CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF
Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville
PREAMBLE
For the glory of God, the preservation and security of the principles
of our faith, and to the end that this body may be governed in an orderly
manner consistent with the Bible, and for the purpose of reserving the
liberties inherent in each individual member of this church and the freedom of
this body, with respect to its relation to other churches of the same faith,
and as it relates to our liberties as an autonomous self-governing body with
regard to church and state, including all officially adopted related
ministries, we do declare and establish this constitution and bylaws of Calvary
Chapel of Fayetteville.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND OFFICES
SECTION 1. Name
This incorporated church body shall
be known as Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville (hereinafter also referred to as the
"Church").
SECTION 2.
Principal Office and Other Offices.
The principal office of the Church
shall be 9610 Cliffdale Rd Fayetteville,
N.C. 28304, but the location may be changed from time to time by the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time establish branch or
subordinate offices at any place or places where the church is qualified to do
business.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of Calvary Chapel
of Fayetteville is threefold:
3.
To evangelize by presenting the Gospel message to persuade
men and women to repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
The Mission of Calvary Chapel
of Fayetteville is to declare the truth, make disciples and to love our
neighbor.
The general operational
purposes for which this church corporation is organized is exclusively
religious, charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 50l(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any
future United States Internal Revenue Code including, but not limited to, for
such purposes as outlined in the Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE III
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this Church
shall be:
To proclaim the good news of
salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ through any suitable method or
media, which includes, but is not limited to the following:
A.
Establishing and operating a local church for the worship of
Jesus Christ, including conducting bible studies, worshipping and sharing the
message and good news of Jesus Christ, using personal evangelism, radio,
television, web/internet, missions, conferences, preaching, comforting, and any
other activity directed for Christian purpose;
B.
Assisting and furthering the task of providing Biblical
Scripture to the community and other groups through the Holy Scriptures and
other printed material by speaking at Bible studies, church services, and by
providing speakers and other instructional and educational programs which may
be deemed necessary or convenient in effecting the above purposes;
C.
Establishing new programs of outreach and ministry, and the
strengthening of existing programs and organizations which have a similar
purpose and dedication to presenting Christ as Savior.
D.
To be obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ's command to "Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"(Matthew 28:19- 20).
E.
To serve as an instrument through which men may be witnesses
unto our Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, and unto all Judea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).
F. To do only that which glorifies the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
G. To engage in spiritual work and services
based upon the authority of the Holy Bible.
ARTICLE IV STATEMENT OF FAITH
• We Believe that there is one living and
true GOD, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, equal in power and glory; that this triune God created all,
upholds all, and governs all. (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:8 and
48:16; Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:30; Hebrews 1:3).
• We Believe that the SCRIPTURES of the Old
and New Testaments are the Word of God, fully inspired without error in the
original manuscripts, and the infallible rule of faith and practice. (Isaiah
28:13; Nehemiah 8:8; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1
:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3-4 and 1:21).
• We Believe in GOD THE FATHER, an infinite,
personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love; that He concerns
Himself mercifully in the affairs of men; that He hears and answers prayer; and
that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
(Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27; John 3:16 and 4:24; 1 Timothy
1:17; Titus 1:3).
• We Believe in JESUS CHRIST, God's only
begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth,
sinless life, miracles and teachings, His penal substitutionary atoning death,
bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His
people and personal, visible return to earth. (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew
1:23; Mark 16:19; Luke 1:34-35; John 1:1-2, 8:58 and 11:25; 1 Corinthians
15:3-4; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 1:2; Revelation 1:8).
• We Believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, who came
forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and
judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify and empower for ministry all who believe
in Christ; we believe the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus Christ
and that He is an abiding Helper, Teacher, and Guide. We believe in the present
ministry of the Holy Spirit and in the exercise of all Biblical gifts of the
Spirit. (Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 16:8-11; Romans 8:26 and 15:13,16;
Hebrews 9:14).
• We Believe that all PEOPLE are sinners by
nature and choice and, therefore, are under condemnation; that God regenerates
by the Holy Spirit, those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as
Lord; that Jesus Christ baptizes the seeking believer with the Holy Spirit and
power for service, often subsequent to regeneration. (Acts 8:15-17; Ephesians
2:1-3 and 8-9; Romans 3:23 and 5:8; Titus 3:5).
• We Believe in the universal CHURCH, the
living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons
are members. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:15-16).
• We Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ
committed two ORDINANCES to the Church: 1) baptism, and 2) the Lord's Supper.
We believe in baptism by immersion and communion open to all believers.
(Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) We also
believe that the Lord Jesus Christ validated the ordinance of marriage.
(Matthew 19:4-5 and John 2:l-11).
• We Believe in the personal, visible RETURN
OF CHRIST to earth and the establishment of His Kingdom, in the resurrection of
the body, the final judgment and eternal blessing of the righteous and endless
suffering of the wicked. (Matthew 16:27; Acts 1:11; Revelation 19:11-16,
20:11-15).
• We Believe in what is termed "THE
APOSTLES' CREED" as embodying fundamental facts of Christian faith.
