CHURCH BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Reception of Members . Members shall be received into the fellowship of this church only by confession of a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. All candidates shall appear before the Board of Elders to bear testimony to their faith and to acknowledge that they have received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Candidates shall sign a copy of the Doctrinal Statement and Covenant. After a two-week posting on the church bulletin board to provide an opportunity for members of the congregation to review and comment on the prospective members, they shall be received into fellowship upon affirmative vote of the Board of Elders. Reception of new members may take place during the worship service on any Lord's Day. Letters of termination or recommendation from other churches will be accepted; however, such letter will not substitute for the current procedure for membership.

Section 2. Age and Privileges . No persons may be received into membership before they have reached their twelfth birthday; and no members shall have a vote until they have reached their eighteenth birthday. Except for the power of voting, all members under eighteen will have all the privileges of the church, including the right to attend business meetings and expression from the floor. No member under twenty-one years of age may be elected to the stated offices of the church which are listed in Article II, Section 1.

Section 3. Discipline . Discipline of the members shall be the responsibility of the Board of Elders, and shall be in accord with the eighteenth chapter of Matthew and other Scripture. Any member guilty of gross misconduct and not evidencing real repentance after being admonished by the Elders may be dismissed from the church by the Elders. A public notice of such action shall be given to the congregation following the dismissal.

Section 4. Termination of Membership.

Paragraph 1 . Any member desiring to withdraw membership shall present a resignation, preferably in writing, to the Board of Elders. Action must be taken promptly by the Elders, provided, however, that the Pastor or other Elders have had an opportunity, where possible, to investigate fully the reason for such request.

Paragraph 2 . Members who have been inactive in the church for one year, or have broken their covenant with the church, shall, when practicable, be contacted by the Pastor or the Elders. Upon recommendation of the Board of Elders, their names must be posted on the church bulletin board for at least one month, after which the Elders may vote to have their names removed from the membership.

Section 5. Missionary Membership . Any missionary supported by the Black Rock Congregational Church is entitled to hold missionary membership in the church, even though he may hold membership in another church, where he serves, providing he meets the requirements of Article I, Section 1. Missionary members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of regular members, including voting. Extended periods of absence are expected due to the nature of their work and shall not be cause for termination of membership.

ARTICLE 2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Section 1. Stated Officers . The Stated Officers of this Church shall consist of the Senior Pastor, Moderator, Clerk, Church Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, a Board of Elders, and a Board of Deacons. Other officers shall be elected at the discretion of the Church. All officers must be members of the Church.

Section 2. Elections . Except for the committees appointed by the Board of Elders, all officers and committees shall be elected by written ballot at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise stated, the term of office shall be for one year or until successors are elected. No member shall serve as chairman of a church committee or board defined in the By-Laws for more than three consecutive years. All elections shall be by majority vote, except Pastors, Elders, Deacons, and Leadership Development Committee members, which shall require a three-fourths vote of the members present and voting. Vacancies of stated officers, as defined in Article 2, Section 1, which occur during the year shall be referred by the Moderator to the Leadership Development Committee and then voted upon by the church at a special business meeting. The Elders will fill other vacancies on boards and committees that occur mid-year after consulting with the Leadership Development Committee. Unless otherwise specified, all officers shall be elected for a one-year term of office.

Section 3. Pastors . A Pastor must scripturally qualify as Elder or Bishop as outlined in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; and other Scriptures. He shall shepherd the flock, preach and teach the Word, and promote the Spiritual welfare of the church and those whom it serves. He shall hold his office without limitation of time. The Senior Pastor shall without further election be a member of the Board of Elders, excepting he may be excused from the Board when matters concerning himself are considered. The Senior Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees. The Senior Pastor shall make a report of the year's work at the Annual Meeting. The pastoral relationship may be dissolved by a written notice of such intention, three months in advance, by the church or the pastor. A shorter notice may be given by mutual consent. When a vacancy occurs, upon recommendation of the Board of Elders and three-fourths vote and his reception into membership, a new pastor shall officially take up his duties. The qualifications and procedures outlined in this section shall be applicable to all other pastors. Pastors may be terminated upon recommendation of the Board of Elders and three-fourths vote of members present and voting at the annual or a special business meeting.

Section 4. The Board of Elders . Elders must qualify scripturally as outlined in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9, and other Scriptures. The maximum number of Elders is not limited; however, a minimum of three is required excluding the Senior Pastor. Their term of office shall be four years, with approximately one-fourth of the terms expiring each year. Any Elder who has served for four consecutive years shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office for at least one year. Excepting the Senior Pastor, only those who have been members of this church for two full years shall be eligible for election as Elders. Each year the Board shall choose one of its members as chairman.

