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Church Constitution
( Adopted by the church, September 2002)
Preamble:
This church, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, establishes and declares this constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and as a means to govern ourselves in an orderly manner. This constitution preserves the liberties of individual members and the freedom of action of this body in relation to other churches.
Name:
This body shall be known as Trinity Baptist Church of Baumholder, Germany.
Purpose:
To exalt the Savior in all we do by…..
- Elevating the name of Jesus Christ, faithfully meeting to worship God.
- Evangelizing our community by introducing people to Jesus Christ.
- Equipping people to grow in their love of Jesus Christ and for Christian ministry through regular Bible study.
- Edifying fellow believers through meaningful fellowship with God and each other.
- Extending the kingdom of God into our community and the world through Christ-centered ministries and missions.
Statement of Beliefs
We accept the Bible as our sole basis of authority in matters of faith and practice.
Relationships
While Trinity is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, we recognize and sustain the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation common among Baptist churches and will formally fellowship and support the European Baptist Convention (English language) (editor's note: Name has been changed to International Baptist Convention), associating with the German Baptist Union and the Southern Baptist Convention.
This church is not sponsored or supported in any way by the United States government and is sustained through the voluntary giving of its members.
BYLAWS
I. Membership
Section 1. General Description
Church membership is open to any believer who openly professes Jesus Christ as Lord and demonstrates and willing demonstrates a commitment to pursue a life of discipleship beginning with baptism by immersion.
Section 2. Candidacy
Any believer may offer themselves as a candidate for church membership. All candidates will be screened by the pastor or appointed counselor and presented to the church at a regular church meeting in one of the following ways:
(1) By profession of faith in Jesus Christ and as a candidate for baptism.
(2) By statement of a prior conversion experience and believer’s baptism in conformity with the doctrines of this church. (If so desired, the pastor or church clerk will send a letter to the member’s previous church advising of their transfer of membership to Trinity).
Should there be any dissent as to any new member, such dissent shall be referred to the pastor and the deacons for investigation. These matters will be handled as in Section 5, Church Discipline.
Section 3. Voting Rights of Members
Every member of the church, age 18 or older, is entitled to a single vote in all elections and on all questions submitted to the church in conference, provided the member is present or the member has made provision for written absentee balloting through the church clerk. Age exceptions may be granted upon approval of the church council. Absentee ballots must be requested from the church clerk and returned to the church prior to the conference.
Section 4. Termination of Membership
Members shall be removed from Trinity’s membership roll in any of the following ways:
(1) Death.
(2) Transfer to another church.
(3) Exclusion by action of the church.
(4) By the request of the individual.
(5) Upon moving from the community.
Section 5. Church Discipline
It is the purpose of the church to take every reasonable measure to assist troubled members. The pastor, other members of the church staff, and deacons are available for counsel and guidance. Redemption, rather than punishment, is the guideline governing one member toward others.
Should some serious condition cause a member to become a liability to the general welfare of the church, every reasonable measure will be taken by the church to resolve the problem according to the guidelines set forth in Matthew 18:15-17. All conduct will be governed by Christian kindness and love for those involved. Finding that the welfare of the church would be best served by exclusion of the member, the church may take this action by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting called for this purpose, formally declaring the offender to be no longer in the membership of the church.
Any person whose membership has been terminated may upon request be restored to membership by a vote of the church upon evidence of repentance and reformation.
Section 6. Spiritual Watchcare
We offer a church home to Christians of differing doctrinal beliefs, extending to these people the spiritual watchcare of the church and a setting where they may fulfill their commitment to the Lord. Persons under spiritual watchcare of the church do not have voting rights, but may serve in all church ministry positions, except as church officers, under the review of the pastor, other church ministry leaders, and the church council.
II. Church Officers
All church officers must be members of the church. The officers of the church shall be as follows:
Section 1. Pastor
The pastor is responsible for leading the church to function as a New Testament church. The pastor will lead the congregation, organizations, and church staff to perform this task. The pastor is leader of pastoral ministries of the church. As such, he works with the deacons and church staff to:
(1) Be the spiritual leader.
(2) Lead the church to fulfill the purposes of the church.
(3) Proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers.
(4) Care for the church’s members and other persons in the community.
(5) Preside at the observance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
(6) Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
(7) Select or approve all who will preach in the church.
As needed, a pastor search committee will be elected by the church to seek out a suitable pastor. Its recommendation will constitute a nomination to present a candidate in view of a call. Any church member has the privilege of making recommendations to the pastor search committee; however, the committee shall bring to the consideration of the church only one name at a time. Election shall be by written ballot with an affirmative vote of three-fourths of those voting being necessary for a choice. The pastor, thus elected, shall serve until the relationship is terminated by mutual agreement. The pastor shall give at least 2 months notice at the time of resignation before terminating responsibilities as pastor unless mutual arrangements are made with the church.
Section 2. Deacons
The church may maintain up to 7 deacons for the first 100 members and 1 additional deacon for each additional 15 members. Deacons will serve in active capacity for no more than 3 consecutive years and may be called back to active service after a 1-year absence upon recommendation of the active deacon body and affirmation of the church.
The deacon body is encouraged to serve as mentors to members demonstrating a willingness and gifting to serve the church. Personnel entering into such deacon training must be recommended for this role by the active deacon body and be affirmed by the church. Deacon trainees will not ascend to the role of active deacon without full approval of the church under the procedures adopted for deacon selection.
