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Related Documents: Church Constitution Statement of Faith |
Church By-laws |
Last Update: October 13, 2004 |
| Cornerstone Church, Inc. | ||
| 1000W 375S - Trafalgar, In 46181 - (317) 878-5807 |
We acknowledge that, those conditions which the Scriptures require of an individual at the occasion of his/her entrance into the body of Christ, as outlined in Acts 2:38-42; and which are delineated in the Basis for the Covenant of Faith, shall be the basis for local union with this Church. The Basis for the Covenant of Faith contains four fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith.
Basis for the Covenant of Faith:We believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son (John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:9).
We believe that He was born of a virgin (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27) and lived a sinless life upon earth (Hebrews 4:15).
We believe that He was crucified on the cross and died for the sins of all mankind (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 2:2, 4:10) and after His resurrection from the grave He ascended to His father in Heaven (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Ephesians 4:8-10).
We believe that it is the grace of God, through His son Jesus, that our sins are forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 1:7).
When these beliefs are professed, this qualifies an individual for membership in Cornerstone Church. The age of an applicant should be such that, he/she is fully capable of understanding and fulfilling the Basis for the Covenant of Faith.
An applicant for membership shall be required to profess, as a minimum, belief in the fundamentals of the Christian faith contained in the Basis for the Covenant of Faith. This profession may be made to the congregation at a conveniently appointed time. Upon the profession of faith the individual should be publicly welcomed into the fellowship at a regular service of the Church on the Lord's Day. Members are encouraged to publicly profess together the Covenant of Faith at this service.
Membership includes the responsibility for the various commitments of the Church Constitution In addition, it carries the responsibility for participating in, and voting on, all business brought before the congregation.
Children of adult members do not automatically become voting members of Cornerstone Church. Nor do they automatically gain membership upon reaching a certain age of accountability. Our concern is that each young person and voting member has a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This relationship cannot be inherited by virtue of a parent's profession and commitment.
However, it is not our intention to exclude young men and women from the life and decisions of the Church. Therefore, children may enter into membership (including the privilege of voting) provided they meet the following two criteria:
They are age 12 or older and
They have met with the Pastor, Elders and/or Deacons and affirmatively addressed the four tenets of faith, which are the Basis for the Covenant of Faith.
Membership may be terminated in one of five ways.
Any member in good standing who wishes to affiliate with another church will be granted a letter of recommendation upon request by the church with which he/she desires to associate. The letter will be forwarded upon recommendation of the Pastor, Elders and Deacons.
Any member who requests termination of membership for whatever reason will be granted that request. If there are unresolved problems between the requesting member and the Church, efforts will be made by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons to resolve any points at issue prior to the granting of the request.
Should any member of this Church be found to be flagrantly negligent in living the Christian life, the Church reserves the right to administer Scriptural forms of church discipline, as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 through the leadership of the Church. Should faithful efforts by the leadership of the Church render no promise of reform or manifest no spirit of repentance on the part of the member in question, membership may be terminated upon unanimous recommendation of the members present at a properly called Business Meeting. A member removed from fellowship by disciplinary action may be reinstated only by means of the normal admission procedure after meeting with the Pastor.
If a member has not participated in any of the Church worship services for a period of 3 months, their voting rights will be terminated, unless the inactivity is due to health, travel, or other reasons acceptable to the congregation.
The staff at Cornerstone Church are the members held primarily responsible for leading, organizing, and/or maintaining the Church. Staff consists of various paid and volunteer positions which includes but is not limited to the Pastor, Elders, Deacons, Trustees, Treasurer, Youth Leaders, Teachers, Worship Leaders, Custodian, etc. In order for the Church to be held accountable to it's members, all staff shall adhere to the following guidelines in spiritual and personal matters:
It is the desire of the Church that all members strive to meet these guidelines. Special cautionary measures should be given to ensure that guest speakers and praise leaders appear to be following these guidelines in their own spiritual and personal lives.
