Constitution

A chinese lion statue

Revised April 28, 1971

Revised May 18, 1975

Revised February 1989

Revised January 14, 2002

Revised December, 2004

 

 

CONSTITUTION OF CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST)

CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA

 

PREAMBLE

 

We, the members of Central Christian Church, a congregationally governed body, in order to promote the work of the church in the spirit of Christ, and thus advance His kingdom, do hereby adopt this constitution, which supercedes any existing constitution and by-laws.

 

ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

 

SECTION A. NAME

 

The name of this organization shall be Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Connersville, Indiana, affiliated with the Brotherhood known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and committed to the historic principles of this body whose local congregations are variously known as Christian Churches, Churches of Christ, or Disciples of Christ.

 

SECTION B. PURPOSE

 

It is the purpose of Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Inc., Connersville, Indiana, to lead persons to an awareness of God’s presence in life, that they may respond, through deepened commitment, to what God is doing in the world.

 

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

 

The membership of this church shall consist of those who are now identified as members of the congregation and those who shall unite with it by confession of faith and the ordinance of Christian baptism, statement, or by transfer of membership. Voting privileges shall be accorded to all members who have shown an active interest through a recent continuity of attendance, serving or giving.

 

 

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS, DUTIES, & ELECTION

 

SECTION A. OFFICERS

 

The following officers shall be elected by the church at its annual business meeting for a term for each as shall be designated in the By-Laws, or until such time as a successor is elected and assumes office:

  • Chairman, Chairman-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Church Historian, Trustees,

Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses, and Honorary or Emeriti officers.

  • Trustees shall consist of not more than six members.
  • The active Eldership shall be maintained at not more than thirty-six in number. New Elders shall be nominated by the Eldership and elected by the congregation when needed. Elders shall be ordained to office for the duration of their membership with the church. For reasons of infirmity, or advanced age, Elders may, at any time, elect to retire from the active Eldership and may be designated Elder Emeritus for the duration of their membership with the church. If at any time an Elder feels he cannot fulfill the duties and responsibilities of this position he may either take a leave of absence or resign as an Elder. An annual meeting of the Eldership shall be held no later than February 28 th to elect a chairman-elect, nominate any new Elders when needed, and appoint those to participate in the “Shared Ministry”.
  • Deacons shall consist of not more than thirty-six members.
  • Deaconesses shall consist of not more than twenty-four members.
  • Deacons and Deaconesses shall be selected from among the general membership of the congregation, except that Elders shall not be eligible for these offices.
  • The Trustees shall not serve in the same office for a term of more than three consecutive years. Deacons and Deaconesses shall have the right to succeed themselves, if elected.
  • The Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian may all serve for consecutive terms.
  • The remaining officers shall be elected for not more than two successive terms.
  • The General Board may fill vacancies occurring between annual meetings and such appointed officers shall serve until the expiration of the term.

 

SECTION B. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

  • The Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer, shall preside at

all regular or special business meetings of the congregation, and serve as chairman of the General Board. He /she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

  • The Chairman-elect shall fulfill the usual duties of a vice-chairman, call and

preside at all regular business meetings of the church in the absence of the chairman, and serve as chairman of The Church Cabinet.

  • The Secretary shall keep minutes of all regular or special business meetings of

the church, serve as secretary of the General Board, keep a record of all its regular or called meetings, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

  • The church Treasurer shall receive all funds of the church according to the

authority delegated to her/him by the General Board, serve as a member of the stewardship and finance departments, and make regular reports at each regular meeting of the General Board and annual report to the church.

  • The Trustees shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business matters,

under the direction of the General Board and subject to the approval of the church; hold legal title to all church property and handle all business transactions related thereto; have supervision over all endowment and trust funds; and perform such duties as are required by the laws of the State of Indiana.

  • For principle of guidance , The Elders shall assist the Pastor with his duties by regularly visiting the home bound and shut-in members of the congregation, calling upon new members, and visiting with those who have been classified as non-participating members. They shall serve at the Lord’s Table according to schedule. These Elders may also be assigned to serve, ex-officio, upon one of the functional departments that the church may fulfill its outreach, evangelistic, educational and stewardship responsibilities.
  • The Deacons, in cooperation with the functional departments, shall cooperate

with the Elders in promoting growth and welfare of the church; assist in the greeting and the ushering of the worshippers; distribute the Lord’s Supper and receive offerings; assist in financial canvasses: visitations of the sick, give counsel and service in the business affairs of the church; give service and counsel in program activities of the church; cooperate in ministering to the needy; and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

  • The Deaconesses, in cooperation with the functional departments shall

perform the same general duties as the Deacons and cooperate with them in promoting the growth and welfare of the church; take responsibility for the preparation and care of the communion service; minister to families in time of sickness or bereavement; counsel and serve in the business affairs of the church; counsel and serve in program activities of the church. They shall also perform such other activities as may be assigned.

