PDF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS - Summer Grove Baptist Church

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Amended by church vote March 4, 2015

Summer Grove Baptist Church ? Constitution and ByLaws

Table of Contents:

CONSTITUTION ........................................................................................................................... 3 Preamble ..................................................................................................................................... 3 ARTICLE l. NAME AND LOCATION ..................................................................................... 3 ARTICLE ll. OBJECTIVES AND MISSION STATEMENT ................................................... 3 Section 1. Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3 Section 2. Mission Statement.................................................................................................. 3 ARTICLE lll. STATEMENT OF FAITH and BIBLICAL AUTHORITY ................................. 4 ARTICLE lV. CHURCH AUTHORITY .................................................................................... 4 ARTICLE V. CHURCH COVENANT ..................................................................................... 4 ARTICLE VI. STATEMENT ON MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY ....................................... 5

BYLAWS........................................................................................................................................ 7 ARTICLE 1. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ................................................................................... 7 Section 1. General ................................................................................................................... 7 Section 2. Candidacy............................................................................................................... 7 Section 3. Rights of Members................................................................................................. 8 Section 4. Duties of Members................................................................................................. 8 Section 5. Termination of Members ....................................................................................... 8 Section 6. Discipline and Restoration ..................................................................................... 8 ARTICLE 2. CHURCH OFFICERS, STAFF AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL ........................ 9 Section 1. Senior Pastor .......................................................................................................... 9 Section 2. Ministry Staff Positions ....................................................................................... 10 Section 3. Deacons................................................................................................................ 11 Section 4. Moderator............................................................................................................. 12 Section 5. Church Clerk ........................................................................................................ 12 Section 6. Trustees ................................................................................................................ 12 Section 7. Removal of Church Officers ................................................................................ 13 Section 8. Support Personnel ............................................................................................... 13 Section 9. Salary and Benefit Information ........................................................................... 14 ARTICLE 3. MINISTRY TEAMS and COORDINATING GROUPS .................................... 14 Section 1. Elected Ministry Teams ....................................................................................... 14 Section 2. Ad Hoc Ministry Teams....................................................................................... 15 Section 3. Coordinating Groups and Special Events ............................................................ 15 ARTICLE 4. CHURCH FINANCES........................................................................................ 15 Section 1. Budget .................................................................................................................. 15 Section 2. Accounting Procedures ........................................................................................ 15 Section 3. Fiscal Year ........................................................................................................... 16 ARTICLE 5. PROGRAM ORGANIZATION .......................................................................... 16 Section 1. General ................................................................................................................. 16 Section 2. Sunday School...................................................................................................... 16 Section 3. Church Training ................................................................................................... 16 Section 4. Woman's Missionary Union/ Women's Ministry................................................ 16

Amended by church vote: March 4, 2015

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Summer Grove Baptist Church ? Constitution and ByLaws

Section 5. Men's Ministry..................................................................................................... 16 Section 6. Church Music Program ........................................................................................ 17 Section 7. Library and Media Center .................................................................................... 17 Section 8. Church Messengers .............................................................................................. 17 ARTICLE 6. ORDINANCES .................................................................................................. 17 Section 1. Baptism ................................................................................................................ 17 Section 2. The Lords Supper................................................................................................. 17 ARTICLE 7. CHURCH MEETINGS ...................................................................................... 18 Section 1. Worship Services ................................................................................................. 18 Section 2. Special Services ................................................................................................... 18 Section 3. Regular Business Meetings .................................................................................. 18 Section 4. Annual Business Meeting and Church Calendar Year......................................... 18 Section 5. Special Business Meetings................................................................................... 18 Section 6. Quorum ................................................................................................................ 18 Section 7. Parliamentary Rules ............................................................................................. 19 ARTICLE 8. CHURCH OPERATIONS AND PERSONNEL MANUALS ............................ 19 Section 1. Operations Manual ............................................................................................... 19 Section 2. Personnel Manual................................................................................................. 19 ARTICLE 9. AMENDMENTS................................................................................................ 19

Amended by church vote: March 4, 2015

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Summer Grove Baptist Church ? Constitution and ByLaws

CONSTITUTION

Preamble

This Constitution and these Bylaws are established to preserve and secure the principles of our faith, and to govern the body of believers in an orderly manner. They will also preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in its relation to other church and denominational organizations.

This Constitution and these Bylaws are not Scripture, however they are man's best effort of interpretation of Scripture as to whom we are, what we are about, our basic beliefs, and how the affairs of the Church should be conducted decently and in order.

ARTICLE l. NAME AND LOCATION

This body shall be known as Summer Grove Baptist Church located at 8924 Jewella Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71118-2117.

ARTICLE ll. OBJECTIVES AND MISSION STATEMENT

Section 1. Objectives To be a dynamic spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world. To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing His person, and responding in obedience to His leadership. To experience an increasingly meaningful fellowship with God and fellow believers. To help people experience a growing knowledge of God and man. To be a church that ministers unselfishly to persons in the congregation, community, and the world in Jesus' name. To be a church whose purpose is to be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment of life, personality, and possessions to the lordship of Christ.

Section 2. Mission Statement Helping people discover and develop a whole-hearted, love relationship with Jesus

Christ. Incorporating them into His family. Equipping them to demonstrate His love through spiritual giftedness and personal ministry.

Amended by church vote: March 4, 2015

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Summer Grove Baptist Church ? Constitution and ByLaws

ARTICLE lll. STATEMENT OF FAITH and BIBLICAL AUTHORITY

The Holy Bible is the inspired word of God and is the basis for any statement of faith. The Church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of "The Baptist Faith and Message" as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963 and as amended in 1998 and 2000. We band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost mankind. The ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of church doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the Senior Pastor and active deacons are the church's final interpretive authority on the Bible's meaning and application.

ARTICLE lV. CHURCH AUTHORITY

The government of this Church is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist Churches. Insofar as practical, this Church will cooperate with and support the association and state convention affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

The congregation, through its Voting Members, is the final authority for all matters of self-government of the Church. Each Voting Member will seek through earnest prayer and reasoned discussion to ensure the Church governs itself according to the principles found in Holy Scripture.

ARTICLE V. CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of the church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality: to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and

Amended by church vote: March 4, 2015

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