Church Constitution and By-Laws of the
Amazing Grace Community Church

Preamble

We, the members of Amazing Grace Community Church of Cuba, Missouri, in order to carry out more efficiently the commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church do ordain and establish the following Constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves.

ARTICLE 1: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: ELIGIBILITY

Membership in the church is open to any person who professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and whose character, conduct, and reputation are in accord with this profession. Voting is limited to members 18 years of age and older. Members are expected to: 1) be in harmony with the Amazing Grace Community Church Statement of Faith, 2) abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the church, 3) be invited to share in a membership class, taught by the pastor or another person designated by the Church Board and, 4) support the church through prayers, contributions, attendance, and service.

Section 2: APPLICATION

Application for membership shall be made to any member of the Church Board or the pastor. Applicants shall be given a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Church and be invited to attend a membership class. The senior pastor and at least two other individuals from the Church Board shall meet with applicants to hear their personal testimonies of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and evidence of their understanding of and harmony with the Statement of Faith.

Applications shall then be submitted to the full Church Board and must be approved by unanimous vote. Any dissenting votes must be accompanied by Scriptural reason(s). Applicants shall be notified by the Board of the action taken and those approved shall be presented to the congregation for public welcome at a subsequent worship service.

Membership records shall be maintained by the Church Clerk and the membership list shall be reported to the congregation at the church’s Annual Congregational Meeting.

Section 3: REMOVAL

1. By absence. Any member who is absent for twelve months or longer, consecutively, shall be listed as “inactive” by the Board, resulting in non-voting status. Any member who is absent for twelve months or longer, consecutively, and from whom no communication has been received, may be dropped from membership by a majority vote of the Church Board.
2. By request for withdrawal. Any member who wishes to withdraw from the church shall provide such request in writing to a member of the Church Board and shall receive a letter of dismissal if requested.
3. By discipline. If any member shall conduct himself in a manner which, in the studied and prayerful opinion of the Church Board, is not in harmony with Scriptural principles and for which there is no evidence of repentance, such member shall meet with and be counseled by the Senior Pastor and Church Board in the manner clearly indicated in the Word of God (Matthew 18:15-17, Galatians 6:1). The restoration of the erring member and the protection of the spiritual life of the church shall be the purpose, and love the motivating force, in these meetings. If, however, the member chooses to continue in his unrepentant condition, he shall be removed from the membership roll of the church. This shall be done only after prayerful consideration and upon a unanimous vote of the Church Board. No Church Board member, however, is entitled to a vote regarding their own discipline, or that of a family member.
4. All membership changes shall be reported to the congregation at the next annual meeting.
5. Any member who has withdrawn or who has been excluded from the church loses all rights of membership in the church.

ARTICLE II: ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS

This church chooses to be congregational in its government. Congregationalism is defined to mean:

1. That this local church has the right to determine its own mission and decisions under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the guidance of God's Word.
2. The highest authoritative body for this local church is the membership as they voice their decisions through the appropriate vote (as defined in the By-Laws).
3. The responsibility for church government belongs to the entire membership and each member is encouraged to participate in the decision making process. Each member should participate with spiritual maturity and with a desire to build up the body of Christ.
4. That recognized spiritually gifted leaders are a part of God's plan for the local church. While the congregation determines the general direction of the local church and holds final authority, carrying out specific directions and ministries is delegated to specific officers and leaders in the church. Authority is vested by the congregation in these individuals or groups to operate under the guidelines established by the congregation. Honor is shown to those serving in a specific leadership or ministry role by not unduly interfering in the fulfillment of the position. These servants also understand the responsibility and accountability that has been given to them. Mutual submission, love and respect must govern all of the structural relationships of authority within the church. If there is a question about any decision or action of an individual or group, the congregation can review the issue and may affirm or overrule the decisions at a duly called congregational meeting.

Section 1: QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS AND LEADERS

All officers of the church shall be persons of irreproachable Christian character whose moral and spiritual standards are according to Biblical guidelines. Officers are to be persons of great faith in Jesus Christ that are trustworthy, respected in the community and exemplify Christ in daily living. All officers should possess a servant attitude toward God and others.

