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BYLAWS OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Neosho, Missouri July 2003
We, the members of the General Board of the First Christian Church of Neosho, Missouri, do hereby adopt these bylaws. ARTICLE I. CHURCH YEAR The Church year shall begin on July 1.
ARTICLE II. GENERAL BOARD
A. Section A. Officers of the Board. The following officers shall be elected by the General Board. 1. Chairman. The Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer and call and preside at all regular and special business meetings of the congregation. The Chairman shall be a non-voting member of all the functional committees, special committees and auxiliary organizations. 2. Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer and call and preside at all regular business meetings of the Church in the absence of the Chairman. 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all regular or special business meetings of the Church, keep a record of its regular or special meetings and perform such other duties as may be assigned. 4. Treasurer. The Church Treasurer shall disburse all funds of the Church according to the authority given him by the General Board and serve as a member of the Stewardship Committee. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Finance Committee Chairman shall carry out the duties of the Treasurer.
B, Section B. Meetings **** 1. The General Board shall endeavor to meet each month. The meeting time will be communicated by the Board Chair. 2. The General Board shall hold special meetings as required on call of the Chairman or upon request of five or more of the members of the General Board.
C. Section C. Quorum. Fifteen members of the General Board shall constitute a quorum.
D. Section D. Order of Business The General Board shall observe the following order of business. 1. Meeting is called to order by presiding officer 2. Devotions and prayer 3. Reading and approval of previous minutes; however, such reading may be omitted if such minutes have previously been furnished in writing to the members 4. Minister’s reports(s) 5. Financial report of the revenues and expenditures of the Church shall be compiled and given to the Financial Secretary, after which the Board shall vote to file same. 6. Regular and special committee reports with action on recommendations 7. Consideration of unfinished business carried over from previous meeting 8. New business 9. Adjournment 10. Pastoral inspirational moment and benediction
E. Section E. Voting At all meetings of the General Board, the presiding officer may call for a voice vote except, if any Board member shall so request, the vote shall be taken by secret written ballot.
ARTICLE III. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF ELECTIVE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL BOARD
A. Section A. Nomination 1. Nominating Committee. A committee to nominate candidates for Elders, Diaconate, Trustees, and Elders and Diaconate Emeritus shall be appointed by the Chairman of the General Board, approved by the General Board and announced to the congregation at least six weeks prior to the annual business meeting. The Committee shall consist of two members of the General Board whose terms do not expire at the end of the current year and three members of the congregation who are not members of the General Board. 2. Selection of a Slate of Nominees. Suggestions for nominees may be made from the congregation and and shall be in the hands of the Nominating Committee at least ten days prior to the annual meeting. The Committee shall then consider qualifications, secure consent from the nominees and prepare a slate consisting of one nominee for each vacancy. The Nominating Committee should consider the interest, concern and sense of dedication manifested in the person in question as shown by his attendance at the Worship Service, Bible School and other Church meetings. 3. Report. The Nominating Committee shall report its nominations to the congregation at the annual business meeting. No nominations shall be received from the floor on the day of election.
B. Section B. Election 1. Method of voting. Each member of the congregation shall be entitled to vote in person at the annual Church business meeting for all positions to be filled at such election. The shall be by written ballot. 2. Tabulation. The tabulation of such election shall be made by the Nominating Committee.
C. Section C. Vacancies Vacancies in any office of the Church shall be filled until the next church election by nomination of the Chairman of the General Board in consultation with the Minister and elected by the General Board. The vacancy shall be deemed to exist when a member resigns or is unable to serve.
D. Section D. Officers of the Board 1. Nomination. The aforesaid Nominating Committee shall also nominate officers for the General Board. 2. Election. The General Board shall elect its officers during the May meeting.
ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES – PLAN OF ADMINISTRATION
A. Section A. Functional Committees. The task of administrating the program of the Church shall be delegated to functional committees established by the General Board after considering the Church’s functions. 1. Worship – to lead the membership in a genuine experience of worship in public services and to enrich personal and family devotional life. 2. Education a. To develop an effective program of religious education for the entire constituency of the Church in keeping with the general objectives of Christian education b. To be responsible for developing and administrating the total educational program of the Church, including Church School, youth activities, mid-week educational projects, leadership education, 2. distribution of Christian literature and fostering Christian home life; and to also cooperate with other groups of the Church in planning an educational program. 3. Evangelism – to be responsible for developing and evangelistic Church, sponsoring a year-round program of evangelism which reaches into every age level and every phase of Church life. 4. Membership a. To maintain the closest possible contact with the Church membership to the end that each member may function effectively in the life of the Church and develop a spirit of comradeship and love within the congregation founded on a common love of Christ. b. To be responsible for the pastoral oversight of membership; assisting the Church office in keeping accurate, up-to-date records; promoting visitation projects; calling on indifferent, sick and unfortunate, and organizing others to do likewise; promoting an adequate program of social life for the Church and giving publicity to Church life and activities. c. To be responsible, working cooperatively with other committees, for orienting mew members into life and fellowship of the Church. 5. Outreach a. To create a foster world vision within the Church and its auxiliary organizations and to lead in planning and administrating the world-wide program of the Church. b. To be responsible for planning and promoting a definite program of missionary education in every department of the Church; recommending the Church’s annual missionary and benevolent budgets; enlisting support for missions and brotherhood causes; caring for local and general benevolent needs not otherwise provided for; sponsoring interdenominational activities and projects of social action; promoting conventions, conferences and retreats and recruiting and supporting life- work recruits. c. To develop and guide task groups to deal with social problems in the fields of race, world order, politics, economics, public morals and social services as they arise and become crucial and demand action and to act on behalf of the congregation. d. To determine and allocate outreach funds for distribution by the Financial Secretary and Treasurer in the same manner as other Church funds. 6. Stewardship a. To develop within the membership an understanding of the full meaning of Christian stewardship and to so direct the financial program of the Church that it will not only supply the financial needs but prove a means of spiritual enrichment and character building for each one participating. b. To keep alive within the congregation a realization of stewardship obligations, promote stewardship education, supervise the preparation and subscribing of the Church budget, keep accurate and auditable records and encourage endowment for future development in the Church and worldwide work of the Church. 7. Property a. To care for all properties of the Church b. To be responsible, in cooperation with the Trustees, for all property and to keep equipment in proper condition, to study needs and make recommendations for improvements and to care for the grounds. c. Insurance. To keep the properties adequately insured against loss or damage. Every three years the members will review our insurance needs and receive bids for the coverage. Recommendations will then be made to the General Board for approval. ** 8. Finance a. To monitor the expenditures and cash flow of the Church in order for the Church to be responsible in its financial obligations and program budget, to finalize the Church budget each year for Board and congregational approval, to provide accurate and auditable financial records and to work with 3. the Memorial Committee to encourage endowment for the future development in the Church and its ministry. b. To work with the committees of the Church so that those who normally incur expenditures of the budget are informed on current accumulation of expenditures and cash-flow status. c. To implement an annual audit of Church financial records.
B. Section B. Membership and Organization of Functional Committees 1. Membership. The membership of each functional committee shall be selected in the following manner, subject to confirmation of the General Board. a. The General Board Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and the Minister shall constitute a committee to select the respective functional committee chairmen. b. This group shall then act with the respective committee chairman in the selection of the members of each committee. c. Membership on each functional committee shall be on the basis of qualification for the task, regardless of membership on the General Board. 2. Organization. Each functional committee organizes itself to conduct the business for which it is responsible, meets regularly to attend to its business, and plans its general program which shall be presented to the General Board. Upon approval by the General Board, the department shall proceed to administer its program in cooperation with other functional committees. Regular reports shall be made to the General Board.
