BY-LAWS OF UNITY CHRIST CHURCH As Amended Through March, 2011 ARTICLE I

Similar documents
Constitution & Bylaws First Baptist Church of Brandon Brandon, Florida

Revision: DRAFT 0622 BYLAWS. Revision Bylaws: Vancouver First Church of God Page 1

1. After a public profession of faith in Christ as personal savior, and upon baptism by immersion in water as authorized by the Church; or

ST. JOSEPH S CHURCH PARISH COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

Bylaws Of The Sanctuary A Georgia Non-Profit Religious Corporation

ARTICLE I. SECTION 1.1 NAME: The name of this assembly shall be (Name of Church).

Bylaws for Lake Shore Baptist Church Revised May 1, 2013 and November 30, 2016

Revision P, Dated December 1, 2014

MIDDLEBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BYLAWS

BY-LAWS OF LIVING WATER COMMUNITY CHURCH ARTICLE I. NAME AND CORPORATE OFFICE SECTION A: NAME The name of this corporation is Living Water Community

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, COLUMBUS, OHIO

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BIBLE CHURCH OF LITTLE ROCK

BY-LAWS OF CHRIST CHURCH, DURHAM PARISH NANJEMOY, MARYLAND

CONSTITUTION AVONDALE BIBLE CHURCH

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ARTICLE I - NAME & DENOMINATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Vision Statement & Covenant...2. Article I. Name, Affiliation, Fellowship...3. Article II. Pastor...3

Bylaws Bethlehem United Church of Christ of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Article I MEMBERSHIP

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST BAPTIST (A/K/A ST JOHN BAPTIST CHURCH) ARTICLE I NAME

Frankfort Congregational Church, UCC 42 Main Road South, Frankfort, ME Constitution & Bylaws

BYLAWS Plymouth Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ Des Moines, Iowa

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL COLUMBUS, OHIO CONSTITUTION

LONG ISLAND ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH HICKSVILLE, NEW YORK. This church shall be known as the Long Island Abundant Life Church.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Biloxi Mississippi. Bylaws. February 8, Preamble

The Constitution of the Central Baptist Church of Jamestown, Rhode Island

CORPORATE BY-LAWS Stanly-Montgomery Baptist Association

BY-LAWS OF RANGELEY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH RANGELEY, MAINE Updated and Amended July 2006

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEEDHAM

St. Mark s Episcopal Church

THE DESIGN of the FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF DALLAS, OREGON (as revised and approved by the congregation on October ) CONSTITUTION

CHARTER OF THE MONTGOMERY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

BYLAWS The Mount 860 Keller Smithfield Road Keller, TX 76248

BYLAWS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DECATUR, TEXAS. Adopted: 7/19/00 Last Revised: 2/14/16

BYLAWS THE SUMMIT CHURCH HOMESTEAD HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH, INC. PREAMBLE ARTICLE I NAME

CRYSTAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. ARTICLE I - Name

CONSTITUTION SOUTHCLIFF BAPTIST CHURCH FORT WORTH, TEXAS PREAMBLE ARTICLE I

PARISH BY-LAWS of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Springfield, Vermont A Parish of the Diocese of New England The Orthodox Church in America (OCA)

All Saints Episcopal Church By-laws Diocese of East Tennessee Morristown, Tennessee

BY-LAWS THE MISSIONARY CHURCH, INC., WESTERN REGION

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SHELBURNE, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Waukesha Bible Church Constitution

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS THE UNITED CHURCH OF JAFFREY

Bylaws of Westoak Woods Baptist Church

ARTICLES OF GUIDANCE CRESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH PREAMBLE APPROVED BY THE CHURCH ON AUGUST 12, 2012

Southside Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida Bylaws

ARTICLE I. NAME This body shall be known as First Baptist Church of Hickory, Catawba County, North

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Whitehall, Michigan 900 S. Warner St. Whitehall, MI PREAMBLE