Teachers, Youth Leaders, and Worship Leaders may be nominated by the Congregation, but must be confirmed by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons. These person(s) shall serve in that capacity for an indefinite period of time. A new Teacher, Youth Leader, or Worship Leader may be approved to either fill a vacancy or to add an additional member to staff the Church with the approval of the Pastor, Elders and Deacons.
Teachers, Youth Leaders, and Worship Leaders shall be of intellectual and spiritual maturity with proven Christian character and sound judgment, exemplary in their conduct, effective leaders and teachers, qualified in accordance with the guidelines of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, and willing (together with their families) to be servants of the Church. Additionally, Teachers, Youth Leaders, and Worship Leaders shall be members of the Church and shall have proven themselves before the congregation in lesser capacities of service.
Teachers, Youth Leaders, and Worship Leaders shall be responsible to perform in part or all of the after mentioned standards:
Provide permission slips for all underage participants and an itinerary for ALL activities held off the grounds of the Church and any overnight event regardless of the location.
Shall provide when requested, a calendar of events, to the Pastor for approval.
To maintain classrooms and the Church as the property of the most high God.
To request use of the church van and/or the church facilities in a timely manner and place such request on the calendar in the foyer.
No person shall be permitted to use the church van that has been convicted of any crime while operating a motor vehichle other than routine traffic violations. No person may use the church van while under the influence of any intoxicating drug whether prescribed by a licensed physician or not.
Trustees shall be members of the Church and people of sound business judgment and spiritual discernment whose personal lives demonstrate mature Christian experience. It is desirable for Trustees to have experience in the areas of property management, insurance, law, or general business administration.
Responsibilities of individual Trustees shall be those of the Board of Trustees as defined in SECTION 301.
Elders and Deacons shall be nominated by the congregation, confirmed by the leadership of the Church, and approved by the members present at a Business Meeting of the Church. They shall serve in that capacity for an indefinite period of time. A new Elder or Deacon may be recommended and approved to either fill a vacancy on the Board of Deacons and Elders or to add an additional member to that board. An Elder or Deacon may be removed from office upon their own request, or by the members present at a Business Meeting.
Elders and Deacons shall be of spiritual discernment and members of the Church, exemplary in their Christian character and conduct, and of good reputation in the community outside of the Church. They and their spouses shall be willing to be servants of the Church in accordance with the meaning of the work as outlined in Acts 6:1-6 and shall be qualified in accordance with the guidelines in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. An Elder or Deacon shall be ordained by this Church with the laying on of hands by the congregation.
Responsibilities of individual Elders and Deacons shall be those of the Board of Deacons and Elders as defined in SECTION 302.
The Treasurer shall be a volunteer, confirmed by the congregation, and elected by 3/4 votes of the members present at a Business Meeting of the Church. The Treasurer may be removed from office upon his/her own request, by action of the leadership of the Church, or by the members present at a Business Meeting.
The Treasurer shall be a member of the Church and an individual of sufficient numerical and accounting skills so as to carry out the responsibilities of the position. The Treasurer shall be faithful in attendance, not be a novice in the Church, and have maintained their own finances in a Godly manner.
The holding in trust of all moneys belonging to the Church in the appropriate checking, savings, or other type account.
The maintenance of appropriate records of all expenditures of the Church.
The preparation of Financial Statements for distribution at church Business Meetings and the preparation of the Year End Financial Statement and its presentation to the congregation.
The Treasurer shall, in general, be accountable to the church members and specifically to the Pastor.
In the event of a pastor vacancy in this Church, a Pastor Search Committee shall be established as an Ad Hoc committee. The Pastor Search Committee shall be comprised of 5-7 members of the Church.
In general, it shall be the responsibility of the Pastor Search Committee to review and select candidates to be presented before the Church. This shall involve:
The establishment of criteria to be considered in making initial contacts with prospective candidates.
The making of inquiries as to the availability of prospective candidates.
The review of information as to the prospective candidates educational training, experience in Christian service, personal and spiritual reputation, doctrinal views, and conditions under which they would consider a call from the Church.
