BY-LAWS
FOR THE GUYANDOTTE CHURCH OF CHRIST
HUNTINGTON, W.V.
2001
We, the members of the Guyandotte Church of Christ, 207 Staunton Street, Huntington, West Virginia, in the county of Cabell in order to legally conduct the necessary business, attendant with the labors of this congregation in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those about us, bind ourselves by these By-Laws, “that all things may be done decently and in order.” It is our desire to incorporate only those rules felt essential to the protection of our properties and liberties as a congregationally governed body. With this, we recognize Christ as the only Head of His Body the Church, and recognize His Word as the final source of our authority for doctrine, life, and practice of Christian endeavors. To this end, we pray our heavenly Father will lead us and help us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
I. Name And Purpose
Name: This organization shall be called Guyandotte Church of Christ at Huntington, West Virginia.
Purpose: The purpose of the Church shall be to carry out the program of Christ, as expressed in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, i.e. the winning of souls to Christ throughout the world, and providing a local church home for the spiritual development of those in this vicinity.
II. Membership
A. A prospective member will be received upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God and his immersion with Christ in water for the remission of his sins. Members from other New Testament congregations may be received by letter or statement if they have previously complied with the above conditions.
B. A member who is absent from worship services for eight (8) consecutive weeks or more shall be considered inactive, after investigation and recommendation of the Elders, and such an inactive member shall not have the privilege of nominating or voting in any congregational meeting.
III. Leadership
A. Elders
Oversight of the congregation shall rest with the Eldership and they shall supervise its functions and activities.
B. Deacons
As servants of the Church, the Deacons shall administer such functions as are entrusted to them under the supervision of the Elders.
C. Preacher
The preacher shall be a proclaimer of the Word of God by speaking, counseling, teaching, or in any other way of ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
IV. Church Officers
In so far as they are available, these officers shall be selected from either the Elders and/or the Deacons. Anyone wishing to fill a Church office must be an active member of the Guyandotte Church of Christ for at least two years and be approved by the Eldership of the Guyandotte congregation.
A. Trustees ( Eldership Appointment )
There shall at all times be a least one (1) and not more than three (3) Trustees, to be appointed by a majority of the Elders for a term of two (2) years each, and said Trustees may succeed themselves in consecutive terms.
The Trustees shall be entrusted with the property of the Church, but will not be empowered to deed, convey, or sell the Real Property or Personal Property of the Church, or borrow money and execute a lien upon the Church property to secure the payment thereof, except by direction of a majority of the membership who are over eighteen (18) years of age, and in accordance with any notice and proof necessary pursuant to the statutes made and provided in the State of West Virginia.
B. Financial Secretary and Treasurer and/or Assistant Financial Secretary and Treasurer (Appointed Positions )
The financial secretary and/or assistant financial secretary shall keep an accurate account of all monies received by the Church, deposit the same at least weekly to the Church’s bank account, and render an accounting in writing to the Church membership each month and at annual meetings.
The treasurer and/or assistant treasurer shall hold and disburse the funds of the Church as authorized and render an accounting in writing to the Church leadership each month and at annual meetings.
C. Recording Secretary
The recording secretary is to keep an up-to-date Church membership roll indicating both active and in-active members.
D. Bible School Superintendent
The Bible School Superintendent with the aid of assistants shall organize and conduct the business of the Bible School, i.e. they are responsible for the teachers and substitutes for all classes; they are also responsible for obtaining teaching literature for all classes.
E. Assistant Bible School Superintendent
The Assistant Bible School Superintendent will aid the Superintendent and will assume the responsibilities of the Superintendent in his/her absence.
F. Song Leader
The Song Leader is responsible for the leading of the song service at the opening exercises for Bible School, Morning Worship, Evening Worship, and Mid-Week or any special services at the Church. In his absence, he is to contact his assistant.
G. Assistant Song Leader
In the absence of the Song Leader, he is to assume all responsibilities of the Song Leader.
H. Bible School Secretary-Treasurer
The Bible School Secretary-Treasurer is to keep an up-to-date Bible School roll book and financial record of the Bible School.
I. Assistant Bible School Secretary-Treasurer
In the absence of the Bible School Secretary-Treasurer, he is to assume all responsibilities of the Bible School Secretary- Treasurer.
V. Elections
A. Selections of Church Leadership
A man desiring the office of Elder or Deacon must make this desire known no later that the last Sunday in May, to an Elder presently serving.
2) After this desire has been made known, the candidate is then questioned by the Elders regarding the Biblical qualifications for the position.
3) After the Elders have talked to the candidate, and they feel that he is qualified and if the man still desires the office, he then comes before the congregation no later than the second Sunday in June, at a time of worship (Sunday morning or evening) and expresses this desire to the congregation.