Bylaws and Rules of Order of the First Baptist Church of Rockport, Massachusetts

BOLTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CLEMSON SOUTH CAROLINA

Accepted February 21, 2016 BYLAWS OF THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEVADA CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA. Revision Date: 07/24/2016 PREAMBLE

BY-LAWS OF FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST ALTON-GODFREY, ILLINOIS ARTICLE I NAME AND PURPOSE

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF SHELBURNE, MASSACHUSETTS, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

By Laws of the Windham Baptist Church

PRAIRIE VIEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Organizational Bylaws July Deer Creek Rd. Monument, CO 80132

Parish Finance Council Operating Guidelines

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS

BYLAWS OF THE BETHEL EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

Constitution of. Mountain Park Church. Lake Oswego, Oregon

THE CONSTITUTION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH NEOSHO, MISSOURI

EDGEBROOK COMMUNITY CHURCH AN OPEN AND AFFIRMING CONGREGATION OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST BYLAWS

EAU CLAIRE BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTITUTION

BYLAWS OF FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT (United Church of Christ) ARTICLE I THE CONGREGATION

Association Constitution. By-Laws. Staff Policies

WEST END BAPTIST CHURCH BYLAWS

BYLAWS OF WHITE ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH

Grace Covenant Church Constitution and Bylaws Revised 1/31/07

MOSAIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Official Bylaws of Mosaic Christian Church 1st Edition - December 2016 KNOW JESUS, SHOW JESUS, GROW JESUS

Constitution First Baptist Church Camden, Arkansas. Preamble. Article I. Name. Article II. Purpose Statement (amended May 10, 2006)

Constitution of Zion s United Church of Christ of Taborton

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS OF EAST TENNESSEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION A nonprofit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Tennessee.

BY-LAWS OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL Revised: April 18, Article I Name of the Organization

TABLE OF CONTENTS. Section 1 Purpose of a Deacon. 1. Section 2 Deacon Council 1. Section 3 Deacon Duties and Responsibilities 1

The Sunrise Association of Churches and Ministers Maine Conference United Church of Christ

RESOLUTION No

Constitution and Bylaws of First Baptist Church Owasso. November 2017

THE BYLAWS THE CHINESE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF NEW JERSEY PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY. Approved by GA on Oct

CONSTITUTION OF THE GOLDEN RULE DISTRICT MISSIONARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION PREAMBLE ARTICLE I NAME, DURATION, FISCAL YEAR, AND AGENT FOR SERVICE

CONSTITUTION AND BY - LAWS

Constitution and Bylaws of Central Baptist Church

The Constitution of The Coptic Orthodox Church of Western Australia Incorporated

BYLAWS WESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH ALABASTER, ALABAMA

Union-Congregational Church United Church of Christ

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 474 BROAD STREET MERIDEN, CT

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ASHBURN, GEORGIA BY-LAWS

Constitution of St. Paul s Evangelical Church Of Creve Coeur, St. Louis County, State of Missouri.

First Congregational United Church of Christ DeWitt, Iowa

CONSTITUTION OF CINCINNATI HILLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, INC. CINCINNATI, OHIO

Article 1 Membership

THE CONSTITUTION LAKEWOOD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

First Congregational United Church of Christ DeWitt, Iowa

BY-LAWS OF THE DIOCESE OF THE SOUTH ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA

WESTWOOD COMMUNITY CHURCH CONSTITUTION AMENDED AND RESTATED Proposed Changes for September 18, 2017 Annual Meeting Consideration ARTICLE I NAME

BYLAWS ST. PAUL S EPISCOPAL CHURCH WILLIAMSVILLE, NEW YORK ARTICLE I VESTRY ELECTION PROCEDURES

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS CONSTITUTION

CHRIST CHURCH OF OAK BROOK. - Constitution - Incorporated March 11, 1965 Amended December 5, 1968 November 30, 1981 December 2, 1985 February 28, 2006

ST. OLYMPIA ORTHODOX CHURCH OF POTSDAM BYLAWS PREAMBLE

CONSTITUTION CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH WASHINGTON, D.C. of the

Transcription:

