North Ridge Community Church By-Laws (Revised 10/09) 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I Name 1 ARTICLE II Statement of Purpose and Distinctives 1 ARTICLE III Statement of Faith 2 ARTICLE IV Covenant of Fellowship 3 ARTICLE V Membership 4 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Requirements Procedure Termination of Membership Church Discipline ARTICLE VI Worship Meetings 6 ARTICLE VII Government 7 Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 The Members Voting Members Conducting Business Pastors Elders Church Officers Deacons and Deaconesses ARTICLE VII I Committees 13 ARTICLE IX Ordinances 13 Section 1 Section 2 The Lord s Supper Baptism ARTICLE X Revision of Statement of Faith 13 ARTICLE XI Amendments 14 2
PREAMBLE And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength You shall love your neighbor as yourself There is no greater commandment than these. ARTICLE I NAME The name of this church will be North Ridge Community Church. ARTICLE II STATEMENT AND PURPOSE AND DISTINCTIVES A. NORTH RIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH EXISTS TO TURN ORDINARY PEOPLE INTO POWER-FILLED FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST This purpose can only be accomplished by complete dependence on God, as we in the local church, in families, and as individuals, with passion, integrity and excellence: worship God (1Chr. 21:18-24, 2Chr. 5:11-14, Psa. 24:3-6; 100: 1-5; 150:1-6; Rom12:1,2; Eph. 5:18-20, Col.3:16) study and apply the scriptures (Duet. 6:1-9, Psa. 119; Matt. 5:17-20; I Cor. 2:9-16; I Tim, 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16,17) pray (Psa. 88:2; Pro. 15:8,29; Dan. 9; Matt. 6:5-15; Luke 6:12; Acts 2:42; Eph. 6:18, Phi. 4:6; Col. 4:2; I Thes. 5:17; Jas. 5:15) develop godly relationships (Gen. 5:24; John 13:34,35; Acts 13:22; Eph. 4:32; 6:1-9; I Tim. 3:2-12; I Pet. 3:1-9) identify and practice God-given spiritual gifts (Prov. 22:29; Rom. 12:4-8; I Cor. 12:1-31; I Cor. 14:1-40, Eph. 4:11-13, and help those in need (Lev. 19:9,10; Prov. 11:25; Isa. 58:1-12; Matt. 5:42; 25:34-40; Acts 2:44, 45; Jas. 1:27; Jas. 2:15, 16). B. EIGHT DISTINCIVES: In practice, we agree as a local church, as families, and as individuals: 1. To operate within the freedom and boundaries of the Bible. 2. To be authentic in our relationships, teaching, and ministry. 3. To measure success in terms of changed lives. 4. To be family affirming. 5. To practice servant leadership and congregational ownership. 6. To be creative, innovative, and relevant. 7. To love people without Christ to the same degree Jesus does. 8. To motivate more through the impartation of hope than the impartation of guilt. 3
ARTICLE III STATEMENT OF FAITH 1. The sole basis of our belief is the Bible, composed of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, and that it was given through the instrumentality of chosen men. We believe that the Scriptures are inerrant (not liable to prove false or mistaken) and infallible (incapable of teaching deception) in the original manuscripts. They serve as the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. 2. We believe that there is one true God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each of Whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God the Father is the One who designed and fulfills His plan of redemption through the Son. Scripture states that He is the Father of all creation, of Israel, of all believers, and of Christ, the Son. He is the ultimate object of all praise, worship, and glory. By His sovereign power He sustains his creation. 3. We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son, though eternally co-existing with the Father, came into the world to become the Redeemer of all peoples. He was united forever with a human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He is a true man and true God. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily atoned for the sins of all men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying, with His shed blood, divine justice concerning sin, and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. We believe in that Blessed Hope, His personal, visible, premillenial and imminent return to earth to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. 4. We believe in the Holy Spirit, omnipresent from all eternity, who came into the world in a unique way on the day of Pentecost. He inspired God s chosen men to write the Scriptures. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them a recognition of their need of a Savior and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer becoming their source of assurance, strength and wisdom. He uniquely endows each and every believer with spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. He guides believers in understanding and applying the Scriptures. His power and control are appropriated by faith, making it possible to live a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father. 5. We believe that man was created by God in His own image, and therefore, like God, is a personal, rational, and moral being. Originally created to have fellowship with God, man willfully disobeyed God and suffered the corruption of 4
