By Laws of the Morton Church of Christ (last revised 1-29-07) (Home)
1.
NAME
1.1.
The Church will be known as "Morton
Church of Christ" as long as it remains in its present location.
2.
PURPOSE
2.1.
The purpose of the Church shall be to
continue the
3.
MEMBERSHIP
3.1.
The Church consists of those persons
whose names appear on the Roll of Members.
3.2.
Church Members are classified in one of
the following categories:
3.2.1.
Active Member:
Individuals satisfying clause 3.4 who have attended the Lord's Table at
this Church for half of Sundays (within the previous 52 weeks).
Active members of at least 18 years of age are the only members allowed
to vote on Church business.
3.2.2.
New Member:
Individuals, including a new minister, satisfying clause 3.4 new to the
Church who must wait a qualifying period of six months before obtaining voting
rights.
3.2.3.
Inactive Members:
Individuals satisfying clause 3.4 who have failed to attend the Lord's
Table half of the Sundays.
3.2.4.
Isolated Members:
Members who have been unable to attend the Lord's Table only by reason of
distance or other cause considered sufficient by two-thirds majority of the
Board of Officers.
3.2.5.
All other persons are considered to be
not members of the Morton Church of Christ.
3.2.6.
Individuals baptized at the Morton
Church of Christ are considered to have been accepted as New Members of the
Church (unless they express otherwise).
3.3.
A person shall be removed from the Roll
of Members if:
3.3.1.
They request that their name be removed.
3.3.2.
They are a member of another Church.
3.3.3.
Members who have been continually absent
from the Lord's Table without sufficient reason for a period of one year.
3.3.4.
By conduct they bring into disrepute the
name of Christ and the Church with such removal only being effected by a
unanimous decision of the Eldership and a two-thirds majority of active Members.
3.4.
Those who indicate a desire to become a
Member of the Church can be added to the Roll of Members.
They must have at some point publicly confessed faith in Jesus Christ as
the Son of God, repented of their sins, and have been fully immersed in the name
of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the remission of sins and received the
gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
4.
GOVERANCE OF BUSINESS
4.1.
The business of the Church shall be
governed by a Board of Officers elected by the Membership of the Church.
The Board of Officers shall consist of a minimum of five members and a
maximum of ten.
4.2.
The Board of Officers has the power to
appoint Trustees. All Trustees
referred to in this clause shall be appointed from among the active Members with
voting rights and shall have all necessary authority to act on behalf of the
Church for all purposes covered by these Bylaws and for all purposes connected
with the normal conduction of Church business.
4.3.
The Board of Officers shall meet monthly
to transact regular business necessary to the well being of the Church. Any
officer may request to have a special meeting of the Board to consider a matter
of business necessary to the well being of the Church.
4.4.
At any meeting of the Board, a quorum
shall be more than half the total number of officers. Except as defined by other
Bylaws, all decisions are enacted by a simple majority of votes cast.
4.5.
All members of the Board of Officers
shall have only one vote in all ballots taken during Board meetings.
4.6.
A written record shall be kept of all
meetings of the Board of Officers. This
record shall be displayed on the main notice board of the Church for a period of
no less than 90 days and archived for the life of the Church.
4.7.
Church funds shall be subject to the
management and control of the Board of Officers. Church funds shall be paid into
a bank account(s) or account(s) in financial institutions approved by the Board
of Officers in the name of the Church.
4.8.
Any expenditure above an amount equal to
an average week’s contribution shall require two signatures of the Board of
Officers, who are unrelated, authorized by it for this purpose.
4.9.
Any expenditure above an amount equal to
an average month’s contribution shall require the approval of the congregation
at a properly convened meeting.
5.
APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
5.1.
Any officers of the Church currently in
office prior to the adoption of these Bylaws shall continue in their office for
the normal term of that office.
5.2.
An alternate election cycle shall be
employed to ensure that the offices of Elder and Deacon cannot result in a
wholesale change in these offices in a single election.
5.3.
Nominations for officers of the Church
shall be as far as possible held two months prior to the Annual Business
Meeting.
5.4.
A vote for nominees for the positions of
Elder and Deacon shall always be made during the Annual Church Business Meeting.
5.5.
Nominees for all elected offices of the
Church shall be made by open ballot. Any
Member with voting rights may nominate for this office.
All nominees receiving five or more votes are eligible for appointment to
this office unless they withdraw their name from consideration.
5.6.
Board of Officers:
5.6.1.
The personnel on the Board of Officers
shall be chaired at least one third and no more than two thirds of the total of
the eldership. The remaining chair (s) shall be filled by deacons. If less than
five members are obtained from this rank of officers, any remaining positions
shall be filled first from the offices of Minister, and Treasurer.