The deacon selection process is as follows:
(1) The pastor shall instruct and teach the church body concerning the Scriptural qualifications for deacons from Acts 6:1-8 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
(2) Active deacons and the pastor will consider all male members, 21 years of age and older, for deacon service and present qualified and willing candidates for deacon election during an announced church conference. In addition to those presented by the deacons and pastor, the church may add candidates by majority vote.
(3) After at least 2 weeks of prayer, each candidate will affirmed by the church body by a written ballot vote. All candidates receiving at least three-fourths approval will be added to the active deacon body unless this action causes the total number of deacons to exceed that authorized for the active deacon body. In that case, those receiving the most votes will be added to the deacon body.
(4) Those approved by the church and willing to serve as deacons will be ordained before the church if not already ordained by another church of like faith and order.
There is no obligation to elect as an active deacon one who comes to this church from another church in which he has served as a deacon.
The deacon chairman will be elected by the deacon body and pastor by majority vote.
Section 3. Moderator
The pastor will serve as moderator for all business meetings. In the absence of the pastor, the deacon chairman shall preside. In the absence of both, the clerk will call the church to order and an acting moderator elected.
Section 4. Clerk.
The church clerk will keep a record of all the actions of the church and is responsible for keeping a register of the church’s membership. The clerk will issue letters of dismissal and requests for letters voted by the church, preserve on file all communications and written official reports, and give legal notice of all meetings where such notice is necessary, as indicated in these bylaws. The church may delegate some of the clerical responsibilities to a secretary.
Section 5. Treasurer
The church treasurer will receive, preserve, and pay out, upon receipt of vouchers approved and signed by authorized personnel, all money, or things of value paid or given to the church, keeping at all times an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements. The treasurer will present an itemized report of the receipts and disbursements for the preceding month at all regular business meetings. The treasurer will surrender annually, or upon change of treasurer, all church financial records to a disinterested part for an audit.
III. Committees
Section 1. Church Council
The primary function of the church council is to recommend to the congregation church goals; to review and coordinate program plans recommended by church officers, organizations, and committees; to recommend to the congregation the use of leadership, calendar time and other resources according to program priorities; and to evaluate program achievements in terms of church goals and objectives.
The council, unless otherwise determined by vote of the church, will have as regular members the pastor and all other church program heads as approved by the church. Any church member may attend and give input to the church council.
Matters deemed necessary by the council will be referred to the church for approval. The council will meet at least quarterly at the call of the pastor.
Business matters of the church council will be determined by a majority vote of those present.
Section 2. Other Committees
All other committees will be formed as deemed necessary by the church council and reported to the church at the next regular business meeting.
Section 3. Committee Chairs and Membership
Except for church officers, committee chairs and membership will be reviewed and approved by the church council. In most cases, membership recommendations will come from committee chairs or church officers.
IV. PROGRAM ORGANIZATIONS
All organizations of the church shall be approved annually in a regular business meeting and operate under the guidance of the church council. Organizations will normally include Sunday School, Bible studies, discipleship training programs for adults and children, youth ministries, vacation bible school, women’s and men’s programs, and music. Organization leaders, to include Sunday School teachers, will serve under the oversight of the church council.
V. ORDINANCES
Section 1. Baptism
Any person who professes Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith and indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord, will be received for baptism.
(1) Baptism will be by immersion in water.
(2) Baptism will be administered by the pastor or whoever the pastor shall authorize under the authority of the church.
(3) The church will recognize baptism from other evangelical churches or organizations if performed solely as a means of identifying a person’s faith in Jesus Christ and accomplished by immersion.
Section 2. The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience where believers of Jesus Christ, through partaking of bread and juice, commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and anticipate His second coming.
(1) The Lord's Supper will be observed as determined by the pastor, but will normally be celebrated no less than quarterly.
(2) The pastor and deacons will be responsible for the administration of the Lord's Supper. Others may assist as requested by the pastor in the absence of church deacons.
VI. CHURCH MEETINGS
Section 1. Worship Services
The church will meet regularly each Sunday to worship as a congregation. These meetings will be open to all persons and conducted under the pastor’s leadership.
Section 2. Business Meetings
Regular business meetings will be held at least quarterly, with special called business meetings held to consider matters of a significant nature outside of regular business meetings. A week’s notice of the subject, date, time and location must be given for these business meetings unless extreme urgency renders such notice impractical and none of those who assemble for the meeting objects.
Section 3. Quorum
A quorum consists of those who attend the business meeting, provided it is a stated meeting or one that has been properly called. The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for business meetings of the church.
VII. CHURCH FINANCES
Section 1. Budget
The church treasurer, in conjunction with other church program directors and committees, will prepare and submit an annual church budget to the church council for review and the church for approval. The budget should be inclusive, indicating all amounts needed and sought for local and worldwide expenses.
Section 2. Accounting Procedures
All church funds should be accounted for under guidelines maintained by the treasurer and approved by the church council.
VIII. AMENDMENTS
Changes in this Constitution and Bylaws may be made at any regular or called business meeting of the church, provided each amendment was presented at a previous meeting for consideration, and that a period of no less than 2 weeks has passed between meetings. Amendments to the Constitution shall be by two-thirds vote of all members voting. Amendments to the Bylaws shall have a concurrence of a majority of the members voting.
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