his nature, thus rendering him unable to please God, and incurred both physical death and spiritual death (separation from God). As a consequence, all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are in need of the saving grace of God. 6. We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God, a relationship in which they are eternally secure. Having undertaken to save and keep believers forever, apart from all human merit, He, Who cannot fail, will in the end present every one of them faultless before the presence of His glory and conformed to the Image of His Son. 7. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost along with Satan and the other fallen angels. 8. We believe that the Church, the body of Christ, is a spiritual organism composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Members of this body, in Scripture, are directed to associate themselves in autonomous local assemblies in order to worship, to receive instruction, to fellowship, to pray and to observe the ordinances. Two ordinances have been committed to the body of Christ baptism and the Lord s Supper. Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as a public testimony of the believer s faith in the crucified, buried and risen Christ. It is also a public statement of desire to walk in the newness of life in Christ. The Lord s Supper was instituted by Jesus for the remembrance of His atoning death. These two ordinances are to be observed until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. ARTICLE IV COVENANT OF FELLOWSHIP As a standard of Christian conduct, each member by the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit covenants: 1. To walk in Christian love. 2. To exercise Christian care and watchfulness over one another. 3. To pray with and for one another, sharing our burdens, sorrows and joys. 4. To be thoughtful and courteous to one another, to be slow to take offense, and to be quick to forgive and to seek forgiveness. 5. To guard the spiritual and Scriptural purity, and the peace and prosperity of the Church and its growth in Scriptural knowledge and Godliness. 6. To assist, as the Lord enables, in the work of the Church and to promote its usefulness as a witness to the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. 5
7. To contribute, as the Lord directs, to the financial support of the Church, the relief of the needy, and the evangelization of all people. 8. To love and to pray for all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 9. To engage regularly in corporate worship, personal Bible study and prayer, and to encourage our families to do the same. 10. To bring up the children entrusted to our care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 11. To walk worthy of our calling in the world, to provide things honest before all men, to be faithful in engagements and exemplary in lifestyle, denying ungodliness and wordly lust. 12. To endeavor by example, by word and by prayer to win others to an acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. SECTION ONE Requirements ARTICLE V MEMBERSHIP Persons presenting themselves for membership in this church will be required to accept the statements of faith and purpose, the covenant of fellowship and they must agree to be governed in church affiliation by these bylaws and so indicate by signing the application for membership. SECTION TWO Procedure Persons desiring to unite with this church, upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ will after having made application for membership on a form provided by the church, meet with at least two members of the interviewing committee. The applicants will give satisfactory evidence of having been born again. This application will be considered by the elders and presented to the church for acceptance or rejection at any regular assembly of the church. In the case of those whose circumstances make it impossible for them to meet with the interview committee, such as missionaries, evangelists, etc., their signature upon the application form will certify their acceptance of the statements of faith and purpose and the covenant of fellowship. The elders will review the application and, upon being satisfied with the individual s fitness to become a member, will present them to the membership of the church. SECTION THREE Termination of Membership 6
Membership at North Ridge Community Church may be terminated the following ways: A. By transfer It will be the policy of this church to issue letters of transfer only upon the request of the church with which the member desires to unite. B. By removal A member s name may be dropped from the membership roll of this church upon written request of such member. C. By inactivity If it can be shown that a member has been inactive, through lack attendance or interest in the church ministry over a period of six months, the member will be contacted and encouraged to fulfill his/her commitment of membership. Unless renewed commitment is shown, the member s name will be dropped from the membership roll of the church. D. By death. E. By exclusion through church discipline It is right and harmonious with the Scriptures to exclude from the fellowship of this church, (a) any person who holds false and heretical doctrine or who