Church Constitution

CONSTITUTION                                      10/26/2016
OF
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH
OF
KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI

PREAMBLE

We, the members of Faith Baptist Church, do hereby establish and adopt the following articles as the constitution to which we and all subsequent members do covenant to submit ourselves..

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this local assembly shall be FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH which is located in Kirksville, Missouri. The business name FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH OF KIRKSVILLE (Incorporated). Faith Baptist Church is committed to the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) and thereby “to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization as established under the by-laws of this constitution is to facilitate the business activities in the acquiring and holding of real estate, the collecting and disbursing of money and the appointment of authorized Trustees of the church. The foremost purpose of Faith Baptist Church, in love and obedience to her Savior and covenant Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, is to worship the triune God in spirit and truth (John 4:24) by continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in observing the ordinances, and in prayers (Acts 2:42), which require the members to assemble themselves together (Hebs. 10:25) that the saints might be perfected for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:12) and through this ministry that the elect might be saved (II Tim. 2:10; John 17:2; Matt. 28:18-20) and that the members of this church, both individually and collectively, through a proper exercise of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 13; Roms. 12:6) sovereignty bestowed at regeneration (1 Cor. 12:13, 18), might be built up in the unity of the faith (Eph. 4:13) unto godliness (Titus 1:1) to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) so each member, by good works, might glorify the Father who is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

CHURCH COVENANT

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love to strive for the advancement of this Church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote her prosperity and spirituality; to sustain her worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.

We also engage to maintain family and personal devotion; to educate our children religiously; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger, to be zealous in our efforts to advance the church and kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy and in speech; to be slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Anyone professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord, Master and Savior, giving evidence of change of heart and declaring himself in accord with the principles, practices and doctrines of this Church may become a candidate for church membership.

It is resolved that this church receives into her membership:
            a. Those who profess faith in Christ and come for baptism.
            b. Those who come by letter from a church of like faith and order and baptized by a church of like faith and order.
            c. Upon profession of faith in Christ as their Savior and their statement that they have been scripturally baptized and that it is impossible or impractical to secure a letter.
            Their coming by statement must be for a reason acceptable to the Church. Letters of dismissal will be granted only to churches of like faith and order, upon the request of the church.
Since it is the duty of each church member to attend worship services (Hebs. 10:25) those who fail to attend the worship services without just cause will be dealt with by church discipline.

ARTICLE IV – WHAT WE BELIEVE

We Believe:
            The Bible is God’s verbally inspired Word and therefore our final authority.

            The one and only triune God is perfectly holy, infinite in power, knowledge and wisdom, and is full of mercy and grace. He created the world as stated in the Bible and He sustains it. All are accountable to Him and should honor, praise and serve Him.

            All men are sinners and are totally depraved. All will be judged by God and punished forever unless they are saved by His grace.

            Salvation is of the Lord and comes because of His mercy and grace. The Father planned it, the Son paid for it, and the Holy Spirit provides it.

            Jesus Christ is God and man. He was virgin born, without sin, died for our sin, arose again, ascended to Heaven, and will return to the Earth at the set time.

            A person is saved when he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, he receives Christ when he repents toward God and believes on Christ as his Savior.

            A saved person has been born again and will live a new kind of life. He will seek to be like his Savior in life and service.

            A saved person should join a New Testament Church by baptism and should support it with his time, talent and money.

            Baptism is the immersion of a believer by a New Testament Church to picture how Christ died for his (believer’s) sin, and rose again for him.

            A New Testament Baptist Church is an assembly of baptized believers governed according to the New Testament and seeking to carry out the Great Commission.

            Jesus is coming again to take the saved and give them new bodies and reward them, to punish the lost and to set up His perfect kingdom upon the Earth.

            Addendum: For a fuller explanation of what we believe see “The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith.” (Copies are available)

ARTICLE V – PASTORS

The Pastors are appointed by the church. The Pastors are the overseers, under shepherds, rulers (guides) of the church. Their qualifications and other duties are recorded in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. They are to rule over and superintend the work of the church, without lording over the congregation, as under shepherds, rules by virtue of their spiritual gifts exercised in a love for the church that centers in Christ Jesus, its Lord and Savior. They are to feed the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers (Acts 20:28-32; Hebs. 13:7, 17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4). They are to teach and preach the whole counsel of God, as gifted by Christ.