Section 2: LIST OF OFFICERS

The officers of the church shall be as follows: Senior Pastor, President of the Church Board, Church Board Clerk, Church Board Treasurer, Church Board Members and such other officers as the congregation may vote to establish.

Section 3: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. Senior Pastor. The Senior Pastor is the teaching elder for the congregation. The chief and most important duty of the Senior Pastor shall be to study, preach, and teach the Word of God. He shall have the responsibility of guiding the spiritual life of the church with the assistance of the Church Board and Ministry Team Leaders. He shall have the right to attend all board and committee meetings. He shall not be eligible for any other elected office, nor may he serve as chairman of any board or committee (team).
2. Church Board. The management and government of the church between congregational meetings shall be vested in the Church Board, as representatives of the congregation, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It shall be the duty of the Church Board to assist the Senior Pastor to exercise oversight over the church, shepherding the flock without lording it over them (I Peter 5:2), to guard the purity of doctrine, and to establish policy consistent with the Constitution and By-Laws. The Church Board shall act for the church in the reception, discipline, and dismissal of members. They shall assist in evangelism, teaching the Word, counseling the needy, comforting the afflicted, visiting the sick. The Board will assist the Senior Pastor in appointing Ministry teams, either standing or ad hoc to help accomplish the work of the ministry. It shall be the duty of the Church Board to have administrative oversight of the finances of the church, to prepare the annual budget in consultation with the Secretary and the Church Treasurer, to provide an annual financial audit.
3. Church Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Church Treasurer to keep accurate, auditable records of all church income and disbursements. The Treasurer shall recruit and direct a Financial Ministry Team to assist with the treasury obligations. The treasurer shall make sure that at least two additional members of the Board or Ministry Team are present when offerings are counted, and shall insure that all funds are deposited as quickly as practical. The treasurer shall provide regular reports of church income to the Church Board, and the congregation. The Treasurer shall keep the giving of individuals completely confidential. It shall be the duty of the Church Treasurer to keep accurate and auditable records of all disbursements of funds for the church and provide regular reports on the state of church finances to the Church Board, and the congregation. The Church Board shall elect the treasurer for a period of one year and serve only 3 consecutive terms.
4. President of the Church Board. It shall be the duty of the President of the Church Board to preside at all meetings of the congregation, to represent the church in public relations matters, and to oversee administrative functions of the church. The President shall also, in consultation with the Senior Pastor, provide an agenda for and preside over official Church Board meetings.
5. Church Board Clerk. It shall be the duty of the Church Board Clerk to take accurate minutes at all official Board and congregational meetings and to prepare such minutes for the congregation.
6. Amazing Grace Ministry Teams. Ministry Teams are formed as needed to implement a variety of ministries. The Church Board will approve each Ministry Team’s charter and leadership. The Church Board will review all active Ministry Teams annually for organizational and functional effectiveness. The charter shall include a ministry plan that details why they exist, what they are going to do, and how they intend to do it. With encouragement and training from the Senior Pastor or Pastoral staff member, Ministry Team leaders will guide the progress of their Ministry Team. A Ministry Team leader must be a member in good standing of Amazing Grace Community Church. Teams members should be professing Christians but do not have to be official members of Amazing Grace to be a part of a Team. Ministry Teams recruit their own members and assign responsibilities within their team as needed. On a regular basis, Ministry Teams submit written reports to the Church Board by way of their Pastoral Staff Team contact for the purpose of measuring progress against objectives. All members of Amazing Grace Community Church are to be involved in service and in ministry, using the natural abilities and spiritual gifts entrusted to them by God.

