OUR Bylaws

PREAMBLE

Inasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to call together this community of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, worshipping and serving together for His glory, we, the members of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre (“Church”), do hereby adopt and agree to the following Bylaws. In so doing we acknowledge our complete dependence upon the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and upon the revealed Word, and further acknowledge that we are constituted as an independent, non-denominational, Bible believing Church.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization is Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre, (and may also be known as Christ Congregational Church or Christ Church) a California nonprofit religious corporation.

Article II - Mission Statement

“Loving God. Loving people. Making disciples.” (Matt. 22:37-39; 28:18-20)

Article III - Statement of Faith and Secondary Doctrines

Statement of Faith

God. We believe there is one true and living God who exists eternally as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity are equal in essence but distinct in their relations. God the Son is begotten of God the Father. God the Spirit proceeds from God the Father and God the Son. God the Father is revealed in history through the work of the Son and Spirit. God is perfect in love, power, justice, knowledge, wisdom, and holiness. He is immortal, eternal, immutable, omnipresent, and sovereignly rules over all things. He is supremely worthy of all glory and honor.
The Bible. The Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired and authoritative revealed word of God, without error in all that it affirms, and the church’s only infallible rule of faith and practice.
Creation and Sin. All things, visible and invisible, were created by God from nothing, and are sustained by his providential oversight. Human beings were created in the image of God to know, love, and worship God, and to rule over the rest of creation. Adam and Eve, deceived by Satan, rebelled against God and thus brought sin, guilt, and death to the rest of humanity. All human beings are therefore alienated from God by both their nature and choice, corrupted in every aspect of their being, and subject to God’s righteous wrath.
Christ. Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, one person with two natures, fully human and fully God. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, and then died a substitutionary, atoning death on the cross. Christ rose bodily from the grave, ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father. One day he will come again in power and glory to judge the world. The dead will be raised, and the unrighteous will be separated from God in hell, while the righteous will inherit eternal life in heaven.
The Holy Spirit and Salvation. Through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, all those who repent of their sins and trust in Christ for salvation are united to Christ, justified, adopted by God, and baptized by the Holy Spirit who indwells them. Salvation is the gift of God’s grace. In response to God’s grace believers are called to live in the power of the Spirit, continually growing in holiness, doing good works, and exercising their spiritual gifts for the kingdom of God.
The Church. All those who believe in Christ are spiritually united together under Christ, the head of the church. The universal church is manifested in local churches, which are marked by worship, proclamation of the gospel, administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, membership and discipline, love, unity, and mission. Each church is responsible for her doctrine and practice, and for settling disputes, receiving new members, conducting discipline, and establishing elders who lead, teach, and oversee the church. The main purpose of the church is making disciples, so that as we grow together in Christ, God’s kingdom would be advanced in the world, and his name would be glorified.

Secondary Doctrines

We believe that Christians can disagree about secondary theological issues without compromising their unity around the gospel. Therefore, our Statement of Faith does not take one position on issues like the proper subjects and mode of baptism, the nature and sequence of events leading up to the second coming of Christ, the exact role of women in ministry, the expression of spiritual gifts in the church today, and many other important but non-essential doctrines such as these issues. Nonetheless, on some of these issues our Church has a certain practice, even while allowing for different views within the membership. The Elders Council may, from time to time, adopt statements for the Church on these issues. The members of this Church may review any of the Secondary Doctrines upon request.

Article IV - Church Covenant

We the members of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre, having professed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, do now solemnly and joyfully covenant together to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel we profess. Relying on God’s gracious help, we will work for the unity, purity, and fruitfulness of this Church. We will support its worship, ordinances, doctrine, and discipline. We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to its expenses, ministry, and mission. We will walk together in love, striving for peace and reconciliation amidst conflict, exhibiting humility, graciousness, and forgiveness toward one another, avoiding gossip and all ungodly speech, encouraging one another in being transformed into the image of Christ. We will set Christ as the Lord of our homes, bringing up those under our care in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and maintaining faithful habits of discipline and devotion with our loved ones. We will seek to live carefully in the world, exhibiting righteousness in our work and our conduct, and avoiding ungodly desires and practices. We will engage the culture around us without compromising biblical integrity, seeking to make disciples and promote Christ’s kingdom. If God calls us away from this Church, we will, as soon as possible, unite with another gospel-believing church. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit enable us to be faithful to this Church Covenant. Amen.

