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By-Laws

Revised February, 1989

Revised April, 1971

Revised May, 1975

Revised December, 2004

BY-LAWS OF CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA

ARTICLE I. CHURCH YEAR

The church year will begin on July 1 st and end on June 30 th each year.

ARTICLE II. GENERAL BOARD

The General Board shall hold its regular meetings on the second Monday of each month, beginning with July.
Said General Board shall hold special meetings as required on call of the Chairman or upon request of ten or more members of the board.
Fourteen members of the General Board shall constitute a quorum
Under normal circumstances the order of business hereafter set forth shall be the order followed. When special circumstances exist, the Chairman of the Board may revise the order of business or may suspend the order of business to take up other and urgent matters requiring immediate attention.

Meeting called to order by presiding officer.
Devotions and prayer.
Reading and approval of minutes of previous meeting.
Report of Treasurer and approval of report.
Minister’s report.
Report of departments.
Regular and special committee reports.
Action on recommendations growing out of reports.
Consideration of unfinished business carried over from previous meetings.
New business and program suggestions for future activities.
Pastor’s inspirational moment and benediction.
Adjournment.

ARTICLE III. QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICERS

Qualifications for church office.

Shall be a regular member of this church for at least one year.
Shall attend worship regularly.
Shall be a regular contributing member.
Shall have constructive and positive involvement in the life of the church.

Terms of office.

The Chairman of the Board shall have served at least one year on the board prior to election. This term of office shall be for one year.
The Chairman-elect of the Board shall have served at least one year on the Board and his/her term of office shall be one year.
The Trustees shall be members of this church and shall sere for a term of three years, one-third of whom shall be elected each year.
The Elders shall be members of this church and shall serve for the duration of their membership with the church.
Deacons shall be members of this church and shall serve for a period of three years, one-third of whom shall be elected each year.
Deaconesses shall be members of this church and shall serve for a period of three years, one-third of whom shall be elected each year.
Junior Deacons and Deaconesses shall be members of this congregation of high school age, not to exceed twelve in number, and shall be elected annually.
The Secretary, Treasurer and Church Historian shall be members of this church and shall be elected for one-year term.

ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATION OF CHURCH PROGRAM

The task of administering the program of the church shall be delegated to the

following functional departments:

World Outreach.
Christian Social Concerns department.
Evangelism department.
Membership Development department.
Worship department.
Christian Education department.
Stewardship and Finance department.
Property & Grounds department.
Publicity department.

Special Committees.

1. The membership of each department shall be selected in the following manner,

subject to the confirmation of the General Board.

The Chairman, Chairman-elect, and Minister shall constitute a

committee to select the respective department Chairmen.

This committee shall then work with the respective department

Chairmen in the selection of the members of each department

Chairman off all departments shall be selected from the church

membership and all department Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen shall serve for one year terms and may succeed themselves.

Members of each department shall be named on the basis of

qualification for the task.

Each department shall organize itself to conduct the business for which it is responsible, shall meet regularly, and plan its general program which shall be presented through the Cabinet to the General Board. Upon approval by the General Board, the department shall proceed to administer its program in cooperation with other departments. Regular reports shall be made to the General Board. Each department shall submit its department’s budget proposal to the Department of Stewardship and Finance.

ARTICLE V. FUNTIONAL DEPARTMENTS

CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

The President of the Fellowship shall serve as a member of the General

Board of the church and the President-elect may act for the President in the said President’s absence from such Board or upon her request.

The Treasurer of the Fellowship shall make required remittances to the

Outreach Program. She shall serve on the General Board of the church and shall be a member of the Outreach and Local Mission Finance dept.

The Worship director of the Fellowship shall serve as a member of the

Worship department of the church

The Study director of the Fellowship shall serve as a member of the

Christian Education dept. of the church.

The Service director of the Fellowship and her assistants shall represent the women of the church on the department of Property & Grounds with special responsibilities for housekeeping.
The Chairman of Membership of the Fellowship shall serve as a member of the Membership Dept. of the church.

WORLD OUTREACH DEPARTMENT

A. Outreach and Local Mission Finance Dept.

It shall be the purpose of this department to create and foster a world vision

Within the church and its auxiliary organizations.