The Elders are given the vested authority by the congregation to oversee all the affairs of the church. They shall be the spiritual leaders of the church and be responsible for the spiritual welfare and congregational care of its members. They are to guard the purity of the doctrine and life of the church, and to discipline and terminate the church members in accordance with the Word of God. They shall interview and approve applicants for membership (or dismissals where applicable) and shall, in the absence of the Senior Pastor, or a vacancy in the pastorate, assume or arrange for the execution of the duties of the pastor. All policies and budgets of various boards and committees of the church shall be submitted to the Elders for approval.

The Board of Elders shall be responsible for the custody and maintenance of the property of the church and its financial operations, but shall not be empowered to buy, sell, lease, mortgage or transfer real estate without specific authority from the church membership. The Board shall assure that designated monies have been directed to the proper funds and accounts. To carry out its responsibilities with regard to the finances and property of the church, the Board may at its discretion delegate to one individual the overall supervision of these functions. This individual, who need not be an Elder, shall appoint a chairman of a Finance and Property Committee (F&P), who in turn will appoint other members of the committee. All appointments are subject to the approval of the Elders and are limited to church members at least 21 years old. The Finance and Property Committee will prepare, post, and distribute to the church membership two weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting, an annual budget for the church Local Ministries Fund (LMF), which shall be approved at that meeting by majority vote. The Committee will also provide the necessary financial and administrative guidance and supervision to the church staff, officers and members to assure that expenditures from the LMF remain within the available funds and congregational approved total budget of that year. The F&P Committee will attempt to maintain a balance, of approximately ten percent of the total LMF budgeted for the year. This balance is to be disbursed, by approval of the Committee, at such times as current year deficits are deemed to have threatened the curtailment of the ministries and approved programs of the church. Funds accumulated in excess of this ten percent reserve may be expended with congregational approval. The Finance and Property Committee shall super- vise all repairs to the buildings and take all necessary measures for the protection and maintenance of the physical plant of the church.

Section 5. The Board of Deacons . Deacons, consisting of Deacons and Deaconesses, must qualify scripturally as outlined in I Timothy 3:8-13 and other Scriptures. There shall be no specified number of Deacons. The Deacons shall be chosen for a term of hree years, one third of whom shall be elected at each annual meeting. No member may serve more than one full term consecutively. Members chosen to fill unexpired terms shall serve only until the expiration of such term unless re-elected. Only those who have been members of this church for two full years shall be eligible for election to this board. The Board of Deacons is responsible for the overall Care ministry of this church which includes: prayer, visitation of the sick and shut-in, distribution of the Deacons' Fund to the needy, providing financial counseling and giving general care for the membership of the church. The Deacons will undertake special projects of care and concern for the church. The Pastor assigned to the Board of Deacons by the Senior Pastor shall be an ex-officio member.

Section 6. Board of Christian Education (BCE). The Board shall consist of a recommended nine elected members, one third of whom shall be elected at each Annual Meeting to serve for three years. No member may serve more than one full term consecutively except members chosen to fill unexpired terms may be re-elected. In addition the Board of Elders shall normally designate an Elder to serve as a voting member of the BCE. The Pastor assigned by the Senior Pastor to BCE shall be an ex-officio member. This Board shall have the responsibility of overseeing and correlating the children's church education program. It shall recommend general policy and guidelines, the implementation of which shall be the responsibility of the assigned Pastor.

Section 7. The Moderator . The Moderator shall be the administrator of the Constitution and By-Laws and shall preside at all business meetings. The Moderator shall be elected for a one year term, but shall serve no more than three successive terms. He shall have no power except as granted by the church membership. The Chairman of the Board of Elders shall serve as Vice Moderator.

Section 8. The Clerk . The Clerk shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the church and deliver such record to the appropriate staff person for safekeeping.

Section 9. The Church Treasurer . The Church Treasurer shall oversee the custody of the Local Ministries Fund (LMF) of the Church. The Treasurer may also oversee the custody of other funds by approval of the boards or committees concerned. The Treasurer will be nominated by the Leadership Development Committee and will be elected by the Church Membership. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Finance & Property Committee of the Board of Elders for advising/overseeing the Business Administrator/Assistant Treasurer in his responsibility for the administration of the proper depositing, disbursements, accounting, and fund status reporting, for funds properly received by the Church and entrusted to his custody. The Church Treasurer will be authorized to sign checks. The Treasurer shall attend, as a voting member, monthly meetings of the Finance & Property Committee and will oversee the production of regular status reports, informing board or committee members of any irregularities or problems foreseen by the Business Administrator/Assistant Treasurer and will oversee the balancing of records monthly and the annual professional audit. The Treasurer shall be bonded for not less than twenty-five percent of the annual Local Ministries Fund budget for the protection of the church.