The scheduling of candidates for exposure to the Church including speaking at services.
The consideration of candidates for formal presentation to the Church for the purpose of voting on calling the candidate.
When possible or desirable the Pastor Search Committee is encouraged to select a candidate who has received some sign or signs of approval from another evangelical church body or organization (such as examination, ordination, or letters of recommendation and ecclesiastical endorsement from a spiritual body of like faith and order).
The Pastor Search Committee shall have the authority to expend funds in the pursuit of their responsibilities consistent with the Church Budget.
After a candidate has spoken at services of the Church and met with the Pastor Search Committee, the Committee shall meet to consider whether or not to formally present the candidate to the Church for the purpose of a membership vote. The unanimous vote of the Pastor Search Committee is required for formal presentation to the Church whereupon a vote shall be taken by the members at a Business Meeting. A pastor may be called by 3/4 of the members (see SECTION 4O1.C.3).
A pastor will be called for an indefinite period of time. The Pastor's tenure of service shall terminate by his resignation, death, or by the members present at a Business Meeting. In the event of the Pastor's resignation, he may give up to sixty days notice. In the event that the Church votes to terminate the Pastor's services, he shall receive sixty days notice or sixty days salary in lieu of such notice.
The salary of the Pastor and other compensation such as Social Security, insurance, housing allowance, and pension shall be specified in writing and made a part of the call upon which the congregation votes. Likewise, such items as authorized vacation, attendance at meetings and conferences, moving expenses, and other agreed upon conditions shall be addressed in the call. The call shall be in the form of a legal agreement. Changes in the initial conditions of employment are to be enacted by vote of the congregation.
The qualifications for pastor shall be the Biblical standards for the office of Bishop (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). In addition, the Pastor shall be ordained by the church body through the laying on of hands and shall hold membership in this Church during his term of service. Additional qualifications shall be as determined by the Pastor Search Committee. The Pastor shall have at minimum a Masters degree in theology and/or biblical studies and not be a novice in the position.
The Pastor has both the collective responsibilities as a member and the individual responsibilities of the chief shepherd of the Church.
Additionally, the Pastor shall:
Minister to the congregation through the regular preaching and teaching from the Scriptures.
Coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Church and be available for the purpose of counseling and intervention services.
Visit in the homes of those in the congregation as needed.
Oversee the Church's observance of its ordinances and ceremonies.
Supervise paid staff functions. Part of this function will be to determine vacations, sick days, and other work-related leave.
Render assistance to community efforts and offer his expertise in areas of need.
Spend time in personal prayer and devotion daily.
Allow for himself a time of rest and recuperation each week away from his daily duties and responsibilities.
Oversee all aspects of any of the ministries of the Church.
Facilitate and educate all staff in the manners and customs of Cornerstone Church.
Involvement by the Pastor in ministries, work, or other endeavors outside of the Church and its ministries shall be consistent to uplift the body of Christ and to minister to the community as needed or called upon by the community.
The authority of the Pastor shall be to govern the entire church body in a consistent manner with teachings of the Holy Bible. The Pastor shall be responsible for all staff including Teachers, Youth Leaders, Worship Leaders, Elders, Deacons, and any other position as deemed necessary. The Pastor shall have the authority to interpret the Scriptures to the congregation consistent with the Statement of Faith of the Church.
Will be hired by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons and with the input (for spiritual concerns only) of the congregation, provided funding (budget) has been approved.
Can be removed by resignation, death, majority agreement by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons, or by the members present at a Business Meeting.
Supervision of the Custodian will be the responsibility of the Pastor, Elders and Deacons. The Pastor will do day to day scheduling and prioritization.
Will be hired by the Pastor after unanimous approval by the congregation, provided funding (budget) has been approved.
Can be removed by resignation, death, unanimous agreement by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons, or by the members present (see SECTION 401.C.3).
Will be supervised by the Pastor.