It shall be responsible for planning and promoting a definite program of

missionary education in every department of the church, recommending the church’s annual missionary and benevolent budget; enlisting support for missions and brotherhood causes; caring for local and general benevolent needs not otherwise provided for sponsoring interdenominational activities promoting conventions, conferences and retreats; recruiting and supporting life-work recruits; and keeping records of all missionary giving and action in the church.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

In cooperation with the Christian Education Dept., it shall be responsible for a program of missionary education in the total life of the church.
It shall be responsible for world outreach offerings.
It shall function as the representative of the church in interdenominational and inter-faith relations and in giving leadership to assigned denominational projects. It shall publicize and promote attendance at assembly, conferences and retreats, within its interest.
It shall enlist and counsel recruits for full-time Christian service.

CHRISTIAN SOCIAL CONCERNS DEPARTMENTS

It shall be the purpose of the department to fire the imagination of members of

of the congregation regarding their responsibilities and opportunities for service as Christians, to create an information center in the congregation on social issues and community problems, to develop and guide task groups to deal with social problems (where these do not overlap with existing community organizations and agencies) or encourage individuals to join existing community task groups to witness to their Christian commitment, and to organize the congregation to meet pressing human needs.

It shall be responsible for planning and promoting a definite program whereby

the congregation expresses its Christian concern for the welfare of persons in trouble, hungry, homeless, oppressed, handicapped, confused, sick and imprisoned and recommend an annual budget of expenditures in support of that program.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

It shall survey and study community, national, and world needs in

areas such as racial and cultural inter-relationships, peace and world order, social welfare, citizenship and civil liberties and economic life.

In cooperation with other departments and fellowship groups it shall

sponsor the celebration of social education observances and arrange opportunities for the congregation to become involved in social service through both short and long range projects.

It shall cooperate with agencies serving people in the community and,

if appropriate, function as the representative of the congregation to these agencies, subject to approval by the General Board.

It shall anticipate and provide an appropriate plan of action for

handling emergency social concerns.

EVANGELISM DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to cultivate an evangelistic spirit

within the church; and to plan and administer the evangelistic program.

It shall be responsible for developing an evangelistic church, sponsoring a year round program of evangelism which reaches into every age level and every phase of church life, compiling a list of prospective members and planning and directing special evangelistic campaigns. In cooperation with the Membership Development Department, it shall aid in the conservation of new members.
It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

It shall keep an accurate and up-to-date record of prospective members, make up calling cards and check with workers at regular intervals, and be responsible for a regular program of visitation on prospective members.
It shall be responsible for such special projects as community census, preaching missions or revival meetings.

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to maintain the closest possible

contact with the entire church membership to the end that each member may function effectively in the life of the church, and to develop a spirit of comradeship and love within the congregation founded on a common love of Christ.

It shall be responsible for the pastoral oversight of the membership; assist in

keeping accurate, up-to-date records, directing visitation projects, providing an adequate program of social life for the church.

It shall be responsible, working cooperatively with the Evangelism

Department, for orienting new members into the life and fellowship of the church.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

It shall cause to be removed from the participating roll of the church

membership and placed in a non-active file the name of any member of this church who during the preceding two year period has not attended any worship service, does not attend church school, is not attending CWF, does not contribute to the financial support of this church, who does not show awareness as a participating member of any church membership commitment. Inability to attend or contribute because of physical disability is a valid excuse and such persons name shall not be removed. Names placed in the non-participating file will not be included in the report to the National Yearbook as a participating member.

Areas of responsibility:

It shall sponsor attendance at public worship, promote visitation and

attendance with groups of the church, visit the sick and shut-ins, re-enlist the indifferent families, and be responsible for integration of new members into the life and fellowship of the church.

It shall study the social life needs of the church, provide church-wide

activities and assist groups in developing a wholesome social life.

In cooperation with the Worship Department, it shall enlist individuals

and families in devotional living, help families find practical Christian aids for the betterment of home relationships.

WORSHIP DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to lead the membership in a

genuine experience of worship in the public services and to enrich personal and family devotional life.

