|
|
Article I - Name
- The name of the corporation is Valley View Bible Church
Article II - Purposes
- To glorify God.
- To edify Christians through teaching God’s Word.
- To support the world-wide proclamation of God’s saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary.
- To promote Godly worship.
- To cooperate with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until Christ returns.
|
Article III - Doctrinal Beliefs
(See Doctrinal Statement)
Top
|
Article IV - Membership
- Any person who has accepted Christ as his personal savior, has received Believer’s Baptism by immersion, given assurance of his desire to live a consistent Christian life and is in harmony with the Articles of Faith of this church shall be eligible for membership.
- An applicant for membership shall meet with members of the Official Board to review his qualifications and acceptance according to Article IV, Paragraph A. Those members will make their recommendation to the balance of the Official Board.
- A member of a secret organization will not be eligible for membership in this church.
- A temporary resident in the area may request Associate Membership in accordance with Article IV, Paragraph. A and B and retain membership in a distant church. He may not vote on official business nor serve as an officer of the church.
- A member is expected to conscientiously strive to live according to light revealed to him by the Holy Spirit according to God’s Word; to wholeheartedly support the services and activities of the church with prayers, attendance, and tithes; to honor and love his pastor and family, pray for them regularly and manifest a tender regard for their reputation.
- Should a member fail to give evidence of a vital interest in the church after due efforts have been made by officials of the church to encourage his interests, and if the condition prevails for a period of 6 months, his name shall be dropped from the roll by a majority vote of the members present at a business meeting. Where possible, he shall be notified of such by mail.
- A member indulging in flagrant sin or who is obviously out of harmony with the Articles of Faith shall have his situation investigated by the Official Board and be given a due hearing. The Official Board shall make a recommendation to the membership at a business meeting. A two-thirds vote by secret ballot of all members present shall constitute grounds for dismissal. He shall be so notified by mail.
Top
|
Article V - Church Government
- The government of this church is vested in its voting membership executed through the Official Board. The Official Board shall meet monthly.
- The Official Board shall consist of Elders and Deacons.
- Elders are comprised of the pastoral staff and are charged with the spiritual welfare of the church, preaching the Word, and presiding over the stated services.
- Elders will be non-voting members of the Official Board except, in the event of a tie, the senior elder present may break the stalemate.
- The Senior Pastor shall be the moderator of all business meetings (except in matters pertinent to himself), and Ex officio member of all committees and organizations, and administrator of the ordinances, assisted by the Deacons.
- Deacons shall be elected by secret ballot, subject to the majority vote of the voting members. They shall assist the pastor in every way to edify the church.
- Deacons shall hold title to church properties, handle the benevolent affairs of the church, provide the communion service and aid in its distribution, and provide for baptism equipment and candidate’s requirements.
- Deacons shall be responsible for pulpit supply in the absence of an Elder.
- Nomination and Election of Deacons:
- The number of Deacons serving on the Official Board shall be determined by the number of members on the roll: No fewer than (3) until the membership exceeds 150; No fewer than (5) when the membership falls between 150 and 350; No fewer than (7) when the membership exceeds 350.
- A Nominating Committee consisting of the Official Board and one or more laymen, selected by the Deacons, shall nominate candidates for the office of Deacon. A candidate must have been a member of the church for at least one year and meet the personal requirements stated in 1 Tim. 3.
- The Official Board shall have authority to appoint individuals or committees for the transaction of its business.
- The Official Board shall be responsible to supervise the affairs and activities of the church and any branch works outside the church.
- The Official Board shall be responsible for the supervision and maintenance of all properties of the church.
- The Official Board shall have the authority to call congregational meetings for the purpose of recommending action which calls for a vote by the membership, or to receive advice or instruction from the membership.
- The Official Board may, at its discretion and without membership approval, spend money in excess of the annual budget so long as the total over expenditure does not exceed 2% of the total budget by years end. (Note: This provision does allow over expenditure in excess of the 2% of a line item so long as the 2% is maintained in the total budget.)
- The Official Board shall provide for a critique of the total ministry of the church by its members every (3) years in Sept. meeting, commencing in 1990.
- Any Official Board member absent from three consecutive Board meetings without just cause shall have his situation investigated and be given a due hearing. A majority vote of the membership present at a meeting following an Official Board recommendation concerning the matter will result in dismissal of that Board Member with notification of such in writing.