lives inconsistently with a Christian profession (Galatians 1:8-9), (b) one who violates the law of public morals (I Corinthians 5:11), (c) one who live an unruly or undisciplined life (II Thessalonians 3:6,11), or any person who would disturb the unity and peace of this church (I Corinthians 1:10). Should a member be accused of any of these offenses, the process of church discipline, described in the following section, will be followed. SECTION FOUR Church Discipline Ongoing sin in the life of a believer obstructs his/her walk with the Lord, threatens the unity and fellowship within the body, and ultimately weakens the witness of the church to those who do not know Christ (II Corinthians 6:3; I John 1:6-7). Scripture encourages believers to be concerned with each other s spiritual well-being, and teaches them to confront in love where there is evidence of sin (II Corinthians 11:29, Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1-2). North Ridge Community Church acknowledges the following procedure for confrontation in such cases: A. If one has first hand knowledge of ongoing sin in the life of a fellow believing member, he/she should go promptly and confront the individual in private, encouraging him/her to confess and repent, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation (Matthew 18:15). B. If there is no expression of repentance, he/she should confirm the facts of the situation in the presence of one or two witnesses (Matthew 18:16). C. If there is still no repentance, Scripture teaches that the matter should be brought before the church. At North Ridge Community Church, the matter at this point will be brought before the elders, as representatives of the church (Matthew 7
18:17). Should the matter reach this point, the individual involved will be given a hearing before the Board of Elders. The accusation(s) will be communicated to the individual, in writing, at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing. No hearing will be held, nor will any accusations be heard by the elders, unless it can be proven that the previous steps (A-B) have been taken. At the hearing, the elders will attempt to confirm the facts of the situation, the individual will be given the opportunity to respond to the accusation(s) and, if they are proven to be true, the elders will call for confession and repentance. If there is confession, and repentance, the elders will determine and oversee a process of restoration to be followed by the individual. D. If, after a hearing before the elders of the church, there is still no confession of sin or repentance, the elders must decide upon a course of disciplinary action, which could mean that the individual may be removed from fellowship with the body, or excluded from membership, until such time as there is a genuine repentance (Matthew 18:17; 2Thessalonians 3:6, 14ff; 1 Corinthians 15:11; Titus 3:10-11). The decision of the elders will become final fifteen (15) days after the date the decision is entered in the minutes, unless the individual makes appeal to the membership within that time. Appeal to the membership may be made by filing written notice of appeal with the church secretary. Upon filing, a hearing before the membership will be held on a date not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) of such notice. The decision of the membership will be final. Should no appeal be made, the elders will communicate the disciplinary action taken to the congregation. E. Any person who has been separated from the fellowship in this church may, upon repentance and compliance with the disciplinary action applied to the situation, be restored to fellowship and ministry by the elders of the church. Any person who has been excluded from the membership of this church may, by the recommendation of the elders, be restored to membership by a vote of the membership, upon evidence of repentance and reformation. F. It is essential that the process of church discipline be approached and carried out with an attitude of love, concern and humility, and should be motivated by the sincere desire to see repentance and the restoration of fellowship. Reflecting God s grace and forgiveness, believers are taught to be quick to forgive when there is a genuine expression of repentance on the part of a fellow believer. (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 6:14-15; 18:21ff; Ephesians 4:32; Luke 17:3). ARTICLE VI WORSHIP MEETINGS The church shall meet regularly Sunday mornings and at such other times as the elders decide for worship, prayer, fellowship, and teaching the Word of God. 8