C. Section C. Other Committees 1. Pulpit Committee a. Selection. The Pulpit Committee shall be a representative committee of five members, nominated by the Board Chairman and elected by the General Board. b. Duties. The Pulpit Committee shall be responsible for interviewing and recommending a prospective minister to the General Board. 2. Pastoral Relations. The Committee is the connecting link to carry out dialogue between ministers and the congregation. It shall evaluate the Minister(s), review salaries and benefits and make recommendations to the Stewardship Committee in these areas. Members shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board in consultation with the minister and approved by the General Board. *** a. Number. The Pastoral Relations Committee shall consist of four (4) members and shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board in consultation with the minister and approved by the General Board. The Finance Committee Chairman and the Chairman of the Board will serve as a non-voting member on this Committee. b. Term. Committee members will be appointed for two-year terms. Appointments shall be made on a rotational basis so that one-half of the Committee members are appointed to the Committee annually. c. Duties. The Committee is the connecting link to carry out dialogue between ministers and the congregation: it shall discuss congregational needs and concerns related to the role and work of the Pastor, and it shall attend to the needs and concerns of the Pastor in the conduct of his/her work. It shall evaluate the Minister(s), review salaries and benefits and make recommendations to the Finance Committee in these areas. 3. Personnel Committee *** a. Number. The Personnel Committee consisting of four (4) members shall be nominated by the Chairman of the Board and approved by the General Board. The Finance Committee Chairman will serve as ex officio on this committee. b. Term. Members will be appointed for two year terms. Appointments shall be made on a rotational basis so that one-half the committee members are appointed to the committee annually. 4. c. Duties 1). The Personnel Committee shall take applications and interview all persons to be employed by the Church with the exceptions of the ministers. 2). With the advice of the General Board and any concerned functional committee, the Personnel Committee shall draft a job description for any position to be filled. 3). The Personnel Committee shall be authorized to fill any position created and approved by the General Board and to release any such employees. Employees in this paragraph shall mean salaried personnel except ministers. 4). Complaints concerning employees and questions concerning the possible release of any employed shall be referred to the Personnel Committee for their consideration. 5). Each salaried employee, except the Ministers, shall be responsible to the supervision of the Personnel Committee. 6). The General Board reserves to itself the right to set the number, positions, salary and hours of work of each employee, whether full or part time. 4. Special Committees When needed to administer the work of the Church, the Chairman shall appoint, with the approval of the General Board, such special committees as may be needed. These committees shall perform duties assigned to them and shall continue for the Church year unless otherwise designated.
D. Section D. Auxiliary Organizations 1. Auxiliary organizations shall be the Christian Women’s Fellowship, the Christian Youth Fellowship and the Christian Men’s Fellowship. 2. The purpose and responsibility of each of these groups shall be outlined in their own constitution, bylaws or plan of procedure. 3. These organizations shall cooperate with the functional committees of the Church, but also in the best interest of the total Church. ARTICLE V. SENIOR MINISTER
A. Section A. Selection 1. The General Board shall consider the nomination of the Pulpit Committee and if approved, recommend the prospective minister to the Church. It shall be the policy of the Church to consider only one prospective minister at a time. 2. The recommendation of the General Board must be accepted by at least two-thirds majority of Church members present, and voting in a regular or special business meeting before a call? may be extended.
B. Section B. Call A written statement setting forth the job description and salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the Minister and one for the Church records.
C. Section C. Term The term of ministry shall be an indefinite period and may be terminated by the Church or the minister upon sixty (60) days written notice.
ARTICLE VI. ASSOCIATE MINISTER(S)
A. Section A. Selection The Senior Minister shall have primary responsibility in the interviewing and selection of Associate Minister(s). A committee appointed by the Chairman of the General Board, in consultation with the Minister, shall recommend the prospective Associate to the General Board for approval and to the 5. congregation for acceptance.
B. Section B. Call A written statement setting forth the job description and salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the Minister and one for the Church records.
C. Section C. Term The term of the ministry shall be an indefinite period and may be terminated by the Church or the Minister upon sixty (60) days written notice.
D. Section D. Other Staff With the calling of a new Senior Minister, all other staff members must submit resignation effective at the discretion of the new Minister, sixty (60) days after the minister’s assumption of duties.
ARTICLE VII. **** MEMORIAL FUND
A. Section A. Establishment The congregation shall maintain a Memorial Fund. The Memorial Fund shall be managed by the Memorial Fund Committee under the direction of the General Board. The Memorial Fund shall consist of gifts and bequests to the Church, including the principal with all earnings from the gifts, to be used for deserving endeavors as determined by the General Board.
B. Section B. Fiscal Year and Investment The fiscal year of the Memorial Fund shall be the same as that of the congregation. All funds shall be kept in a separate account and designated as “Memorial Fund of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” and invested in first class securities with preference given to any sound investment program of the Disciples of Christ.
