Christ Church,
| ||
 |
By-Laws |
|
Christ Church By-Laws
Approved by the Congregation on March 6, 1994
Amended May 17, 1995
Amended May 15, 1996
Amended May 16, 1999
Amended June 03, 2001
Amended May 21, 2006
ARTICLE I -- MISSION 
Christ
Church is an interdenominational fellowship which combines the traditions of
the American Baptist Churches, the United Church of Christ, and many other
Christian groups. Its members bring a
wide variety of perspectives to Christ Church.
Through reason, personal experience, church and biblical tradition, or
revelation, they believe that the life and teachings of Jesus Christ are vital
and strong as the focus of their own lives.
The
organization and activities of Christ Church shall promote mutual support,
nurture, and accountability within this congregation and help it to serve
others in our immediate community, the wider metropolitan areas, and throughout
the world. To strengthen and enrich
this fellowship, Christ Church shall conduct public worship, in which the
preaching of the Word and the celebration of the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy
Communion have an honored place; and
shall provide a program of religious education for all ages.
Christ
Church shall cooperate with local, national, and international Christian
bodies. It may also cooperate with
other religious and secular organizations which sincerely and responsibly
strive to serve humanity.
ARTICLE II -- MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: ADMISSION
Persons
who apply for membership shall be welcomed as members when the Board of Deacons
acting in cooperation with the Minister or Ministers, is satisfied that they
will support the principles of Christ Church as described in the first
paragraph of Article I. New members
shall be received in the following ways:
by confession of faith,
by confession of faith and
baptism,
by confirmation,
by letter of transfer from
another church,
by reaffirmation of faith.
SECTION 2: DISMISSION
The membership of any person
shall be terminated by the Board of Deacons through the following means:
(a) letter of transfer to another church
(b) written resignation
(c) retirement --
members who for a period of time have had no contact with the church may be
designated inactive. Inactive members
may be retired at the discretion of the Board of Deacons.
SECTION 3: CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP
Members
shall be classified as Active, Associate or Inactive. All members not specifically designated by the Board of Deacons
as Inactive shall be considered Active members. Members who wish to retain membership in another church, and who
so request may be designated as Associate members. Associate members have all the privileges and responsibilities of
Active members. The word member in these bylaws shall refer to active and
associate members.
SECTION 4: RIGHT TO VOTE
All
members of the Congregation shall be entitled to vote. Where required by law, voting shall be
restricted to members of legal voting age.
SECTION 5: ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE
Only
members shall chair Boards and Committees, serve on the Executive Board or
serve as officers of the Church.
Exceptions may be made by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III -- MINISTERS
SECTION 1: SENIOR MINISTER
The
Senior Minister of the Church is its spiritual leader and has primary
responsibility for: preaching of the
Word; administering the Sacraments; organizing services of public worship in
conjunction with the Board of Deacons; promoting the spiritual welfare of the
Church and those whom it serves; performing the customary duties of the
pastoral ministry; managing and coordinating the activities of the Church
staff; and administering the general activities of the Church in cooperation
with, and under the direction of, the Executive Board. The Senior
Minister is directly accountable to the Executive Board.
SECTION 2: ASSOCIATE MINISTER
There
may be an Associate Minister of the Church who shares the responsibility for
the work of the Church under the direction and counsel of the Senior Minister
and the Executive Board. The Associate
Minister shall act on behalf of the Senior Minister at the request of the
Senior Minister, or at the request of the Executive Board in the absence of the
Senior Minister.
SECTION 3: PASTORAL SEARCH
If
and when it becomes apparent to the Executive Board that the position of Senior
Minister or Associate Minister will become vacant, the Chair of the Executive
Board shall appoint an ad hoc committee which shall propose a slate of at least
five members of the congregation to serve as a Pastoral Search Committee. The slate must be approved by the Executive
Board. The Search Committee, in
consultation with the officials of the American Baptist Churches and the United
Church of Christ, shall identify and select candidates based on criteria
approved by the Executive Board. At a
special congregational meeting called for that purpose, the Pastoral Search
Committee shall present one nominee whose election requires a written vote of
three-fourths of the members present and voting. Both the Senior and Associate
Minister(s) are called to serve a term of unspecified length. Terms and conditions of employment shall be
specified in a written contract.
