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Constitution & By-Laws
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article 1 [Name]
Article 2 [General Organization]
Article 3 [Officers of the Church]
Article 4 [Business Meetings and Voting]
Article 5 [Assets of the Church]
Article 6 [Receiving New Members]
Article 7 [Dismissing Members]
Article 8 [Members Duties]
Article 9 [Missions]
Article 10 [Church Facilities]
Article 11 [Amendments]
Article 12 [Disbanding i.e. Closing the Doors]
Constitution & By-Laws
ARTICLE 1
[NAME]
This organization shall be called Calvary Baptist Church. It is located in Daegu, South Korea.
The word "Baptist" must always remain in the church's name. This church is and will remain a
Baptist church in name, principle and in practice.
ARTICLE 2
[GENERAL ORGANIZATION]
SECTION 1 PURPOSE
This purpose of this organization shall be for the preaching and teaching of the Word of God;
the administration of the ordinances of the New Testament Church (baptism and the Lord's Supper);
the spiritual improvement of its members; ministering to its own community; and the spreading
of the Gospel in all the earth through missions.
SECTION 2 POLICY
This Church shall be informal in ceremony. It is subject to the control of no other
ecclesiastical body. The church may fellowship and co-operate with other churches of like
faith and practice for the furtherance of the Gospel.
SECTION 3 INSTRUMENTS OF GOVERNMENT
The Holy Bible (KJV 1611), Church Covenant, Articles of Faith, and this Constitution and By-Laws.
SECTION 4 FINANCES
(1) The expenses of the church, including mission support shall be raised only through the
tithes and offerings of God's people. This church will not permit the raising of funds in any
other manner i.e. bake sales, rummages, etc.
(2) It shall be the intent of this church to strive to reach the objective of supporting its
own pastor. Until this objective is reached, the church can call a missionary pastor;
however he must be one who is supported by churches of like faith and practice.
ARTICLE 3
[OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH]
SECTION 1 PASTOR
(1) Qualifications - I Timothy 3 and Titus 1
The life of the pastor and his family should be an example of godliness and spirituality.
They should not indulge in worldly or sinful practices which would tend to weaken the testimony
of the church. No one who uses intoxicating liquor or drugs other than medicine, or tobacco in
any form, or who belongs to a secret society, or who brings disrepute upon his ministry through
sinful language, practice, or associations shall be considered for the office of pastor,
or be retained as pastor if such is practiced; nor will be retain the office if his wife fails
in these areas. No person shall be considered for, nor hold the office of pastor who maintains
any connection with unscriptural alliances, i.e. The National or World Council of Churches,
or any of its agencies, with conventions, or other ecclesiastical bodies:
(2) Term of office:
The term of office shall be for an undesignated period. The pastor shall be dismissed only upon
his refusal to affirm the Articles of Faith, or failure to meet the scriptural qualifications
for pastor as enumerated in I Timothy 3 and in Titus 1.
(3) Duties:
It shall be the duty of the pastor to preach regularly at the church, administer the ordinances,
and perform the various duties incumbent of his office. He shall be the moderator at the church
and preside at all of its business meetings. He shall be the exofficio member of all committees
and organizations, which includes the privilege of voting. The pastor is in charge of the pulpit,
and has over-all responsibility for all church administration. He may appoint someone as interim
pastor to fill the office in his temporary absence.
(4) Provisions for the pastor:
The church will provide the pastor with a house, utilities, an automobile, gasoline allowance,
hospitalization, salary to be determined annually, and 30 days paid vacation annually.
(5) Authority to hire full time staff:
The pastor will be given the authority to hire a church staff, as he deems necessary.
He will be responsible for the hiring and firing of the church staff and the staff will be
answerable to him. Provision of the church staff will be voted on by the church.
(6) Provisions for the associate pastor:
The church will provide a house, utilities, an automobile, gasoline allowance, hospitalization,
a salary to be determined annually, and 15 days paid vacation annually.
