CONSTITUTION

United Baptist Church of Island Falls

By-Laws & Amendments

WHEREAS: We, as a body of believers in Jesus Christ, organized for the purpose of spreading the gospel of our Lord and Savior and the teaching of the Holy Bible and practices of the Baptist faith deem it advisable that we have definite laws to direct us that “all things may be done decently and in order” therefore, be it resolved that we adopt the following constitution.

ARTICLE I—NAME

The name of this organization shall be: THE UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH OF ISLAND FALLS.

ARTICLE II—PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be, first, to win people to a personal allegiance to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; second, to train them in Christian living and to develop Christian character and, third, to help spread the gospel of Christ throughout the world.  This purpose is expressed in more detail in the Church Covenant held by Baptist churches, which we hereby adopt.

ARTICLE III—MEMBERS

RECEPTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. A person may be received into membership through baptism and approval of the membership committee.  

Section 2. The pastor and/or membership committee shall examine candidates for baptism and membership. Candidates shall be instructed as to the Church Covenant and Constitution. Recommendations shall be made to the church for action.  (It is preferable that the vote of the church regarding membership shall not be taken in the presence of the candidates.)

Section 3. Members of other churches holding the same faith shall be received after receipt of letter of dismission from the respective church and upon approval of committee and pastor.

Section 4. Those who have once been members of other churches holding the same faith and others who have been baptized, but have joined no church and in consequence of unusual circumstances have no regular letters of dismission may be received.

DISMISSION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. Members in good standing may, upon written application be dismissed by letter to unite with some other church designated in application.  The clerk of this church shall send all church letters to the pastor or clerk of church designated.

ARTICLE IV—DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Section 1. In addition to the duties outlined in the Church Covenant, each member is encouraged to be a giver, both to current expenses and to benevolence of the church.

ARTICLE V-OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this church shall consist of, the pastor, moderator, vice moderator, deacons, deaconesses, clerk, assistant clerk, church treasurer, two auditors, financial secretary treasurer, church school superintendent, benevolence treasurer, and a deputy church treasurer who shall also be the chairperson of the Finance Committee.

Section 2.  Upon the occasion of the death or removal of the pastor, the church without delay shall call to the pastorate, some minister of good report and of good standing as a member of a Baptist church.  A legal business meeting must be called to provide for election and a three-fourths (3/4) vote of members present shall be necessary before the call shall be extended

It shall be the duty of the pastor to preach statedly at the church and to administer the ordinances.  He shall be ex-officio, a member of all boards, committees and organizations and shall have access to all books and records.

(c) The pastor shall be elected annually. Either the pastor or the church may terminate the pastoral relationship, giving a three months notice of a desire for said change. By mutual consent, the pastoral relationship may be terminated earlier.  Whenever personal matters, which concern the pastor, are being considered in any business meeting, he/she and the family shall retire.

The pastor’s salary shall be paid regularly.  There shall be an annual vacation; the time and length thereof to be determined/approved by the deacons.

Section 3. The moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the church.

Section 4.  There shall be deacons and deaconesses elected at the annual meeting. Their number shall be in proportion to the membership of the church. It shall be the duty of the deacon/deaconesses to visit the sick and needy and to assist the pastor in his pastoral work.  The deacons shall prepare and distribute the elements of the Lord’s Supper and shall take general supervision of the spiritual work of the church.  They shall determine for what purpose the church building shall be used.  Periodically, in cooperation with the church clerk, they shall thoroughly revise the roll as to active, inactive, resident and non-resident membership. They shall deal also with disciplinary actions.  When, in the opinion of a majority of the members of the church the superspiritual situation demands a change in the pastoral relationship, it shall be the duty of the deacons/deaconesses to interview the pastor regarding the continuance of his tenure of office. The pastor, deacons and deaconesses, together with the church schoolSuperintendent and the clerk shall constitute the Membership committee.

Section 5.  Trustees

There shall be four trustees and one member may be a non-member, to be elected at the annual meeting (unless to fill a vacancy) to serve four years.  Their term shall be arranged so that one shall be elected each year.  They shall have the care of the property of the church and shall keep it insured and in repair. They shall arrange or contract custodial care of the church and in all matters pertaining to their office they shall be responsible to the church.

Section 6.  Treasurer

There shall be one treasurer for both current finances and benevolence until such time as the benevolence funds exceed one hundred dollars per year and then a regular benevolence treasurer shall be elected. The church treasurer shall render a quarterly report.  The benevolence treasurer, when elected, shall receive all money contributed for such work and shall forward the same monthly to the state offices unless otherwise instructed by the church.  The benevolence treasurer will give quarterly reports.

Section 7.  Clerk

The church clerk shall keep the record of all church meetings, a full and accurate list of members and attend to such other works as pertains to the office. 