- Resignations from the Official Board and any elected position are to be addressed to the Official Board in writing stating the effective date and reason for the resignation.
Top
|
Article VI - Congregational Business Meetings
- The fiscal year of the church shall begin January 1, with (4) regularly scheduled business meetings: January, April, September, and December.
- All congregational business meetings must be announced, and a tentative agenda posted, at both services the two Sundays immediately preceding the meeting. Questions on the agenda are to be addressed to the Official Board at least one week in advance of the meeting.
- Upon written request of 25% of the voting membership, the Official Board shall call a special congregational meeting within three weeks after receipt of the written request. The request will state the purpose of the meeting and that shall be the only issue addressed at the meeting.
- A Member must be 18 years of age or older to vote.
- 25% of the voting membership will be considered a quorum for any business meeting.
- 51% or greater of the voting membership present is required for the passage of regular business.
- 75% or greater of the voting membership present is required to approve or change the Articles of Faith or the Constitution and By-Laws.
- Voting will be done by written secret single or multiple question ballots except adjournment. Tabulation of ballot results will be done by two church members duly appointed.
- Discussion should be carried out in a respectful and quiet tone of voice. Failure to do so can result in dismissal at the moderator’s discretion. (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Top
|
Article VII - Election of Officers
- The Nomination Committee (Article V B7b) shall prepare a slate of one or more candidates for each of the following offices and any other offices the Official Board feels necessary for the efficient operation of the church as the need arises.
- Deacon
- Recording Secretary
- Financial Secretary
- Treasurer
- Sunday School Superintendant
- A term in any elected office shall not exceed more than three years and must be followed by at least one year of rest from that office. All nominees must be active members of the church, be 18 years of age, and receive a majority approval of the Nominating Committee.
- Candidates are to be selected on the basis of spiritual and personal qualifications and show a willingness to faithfully fulfill the responsibilities of their respective positions.
- The slate of nominees shall be preprinted and presented to the congregation for approval at the December meeting.
- In the event a nominee does not receive a majority vote of the membership, the Nominating Committee is to submit the name of another candidate at a subsequently called congregational meeting.
- Should an elected official fail to give evidence of carrying out his duties, and after a review and consultation with the Official Board, fails to reverse the condition, He/she may be removed from office by a majority vote of the members present at a business meeting upon the Official Board¹s recommendation.
- Elected official vacancies of un-expired terms of 6 months or less may be filled at the discretion of the Official Board. All elected vacancies of un-expired terms of more than 6 months shall be filled as a newly elected position for the remainder of the term.
Top
|
Article VIII - Pastoral Staffing
- When pastoral staffing is required, a pulpit committee of 5 members will be appointed by the Deacons. Two of the 5 members of the committee are to be active Deacons.
- The Pulpit Committee is to seek, interview and introduce one unanimously agreed upon prospective candidate to the Deacon Board at a time.
- The Deacons will invite the candidate to preach at least (2) services before the congregation and interview and negotiate with the candidate.
- The Deacons will recommend to the membership the extension of a call to a candidate only if 80% of the Deacons vote affirmatively.
- A call is to be extended to a candidate if 75% or more of the voting members present at a duly called meeting vote affirmatively by secret ballot.
- Resignation by a Pastoral Staff member shall be in writing, addressed to the Deacon Board. Upon receipt of the resignation the Pastoral Staff member relinquishes all his governing authority an responsibility to the Deacons, but may fulfill his pulpit duties and be paid up to no more than 30 days with Deacon Board approval.
Top
|
Article IX - Policy
- Sunday school teachers will be active or associate members of the church and be appointed by the Sunday School Superintendent and presented to the Official Board for their approval.
- All paid employees of the church shall be members of the church.
- Funds for carrying out the purposes of this church shall be obtained exclusively through tithes, offerings and special gifts.
- This church must remain independent. It shall never join a denomination.
- Personal grievances within the church body will be considered by the Official Board only when such grievances are submitted in writing and signed.
Top
|
Article X - Dissolution of the Corporation
- The right of any property, real or personal, that may be acquired by the Church shall be and remain vested in the membership of the Church who shall remain faithful to the Articles of Faith of the Valley View Bible Church. No part of the assets of the Corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any donor, member, director or officer of the Corporation or of any private individual. Upon dissolution, any assets of the Corporation must be distributed to one or more organizations recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as one organized exclusively for religious purposes.
Top
|
|
|
