Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE FIRST ROMANIAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF VIRGINIA
PREAMBLE
Whereas the Bible is the only perfect constitution for the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of the church, we accept it as our only inerrant rule of faith and practice. This Constitution exists merely as a written understanding of how the principles of Scriptures apply to the administration of this church.
ARTICLE I – NAME
The church shall be known as the First Romanian Baptist Church of Virginia.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The purpose for which this church exists is to glorify the Triune God through evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and worship. The ideal expression of this purpose includes bringing each and every person within the total area of the ministry of the church into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, then to a growing awareness of, and yielding to, the indwelling Holy Spirit.
ARTICLE lII – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – Admission to Membership
Any individual may express his/her desire to become a member of this church at any worship service in which an invitation is given. Membership shall not become effective until one of the following conditions is also satisfied:
1. A public profession of faith in Christ as Savior and Lord and upon believer’s baptism,
2. Receipt of a church letter of dismissal and recommendation from another church of like faith and practice, or
3. Statement of previous membership and believer’s baptism in a church of like faith and practice.
Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the ultimate earthly authority for the government of this church rests in the active members collectively. This is primarily evident in the active members, complete autonomy in calling the Pastor. However, once a Pastor is called the active members shall entrust him with the government of the church and shall follow his leadership, unless he is found to be in contradiction to clear Biblical reaching. In such cases, the administration of the church will revert back to the active members and, if the pastor is unrepentant, he shall be dismissed and a new pastor sought in accordance with ARTICLE IV, Section 1.
Section 2 – Definitions
A. Active Membership
The active membership of this church shall consist of those individuals who:
1. Publicly profess a sincere faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10).
2. Have experienced believer’s baptism (Acts 2:41).
3. Strive to meet the following goals:
a. Faithfully witness to the lost (Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8).
b. Minister in the area of their spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:12).
c. Regularly attend worship services of this church (Acts 2:41-47; Hebrews 10:24-25).
d. Faithfully contribute to the financial needs of this church (I Corinthians 16:2).
Active members who are at least l8 years of age will be entitled to vote at any business meeting.
B. Inactive Membership
An active member becomes inactive when he will have ceased to attend regular worship services for 1 year. He, thereby, forfeits his right to vote in business meetings. His right to vote will be restored when he will have returned to regular worship services for a period of not less than 6 weeks.
Section 3 – Discipline of Members
This church shall exercise discipline among its members as an outgrowth of its responsibility to be mutually accountable to one another in faith and conduct, and in order to preserve this church’s witness and unity. All church discipline shall follow the Biblical guidelines found in Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; I Corinthians 5:1-13; II Corinthians 2:1-11; l3:1; Galatians 6:1; II Thessalonians 3:6, l4-l5; I Timothy 5:19-20, 6:3-5; Titus 3:10-11, and James 5:19-20. In accordance with these passages, it shall be the practice of this church to exercise church discipline in a spirit of love and gentleness with the primary goal being restoration.
Section 4 – Termination of Membership
Membership may be terminated with church approval upon:
a. The death of the member.
b. Issuance of a church letter of dismissal or recommendation for membership in another church of like faith and practice. One’s joining another church without request for letter, (usually of another faith).
d. One’s personal request.
e. One’s complete inactivity for 1 year when reasonable efforts to contact and restore the individual have been made.
f. Church disciplinary action (Section 3 above).
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
Section I – Pastor
A. Qualifications
The Pastor also referred to in the Bible as an elder and overseer, shall possess the Biblical qualifications found in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9. No man shall be Pastor of this church who cannot affirm and demonstrate a belief in, and commitment to, the inerrancy and absolute authority of the Bible.
B. Call
In the event a vacancy occurs, a Pastoral Search Committee will be elected by the church and will be responsible for prayerfully seeking and recommended to the church a candidate for the position. They will also be responsible for securing all necessary interim leadership. The election of a Pastor will be by ballot with an affirmative vote of at least 85 percent of the active members present and voting necessary for a call. Such a vote will be taken at a special business meeting called by the Pastoral Search Committee, and on the day the prospective Pastor preaches in view of a call. When a Pastor is secured, the Pastoral Search Committee will be dissolved.