• We Believe in the Biblical account of
creation as God as the Creator. We believe that God created man and that He
created them male and female. As such He created them different so as to
complement and complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between
male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of
human society. For this reason, homosexuality, and all other "sexual
preferences" or "orientations" or “gender dysphoria” are unnatural,
sinful, and unacceptable to God. Accordingly, this ministry will not perform
any marriage ceremonies between two individuals of the same sex. It will not
condone or recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships
even if the state or federal government passes laws that provide for
recognition of such unions.
• We believe that marriage is exclusively
the legal union of one genetic male and one genetic female and is evidenced by
a marriage ceremony. We also believe that legitimate biblical sexual relations
are exercised solely within the bounds of a biblical marriage. Hence, sexual
activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex,
incest, polygamy, homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, cross-dressing,
pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and
the Church. Furthermore, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing and/or
distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one's physical gender or
gender related appearance are incompatible with a true biblical witness.
(Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; John 4:16-18; Romans 1:18-32; I Corinthians
5:11, 6:9-11, 6:18-20, 7:1-3 and 7:8-9; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-7; I
Timothy 1:9-11).
Every pastor, assistant
pastor, board member, officer, deacon, employee, ministry leader, staff member
or regular volunteer (collectively referred to as "Affiliates") shall
be in submission to the spiritual authority of the Lead Pastor and Board of
Elders and shall sign a Covenant adopted by the Board of Elders that reflects
his or her unequivocal agreement with the Constitution, including the above
Statement of Faith, and Bylaws of the Church. Each Affiliate whose confession
of faith or behavior is in conflict with this Statement of Faith will be
subject to removal and tennination by the Lead Pastor, Board of Elders, or
their assignees, from his or her position or responsibility. Further, the Board
of Elders, their assignees, or the Lead Pastor may prohibit the fellowship and
attendance of any person from Calvary Chapel's services and meetings as
discussed in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V RITES OF ORDINATION
SECTION 1. Principles of Ordination.
A candidate for ordination recognizes
that only our Sovereign, Holy God can truly call and ordain His children for service
in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The calling of a minister is not
the result of a title; rather the title is the result of His calling. This
calling is recognized as from the true and living God. It is man's privilege
and specifically the privilege of the overseers of the true church of Jesus
Christ to ratify the ordination of God when such is obviously placed upon a
man's life. The purpose of this Article is to provide for the ordination rites
of ministers of the Gospel of Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville.
SECTION 2.
Qualification for Ordination.
The
qualifications for ordination are as follows:
A.
BORN AGAIN,
A candidate for ordination must be a
"born again" believer in Jesus Christ as described by our Lord in the
third chapter of the Gospel of John.
B.
ACCEPTANCE OF STATEMENT
OF FAITH,
A candidate for ordination must
subscribe to the Statement of Faith as described in this Constitution.
C.
THEOLOGY/BIBLE
TRAINING,
A candidate must have completed four
(4) years of Bible study/Theology or the equivalent as designated by the Lead
Pastor and Elders.
D.
CALLING,
A candidate should have evidenced the
obvious calling of God upon his life to the satisfaction of the Lead Pastor and
Elders. He is qualified by the Scriptures in character and has the approval of
Eldership from the Church.
SECTION 3.
Procedures for Ordination.
A.
Each person fulfilling the above qualifications, and upon
their presentation to the Board of Elders (synonymous with Board of Directors
& Board) of this body, shall receive full consideration for ordination into
the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville.
B.
The Board of Elders may make exceptions to these qualifying
standards where, in the unanimous opinion of the Board of Elders and under the
strong compelling conviction of the Holy Spirit, such exception is according to
the will of God and consistent with His Word.
C.
Upon unanimous approval of the Board of Elders, the candidate
will be ordained as a minister of the Gospel with the right to perform
ministerial functions in accordance with the laws of the land and the
ordinances of God's Holy Word, with all prerogatives of such a calling and
office.
D. All candidates, successful or otherwise,
shall be notified of the Board of Elders' decision in writing within one (1)
week of the final Board action.
ARTICLE VI AFFILIATIONS
Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville is a
part of the Calvary Chapel churches but operates as an independent Church with
its own governance structure. The Church may affiliate with any like-minded
churches, associations or denominations as it decides to further its purpose.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
The Board of Elders may
propose changes to the Constitution that shall be submitted to the Board of Elders
for consideration and comment. The Board of Elders shall debate the proposed
changes, at a regular or special Board meeting. This Constitution may be
amended by three-quarters (3/4) vote of the board present and voting, provided
that the following procedure has been followed:
A. The proposed written amendment has
been presented at a previous Board meeting.
B.
The proposed
amendment has been mailed or made available to the Board at least four (4)
weeks before the meeting to act on the amendment.
BYLAWS of
Calvary
Chapel of Fayetteville
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. No Corporate
Membership other than the Board of Elders.
