Grace Fellowship Proposed
Bylaws
Adopted
Article One
– Name,
1.1
Name
and Founding
This body of Christ, originated March of
1997 in
1.2 Purpose Statement
Grace Fellowship shares with all local churches the purpose of the
universal church which is to worship God, celebrate the person and work of
Jesus Christ, establish and build up the Body of Christ, and communicate the
good news of Jesus Christ to the lost.
1.3
Grace Fellowship exists to live in and enjoy a growing grace-based
relationship with God, each other, and the entire world while inviting others
to experience the grace of Jesus Christ and to become a part of our fellowship.
1.4 Vision Statement
Grace Fellowship seeks to become
liaisons of God’s grace through developing believers into a relational
community, building healthy relationships, and reaching out to the
disillusioned and unchurched skeptic.
1.5 Affiliation
Recognizing and appreciating her roots
in and with the family of Christ known as the Southern Baptist Convention, Grace
Fellowship shall always be an autonomous church body looking only to the Lord
Jesus Christ for leadership. Grace
Fellowship shall choose to align herself with other churches and organizations
for the purpose of missions and/or ministry as God leads, as well as following
any and only those confessions of faith of her choosing.
1.6.0
Officers
1.6.1 Offices. Grace
Fellowship shall be represented by a Corporation President, Vice President, and
Secretary.
1.6.2
Appointment
and Terms. Officers shall be full members in
full covenant standing of Grace Fellowship and shall serve a term of three
years or less as designated by the Lay Leadership Council.
1.6.3
Authority. Officers shall have no legal or other
positional authority except as designated by the Lay Leadership Council. Such
authority shall be boundaried and time defined.
Article Two – Church Ordinances
Grace Fellowship shall recognize Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as
the two church ordinances. These
ordinances are recognized as being symbolic in nature but profound in their
meaning. Both of these ordinances are
considered pivotal in their impact on the Christian Walk and Journey of the
Christ Follower. While one of these
ordinances is contemplative in nature the other is an avenue of public
proclamation.
2.1
Baptism. Baptism is
recognized as a symbolic proclamation of a Christ Believer/Follower of their
faith. The example set in scripture, and
by Jesus Christ, is to make this symbolic proclamation through the act of
Believer’s Baptism. Believer’s Baptism
takes place following a person’s decision to become a Christ follower. Grace Fellowship shall practice Believer’s
Baptism through the mode of immersion unless it is physically inadvisable to do
so. Believer’s Baptism shall always be
recognized as being symbolic of a decision made rather than an avenue to
salvation. Grace Fellowship shall
consistently encourage all believers to make this public proclamation believing
that it is truly a pivotal point in the Christ Follower’s life and walk with
Christ.
2.2
The Lord’s Supper. The taking of and participation in the Lord’s Supper is an
opportunity to reflect upon the work of Christ on the cross and the subsequent
grace offered to those who would receive.
The Lord’s Supper shall be recognized as symbolic and offered in varied
forms as the pastors should so choose.
Grace Fellowship shall encourage all believers to take part in the
observance of the Lord’s Supper as an opportunity to meditate and contemplate
the sacrificial work of Christ.
Article Three
- Church Affiliation
Grace Fellowship shall offer three levels
of Church Affiliation:
a.
Full
Members
Full
privileges and responsibilities.
b. Associate Members
Same privileges as Full Members with the
exception of voting and serving on Lay Leadership Council and Pastoral Staff
(restriction may apply to other teams and committees as such restrictions are
deemed necessary by council).
Responsibilities also limited as detailed in Associate Members Section.
b.
Pre-Members
Privileges
of relationship and fellowship.
3.1 Full Membership Covenant
Grace Fellowship consists of Christ Believers/Followers who, in
the freedom of Christ and through personal choice, relationally covenant
together with a commitment to all of the following:
3.1.1 Regular worship attendance.
Grace Fellowship shall not define what ‘regular’ is, only that, as
scripture requires, each individual is to make it his or her habit to regularly
attend corporate worship.