Section 8.  Church School Superintendent

The school may nominate the superintendent, but the church shall elect.  Said person shall be a Christian and a member of this church, with supervision of the various duties of the Sunday School, chairperson of the Christian Board of Education and with the Board shall plan and promote the various activities of a well rounded program of Christian Education. The Christian board of Education shall be composed of the pastor, the church School superintendent (said officer being the chairperson) and four other active members of the church

Section 9.  Church officers named in the forgoing sections of this article and others needed shall be elected at the annual meeting of the church unless in any case a longer term is specified…said officers to be members of the church and regular attendees of services and functions of the church.

Section 10.  Advisory Board

The members of this board shall consist of the pastor, moderator, vice moderator, deacons, deaconesses, clerk, church treasurer, benevolence treasurer, two auditors, church school superintendent, president of the United Baptist Women, a member of the Baptist Youth Fellowship with the pastor as moderator.  This board shall meet when necessary to council together upon such items of business as the church may direct or such matters as the Board may desire to discuss.  Seven members shall constitute a quorum.  The advisory board may be called together at any time by the pastor or clerk provided all members are notified of the meeting.   While the advisory board may act upon simple and routine matters of business, in anything of importance, its action is always subject to review of the church. 

Section 11.  Auditors

There shall be two auditors elected by the church with their terms of office so arranged that one shall be elected each year for two years.  It shall be the duty of the auditors to audit all accounts of the church on a quarterly agenda.  Such reports include, but are not limited to, check books, savings accounts, ledgers, bank statements, and electronic programs. 

ARTICLE VI—COMMITTEES

Section 1.  Finance Committee

There shall be a finance committee composed of the clerk, the church treasurer, the deputy treasurer, the financial clerk, one deacon, one trustee, and two additional members.  The chairperson of the finance committee shall, in addition, hold the office of deputy church treasurer, to perform the duties of church treasurer in the absence of that officer.  The finance committee shall prepare a budget for the year and present it to the church for vote at the annual meeting.

Section 2.  Pulpit Committee

When a vacancy occurs in the pastorate, the church shall appoint a pulpit committee to consist of seven persons, namely; one deacon, one deaconess, one trustee, one member of the finance committee, and one representative of each of the following organizations: the Sunday School, the Women’s Group, and the Baptist Youth Fellowship.  It shall be the duty of the Pulpit committee to make careful and diligent inquiry concerning possible candidates for the pulpit.  When this committee has satisfied itself that it has secured a candidate, it may ask said candidate to preach at any of the regular services of the church.  The committee shall present no candidate until final action has been taken upon all former candidates.  When the church has secured a new pastor, this committee shall be dissolved.  Upon dissolution of the pulpit committee, a pastoral relationship committee shall be established consisting of the same members, if desired.  The duties of the committee shall be to assist a new pastor.

Section 3.  Nominating Committee

There shall be a nominating committee consisting of five active church members, one chosen at the annual meeting to serve five years.  It shall be their duty to suggest names to the church at any time to fill vacancies and at the annual meeting to present nominations for all offices.

ARTICLE VII—MEETINGS

Section 1.  The church shall meet regularly every Lord’s Day for public worship. The meetings of the church school shall be held each Sunday for the study and teaching of the Bible.  The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed as determined by the pastor and members of the church.

Section 2. Regular business meetings of the church body shall be held in January and June.  The elected body whose duties are needed will attend to other business of the church.  A quorum shall consist of 10 % of the past year’s membership.

Section 3.  The annual meeting of the church for the presentation of the written annual reports of officers and departments of the church, the election of officers and the transaction of any other business shall occur the third Wednesday of the month of January each year.  For the transaction of legal business, a seven days’ notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place.  A quorum for transaction of said business would consist on 10% of the past years’ membership.

Section 4.  Special meetings for business may be called at any time when a notice is not required by law.  The pastor, clerk or five members, presenting their request in writing to the clerk, may call such meetings.

ARTICLE 8—AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Section 1.  All organizations shall be subject to the church and shall make annual reports in writing to the church.  No auxiliary organizations shall meet during regular worship service of the church.

Section 2.  The church school shall be directly under the supervision of the church, but the Baptist Youth Fellowship, Women’s Group and Men’s Group shall be considered as major auxiliary organizations and shall function under their own separate constitution.

ARTICLE 9—AMMENDMENTS

Section 1. The foregoing rules may be amended at any regular business meeting of the church by a majority vote of those present and voting. The prepared amendments shall have been submitted in writing and shall have been read at two Sunday services prior to the business meeting in such said amendments shall be submitted for final action.

Section 2. The rules and regulations adopted in this constitution shall be construed as setting aside and making null and void all former acts, rules and regulations for the government of the church.

Last amended and updated….February 2005