Any
action which would otherwise require approval by a majority of all members or
approval by the members shall require only approval of the Board of Elders. All
rights which would otherwise vest in the members under the Act shall vest in
the Board of Elders.
SECTION 2. Congregation.
Any
person who is a believing and confessing Christian, acknowledges and accepts
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, accepts the Bible as the inerrant Word of God,
ascribes to the Church's Statement of Faith, who serves the church on a regular
basis, and who tithes to the Church on a regular basis is considered a "Congregant". Any Congregant
may request in writing to inspect any of the following:
SECTION 3. Limits of Congregant Inspection Privileges.
SECTION 4. Restoration/ Church Discipline.
We
believe that Scripture requires the Lead Pastor, or his assignee(s), with the
assistance and support of the Board of Elders or its assignee(s), to exercise
authority, correction and discipline over all persons who participate in
fellowship at Calvary Chapel of Fayetteville. This is necessary to ensure that,
among other reasons: 1) Sound doctrine is consistently practiced within the
various ministries of the Church and 2) The message conveyed as a by-product of
the mere association and fellowship with particular persons does not adversely
impact the message intended to be presented by the Lead Pastor and Board of
Elders. In other words, the practices and conduct of some individuals may
significantly interfere with the ministry purposes of the Church and those in
fellowship with the Church. Scripture provides direction with regard to persons
who should be disciplined because of their position, practices or conduct.
It
shall be the practice of this Church to pursue every reasonable measure for
peace and reconciliation. Should one congregant sin against another or the Body
of congregants (the Church), the aggrieved individual shall follow in a tender
spirit the rules given by our Lord and Savior in Matthew 18:15-17; 1
Corinthians 5:9-13; and 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14. If they sin against the Body
either in sinful moral failure or biblical heresy, the Pastoral Staff, Elders,
Deacons, and mature Members are available for counsel and guidance.
The
Church shall look to the Lead Pastor and Elders for the effective functioning
and discipline of the congregation. Only after good faith efforts by the Lead
Pastor and Elders to bring about repentance and reconciliation have proven
futile, the Elders or its designees shall give notice of the unrepentant sins,
time and place to address the charges. Discipline can include but not be
limited to dismissal, censure, suspension or any other measures that the Elders
decide that shall bring about repentance. If the congregant is disciplined by
the Elders, it shall be announced to the members to carry out the Biblical
admonitions to bring about repentance and restoration of the disciplined
member. The extent to which notice is given to the church is dependent upon the
position of the individual and the level of disobedience to scripture.
ARTICLE II
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
SECTION 1. The Headship
of Christ.
The
government of this Church shall be focused on seeking and maintaining the
Lordship and direction of Jesus Christ over the ministry and other Christian
activities in which the Church is engaged. All those in authority shall
continually seek His mind and will, through His Spirit and the Word of God in
all actions and decisions.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF ELDERS/ DIRECTORS (SERVING AS a BOARD MEMBER)
SECTION 1. General Powers.
The
corporate powers of the Church shall be exercised by or under the authority of
the Board of Elders (also referred to as Board of Directors or Board). The
powers, business and property of the Church shall be exercised, conducted and
controlled by the Board of Elders for the purposes of overseeing the legal,
business, financial and administrative affairs of the Church with consensus
agreement. The Board of Elders is composed of the Lead Pastor and properly
selected and elected elders. The Board of Elders members serve as the Directors
of the church. Their selection and election are described below. If, in the
course of the decision-making processes, the Board of Elders cannot unanimously
agree, then the decisions will be made by majority vote of the Board of Elders
present and voting at that meeting. The Lead Pastor, who shall be recognized as
the authority to oversee the spiritual affairs of the Church, shall be the tie
breaking vote if that case ever arises. The "tie-breaker" vote is in
addition to his vote as a member of the Board of Elders.
SECTION 2. Qualification, Number, Appointment and Term.
The
Board of Elders shall consist of the Lead Pastor and the other Board Elders /
Directors. Board Elders / Directors shall be Congregants who meet and maintain
the Scriptural qualifications of an Elder identified in I Timothy 3:1-13 and
Titus 1:5-9:
The
authorized number of Board of Elders / Directors shall be such number as may be
authorized from time to time by the Board of Elders; provided that such number
shall not be less than three (3) and more than twelve (12). No less than fifty
(50%) percent of the Board of Elders shall be laymen from the congregation and
not related to paid staff.
Candidates
for Board of Elder / Director shall be recommended to or selected by the Lead
Pastor. The Lead Pastor shall interview potential candidates for determination
of the above qualifications and a desire to serve. Qualified candidates shall
be nominated to the Board of Elders for approval by a majority vote of the
Board of Elders at a duly called meeting. Upon appointment, lay members of the
Board of Elders shall serve for a term of three (3) years. There shall be three
annual classes of Board of Elders so that approximately one third (1/3) are up
for election every year to maintain continuity and malice for smooth
transitions within the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. Specific Duties and
Responsibilities.
The
Board of Elders shall annually appoint a Secretary and Treasurer. Without
prejudice to the general powers outlined above, and subject to the same limitations,
the Board of Elders shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
I.