C. Section C. Types of Accounts Memorial or Bequest Gifts may be received and disbursed in two types of accounts: Project Funds and Perpetual Fund. 1. Project Funds. A project fund is one which the use has been predetermined by the benefactor and the Church. Such funds will be disbursed under the provisions established by the benefactor, providing the terms and conditions of any such endowment or bequest can be met. a. The list of purposes for which gifts may be designated shall be maintained and published by the Committee in an informational brochure, and this list shall be recorded in the official minutes of both the Fund Committee and the General Board. The list may be altered and funds reallocated if projects for which funds have been designated are deemed unlikely to be completed after a reasonable time and/or if a change in the needs of the congregation justify re-allocation of Designated Funds for better stewardship. b. Donors wishing to designate a contribution shall be advised of the established projects approved by the General Board. A donor wishing to designate a gift for another purpose may consult with the Pastor, Chairperson of the Memorial Fund Committee, or Chairperson of the General Board, and the donor’s wishes will be taken under advisement for possible acceptance. Any gift specified for a purpose different from established projects shall be agreed to at the discretion of the Memorial Fund Committee. The donor’s designation of a gift shall not, in all cases, be binding upon the Committee, but preference shall be given to the donor’s desires if possible. c. All funds for which the benefactor has not predetermined its usage will be allocated to a project fund as deemed appropriate by the Committee. 6. 2. Perpetual Funds. Perpetual funds are for the purpose of receiving gifts and bequests, the principal sums of which shall remain in income producing investments. a. Only the earnings from the Perpetual Fund are to be used by the Church, with the exception that a maximum expenditure often percent of the principal may be used along with current interest on any project in a twelve (12) month period of time upon proper approval by the General Board. Use of earnings from the Perpetual Fund shall be determined annually by the General Board in consultation with the Memorial Fund Committee. b. The term “principal” shall mean the sum donated to the Memorial Fund and any unexpended interest income received on account of such specific bequest or donation. c. The term “interest” shall mean interest earned within the fiscal year immediately past and not reinvested with the principal sum of said fund. d. A percent of the earned interest, to be determined annually by the Committee, shall be reinvested in the Perpetual Fund for protection against changes in the financial market and/or for the building up of these funds. e. Memorial Funds are not to be used for current expenses of the Church unless so designated by the donor and said designation approved by the General Board. f. A pass book account shall be maintained to receive small gifts until such time that they may be added to a Perpetual Fund, or the Committee at its discretion may place small gifts in one or more of the Designated Funds.
D. Section D. Recognition Names of donors shall be recorded in a Memorial Book which shall be kept on display in the Church at all times. In all cases, donors shall be given a note of appreciation which also informs them of the Memorial Book recording.
E. Section E. Memorial Fund Committee a. Membership. The Memorial Fund Committee shall consist of six voting members. They are as follows: President of the General Board, member of the Finance Committee, member of the Board of Trustees, recording secretary and two Church members at large. The Pastor shall be a non-voting member. The Church members at large must be fiscally accountable and capable of organizing and encouraging the responsible use of the Fund for the betterment and vision of the Church. b. Term. The two members at large shall be appointed from the congregation by the Trustees for terms of two (2) years, each member being appointed on a rotational basis annually, The Trustees shall also appoint a Recording Secretary for a term of two years. The terms of the Committee Chairman and the Recording Secretary may have the right of succession. A quorum shall consist of four (4) of the members at a properly set meeting. c. Duties. 1. The Memorial Fund Committee shall manage the Memorial Fund of the Neosho First Christian Church under the direction of the General Board, and in compliance with these bylaws. 2. The Committee shall operate in a manner normally expected of any committee and set proper rules for holding meetings, keep full and accurate minutes of all meetings, and give account to the General Board of all decisions regarding disbursement of funds. An annual account shall be made to the General Board, or more often if requested. The books of accounts shall be maintained by the Chairman of the Committee and shall at al times be open to inspection by General Board members appointed by the President of the Board. A petty cash fund may be maintained by the Recording Secretary for the purchase of supplies. 3. The Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the General Board for investment, reinvestment and application of the Memorial Funds and all interest earnings of the funds and for 7. what would constitute good stewardship of the funds. Final determination and approval of any investment or expenditure of the principal or interest contained in the Memorial Fund shall rest with General Board of the Church. 4. The Committee shall educate the congregation about the Fund, shall promote contributions to the Fund, and acquaint the congregation as to the manner of receiving, investing and disbursing of the funds. The Committee shall never encourage gifts to the detriment of any regular giving to established church programs. 5. The Committee shall have the authority to commingle all or any part of the property at any time with any other property at the time held by it in trust, for the purposes of investing the property to better advantage and of practicing good stewardship of the funds.