The Board of Trustees shall be comprised of the body of Christ and confirmed by fulfilling all requirements of church membership for Cornerstone Church as per ARTICLE I of these By-laws.
In general, it shall be the duty of the Trustees to hold in trust all deeds to church property, to care for and maintain all church property, to oversee the use of all church property, and to attend to all legal matters related to the above. Church property as referenced in these By-laws shall include land, buildings, easements, and fixed assets. The Board of Trustees is also responsible to:
Act in behalf of the congregation in areas involving the buying, selling, mortgaging, leasing or renting of real property.
Oversee the care and upkeep of all church property including necessary utilities, improvements, repairs, minor alterations, and general maintenance, with the delegation of responsibilities as required.
Maintain adequate property and liability insurance coverage for all church property and facilities.
Provide input to the Pastor, Elders and Deacons relative to planning for future expenditures on property and facilities.
The Trustees will have the authority to buy, sell, lease, rent, mortgage, encumber, and convey real property when authorized and approved by the congregation.
The Board of Deacons and Elders shall be comprised of those men who demonstrate a calling from God, nominated by the congregation and approved by the members. (See SECTION 204 about Elders and Deacons.)
Provide leadership to the congregation as an example in the areas of faith, prayer, spiritual growth in the home, and boldness in proclaiming the Gospel.
Visit the sick, the elderly, and others in the Church requiring contact with the Church.
Become aware of the physical needs of those in the Church and the community at large, and develop and implement methods of meeting those needs.
Devise and implement effective Biblical methods of collecting the gifts of the Lord's people. This includes the money collected in special church offerings or received by other means when needed.
Assist the congregation in an understanding of Biblical financial management, stewardship, and giving. Seek ways to develop members in the grace of liberality and Christian financial freedom.
Assist in the preparation and distribution of the elements of the Lord's Supper, when needed.
Assist the Pastor in baptismal services, when needed.
Provide encouragement and/or discipline to the congregation as needed.
Represent Cornerstone Church through the Word of God and never be a respecter of persons.
Procedures for the conduct of Elder and Deacon business shall be determined by the Board of Deacons and Elders. That board shall be accountable to the Pastor and to the congregation.
The Board of Deacons and Elders shall meet when necessary to conduct its business. Meetings shall be called by the one who will individually contact members of the board and when possible, announce such meetings on the Sunday morning prior to the meeting. A quorum for the transaction of business shall be a majority of the board membership.
The Board of Deacons and Elders shall have the authority to expend funds consistent with their responsibilities and within the limitations of the Church Budget as agreed upon by the congregation and approved by the Pastor.
The Church shall meet regularly each Sunday for worship of God, for edification and discipleship through the Word of God, for fellowship among those in the body of Christ that they may minister to spiritual needs, and as a witness to the community. The conduct of these meetings shall be the responsibility of the Pastor.
Special Ministry Groups are any and all groups that meet in addition to our Sunday church gathering as representatives of Cornerstone Church. These are groups that take many forms and meet throughout the week, either in homes, or at the church building.
All those in the congregation are encouraged to participate in a Special Ministry Group.
The Special Ministry Group structure is an attempt to follow the pattern of church fellowships which existed in the early Christian church and to put into practice certain principles found in the New Testament that provide opportunities for:
Knowing God and seeing His work in each of us in a more personal and meaningful way.
Studying the word of God for the purpose of practically relating it to daily living (Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16).
Interacting with one another by sharing, confession, and speaking the truth in love with one another (James 5:16; Ephesians 4:15,25).
Bearing one another's burdens through prayer, comfort, encouragement, and the sharing of material goods (Galatians 6:2; James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 3:13; Acts 4:32).
Equipping each other for ministry and encouraging the discovery and use of spiritual gifts in ministry (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
Witnessing to those outside the Church (Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:21).
In additional to the above general purposes, Special Ministry Groups may choose to become individually involved in special areas such as Scripture memorization, specific community outreach endeavors, worship, etc. Different groups may focus on different aspects of Christian living dependent upon the needs and interests of the group.