BY-LAWS OF UNITY CHRIST CHURCH As Amended Through March, 2011 ARTICLE I IDENTIFICATION Unity Christ Church is a Missouri Corporation dedicated to teach the Truth of Jesus Christ as interpreted by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore through Unity School of Christianity at Unity Village, Missouri and the Association of Unity Churches in Lee s Summit, Missouri. The purpose of Unity Christ Church shall be to conduct services of worship, to offer classes of instruction, to demonstrate the principles of Truth and to adopt other spiritual means that, in the judgment of the Minister, will further the principles of Practical Christianity among its members and humanity. MEMBERSHIP ARTICLE II Qualifications and terms of Membership. Persons elected to membership in Unity Christ Church, as provided in Section 2 of this article, shall be known as Members. Persons elected to membership in Unity Christ Church shall hold such membership as long as their ideas and conduct are in accord with the fundamental principles accepted by Unity, or until such membership is voluntarily withdrawn. Members are entitled to the full privileges of membership, which includes but is not limited to, the following: Vote at any membership meeting. Elect members to the Board of Trustees. Ratify the By-Laws or any amendments. Vote on questions of sale, pledge or proposed financing of real property owned by the Church. Call a special membership meeting. Request in writing, that the Board consider removal of a Trustee. Vote on matters officially brought to the attention of the membership. Offer suggestions to the Minister or Board of Trustees. 1

Election of Members. Individuals eighteen years of age or older may submit an Application of Membership Card after a study of LESSONS IN TRUTH and completion of a New Member Orientation Class designed by the Minister and Board. The application shall be presented to the Board of Trustees for approval. Upon a majority affirmative vote of the Trustees present and voting, the applicant shall become a member of Unity Christ Church. Recognition in a Sunday Service will follow. Persons shall be welcomed into Church membership at least two (2) times per annum. Meetings and Quorum. All membership meetings of Unity Christ Church shall be held at its official headquarters on such day and at such time as may be designated by the Board of Trustees. Written notice of the Annual Meeting shall be mailed to all members ten days prior to the date of the Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the membership shall be held in the fourth quarter each year. GOVERNMENT Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Board of Trustees at any time that the affairs of the Church warrant them. Fifty-one percent of the membership may petition the Board of Trustees in writing for a special membership meeting stating the reasons therefore. Written notice of any special meeting, specifically the date, time, place and purpose for which the meeting is called shall be mailed to all members ten days prior to the date of such meeting. Such call must be issued by the Board of Trustees not later than 30 days after the filing and verification of the petitioners requesting the special membership meeting. Those members present and voting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any Annual or Special membership meeting. ARTICLE III Responsibility. The responsibility for the government of this Church shall rest with the Board of Trustees and the Minister. The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the legal and financial matters of the Church and the administration of Church property, both real and personal. The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the policy, direction and mission of the Church. The Minister, as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, shall be the administrative executive of the Church, charged with the 2

responsibility of carrying out the spiritual policies of the Church and shall be responsible for the daily operation of the Church in association with the Board of Trustees. Trustees and Terms of Office. The governing Board of Unity Christ Church shall consist of seven (7) elected Trustees. Each Trustee shall hold office for a term of three (3) years, or until his successor is duly elected. Two Trustees are elected each year. Three Trustees are elected the third year. Trustees shall be elected at the Annual Membership Meeting and shall take office the Following January 1 st. Trustees cannot succeed themselves. However, a Trustee serving less than eighteen months may be nominated for a full term. An elected Board member shall not receive any compensation from the ministry, while serving on the Board. Election of Trustees. The Nominating Committee will present the names of members to be voted upon to serve as Trustees to fill the vacancies on the Board. The number of nominees to be placed on the formal ballot for the annual election shall be determined by the Board of Trustees. Church members may offer suggestions to the Nominating Committee in writing up to thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. Minimum requirements for selection include: Active membership for at least one (1) year. Participation in the work of committees, teams or other form of service to the Church. Regular in Sunday Service attendance. Completion of a study of LESSONS IN TRUTH. Demonstration of principles of Truth in daily life. Licensed Unity Teachers, employees of Unity Christ Church, or their immediate family are not eligible to be a Board member. No member of the Nominating Committee shall have his or her name entered into nomination for the position of Trustee. Article III, Section 3, shall be read at the Annual Membership Meeting just prior to the time that nominations are open from the floor. The newly elected members of the Board of Trustees shall be announced by the President following the report of the election tellers. Newly elected members of the Board of Trustees shall be formally notified by the Secretary after their qualifications for office have been approved by the Board. 3

