on to Lead Pastor and Ministerial Staff for final approval and ratification. 8