Lead
the way in modeling evangelism to the members;
II.
Guide
the church forward in priorities, vision, and philosophy of ministry. This
shall include policies for the church;
III.
Assist
with the observance of the Lord's Supper; and
IV.
Assist
the Lead Pastor in his duties to give spiritual leadership to the Church.
The
Board of Elders may delegate some of its authorities and duties to individual
Elders, Pastors, Deacons, staff members, ministry teams and others as long as
the delegation does not breach its fiduciary duties to the Church. The Board of
Elders may also invite the Chairpersons of the teams/committees of the Church
to be non-voting invitees to Board of Elders meeting whenever projects or
programs in which their team/committee may be involved are to be considered,
for example, preparation of the annual Church calendar.
SECTION 4. Vacancies.
A
vacancy occurring in the Board of Elders because of death, resignation,
removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled and nominated by
the Lead Pastor and appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Elders for the
remainder of the term.
SECTION 5. Resignation and Removal.
Any
Board of Elders member may at any time deliver a written notice of intent to
resign to the Lead Pastor, which shall be effective upon acceptance by the
Board of Elders. Other than the Lead Pastor whose removal is provided below,
any Board of Elders member may be removed at any time with or without cause
when, in the sole judgment and discretion of the Board of Elders, by a
two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Board of Elders that such individual should no
longer serve as Board of Elders member. In the event any Board of Elders member
is so removed, a new Board of Elders member may be nominated of the Lead Pastor
and approved by majority vote of the Board of elders for the remainder of the
term.
SECTION 6. Transactions with Interested Parties.
A
contract or other transaction between the Church and one or more of its Board
of Elders, Pastors, Officers, or family members thereof (hereinafter
"Interested Party"), or between the Church and any other entity, of
which one or more of the Church or its Board of Elders, Pastors, or Officers
are also Interested Parties, or in which the entity is an Interested Party
which has a financial interest - shall be voidable at the sole election of the
Church unless all of the following provisions are satisfied:
Common
or interested Board of Elder members may not be counted in determining the
presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Elders (or a committee
thereof) which authorizes, approves, or ratifies such contract or transaction.
The Board of Elders may adopt additional Conflicts of Interest Policies that
shall provide for full disclosure of material conflicting interests by Board of
Elders members, Officers, or employees. These policies shall permit the Board
of Elders to determine whether the contemplated transaction may be authorized
as just, fair, and reasonable to the Church. Notwithstanding the above, no loan
shall be made by the Church to any of its Elders, Officers, Pastors, Deacons or
Congregants.
SECTION 7. No Compensation for Board of Elders Members.
No
salary or compensation shall be paid to any Board of Elders member in his
capacity as a member of the Board of Elders, but nothing herein shall be
construed to preclude any Board of Elder member from serving the Church in any
other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation. Moreover, a Board of
Elders member may receive reasonable reimbursement for travel and other
approved expenses upon request and written documentation.
SECTION 8. Place and Time of Regular
Meetings.
Regular
meetings of the Board of Elders shall be held at least every other month and at
any place and at any time designated by the Board of Elders, with one meeting
being designated as the Annual meeting for the appointment of Elders, Officers,
approval of the Annual Budget, and any other matter to be brought before the
Board of Elders.
SECTION 9. Special Meetings.
Special
Meetings of the Board of Elders may be called at any time by the Lead Pastor or
any two (2) other Board of Elders members for any purpose or purposes. The
transactions of any meetings of the Board of Elders however called and noticed
and wherever held, shall be valid as though at a regular meeting.
SECTION 10. Notice.
Notice
of the time and place and in the case of a special meeting the purpose of every
meeting of the Board of Elders shall be in writing and shall be duly sent,
mailed, or otherwise delivered to each Board Member not less than five (5) days
before the meeting; providing that no notice of any regularly scheduled or
adjourned meeting need be given.
SECTION 11. Quorum.
The
presence of a majority of Board of Elders members present at the beginning of a
meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If the Lead
Pastor or his designee is not present, there shall not be a quorum. However,
the Lead Pastor cannot refuse to attend a meeting that he is able to attend.
Unless otherwise stated, every action taken, or decision made by a majority of
the Board of Elders shall be deemed to be the act of the Board of Elders.
SECTION 12. Action Without Meeting.
Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Elders may be taken
without a meeting, if all the Board of Elders, individually or collectively,
consent in writing to the action. Such action by written consent shall have the
same force and effect as the unanimous vote of the Board of Elders.
Such
written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings
of the Board of Elders.
SECTION 13. Participation by Conference
Telephone or Similar Electronic Equipment.
Members
of the Board of Elders or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of
such Board of Elders or committee by means of a conference telephone or similar
communication equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence at such
meetings. When such a meeting is conducted by means of a conference telephone
or similar· communications equipment, a written record shall be made of the
action taken at such a meeting, noting participation of those who were present
by means of such communications equipment.
SECTION 14. Advisory Teams.
