January 10, 2016

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
FAITH INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH, INC.
ASHLAND, KENTUCKY

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this church shall be Faith Independent Baptist Church, Incorporated.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

          The purpose of this church shall be; to worship Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth, to preach and teach the Word of God for the edifying of the saints and the salvation of the lost and to provide Christian fellowship for God’s people.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

1. QUALIFICATIONS
        The membership of this church shall consist of persons testifying to the fact they have believed in their heart the gospel (“that Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”), confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and have been baptized by immersion in the name of The Father and of The Son (The Lord Jesus Christ) and The Holy Spirit.

2.  PROCEDURES
        Individual(s) desiring membership to this church may be received by their personal statement of faith or by restoration as a former member.  Individual(s) inquiring about church membership will be given a packet of information pertaining to church membership. The Pastor/Associate Pastor/Deacon will review the packet of information with the perspective individual(s). The individual(s) will be presented to the board. Upon the board’s recommendation the individual(s) will be presented to the church for vote.

A two-thirds majority vote of eligible church members present is required for membership.

3.  VOTING ELIGIBILITY
     ELIGIBILE:
     A.  A member must be 18 years of age or older.
     B.  A member must attend church or communicate with the church within the previous 90 days of a quarterly business meeting or special called business meeting.

     NON-ELIGIBILE:
     A.  A member under 18 years of age.
     B.  A member that fails to attend or communicate with the church within the previous 90 days of a quarterly business meeting or special called business meeting.

4. RECORD
     Each new members name will be recorded in the church membership record by the clerk or a person designated by the church board.   The church membership record shall be used to determine eligibility to vote and hold an office or a position in the church.

5.  DISCIPLINE
     A member of the Church found in violation of the Church Covenant, Constitution and By-Laws, Statement of Faith or living contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures, is to be counseled by the Pastor, Associate Pastor/s, and/or Deacons, if possible.  Scriptural steps are to be taken in the attempt to restore the member. If the member refuses, the Church Board, upon the recommendation of the Pastor, Associate Pastor/s and/or Deacons, will have the authority to terminate their membership and remove their names from the membership record by a two-thirds vote of board members present.  

     A member of the church may forfeit their membership by failing to attend a worship service for six months. It will be the responsibility of the Pastor, Associate Pastor/s and/or Deacons to determine if a member has valid reasons for not attending worship services and make their recommendation to the Church Board. Upon the recommendation of the Pastor, Associate Pastor/s and/or Deacons, the Church Board will have the authority to terminate their membership and remove their name from the membership record by a two-thirds vote of board members present.

ARTICLE IV - THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board shall consist of:  Pastor, Associate Pastor, Deacons, Trustees, Treasurer, Clerk, President, Vice-President, Sunday School Superintendent and Youth Director.  The President and Vice-President of this corporation shall be selected by a majority vote of the directors.

The Board is responsible for maintaining discipline and order within the church and at all church functions.

The Board shall recommend alternatives to the church for vote on any situation that may arise.

The Board shall be responsible for seeing that all matters that have been voted on and approved by the church are carried out.

The Board shall be responsible for contacting individuals that have been referred by the church membership and submitting these individuals to the church for vote in order to fill pastor and Associate Pastor Positions.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF OFFICERS

All officers of the church, except Deacons and Trustees, shall be elected and eligible for re-election the second Sunday in August and take office the following September.

There shall be seven (7) Deacons elected by the church, to be set aside and ordained according to the scriptures.  The Deacons hold office at the pleasure of the church during maintenance of Christian Character, Faithful Service, and Sound Doctrine.

Vacancies in offices may be filled at any regular business meeting of the church.  The failure of any officer to fulfill the responsibilities of his office for a period of three (3) months without satisfactory reasons, shall be considered sufficient occasion to declare the office vacant, and the immediate election of his or her successor by the church.