All Special Ministry Groups shall gain the approval of the Pastor, and Elders and Deacons.
All Business Meetings of the Church shall require that notice be given to each member present at least one week prior to the meeting, in the Church Bulletin on the Sunday prior to the meeting, or by announcement on at least one previous Sunday morning. Such announcement shall state the time, the place of the meeting, and the nature of the proposed business. The requirement for a notice may be waived by the unanimous vote of the congregation in cases of emergency.
The Pastor shall either act as moderator or appoint another member in good standing to act as moderator at a Business Meeting of the Church.
Those members who attend a Business Meeting shall constitute a quorum for that meeting.
The transaction of business at any Business Meeting of the Church shall require a majority vote of members present, except as otherwise provided in these By-laws. Votes may be cast only by members who are present at a Business Meeting since congregational discussion and/or amendments made to a motion may change a vote cast in absentia.
Official minutes of all Business Meetings shall be recorded. Minutes from the previous Business Meeting shall be read and approved at each meeting.
We believe that the way an organization handles itself in the financial area is a reflection of its integrity in every area. Luke 16:11 teaches that the person who is untrustworthy in handling money cannot be trusted to handle spiritual riches either. Likewise, if we are trustworthy in the use of monetary riches, then God will be able to entrust spiritual riches and blessings to us as a church (Luke 16:10). Therefore, we have established the following financial policies and goals to guide us in proper stewardship of God's monetary riches:
This Church and ministry belongs to God. It is neither a monument to anyone's ego nor a legacy to anyone's memory. The ministry does not bear anyone's name. The buildings are not dedicated to anyone, but Jesus Christ. The Pastor, Elders, Deacons, and other members are merely stewards and fellow servants in the work of the Kingdom.
One of the ways we can discern the Lord's will regarding the continuation of our work is through the financial support He sends (or doesn't send) from His people. Therefore, during lean times we will make our obligations known--but we will not squirm, scratch or claw for contributions. We will never resort to what we consider to be disrespectful and dishonorable methods of raising funds, even when the need is serious. Nor will we attempt to motivate giving from a false sense of guilt or compulsion, since this robs God's people of the opportunity to give cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).
We consider the contributions we receive to be "blood money" -- like the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-4) we will view each contribution as a sacrificial gift from Christian people who love God. Our obligation, therefore, is to spend that money conservatively and wisely. Every penny will be stretched as far as possible to serve the needs of the ministry and the extension of Christ's kingdom.
We believe God wishes to use Cornerstone Church as a financial channel to help needy individuals and to support other evangelical ministries. Therefore, we will not spend money upon nonessential church personnel, programs or facilities. Instead we will strive toward the goal of giving of our income to ministries and individuals outside of the regular church program (i.e. Sunday school program, pastor's salary, building projects, utilities, etc.).
When we make a purchase, we will pay the invoice within 30 days if possible. Overdue bills are a sorry testimony to the world. We do not intend to use the vendor's money.
We will not spend more money than we receive. Careful budgeting and monitoring of our resources will permit us to reduce our expenses for programs and services before disbursements exceed income. Deficit spending is not God's will for this Church.
The Scriptures teach, "the borrower is a slave to the lender" (Proverbs 23:7). In order that we might be free to act, minister and to give as the Lord leads us, it is our goal to remain financially free from debt, as much as possible. If debt is incurred we will work to repay the obligation as soon as possible.
The Pastor will not be the primary fundraiser.
Satan delights in bringing disrepute to God's work through sins of greed, embezzlement and ill-gotten gain. Therefore, we will seek to elect and confirm leadership that is free from the love of money (1 Peter 5:2; 1 Timothy 3:3), and we will conform to acceptable accounting procedures to assure ethical monetary practices.
To summarize, we will try to remember always that Jesus Christ is our possessor and our dispossessor. He ordained and blessed the establishment of Cornerstone Church. It belongs entirely to Him. Therefore, we will cradle it lovingly in our hands, attempting not to crush it through self-centeredness, ignorance, or church politics.