Article V - Church Organization

Section 1. The Head of the Church

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church universal of which Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre is part. (Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:23, Colossians 1:15-20)

Section 2. The Body of Christ

Under Christ's leadership and the Holy Spirit's direction, the local Body of Christ (the members) affirms and participates in the overall direction of the local church. (Matthew 18:15-20, Acts 6:2-6; 13:1-3, 1 Corinthians 5:1-8)

Section 3. Overseers

The leaders of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre who are primarily responsible for overseeing its operation are called the Elder Council. They are elected by the Active Members of this Church and shall meet the New Testament expectations for the office of Overseer. (Acts 14:23, 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17, Titus 1:4-9, 1 Peter 5:1-11)

Section 4. Ministry Team Leaders

The ministry leaders of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre who are primarily responsible for rendering service and/or ministry to the needs of others in the Church and the community are called the Ministry Team Leaders. Ministry Team Leaders are men and women who shall meet the New Testament expectation of the office of Deacon. (John 12:26, Acts 6:1-7, Romans 16:1-2, 1 Timothy 3:8-13, Titus 2:1-8)

Section 5. The Pastorate

The Pastoral staff of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre under the direction of the Senior Pastor is responsible for the spiritual welfare and the equipping of the members and others for active ministry. They shall lead by example, proclamation, and exhortation, in concert with the mission, vision and values of this Church. They shall meet the New Testament expectations for their position. (Romans 12:3-8, Ephesians 4:7-16)

Article VI - Members

Section 1. Qualifications

Membership in this Church may be granted to those persons who trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, follow Him in baptism, and desire to lead a godly life. Each member must submit to the teaching of scripture, agree to the Statement of Faith, the Mission Statement, and the vision and values of the Church, and must promise to keep the commitments expressed in the Church Covenant. The Elders shall be responsible for determining each person’s qualification for membership. In making this determination, they may rely on a person’s confession of faith, or such other evidence, as the Elders deem appropriate.

Section 2. Acceptance

Membership in this Church may be achieved by confession of faith, reaffirmation of faith, and/or by presenting a satisfactory letter of transfer from another church, and successfully completing the member process as approved by the Elder Council. The applicant shall become a member upon approval of the Elder Council, and shall at that point relinquish their membership in any other church. The new member shall be publicly received in all morning worship services.

Section 3. Types of Membership

There shall be three types of membership:

“Active Members” are those who are faithfully keeping their commitment to the Church Covenant including regularly attending public worship in this Church, contributing to its financial support and sharing in its work. Active members 18 years of age and older may vote and be eligible to hold offices within the Church, subject to any other qualifications within these Bylaws.
“Members in Absentia” are those who, other than Inactive Members, are unable to fulfill the responsibilities of Active Members. The Council may reinstate a Member in Absentia to an Active Member upon return to active participation, a written request to the Council, and approval. Members in Absentia are ineligible to vote.
“Inactive Members” are those who, in the sole judgment of the Elder Council, are not fulfilling their commitment to keep the Church Covenant. After efforts by the Council to make contact with potentially Inactive Members, they will be transferred to the inactive roll. They may be reinstated to an Active Member upon return to active participation, a written request to the Council, and approval by the Elder Council. Inactive members are ineligible to vote.
The Elder Council shall have the sole discretion in determining under which category a member may fall. The Council shall direct the Church Clerk to keep at the principal office of the Church a current list of members in all three classes of membership as described above.
Whenever in these Bylaws, the terms “member(s)” or “Church member(s)” appear, they shall refer solely to Active Members of the Church as defined in these Bylaws.