Section 4. Section 5. Section 6. Section 7. Meeting and Quorum. The regular business meetings of the Board of Trustees will be held at Church at a minimum of once a month. Written notification shall be posted. Special board meetings shall be called by the President upon the request of the Minister, or two or more Trustees. Such request shall be filed in writing with the Secretary. The President may call the special board meeting, as he or she deems necessary. The Minister, being an ex-officio member of the Board, has the right to attend all meetings and must be notified of all Special board meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be open to the membership. Four (4) Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Vacancies. The office of Trustee can become vacant upon removal or resignation. Should a vacancy occur on the Board of Trustees, the Board shall fill such vacancy by ballot at its next regular meeting, or in the case of emergency, a special meeting is to be called. First consideration shall be given to the nominee who received the next highest number of votes at the last membership meeting. A minimum of four (4) Trustees assenting is required to elect a Trustee to fill a vacancy. The term of such elected Trustee shall expire on the same date as the term of the member he or she succeeds. The resignation of any Trustee may be voluntarily submitted in writing to the President of the Board of Trustees. Such resignation becomes effective upon receipt. Removal of Trustee. In cases of reported behavior inconsistent with the qualification for Board membership, the Board of Trustees shall call a special meeting as soon as possible. Five (5) voting Trustees shall constitute a quorum. After discussion of the reported behavior, the Trustee in question shall be asked to leave and a vote by the remaining Trustees shall be taken. A vote for removal must be unanimous and shall be effective immediately. Unexcused absence from two successive regular meetings shall also constitute grounds for removal. Standing Committees of the Board of Trustees. The Executive Committee, comprised of the current officers of the Board, is responsible for the initial consideration of legal and personnel matters. Recommendations for action are made by the full Board. The Finance Committee, comprised of the Board Treasurer and at least two (2) church members appointed by the Board, is 4

OFFICIERS Section 4. Section 5. responsible for research, review and recommendations regarding all financial matters of the Church. The Nominating Committee, comprised of the Minister, two Board members and three church members appointed by the Board, is responsible for selection of qualified candidates to be presented at the Annual Membership Meeting. Nominating Committee members selected from the Board of Trustees and the Church membership may not serve consecutive years. ARTICLE IV Officers. The officers of Unity Christ Church shall be elected from and by the Board of Trustees of Unity Christ Church at the scheduled January meeting. The officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. They shall hold their respective office for a term of one year, or until their successors are qualified and elected. Officers may be re-elected at the January Board meeting for succeeding terms of office. President. The President of Unity Christ Church shall preside at all Board of Trustees meetings and at the Business meetings of the membership, and shall appoint Chairpersons of all Committees. The President shall initiate and establish standing Committees, subject to approval of the majority of the Board members. The President shall have such other powers as usually pertains to his or her office, as stated in Robert s Rules of Order. In case of a vacancy in the office of President, a new President will be elected at the next Board meeting for the remainder of the term. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, perform all the duties of that office. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, an accurate record of the minutes of all Board of Trustees and membership meetings and shall attend to all official business required by the Board of Trustees. The Secretary shall be held responsible for the custody of all reports, contracts, other legal papers, minute books, and the corporate seal, which items shall be kept in the Church at all times or in a safety deposit box in such bank as designated by the Board of Trustees. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall: (1) Be custodian of the funds of this Ministry. He/She shall pay out or cause to be paid out, funds authorized by the Board. (2) Keep, or cause to be kept, a record of all financial transactions, and submit a monthly financial report at each regular meeting. 5