(7) Calling of a pastor:
When the pulpit becomes vacant, the church shall proceed without any delay to secure a new pastor
in the following manner:
a) A pulpit committee consisting of the deacons and trustees will be established to find and
nominate a new pastor.
b) A prospective minister shall be prayerfully selected and carefully interviewed by the pulpit
committee. After it is determined that affirms belief in all the Articles of Faith and meets
all the scriptural. Requirements, he may be invited to preach as a pastoral candidate.
c) The intended date of the vote on a pastoral candidate shall be announced in at least one
regular service prior to the actual voting.
d) There must be at least 75% of the voting membership present at the vote for pastor.
e) A 90% approval vote will be necessary to accept and then call the pastoral candidate as pastor.
f) After the pastor is called, the pulpit committee will be dissolved.
SECTION 2 DEACONS
(1) Qualifications- I Timothy 3
Both the man and his family (if applicable) must meet the qualifications of I Timothy 3.
The life of the deacon and this family should be a good example. They should not indulge in
worldly or sinful practices which would tend to weaken the testimony of the church.
No one who uses intoxicating liquor or drugs other than medicinal, or tobacco in any form,
or who belongs to any secret society, or who brings disrepute upon the church by sinful
practices, language, or association shall be considered for nor retain the office of deacon,
nor will he retain the position if his wife fails in theses areas. In keeping with the
Scriptures, gossiping tattling, backbiting, undermining, holding, grudges, uncontrolled temper,
etc. are unbecoming to a deacon or a deacon's wife, and shall be considered grounds for
dismissal. Faithfulness to all services is expected and except where it is unavoidable,
each deacon and his family will be at all services. No woman nor divorced person nor any man
married to a divorced woman will be considered as a candidate for deacon.
(2) Term of office: (deacons)
The term of office for a deacon shall be for one year. Upon approval of the church, he may
service additional terms. No man will be considered as a deacon who does not have the support
of the pastor.
(3) Duties:
It shall be the duty of a deacon, aside from appointed tasks, to assist the pastor in the
building of the church numerically, financially, and spiritually; to visit the sick, sorrowing
and needy, to personally strive to win others to Jesus Christ, to guard the reputation of the
church and the pastor; to help with the physical repair, cleaning and upkeep of the building,
buses [vans], etc.
(4) Procedure of selecting deacons:
a) The men of the church shall serve as a nominating committee.
b) Six weeks prior to the annual business meeting, or when it is necessary, the church members
will be given a list of all male members 21 years of age or older. These men will only be
those who meet all the requirements of a deacon and those who are willing to serve in the
position. From this list, the three (number may increase as needed) who receive the most
votes from the voting membership will be deacons.
c) In the event qualified men are not available, there will be no deacon(s).
d) No man will become or remain a deacon in the objection of the pastor. The pastor must show
Biblically why a man cannot be a deacon, if the pastor disagrees with his nomination and the
man still requests to be considered for the position.
SECTION 3?TREASURERS
The treasurer shall be nominated by the pastor and presented to the church for a final vote.
His term of office shall be for one year, and it shall be his duty to receive all monies and
to keep an accurate record of the spending of such. He shall prepare a monthly financial report
to be posted or given to the membership, and he shall give a report at the annual business
meeting. All spending must be approved by the pastor.
SECTION 4?CLERKS
The clerk shall be nominated by the pastor for approval by the church. It shall be the duty of
the clerk to maintain an accurate record of all members, issue letters upon approval of the
church, and to keep records of all business meetings.
SECTION 5 TRUSTEES
Three men will be voted on by the church to serve as trustees, and acting as such, shall
contract the legal business of the church.
SECTION 6 POSITIONS
All positions of the church: teachers, song leaders, etc. shall be members and in agreement
with Article 2. Section 3 of this constitution.