The
Board of Elders, by a majority vote of all Board of Elders Members in office,
may appoint two or more persons from among its number to serve as an advisory
team, such as the Board of Elders may determine are necessary, which shall have
such powers and duties as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of
Elders. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation,
these Bylaws, or by a Resolution of the Board of Elders, each advisory team may
not exercise the authority of the Board of Elders.
SECTION 15. Minutes.
Minutes
of the meetings of the Board of Elders shall be recorded and taken by the
Secretary, or a suitable substitute in his absence, who shall have custody
thereof and be responsible for circulating copies to the Board of Elders
members in a timely manner.
SECTION 16. Rights of inspection.
Every
Board of Elders Member has the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect
all books, records, and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical
properties of the Church.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
SECTION 1. Officers, In General.
The
Officers of the Church shall be the Lead Pastor/President, Secretary, Treasurer
and such other officers as the Board of Elders may from time to time deem
necessary.
SECTION 2. Election and Term.
Except
for the President, officers shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board
of Elders for a one-year term. Officers may be reelected without limitation or
until their successor is appointed and qualified.
SECTION 3. Lead Pastor/President.
The
Lead Pastor and all pastoral staff shall be generally qualified, according to
the qualifications for a ruling elder as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus
1:5-9. The Lead Pastor shall be a Spirit-gifted teacher of the Word, an
ordained pastor of good reputation with a Biblically conservative theology,
Christ-centered, Spirit filled, and willing to serve a non-denominational
ministry without promoting denominational interest.
The
Lead Pastor shall minister unto the Lord in regular personal worship and
praise. He shall give himself to the ministry of the Word and prayer (Acts 6:4)
and seek to walk uprightly before the Lord in his personal life. He shall seek
the mind of God. The Pastor shall be the teaching shepherd of the ministry. He
shall give considerable time to the study of the Word and shall teach the
Scriptures to others by precept and example. His aim shall be to feed the
flock, equip the saints for ministry, guard the church against the attack of
the enemy, conduct Bible studies, worship and share the message and good news
of Jesus Christ, using evangelism, preaching, comforting, and any other
activity directed for Christian purpose; and shall evangelize and assist others
in seeking and finding the Lord and any other ministry associated with such
purpose. He will give himself to a life of learning, reading and study. The primary
function(s) of his office is to the ministry of the Word and prayer. He will
also be qualified to biblically counsel and spiritually tend to the flock of
God, the Church.
The
Lead Pastor shall simultaneously serve as President of the church corporation
and facilitate all meetings as Chairman of the Board of Elders. As chief
executive officer he shall oversee the day-to day operations of the Church and
have general supervision of the entire ministry and all its dealings, whether
spiritual or business-related and shall be in charge of or responsible for all
gatherings and meetings, distribution of materials, bible studies, evangelistic
activities and support activities relating to assistance of other ministries or
churches and their respective pastors. He shall be an ex-officio member of all
ministries, teams, and committees of the Church, unless he delegates to another
pastor, Elder, or staff member.
In
the event of a vacancy in the office of the Lead Pastor, for whatever reason,
the Board of Elders shall constitute a nominating committee. This committee
shall seek, find, and nominate a candidate who conforms to the Scriptural
qualifications outlined in these Bylaws. They shall seek first among the
associate or assistant pastors from within the Church. Only one candidate shall
be nominated at a time and he must be voted upon by the Board of Elders before
any other candidate may be considered. Voting shall take place at a duly called
meeting with proper notice given. Election shall be by secret ballot; an
affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the Board of Elders present and
voting shall constitute a call. The Board of Elders shall inform the candidate
of the voting results as soon as possible. If elected, the Lead Pastor shall
serve for an indefinite time or until the earlier of his death, resignation or
removal. The resigning or retiring Lead Pastor may nominate in conjunction with
the Elders a successor and/or Participate in the selection of a successor.
The
Lead Pastor's initial compensation, if any, shall be specified by the Board of
Elders, in connection with the necessary committees, at the time of his
calling. The Lead Pastor shall recuse himself from any discussions or vote
regarding his compensation. The Church may provide, as possible, an adequate
salary, and such employee benefits as requested and approved by the Board of
Elders in accordance with the Annual Budget. Employee benefits may include, but
are not limited to, health insurance, housing allowance, expense allowance,
conference funds, vacation time, continued education, pension, and other
special funds as needed for the ministry and to achieve the purposes of this
Church. The Church may also defray the costs of sending the Lead Pastor to
out-of-town conferences or conventions attended for this Church, as approved by
the Board of Elders. The above defined expenses included by the Lead Pastor on
behalf of the Church are not intended to be exclusive.
A
pastor may at any time submit a written intent to resign to the Board of
Elders, which shall be effective upon acceptance by the Board of Elders unless
a different time is agreed to by the parties. If any two (2) or more
individuals (with preference to unrelated persons) have a grievance against a
pastor, those individuals must present their grievances to the Board of Elders.
