2002 CGS Bylaws

By-Laws

November 2002

 

PREAMBLE

THE Christian Church is that universal body of persons who sincerely believe that Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected is God's sole provision whereby sinful people can be delivered from sin's guild, deserved punishment, and enslaving power.

 

Believing the Bible to be God's infallible documentation of this remedy for human sin, the Protestant Church of Christ accepts the Bible as its sole authority for the doctrinal and ethical instruction of its members.  The church further propagates this salvation message to non-Christians in the world at large, realizing that a person without Christ is doomed to an eternal abandonment by God as a consequence of human sin.

 

Our church believes that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.  We believe in the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and in the Holy Bible as the Divinely inspired word of God.  We accept the standards and teachings of the Reformed Church in America and shall give allegiance to the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Article I - CHURCH NAME

The name of the Church shall be Church of the Good Shepherd.  This church is a member of the Reformed Church in America and shall be governed by its constitution and Book of Church Order.  The provision of this article shall not be amended or modified in any manner without prior written consent of the Classis of Cascades, Inc. of the Reformed Church in America of which this church is a member.

 

Article II - CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

  1. All members received by the board of Elders into the fellowship of the Church shall be known as communicant members.

 

  1. Prospective members shall be received into the communicant membership of the church by making a genuine profession of their faith, by reaffirming their faith in Christ to the Board of Elders, or by the presentation of a letter of transfer of membership.  They must also appear before the Board of Elders to affirm their faith in Christ.  All prospective members must attend a membership class.

 

  1. Members shall faithfully attend the service of worship. They shall dedicate time and talents in the life and work of the church, and they shall regularly contribute to the financial support of the church and its benevolence.

 

Article III - SACRAMENTS

  • 1. Baptism will be administered to adult believers and to their children according to the guidelines found in the Book of Church Order, Reformed Church in America. The request for adult Baptism shall be made when the candidate interviews with the Elders. The request for infant Baptism/Dedication shall be made by at least one believing parent.

 

  • 2. Participation in the Lord's Supper shall be open to all those who profess Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and are members of this or another Christian Evangelical Church.

 


Article IV - CONSISTORY

The offices of the Church shall be those of Minister, Elders and Deacons.  Those together shall constitute the governing body known as the Consistory and shall follow the guidelines found in the Book of Church Order, Reformed Church in America.

 

  • 1. The number of Elders and Deacons shall be determined by The Consistory with approval of the congregation.

 

  • 2. Candidates for each vacancy of Elder or Deacon shall be nominated by the Consistory from the membership of the church. The candidates must be at least 21 years of age. A single slate or double slate will be presented. Candidates will be elected by a majority vote of the communicant members present. Voting members must have reached the age of 18 by the annual meeting.

 

  • 3. The term of office for Elders and Deacons shall be three years. Consistory members who have served a full term may not be re-elected to Consistory until at least a full year has elapsed.

 

  • 4. Elders and Deacons shall be ordained and installed as provided by the Book of Church Order, Reformed Church in America.

 

  • 5. Officers of Consistory shall be President, Vice-President (must be an Elder), Clerk and Treasurer. The minister shall be the President and shall preside over all meetings. The other officers shall be members of the Consistory. In the absence of the Pastor the Vice-President shall preside over the meeting.

 

  • 6. Duties of each office shall be as defined in the Book of Church Order, Reformed Church in America, and additional supportive documents.

 

  • 7. All members who have served or who are serving on Consistory shall be members of the greater Consistory.

 

  • 8. Any Consistory member desiring to resign shall present their request in writing to the Consistory.

 

  • 9. The Consistory or the Pastor may request Classis to terminate the Pastor's relationship with the Church.

 

 

Article V - ELDERS

  • 1. The Elders shall be responsible for the spiritual oversight and welfare of the church.

 

  • 2. The Elders shall admit into membership those who profess their faith.

 

  • 3. The Elders shall be responsible for preparing the sacraments for the Lord's Supper.

 

  • 4. The Elders shall exercise Christian discipline with respect to any member who continues to sin without repentance; they shall rebuke or admonish; or, if necessary, suspend those members from the privilege of the Lord's Supper. It shall be the privilege of the Board of Elders to receive the penitent into the fellowship of the church again.

 

 Article VI - DEACONS

The Deacons shall be stewards of church properties, finances, and benevolence.  They shall receive contributions for the congregation, distributing them with wisdom and compassion for the church and the care of its members.

 

Article VII - CHURCH MEETINGS

  1. The Congregation shall meet in a service of worship on every Sunday.

 

  1. Special Worship services may be held with Consistory approval.

 

  1. The Consistory shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis, no less than quarterly.

 

  1. A quorum for a Consistory meeting shall consist of a majority of the voting members.

 

  1. The annual meeting of the Congregation will be held during the last quarter of the calendar year and will include the election of Consistory members for the coming year. Public notice of the time and place of the meeting must be given in the church bulletin for at least two Sundays prior to the day of the congregational meeting. Other congregational meetings may be held, providing similar proper notice has been given.

 

  1. The business items to be conducted at the congregational meeting must first be presented to the Consistory for approval and placement on the agenda.

 

  1. Members present at any meeting held after public notice to the membership shall constitute a quorum for transaction of membership business.

 

  1. The business shall be transacted in Consistory and congregational meetings by simple majority vote.

 

Article VIII - FINANCES AND OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY

  1. Control: All finances and all properties of the organization shall be under the control of the Consistory.

 

  1. Fiscal Year:  The fiscal year of this organization shall run from January 1 to December 31 each year.  The books of the church shall be kept in accordance with this fiscal year.

 

  1. Reports: An annual financial report shall be provided to the congregation in the first quarter of each year for the previous church fiscal year.

 

  1. Ownership of Property: The church shall have authority to own, sell, hold, lease, and furnish any real or personal property as may be useful to carry on the functions and purposes of the church.  Any instruments concerning conveyance of real estate shall be signed by the President and Secretary (Clerk) of the Consistory.

 

  1.  Property Rights: The members of this congregation have no property rights in the assets of the church and upon termination of their membership they shall not be entitled to any interest in the assets and property of the church.

 

  1. Loans and indebtedness:  Any indebtedness of the church shall be incurred only after a resolution approving such indebtedness is supported by a majority vote of the Consistory. The Consistory shall authorize the President and Secretary (Clerk) to sign any evidences of indebtedness and to pledge or mortgage assets of the church.

 

  1. Limited Liability - Indemnification: The private property of the organization's members, Consistory or officers shall not be liable for the debts of the church.  The Consistory, by resolutions, may provide for indemnification by the organization for expense actually incurred in connection with the defense of any action suit or proceeding in which any Consistory member is judged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duty.

 

Article IX - AMENDMENTS

These By-laws may be amended at any congregational meeting provided the intended amendment has been presented to the Consistory and received Consistory approval for inclusion in the agenda of the congregational meeting.  Amendments to the By-laws shall be submitted to and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present at a congregational meeting.

 

  1. Notice: Any notice regarding proposed changes in the By-laws shall be given to the congregation in writing at least two (2) Sundays prior to the regular or special meeting at which the vote is to be held.

 

Approved by the congregation this _______________________ day of _______________, ______