4) Biblical qualifications for an Elder and Deacon (Elder: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9 Deacon: 1 Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:3) are to be read before the congregation two (2) Sundays prior to the Annual Election. These are to be direct quotations from the New Testament, not a rewording or a condensation. Such Biblical Qualifications are to be read by an Elder or the present preacher.
5) At the Annual Congregational Meeting, those qualified men still desiring the position of Elder or Deacon will then be voted on.
Amended May 1995
a. Deacons
In order to qualify for the position of Deacon, a man must have been an active member of the Guyandotte Church of Christ for at least two (2) years immediately prior to qualifying for the Deacon position.
b. Elders
In order to qualify for the position of Elder, a man must have served one (1) year as Deacon of Guyandotte Church of Christ.
B. Term of Office
Elders and Deacons shall be elected for a two (2) year term.
2) All other elected officers shall have a term of office of one (1) year.
3) Any Elder or Deacon holding such office, respectively, may become inactive (sit out) for a period not to exceed two (2) years and thereafter return to this said position (Elder or Deacon) upon the recommendation and majority vote of the Elders and thereby continue for the time completion of his term remaining, and without first becoming again qualified for said position and elected thereto. (Definition of two (2) years is twenty-four (24) months from receiving one’s resignation or the completion of term of office.)
C. Time of Election
The election of Elders, Deacons, and all Church officers (with the exception of Trustees) shall be held on the last Sunday of June. Individuals elected will assume the responsibilities of his/her position on the first Sunday of July.
D. Persons Eligible to Vote
Those eligible to vote for Church leadership and Church officers must be active members, tenth (10th) grade and above.
E. Election of Church Leadership (Elders and Deacons)
Each candidate must receive at least two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Church membership in attendance in order to be elected.
F. Election of Church Officers
In order to be elected, a person must receive a majority of the Church membership in attendance votes.
G. Election of a Minister
The minister shall be elected by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active Church membership in attendance upon the recommendation of the majority of the Elders.
H. Absentee Ballot (Amended June 2001)
1) If any active member is aware that they will be absent during the Congregational Meeting due to uncontrollable circumstances, they will be privileged to contact one of the Elders at least two (2) weeks prior to the election and obtain an absentee ballot.
2) Ballot must be returned to an Elder at least one week prior to the election in a sealed envelope.
VI. Termination of Minister
The end of an employment relationship with the Guyandotte Church of Christ will fall within one of the following categories, with indicated policies applicable to each:
1) Immoral Conduct- Automatic
Dismissal
2) Unsatisfactory
Job Performance
A. Procedure
1. Verbal Warning- The minister must be collectively informed by the Elders of the deficiency in specific terms. The minister and the Elders must agree upon joint resolution of the matter, the progress of which is to be reviewed at the end of thirty (30) days. If the issue has been resolves within thirty (30) days, the Verbal Warning is rescinded.
2. Written Warning- If the specific issue has not been satisfactorily resolved with in thirty (30) days after the issuing of a Verbal Warning, a written Warning is to be issued collectively from the Elders, signed by the Elders, specifically describing the minister’s deficiency and outlining specifically the Elder’s proposal for resolution of the matter within ten (10) days. At this time, the congregation will be informed of the issue. If the issue is resolved within ten (10) days, both the Written Warning and the Verbal Warning are rescinded.
3. Termination- If the matter has not been resolved, within ten (10) days after a Written Warning has been issued, the Elders may issue a letter of termination explaining in detail the nature of the problem and why the minister’s response was insufficient
4. Notification Requirements- Twenty (20) days to vacate parsonage.
5. Salary/Benefit Status- Full salary and benefits for the remaining twenty (20) days.
VII. Meetings
A quorum for all meetings of Elders and/or Deacons shall consist of a majority of those elected.
A. Organization
Organization of the following bodies shall be taken care of at their first business meeting following the regular Church election, and a Chairman of the Elders shall be determined by a majority of the Elders then serving.
B. Elders
The Elders shall have a regular monthly meeting.
C. Deacons
The Deacons shall have a regular monthly meeting.
D. Trustees
The Trustees shall have an annual meeting (or as needed).
E. Joint Meetings
The Elders and Deacons shall meet jointly each month for a conference with the Chairman of the Elders presiding.
F. Annual Meetings
There shall be an annual meeting of the congregation with the Chairman of the Elders presiding the last Sunday in June of each year.
G. Special Meetings
Congregational meetings may be called as deemed necessary by the Church leadership.
VIII. Amendments
Proposed amendments to these rules and regulations may be made at any regular joint meeting of the Church leadership. Such amendments shall be read at such meetings and then laid over until the next regular joint meeting of the leadership, at which time they shall come up for consideration. If such amendments be approved by two-thirds (2/3’s) of the joint Elders and Deacons, they shall then be presented to the membership for final acceptance. The amendments must pass by a two-thirds (2/3’s) vote of the Church membership in attendance.