It shall be responsible for the public worship of the church, its pulpit supply,

the administration of baptism and Lord’s Supper, music ushering, special prayer services, lay leaders, greeters and the encouragement of devotional life among individual members and homes of the church.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility

It shall, through the deacons and deaconesses, provide and prepare emblems for the communion service for all worship services.
It shall, through the deacons and deaconesses, care for baptism robes and accessories, prepare baptistery for use and assist minister and candidates at the service.
It shall, in cooperation with the Minister, and Elders, secure preachers in the absence of the minister and recommend speakers for special occasion (s).
It shall be responsible for music of the church, in cooperation with the minister, and Music Director; sponsor musical projects among adults, youth and children ; and assist when needed in special services.
It shall be responsible for insuring that lay leaders , greeters , and Children Story persons are scheduled ; and to assist in any special services.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to develop an effective program of

Christian Education for the entire constituency of the church in keeping with the general objectives of Christian Education.

It shall be responsible for planning and administering the total Christian

Educational program of the church, including church school, library, youth activities, mid-week education projects, leadership education, distribution of Christian literature and fostering Christian home life. It shall also cooperate with other groups of the church such as the World Outreach, and the Stewardship Department, in planning for educational programs.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

It shall be responsible for the administration of the church school.
It shall be responsible for vacation church schools, week-day religious education and special educational projects for various age groups.
It shall be responsible for leadership training programs to develop leaders for every phase of church life.
It shall encourage reading of good literature and provide literature for various needs, such as devotional booklets and denomination periodicals. It shall be responsible for the church library.
In cooperation with the Worship Department, it shall enlist individuals and families in devotional living, help families find practical Christian aids for the betterment of home relationships, sponsor classes and institutes on family life, and keep available materials which will help the home to be truly Christian.

STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to develop within the membership an

understanding of the full meaning of Christian stewardship and so to direct the financial program of the church that it will not only supply the financial needs but prove a means of spiritual enrichment and character for each one participating.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

It shall receive requests from departments as to financial needs and plan the annual budget; and supervise all expenditures.
It shall conduct the Stewardship Action program and enlist the financial support of new members.
In cooperation with the Christian Education Department, it shall plan and promote a program of stewardship education in all organizations and age groups of the church. It shall also provide stewardship literature for distribution.
It shall be responsible for keeping alive in the congregation the realization of its stewardship obligations, promoting stewardship education, supervising the preparation and subscribing of the church budget, keeping accurate records, and encouraging endowments for future development in the church and world work.
It shall be responsible for the temporary care of all regular and special offerings until such funds are deposited in the church treasury.

PROPERTY & GROUNDS DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to care for all properties of the church.
It shall consist of at least one trustee and other such church members as deemed necessary.
It shall be responsible for keeping all property and equipment in proper condition, studying needs and making recommendations for improvements, caring for grounds and keeping the properties adequately safeguarded against possible loss or damage.
It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

Areas of Responsibility:

It shall be responsible for all equipment, for making annual inventory,

for making repair and securing additional equipment as needed.

It shall be responsible for the care of buildings and grounds,

recommending and supervising all repairs and improvements.

PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT

It shall be the purpose of this department to insure that newsworthy items

regarding the church’s activities are disseminated through the news media.

It shall be organized as follows:

Chairman, Vice Chairman

It shall be the responsibility of this department to gather and disseminate those

newsworthy items regarding the church’s activities through local radio and/or

newspapers.

Such newsworthy items will include Easter Service, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, and such other department group activities that need to be released through the news media that encourages not only our regular church members, but also will keep the general public informed of the many activities within our church.

ARTICLE VI. SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

It shall be the purpose of this committee to provide for all personnel other than

the senior minister.

The committee shall be composed of the Trustees and Senior Minister, who are responsible for the supervision of all other paid employees of the church.
The Chairman of the Trustees shall serve as Chairman of this committee. The Senior Minister shall serve as secretary and shall have the power to vote in committee, inasmuch as all additional staff shall need to be acceptable to the Senior Minister to whom they are responsible.
Areas of Responsibility:

It shall be the responsibility of this committee to review the staff needs

of the church and make recommendations to the General Board.

It shall annually review salaries and other compensations for all employees and recommend a personnel budget to the Finance Chairman.
The Personnel Committee shall serve as arbiter of any grievances

among staff and shall recommend the employment or discharge of all personnel, other than the Senior Minister, to the General Board. Employment or discharge shall be two-thirds vote of Board members present and voting.