Section 10. Assistant Treasurer . The Business Administrator, by the nature of his position as a member of the professional church staff will also hold the position of Assistant Treasurer. As part of his duties the Business Administrator/Assistant Treasurer will be the custodian of the Local Ministries Fund and authorized to sign checks. He shall be responsible for the administration of Local Ministries Fund and other funds as approved by boards or committees concerned. He will be responsible for the proper depositing, disbursements, accounting, and fund status reporting for funds properly received by the Church and entrusted to his custody. All disbursements must be approved by the appropriate Board or its designated representative and in no case may the disbursements exceed the net balance of the budget line items in the Local Ministries Budget without the approval of the Finance & Property Committee of the Board of Elders. The Assistant Treasurer will not make disbursements to non-budgeted items without authorization from the Finance & Property Committee of the Board of Elders. He shall attend as a voting member the monthly meeting of the Finance and property Committee. The Business Administrator/Assistant Treasurer shall be responsible to produce a regular status report, informing board or committee members of any irregularities or problems foreseen and answer their questions. He shall balance the funds of the Local Ministry Fund monthly and be responsible for having all the funds of the church professionally audited annually. When the audit is completed the financial statements from the auditors shall be made available to each organization that has been audited, the Board of Elders, Finance and Property Committee, and to the congregation. The Business Administrator/Assistant Treasurer shall be bonded for not less than twenty-five percent of the annual Local Ministries Fund budget for the protection of the church.

Section 11. Missionary Treasurer . The Missionary Treasurer shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting to be custodian of the missionary monies of the Church which fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Missions. He shall be responsible for proper fund accounting and disbursal under the direction of the Board of Missions. He shall attend meetings of the Board and report on the financial condition of the missionary fund, providing such other information as the Board may require. His records shall be balanced monthly. For the protection of the office holder and the Church, this position shall be bonded for not less than twenty-five percent of the annual budget.

Section 12. Deacons' Fund Treasurer . The Deacons' Fund Treasurer will be a member of the Deacon Board selected by its members and specifically elected annually to this position at the Annual Meeting to be custodian of the Deacon Fund monies of the church. He shall be responsible for proper fund accounting and disbursal under the direction of the Board of Deacons. He shall attend meetings of the Board, report on the financial condition of the Deacons' Fund, and provide such other information as the Board may require. His records shall be balanced monthly. He shall make an annual report to the church of receipts and expenditures. The position shall be bonded for not less than twenty-five percent of the annual budget.

Section 13. Leadership Development Committee . The Leadership Development Committee shall consist of a minimum of three members. At least one of the voting members shall be an Elder, selected annually by the Elder board. One of the goals in staffing this committee shall be long-term consistency of membership in order to enhance the quality of the leadership development effort. Only persons who have previously been Elders or involved in leading ministry Boards or committees of this church shall be eligible to serve on this committee. The Elder Board shall nominate the membership of this committee to the church’s Annual Business meeting, including an identification of the chairperson. The Senior Pastor shall assign a staff member to serve as a voting member of this committee.

This committee shall develop and maintain a list of current and developing leaders of the church, and insure that each is provided training on (a) the Scriptural basis of church leadership and (b) the role of lay leadership at Black Rock. Where appropriate, the Leadership Development Committee shall provide leadership coaching. In conjunction with the individuals concerned, the committee shall seek to understand and develop the gifts, talents and passions of these individuals for the purpose of assisting them in identifying places of leadership within the church consistent with who God has made them. This list, as well as progress reports and plans shall be reviewed periodically with both church staff and the Elder board. This committee shall also use this list for the purpose of developing the slate of nominations to church offices that it presents to the church’s Annual Business meeting.

All nominations for church offices shall be posted on the church bulletin board at least two Sundays prior to the Annual meeting and individual copies shall be published and distributed to church members at the same time. Nominations shall be presented in writing at the Annual Meeting with a copy for each member present. Additional nominations are permitted from the floor for all offices except Elders and Deacons.