C. Responsibilities/Duties
The pastor is the under-shepherd of Christ (Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2) and is responsible to Him for the total well being of the church (Hebrews 13:17) and for leading it in fulfilling its God-given purpose. He shall:
1. Equip the saints for the work of ministry by preaching and teaching the Word of God.
2. Be responsible for recruiting, appointing training, and assisting all lay ministers in the church, or seeing to it that it is done by other appropriate persons.
3. Be responsible for the oversight and administration of all church ministries, programs, and teaching activities.
4. Be responsible for the pulpit ministry of this church, including all guest speakers.
5. Oversee the formulation of a church budget with exclusion of his own salary and benefits, in consultation with the leaders of various church ministries. This is to be submitted to the church for approval during the annual business meeting.
6. Recommend for employment, supervise, and terminate all staff of the church’ including ministerial and non-ministerial staff.
Whenever a Personnel Committee exists, the Pastor’s recommendation for hiring any staff member should first go to that Committee for its approval before any recommendation is made to the church. Upon such approval, the Personnel Committee will make the recommendation to the church for final approval.
Also the personnel Committee in cooperation with the Pastor will develop and recommend any salary benefit package for such personnel.
The Pastor has absolute authority to terminate any staff person.
7. Moderate all business meetings of the church, being responsible for maintaining a Christ-honoring decorum in such meetings.
8. Appoint a Pastoral Advisory Council to assist and advise him in the exercise of his duties as outlined in ARTICLE IV, paragraph C.
D. Pastoral Advisory Council
Acknowledging that the Pastor is the spiritual leader of the church and is ultimately accountable to God, but also recognizing that he can benefit from the wisdom and insight of other godly people, he will nominate, for church approval, a Pastoral Advisory Council of no less than four active members to advise him in his responsibilities/duties. The Council will serve the church by meeting regularly with the Pastor, and by offering candid and honest opinions on all issues under discussion. The Council members will serve a term on 1 year. They may be reelected each year for a maximum of 3 consecutive terms, thereafter 1 year must elapse before reelection to further term.
E. Tenure
The tenure of the Pastor may be terminated at any time by the Pastor, or the church, upon 30 days notice. Grounds for termination by the church are personal doctrinal error, personal behavior unbecoming a Christian, or failure to meet the responsibilities/duties described above. Termination by the church shall follow the direction set forth by our Lord in Matthew 18: 15-20. A special business meeting shall be called in accordance with ARTICLE VII in order to bring the matter before the active members. A two-thirds majority vote in favor of termination by the eligible active voting members present is required to terminate the Pastor’s tenure (ARTICLE III, Section 2). No such vote may be taken without first a fair and proper hearing of all alleged causes by the voting members, unless the Pastor agrees in uniting to forfeit such a hearing. At such a hearing all allegations must be validated biblically.
Section 2 – Assistant Pastors
Assistant Pastors shall meet the same qualifications as the Pastor and shall be called to serve this church as needed. They shall be recommended to the church by the Pastor and called by no less than a two-thirds majority of the eligible active voting members present at a special business meeting per ARTICLE VII, Section 3. They shall serve under the supervision of the Pastor.
Section 3 – Deacons
A. Qualifications
Deacons shall be active members of this church and shall meet the Biblical qualifications found in I Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:16. They must be 25 years of age or older.
B. Number
The number of deacons shall depend upon the need of such service within this church and upon the Lord’s provision of qualified and willing men to serve in this capacity.
C. Nomination and Election
The deacons and the Pastor will determine the number of deacons needed and will receive nominations from active members annually for man willing and qualified to serve for the next year. After a thorough review of each nominee’s qualifications, understanding of a deacon’s duties and willingness to serve, the Pastor and the deacons will submit to the church at the annual business meeting nominees for election by ballot.