Section 4. Responsibilities and Privileges of Membership

a. Members’ Responsibilities – In accord with the duties enumerated in the Church Covenant, each member shall be privileged and expected to participate in and contribute to the ministry life of the Church, consistent with God’s leading and with the gifts, time, and material resources each has received from God. Members, by the enabling of God, should:

Honor, love, and pray for one another
Honor, love and pray for Church leadership
Endeavor to preserve unity and harmony in the body and to practice actively the principles of Biblical peacemaking
Serve the body and the community by using God-given gifts and talents.
Attend Church worship services and business meetings regularly
Contribute -- as the Lord leads and according to His Word -- time, talent, tithes and offerings for the ministry of the body
Adhere to Church statements and policies as approved by the Elder Council.

b. Members shall have the following privileges as defined here and elsewhere within these Bylaws:

To vote on each candidate nominated to the Elder Council
To vote on approval of the Annual Budget
To vote on approval of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and amendments to them
To vote on approval of the Statement of Faith
To vote on the hiring and dismissal of the Senior Pastor
To vote on the acquisition or divestiture or encumbrance of real property
To have such additional privileges as may be granted elsewhere in these Bylaws.

Section 5. Termination of Membership and Church Discipline

a. Membership may be terminated by written request, letter of transfer, or by action of the Elder Council. A member wishing to terminate membership submits a written resignation to the Elder Council. A letter of transfer may be sent for a departing member. From time to time the Elder Council shall remove from the rolls those Inactive Members who, in its judgment, appear to have no continuing relationship with the Church. Membership may also be terminated by the Elder Council as an act of Church discipline. Members knowingly and voluntarily agree that they cannot resign from Church membership in the midst of a Church discipline process. Members may only resign from Church membership if they are not the subject of a Church discipline process, or after a Church disciplinary process (of which they are the subject) has been concluded as determined by the Elder Council.

b. Church Discipline. Any member consistently neglectful of his or her responsibilities of membership or whose conduct may have resulted in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ being dishonored, and thus opposing the welfare of the Church, is subject to the admonition of the Elders and the discipline of the Church, according to the instructions of our Lord in Matthew 18:15–17 and the example of scripture. Church discipline, then, should ordinarily be contemplated after individual private admonition has failed. Its overall intention is to be redemptive. Church discipline may include admonition by the Elder Council and/or Active Members, suspension from communion for a definite period, deposition from office, barring from Church premises, and termination of membership. A process of Church discipline against any member shall begin with a vote of the Elder Council. The date of this vote shall constitute the date of the commencement of this disciplinary process. The member shall be notified promptly that he or she is the subject of a Church disciplinary process by first-class mail, registered or certified, and by e-mail if known or personally by the Moderator. (See Matthew 18:15–17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15; 1 Timothy 5:19– 20; 1 Corinthians 5:4–5.)

Article VII - Elder Council

Section 1. Role of the Elder Council

The Elder Council (“Council”), consisting of lay members and the Senior Pastor, provides spiritual oversight, direction, and leadership for the church. The Council entrusts the implementation of that direction to staff and ministry leaders, under the leadership of the Senior Pastor. The Senior Pastor is held accountable for fulfilling the Council’s direction. The Elders shall focus their gifts and time on their biblical mandate to lead and shepherd the Church, while allowing staff and ministry leaders the opportunity to maximize their gifts and talents as they lead their ministries and make practical decisions on how to implement and carry out the directions provided by the Council.

Section 2. Qualifications of Elders

An Elder must be a man who meets biblical qualifications. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9)
An Elder must be an Active Member of the Church.
An Elder must be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith, the Church Covenant, the Mission Statement and the vision and values of the Church.
An Elder must be knowledgeable of and in complete agreement with the Elder’s responsibilities and with the processes and policies established for the Council’s work.

Section 3. Selection and Evaluation of Elders

The Leadership Development Committee, as described in these Bylaws, shall solicit potential Elder candidates from the Active Members.
Candidates recommended by the Leadership Development Committee will be reviewed by the Council and those selected shall enter into a process with the current Elders to affirm their qualifications. (Acts 6:2-3)
Candidates that have successfully completed the qualification process and are recommended by the Elder Council shall be presented, in a manner to be determined by the Council, to the Active Members no later than thirty (30) days prior to individual election at the Annual Meeting of Active Members. A 75% favorable vote of the votes properly cast at a duly held meeting of the Active Members shall be required for a candidate’s election.
Elders will be commissioned before the Church body at a time as specified by the Elder Council.
The Elder Council will undertake a process of self-evaluation at least annually.