If the conduct of the pastor is immoral or egregiously improper, the Board of
Elders shall by unanimous decision, vote to terminate the pastor. If it is the
Lead Pastor, the Elder's vote to terminate shall be forwarded to a Special
Hearing of three to five (3-5) Calvary Chapel Senior (Lead) Pastors. The
members of the Special Hearing shall be nominated by the Lead Pastor and
approved by a majority vote of the Board of Elders; president included.
The
members of the Special Hearing shall hear from the Board of Elders and the Lead
Pastor and make a ruling, which shall be binding on the parties. A two-thirds
(2/3) affirmative vote of the Special Hearing shall be necessary to terminate a
Lead Pastor. The members of the Special Hearing shall be fully compensated for
their travel expenses upon request and written documentation.
SECTION 4. Secretary.
The
Secretary shall be a member of the Board of Elders. The Secretary shall keep a
full and complete record of all the proceedings of the Board and shall give
proper notice to the Board members of all Board meetings. The Secretary shall
supervise the keeping of records of the Church and shall discharge such other duties
of the office as prescribed by the Board.
SECTION 5. Treasurer.
The
Treasurer shall be a member of the Board of Elders. The Treasurer shall be
responsible for all monies collected and distributed by the Church and shall
make financial replacements to the Board of Elders. Proper records and books
concerning incoming and outgoing funds shall be kept and such records and books
will be made available for auditing or inspection.
ARTICLE VIII
Associate and (OR) Assistant Pastors
SECTION 1. Their Ministries and
Responsibilities.
The
Associate or Assistant Pastors shall minister unto the Lord in regular personal
worship and praise. They shall give themselves to the ministry of the Word and
prayer (Acts 6:4) and seek to walk uprightly before the Lord in each of their
personal lives. They shall seek the mind of God.
The
Lead Pastor shall define an Associate or Assistant Pastor's ministry upon his
appointment. He shall serve under the Lead Pastor's direction and with the Lead
Pastor in the teaching of the Word.
SECTION 2. Their Qualifications.
The
Associate or Assistant Pastors shall meet the same qualifications as the Lead
Pastor outlined in Art VII, Sect. 3(A).
SECTION 3. Their Appointment, Number.
The
Lead Pastor shall appoint, and the Board of Elders shall approve and ordain an
Associate or Assistant Pastor to share in the ministry. The number of Associate
or Assistant Pastors shall be determined and fixed by the Lead Pastor as he
perceives the need or lack of need for them in the ministry of the Church.
SECTION 4. Their Compensation.
The
Associate or Assistant Pastor's compensation shall be specified by the Pastor/
President in consultation with the necessary committees, at the time of their
calling. For a full-time Associate or Assistant Pastor, the Church may provide,
as possible, an adequate salary, and such employee benefits as requested and
approved by the Elders in accordance with the Annual Budget. Employee benefits
may include, but are not limited to, health insurance, housing allowance,
expense allowance, vacation time, continued education, and pension. For a part-time
Associate or part-time Assistant Pastor, the Church may provide compensation,
if any, and such employee benefits as requested and approved as deemed
appropriate to the Elders, in accordance with the Annual Budget.
SECTION 5. Termination.
It
shall be the prerogative of the pastor, after counseling with the Board of
Elders, to ask for the resignation of any Associate or Assistant Pastor(s) if
he is not in harmony with the ministry of this Church as directed by the Lead
Pastor.
ARTICLE IX
ELDERS
SECTION 1. Their Ministry and Responsibilities.
The
Elders shall carry on various duties and ministries within the corporation to
meet the needs of the Church under the direction of the Lead Pastor and Board
of Elders.
The
Elders shall counsel with the Lead Pastor and pastoral staff regarding the
spiritual needs which arise in the body; they shall pray for the furtherance of
God's will being established in the body as well as any people associated with
or subject to the goals of this Church, including service to the beneficiaries
of this ministry by exercising hospitality, spirit-lead and scripturally-based
teaching, love, care, and good counsel.
SECTION 2. Their Qualifications.
Elders
shall be Congregants who meet and maintain the Scriptural qualifications of an
Elder identified 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus:5-9.
SECTION 3. Number, Appointment, and
Term.
The
authorized number of Elders shall be such number as determined from time to
time by the Lead Pastor and Board of Elders. Congregants may recommend
candidates for Elders to the Lead Pastor. The Board of Elders, or its designee,
shall interview potential candidates to determine if they meet the above
qualifications and have a desire to serve. No candidates shall be nominated
without their consent. Qualified candidates shall be appointed by a majority
vote of the Board of Elders at a duly called meeting. Upon election, an Elder
will serve for a term of three (3) years. There shall be three annual classes
of Elders so that approximately one third (1/3) are up for election every year
to maintain continuity and make for smooth transitions within the Elders.
Elders may be reelected without limitation or until their successor is
appointed and qualified.
SECTION 4. Resignation and Removal.