SECTION 4: INTERIM MINISTER
An
Interim Minister(s) may be appointed by the Executive Board to serve during the
period of time that a pastoral position is vacant. The Interim Minister shall be engaged for a term determined by
the Executive Board.
SECTION 5: VOTING
The
Senior Minister serves as a non-voting member of the Executive Board and all
Boards and Committees of the Church.
The Associate Minister(s) serves as a non-voting member of the Executive
Board and any other Boards or Committees assigned by the Senior Minister.
SECTION 6: REMOVAL
The
Senior Minister or any Associate Minister may be dismissed by written vote of a
majority of members present and voting at a special meeting called for that
purpose. Notification of the meeting
shall be mailed first class to the congregation no later than two weeks before
the meeting.
ARTICLE IV -- MEETINGS
SECTION 1: WORSHIP
Public
services of Worship shall be held each Sunday at a time and place determined by
the Board of Deacons. The Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated, and the Baptism of adults and children
shall be administered at such times as the Ministers and the Board of Deacons
shall decide. Other services for
worship, prayer, and study may be arranged by joint agreement of the Minister
and the Board of Deacons, or other appropriate Boards or Committees.
SECTION 2: ANNUAL MEETING
The
Annual Meeting of the Congregation shall be held during the month of May at a
time and place fixed by the Executive Board.
Annual reports of the ministers, officers, boards, and committees shall
be presented. Officers, board members,
and committee members shall be elected.
Such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting shall
also be considered.
SECTION 3: SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special
meetings of the Congregation may be called by the Executive Board or upon the
written request of any ten members of the Church. The request shall specify the purpose of the meeting. No business shall be considered at a special
meeting other than that specified in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 4: NOTICE
Notices
of all annual and special meetings shall be posted conspicuously on the main
doors of the Church at least ten days before the meeting, or announced during
worship on the two Sundays immediately preceding the meeting. Notices shall also be provided in the church
bulletin mailed to the congregation at least one week prior to the meeting,
unless otherwise specified in these bylaws.
SECTION 5: CONDUCT OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
The
Chair of the Executive Board shall preside at annual and special meetings of
the congregation. In the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside. If
neither the Chair nor the Vice-Chair is present, the Church Clerk shall
preside.
SECTION 6: VOTING
Only
members who are present in person shall be permitted to vote. If not otherwise specified in these bylaws,
votes shall be conducted by voice, unless the presiding officer specifies that
the vote shall be by show of hands or by written ballot. The presiding officer shall supervise the
vote and the Church Clerk shall count the ballots, assisted by tellers as
needed.
SECTION 7: QUORUM
Quorum
for all annual and special business meetings of the congregation shall be 50
members or 10% of the membership, whichever is smaller, with the exception of a
meeting called for the purpose of removal of a minister in which case the
quorum shall be 75 members or 15% of the membership, whichever is smaller.
SECTION 8: RULES OF ORDER
All
procedural questions not provided for in these bylaws regarding any meeting of
the congregation, the Executive Board or any other board or committee, shall be
resolved by the presiding officer in accordance with
Roberts Rules of Order
or any supplement or revision thereto.
ARTICLE V -- CHURCH GOVERNMENT
SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE BOARD
The
Executive Board shall serve as the legal trustees of the corporate Church. The Executive Board shall have the authority
to act except where approval of the Congregation is required as defined by
these bylaws.
The
Executive Board shall be composed of fifteen members as follows: the four
officers of the church, the four members-at-large and the chair of the Boards
of Christian Education, Deacons, Membership, Property Managers,
Music and Fine Arts, Resources and
World Fellowship, each with a vote. No
individual may hold more than one position on the Executive Board at one time.
The Minister and any Associate Minister shall be ex-officio members without a
vote.
The
Executive Board shall have all powers and authority as set forth in N.J.S.A.
16: 2-3. These powers and authority
shall include but not be limited to:
1.
Direct the general policy of the church in
accordance with its stated mission.
2.
Call annual and special meetings of the
congregation and implement the decisions made by the congregation.
3.
Oversee and evaluate the performance of the
ministers.
4.
Oversee and coordinate activities of the
boards and committees of the Church and resolve any conflict which may arise
between boards and committees. The
Executive Board may designate committees and/or auxiliary organizations as it
deems appropriate and may assign additional responsibilities to any board,
committee or auxiliary organization.
5.
Oversee the preparation of an annual budget
for approval by the congregation.
6.