Section 14. Church Ordinance Preparations Committee . The committee will consist of a recommended three church members elected at the Annual Meeting who shall be responsible for the preparation of the Communion Service and for the care of the communion materials. .

Section 15. Board of Missions . The Board of Missions shall consist of a recommended nine elected members. Their term of office shall be three years, with approximately one third of the terms expiring each year. Members elected to fill unexpired terms shall serve only until the expiration of such term unless re-elected. Any member who has served for three consecutive years shall not be eligible for re-election for at least one year. In addition, the Board of Elders shall designate one Elder to serve as a voting member of the Board of Missions. The Board of Missions shall be responsible for the missionary program of the church, shall constantly review the needs of present missionaries, and recommend appropriate adjustments in financial support. They shall also screen, interview, and recommend new missionaries and programs to the church membership for consideration of support. All expenditures of missionary monies must be approved by the church membership. The Board of Missions shall direct the Missionary Treasurer in the disbursal of funds in accordance with the approved program of the Church. The proposed Missionary Budget, after approval by the Elders, shall be posted on the church bulletin board at least two Sundays prior to the Annual Meeting and individual copies shall be published and distributed to church members at the same time.

Section 16. Board of Church Music . The Board shall consist of a recommended nine members, one third of whom shall be elected at each Annual Meeting to serve for three years. No members may serve more than one full term consecutively. Members chosen to fill unexpired terms shall serve only until the expiration of such term unless re-elected. The member(s) of pastoral staff designated by the Senior Pastor shall be an ex-officio member. The Board shall have the responsibility of correlating and over- seeing the total church music program. It shall establish general policy and guidelines, the implementation of which shall be the responsibility of the member(s) of pastoral staff assigned by the Senior Pastor.

Section 17. Board of Youth Ministries . The Board of Youth Ministries shall consist of a recommended six elected members, one third of whom shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve for three years. No member may be elected to more than one full term consecutively. Members chosen to fill unexpired terms shall serve only until the expiration of such term, unless re- elected. In addition, the Board of Elders shall designate one voting member to serve for one year term on the Board of Youth Ministries. The staff member(s) assigned by the Senior Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of this Board. The Board shall report to the Board of Elders. It shall have the responsibility for correlating and overseeing the Church youth ministries. It shall insure that the youth ministries are carried out in accordance with overall church policy. The Board shall support and assist the staff member(s) assigned by the Senior Pastor in the conduct and coordination of the youth ministries program. The Board of Youth Ministries shall be responsible for the continuity of the Youth Ministries. It shall see that the Youth program functions effectively on a continuing basis—even during the absence of an assigned staff member.

Section 18. Other Officers . Other officers and committees may be elected by the church membership at any business meeting together with an outline of duties; provided, however, that these duties do not conflict with the stated officers and committees.

Section 19. Terminations . Members of various boards or committees or holding singular positions may be terminated from the board, committee or position by the Board of Elders for sufficient misconduct after an appropriate investigation and interview with the person involved.

Section 20. Indemnification Clause . The church shall indemnify any and all persons who may serve or who have served at any time as officers against any and all expenses, including amounts paid upon judgments, counsel fees, and amounts paid in settlement (before or after suit is commenced) actually and necessarily incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which they, or any of them, are made parties, or a party, or which may be asserted against any of them or any of them, by reason of being or having been officers, except in relation to matters as to which any such officer or former officer shall be adjudged in any action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for his own negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties. Such indemnification shall be in addition to any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, or otherwise.

Section 21. Meetings of Boards and Committees . The secretaries of each board or committee shall be responsible for forwarding a copy of the minutes of each meeting to the appropriate staff person for safekeeping within one month of the meeting.

ARTICLE 3. ORDINANCES

Section 1. The Lord's Supper . In accord with our Lord's gracious words in I Corinthians 11:23-25 and other Scriptures, the Lord's Supper is to be observed in remembrance of Him to show forth the Lord's death until He comes. The emblems of the Communion Service are to be set forth as symbols of our Lord's flesh and blood. The Lord's Supper shall be observed at least once per month and all who love the Lord and confess Him before men shall be invited. The stated time shall be at the Worship Service the first Lord's Day of every month; but when deemed desirable, another Lord's Day may be chosen by the Board of Elders. This ordinance may also be observed on other occasions by vote of the Elders or church.

Section 2. Baptism . The ordinance of baptism shall be administered only to those persons who have first been born again, and who have been recommended by the Board of Elders for baptism. Infant baptism shall not be practiced. A Christian may be baptized whether or not he is contemplating membership. Baptism shall not be set forth as a condition of salvation, but as an initiatory, testimonial and symbolic act as taught and commanded in the Scriptures.

