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Presented to the 2nd half Congregational
meeting January 10, 1999
Acted upon 2nd half Congregational meeting
January 9, 2000
Final copy January 9, 2000
HOPE EVANGELICAL COVENANT
CHURCH
Crystal Lake, Illinois
CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
"The Evangelical Covenant Church
has its roots in historical Christianity as it emerged in the Protestant
Reformation, in the biblical instruction of the Lutheran State Church
of Sweden, and in the great spiritual awakenings of the nineteenth century.
These three influences have in large measure shaped its development
and are to be borne in mind in seeking to understand its distinctive
spirit."
"The Covenant Church adheres to
the affirmations of the Protestant Reformation regarding the Holy Scriptures,
the Old and the New Testament, as the Word of God and the only perfect
rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. It has traditionally valued the
historic confessions of the Christian church, particularly the Apostles'
Creed, while at the same time it has emphasized the sovereignty of the
Word over all creedal interpretations. It has especially cherished the
pietistic restatement of the doctrine of justification by faith as basic
to its dual task of evangelism and Christian nurture, the New Testament
emphasis upon personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the
reality of a fellowship of believers which recognizes but transcends
theological differences, and the belief in baptism and the Lord's Supper
as divinely ordained sacraments of the church. While the denomination
has traditionally practiced the baptism of infants, in conformity with
its principle of freedom it has given room to divergent views. The principle
of personal freedom, so highly esteemed by the Covenant, is to be distinguished
from the individualism that disregards the centrality of the Word of
God and mutual responsibilities and disciplines of the spiritual community."
This document, which is in harmony with
the above preamble, is the constitution and bylaws of the HOPE EVANGELICAL
COVENANT CHURCH of CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this church shall be the HOPE EVANGELICAL
COVENLNT CHURCH OF CRYSTAL LAKE. ILLINOIS.
ARTICLE II
AFFILIATION
The church is a member of the Evangelical
Covenant Church and its Central Conference and is pledged to work in
harmony with the Covenant and its decisions and to support its program,
policies, and institutions.
ARTICLE III
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The church believes in the Holy Scriptures,
the Old and the New Testament, as the Word of God and the only perfect
rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct.
ARTICLE IV
PURPOSE
Section 1.
The purpose of the church shall be to
unite Christians in fellowship for spiritual development, for the winning
of persons to Christ, and for the propagation of the gospel of Jesus
Christ through Christian education, home and world mission, and the
institutions conducted by the Evangelical Covenant Church and its local
regional conferences.
Section 2.
In order to achieve this purpose, the
church, in the unity of the Spirit, shall use the gifts that God has
given it and the means of grace which God has placed at its disposal:
the Word of God, baptism, and Holy Communion.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the church is granted on
application to those who through faith in God's Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, have been born anew to a living hope, have been baptized according
to the Holy Scriptures, desire to live a Christian life, and promise
to support the total ministry of the church and to share its fellowship
and obligations.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
The officers of the church shall be a
chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary, a financial secretary, and a
treasurer.
ARTICLE VII
CHURCH COUNCIL
Section 1.
The general administration of the church
shall be vested in a body known as the Church Council. Where law requires
action(s) by "trustees" the council shall be known as the
"Board of Trustees" and the members of it as "trustees".
The council shall also serve to supervise the spiritual life of the
church.
Section 2.
The council shall consist of the officers
of the church (chair, vice-chair, secretary, financial secretary, and
the treasurer) and other members as specified in the bylaws. The senior
pastor shall be an ex-officio member of the council.
Section 3.
The council shall organize itself in
a manner specified in the bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII
CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETINGS
Section 1.
Congregational business meetings shall
be held at stated intervals, but not less than semi-annually. The annual
congregational meeting shall be held as near the first of the year as
feasible. At the annual meeting, written progress reports shall be submitted
by the pastor(s) and by each commission of the church. Audited financial
reports shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church and each
of its organizations. Members of the council for the ensuing year shall
be elected by ballot. The church budget shall also be submitted for
action.
Section 2.
Notice of all congregational business
meetings shall be provided to members not less than two weeks prior
to the meeting and shall include the date, time of the meeting, and
an annotated agenda of business to be transacted.
ARTICLE IX
PROPERTY
In the event of schism within the church,
from which we earnestly pray God to spare us, the title of all church
property, real or personal, shall remain with the group which abides
by this constitution, as determined by the executive board of the Central
Conference.