ARTICLE VII GOVERNMENT SECTION ONE The Members The government of this church, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, is vested in the body of believers who compose it, hereafter referred to in these bylaws as members, whose majority vote of the voting members present at any convened meeting shall be final, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or these bylaws. The authority of the pastors, elders, officers and committees, is derived from the articles of these bylaws, or by resolution of the members at a duly called business meeting. Any authority not so granted is specifically reserved to the members. SECTION TWO Voting Members Voting members shall be limited to those members who are eighteen year old or older. SECTION THREE Conducting Business A. Place All business meetings of the members will be held at the principal place of worship of this church, unless otherwise specified. B. Time There shall be an annual business meeting of the members called in the manner prescribed for special business meetings of the members within 90 days before or after June 30. C. Special business meeting of the members will be called by the chairman, upon notice from the Board of Elders, or upon written request of ten percent (10%) of the voting members. Announcement and purpose of said meeting will be communicated at least two (2) Sunday mornings immediately preceding said meeting. D. In conducting business: (1) The majority vote of the members present and voting will prevail unless the vote of a greater number is required by law or these bylaws. (2) The agenda of all business meeting of the members will include the following: opening and closing prayer, proof of notice of meeting, disposition of business for which the meeting was called, reports and elections as required by these bylaws. (3) In all business meetings, the chairman of the elders shall preside, and in his absence, the vice chairman, and if both are absent, a chairman will be appointed by the elders. If a congregational business meeting is to be 9
conducted during or as part of the worship services, the business meeting may be formally called to order in the initial service and formally adjourned or concluded in the final worship service of the week. (4) In the transaction of business, the latest edition of Robert s Rules of Order, Revised will be used in all cases not covered by these bylaws. E. Voting Unless a motion is made concerning the method of voting, the chairman of the meeting will determine the method except that the following will be made by secret ballot: the appointment or removal of elders, purchase, sale or transfer of real or personal property, and the calling or a dismissal of a pastor. SECTION FOUR Pastors A. Oversight of Personnel The Pastor Teacher will oversee the duties of all staff personnel. B. Duties The pastoral team will watch over the spiritual life of this church, preach and teach the Word, administer the ordinances and have charge of the worship services. With the exception of the Senior Pastor, they will serve as non-voting elders. C. Call A pastoral candidate will be considered only after he has subscribed in writing to the doctrinal statement and bylaws of this church. He shall be recommended to the members by at least, a three fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the members present and voting in a duly called business meeting. The call will include salary and benefits figures. D. Termination of a Pastor s Services A Pastor may be recommended for dismissal by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the total number of elders. Voting shall be held in a duly called meeting of the elders. At least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting, the pastor under consideration, and at his election may be represented by two members, introduce evidence, present and cross examine witnesses. If the vote is for dismissal, a recommendation will be made by the elders to the members. The recommendation to terminate a pastor s services will be ratified upon a simple majority vote of those voting members attending the congregational meeting. E. Resignation A pastor shall give at least thirty (30) days of notice of resignation. SECTION FIVE ELDERS A. Number The Board of Elders will be composed of six (6) or more voting members, in addition to the called pastors. For the purpose of balance, the 10
number of called pastors serving actively on the Board of Elders will not exceed 40% of the total number of elders serving. In accordance with the articles of incorporation, the Board of Elders will be and act, in all respects, as the Board of Directors of this corporation. Whenever in these bylaws or elsewhere the term elder appears, it will include director, and whenever the term director appears, it will include elder. B. Selection of Elders Scripture gives evidence of the first elders being appointed by the founders of the church. By this example it is implied that the existing spiritual leadership of a church be intimately involved in the process of selecting elders, to insure selection based on spiritual rather than superficial qualifications. Beyond this, there are no specific guidelines given regarding the selection process. It would therefore appear that freedom is given to the individual church regarding the selection process (Acts 14:21; Titus 1:2). At North Ridge Community Church, prospective elders must be members of the church, and they will be appointed to the Board of Elders according to the following procedures: (1) In August of each year, the elders currently serving will determine the number of positions, if any, to be filled the following year on the Board of Elders. If the elders determine that any additional elders are needed, they will initiate the process described below for elder selection. (2) The existing elders will appoint a nominating committee consisting of at least