Section 4: CALL, ELECTION, AND APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

A.  General.

1.   A quorum of church members must be present for the election of officers.

2.   The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members, including (2) members of the Church Board, the Senior Pastor, and two elected by the congregation. These two at-large members shall be nominated from the congregation and elected by plurality vote no later than sixty days prior to the business meeting. Such individuals shall exhibit spiritual maturity and discernment. The Nominating Committee shall have the duty to recruit spiritually mature individuals from the membership to be candidates for office. Their recruiting should begin immediately after the election of the at-large members and should be completed in a timely manner. Any member of the church may make suggestions of nominations in writing to the Nominating Committee for their consideration.

3.   Nominations for Church Board shall be submitted by the Nominating Committee to the current Church Board for their consideration at least thirty days before the annual congregational meeting. The current Church Board is responsible to verify that each candidate meets the qualifications for church board membership. The approved slate must be submitted in writing to the congregation at least two weeks before the annual congregational meeting.

4.  In general, the number of candidates needed to fill the Board vacancies shall be submitted by the nominating committee. If no candidate receives the necessary vote by the congregation, the nominating committee must present a new candidate within thirty days.

5.  The election of Board members shall be by secret ballot.

6.  The Senior Pastor is the only paid staff member automatically classified as a church officer.

B.  Paid Staff.

1.  Senior Pastor. A candidate for Senior Pastor shall be submitted to the Church Board by a special Pastoral Search Committee, appointed by the Church Board and confirmed by the congregation. A candidate selected by the Pastoral Search Committee must be presented to the Church Board for approval, and must in turn be recommended to the congregation by the Church Board. He shall be called in a congregational meeting by at least a three-fourths vote of the eligible membership present and voting. The candidate should hold a valid credential with the EFCA or must pursue the appropriate credential with the EFCA. They must begin the process within two years of their starting date of ministry with Amazing Grace Community Church. The Church Board shall provide the Senior Pastor with a yearly contract stating clearly the salary and benefit package.

2.  Ministry Staff. These are assistant pastors, or program directors, part-time or full-time, who administratively report to the Senior Pastor. Their employment shall be recommended by the Church Board to the congregation. The individual shall be elected in a congregational meeting by at least two-thirds vote of the eligible membership present and voting.

3.  Service Staff. These are support service personnel (secretarial, clerical, bookkeeping, food service, maintenance, engineering, custodial, etc.). The positions shall be approved by the Church Board.

C.  Church Board.

The members of Amazing Grace Community Church at the Annual Congregational meeting shall elect Church Board members. A Board nominee must receive at least a Sixty-six percent vote of the eligible membership present and voting to be affirmed by the congregation. Terms shall be for three years, arranged so that approximately one-third of the Board members shall complete their terms each year. A Church Board member may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

There shall be four Church Board members for the first fifty members, or fraction thereof, plus one for every additional fifty members, or fraction thereof to a maximum number of 6 Board members. The Senior Pastor shall be deemed a member of the Church Board. The Church Board members shall meet within two weeks after the Annual Congregational Meeting to select their own officers.

Section 5: TERMINATION OF BOARD MEMBERS OR OFFICERS

1. An office the Church Board shall be declared vacant when any of the following conditions occur.

   1. Death
   2. Resignation
   3. Removal by a three-fourths vote in a secret ballot of the membership present and voting.

   In any action taken under item 3, the Church Board will advise the member in question of the charges against him in writing. The Board member shall have the opportunity to answer the charges in the presence of his accusers. The Board member shall not be present during discussions concerning them or during balloting. If the Board members are unsuccessful in bringing the matter to a satisfactory conclusion, it shall be presented to the congregation in accordance with Matthew 18: 15-17.

2. Whenever a vacancy occurs in any office, except that of Senior Pastor, the Church Board may appoint someone to fill that vacancy until the next Annual Congregational Meeting, at which time the person chosen to fill the vacancy must be presented to the congregation for approval.
3. The Senior Pastor shall be called for an indefinite period of time. 30 days or mutually negotiated notice must be given by either the Pastor or by the church for termination of ministry/employment.
4. Dismissal of Senior Pastor or ministry staff. Consistent with the duties of the Church Board (Article II, Section 3: C), the Church Board may initiate dismissal consideration of Senior Pastor or ministry staff. In the case of dismissal for moral reasons, the Church Board’s duty shall be to follow the procedures Described in Article I, Section 3: C and the Church Board can release the Pastor or staff member immediately. If dismissal is sought for any other reason, the Church Board shall recommend termination to the congregation. A termination action shall require a vote of simple majority of a quorum of members.