A written contract, stating all terms and conditions of employment shall be issued by the General Board to each employee. The Personnel Committee shall formulate job descriptions for each position and prepare contracts, based upon these descriptions for action by the General Board. As a general policy, all contracts shall be issued for an indefinite period of time, subject to termination by either the General Board or the employee upon twenty-one (21) days written notice by or to the General Board.
The Senior Minister, at his discretion, may employ part-time help for a specific program of the church, subject to approval by the functional department or committee responsible for that specific program, without approval by the General Board, provided that funds for such employment are included in the church’s operating budget. He may also employ additional clerical or custodial help on an hourly basis, subject to approval by the Personnel Committee, provided that funds for such help are provided in the operating budget. However, no contracts binding upon the church shall be issued without prior action and approval by the General Board.

B. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE

A Constitution and By-Laws committee shall consist of five members of the church who shall be appointed by the Chairman.
The purpose of this committee shall be to periodically review the Constitution and By-Laws and recommend to the Board any proposed changes.
The committee shall elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary.
All proposed amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws shall be submitted to this committee for approval first. The committee may itself initiate proposed amendments. When amendments are approved by the committee, they shall be submitted to the General Board for approval and if approved by the General Board, then shall be submitted to the congregation for approval.

C. MEMORIALS COMMITTEE

The Chairman of the General Board shall appoint a Memorials Committee of

six members representative of Elders, Trustees, CWF and such other groups as seems best for the make up of this committee. One member of this committee shall be appointed as Chairman and another member as Secretary.

The basic policy of the Memorials Committee will be as follows:

Designated or defined memorial monies will be expended as directed by the person or persons establishing the memorial and for the precise requirement for that memorial.

b. Memorial monies will be accepted as designated for deposit in the

Capitol Improvement Trust Fund as created on March 9, 1970 between Central Christian Church and the Fayette Bank & Trust Co.

c. Memorial money that is not committed or not designated will be

used as directed by the Memorials Committee. In the event that

the General Board or department of the church has a need for a

memorial type requirement at the time of receipt of a non-

designated or non-committed memorial money. It shall be the

responsibility of the Memorials Committee to determine whether

this is a reasonable request and to allocate the memorial money

toward this need. If, at the discretion of the Memorials

Committee, the need as identified by the General Board or a

department is not approved by the Memorials Committee, the

non-committed or non-designated memorial will be directed for

deposit in the Capitol Improvement Trust Fund as previously

identified.

d. It is not the purpose of the Memorials Committee to become a

Committee to hold money or hold a committed and designated memorial or a non-committed or non-designated memorial for a convenience of spending the memorial on behalf of the General Board or a department of the Church. The Memorials Committee will act as expeditiously as possible.

e. A memorial is defined as a physical article, loose or fixed, within

the church and not constituted of a repair, maintenance or other consideration of that type.

D. OTHER COMMITTEES

When needed to administer the work of the church the Chairman shall appoint, with the approval of the General Board, such special committees as may be needed. These committees shall perform duties assigned and shall continue for such time as designated.

ARTICLE VII. AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS

The purpose and responsibility of each of these groups shall be

outlined in their own constitution, by-laws or plan of procedure

These organizations shall cooperate with the functional departments of the church not only in planning and administering the total program of the church, but also should develop their individual programs in the best interest of the total program.

ARTICLE VIII. THE CHURCH CABINET

It shall be the purpose of the Cabinet to plan and administer the church

program in keeping with the policies of the General Board.

It shall be responsible for:

Studying the needs of the church, evaluating its present

activities and outlining future long range plans and programs.

Correlating plans and activities of departments and groups

for the most efficient program.

3. Arranging the calendar of activities.

4. Administering the program approved by the General Board.

5. Performing such other duties as my be assigned.

It shall be composed of:

The Minister
The Chairman-elect of the General Board.
The Secretary of the congregation
The Chairman of each department.
Such others as by be needed and assigned by the General Board.

The Chairman-elect of the General Board shall serve as chairman of

The Cabinet. The church secretary shall serve as secretary of the Cabinet without vote.

It shall meet at least bi-monthly; beginning with August and the

chairman of The Cabinet will call meetings, as is necessary and report to the Board on the second Monday of each month.

It shall perform its duties under the direction of the General Board.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members of the General Board in regular or special meeting and voting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted to the membership of the General Board at least ten (10) days prior to the vote thereon.

ARTICLE X. ADOPTION

These By-Laws I. through X. were duly adopted on the 21 st of May , 1989.