Any afore mentioned Members may decline to be upon the Board of Officers
except for the deacons.
5.6.2.
If at any time less than the minimum
required number of members exist on the Board of Officers and those vacancies
cannot be filled as per section 5.6.1, a general election will be held within 30
days to fill the vacancies. These
members of the Board are referred to as Lay Officers.
5.7.
Elders:
5.7.1.
The role and responsibilities unique to
an Elder in the Church includes:
a)
To fulfill the role as defined and
exampled in scripture this is to oversee the spiritual life of the Church and
its growth.
b)
To ensure that the scriptural integrity
of the church is not compromised in its teaching, practices, and conduct.
c)
To define the role and responsibilities
of the Deaconship.
d)
To determine and sanction Church
discipline when necessary.
5.7.2.
If the Church should find itself with
only one Elder, the sole Elder will resign from that office at the earliest
opportunity.
5.7.3.
Prior to any nomination or ballot for
the office of Elder, the qualifications for the office of Elder as contained in
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 shall be read.
5.7.4.
Voting for the appointment of Elders
must be by secret ballot.
5.7.5.
To secure appointments to the position
of Elder it shall be necessary for a nominee to obtain not less than two thirds
of the votes cast.
5.7.6.
A duly elected Elder shall continue in
office for four years when he may be eligible for nomination and re-election.
5.8.
Deacons:
5.8.1.
Deacons are official servants of the
church and minister to a specific need of the congregation.
5.8.2.
The position for a Deacon must be
created before any ballots can be cast for a member to fill that position.
Deacon positions are created by the unanimous agreement of the Elders or
Board of Officers in the absence of any Elders.
5.8.3.
Deacons are elected to fulfill a
specific position or purpose. Should
the position become unnecessary, the Deacon shall resign.
Deacons cannot be moved to fill positions they have not been specifically
elected to fill.
5.8.4.
Prior to any nomination or ballot for
the office of Deacon, the qualifications for the office of Deacon contained in 1
Timothy 3:8-13 shall be read.
5.8.5.
Voting for the appointment of Deacons
must be by secret ballot.
5.8.6.
To secure appointments to the position
of Deacon it shall be necessary for a nominee to obtain not less than a simple
majority of 51% of the votes cast.
5.8.7.
A duly elected Deacon shall continue in
office for two years when they may be eligible for nomination and re-election.
5.9.
Minister:
5.9.1.
The role and responsibilities of a
Minister in the Church includes but is not limited to:
a)
Teaching of the whole Church body to
effect its growth and maturity.
b)
To act as one of the primary
representatives of the Church to the local community.
c)
To help lead the Church to fulfill its
purpose and mission in the world.
d)
To perform those special duties that is
primarily the responsibility of a Minister such as baptisms, weddings,
visitations, and dedications.
5.9.2.
The appointment shall be in the case of
a full-time Minister, for such periods and conditions as the Board of Officers
may decide. Ministers not considered
to be full-time are Trustees.
5.9.3.
The appointment of a Minister is made by
the Board of Officers and it shall be necessary for a nominee to obtain the
unanimous vote of all Elders and two thirds majority of the total Board of
Officers votes.
5.9.4.
The Board of Officers may appoint
Minister(s) and such appointments shall be subject to such terms and conditions
as the Board of Officers may decide at the time of each appointment, providing
the Minister meets the requirements set out in clause 3.4.
5.9.5.
The integrity of the Minister must be
maintained. Questions of doctrine must be submitted to the Eldership who may
choose to delegate their authority in this matter to the entire Board of
Officers.
5.9.6.
A duly appointed Minister shall continue
in office indefinitely until by choice or unanimous vote of all Elders and two
thirds majority of the total Board of Officers.
Unless both parties shall mutually agree otherwise, a minimum notice of
30 days in writing shall be given by either party wishing to terminate the
appointment.
5.10.
Treasurer:
5.10.1.
Those eligible to hold the office of
Treasurer are Active Members with voting rights.
5.10.2.
The role and responsibilities unique to
the Treasurer in the Church includes:
a)
To keep a proper account of all receipts
and expenditures of the Church.
b)
To present financial statements at each
meeting of the Board of Officers.
c)
To maintain an audited financial
statement covering a full year to the Annual Business Meeting of the Church. The
audit shall be conducted by a CPA or by a three member panel of the board of
officers.
5.10.3.
Voting for the appointment of Treasurer
must be by secret ballot.
5.10.4.
To secure appointments to the position
of Treasurer it shall be necessary for a nominee to obtain not less than a
simple majority of 51% of the votes cast.
5.10.5.
A duly elected Treasurer shall continue
in office for two years when they may be eligible for nomination and
re-election..
5.11.
Lay Officers:
5.11.1.
The sole purpose of the office of Lay
Officer is to fill vacancies upon the Board of Officers when those positions
cannot be filled with primary officers of the Church.
5.11.2.
Those eligible to hold the office of Lay
Officer are Active Members with voting rights.
5.11.3.
Voting for the appointment of Lay
Officer must be by secret ballot.
5.11.4.
To secure appointments to the position
of Lay Officer it shall be necessary for a nominee to obtain not less than 40%
of the votes cast.
5.11.5.
A duly elected Lay Officer shall
continue in office for one year when they shall be eligible for nomination and
re-election but only if the need still exists.
5.12.
Trustees:
5.12.1.
The role and responsibilities of
Trustees in the Church includes:
a)
Carry out assignments as defined by the
Board of Officers at the time of their appointment.
b)
Committees shall present written reports
on their activities to the Board of Officers as often as required.
5.12.2.
Trustees are not members of the Board of
Officers; they are Individuals under the jurisdiction and guidance of the Board
of Officers.
5.12.3.
Trustee positions shall include all
Teachers and may include but are not limited to: Clerk of the Church, Financial
Clerk, and Benevolence Committees.
5.12.4.
Trustees are appointed and may be
removed by a majority vote of the Board of Officers.
5.12.5.
Trustees have a fixed term defined by
the Board of Officers but shall not exceed two years.
A Trustee may be appointed to consecutive terms of office.
6.
MEETING OF MEMBERS
6.1.
A Church Business Meeting shall be held
at least annually each year to consider reports, elect persons as Officers of
the Church and if necessary transact other business for which due notice has
been given.
6.2.
A Church Business Meeting may be called
at any time by the Board of Officers to consider any matter as required.
A two-thirds majority vote on the Board is required to call a meeting and
approve items for said meeting.
6.3.
Notice of a Church Business Meeting and
the nature of the business to be transacted shall be given no later than 15 days
prior to the date of the meeting. Notifying shall be done by announcement in the
church service supplemented by a written notice displayed on the main notice
board of the Church.
6.4.
Except as specifically provided in the
Bylaws, no matter shall be
considered at any such meeting without prior approval and proper notice by the
Board of Officers.
6.5.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws
or required by any law or regulation binding upon the Church, the following
rules shall apply to the conduct of meetings of Members:
6.5.1.
The Chair of the Board of Officers shall
be Chair of the meeting or in his absence or his agreement a person appointed by
the meeting being an active Member with voting rights.
6.5.2.
The meeting will be conducted using
Parliamentary procedures (Roberts Rules).
6.5.3.
The Clerk of the Church or a member of
the Board of Officers duly appointed by the meeting Chair shall be responsible
for keeping the records of the meeting. This
written record shall be displayed on the main notice board of the Church for a
period of no less than 90 days and archived for the life of the Church.
6.5.4.
All ballots shall be restricted to those
Active Members present and with voting rights, and shall be by show of hands
provided that if a secret ballot is called for on any matter and the decision to
hold such a secret ballot is agreed to, then the vote shall be taken by secret
ballot.
6.5.5.
Any Member present, whether entitled to
vote or not, shall be entitled to take part in discussions of any motions.
6.5.6.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws,
a resolution shall be declared passed if agreed to by a simple majority of votes
cast with only one vote per voting member allowed.
6.6.
At every Annual Church Business Meeting
or other Meetings of Members as the Board of Officers may require, a written
report shall be received and presented from the Treasurer and from each Trustee
or Committee.
6.7.
All secret ballots shall be counted by
at least two auditors chosen from among the Active Members present who are not
among the Board of Officers. Nomination
of these auditors will be made by the Chair and confirmed by a simple majority
of member votes.
6.8.
A quorum for the transaction of business
at any Church Business Meeting shall consist of three-tenths of the active
Members with voting rights.
7.
OPERATION OF BY-LAWS
7.1.
These Bylaws shall come into operation
only after being adopted at a meeting of Members by a three-fifths majority. A
current copy of Bylaws shall be made available on demand to any Member who
requests it.
7.2.
These Bylaws may only be amended in
whole or in part by notice of motion approved by three-fifths majority vote of
the Board of Officers.
7.3.
The amendment shall be submitted to any
Church Business Meeting and adoption with a three-fifths majority of those
Members present and entitled to vote.
8.
DISSOLUTION CLAUSE
8.1.
In the event that the Church dissolves
as a Church, all properties, real and imagined shall be sold and all creditors
paid in full. All remaining funds from sale of property(s) and assets shall be
dispersed to
9.
ERRATTA
This section contains non-binding information that may be used to determine the scope or purpose of the binding sections of the Bylaws.
9.1.
These Bylaws were written for a small
congregation where election to the Board of Officers is unlikely to result in
any conflict as a result of having too many qualified Elders or Deacons.