Have ultimate responsibility of fiscal assets
and real property of the church.
7.
Grant approval for any church-sponsored
fund-raising project.
8.
Review, evaluate and recommend needed changes
in the church organizational structure and bylaws.
9.
Direct long range planning.
10. Assume responsibility for any other matter not
assigned to another board.
11. Approve the conditions of employment and termination
of each individual staff member.
12. Approve the sale or conveyance of the church's real
estate with the concurrence of the congregation.
The
Executive Board shall meet monthly. Any
member of the congregation may attend an Executive Board meeting, except during
an executive session.
Quorum
for the Executive Board shall be nine members.
When quorum has been established, a majority vote shall be decisive.
SECTION 2: OFFICERS
The
officers of the Church shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Church Clerk, and a
Treasurer. They shall be elected for a
one year period at the Annual Meeting of the Congregation and shall take office
immediately.
The Chair and the Vice Chair may serve no more than two consecutive one-year terms
in each office
(a) The Chair
shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, the Annual Meeting and
all special meetings of the Congregation.
The Chair or such other person designated by the Executive Board shall
have the authority to execute all contracts of the Church.
(b) The
Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the Chair's absence, shall
serve as an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee, and shall perform
such other duties as may be assigned by the Chair.
(c) The Church
Clerk shall record the minutes of all
Executive Board meetings, the Annual Meeting, and all special meetings of the
Congregation; have custody of the
Church Seal and all records and correspondence relating to the business affairs
of the Church; attest and affix the
seal where required; give notice of all
meetings of the Congregation as required by these bylaws; in collaboration with the Board of Deacons,
maintain the rolls of all members and issue letters of dismission and
transfer; record all baptisms and
marriages; and prepare an annual report as may be required by law or the
Executive Board.
(d) The
Treasurer shall chair the Board of Finance,
shall receive from the Financial Secretary reports of all monies
collected by and for the Church, and upon the written authorization
(Article VII, Section 4), shall disburse monies as allocated by the Budget. The Treasurer shall keep accurate account of
income and expenditures and shall present a monthly written report to the Executive
Board and an annual audited report of detailed receipts and disbursements at
the Annual Meeting. Assistant
Treasurers shall be elected if necessary.
SECTION 3: ELECTIONS
The
Nominating Committee shall propose a single slate of nominees for each lay
position to be elected by the membership at its Annual Meeting; these shall include the four Officers of the
Church, the four members-at-large, a Financial Secretary, and Church Board and
Committee members, except those committees which are appointed by the Executive
Board. Names of the nominees shall be
posted conspicuously on the main doors of the Church at least ten days before
the Annual Meeting, or announced during
worship on the two Sundays immediately preceding the meeting. Any member shall have the right to make
nominations from the floor at any such meeting. Election shall be by majority vote of those members present in
person at the meeting.
(a) Executive
Board -- Each year, a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Treasurer and a Church Clerk
shall be elected to serve one-year terms.
Four members-at-large shall serve two year terms, two elected each
year.
Each member-at-large shall be
responsible for a designated area, shall coordinate activities in that area,
and shall serve as a communications link between the Executive Board and
individuals and groups who are active in the assigned area. The areas of responsibility of the
members-at-large shall be: (1) Church Life, including women's and men's groups,
social events and the historian; (2) Communications, including internal and
external communications, ushers and greeters; (3) Planning, including bylaws
revision, long range planning, and policies and procedures; and (4) Staff
Relations, including the pastor parish and personnel committees. Members-at-large may be elected to serve no
more than two consecutive two-year terms and no member of the Executive Board
shall serve more than five consecutive years.
(b) Boards
and Committees -- Each adult Board or Committee member shall
be elected to serve one non-renewable three-year term and shall serve until
such time as a successor is elected.
Youth members shall be defined as members who are of high school age and
shall be elected to serve a one-year term.
Youth members may serve on all Boards and Committees except Deacons,
Pastor Parish and Personnel.
(c) Board and
Committee Chair -- Chair and other officers of the Boards and
Committees of the Church shall be nominated from and by the current membership
of each Board or Committee within 30 days following the Annual Meeting.
(d) Vacancies -- If a vacancy occurs
among the officers or members-at-large, the Nominating Committee shall
recommend a person for election to complete the unexpired term. The election shall take place at a special
meeting of the congregation.