ARTICLE VI - PASTOR AND ASSOCIATE PASTOR

The Pastor and Associate Pastor of this church shall be men ordained by God, who shall be firm believers in, and a preacher of, the fundamental truths of Holy Inspired Scriptures.  They shall perform the various duties incumbent of their office.  The Pastor shall be moderator of the church and preside at all church business meetings, unless pre-determined before hand.  It shall be their duty, along with the Board, to discipline and maintain order in the House of God.

The Pastor and Associate Pastor must be elected or dismissed by two-thirds majority vote of the church.  Their election as Pastor or Associate Pastor also includes required church membership.

The sole responsibility of securing a Pastor for this church in case a vacancy, shall lie in the hands of the Board of this church.  Persons having someone in mind must refer them to this Board and they will contact them.  When a suitable man is found, this Board must present them before the church to vote.

The Pastor and Associate Pastor shall be permitted to accept invitations for revival meetings, providing adequate arrangements are made to substitute for him during his absence.

ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS OF CHURCH

The officers of this church shall consist of:  Pastor, Associate Pastor, Deacons, Trustees, Sunday School Superintendent, Assistant Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Director(s), Clerk, and Treasurer.  All officers elected by the Church must be members.

ARTICLE VIII - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

The Deacons shall help in the Administering of the Lord’s Supper, assist in Baptism, devise ways and means of increasing the membership of the church, care for the poor and widows, visit the sick, visit the members of this church in their homes, and assist the Pastor in the performance of his duties.

The Trustees shall have charge of the property of the church and shall be responsible for the upkeep and repair of the property, and shall not sell, mortgage or otherwise encumber the property without consent of two-thirds vote of the church, called together for that special purpose and at least two weeks notice shall be given.

The Clerk shall keep a careful record of the business of the church, and perform such other duties as pertain to said office.

The Treasurer shall receive all money of the church except as otherwise provided for and deposit same in bank.  The Treasurer shall be authorized to sign all checks respective for this office.  The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all transactions and report to the church at every business meeting.

The Sunday School Superintendent shall have general supervision over the Sunday School work and shall work with the Pastor in promoting this cause.  In the absence of the regular Sunday School Teachers or their assistants, he is authorized to appoint teachers for the various classes.  He, also, must provide for election of Sunday School Teachers.  Sunday School Teachers shall be elected the second Sunday in August and take office the following September.

The Assistant Sunday School Superintendent shall perform all duties of the Sunday School Superintendent in case of his absence.

The Youth Director shall perform such duties as his office requires.

All officers are subject to the church.

ARTICLE IX - AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS

All Auxiliary Organizations of the church shall be subject to the control of the church and failure to work in harmony with the church shall be cause for disbanding such organizations.

No Auxiliary or Board shall meet during any regular worship of the church.

ARTICLE X - CHURCH BUILDING

The Church Building shall be used only for such meetings as will accomplish the purpose of God and his work.

The Church Building shall be available to the church auxiliaries, for fellowship meetings, class meetings, homecomings, providing that said meetings are strictly Christian and supervised by an officer of the church, and that said meetings do not conflict with any regular service of the church.  The group sponsoring the meeting shall assume full responsibility of cleaning the church after the meeting.

In case of an individual desiring the use of the church for any purpose, must first get the permission from the church.

ARTICLE XI - MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH

Regular services of worship will be held each Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and on Wednesday Night.

The ordinances of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed at least once a year, and arranged by the Pastor and Deacons.

The Quarterly Business Meeting be held on a Sunday Evening following Worship Service during the first month of each quarter.  The date for each quarterly business meeting will be determined by the church board.

Special Business Meetings as deemed necessary may be called by the Pastor or Board.

Special Evangelistic Meetings (Revivals) shall be arranged by the Pastor and approved by the church.

ARTICLE XII - FINANCIAL POLICY

The Financial Policy of this church shall be personal voluntary giving of the tithes and offerings as an act of worship.

ARTICLE XIII - AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH

Each member is to accept the fact the majority vote decides on any given question, and at all times the majority rules, except where it states otherwise.  Each member must consider the action of the church as authoritative above his or her own personal opinion and shall be accepted by each member.

ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS

This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any regular business meeting of the church, by a two-thirds vote of the church.  A two weeks notice must be provided.