seven voting members, including no more than two who currently serve as elders. For the purpose of order, one of the two elders will serve as chairman of the committee. Members of this committee will serve for one year. (3) The nominating committee will meet with the two elders to review the qualifications for elders and determine questions that should be posed regarding the candidates. (4) As soon as possible, the congregation will then be provided with teaching regarding the Biblical qualifications for elders and their spiritual role. (5) With the Biblical qualifications in mind, members of the congregation will be given fifteen (15) days to prayerfully submit the names of members for consideration as elder to the nominating committee. (6) The nominating committee will compile the names of the nominees, and will submit to the Board of Elders, no later than October 1, a prioritized list of men, loyal to the church testimony, faithful in their attendance in church services, and whom the committee, after prayerful and diligent consideration, believes to be biblically qualified to serve as elders. In determining the nominees, the committee will vote by secret ballot, and no name will be included in the list unless he receives the vote of at least five 11
members of the committee. The nomination committee will submit the names for presentation to ad voting upon by the elders, one name at a time. (7) Men whose names receive at least a 3/4 affirmative vote by the elders will be so informed, and they will be urged to engage in self-appraisal and personal evaluation in light of the Scriptural qualifications. Any person may withdraw his name at that point, if he does not aspire to the position of elder (I Timothy 3:1), or if he does not believe he adequately meets the qualifications. (8) The name of the prospective elders will be brought before the members of the church, who will be given fifteen (15) days to show cause why any one of the prospective elders would not be qualified to serve. Consistent with Matthew 18:15, and Matthew 5:24, any member witness to such cause should first express his concern to the prospective elder and then should also express his concern to the board of elders for consideration. (9) At the end of the fifteen day period, the prospective elders will be presented to the members of the church for affirmation by ¾ affirmative vote of the members present at a congregational meeting. C. Term of Elders (1) Scripture indicates no fixed term for elders, therefore no specific fixed term of office is required. Each elder, upon appointment, will be asked for a three year commitment, subject to review, recommitment and reaffirmation by the Board of Elders each year. (2) During the period of annual review, both the individual and other elders will evaluate his continued service as an elder, again considering the Biblical qualifications as well as any personal factors that might affect his service. An individual s service as an elder may be discontinued by his own decision, or by the unanimous decision of the other elders. (3) When an elder has served a three year term, he will be required to leave the Board of Elders for at least one year. Leaving the Board of Elders would not preclude his future service as an elder, subject to the regular elder selection process. D. Vacancy The office of the elder will be considered vacant upon the happening of any one of the following: (1) Resignation (2) Removal at a duly called business meeting of the church members. 12
(3) Absence from three consecutive meetings of the elders without excuse satisfactory to the elders. (4) Death. E. Filling Vacancies If the elders decide to fill a vacancy, said vacancy will be filled in accordance with the selection of elders (See Section 5B). F. Regular Meetings A regular meeting of the elders will be held not later than sixty (60) days after the elder election meeting of the members for the purpose of electing officers. Other regular meetings will be held at such times and places as the elders may determine, but will be at least once a month. G. Special Meetings A special meeting of the elders may be called at any time at the request of the chairman of the Board of Elders, or a majority of the elders. H. Place of Meeting All meetings of the elders will be held at the principal place of worship of the church unless otherwise specified. I. Duties The elders shall administer the affairs of this church. The specific responsibilities of the elders will include: (1) To assist the pastors in the administration of all worship services and ordinances. (2) To make provision for the supply of the pulpit in the absence of the pastor teacher, or in the event of his failure to do so; and to take full charge of all services not conducted by a pastor. (3) To cooperate with the pastors in the shepherding of the membership of this church; strive to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; reconcile so far as possible all differences; give counsel and comfort to the poor, the sick and afflicted; keep order in the assemblies of the members; supervise and administer the programs and ministries of the church. (4) To supervise and administer all ways and means of raising funds; to receive and disburse the funds in accordance with these bylaws or as directed by the members; to hire and discharge personnel; to determine salaries and approve various mission expenditure; to see that title to all property is taken and held in the name of this corporation but shall not acquire or dispose of real property or its fixtures or contract for any loans on behalf of this church except upon prior specific instructions by a twothird (2/3) affirmative vote by the members present and voting at a duly called business meeting; to take all necessary measures for the protection, management and upkeep of all property; to determine the use of the 13