Vacancies
on all other Boards and Committees shall be filled until the next Annual
Meeting by that board with the assistance of the Nominating Committee.
SECTION 4: BOARDS OF THE CHURCH
The
Board of Christian Education shall be responsible for the administration
and operation of the Church School and for the planning and overseeing of
Christian Education programs for all ages, from the nursery through adult
education. It shall be responsible for
youth fellowship. It shall approve a
Church School curriculum and shall be responsible for staffing the Church
School. It shall develop and adhere to
a budget. The staff member responsible
for Christian Education shall be an ex-officio member of the board. A member of the Board of Christian Education
shall be a voting member of the board of the Cooperative Nursery Center of
Christ Church. The Board of Christian
Education shall have fifteen members, five elected each year.
The
Board of Deacons shall arrange for and regulate services for
public worship, including the supply of the pulpit in the absence of the
Ministers; shall supervise Church
membership relations, approving the admission and dismission of members and
determining the status of active and inactive members; shall raise and administer the Deacons Fund,
which shall be employed for such uses as the Board may determine; shall aid the Ministers in the discharge of
their duties and in the observance of the rites and sacraments of the
church; and shall provide guidance and
direction to the Ministers with regard to the nurture of the congregation and
the quality of worship. It shall
develop and adhere to a budget. The
Board of Deacons shall have fifteen members, five elected each year.
The
Board of Finance shall have four
members: the Treasurer, one member of
the Board of Property Managers and two other members appointed by the Executive
Board. The Treasurer shall chair this
Board. It shall direct the expenditure
of, and set investment policy for, all Church funds (except the Deacons Fund);
one member shall be responsible for implementing the investment policies. In cooperation with the Board of Resources,
it shall prepare an annual budget for presentation to the Executive Board and
approval by the Church.
The
Board of Membership shall be
responsible for identifying families and individuals interested in joining
Christ Church and incorporating them into the church community. It shall develop and adhere to a budget. The Board of Membership shall have six
members, two elected each year.
The
Board of Property Managers
shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of the physical property of the
Church, including the Church buildings and any other property which is owned or
leased by the Church. The Board may
purchase, lease, sell, donate or dispose of
property (other than real estate) on behalf of the Church, provided that
either the funds are available in its budget or the Executive Board has
approved the expenditure. Real estate
may not be sold, donated or disposed of without approval of the Executive Board
and the congregation.
The
Board is responsible for the maintenance, repair, improvement, and insurance of
all Church property (except routine maintenance, repair and improvement of
musical instruments). The Board is responsible for the use of Church
buildings. It may make Church
facilities available to other groups in the community. It shall maintain a schedule for such use
and may charge fees.
The
chairman of the Board of Property Managers shall have authority to sign on
behalf of the Church such documents as may be necessary or desirable to carry
out the functions of the Board. The
Vice Chairman or Secretary of the Board shall sign in the Chairman's
absence. It shall develop and adhere to
a budget. The Board of Property
Managers shall have eleven members, three adults and two youth elected each
year.
The
Board of Resources shall conduct the
annual stewardship campaign. It shall also oversee capital and/or endowment
development and any other money-raising efforts on behalf of the Church. It shall assist the Board of Finance in the
preparation of the budget. The Board of
Resources shall have six members, two elected each year. The Financial
Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the Board.
The
Board of World Fellowship shall be
responsible for the Church programs of Christian benevolence and outreach. The Board shall investigate worthwhile
causes for benevolent support and shall recommend an annual budget for such
support. The Board shall conduct an
annual campaign to raise additional funds for such support. The Board shall allocate the funds available
to it for benevolent support, shall monitor the activities of the organizations
it supports, and shall report to the Executive Committee at least
annually. The Board shall be
responsible for the Church's financial support of the American Baptist Churches
and the United Church of Christ. It shall develop and adhere to a budget. The Board of World Fellowship shall have
fourteen members, four adults and two youth elected each year.
The Board of Music and Fine Arts assists the
professional and volunteer music staff, and provides general supervision of
staff as required by the Ministers or the Executive Board. Responsibilities include recommendation of
staffing for music positions and maintenance of musical instruments. The board shall have six members, two
elected each year.
SECTION 5: STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CHURCH
Audit: The Executive Board shall
appoint an Auditing Committee of three members, who need not be members of the
Church, whose duty shall be to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and
Financial Secretary for the current fiscal year, and to submit a report at the
next Annual Meeting.