D. Responsibilities of Deacons
ln accordance with the meaning of the New Testament transliterated “deacon” and translated “servant”, and the practice of the New Testament, deacons shall be primarily responsible for meeting the physical needs of the members. Deacons are not elders, overseers, or elected representatives serving in an administrative capacity. Their loving, faithful, and impartial fulfillment of their service will not only meet real needs, but will also promote harmony and fellowship within the church and will free the Pastor for the vital tasks of prayer and the ministry of the Word. Their duties may include such needful services as:
1. Assisting widows:
a. With the many details that must be dealt with upon the loss of a spouse.
b. With the proper maintenance of their homes and automobiles.
c. With transportation to church, doctor’s office, etc.
2. Assisting persons with special needs.
3. Assisting the handicapped by providing transportation to church, while at church, etc.
4. Visiting the sick at home or in the hospital.
5. Visiting those in nursing home seeking to discover and meet their needs.
6. Arranging for delivering meals to those who are sick of homebound.
7. Checking regularly, by phone or otherwise, with the elderly, helping them to maintain their independence as much as possible.
8. Assisting with practical preparations for the Lord’s Supper and Baptisms.
F. Term of Office
Deacons shall serve for I year, unless unable to do so. They may be reelected each year for a maximum off 3 consecutive terms, thereafter 1 year must elapse before reelection to a further term.
Section 4 – Trustees
The church will elect annually not less than 3 trustees. Upon a specific vote of the church approving each action, they shall have the power to buy, sell mortgage, lease, or transfer any real property belonging to the church and to sip legal documents related to church matters. The trustees shall incur no personal liability in the performance of their duties and the church shall hold them harmless as long as they ate acting in their capacity as trustees and at the instruction of the church. They shall not act in any Trustee capacity without specific prior direction from the church.
ARTICLE V – MINISTRIES
As our Lord provides gifted and willing lay ministers, various ministries shall be established to carry out the purpose of this church according to the will of God. All members shall be encouraged to exercise their spiritual gifts in an appropriate ministry for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Each ministry shall operate under the oversight of the Pastor and shall have a clearly defined task focusing on accomplishing a real service, not merely administrative or bureaucratic details. The task of each ministry shall not be managerial only in nature; i.e., determining works for someone else to do. Coordinators of these various ministries shall emerge through the specific spiritual gifts of members of the congregation. Every member of each ministry shall be involved in actually performing the service of that ministry.
Areas of ministry may include, but not necessarily be limited to:
1. Evangelism ministries such as: Continuing Witness Training, Nursing Home Ministry, New Neighbor Ministry.
2. Bible teaching ministries such as: Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Home Bible Studies.
3. Discipleship Ministries such as: Master Life, Encourager Ministry, Survival Kit, E.E., and C.W.T.
4. Missions Ministries such as: Mission Teams, Church Builders, Missions Education and Promotion Ministry.
5. Worship Ministries such as: Drama Ministry, Choir and Instrumental Ministry, Prayer Ministry.
6. Caring and Helping Ministries such as: Shut-in Ministry, Flower Ministry.
7. Support Ministries such as: Finance Ministry, Properties Ministry, Logistics Ministry, Dinner Ministry.
8. Administration such as: Clerk, Treasurer, and Constitution Committee.
Section 1 – Clerk
The church Clerk shall be elected annually by the church. The Clerk shall keep in a suitable book a record of all actions of the church, except as otherwise herein provided. The Clerk is responsible for keeping a register of the names of members, with dates of admission, dismissing, or death, together with a record of baptisms. The Clerk shall issue letters of dismissing voted by the church, and preserve on file all communications and written official reports. The Clerk shall issue official written reports and give notice where notice is necessary. All church records are church property and should be filed in the church office when one is maintained.