Financial accounts shall be established through the Church Budget, approved by the congregation, and maintained by the Treasurer. Accounts may be established for non-budgeted funds collected for church approved activities or events.
Regular offerings shall be taken at Sunday services and other special meetings as determined by the Pastor, Elders and Deacons. Undesignated offerings shall be applied to the Church Budget.
Special offerings shall be specifically identified as to their purpose. These offerings shall either be taken separate from regular offerings or provision made for the separating of special offerings from regular offerings by means of an identification procedure.
The amount of funds received in regular offerings shall be communicated to the congregation by means of regular financial statements. Funds received in special offerings shall be communicated to the congregation on the Sunday morning following the offering.
The Treasurer shall prepare financial statements. Financial statements shall conform to business standards and be comprehensive in nature. This includes the identification of receipts and disbursements by account for the period covered, and comparisons made to the budget figure for those same accounts and period. Financial statements shall be made available to the congregation.
The Church Budget shall be prepared by the appropriate church members or a committee appointed by the Church as necessary. The Church Budget shall be based on God-given challenges, the previous receipt and disbursement record, growth experienced during the previous year/period and anticipated in the coming year/period, and other factors which affect the expenditures of the Church. Input should be obtained from the various staff, ministry groups, or individuals relative to their particular areas of ministry.
A copy of this budget as prepared shall be made available to the congregation at least one week prior to a budget approval meeting. Upon approval of the final Budget at this meeting, copies shall be made available to the congregation.
The Church Budget shall serve as a guide for the expenditure of funds in all areas of the Church's ministry. Expenditures in excess of the Budget by staff, ministry groups, or individuals require the prior approval of the congregation. The expenditure of funds for budgeted items which exceed the items not addressed or identified in the Budget require the approval of the congregation regardless of amount.
The church finances shall be reviewed yearly by a committee of at least three people, one of which shall be the Pastor. This committee will be selected by the congregation on an annual basis. This committee will review all financial records to ensure that the books are balanced, make any recommendations to the Pastor, Elders and Deacons, and make a report available to the congregation through written notification. The Treasurer will provide all pertinent documents required by the committee.
Baptism will be practiced as indicated below.
A person who has made a profession of faith in Christ, who earnestly desires to lead an obedient life, and who has never been baptized, will be encouraged to be baptized. Such a person should present himself before the congregation to profess his faith and to request baptism.
Upon confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and after careful consideration an individual may be baptized. The Pastor, Elders and/or Deacons shall conduct the services in an orderly manner consistent with the practices of the Church.
Baptism services shall occur as and when scheduled by the Pastor.
The Lord's Supper is symbolic of the sacrifice of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) and the resulting fellowship of believers (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Participation in the Lord's Supper shall be open to all Christians who genuinely confess their sinful state, and indicate their repentant spirit and dependence upon Christ as Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).
Upon confirmation and approval by the congregation, the candidate for Pastor, Elder or Deacon shall be ordained to Christian ministry at a public service of the Church. The service will consist of exhortation from the Word of God, questions posed to the candidate, the laying on of hands, and prayer (Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Timothy 5:22). The Church shall take the responsibility for encouraging and assisting those whom it has ordained (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17).
These By-laws may be amended at any Business Meeting of the Church provided:
That such amendments are proposed by either boards, committees, staff, ministry groups, or members of Cornerstone Church;
That such proposed amendments have been made available to the congregation in written form on the one consecutive Sunday preceding the meeting in which action on the amendments is to be taken or have been provided by mail 7 days prior to that meeting;
That notice of the time and place of the meeting has been indicated in the above written notification, has been announced, or has been acknowledged in the Church Bulletin on at least one Sunday preceding the meeting;
That the affirmative vote for amendment shall not be less than 3/4 of the votes cast by the members present (See SECTION 401.C.3).
No amendment to these By-laws shall be permitted which infringes upon the Church Constitution or the Statement of Faith.