3.1.2 Regular financial contribution.
The choice to be a member is to choose to support Grace Fellowship
financially. The definition of ‘regular’
is as God prospers, which may mean weekly, monthly, etc. Grace Fellowship shall not define how much or
how often one gives but will allow this to be determined by each individual member.
3.1.3 Agreement on the historic, orthodox
confession of faith.
Basic
Truths (majors):
a.) The inspiration of Scripture
b.) The Trinity
c.) The person (virgin birth), work
(sacrificial
death),
and bodily return of Christ
d.) Salvation by grace alone through faith
alone
e.) The depravity of man
f.) The reality of Satan
g.) The purpose of the church (1.2)
As
a fellowship, we hold to these basic truths (majors) that make us distinctively
biblical. But, as a fellowship we are
made up of people who hold differing views or interpretations on certain Bible
truths (minors) and certain habits of life (actions) and are free to do
so. However, in our major agreements or
minor differences we are to maintain an attitude of love for each other. In the majors there must be agreement — In
the minors there must be freedom — In all things there must be love.
3.1.4 Commitment to the moral and ethical standard
of scripture. Members of Grace Fellowship choose to be
accountable to all other members in the commitment to “walk in a manner worthy
of the calling with which you (we) have been called.”
3.1.5 Embracing, supporting, and advancing the
mission and philosophy of Grace Fellowship. Members choose to
identify themselves with the corporate identity of Grace Fellowship being like
minded and not divisive.
Other than these five covenantal points, each member is free to
determine the extent of his or her specific responsibilities within the body
life of Grace Fellowship. Determination
for such service may be based on giftedness, talents, desire, health
(spiritual, emotional, and physical), or any number of other factors.
3.2 Attaining Full Membership Status
3.2.1 Membership
Enrollment. Grace Fellowship will accept individuals into
full membership at anytime during the year.
Membership is finalized following New Member Orientation which will
provide the opportunity for the new members to testify to and of their
salvation experience. Grace Fellowship
shall accept letters of transfer from candidates when possible in addition to
the Orientation and salvation testimony.
3.2.2 Membership Affirmation. Every
other year (the month of March on odd numbered years) each member will have the
opportunity to reevaluate, refocus, and reaffirm their covenant agreement to
all other members of Grace Fellowship.
If members choose to reaffirm their membership, it will be an
affirmation that they want to continue in the responsibilities, privileges, and
accountabilities of being “members one of another” as provided by Grace
Fellowship. If a member does not
reaffirm his or her membership, it will be an affirmation that he or she does
not want to continue in the responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities
that Grace Fellowship provides. Although
this individual will be removed from full membership status Grace Fellowship
shall continue to display love toward him or her, engage in fellowship, provide
acceptance, and consider him or her as a brother or sister in Christ. Their decision will only be a recognition that
they have chosen not to covenant with others in the responsibilities,
privileges, and accountabilities that Grace Fellowship provides. They are still welcome to be involved to the
degree that they choose (within membership boundaries in regard to privileges). If someone desires to reaffirm but has a
personal problem that might keep them from reaffirming their membership, they
are encouraged to speak with a member of the Lay Leadership Council for a
possible resolution.
3.2.3 Membership Registry.
The purpose of the membership registry will be to identify those who
have chosen to enter into an intimate relationship with one another thus
covenanting together to be corporately identified as Grace Fellowship. The membership registry will be used to
identify those who have chosen to involve themselves in the responsibilities,
avail themselves to the privileges, and hold themselves accountable as members
of Grace Fellowship.
3.3 Associate Membership
An associate
member is someone who desires to have a relationship with the people of Grace
Fellowship. An associate member is
someone who makes a commitment to regularly attend the corporate worship times
of Grace Fellowship and who is taking a step towards full membership but for
one reason or another is not yet ready to make that covenant with Grace
Fellowship. He/She is free to be
involved in activities and ministries but cannot vote on congregational matters
nor serve on the Lay Leadership Council or Pastoral Staff (or other teams and
committee restricted by Council or Pastoral Staff). Associate members have all the options and
opportunities provided by Grace Fellowship but are not bound by the covenant of
responsibilities, privileges, and accountabilities of membership. An associate
member may be removed from the Membership Registry at the discretion of the
Pastors and/or Lay Leadership Council.