ARTICLE 4
[BUSINNESS MEETINGS AND VOTING]
SECTION 1
One annual business meeting will take place. Special meetings may be called by the pastor when
necessary. Any meeting for major business (the buying of real estate, dismissing of members,
etc.) must be announced two weeks in advance. The date for the annual meeting will be determined
by the pastor.
SECTION 2
Only active members over sixteen years of age are permitted to vote.
SECTION 3
A quorum shall consist of those present at business meetings.
SECTION 4
A simple majority is necessary to approve normal business.
ARTICLE 5
[ASSETS OF THE CHURCH]
SECTION 1
All property and valuables acquired by purchase or by donation will become the property of the church.
SECTION 2
No property or valuables will be bought, sold, mortgaged, or given away without the knowledge and
consent of the church.
SECTION 3
A monetary gift from the church treasury to present hardship for a family will be authorized
at a maximum of $50 each time it is requested.?It will be authorized only two times for each
family that requests it, unless there are extenuating circumstances that merits additional
assistance from the church. This decision will rest with the pastor.
SECTION 4
Consumable supplies will be purchased as needed from the petty cash fund if monies are available.
SECTION 5
Missionaries invited by the pastor to preach will receive, at the minimum, $100 per day plus
living expenses while they are with us.
ARTICLE 6
[RECEIVING NEW MEMBERS]
SECTION 1
Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and giving evidence of regeneration, may,
upon Scriptural baptism, be received into the church.
SECTION 2
Members of other Baptist churches, having been baptized, may be received into the church by
presenting: 1) a letter from said Baptist church; or 2) by giving a statement of faith and
Scriptural baptism. This church will receive no one as member who has not been baptized in a
Baptist church.
ARTICLE 7
[DISMISSING MEMBERS]
SECTION 1
By granting letters to other Baptist churches (and only Baptist churches)
SECTION 2
By action of the church according to Matthew 18:16-18 because of sinful living as defined in the
Church Covenant.
Members dismissed for sinful living can be re-instated upon public apology and the re-affirmation
of their intent to abide with the spirit of the Church Covenant and this constitution and by-laws.
SECTION 3
By action of the church if the member is known to be deceased, to have joined another church,
or if there has been a written request from the member that his name be dropped.
SECTION 4
By extended absence: Members absenting themselves from services for a period of three months,
and who do not stay in contact with the church, giving acceptable reason for their absence,
such as prolonged illness, TDY, etc. shall be dropped from the roll.
ARTICLE 8
[MEMBERS DUTIES]
It shall be the duty of each member to be familiar with the Church Covenant and to strive to
maintain the practices stated therein.
ARTICLE 9
[MISSIONS]
This church shall only support missionaries from independent Baptist groups, or independent
missionaries sent out by independent Baptist churches of like faith and practice.
The individual missionary or projects will be decided upon by the vote of the church.
Each missionary will be reviewed every two years, and a report will be presented to the church
of the missionary's work.
ARTICLE 10
[CHURCH FACILITIES]
All ministries using church facilities shall be under the auspices and authority of the pastor.
No outside group can use the facilities unless willing to become a ministry of the church.
In that case, they must affirm belief in the Articles of Faith and be in agreement with the
Church Covenant.
ARTICLE 11
[AMENDMENTS]
SECTION 1
The Church Covenant and the Statement of Faith, being based on the unchangeable Word of God,
shall never be amended. If amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws are necessary,
they must carry the support of the pastor with 100 % vote of approval from a quorum of voting
members (Article 4. Section 2) consisting of no less than 75 % of the number of voting members
of the church.
SECTION 2
In the event an amendment should be added to change the Church Covenant or the Articles of Faith,
or this Constitution, not in accordance with Article 11. Section 1, all properties, monies, and
valuables of the church shall be given to the missionaries last supported by the church.
All property will be liquidated and the debts of the church shall be paid.
ARTICLE 12
[DISBANDING (Closing the Door)]
If at any time the Calvary Baptist Church shall cease to exist, should disband, or re-organize;
it is to fall under the provision of Article 11. Section 2. |