Section 6: LIMITATION OF POWER

A. No officer, board or committee of this church shall assume any of the following prerogatives without express congregational consent:

1. To amend this Constitution and By-Laws.
2. To call a Senior Pastor.
3. To purchase, sell or mortgage real property on behalf of the church.

ARTICLE III: MEETINGS

Section 1: CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

1. The Annual Congregational Meeting of the church shall be held during the month of August or September each year. At this meeting annual reports shall be received, Board member(s) elected, and other necessary business transacted.
2. Special congregational meetings may be called by the President of the Church Board, or by majority vote of the Church Board, or by a written petition of a quorum of the active membership. Notice of such special meetings shall be given either by announcement at the regular Sunday worship service, at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting, or by written notice mailed in time to reach all resident members at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 2: RULES OF ORDER

The rules of order contained in Roberts’ Rules of Order (latest revision) shall govern the church when it is not inconsistent with its Constitution and By-Laws. “Ex officio” in this document shall be defined as “non-voting” unless voting privileges are expressly given elsewhere in this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 3: QUORUM

Twenty five percent (25%) of the active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at congregational meetings. However, the quorum shall be forty percent (40%) for any meeting at which Board members are elected, or the Constitution or By-Laws are amended, or the dissolution of the church is considered. All matters shall be determined by majority vote except as otherwise specified in the church’s Constitution or By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV: MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1: ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CHURCH

1. No organization shall be formed within or considered to be a part of the church activities before the leaders have submitted their plans to the Pastor and the Church Board for their approval and sanction.
2. The various organizations are requested to confer with the Pastor or President of the Church Board from time to time regarding their plans and activities, and to submit copies of their minutes to the Church Board regularly. All matters of importance which affect the church shall be submitted to the Church Board for its approval in advance.
3. No organization shall be permitted to function under the name of the church whose leader or supervisor is not a member of the Church.

Section 2: FUND RAISING

Methods of raising funds by any and all organizations operating as part of the church shall be subject to the approval of the Church Board in advance.

ARTICLE V: AFFILIATION

Amazing Grace Community Church hereby declares its affiliation with the Central District Conference of/and the Evangelical Free Church of America, and will send delegates to their conferences, support their missions, and unite in all mutual efforts for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ in the measure that the church itself may officially decide. The authority of the congregation is not an excuse for isolation. Rather, it is an encouragement to mutually give and receive help for the work of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Statement of Faith of Amazing Grace Community Church shall be the same as the Statement of Faith of The Evangelical Free Church of America.

ARTICLE VI: COMMUNION

Communion shared in the worship services of Amazing Grace Community Church shall be administered by a minister of the church. Any person who believes that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin birth, died on the cross and shed his blood for the remission of their sins, and rose again on the third day and sits at the right hand of the God the Father, and has accepted Jesus into their heart, believes in Him, and confesses that He is Lord of their life may partake of communion.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended or altered by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at any regular or special congregational meeting of the church, providing written notification of the proposed alteration or amendment has been made to the membership at least ten days prior to such meeting. The Church Board is encouraged to recruit and appoint a Ministry Team to study, research and offer recommendations to the congregation in continuing to develop the constitution of Amazing Grace Community Church.

ARTICLE VIII: PROPERTY AND DISBURSEMENT.

If at any time the church body of Amazing Grace Community Church shall cease to be. Then the property and assets of Amazing Grace Community Church by a vote of the remaining members shall be Donated to a non-profit 501-3C organization. None of the assets shall be given to any individual. The church shall be considered dissolved if so decided by the organization at a duly called meeting of the membership. A seventy-five percent (75%) affirmative vote of the membership present and voting is required for dissolution.