ARTICLE VIII. ++ PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUNDS POLICY
I. PURPOSE The primary purpose of the Permanent Endowment Fund of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Neosho, Missouri is to expand the witness and mission of Jesus Christ in the World, serving human needs in our community and around the world. It is not intended to compete with the regular annual giving of members, or to diminish opportunities for responsible stewardship by present or future members. All assets of the Permanent Endowment Fund shall be considered permanent. Each year an amount shall be spent from the Permanent Endowment Fund for ministry. For purposes of this document, the amount to be spent annually shall be:
A. An annual withdrawal of 5% of the market value of the Permanent Endowment Fund’s investment portfolio as measured on the last day of the previous calendar year or; B. The fund’s income, whichever is smaller.
II. TYPES OF GIFTS Permanent funds are usually not memorial funds, reserve funds or building funds. A separate policy usually governs these gifts. Gifts to the Permanent Endowment Fund may come in a variety of forms, including cash, stocks, bonds, real estate and tangible property. All gifts received in any form other than cash shall be converted to cash at the gifts fair market value as soon as practical. Real estate that might be used by the Church itself for expansion or some other purpose may be held in its original form if approved by the General Board upon recommendation of the Trustees overseeing the Permanent Endowment Fund. A gift may be refused upon recommendation of the Trustees of the Permanent Endowment Fund and passed by the General Board. Any gift designated for the Permanent Endowment Fund shall be considered permanent and cannot be spent. Undesignated gifts greater than $5,000, in the form of bequests, the residual value of charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities, and life insurance shall be considered as gifts to the Permanent Endowment Fund. Up to 10% of such designated gifts may be retained for local non-budgetary use if there is a significant or pressing need.
III. PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND TRUSTEES The members of the Memorial Fund Committee shall serve as the Trustees of the Permanent Endowment Fund. The current Chair of the General Board and the current Senior Minister shall be ex-officio members without a vote. Responsibilities of the Permanent Endowment Fund Trustees: A. Meet at least three times per church year B. Provide a written report annually to the General Board and to the congregation. The report shall include gifts received during the year, investment transactions, amount spent for ministry and the value of the fund at year-end. C Allocate the funds to be spent for ministry to the appropriate committees. 8. IV. ANNUAL SPENDING FOR MINISTRY A. Spending from designated gifts shall be according to the donor’s instructions B. Spending for ministry from the Permanent Endowment Fund will be as follows: 1. Fifty percent will be designated to new ministries 2. Thirty percent will be designated to a reserve fund to meet future capital needs or debt retirement 3. Ten percent will be designated for outreach causes and will be transferred to the Outreach Committee for expenditure. These funds will not be considered as part of the Outreach budget. 4. Ten percent will be spent according to the recommendation of the Finance Committee with approval of the General Board. If the funds are used to support the current operational budget, they may never represent more than 20% of the total budget.
V. AMENDMENTS This policy may be amended by two-thirds vote of the members of the General Board who are present and voting at two successive meetings provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the membership of the General Board at least thirty days prior to the first vote thereon.
VI. TERMINATION In the event that the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Neosho, Missouri should terminate its ministry, the assets of the Permanent Endowment Fund shall be transferred to the Christian Church Foundation, Inc. with instructions from the Trustees of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Neosho, MO for future spending.
ARTICLE IX. RULES OF ORDER
All business meetings of the General Board shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order in all instances where applicable and not directly in conflict with these bylaws.
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
The bylaws may be amended by a majority of the General Board present and voting in a regular or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the General Board at a preceding meeting.
** Amended: June 7, 1992 *** Amended: September 5, 1996 **** Amended: October 1, 1996 ***** Amended: January 7, 2001 WHERE IS THIS IN THE BYLAWS?
++ Added March, 2003; Composed May, 2002 page updated 7/21/08
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