Section 4. Number of Elders and Terms of Office

The Elder Council shall consist of a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve laymen and the Senior Pastor. The exact number of laymen shall be fixed by the Elder Council.
Elders, excepting the Senior Pastor, shall serve a term of three years, and may serve an additional consecutive term of three years. After serving no more than two consecutive terms, the Elder shall step off the Council for a minimum of one year. If an Elder is elected to fill an unexpired term, such term shall count as his first term.
Elders shall serve staggered terms in which approximately one-third of the Elder Council is elected each year.
Mid-term vacancies may be filled by unanimous vote of the Council following consultation with the leadership Development committee. Elders so appointed shall be considered to be serving a term, which expires on the date of the following Annual Meeting, and shall be eligible for election to a full term at that Annual Meeting.

Section 5. Responsibilities of the Elder Council

a. In general, the Elder Council shall individually and corporately focus its work on ensuring that the Church’s needs are met in the following five areas: “people (shepherding), prayer (intercession), preaching (doctrine), policy (leadership effectiveness), and purse (finances)”. Its goal is to empower leadership broadly within the Church. Specifically:

The Council is responsible to ensure the Church is shepherded. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-2)
The Council is responsible to uphold the doctrinal positions of the Church. (Titus 1:9)
The Council is responsible for the discipline of members of the Church. (Matthew 18:15-17)
The Council shall oversee the Church using the Bible and prayer to discern God’s will for the Church. The Council constitutes the highest human authority in the Church. (Acts 16:4; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17)
The Council is responsible for setting the direction of the Church, encompassing the Mission Statement, and the vision and values.
The Council provides the highest level of oversight to the finances, administration and ministries of the Church.
The Council shall appoint all officers of the Church. It shall also have the authority to appoint all members of committees and ministry teams, and the authority to fill vacancies in them as they arise or approve those selected. All such appointees shall fulfill the qualifications of a deacon. (1 Timothy 3:8-13)
The Council shall evaluate and approve the Annual Budget and recommend it to the Active Members for adoption.
The Council shall be responsible for providing the Senior Pastor with a performance appraisal at least annually. More broadly, the Council shall support and sustain the Senior Pastor and protect him from unreasonable criticism or hostility. This shall not, however, preclude the Council from giving the Senior Pastor authentic, candid and timely feedback, which is essential to the effective working of the Church.
The Council shall be responsible for setting, modifying when appropriate, and enforcing all Church policies.

b. The organization of the Elder Council shall be as follows:

A majority of the Elders on the Council in office at the time shall constitute a quorum.
The Council will operate on the basis of consensus with the goal of unanimity in all matters. A majority of votes cast by the Elders in attendance at a duly held meeting shall be required for the approval of any matter. To recommend the hiring of a Senior Pastor to the membership, a three-quarters vote of the Elders in attendance at a duly held meeting shall be required.
A meeting of the Council may be called by the Moderator, the Senior Pastor, or any two Elders. Meetings of the Council shall be held upon four days notice by first class mail or a forty-eight hour notice given personally or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail, or other electronic means. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Elder who signs a waiver of notice or a written consent to holding the meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Council may be taken without a meeting if all of the Elders shall consent in writing to such action.
The Elder Council may enter into private Executive Session, excluding all individuals except the Elders. On occasion, the Council may request an Elder to leave an Executive Session because of a particular matter to be discussed.
Minutes which document the actions taken at all meetings shall be taken by the Clerk or by an individual so designated by the Council, and made available to members of the Church upon request. The Council may keep a private record of the actions taken in Executive Session as it may deem confidential.
Elder Council meetings shall be held at least once per month in at least ten months of each calendar year.
The Council is authorized to use electronic communications and may send meeting notices and all other communications/information/ materials by electronic transmission to the Elders to the e-mail address or facsimile number designated on a Consent form provided to the Church by the Elders. Further, the Church may rely on communications sent to it by electronic transmission from the Elders from the e-mail address or facsimile number listed on the Consent form after the fully executed Consent form has been returned to the Church. Any action by the Council by use of electronic transmissions may be taken, but only if all of the Elders vote by electronic transmission and consent to take such action. Such vote shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote of the Elders and a copy of the votes by electronic transmission shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Council. Since the Council actions by use of electronic transmissions must be by unanimous vote, no advance notice of the action to be voted upon is required.