ARTICLE 4. MARRIAGES

Marriage services in the church buildings shall be only for those who are professing Christians. A marriage of unbelievers may be performed by a pastor outside church property, but no marriage of a professing Christian to an unbeliever shall be performed on any of the church property nor by any pastor. No divorced persons shall be married by any pastor nor on church property except as may be permitted in Matthew 5 and 19, Mark 10, Luke 16, and I Corinthians 7:10-11. Final determinations regarding these provisions shall be made by the Board of Elders.

ARTICLE 5. LICENSING, COMMISSIONING, ORDAINING

Section 1. Licensing . Members of the Church who are students for the Christian ministry or some other appropriate Christian work and who make request to the church for a Minister's License or specialized license shall be granted such a license upon examination and recommendation of the Pastor and Board of Elders and approved by a three-fourths majority of the church membership present and voting.

Section 2. Commissioning . Members of the church who are missionary candidates accepted by a mission board or who are candidates for Christian service under circumstances where the designation of missionary is applicable, may make a commissioning request to the Board of Elders or the Board of Missions. If approved, following examination by a joint meeting of these two Boards, a recommendation shall be made to the church where a three- fourths vote of the members present and voting is required prior to implementation. When authorized by the Church membership, an appropriate service shall be scheduled and a certificate issued by the church to the commissioned member.

Section 3. Ordaining . A Christian who desires to be ordained to the Christian ministry must fulfill the Scriptural qualifications of an Elder or Bishop as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and other Scriptures. He should not be considered unless and until the church has had opportunity to have sufficient knowledge of his qualifications (I Timothy 5:22 ). After examination by the Board of Elders, or by an ordination council called by the church, to which are invited other churches together with the faculty of the school which the candidate has attended and any other interested individuals , the church shall vote on the ordination with a three-fourths majority of those present and voting required for approval. The ordination ceremony shall take place at a subsequent meeting or service with or without other ministers and Christian laymen called in as witnesses. The ordination shall be a witness to the world that the church believers called the candidate to a particular work and that the Church has subsequently set the candidate apart for this work. (Act 13:1-4)

ARTICLE 6. MEETINGS AND SERVICES

Section 1. Worship, Bible Study and Prayer Services . The regular services of this Church shall be the Sunday morning Worship Services, the Sunday evening Service and the Midweek Prayer Service. Other regular and special services may be held as the Church deems them needful or desirable.

Section 2. Business Meetings

Paragraph 1. The Annual Meeting of the Church shall be held on the third Wednesday of May, at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting officers shall be elected, yearly reports of officers, committees and departments shall be presented in writing, and any other business may be transacted.

Paragraph 2. Special Business Meetings . Special business meetings shall be called whenever the Moderator considers it necessary, or must be called by the Moderator whenever he is requested to do so by the Senior Pastor, the Board of Elders, or any twenty-five members by petition. In general, only substantive matters will be referred to the congregation, such as capital items, staff positions, constitution and by-law amendments, vacancies in stated officers and other business matters the by-laws do not allow the Elders to fulfill.

Paragraph 3. Call of Meetings . All business meetings must be announced on the two Sundays preceding such meetings. Such calls may be in the form of verbal announcements from the pulpit or printing in the church bulletins. It should be the rule of such calls to include the main purpose of the meeting, and at the discretion of the Pastor, Elders, or Moderator, written notices may also be sent to the entire membership.

Paragraph 4. The fiscal year of the church shall end on the 31st day of May each year.

Paragraph 5. Quorums . For the Annual Meeting the quorum shall consist of fifteen per cent of the members entitled to vote. For special business meetings, the quorum shall consist of ten per cent of the members entitled to vote. The number used to determine the quorum shall not include anyone under the age of 18, inactive members, resident students in schools more than 50 miles from the church, invalids, missionary members, and members who have not attended church for a year or more. The quorum for the year shall be determined by the Church staff and announced to the Church at the Annual Meeting.

Paragraph 6 . Roberts Rules of Order shall be used in the transaction of business except in cases where these may be in conflict with these rules and By-Laws.

ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended at any business meeting duly called, but only by three-fourths vote of members present and voting. Such proposed amendments must be posted on the church bulletin board or inserted in the church bulletin for at least two Sundays before the vote. Amendments may be presented by the Pastor, Board of Elders, or any twenty-five members by petition. All proposed amendments should be processed through the Moderator before being posted.