facilities of this church for all extra or secular purposes; to render a written report to the members at the annual meeting outlining therein the activities of the elders for the past year and recommendations, if any, for the members; to execute any special instructions of the members adopted in a resolution a duly called meeting of the members. (5) To annually review and evaluate the overall ministry of North Ridge Community Church, in light of the established mission statement and the three year rolling master plan. The elders may appoint a special committee to perform this function. (6) To appoint deacons and deaconesses. (7) To interpret these bylaws. SECTION SIX CHURCH OFFICERS A. The church officers will be a chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer, each of whom will be an elder. The elders may elect assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers who need not be elders. The officers will be elected at a meeting of the elders following the congregational meeting of the members at which the new elders were elected. The term for each officer shall be one year or until his successor has been elected. An elder may hold only one office and may not hold the office of chairman longer than two successive years. B. Chairman the chairman will preside at all business meetings of the members and of the elders; have general supervision of the administrative affairs of this church as provided in these bylaws and/or directed by the elders or members; sign all instrument of the church as authorized by the elders or members, and will perform all other duties incident to this office. C. Vice Chairman The vice chairman will exercise the functions of the chairman during his absence. D. Secretary the secretary will keep the minutes of the business meetings of the members and the elders; receive and issue notice of all business meetings of the members and the elders; be custodian of the corporate seal and records; keep a current roster of all members with addresses; maintain a record of attendance at elder s meetings; and sign instruments authorized by elders or members. E. Treasurer the treasurer will be responsible for the receipt, deposit and disbursement of all funds and securities as authorized by the elders and members; keep books of account; render a current financial statement at the annual meeting of the members, and other such reports as may be directed by the elders; and send financial statements to members and other regular contributors showing their record of contributions. 14
F. Removal of Officers Any church officer may be removed with cause by a twothirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the total number of elders. Voting will take place at a duly called meeting of the elders. SECTION SEVEN DEACONS AND DEACONESSES When deemed necessary, the Board of Elders will appoint men and women to serve as deacons or deaconesses in the church. At the request of the Board of Elders members may forward the name of a person they believe to be qualified. The Board of Elders will be responsible to determine that each man or woman meets the qualifications of a deacon or deaconess and, upon approval, will assign to each one responsibilities necessary to the spiritual functioning of the church. Nominees must be members of North Ridge Community Church. ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES Special committees may be appointed by the Board of Elders for specific purposes. Such committees will serve until the specific purpose of function for which they were appointed is performed, or until the elders designate. ARTICLE IX ORDINANCES SECTION ONE THE LORD S SUPPER The Lord s Supper will be observed on a regular monthly basis. SECTION TWO BAPTISM The mode of baptism will be immersion only, and every member will be encouraged to observe this ordinance. ARTICLE X REVISION OF STATEMENT OF FAITH The Statement of Faith of North Ridge Community Church may be changed only by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present and voting at a regularly convened meeting, only upon recommendation by three-fourths (3/4) of elders, and only after notice of the proposed change has been announced and printed at least ninety (90) days prior to such business meeting. 15
ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS Amendments to these bylaws may be made at any business meeting upon the recommendation of the elders, provided that notice of the change(s) has been made at least two (2) weeks before said meeting, and three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present and voting will be required. 16