The church may be dissolved by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the members of the church. In the event of dissolution,
the property and all assets of the church shall become and be the property
of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Central Conference.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Amendments in harmony with this constitution
and the Model Constitutions for Local Covenant Churches and not in conflict
with Covenant principles and policies may be adopted by a two-thirds
vote of those present and voting in an annual meeting of the church,
providing the proposed amendment was presented in written form at the
preceding annual meeting. Articles IX and X may be amended only with
the approval of the executive board of the regional conference.
**************
Presented to the 2nd half Congregational
meeting January 10, 1999
Acted upon April 18, 1999
Final copy April 18. 1999
HOPE EVANGELICAL COVENANT
CHURCH
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Admission Into Membership.
A. Application
for membership.
A written application shall be placed
with the pastor or the council. Applicants shall complete a course of
study in an Inquirer's Class, and shall subsequently be received into
membership on acceptance of their written application by the church
council, a profession of faith to the council, an affirmative vote of
the council and an affirmative vote in the next congregational business
meeting.
B. Transfer
of membership.
Applicants from other Christian churches
shall submit letters of transfer when available, to the pastor and/or
the council, who shall act upon the application according to the requirements
of paragraph A. of this section. Completion of a course of study in
the Inquirer's Classes may be waived at the discretion of the council
for transfers from other Evangelical
Covenant churches.
C. Reception
of new members.
Applicants who are voted into the membership
of the church shall be welcomed at a subsequent service of Holy Communion
and shall make public confession of their Christian faith, as outlined
in A Covenant Book of Worship
Section 2. Children of Members.
Children belonging to members of the
church and its constituency shall be nurtured under its spiritual care.
After completing the confirmation course, they shall be eligible for
church membership according to the procedure stated in Section 1, paragraph
A. of this Article. Completion of a course of study in the Inquirer's
Classes may be waived at the discretion of the council if the applicant
has completed the Confirmation Course not more than twenty-four months
prior to application for membership.
Section 3. Responsibility of Membership.
All members shall assume the responsibilities
and obligations placed upon them by the Word of God and the church.
They shall through their witness by life and word, active Christian
service, prayer, and financial support further the cause of Christ in
the local church, regional conference and the Covenant.
Section 4. Discipline. Dismissal of
Members.
A.
Erring members.
Any member known to err in doctrine or
conduct shall be counseled according to the procedure outlined in Matthew
18: 15-18 and Galatians 6: 1. Any member having knowledge of such error
shall, in the spirit of Christian love, seek to restore the brother
or sister. If he or she does not heed this counsel, the matter shall
be brought to the attention of the church council, which shall in meekness
and gentleness seek to restore the member. If he or she fails to heed
the counsel of the council, the error shall be brought before a congregational
business meeting. Discipline shall then be administered in the spirit
of Christ with due regard for the welfare of the individual as well
as the church.
B.
Dismissal of members
Dismissal of a member under this section
must be acted on by the church, which alone has the authority. A two-thirds
vote of those present and voting at a congregational business meeting
is necessary for such action.
C.
Forfeiture of rights
A member who has been properly dismissed
from the church, or has withdrawn membership, has forfeited all rights
and privileges of membership in the church.
Section 5. Transfer of Members
Application for transfer of membership
shall be made in writing to the pastor, who shall issue the transfer
to the church with which a member is uniting. Withdrawal of said membership
shall be reported through the council to the next business meeting where
it shall be made a matter of record.
Section 6. Removal of Membership.
Request for withdrawal from membership
in the church may be made in writing to the pastor or the council. After
careful consideration, the council shall present a recommendation for
withdrawal to a business meeting of the church. Members who have become
inactive, have had no communication with the local church, and have
not expressed an interest in maintaining membership for a period of
one year or more, shall be considered for removal from membership. The
church council shall send a letter of inquiry to members described in
this section to ascertain their desire to continue church membership.
Upon affirmative response, membership may be continued. If no response
is received, the council shall present a recommendation for withdrawal
to a business meeting of the church.
Section 7. Non-member Friends.
Non-member church friends shall be enrolled
by the church as a part of its total constituency. The church and its
pastor shall serve them in all their spiritual needs, and they shall
be encouraged to consider this as their church home. They shall be kept
informed of the activities of the church.
ARTICLE II
PASTOR(S)
Section 1. Qualifications.
The pastor(s) of the church shall meet
the New Testament requirements of their office (1 Timothy 3:2-7 and
be members in good standing of the Covenant Ministerium and follow the
Rules for the Ordered Ministry of The Evangelical Covenant Church. They
shall by virtue of their call be members of the church.
Section 2. Duties.