An Associate Member may be any one of the following:
3.3.1 Someone in Need of Healing.
This is anyone who has experienced past hurts due to unhealthy church
relationships who may need time to hear about and experience the grace of God
and to allow God to bring spiritual, emotional, and relational healing and
health. While the need for healing does
not exclude someone from membership at Grace Fellowship, an associate member
status may allow for a time of healing and recovery.
3.3.2
Someone
Inquiring into Grace Fellowship. This is someone who is a Christ
Believer/Follower and is determining his/her compatibility with Grace
Fellowship and is investigating the theology, philosophy, covenant and
everything else that makes up the “in workings” of Grace Fellowship.
3.4 Pre-Member
A
Pre-Member is an individual who is an inquirer of Christ, who is investigating
the claims of Christ on their life but for one reason or another, has not
settled the question of their own relationship with Christ. A Pre-Member is an individual desiring
relationship and fellowship with the family of Grace Fellowship but unable to
commit to either of the other types of membership due to personal place in
relationship with Christ. A Pre-Member’s privileges are limited to
participation and assisting leadership when deemed appropriate. A Pre-Member’s responsibilities are self
determined.
3.5 Church Discipline
3.5.1 Reason for Implementation of Church
Discipline
Church
discipline may be enacted when a Church Member has first-hand knowledge of sin
in the life of another believer or if said member has been personally offended
by another individual.
3.5.2
Main
Objective
To win a brother and restore the relationship.
3.5.3
Steps
to Reconciliation
a. Confront
individual privately (Matt.
b. Take one or two neutral Grace Fellowship
Full Members to serve as witnesses/judges (Matt.
c. Tell it to the Church (Matt.
d. Remove individual from
membership and treat individual as a lost person (Matt.
Article Four – Church
Leadership
4.1 Structure
4.1.1 Head of Church
Grace
Fellowship
Senior Pastor
shall operate, administrate, and
minister
under
the
leadership of
Jesus
Christ. All
earthly
leadership
structure
shall be
under
this overall
umbrella
of Jesus
Christ
and
all
decisions
made
and ministries
conducted
will be done with and in reference to Him.
4.1.2 The Body
Under the leadership of Jesus Christ, Grace Fellowship
shall be led by the Senior Pastor, Pastors, and the Lay Leadership
Council. These groups shall serve as the
governing bodies of the Church under the leadership of the called Senior
Pastor.
a. The
Pastors shall be
responsible for leading the Church to function as a New Testament Church. They shall lead the congregation, the Church
organizations and programs, and Staff /Volunteers to perform their appointed
tasks. Pastors shall accept the advisory
role of the Lay Leadership Council and place themselves under accountability to
the Council in matters of personal and corporate integrity, Biblical Leadership
Standards (see 4.3.1 and 4.3.2), Ethical and Moral Integrity, and adherence to
the bylaws of Grace Fellowship including but not limited to Purpose, Vision,
and
b. Lay
Leadership Council shall
work to support ministry conducted and led by Pastors. Council shall work with Pastors in an
advisory role. Council shall be
available for prayer and counsel to staff and church body. The Council will bring matters of budget
approval, extraordinary (over or out of budget) expenditures, Church
indebtedness, changes in bylaws, legal matters, and/or the calling and/or
dismissal of Senior Pastor to the Church Body for approval.
4.2 Administrative Guidelines/Division of
Responsibility of Governing Bodies
Terminology
Note: Decisions are divided into two categories:
a.) Regular Decisions-These are decisions
that fall within the said responsibilities and budget of person or group making
this decision. These decisions usually
just require a process of informing accountability leadership and do not
require approval.
b.) Crunch Decisions-These are decisions
that fall outside (or not completely within) established boundaries and budgets
of individual or group making decision.
These decisions require approval from accountability leadership.
4.2.1 Senior Pastor will
provide leadership, direction, and oversight of all church ministries and operations.