Section 6. Leadership Development Committee

The Leadership Development Committee shall report to the Elder Council. The Committee shall be composed of no fewer than two Elders and no fewer than four lay Active Members of the Church who meet the qualifications of a deacon as defined in these Bylaws, as appointed from time to time by the Elder Council. The Committee shall:

Recommend to the Elder Council those programs and policies that will assist in the development of godly men and women to fill the leadership roles of the Church.
Identify and be involved in specific activities that will lead to the development of lay leadership and their orientation to various ministries throughout the year.
Canvas the congregation for recommendations of candidates to serve on the Elder Council, evaluate such candidates, and recommend to the Elder Council those candidates meeting the qualifications of an Elder.
Canvas the congregation and recommend candidates for the Diaconate and other volunteer positions and ministries within the Church.

Article VIII - Church Staff

Section 1. The Senior Pastor

The Senior Pastor shall have primary responsibility for the leadership of the Church, being its primary vision carrier, enabling it to achieve its mission. He will be primarily responsible for the preaching and teaching the Word of God, conducting worship and all other services held at the Church, and for all the other ministries of the Church, under the authority of the Elder Council. He shall supervise the professional (i.e. paid) staff of the Church as well as all lay ministry leaders, seeking both to develop and empower them. The Senior Pastor will delegate to others, either professional or lay persons, the supervision of certain activities of the Church as he determines is appropriate, and within overall policies determined by the Elder Council.
The Senior Pastor will be a man who meets all of the biblical qualifications of an Elder. He will completely agree with the Statement of Faith, Church Covenant, Mission Statement, and the vision and values of the Church. He shall serve for an indefinite term.
When a vacancy occurs in the position of Senior Pastor, the Elder Council shall establish a Search Committee comprised of at least one Elder along with lay men and women who are Active Members of the Church. That committee shall recommend a Senior Pastor candidate to the Elder Council. After a time of prayer, fasting, and consideration, the Council, not including a sitting Senior Pastor, shall vote upon nominating the candidate to the membership, with a three-quarters favorable vote of the Elders in attendance at a duly held meeting of the Council required. A call to the new Senior Pastor shall consist of a favorable vote by at least 75% of the votes cast at a duly held meeting of the Active Members held two weeks after notice has been given. The Council and member votes shall be by secret ballot.
The dismissal of the Senior Pastor requires that a Special Meeting of the Active Members as provided for in these Bylaws be called by the Elder Council or 25% of the Active Members. A quorum of 25% of the Active Members is required, and the Senior Pastor shall be dismissed by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at the meeting.

Section 2. Pastoral Staff

The Senior Pastor may establish additional pastoral staff positions involved in the ministry of the Word. Such positions shall be within the budgetary limitations of the Church, appropriate for implementing the Mission Statement, and the vision and values of the Church, and within the policies established by the Elder Council.

Each member of the pastoral staff shall assist in the spiritual ministry of the Church, in a chain of authority as determined by the Senior Pastor. The tenure of individuals in pastoral staff positions shall be at the discretion of the Senior Pastor.

Article IX - Church officers

Section 1. General

The Elder Council shall annually elect from the Elders a Moderator and Vice Moderator, and shall elect from among the Active Members a Treasurer, Clerk, and any Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Clerks or other subordinate officers as may be necessary.
For purposes of California nonprofit law, the Moderator shall be the President and Chief Executive Officer of Christ Congregational Church of Sierra Madre, the Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer and the Clerk shall be the Secretary.