ARTICLE VI – DEACONS
The Deacons shall be appointed as the need arises by the vote of the congregation. They shall be publicly ordained to fulfill their office indefinitely and shall be removed from the office by death, voluntary resignation and upon approval of the church for disciplinary reasons due to unfaithfulness to their duties and responsibilities. The deacons are officially recognized servants in the local church (Acts 6:1-7; I Tim. 3:8-10; 12-13). The function and duties of the deacons are:
            a. To minister to the outward needs of the membership of the church, showing mercy with cheerfulness to those in special need.
            b. To care for the material interest of the church; such as buildings, properties and land, and to recommend action to the church pertaining to their interests when needed.
            c. To superintend the collection and recording of church offerings.
            d. Can also be a Trustee of the church where legal action is required.
            e. To assist in the spiritual unity and growth of the church the Holy Spirit.

ARTICLE VII – TRUSTEES

The church shall appoint Trustees as required to act on behalf of the church in legal matters concerning the disbursing of funds for property, both buying and selling, and to perform such other business concerns of the church as shall from time to time be assigned to them by the church. The Trustees shall have no authority to sell, lease, give away or dispose of in any manner church property to exceed one hundred dollars in value; or to mortgage or encumber the same with debt to exceed the above amount except as the church shall order by corporate act.

ARTICLE VIII – FINANCIAL SECRETARY/TREASURER

The church shall appoint a Financial Secretary/Treasurer from its membership to receive all monies of the church and apply the same as directed by the church; keep a true and fair record of accounts and make a full report to the church at each quarterly Business Meeting and when otherwise directed by the church.

ARTICLE IX – CHURCH CLERK

The church shall appoint from its membership a Church Clerk. He shall keep a fair and complete record of the proceedings of the church, have charge of all records, keep a register of all members of the church, and write letters of dismissal.

ARTICLE X – BUSINESS MEETING

            a.   Routine Business Meetings – shall be conducted in accordance with this rule on Church order: The regular meetings of the church will be sufficient for both purposes of worship and business. A pastor (or in his absence, any brother whom the church may appoint) shall act a moderator. The moderator will keep order, state and explain all propositions. According to Divine order, the woman is subordinate to the man (Eph. 5:23-24; Gen. 3:16; I Cor. 11:3). In public worship the responsibility for praying speaking, and teaching is not placed upon the woman by upon the man (I Cor. 14:34-35; I Tim. 2:11-12).

            b.   Quarterly Business Meetings – shall be held in the months of April, July, October and January.
            c.   Special Business Meetings – Special Business Meetings may be called for three reasons. First, the majority of the congregation may call a meeting for the purpose of calling or dismissing a Pastor, which shall be given public notice at a Lord’s Day worship service for one preceding Sunday. Second, a Special Business Meeting may be called by the majority vote of the church for amendments to this Constitution provided that notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given from the pulpit on two Sundays prior to the meeting at which action is desired. Third, without prior notice a Special Business Meeting may be called by the majority vote of the church or by the pastors to vote on church financial matters or to vote to receive new church members.
            d.   Rules of Decorum – A Pastor (or in his absence, any brother whom the Church may appoint) shall act as moderator and decide all votes and rules of order. (1) Any male member who wishes to present any question to the church must address the moderator and be given the floor by the moderator. (2) Any member who does not understand a proposition to be voted upon, may ask a question concerning the proposition at any time. (3) To reconsider a motion that has been passed, someone who voted for the motion must make the motion to reconsider, and must be sustained by majority. This must take place in the same Business Meeting. (4) A motion to adjourn is always in order and takes precedence over all other motions, except when someone is speaking or a vote is being taken is not debatable. (5) Fifty (50) percent of the membership present constitutes a quorum to conduct business meeting.
            e.   Procedure of Business
(1) Moderator calls the church to order to take care of the business that comes before the church.

(2) Clerk to read the minutes of the last business meeting. Ask for correction or approval of the minutes of the last meeting.

(3) If no corrections to Clerk’s report, they will stand approved as the have been read.

(4) Financial Secretary/Treasurer’s report to be read and if no corrections the report will stand approved as read.

(5) Unfinished Business.

(6) Correspondence, if any, to be read by Clerk.

(7) New business. If no other business.

(8) A motion to adjourn is always in order. The motion to adjourn should be until the regular meeting or by the call of the Pastor or church.

ARTICLE XI – DISSOULUTION

            a.   This church shall have the right to own, buy, or sell tangible properties, both real and personal, in its own name, through properly elected authorized Trustees.
            b.   In the event a decision is made by the church to dissolve the corporation known as Faith Baptist Church of Kirksville, Missouri, provision shall be made by vote of the church previous to dissolution: (1) to satisfy all its debts, and (2) then assign all its assets or holdings to the Lord as the church sees fit.
            c.   None of the assets or holdings of the church shall be divided among its members or given to any individual.

Constitution of Faith Baptist Church