Senior Pastor will designate oversight authority of non-pastoral ministerial
staff to appropriate Pastor. Pastors
will be vested with the responsibility and corresponding authority to make
regular decisions on behalf of the church in areas where congregational approval
is not required. Pastors are accountable to the Lay Leadership Council and the
Church Body and will report on matters as needed in order to keep the church
informed.
4.2.2 Special teams may be appointed for
specific tasks/issues by the Pastors and/or the Lay Leadership Council and will
serve for a designated time and will carry the responsibility as well as the
corresponding authority to accomplish that particular task/issue within
established boundaries. The team will be
accountable to the Pastors and/or the Lay Leadership Council (determined by
establishing body) while being given authority to complete said task(s).
4.2.3 Expenses that fall
outside or over the approved church budget will have to come before the church
body for approval through the Pastors and/or Lay Leadership Council.
4.2.4
Expenses
that fall within budget may be approved by Pastors and/or Lay Leadership
Council.
4.2.5
Approval
for budgetary spending shall be dependent upon funds available.
4.2.6 The use of general
funds, designated funds, and any special offerings shall be done with respect
of and toward the letter and spirit of the law established by the United States
Government in accordance 501C non-profit corporations.
4.3 Leadership
Qualifications and Appointment
4.3.1 Leadership Qualifications
Pastors, Non-Pastoral Ministerial Staff,
and the Lay Leadership Council will be accountable to each other as well as to
the whole of the Church Body. The three
aforementioned groups must be full members of Grace Fellowship, who have made
the public proclamation of their choice to be Christ Followers through the
symbolic act of Baptism, and have exhibited the following scriptural standards
in their present and current living:
a.
A
calling of the Holy Spirit (Acts
b.
A
life lived above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,
and teachable (I Tim. 3:2 and Titus 1:7-8).
c.
An
ability to exhort and refute with sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).
d.
A
sober, gentle, un-contentious, content character (I Tim.3:3 and Titus 1:7)
e.
A
well managed family living with respect for each other and the world (I Tim.
3:4 and Titus 1:6).
f.
A
genuine faith (I Tim. 3:6).
g.
A
good reputation outside of church (Tim. 3:7).
h.
Faithful
in marriage relationship (Tim 3:2 and Titus 1:6).
4.3.2
Leadership Principals
a. Positive Spirit: The ability, in the most negative
situation, to step back and see what God is teaching through it.
b. Loyal Spirit: A commitment to you that “I will
neither give to others nor receive from others a negative word about you until
I have first talked with you, and then, only if another is needed to resolve
the conflict between you and me will I share my grievance with him/her. Even
then it will only be in a redemptive manner.”
c. Servant Spirit: Lifting up and encouraging others for
their benefit and not for personal gain.
d. Coaching Spirit: Encouraging others to accept
responsibility for and authority over ministry areas while maintaining
accountability to the leadership and the rest of the church.
4.3.3
Senior Pastor Appointment/Dismissal
The Lay Leadership Council shall prayerfully
research and interview candidates for Senior Pastor under advice and council
from Pastors and Church Body. Once
Council is convinced of God’s direction they shall present candidate to the
Church Body for approval. Once Church
has approved the candidate and the candidate has accepted the position of
Senior Pastor the position will be considered filled. Lay Leadership Council shall be responsible
for determining the need for dismissal, should the situation arise, of the
Senior Pastor and must bring such a motion and needed evidence and
documentation before the Church Body for approval and plans for financial
provision of dismissed Pastor following dismissal.
4.3.4
Pastors Appointment/Dismissal
Senior Pastor shall work with Pastors to determine Pastoral
needs. Senior Pastor will bring this
need to the Lay Leadership Council for approval and budgetary approval (unless
this was previously approved in the yearly budget this budget alteration will
require the Council to go before the Church Body for approval). Once the position has been approved, the
Pastor, under advice of Pastors, Lay Leadership Council, and the Church Body
shall prayerfully research and interview candidates. Once Senior Pastor has become convinced of
God’s direction then candidate will be brought to Lay Leadership Council for
approval. Senior Pastor shall be
responsible for determining the need for dismissal of non-senior pastor(s),
should the situation arise, and must bring such a motion and needed evidence and
documentation before the Lay Leadership Council for approval and plans for
financial provision of dismissed Pastor following dismissal. Non-senior pastors may be dismissed by Lay
Leadership Council upon recommendation of Senior Pastor and exit financial
provision made upon approval of Lay Leadership Council. If exit financial provision requires out of
budget spending then exit package must be approved by church body.