MINISTER (3) Submit a financial report, covering the last complete fiscal period, at the Annual Membership Meeting. (4) Count, or cause to be counted by the appointment of qualified persons, all funds received, and be responsible for their deposit. (5) Place, or cause to be placed, the funds of this Ministry in the bank or other depository approved by the Board. (6) Coordinate and delegate accounting activities to the bookkeeper and provide input to the Minister for the bookkeeper s yearly appraisal. (7) Serve as an active member of the Finance Committee. At each Annual Meeting of the membership, a financial report of the preceding calendar year shall be made. Copies shall be made available to those members requesting them. The Board of Trustees shall have a financial review performed periodically at such times as deemed appropriate or when requested to do so by a petition bearing the signatures of at least ten members. The Treasurer shall be bonded and Unity Christ Church will pay the cost of the bond. ARTICLE V Employment. It is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees to employ a licensed or ordained Unity Minister and Associate Minister, if desired, for the Church through cooperation with the placement and liaison procedures of the Association of Unity Churches. The selection of the Minister shall be based on a majority vote of the entire Board. Compensation. The compensation shall be fixed by agreement between the Board and the Minister. The Minister shall receive a yearly performance review from the Board. The results of the review shall be the basis for any change in the Minister s compensation. Duties. The Minister shall be a voting, ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees on all matters except the Minister s own employment or that of a successor. As the spiritual leader, the Minister shall be responsible for the scheduling, conduct, and the content of services, classes and other spiritual activities that further the purpose of this ministry. As the Administrative executive of the Church, the Minister shall hire, supervise, and conduct annual performance reviews of all employees. Dismissals of employees shall be conducted by the Minister in conjunction with the Board. 6

Section 4. Vacancy. The Board of Trustees shall not take any steps to obtain the resignation of the Minister or provide another Minister before consulting with the designated official or department of the Association of Unity Churches. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of Minister, the Board shall officially communicate with the designated official or department of the Association of Unity Churches and initiate the placement process. CONTRACTS AND OBLIGATION ARTICLE VI Trustees of Unity Christ Church shall conserve and administer the property of Unity Christ Church, both real and personal. Any questions of sale or pledge of real property belonging to this Church shall be submitted to the membership by written notice at least ten days in advance of the membership meeting at which the question is to be decided. Sale or pledge of such real property shall be made only after an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at such membership meeting. No agreements, contracts, or obligations involving payment of money or involving credit or liability of Unity Christ Church shall be made without the approval of the Board of Trustees. The Board shall submit to the membership for approval any endeavor, other than normal church business, involving expenditures exceeding $10,000.00. ARTICLE VII ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RULES OF ORDER TO THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING Order of Business. The regular order of business of Membership meetings shall be set by the Board: Rules of Order. Robert s Rules of Order shall be authority on Parliamentary law and usage of this Church unless otherwise provided by these By-Laws. 7

DISSOLUTION ARTICLE VIII As stated in the Amended Article of Agreement filed in St. Louis Circuit Court March 23, 1964 following: In the event of dissolution of this Corporation, or if for any reason the purposes of this Corporation should become impossible of performance, all assets remaining after all liabilities and obligations of the Corporation have been paid, satisfied and discharged, or adequate provision made therefore, shall be distributed to the Unity School of Christianity, Lee s Summit, Missouri. If the Unity School of Christianity, Lee s Summit, Missouri be not in existence then such assets shall be distributed to one or more organizations organized and operated for similar exempt purposes or for other purposes within the purview of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and which have exemption from Federal income tax under said section 501 (c) (3) or such section as it may be amended or a corresponding provision of prior law. AMENDMENTS ARTICLE IX Amendments to these By-Laws must be made by the Board of Trustees and approved by the members of this Church after notice in writing setting forth the proposed amendments, has been mailed to all Members at least ten days before the meeting is to be held. Such amendment to said By-Laws shall not become effective until two-thirds of the Members present and voting at such meeting shall vote affirmatively in favor of such amendment. 8