Any
Elder may at any time deliver a written notice to the Lead Pastor of intent to
resign which shall be effective upon acceptance by the Board of Elders. Any
Elder may be removed at any time with or without cause when, in the sole
judgment and discretion of the Board of Elders, it is determined by two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the Board of Elders that such individual should no longer serve
as an Elder. In the event any Elder is so removed, a new Elder may be elected
by the Board of Elders for the remainder of that tenure.
SECTION 5. Meetings.
The
Elders shall meet as often as necessary to cany out their duties and
responsibilities. A Chairperson shall be elected annually from among their
members to facilitate meetings and regularly report to the Elders on the
ministries of the Church.
ARTICLE X
DEACONS
SECTION 1. Their Ministry
and Responsibilities.
The
Deacons shall carry on various duties and ministries within the corporation to
meet the needs of the Church under the direction of the Lead Pastor and Elders.
The
Deacons shall counsel with the Lead Pastor and pastoral staff regarding the
physical needs which arise in the body; they shall pray for the furtherance of
God's will being established in the body as well as any people associated with
or subject to the goals of this Church, including service to the beneficiaries
of this ministry by exercising hospitality, spirit-lead and scripturally-based
teaching, love, care, and good counsel.
SECTION 2. Their Qualifications.
Deacons
shall be Congregants who meet and maintain the Scriptural qualifications of a
Deacon identified in I Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:2-4.
SECTION 3. Number, Appointment, and Term.
The
authorized number of Deacons shall be such a number as determined from time to
time by the Lead Pastor and Board of Elders Congregants may recommend
candidates for Deacon to the Lead Pastor. The Board of Elders, or its designee,
shall interview potential candidates to determine if they meet the above
qualifications and have a desire to serve. No candidates shall be nominated
without their consent. Qualified candidates shall be appointed by majority vote
of the Board of Elders at a duly called meeting. Upon election, a Deacon will
serve for a term of three (3) years. There shall be three annual classes of
Deacons so that approximately one third (1/3) are up for election every year to
maintain continuity and make for smooth transitions within the Deacons. Deacons
may be reelected without limitation or until their successor is appointed and
qualified.
SECTION 4. Resignation and Removal.
Any
Deacon may at any time deliver a written notice to the Lead Pastor of intent to
resign which shall be effective upon acceptance by the Board of Elders. Any
Deacon may be removed at any time with or without cause when, in the sole
judgment and discretion of the Board of Elders, it is determined by
two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the Board of Elders that such individual should no longer serve
as a Deacon. In the event any Deacon is so removed, a new Deacon may be elected
by the Directors for the remainder of that term.
SECTION 5. Meetings.
The
Deacons shall meet as often as necessary to carry out their duties and
responsibilities. A Chairperson shall be elected annually from among their
members to facilitate meetings and regularly report to the Directors on the
ministries of the Church.
ARTICLE XI
MINISTRY TEAMS AND COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Standing and Special Teams
and Committees.
The
Board of Elders may establish such other ministry teams and committees
(Standing and Special) as needed to assist in the performance of its
responsibilities. These ministries shall function under the oversight of the
Board of Elders but shall continue to pursue their delegated responsibilities
as defined by the Church and those additional tasks specifically delegated to
them. A Special team or committee may not exist beyond the duration of one year
without reauthorization by the Board of Elders.
SECTION 2. Organization and
Responsibilities.
The
organization, authorities and responsibilities of each Standing and Special
Ministry Team or Committee shall be described more fully in the Church Policy
and Operations Manual.
SECTION 3. Ministry Team Members and
Chairpersons.
Candidates
for ministries may be recommended to the Board of Elders for consideration and
appointment. Unless otherwise stated, the Board of Elders shall appoint capable
people for Chairperson or Leader to oversee and run such ministries.
ARTICLE XII
NON-PASTORAL STAFF
SECTION
1. Non-pastoral Staff.
Non-pastoral
staff, including office staff, functions as servants in coming alongside the
pastoral staff to support them in ministry. It is the Lead Pastor's
responsibility to lead staff in the direction that helps the Church accomplish
its goals.
SECTION 2. Duties and Responsibilities.
The
duties and responsibilities for all staff positions shall be formulated and
approved by the Lead Pastor and the Board of Elders, or its designee.
SECTION 3. Selection.
Selection
and approval of non-pastoral staff shall be the responsibility of the Lead
Pastor, the consent of the Board of Elders, is only for financial approval of
the position.
SECTION 4. Resignation and Termination.
Any
staff member may at any time resign by submitting written notice to the Lead
Pastor. Any non-pastoral staff member may be terminated upon recommendation by
a supervising staff member and approval by the Lead Pastor. Such terminations
of staff may be reported to the Board of Elders, but do not need Board of
Elders approval.
ARTICLE XIII
CHURCH POLICY AND OPERATIONS MANUAL
SECTION 1. Development of Church Policy
and Operations Manual.
The
development of a Church policy and operation manual shall be overseen by the Board
of Directors or its designee with professional consultation and review. This
manual shall include all Church policies, procedures, job descriptions, and
organization and is depicting lines of responsibility in the administration of
the Church. The manual shall be kept in the Church office and made available
for review by any Congregant of the Church. The Church Secretary shall maintain
the Manual. The Board of Elders or its designee shall review the manual at
least annually, with the authority to recommend changes for the Board of Elders
to consider and vote on.