  • The Church Historian shall gather and preserve data pertaining to the history,

life and work of the church, making available for publication any historical materials authorized by the church and presenting to the General Board the annual historical statement.

  • The Pulpit Committee shall function to recommend a new minister when

necessary. This committee shall be appointed by the presiding Chairman of the Board, and shall be made up of one Elder, one Deacon, one Deaconess, one member of C.W.F. and two members at large.

The Pastoral Relations Committee shall be the Pulpit Committee, the first year

after hiring a new minister. Thereafter, it shall consist of one Elder, one Deacon, one Deaconess, one C.W.F. lady, and two members at large, to be selected by the Minister.

 

SECTION C. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

  • A Nominating Committee composed of one Elder, one Deacon, (whose terms

do not expire at the end of the current year), and two members of the congregation-at-large, all of whom shall not be a member of the current Board, shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board at the January Board Meeting after he/she assumes his/her office, approved by the current General Board and announced to the congregation.

  • All suggestions from the congregation for nominees shall be in the hands of

the nominating committee by February 15 th. The committee shall then consider the New Testament qualifications for church officers (Titus 1:5-9) and I Timothy 3:10-12), secure consent from nominees and prepare a slate consisting of one nominee for each vacancy, except Elders shall be nominated and elected as hereinbefore provided.

  • All candidates who receive a majority of the congregational votes cast shall be

elected.

 

ARTICLE IV. THE GENERAL BOARD

 

The General Board shall consist of the following: Chairman, Chairman-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, one Trustee, two Elders, two Deacons, two Deaconesses, Church Historian, one representative from each functional department, two representatives of Senior High Youth, and two representatives from CWF, or of any successor group. Each group will select its representatives for a one-year term.

Whenever the elected representatives from a group cannot attend a board meeting, said elected representative may designate a substitute to attend the board meeting.

The General Board shall consider, recommend and formulate general policies; shall transact such business as shall come before it; shall direct the administration of the program of the church through the Cabinet; shall designate a person who shall keep a complete record of the church membership, such vital statistics as births, death, baptisms, and weddings; shall receive all applications for church letters and issue them under the authority delegated by the General Board; shall have the final control over employment and discharge of the staff and personnel; and shall perform other duties provided under the Constitution and By-laws.

 

 

ARTICLE V. THE MINISTER

 

SECTION A. DUTIES

 

The minister of the church shall perform the duties, which usually pertain to that office, and as spiritual administrator of the church he shall be an ex-officio member of all groups, auxiliaries, committees, departments, and the General Board.

 

SECTION B. SELECTION

 

A representative committee of six people, which shall consist of one Elder, one Deacon, one Deaconess, one member of a youth group, and two members of the congregation-at-large, shall be nominated by the Chairman and elected by the General Board, to serve as a pulpit committee and be responsible for recommending a prospective minister to the General Board.

The General Board shall consider the recommendations of the Pulpit Committee and if approved recommend the prospective minister to the church. It shall be the policy of the church to consider only one prospective minister at a time.

The recommendation of the General Board must be accepted by at least two-thirds majority of member’s present and voting regular or special business meeting of the church before a call may be extended.

The term of his ministry shall be for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either party upon sixty days notice. A written statement setting forth the salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the minister and one copy for the church.

 

ARTICLE VI. CONGREGATION MEETINGS

 

SECTION A. MEETINGS TO BE HELD

 

An annual business meeting of the congregation shall be held no later than May 31 st of each year and during said meeting said congregation shall hear reports, elect officers, adopt a budget, make such other recommendations as shall be desired.

Special meetings shall be held as required. Such meetings shall be called by the Chairman or Chairman-elect or upon written request of twenty-five members of the church.

A special meeting shall be called to approve the obligation and expenditures of monies for each project that requires the sum of five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars or more, after the General Board has recommended approval.

A quorum for any congregational meeting will be twenty-five (25) church members.

 

SECTION B. NOTICE

 

Notice of all regular or special business meetings of the congregation shall be given at least one week in advance of the meeting in the regularly issued church publications, and shall be announced at the preceding church service.

 

SECTION C. RULES OF ORDER

 

The Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all business meetings of the church and the General Board.

 

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

 

This constitution may be amended at any time at any business meeting of the church by two-thirds vote of the members present and voting on the amendment provided that written notice of the amendment has been given to the members of the congregation, or the proposed amendment has been read at a regular Sunday service at least two weeks before the vote is taken.

ARTICLE VIII. ADOPTION

 

This constitution was duly adopted on the ____________day of ________________, 2002.