4.3.5
Non-Pastoral Staff
The Pastoral Staff, under supervision and approval of the Senior Pastor,
shall be responsible for the hiring, supervision, and dismissal of all
non-Pastoral Staff. Non-Pastoral Staff
must be an approved budget item prior to employment.
4.3.6
Personnel Policy
All Staff, Pastoral and Non-Pastoral Staff will be subject to the approved
Personnel Policy.
4.3.7
Lay Leadership Council
Makeup/Appointment/Dismissal
Lay Leadership
Council shall consist of 10-12 individuals (attempting to have a mix of gender,
age, and life situations that is a fair representation of the Church
Body). Candidates must have been a full member of Grace Fellowship for at least one
full year and have exhibited a commitment to and respect for the membership
covenant. Council members shall serve
for a term of two years with at least a one year break required before serving
another term. Half of the council
rotates off each year. The Church Body
is given the opportunity to nominate individuals to be candidates each year
during the month of March. The Senior Pastor and Lay Leadership Council then
evaluate these candidates in regard to their commitment to Christ and the
Church Covenant. As the Pastor and
Council decide on a candidate, that individual is interviewed by the Senior
Pastor who then brings their nomination back to the Lay Leadership Council
(Senior Pastor has the authority to refuse to bring any individual back to the
Council for consideration without explanation due to confidentiality reasons
unless revelation is agreed to by said candidate). On the first Sunday of May, the entire list
of Lay Leadership Council (those who will remain for the upcoming year and
those new candidates selected) are presented to the Church Body for Affirmation
(secret ballot). Full membership present
must affirm Lay Leadership Council by a 2/3 majority. If the church chooses to not affirm the list
of Lay Leadership candidates then the following Sunday a vote is taken of each
proposed council member. Should any
individual not be affirmed by a 2/3 majority of full members present at this
time the council may choose to offer an alternative in the next two months or
to work with the council as has been affirmed.
Lay Leadership Council, Pastor(s), and or Church Members may call for
the dismissal of any council member which must be done in the appropriate and
Biblical process (see 2.3.3). Lay
Leadership council, under the direction of the Senior Pastor, shall determine
the day and times, and format of meetings.
Article Five – Church
Finances
Grace Fellowship shall strive to have complete integrity and
transparency in all financial dealings. In
an effort to achieve this, the following guidelines shall be in place:
5.1 Budget
Preparation
The Pastors shall prayerfully prepare and submit a yearly budget
to the Lay Leadership Council by the end of October each year for evaluation
and approval. The Lay Leadership Council
shall prayerfully not seek to evaluate the ministries or programming plans of
the Pastoral Staff represented in the budget but to determine the reality of
the projected giving and the commitment of the church to this budget. Council shall give input and advice and shall
seek to determine ways to fund the needs of the budget. Once the Council has, in working with the
Pastors, come to a finalized budget proposal the budget will be presented to
the Church Body for approval by the end of the calendar year. If further time is needed to prepare the
budget, Council need only to inform the Church Body of the projected
presentation date. If the Church Body
fails to approve said budget, recommendations will be received by the full
membership and the process will return back to the Pastors who will then
present a revised budget to the Council and then the budget is taken again to
the Church Body.
5.2 Financial
Responsibility and Transparency
a.
A
financial secretary shall serve (this may be a volunteer or a staff position)
to keep track of financial records, make payments, write checks (including
payroll), and address other financial considerations. This secretary, or any volunteers working
under secretary, may not sign checks.
b.
Lay Leadership
Council shall appoint a bi-yearly internal audit team to perform an informal
audit following closure of the financial records. This team will report back to
the Lay Leadership Council any and all findings and recommendations. This report shall be made available to the
Church Body.