The pastor(s) shall devote themselves
to the service of the church, preaching and teaching the Word of God,
administering the sacraments, and faithfully giving themselves to pastoral
work. They shall provide the church with an accurate record of their
pastoral acts and present a written report to the congregational annual
business meeting. They shall practice good administrative procedures
and cooperate with the church council. The senior pastor shall be an
ex-officio member of the council and all commissions or committees of
the church.
Section 3. Cooperation.
The pastor(s) shall, both in word and
precept, work in harmony with the Covenant, the regional conference,
and other Covenant ministers.
Section 4. Call.
The pastor(s) shall be called at a regular
or special congregational business meeting, the purpose of which shall
be announced two weeks in advance. The pastor(s) shall be nominated
by a pastoral search committee. This committee shall be elected at congregational
business meeting. It shall be representative of the congregation and
have five (5) to nine (9) members and shall work closely with the regional
conference superintendent. The pastor(s) shall be called by ballot with
a two-thirds vote required for a call. The call shall be for an indefinite
period of time with a minimum of six weeks notice required by the church
or the pastor(s) for termination of pastoral duties.
Section 5. Charges Against the Pastor(s).
Charges against pastor(s) shall be submitted
in writing to the church council, charging pastor(s) with indiscretion,
immorality, doctrinal error, unethical behavior, or disloyalty to the
Covenant (Matthew 18: 15-18). If in the judgment of the church council
there is substance to the charges, the case shall be referred to the
regional conference superintendent. The superintendent shall
confer with the Covenant executive secretary
of the ministry. These two officers shall confer and determine the order
of responsibility in pursuing the matter according to the Rules for
the Ordered Ministry of The Evangelical Covenant Church regarding discipline,
prior to further action by the church.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Duties.
A.
Chair
The chair shall preside at all business
meetings of the church and meetings of the council. Care shall be taken
to confer with the senior pastor in preparing the agenda for such meetings
and shall utilize the counsel that the pastor can give by virtue of
his or her training, experience and calling. The chair shall be responsible
for leadership of the church services in the absence of the pastor.
B.
Vice-Chair
The vice-chair shall assist the chair,
and during his or her absence, assume that office and its duties.
C.
Secretary
The secretary shall keep and preserve
the minutes of all congregational business nleetings of the church and
meetings of the council, and shall conduct and preserve all official
correspondence as shall be delegated to the secretary.
The secretary shall also be responsible
for the official seal and documents of the church.
D.
Financial secretary
The financial secretary shall receive,
record, and transmit to the church treasurer all funds contributed to
the church.
E.
Treasurer
The treasurer shall be responsible for
all funds committed to him or her and shall make disbursements as authorized
by the church or the council. The treasurer shall also present a written
report of the receipts and expenditures to each regular meeting of the
council and to each congregational business meeting.
ARTICLE IV
CHURCH COUNCIL
Section 1. Qualifications
Members of the council shall be members
in good standing who are active in the support of the total ministry
of the church.
Section 2. Size, Composition, Election
and Tenure
The council shall consist of five (5)
or more members, not including the senior pastor who is an ex-officio
member. At the annual congregational business meeting the church members
shall elect council members.
Those members shall include the five
(5) church officers who shall be elected annually to their specific
offices (chair, vice chair, secretary, financial secretary, and treasurer)
and other members. All council members shall serve for terms of two
(2) years in such a manner that the term of at least one member shall
expire each year. They shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive
terms. Any council member who has served the term limit will be eligible
for re election after a lapse of one year.
Section 3. Organization
Following the election of council members
at the annual congregational business meeting, it shall convene to appoint
from its own number the five church officers and liaisons to various
church commissions. These officers shall be the corporate officers of
the church. The council, in its own discretion, may appoint assistants
from the church congregation to assist the officers of the church.
Section 4. Council Duties.
The council in its administrative responsibility
in cooperation with the pastor shall fulfill the functions &fined
by the constitution and bylaws, including the following:
A. Supervise church membership, including
recommendations relative to reception or removal of members.
B. Assist the pastor in nurturing the
spiritual life of the church and in the service of communion as planned
by the pastor.
C. Establish administrative and program
policies in conformity with the spirit of the church constitution.
D. Evaluate the total church program
on a continuing basis.
E. Plan and recommend the annual budget,
and stewardship opportunities for the church.
F. Review and approve the schedule of
the church activities and personnel.
G. Appoint members to those committees
as set out in Article VI of these bylaws, and church workers as the
council may deem appropriate.
H. Appoint from its membership a liaison
for each church commission.
I. Approve changes in commission membership
which occur between annual congregational business meetings.