Section 2. Specific Duties of Officers

The Moderator shall preside at meetings of the Elder Council and any meetings of Church membership. He may attend the meetings of any other Church body as a non-voting participant. He has authority to call a meeting of the Elder Council. The Moderator shall be elected for a one year term and may be elected to additional consecutive terms with the approval of the Elder Council and Senior Pastor.
The Vice Moderator shall, in the absence of the Moderator, serve in the Moderator’s place in any capacity as provided for in these Bylaws. In the absence of both the Moderator and Vice Moderator, the Elder Council shall elect a moderator pro tem. The Vice Moderator shall be elected for a one-year term and may be elected to a second one-year term but not a third.
The Clerk maintains the membership records of the Church as well as a record of baptisms, weddings, and deaths. The Clerk keeps minutes of all membership meetings, which shall be available to the members of the Church. The Clerk keeps at the Church vital documents including a current copy of the Policy Governance Manual as described in these Bylaws, issues notices of meetings, and maintains the official copy of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and any amendments. The Clerk may delegate any of the above responsibilities to staff members or volunteers, but the Clerk shall continue to oversee these delegated responsibilities.
The Treasurer keeps at the Church the official financial records of the Church, maintains banking relationships, keeps a record of special purpose gifts and funds, prepares for an audit by the independent auditor (if an audit is approved by the Elder Council), and provides monthly and annual financial reports on a timely basis. The Treasurer may delegate any of the above responsibilities to staff members or volunteers, but the Treasurer shall continue to oversee these delegated responsibilities.
The Elder Council may adopt policies, which provide greater guidance and specificity about the duties of the officers described in these Bylaws.

Article X - Subordinate Church Bodies

As provided for in these Bylaws, the Elder Council shall have the authority to establish all ministry teams and working groups, and appoint or approve their members, as well as the authority to fill vacancies as they arise, advised by the Leadership Development Committee.
A ministry team shall be a committee that holds regularly scheduled meetings. A working group is an informal body created for a specific purpose that meets as necessary.
Membership on ministry teams and working groups shall be limited to Active Members of the Church, although limited exceptions for regular attenders may be made with Elder Council approval.
Both men and women may serve in any capacity in any subordinate Church body, Sunday school class, small group, etc.
The Elder Council shall appoint ministry teams to assist with the following Church functions: finance, facilities, personnel, adult Christian education, youth and children’s Christian education, and missions, as well as such other Church bodies as may be created.
Ministry Council. From time to time, and not less than twice annually, the Elder Council shall convene a Ministry Council comprised of the staff and lay leadership of the Church, for the purposes of seeking the Lord’s guidance for the Church and discussing plans, opportunities and challenges of ministry.
Diaconate. The Church recognizes men and women who possess particular gifts of service, who may be set apart as deacons and deaconesses. They shall meet the qualifications for a deacon in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. They shall care for the temporal needs of members, maintain a fund for benevolence as established by the Council, attend to the accommodations for public worship, and support administrative activities requiring gifts of helps and administration.

Article XI - Church Meetings and Procedures

Section 1. The Church Year

The Church administrative year shall begin on January 1st and the Church fiscal year shall begin on July 1st.

Section 2. Annual Meetings of Active Members

The Annual Meeting of the Active Members of the Church shall be held on the third Sunday of January of each year unless the Elder Council, upon two weeks’ prior notice, shall set some other date. The meeting shall be announced in all services on the two Sundays before the meeting is held. At this meeting the election of Elders shall be voted upon and any other business that may properly come before the meeting shall be considered.
The Annual Fiscal Meeting of the Active Members of the Church shall be held before the beginning of the Church Fiscal Year, which begins on July 1st. The meeting shall be announced in all services on the two Sundays prior to the meeting. At this meeting, the Annual Budget shall be voted upon and any other business that may properly come before the meeting shall be considered.

Section 3. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Active Members may be called by a majority of the Elder Council, or upon the request of 10% of the Active Members of the Church, who state a specific purpose for the meeting.
The special meeting shall be announced in all services for two Sundays before the meeting, or by mailing by first class, registered or certified mail, to each Active Member, at his or her last known address, postage prepaid, a notice of said meeting at least ten (10) days before the time fixed for holding said meeting. Such notice shall state the purpose for which the meeting has been called. No business that has not been previously announced shall be brought before a special meeting.