Section 2 – Treasurer
The church Treasurer will be elected annually on a fiscal year by the church. The Treasurer will be bonded by the church. It will be the duty of the Treasurer to receive, preserve, and pay our funds upon receipt of vouchers approved and signed by the Pastor, or other authorized persons. He/she will be responsible for keeping itemized accounts of all receipts and disbursements. It will be the duty of the Treasurer to render to the church at each regular business meeting an itemized report of all financial transaction including all receipts and disbursements for the period preceding business meeting The Treasurer’s report will be audited by an auditing committee. Upon rendering the annual account at the end of each fiscal year, and its acceptance and approval by the church, the official records will be delivered by the Treasurer to the church Clerk, who shall keep and preserve the account as a part of the permanent records of the church, The Treasurer will also keep a copy of these records for his files. The Treasurer will serve as an ex officio member of the Budget Committee.
Section 3 – Constitution Committee
The Constitution Committee shall consist of at least three members. This committee shall be responsible for reviewing the Constitution from time to time, or as directed by the Pastor, or church (not individual members). They shall recommend to the church such changes as may be prudent. It shall review all policies of the church entities to ensure that they do not conflict with the Constitution.
ARTICLE VI – BUDGET COMMITTEE
The church’s financial needs shall be met through the faithful giving of its members (Malachi 3:10; I Corinthians 16:2). Prior to the annual business meeting, the Pastor will meet with the leaders of the various active ministries for the purpose of developing a church budget to submit to the active membership for approval. They shall be responsible for publishing and distributing the proposed budget as formulated by the Pastor and ministries’ leaders.
ARTICLE VII – BUSINESS MEETINGS
Section I – Annual Business Meeting
The annual business meeting shall be held each year in November for the purpose of electing deacons, adopting a budget and conducting other business as needed.
Section 2 – Regular Business Meeting
Regular business meetings shall be held quarterly. They shall be the second Wednesday in April, July, October, and January, respectively, unless otherwise announced in advance.
Section 3 – Special Business Meeting
The Pastor may call special business meetings when items develop during the course of the church year which requires approval of the active members. Such items are admission to church membership, church discipline, budget amendments, calling assistant Pastors, non-budgeted expenditures exceeding $500.00, acquisition, sale, exchange, encumbrance, or disposition of real property, and constitutional amendments, He shall normally give 2 week notice; however, for items of a non-controversial nature, no notice need be given.
Section 4 – Moderator
The Pastor shall serve as moderator of all church business meetings. In the absence of the church Clerk, the Pastor shall appoint a temporary clerk for that meeting.
Section 5 – Quorum
A quorum for any regular or special business meeting shall consist of at least two third of eligible active members who are eligible to vote.
Section 6 – Procedure
It shall be the responsibility of the moderator to ensure that all business is conducted properly, in a Christ-honoring spirit and in good order. He shall be generally guided by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised; however, being primarily led by the Spirit of God, his decision concerning proper procedure shall be final.
All elections and items of business shall require two-thirds (67%) majority of the active members present and voting for approval unless otherwise stated in this constitution.
ARTICLE VIII – EXTERNAL AFFILIATIONS
This church shall recognize no external ecclesiastical authority over it. However, it is free to associate itself voluntarily with other evangelical ministries and bodies such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, and the Romanian Baptist Association of USA and Canada.
ARTICLE IX – HOME SCHOOLS
This church affirms the God-given right of parents to educate their children at home and shall encourage those parents who choose to do so out of a desire to apply Biblical principles such as Deuteronomy 6:4-1; 11:18-21; Proverbs 1:7-8; 4:1-2, 10-11; 22:6; 31:26; Psalm 78:5; Luke 6:40; Colossians 2:8; and Ephesians 6:4.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths (75%) majority vote of the eligible active members voting at any proper business meeting provided such amendments have been made available, in writing, to the active members at least 1 month prior to the meeting. Only the Constitution Committee or the Pastor may make such recommendations, but any active member, eligible to vote, may make recommendation for amendments to the Pastor or the Constitution Committee in writing for their consideration.