ARTICLE V
COMMISSIONS
Implementation of policies and programs
established by congregational or council action may be accomplished
through administrative commissions which may include:
A) Adult Ministries
B) Care
C) Children's Ministries
D) Fellowship
E) Properties
F) Stewardship
G) Youth Ministries
Section 1. Qualifications
Members of the administrative commissions
shall be church members or regular attenders in good standing who are
active in the support of the total ministry of the church.
Section 2. Election and tenure
At the annual congregational business
meeting the church members shall elect commission members. Commission
members shall serve for terms of two (2) years in such a manner that
the term of at least one member shall expire each year. They shall not
serve more than two (2) consecutive terms on the same commission. Any
exceptions to commission tenure must be approved by the church council.
Any commission member who has served the term limit will be eligible
for re-election after a lapse of one year.
Section 3. Organization
Each commission shall select from amongst
its members a chair and a recording secretary.
Section 4. Duties
Each commission must conduct monthly
meetings of the commission. The chair or an appointed representative
of each commission shall also attend the monthly church leadership meetings.
Each commission shall report monthly to the council through their liaison
and shall also provide the council with a copy of all commission meeting
minutes.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive committee.
The Executive committee, consisting of
the church chair, the secretary, and the treasurer, together with the
senior pastor of the church, shall strive to promote effective working
relations and communications in the church. The committee shall have
no legislative power, but shall function in an advisory capacity to
the council, unless specific responsibilities shall have been assigned
to it by the councilor the church.
Section 2. Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall consist
of not less than three (3) members who shall be elected at a business
meeting at least three (3) months prior to the annual meeting. The senior
pastor shall be an ex-officio member of the committee. After being convened
by the church chair, committee members shall elect their own chair and
secretary. The responsibility of the committee shall include the following:
A. Prepare a ballot for the annual meeting
of the congregation listing at least one qualified candidate for each
position to be filled.
B. Confirm the willingness of each candidate
to serve before listing his or her name on the ballot.
C. Present a complete ballot to the annual
meeting of the congregation. This shall constitute completion of the
committee assignment, unless given specific responsibilities at said
annual meeting.
Section 3. Mutual Ministries Committee
The Mutual Ministries Committee membership
shall include the Executive Committee, and two representatives from
the congregation at large who are elected by the congregation at the
annual congregational business meeting. Candidates for the at-large
committee positions shall be members in good standing, nominated by
the church council. These at-large members serve two-year terms, staggered
to replace one each year. If an at-large committee position becomes
vacant, the church council may appoint another church member to fill
the vacancy until the next annual congregational business meeting.
Section 4. Special Committees and
Task Forces.
Special committees or task forces for
specific purposes may be appointed by any duly constituted business
meeting of the congregation or by the council according to need, but
shall be automatically terminated at the next annual meeting unless
specifically extended by said annual meeting.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
Section 1. Public Services.
Public services shall be conducted regularly
for worship, the preaching and teaching of God's Word, and prayer.
Section 2. Celebrating Sacraments.
The sacrament of Holy Communion shall
be celebrated monthly or as determined by vote of the church. The sacrament
of baptism shall be celebrated in keeping with Covenant policies and
according to the needs of the constituency.
Section 3. Congregational Business
Meetings.
Congregational business meetings shall
be held regularly not less than two times per calendar year, as specified
in Article VIII of the constitution. Special congregational business
meetings may be called by the chair of the church in consultation with
the senior pastor, or by the council.
Section 4. Church Council and Administrative
Committee Meetings.
Regular meetings of the council shall
be held not less than monthly. Administrative committees, special committees,
and task forces shall meet at a frequency which may be specified by
the council. Special meetings of the council, the executive committee,
the administrative committees, and the task forces may be called by
their respective chair.
Section 5. Organizational Meetings.
Meetings and activities of the organizations
of the church shall be coordinated with the council. They shall be conducted
regularly under the direction and supervision of the council.
Section 6. Other
Meetings.
Use of the church facilities for any
meetings or activities by organizations not created by the church councilor
by action of a congregational business meeting shall be reviewed and
approved by the church council.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Quorum.
A. Ten percent of the membership, but
not less than twelve (12) members, present and voting at a congregational
business meeting properly called shall constitute a quorum.
B. The quorum for the council, commission,
committee, and task force meetings shall be a majority of their respective
memberships.
Section 2. Rules of Order.
All business meetings of the church and
of the council, commissions, committees, and organizations of the church
shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these bylaws not in conflict
with the constitution may be adopted in the following manner:
1) Amendments must be presented in writing
to the church council at a council meeting;
2) then must be presented in writing
at the next congregational business meeting;
3) And finally, they may then
be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at
the next congregational business meeting.