Section 4. Information Meetings

An informational meeting is required in advance of the fiscal annual meeting. Any annual meeting of the Church must be preceded by at least one information meeting held at least one week prior to the voting, where information can be presented, questions raised and answered, and the issues discussed. Information meetings shall be set up by the Elder Council and do not require a quorum and no business is to be conducted.

Section 5. Quorum

a. Ten percent of the Active Members, or twenty-five Active Members, whichever is greater, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any Church meeting except as specified below.

b. In the following cases, not less than twenty-five percent of the Active Members shall constitute a quorum:

The hiring of the Senior Pastor
The dismissal of the Senior Pastor
The purchase, sale, transfer or encumbrance of real property
Change of name of the Church
Merger with any other Church
Membership in any organization by the Church
Adoption or amendment of the Statement of Faith
Any action whatsoever whereby the physical property of the Church may become subject to the control, either directly or indirectly, of any other authority or body
Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

c. Absentee ballots from Active Members, as provided for in these Bylaws, shall be counted in determining if a quorum is present.

Section 6. Voting

a. Those entitled to vote shall be listed on the Active Members roll and be at least 18 years of age.

b. Each Active Member may cast one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members. Voting may be by voice, raised hand, or by ballot at the discretion of the Moderator. However, a secret ballot at any Church meeting shall be taken at the discretion of the Moderator, or at the request of five or more Active Members present. Absentee ballots may be cast by Active Members who are unable to be present at a Church meeting, provided the absentee ballot is in the possession of the Moderator prior to the start of the Church meeting. An absentee ballot may be requested from the Moderator by an Active Member up to ten (10) days prior to the Church meeting. The Moderator shall, if possible, provide the Active Member with an absentee ballot within three (3) days of the request. An absentee ballot may not be revoked.

c. Any action that may be taken at any meeting of Active Members may be taken without a meeting if (1) the written ballot of every Active Member is solicited, (2) the required number of signed approvals setting forth the action so taken is received, and (3) the following requirements are complied with:

All solicitations of written ballots shall indicate the time by which the ballot must be returned in order to be counted;
Approval by written ballot without a meeting shall be valid only when (1) the number of votes cast by ballot within the time specified equals or exceeds the quorum required to be present at a meeting authorizing the action, and (2) the number of approvals equals or exceeds the number of votes that would be required for approval at a meeting at which the total number of votes cast was the same as the number of votes cast by written ballot without a meeting; and
A written ballot may not be revoked.

d. A simple majority vote of the Active Members in attendance shall be required to approve the matters of the Church, except as follows:

In the hiring of a Senior Pastor or the election of an Elder, a 75% majority of the votes properly cast at a duly held meeting of the Active Members shall be required;
The approval of two-thirds of the total vote cast at a duly held meeting of the Active Members shall be required in the following matters:

The dismissal of the Senior Pastor
The purchase, sale, transfer or encumbrance of real property
Change of name of the Church
Merger with any other Church
Membership in any organization by the Church
Adoption or amendment of the Statement of Faith
Any action whatsoever whereby the physical property of the Church may become subject to the control, either directly or indirectly, of any other authority or body
Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

Article XII - Policy Governance Manual

The Elder Council shall maintain a Policy Governance Manual, which defines and prescribes the policies to be followed in the oversight of the Church in all areas. It may be amended as necessary by a majority vote of the Elders present at a duly held meeting of the Elder Council. This Policy Governance Manual shall be available for inspection by any Church Member.

Article XIII - Conciliation/Arbitration

This Church believes that the Bible commands all Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian church (see Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8). Therefore, any controversy, claim or dispute arising from, out of or related to these Bylaws shall be resolved by biblically-based mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation, as amended from time to time, of Peacemakers Ministries in Billings, Montana. This method shall be the sole remedy for any controversy, claim or dispute concerning these Bylaws.