SECTION 2. Compilation and Maintenance
of the Manual.
The
Board of Elders or its designee shall be responsible for compiling and
maintaining a policy and operations manual for the day-to-day administrative
functions of the Church not covered in the Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIV
FINANCIAL POLICIES
SECTION 1. Budget and Audit.
The
Board of Elders, or its designee, shall prepare and submit an annual budget to
the Board of Elders for approval at a duly called meeting each year. The
inclusive budget shall indicate the amounts needed and sought for all local,
national, and international (if any) expenses and purposes. The Board of Elders
or its designee, shall conduct or arrange for an annual review or audit of a
type and nature they deem appropriate; however, every five (5) years, the
Church shall conduct either a review or audit by an outside auditor.
SECTION 2. Accounting Procedure.
The
Treasurer shall account for all funds, for any and all purposes, and shall
properly record such funds and their expenditure on the books of the Church.
The expenses of all organizations, as approved by the Board of Elders, shall be
paid from the general fund as heretofore provided. A system of accounting for
handling of all funds shall be the responsibility of the Board of Elders, or
its designee.
SECTION 3. Deposits.
The
Board of Elders shall select banks, trust companies, or other depositories in
which all funds of the Church not otherwise employed shall, from time to time,
be deposited to the credit of the Church.
SECTION 4. Checks.
All
checks or demands for money and notes of the Church shall be signed by such
officer or officers or such other persons as the Board of Elders may from time
to time designate. Any check over the amount of three hundred dollars ($300.00)
shall require two authorized signatures from two disinterested Board of Elders
members or Officers.
SECTION 5. Fiscal Year.
The
Board, in consultation with the necessary ministries, shall have the power to
fix, and from time to time to change, the fiscal year of the Church. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board, the fiscal year of the Church shall be the
calendar year. Accurate records shall be kept by all organizations of the
Church and reports made on the fiscal year basis. All funds handled by any and
all organizations shall be reported to the Board of Elders.
SECTION 6. Contracts.
The
President can sign contracts to bind the Church once approved by the Board of
Elders or according to its procedures. However, the Board of Elders may
authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Church, in addition
to those officers so authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or
execute and deliver any instrument in the name of or on behalf of the Church,
including real estate transactions once proper approval has been sought and
obtained. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. All contracts for major services or
expenditures should be reviewed by a competent attorney.
SECTION 7. Endowments.
The
Board of Elders may establish on behalf of the Church any endowments for the
general purposes or for any special purposes of the Church.
SECTION 8. Designated Contributions.
The
Church may accept any designated contributions (based on a case by case and
Board approval ⅔ vote), grant, bequest, or devise consistent with its general
tax exemption purposes, as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation. As so
limited, donor designated contributions will be accepted for special funds,
purposes, or uses as approved by the Board of Elders, and such designations
generally will be honored. However, the Church reserves all rights, title, and
interest in and to control of such contributions, as well as full discretion as
to the ultimate expenditure or distribution thereof in connection with any
funds (including designated contributions) to assure that such funds will be
used to carry out the Church's tax-exempt purposes.
SECTION 9. Benevolence Fund.
The
Elders shall establish procedures to receive and disburse by check all funds
allocated to them in the Benevolence Fund. It shall be the duty of the Board of
Directors, or its designee, as a Benevolence Team to determine the needs of the
congregants or others in the community as they arise. The Board or its designee
shall examine the need of the recipients of these designated funds.
SECTION 10. Partnerships, Joint
Ventures, LLC's and Auxiliary Corporations.
The
Board of Directors may authorize in writing any officer(s) or agent(s) of the
Church to enter into any partnerships or joint ventures or create auxiliary
corporations or limited liability companies that the Elders determine shall
advance the religious purposes and goals of the Members as described herein and
not violate the Church's tax-exempt status.
SECTION 11. Purchase or Sale of Property and of
Transfer.
Neither
officers nor agents of the Church may transfer, purchase, or sell real or
personal property on behalf of the Church unless authorized by the Board. Any
borrowing of money must be approved by the Board according to these Bylaws.
ARTICLE XV
INDEMNIFICATION
Any
person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding,
whether civil or criminal by reason of the fact that he or his testator is or
was a Board of Elders member, Director, Officer, employee or agent of the
Church, may be indemnified by the Church, and the Church may advance his/her
related expenses, to the full extent permitted by law. The Church may purchase
and maintain insurance to indemnify: (a) itself for any obligation which it
incurs as a result of the indemnification specified above; and (b) its Board of
Elders members/ Directors and Officers.
ARTICLE XVI
AMENDMENTS
Board
of Elders may propose changes to the Bylaws that shall be submitted to the
Board of Elders for consideration and comment. The Board of Elders shall
present the proposed changes and their comments at a duly called Board of
Elders meeting. These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
Board of Elders present and voting, provided that the following procedure has
been followed: