[January 15, 1995]
ARTICLE I--NAME
The name of this Church organization shall be called the BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH OF OAK HARBOR, WASHINGTON.
ARTICLE II--PURPOSE
This Church is exclusively organized for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and has as its purpose and mission to strive, by the help of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Matthew 28:18-20 and elsewhere. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
A. Every member shall be urged and expected not only to assist others in taking the Gospel of salvation to the lost, but will be expected to go personally after having been instructed and led of the Lord in doing so.
B. After having led the lost to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and upon having received Him as Lord and Saviour, the converts shall be instructed as to their duty to confess Christ by baptism (immersion in water).
C. New converts shall also be instructed and taught in matters of Christian conduct, Bible study, church attendance, personal soul winning, tithes and offerings, faithfulness to Christ, and any other Scriptures that are deemed necessary to their prosperity and growth.
D. The means employed in carrying out the above shall be: Regular church services, prayer meetings, revival meetings, personal visitation, church visitation, Sunday and weekday schools of Christian education, missionary enterprises (both home and foreign), radio and television broadcasts, distribution of literature, street and jail services, rescue missions, camps, nursing home ministries, bus ministries, military ministries, printing and publishing ministries, and any other means deemed honorable, wise, and effective that the Church may be led of God to establish.
E. The Church shall provide a K-12 educational program for the children of its members and adherents. This program, as with all other programs, is an integral ministry of the Church and not a separate entity.
F. The Church shall operate a Bible Institute for the training of men and women whose desire it is to prepare themselves for more useful service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
G. The Church shall ordain and license men to the Gospel ministry.
H. The Church shall endeavor to provide encouragement to pastors, evangelists, and Christian workers of other churches of like faith and order by extending hospitality, fellowship, and pastoral counsel.
ARTICLE III--AUTHORITY
The Holy Scriptures (the Authorized, King James Version) shall be accepted as final authority on matters relating to faith and practice by members of this Church.
ARTICLE IV--GOVERNMENT
Section 1
This Church shall always be an independent body of baptized believers. The government of this Church shall be vested in its assembled membership, through its duly elected officers; and it shall never be subject to the control of any other ecclesiastical body; and no denominational or associational representatives shall ever sit in judgment over its affairs.
The Church may fellowship and cooperate with other Baptist churches of like faith and order for the furtherance of the Gospel when such shall be wholly in accordance with the Scriptures; but no rules, regulations, or commitments shall be made to such bodies which call for more than voluntary action on the part of this Church, and any such fellowship and cooperation may be broken at any time by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting at any regular or special Church administration meeting.
Section 2
The instruments of government shall be in the Holy Bible (the Authorized, King James Version) and the Articles of Faith (Instrument I), Constitution and By-Laws (Instrument II), and Church Policy (Instrument III).
While the Articles of Faith (Instrument I) do not exhaust the extent of our faith, they set forth the teaching of the Bible in matters essential to the unity of the Church.
ARTICLE V--FINANCES
Section 1
Scriptural giving is an expression of love to the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, it shall be a voluntary and free-will offering uninfluenced by any consideration of material or of worldly reward. No solicitation, sales, or bazaars shall be permitted in the name of this Church. Tithes and offerings brought into the general treasury of the Church are the only method of finance found in the Scriptures; therefore, it shall be the duty of the members to bring their tithes and offerings into the general treasury of the Church (I Corinthians 16:2).
The Church shall always endeavor to distribute all contributions designated for specific purposes to the purposes so designated. However, all such contributions shall be deemed as having been given in a non-mandatory manner. No fiduciary obligation shall be created by any designated contribution made to the Church other than to use the contribution for the stated purposes of the Church as set forth in these Constitution and By- Laws.
Section 2
Not less than 10% of the income of the Church (building and special offerings exempted) shall be given to Missions.
Section 3
No part of the net earnings of the Church shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth under Article II (Purpose) hereof.
ARTICLE VI--INNER ORGANIZATIONS
Every organization or society within this Church will be an integral part of the Church and not an entity to itself. They shall therefore have as their aims and objectives that of assisting the Church in discharging the obligations and responsibilities which it has imposed upon itself, rather than having separate aims and objectives, which always act as divisive forces. The Senior Pastor shall have ex-officio supervision over all such organizations or societies.
ARTICLE VII--MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Membership in this Church may be acquired in the following manner:
A. Baptism: Any person who professes faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God Who died and shed His blood on the cross to atone for his sin, and accepts Him as his own Saviour, and with all his heart is willing to obey Him and His Word, may by vote of the Church and by baptism be received into membership.
B. Letter: Any person to whom the ordinance of baptism by immersion has been administered by authority of another Baptist church of like faith and order may, by a satisfactory statement of faith and letter of recommendation from that Baptist church, be received into membership upon the vote of this church.
C. Statement: This Church will accept members from other churches who have been baptized by immersion only, and which immersion portrayed the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The administering church must be in accord with the Articles of Faith of this Church. The candidate for membership will be examined by a pastor, and public statement of agreement with the Articles of Faith of Bible Baptist Church must be given.
D. Candidates for membership whose affiliation is with some other non- Baptist organization, or who are coming from churches not in accord with the Articles of Faith of this Church may be received upon their baptism after having been found to be in agreement with the Bible Baptist Church as to its Articles of Faith.
E. Restoration: Any person who has been excluded as a result of disciplinary action may, upon public confession of his sins or errors, after said confession and upon a vote of the Church, be received into membership. No restored member shall hold office or a ministry for a period of six months following restoration.
F. No person shall be admitted to membership of this Church to whom three members object, casting their votes in the negative. In the event of objection, said person shall be referred to the Discipline Committee. Such voters shall, at the time or in a later meeting, state the reasons for such objections. If objections are not valid, said person may be again presented for membership.
Section 2
Membership in this Church may be dissolved in the following ways:
A. Death: At a regular Church administration meeting, the Church clerk shall be caused to indicate on the Church roll that said member has deceased.
B. Letter of Dismissal: to sister Baptist churches of like faith and order.
C. Inactive Membership Roll: Any member absenting himself from attendance of the Church services and the support of the Church for a period of a least one month shall be automatically placed on the inactive roll and shall be denied the privilege of voting in any matters of the Church. If he holds an office, it shall be declared vacant.
This provision shall not be binding upon the person who has been providentially hindered from attendance by reason of sickness that has confined him to a hospital, in the case of a person in the Armed Forces, or a person engaged in work distant from this area, and provided that due notice of same has been made to the Church.
Any person placed on the inactive roll may be restored to the active roll of the Church by appearing before the Church when it is in a harmonious meeting, manifesting sincere desire to be loyal to Christ and His Church and to the Pastor.
Under no circumstances will a person be restored to active membership when the Church is conducting a Church Administration meeting where a controversial matter is being considered.
An inactive member may be granted a letter to a sister church of like faith and order stating that he is "inactive."
D. Exclusion: Participation in unauthorized meetings or secret meetings with members of the Church with the intention of making changes in the Constitution or policy of the Church shall be cause for automatic exclusion.
Any member who engages in sin as outlined in I Corinthians 5:11-13 shall be interviewed for the purpose of correcting such behavior in their life. It shall be within the province of the Pastor and Discipline Committee to recommend that said person or persons be brought before the Church for disciplinary action and exclusion.
Section 3:
General duties of the members of this Church shall be to acquire Bible knowledge, to progress spiritually, to put away questionable habits, and to live a life that would honor the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen His Church.
It is the duty of the members to cultivate brotherly love (John 13:35) toward all the other members of the Church, and to show this love by using all proper measures to promote their spiritual benefit and prosperity.
It is the duty of members to honor and highly esteem, or regard, their pastors (I Thessalonians 5:12-13); to pray for them (II Thessalonians 3:1- 2); to submit to them in the Scriptural exercise of their Holy Spirit-given authority (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7,17); to guard their reputation; to contribute toward their support regularly according to their ability.
Because the Word of God prohibits Christians from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the Church to resolve personal disputes (I Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31,32), it is the duty of each member to follow the Scriptural procedures for resolving any such matters. The Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. However, a member may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian's insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander.
Toward those outside the membership it is the duty of members to be exact in fulfilling obligations, keeping promises and, as opportunity enables, to commend the Gospel of Christ to them.
It is the duty of members upon removing from the city to unite with another church of like faith and order and to request said church to send to the Bible Baptist Church for their letter of recommendation or dismissal.
Should a non-resident member wish to continue his membership, he shall communicate and make a contribution at least once yearly to the Church.
ARTICLE VIII--CHURCH OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1--Pastor: Duties and Qualifications
A. The word pastor means "shepherd" or "spiritual overseer." The Scriptures refer to the office commonly called Pastor, as Elder or Bishop (I Timothy 3:1-7; I Peter 5:1-4; I Timothy 5:17; I Thessalonians 5:12-13; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7,17). The above verses are examples of such, and they show clearly that a pastor is to oversee and supervise the affairs of the Church.
B. This Church recognizes the Scriptural teaching of a "plurality" of pastors, and from time to time may ordain other Scripturally qualified men to serve in this office. Nevertheless, there will always be a "Senior Pastor" who shall exercise direct supervision over those Pastors who associate with him in his ministry.
C. The Pastor shall have unrestricted liberty in presenting any matter he deems necessary to the Church for its consideration and instruction.
D. It shall be the duty of a Pastor to preach regularly at the Church, to administer the ordinances of the Gospel (baptism and Lord's Supper), and to perform the various duties incumbent on his office.
E. A Pastor shall be the moderator of the Church and preside at all its Church Administration meetings; ex-officio member of all the committees and organizations, which includes the privilege of voting; in charge of the pulpit and responsible to supply speakers. As an accommodation to legal relationships outside the Church, in legal matters the Senior Pastor shall act as President.
F. I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9 give the qualifications of a Pastor. The life of a Pastor and his family should be an example of godliness and spirituality. They should not indulge in worldly or sinful practices which would tend to weaken the testimony of this Church (I Thessalonians 5:22).
No one who is given to the use of intoxicating liquors, drugs, or tobacco in any form, or who belongs to a secret society, or who brings disrepute upon his ministry through sinful language, practice, or associations shall be considered as a Pastor; or having fallen into such, be retained as a Pastor, if such a course is persisted in (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:11-18).
G. Because of the office, a Pastor shall be counted worthy of double honor (I Timothy 5:17). No accusation shall be accepted against him without three witnesses (I Timothy 5:19).
H. No divorced person shall be a Pastor of this Church (Matthew 19:9).
I. No person shall be considered for the office nor serve as a Pastor of this Church whose beliefs and teachings are not in accordance with the Articles of Faith, as set forth in Instrument I, or who will not declare himself to be a fundamentalist (Webster--fundamentalism), pre-millennial, independent Baptist.
J. No person shall be considered for the office nor serve as a Pastor who maintains any connection with the National Council of Churches or any of its agencies, conventions, or other ecclesiastical body or bodies.
K. No woman shall be considered for, nor serve as, a Pastor of this Church.
L. The term of a Pastor shall be for an indefinite period, whether so- stated in the call or not. Termination of a Pastor's service shall be left to him as God shall lead, and a period of thirty (30) days' notice will be given prior to his resignation.
M. The Church may dismiss a Pastor on the following grounds:
1. Sinful conduct.
2. Unscriptural teaching--meaning contrary to the Articles of Faith, Instrument I.
3. In the event there is a radical decline in the Church attendance and support and it becomes obvious that the Pastor is at fault, the Church may select a committee of at least three adult men (at least twenty-one years of age, not related) in good standing with the Church to counsel with the Pastor. If there is just cause for his leaving, and after presenting the matter in a Scriptural manner as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, this committee may bring the matter to the attention of the Church if the Pastor refuses to resign; and after public announcement for at least two Sundays, the Church may vote to dismiss the Pastor. There must be at least a two- thirds majority of the quorum to make it valid.
Section 2--Pastor: Call Of
A. A vacancy within the pastorate of the Church shall be automatically filled from within the pastorate, subject to the ratification of the Church by a three-fourths majority vote of a quorum. The Senior Pastor shall have the liberty to designate his successor, who shall begin his ministry in that capacity immediately upon the death, resignation, or removal of his predecessor.
B. Whenever these steps cannot be taken by virtue of there being only one Pastor of the Church, and it becomes necessary, by the death, resignation, or removal of that Pastor, the Church shall, WITHOUT UNNECESSARY DELAY, proceed to secure a new Pastor in the following manner:
1. Five men who have been members of the Church more than six months and who are not related in any manner (at least two of which are married) shall be known as the "Pulpit Committee." They will be entitled to the rights of such a committee either by previous appointment thereto and are therefore a "Standing Pulpit Committee" at the time, or they may be elected by the Church after said death or resignation of the Pastor, providing no such committee exists at such a time. If such election is needed, the Church shall choose from among its male members the said committee of five. Each must be elected to said office with a three-fourths majority vote or more.
2. The Pulpit Committee shall meet and elect one of its members to contact and invite to the pulpit of the Church some minister of good report who is in accordance with and meets the requirements of Article VIII, Section 1 of Instrument II, known as Constitution and By-Laws. He shall be in accordance with Instrument I known as the Articles of Faith. An interview is necessary by the Pulpit Committee. No person shall be invited to the pulpit of the Church in said case without consent of a majority of the Pulpit Committee.
Earnest prayer, seeking the will of our Lord, should be made preceding such an invitation.
3. It shall be announced in at least one regular public service previous to the taking of a ballot that the visiting minister is a candidate for the office of Pastor of the Church and the time of voting announced.
4. A candidate will be voted on in the following regularly scheduled service of the Church. Another candidate will not be heard until the one previous has been voted upon and not accepted.
5. A three-fourths majority of the quorum shall be necessary for the calling of a Pastor (SEE: Article IX, Section 5).
6. The Deacons may act as a Pulpit Committee either by appointment of Pastor or elected by the Church, except in case of Pastor's dismissal.
Section 3--Deacon: Duties and Qualifications
A. The word in the King James Version which is translated deacon, according to the Greek Dictionary of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (word numbers 1247-48-49), means "servant; attendant; aid; waiter," etc.
The meaning given for the Greek word translated deacon in I Timothy 3:10,13 is "to be an attendant" or "to wait upon, (menially, or as in host or friend)." The Greek word translated deacon in Philippians 1:1 and I Timothy 3:8,12 is given to mean "to run errands; an attendant; a waiter (at tables or in other menial duties," specifically to a Christian teacher and Pastor.
In Acts 6:1-7 the first servants were chosen by the Church and were appointed to their tasks by the overseers of the Church for the purpose of performing such tasks as would free those in charge of the services for prayer and the study of the Word. Therefore, because this Church accepts the Scriptures as final authority rather than tradition, the office of Deacon shall not in any way be taken to mean authority over the Church and its Pastors.
B. The general duties of a Deacon, aside from appointed tasks, shall be to assist the Pastors in building up the Church numerically, financially, and spiritually; to visit the sick, the sorrowing, and the needy; to personally strive to win the lost to Christ; to guard and protect the reputation of the Church and its Pastors against gossip, lies, and false accusations; to investigate delinquents and to endeavor to remedy any spiritual weakness in the lives of its members; to cooperate with the Pastors in the care, operation, and repair of the physical property of the Church. Duties toward the Pastors shall be to pray for them earnestly and continually; to act as a host and friend in behalf of the Church; to see that his material and physical needs are taken care of; to strive in every way to help him in the performance of Scriptural duties.
C. I Timothy 3:8-13 gives the qualifications of Deacon and wife; and they shall, by the help of God, try to live thereby. The life of a Deacon and his family should be one of godliness and spirituality. They should not indulge in worldly and sinful practices which would tend to weaken the testimony of the Church (I Thessalonians 5:22). No one who is addicted to intoxicating liquor, drugs, or tobacco in any form, or who belongs to any secret society, or who brings disrepute upon the Church through sinful language, practice, or associations shall be considered for Deacon, or who having fallen into such practices and persisting in same shall be retained.
In keeping with the Scriptures, gossiping, tattling, backbiting, undermining, holding grudges, violent uncontrolled temper, etc., are unbecoming for the office of Deacon; and if indulged in by either a Deacon or his wife, shall be grounds for dismissal.
D. No person shall be elected to the office of Deacon who has not been a faithful member of the Church for a period of six months or more (I Timothy 3:10).
E. A Deacon is to be faithful in all things (I Timothy 3:11); therefore, absenteeism from two Church Administration meetings or one month of Church attendance without a legitimate excuse shall disqualify said Deacon, and his office shall be declared vacant.
F. Deacons shall be elected at any Church Administration Meeting for a period of one year, after which they may be re-elected for an indeterminate term.
G. No one shall be considered for, or serve as, Deacon who is not in accordance with the Articles of Faith of this Church, known as Instrument
H. The Deacons and the Pastor shall act as the Discipline Committee in matters of disciplinary action.
I. As an accommodation to legal relationships outside the Church, the Deacons shall serve as Trustees.
Section 4--Ministry Directors:
In order to promote a high spiritual standard of the Church, all those who serve under the Pastors as directors over the various ministries of the Church will be expected to attend all regular services of the Church, except they be sick or providentially hindered; and their position shall be declared vacant after two months delinquency. They will also be required to have read the "job descriptions" pertaining to their ministries and express agreement that they will perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
ARTICLE IX--CHURCH BUSINESS
This Church functions, not as a pure democracy, but as a body under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the leadership and direction of the Pastors as shepherds, and the will of the membership expressed through its Church Administration meetings.
Membership in this Church does not afford those individuals with any property, contract, or civil rights based on principles of democratic government. Determination of the internal affairs of this Church are ecclesiastical matters and shall be determined exclusively by the Church's own rules and procedures. The Senior Pastor shall oversee and/or conduct all aspects of this Church. Members may not vote to initiate any Church action, but rather the vote of the members is to confirm and ratify the direction of the Church as determined by the Pastor.
Section 1--Annual Church Administration Meeting:
A. The annual meeting for the adoption of a proposed Stewardship Plan for the coming year shall be held on the date of the regular December Church Administration Meeting.
B. Annual financial, membership, and ministry reports shall be read during the regular January Church Administration meeting.
C. Vacancies for any office or ministry position (apart from the call of a Pastor) may be filled at any regular or special Administration meeting of the Church.
D. Reports: The Church Clerk shall bring the membership roll up to date prior to the regular January Church administration meeting and give a report to the Church at that time of number received and dismissed, and number on the roll. The report shall be checked by a Pastor at least ten days prior to the meeting.
The Church Treasurer shall be responsible to give financial reports of the total receipts, expenditures, and indebtedness of the Church.
All other committees appointed or elected shall give a report if called upon to do so.
E. The Church Clerk shall be responsible for keeping a fair record of all the legitimate business of the Church, an up-to-date record of names of members, missionary and other correspondence pertaining to the Church, and the safe-keeping of legal papers. As an accommodation to legal relationships outside of the Church, he shall act as Secretary.
F. The Church Treasurer shall receive and count all monies, keep a true and fair book of accounts, pay all orders drawn upon him by order of either (1) the Church, or (2) the Pastor.
Section 2--Men's Meetings:
A. Monthly Church Administration meetings of the men of the Church (active male members eighteen years or older) shall be held for the purpose of approving the Clerk's Report, the Treasurer's Report, and transacting the business of the Church. A meeting may not be postponed for more than one month.
B. Should the attendance at such meetings be less than 25% of the active male membership, no new business may be transacted.
C. The buying and selling of real estate: Indebtedness of, or the mortgaging of, the Church property shall not be permitted except at such time as a quorum of voting members is present (SEE: Article IX, Section 5).
D. Any purchasing in excess of $500.00 above normal authorized expenses will be done only with the authorization of the Church at a regular Church Administration meeting.
E. A Financial Report and the Minutes of each monthly Church Administration meeting will be printed and made available to those not in attendance.
F. Any active male member of voting age who is unable to attend a meeting due to illness or work schedule may cast a vote by communicating his desire to a Pastor or his Deacon.
G. As with all the regularly scheduled meetings of the Bible Baptist Church, the monthly men's meetings are open to any members who desire to attend.
Section 3--Special Church Administration Meetings:
A. Special meetings to deal with any Church matter may be called at any time by the pastor when such meetings fall on regular times of service, provided such meetings do not include major business such as selling of Church property, amending the Constitution and By-Laws, and mortgaging of property.
B. The Pastor may call special Church Administration meetings falling on a time other than the regular Church services, provided it be announced in at least one regular service prior to the date of the meeting, except it be for the purpose of selling the Church property or amending the Constitution and By-Laws.
C. Special Church Administration meetings for the purpose of selling the Church property, amending the Constitution and By-Laws or other major business, may be called by the Pastor, provided the said proposition or amendment has been posted and read from the pulpit, and the date and time of the meeting is announced for at least two consecutive Sundays prior to the meeting. No other business except that which has been announced shall be taken care of at said meeting. Such business shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.
Section 4--Unauthorized Meetings:
No secret or unauthorized business meetings are valid. No business beyond that of routine weekly affairs shall be carried on in the absence of the Senior Pastor (including his vacation).
Section 5--Quorum:
In the matter pertaining to a Pastor, or for the mortgaging or selling of Church property, or amending the Constitution and By- Laws, two-thirds of the active available voting membership shall be a proper number of voting members for a quorum.
Section 6--Voting Age Requirement:
A member must have reached his eighteenth birthday in order to be considered a voting member.
Section 7--Majority Vote:
A majority vote of the voting members present and voting at any Constitutionally-called Church Administration meeting shall be required, except when otherwise stated.
ARTICLE X--AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be revised or amended upon the recommendation of the Senior Pastor by a two-thirds majority vote of the eligible members present and voting at any regular Church Administration meeting, provided the said revision or amendment has been submitted in writing and announced from the pulpit for at least two consecutive Sundays prior to the meeting.
All such revisions and amendments must be in harmony with the Articles of Faith of the Church.