Communications: The
Communications Committee shall promote and enhance internal and external
communication among the congregation, the boards and committees, and the
congregation and the community. The
committee shall have nine members, three elected each year.
Nominating: The Executive Board shall appoint a Nominating
Committee consisting of eight members, four appointed each year for a non
renewable two year term. No member
shall be disqualified from serving by reason of any office then held. The Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board
shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member.
Pastor Parish: The Pastor
Parish Committee shall support and maintain an open and healthy relationship
between the ministers and the congregation, and shall serve as an advisory
group to the minister and as support for the minister's leadership. The committee shall schedule regular
meetings with the ministers. The
committee shall have six members, two elected each year. There shall be a Pastor Parish Committee for
each minister.
Personnel: The Personnel
Committee shall review the job responsibilities and performance of all paid,
non-ordained staff members in conjunction with the senior minister. It shall maintain communication with each
staff member, make salary recommendations to the Executive Board and administer
salary and benefit plans. In addition,
it shall develop and recommend salary guidelines for the clergy. The committee shall have three members, one
elected each year.
Ushers: There shall
be an Ushers Committee whose duty shall be to usher at services of the
Church. Eight or more shall be elected
each year.
ARTICLE VI -- DENOMINATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
There
shall be a representative of the congregation to the American Baptist Churches
and to the United Church of Christ. The
representatives shall be responsible for communicating to the congregation
denominational information and attending denominational meetings. Each representative shall hold office for
one year.
ARTICLE VII -- FINANCE, BUDGET AND RESOURCES
SECTION 1: RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL ASSETS
The
Board of Finance shall oversee the management of all financial and capital
assets of the Church, including the administration and investment of all
endowment funds (see Article VII, Section 6), but not including the Deacons
Fund.
SECTION 2: FISCAL YEAR AND BUDGET PREPARATION
The
Fiscal Year for the Church shall be the calendar year. An annual budget shall be prepared by the
Board of Finance who shall consult with the chairmen of all boards and
committees to determine the financial needs and income for the next Fiscal
Year. The proposed budget thus
developed shall be a unified budget.
SECTION 3: ADOPTION OF BUDGET AND AMENDMENTS TO BUDGET
The
proposed budget shall be approved by the Executive Board for presentation to
the congregation at a business meeting called for that purpose. A vote of two-thirds of members present and
voting is required for adoption of the Budget.
The adopted budget may be amended by two-thirds of the members present
and voting at a subsequent meeting.
SECTION 4: BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
Sums
allocated by the budget shall be expended only upon written authorization by
the chairman of the appropriate board or committee, and shall not exceed the total amount allocated for that group. In case of a deficiency of income, funds may
be reallocated within the approved budget by the Executive Board in order of
priority as determined by the Executive Board.
The treasurer and assistant treasurers shall have authority to sign
checks on the Church account. Dual
signatures are required on checks of $4000. or more.
SECTION 5: FINANCIAL SECRETARY
The
Financial Secretary shall receive all monies collected by and for the Church
(except the Deacons Fund) and shall deposit same to the Church account,
reporting all deposits to the Treasurer.
The Financial Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of
Resources shall keep a record of annual pledges and shall contact members whose
pledges are overdue. Assistant
Financial Secretaries may be elected.
SECTION 6: ENDOWMENT FUNDS, GIFTS AND BEQUESTS
Gifts
and bequests received by the Church other than annual pledges and contributions
shall be considered part of the Endowment Fund. Gifts which are specifically directed by the donor shall be
considered part of the Restricted Endowment Fund, with income and principal to
be disbursed in accordance with the wishes of the donor. The income from Unrestricted Funds shall be
used solely to carry out the purposes of the Church as defined by the Executive
Board. These Funds shall be
administered by the Board of Finance and governed by the Christ Church
Endowment Fund Policy and reviewed annually by the Executive Board.
SECTION VIII -- AMENDMENTS
These
bylaws may be amended at any business meeting of the Church upon the vote of
two-thirds of the members present and voting, provided notice of the amendment
has been given as provided by Article IV Section 4.
Approved by the Executive
Council on January 26, 1994
Approved by the congregation
on March 6, 1994
Amended on May 17, 1995
Amended on May 15, 1996
Amended on May 16, 1999
Amended on June 3, 2001
Amended on May 21, 2006