Fulkerson Park Baptist Church

Constitution of Fulkerson Park Baptist Church

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be FULKERSON PARK BAPTIST CHURCH

Article II - Mission

As a worshiping community, our mission is to treasure the glory of Christ in the world.

Article III - Vision

1. WORSHIP

Consistent, nourishing, doctrinal, practical exposition of Scripture joined with celebrative, God-centered, theologically-rooted, passionate praise as the defining points of our corporate worship.

2. LEADERSHIP

Men who are students of Christ, pursuing Him and His Word with intellectual rigor, heart-filled worship, and radical obedience as the leadership of our fellowship.

3. FELLOWSHIP

The Scriptures and prayer as the food and drink, air and water of our fellowship, demonstrated through multiple small-groups which center around living out the “one-another” commands in the context of a prayerful, word-centered community of faith.

4. DISCIPLESHIP

Sunday-Schools and Bible-studies with curriculum and classes in which the supremacy of Christ is pursued in thought and life, with biblical teaching being built into every person from youngest to oldest.

5. EVANGELISM/MISSIONS

Engaging our culture and world with the gospel in both the local and global context, with every member engaged in mission through giving, sending, praying, and going.

6. MINISTRY

Mercy ministries carried out by servant-hearted believers who administer the benevolent gifts of the saints to the needy among us and beyond us in the love of Christ.

Article IV - Statement of Faith

1. THE WORD OF GOD

We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in the original manuscripts, though written by human authors, were breathed out by God, and are therefore authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient, containing all things necessary to be known and believed for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; Psa. 19:7-11).

2. THE NATURE OF GOD

We believe that God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, justice, holiness, goodness, mercy, and truth. This God is one being, existing in three coequal and coeternal Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Jn. 4:24; Job 11:7; Psa. 90:2; Jas. 1:17; Ex. 3:14; Psa. 147:5; Rev. 4:8; Ex. 34:6-7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14).

3. MAN AND SIN

We believe that man was created in the image of God as perfect, holy, and upright, with the ability to keep God's law, yet liable to fall, and that as the representative of the entire human race, Adam freely chose to disobey God, thereby plunging humanity into the death of sin, and that all men are now sinners by nature and practice, deserving eternal condemnation and unable to rescue themselves apart from God's free and sovereign grace through the Lord Jesus Christ (Gen. 1:27; Rom. 5:12-13; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1-10).

4. THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ (Messiah) of Israel and the world’s true Lord, and that he is both fully human and fully divine, God manifest in the flesh. We believe that he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect and sinless life, died a substitutionary death, literally and physically rose from the dead, ascended to the Father, intercedes for His people, and will return again in a physical and visible way to fully usher in His eternal kingdom, judge the wicked, and consummate the salvation of those who trust in Him alone (Jn. 1:1-18; Matt. 1:23; Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:14; Matt. 28:6; Rom. 1:4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4:14-5:10).

5. SALVATION

We believe that all men are enslaved to the pleasures of sin and, in themselves, are both unable and unwilling to repent from sin and believe in Christ so as to be saved, and that God, in His sovereign grace, effectually calls sinners to faith in Christ through His Word and Spirit, in which call He gives the graces of faith and repentance. In the broadest sense of the word, salvation includes deliverance from the guilt of sin (justification), the reign of sin (sanctification), and, eventually, from the presence of sin (glorification). (I Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1-3, 5; Jn. 6:44; Tit. 3:5; Jn. 3:3-8; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Rom. 10:17; Jn. 1:12-13; Acts 11:18; Acts 14:27; Acts 16:14; Phil. 1:29; 2 Tim. 2:25; Rom. 3:21-26; Rom. 6:1-23; Rom. 8:29-30).

6. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

We believe that God is sovereign in creation, providence, and salvation, having purposed all things, which come to pass, yet so as not to be the author or approver of sin, and that He is mercifully concerned in all the affairs of His creatures. We believe that before time began the Father chose who would be saved without regard to anything foreseen in them, but according to the good pleasure of His own free and sovereign will, and that He entrusted the salvation of their souls to the Son, whose redemptive work is applied to them by the Holy Spirit. (Psa. 115:3; Eph. 1:11; Matt. 11:25-27; Jn. 6:37-40; Acts 13:48; Eph. 1:3-14 (see 4-5); Rom. 8:28-30; Rom. 9:1-23; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:1-2).

7. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN

We believe that all men are responsible beings and are held accountable by God for their choices and actions. We believe that all men who hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ are commanded, exhorted, and invited to come to Christ for the salvation of their souls, and that all who come will be saved, while those who reject Him will be punished for their sins, and that those who never hear the Gospel will be judged for suppressing the knowledge of God which is revealed through the created world (Rom. 1:18-23; Isa. 55:1-3; Matt. 11:28-30; Jn. 5:39-40; Acts 13:46; Jn. 6:37; Acts 16:31; Acts 17:30-31).

8. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

We believe that sinners are justified on the basis of the substitutionary and atoning death of Jesus Christ, by whom the wrath of God against sin was satisfied, and that justification is through the instrumentality of faith alone (Rom. 3:21-5:21; Rom. 9:30-10:10; Gal. 2:15-3:14; Eph. 2:8-10; Phil. 3:3-10).

9. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

We believe that all true believers will persevere in faith and holiness, are kept by the power of God and the intercession of Christ, and are sanctified by the Spirit of God through the Word of God, and that, though they may backslide for a season, none of them will ever fully or finally fall away from obedience and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ, yet live a lifestyle of habitual sin or commit apostasy are not true believers in Christ (Job 17:9; Matt. 7:13-29; Jn. 6:37-40, 44; Jn. 8:30-59; Jn. 10:27-30; Jn. 17:6-26; Rom. 8:28-39; Heb. 3:12-14; Jas. 2:14-26; I Pet. 1:5; I Jn. 2:29-3:10; I Jn. 5:4-5).

10. THE CHURCH

We believe in the Universal Church which, consisting of all true believers from all ages, is the Body and Bride of Jesus Christ, with Him as her Head and Husband. We believe that all believers should assemble themselves in local fellowships for the purpose of: joyfully exalting the Lord in corporate worship; edifying one another in love, service, encouragement, and admonishment; and equipping the saints for dynamic witness to lost sinners through both local evangelism and global missions, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Eph. 1:20-21; Eph. 4:1-6; I Pet. 2:9; Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 28:19-20).

11. THE ORDINANCES

We believe that baptism by immersion is to be administered to true believers in Jesus Christ, that the Lord's Supper is to be regularly celebrated by true believers until our Lord Jesus comes again, and that both are symbols which the Lord has designed to portray the truths of His Holy Word and through which the Spirit of Christ strengthens and fellowships with believers (Matt. 28:19; Lk. 22:17-20; I Cor. 11:17-33).

12. LAST THINGS

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will visibly return in glory to raise the dead and judge the world and that the pleasures of the righteous and the miseries of the wicked will alike be eternal (Heb. 9:28; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11; Jn. 5:28-29; Matt. 25:31-46; Rom. 2:5-10).

Article V - Church Covenant

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and members of His body, we consider it our joy to live in covenant with one another. We promise to treasure the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ through passionately worshiping God, faithfully learning and living the Scriptures, regularly celebrating the Lord’s Supper, willingly participating in fellowship, joyfully submitting to our leaders, and cheerfully sharing our gifts, time, energy, and financial resources for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ in the world.

We promise to cultivate the spiritual formation of ourselves and our families through worship, meditation and prayer, to share the gospel with our fellow-man, to live like Jesus in the world, to be honest and just in our engagement with others, to avoid attitudes and actions which are destructive to the unity of the body, and to respect the Christian liberty of others, while also abstaining from practices which bring unwarranted harm to the body or jeopardize our own or another’s faith.

We promise to pursue the spiritual health and growth of this community by loving and serving one another, remembering one another in prayer, giving to one another in times of need, exhorting one another to continue in the faith, and forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us. And we promise that if we should ever leave this local body, we will unite ourselves with another church of similar faith and practice.

Article VI - Membership

1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

The membership of this Church shall consist of persons who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, giving evidence of new birth by living holy lives consistent with their profession according to the commandments of Holy Scripture, and who have been baptized by immersion as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Members of this Church are both privileged and expected to be regularly involved in participation in the Lord’s Table, use of gifts in service and leadership, and voting (for members 18 years of age and older) on congregational decisions. Believing non-members may also share in participation of the Lord’s Table and use their gifts in service under the direction of the Council of Elders.

3. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Those who desire membership in the Church must complete the application process for membership which will include, but may not be limited to, at least one interview with a member of the Council of Elders. Candidates for membership may not be presented to the Church for approval without the approval and recommendation of the Council of Elders.

4. ADMISSION INTO MEMBERSHIP

Upon approval by the Council of Elders, the Church may admit believers into membership in one of the following ways:

i. Public profession of faith and baptism by immersion

New believers in Jesus Christ may be admitted into membership through their public profession of faith in Christ and their obedience to the command to be baptized by immersion.

ii. Transfer of Letter

Immersed believers who are currently members in good standing of other Evangelical Churches which are considered reasonably sound in doctrine and practice may be admitted by transfer of letter. Believers under discipline of another Church may be admitted into membership only after an investigation into the causes of discipline and unanimous approval by the Council of Elders.

iii. Statement of Faith

Immersed believers who wish to join the Church but do not hold current membership in another Church may be admitted through statement of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

iv. Restoration

Believers who have been removed from membership in this Church for disciplinary reasons may be presented for restoration after a personal interview with an Elder and only with the unanimous approval of restoration from the Council of Elders, and only with an expression of public repentance by the individual desiring restoration.

5. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION

Candidates for membership will be presented to the congregation (with the stated approval of the Council of Elders) for admission into Church membership in any of the ways mentioned above, and may be received by a majority vote of a quorum of voting members in any regularly scheduled worship service or business meeting of the Church.

6. NEW MEMBER DISCIPLESHIP

Upon admission into the Church, new members may be expected to complete the New Member Discipleship Class, under the direction of the Council of Elders.

7. DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS

i. Purpose of Discipline

The purposes of Church discipline are (1) to glorify God by maintaining purity in the assembly (1 Cor. 5:6), (2) to edify believers by deterring sin (1 Tim. 5:20), and (3) to pursue the spiritual welfare of the offending member by calling him or her to repentance and restoration (Gal. 6:1).

ii. Process of Discipline

The process of discipline outlined here is based on the description of Church discipline found in Matthew 18:15-18. When a member of the Church errs in doctrine or engages in conduct forbidden by Scripture, the following levels of confrontation will be followed. (1) It is the duty of any member of the Church who has knowledge of the erring member’s sin to personally and privately warn the erring member, seeking his or her repentance. If the erring member refuses to heed this private warning then (2) the warning member shall approach the erring member again, accompanied by one or two other members who shall confirm that the sin has occurred or is continuing to occur. If the erring member still refuses to repent, then (3) the matter should be brought to the attention of the Council of Elders who shall thoroughly investigate the situation. If the Council of Elders determines that there is corroborating evidence that the individual has sinned or is continuing to sin and after proper confrontation is refusing to repent, the Elders shall inform the congregation in a regular public worship service, encouraging the congregation to call the erring member to repentance. If the erring member repents, then notice to that effect shall be given in a regular public worship service. But if the erring member refuses to repent in response to the collective call to repentance by the congregation, then (4) he or she shall be publicly dismissed from Church membership in a public worship service, with all membership privileges revoked.

The Council of Elders may proceed directly to the third level of discipline (i.e. informing the congregation of an erring member’s sin in order that the congregation may call the erring member to repentance) or to the fourth stage of discipline (i.e. dismissal from membership) when one or more of the following have occurred: (1) Where the sin and the refusal to repent have been public in nature, that is, openly and to the offense of the entire congregation (1 Cor. 5:1-5); (2) Where the erring member has taught or otherwise disseminated false doctrine and has chosen to disregard the direction and reproof of the Elders (Rom. 16:17); (3) Where the erring member has refused two warnings to cease from divisive conduct (Tit. 3:10-11).

iii. Restoration of Disciplined Members

See Article VI.3.iv above.

iv. Transfer of Disciplined Members

Members under discipline of the Church shall not be granted letters of recommendation or transfers of membership to other Churches.

8. INACTIVE MEMBERS

Members who are absent from the Church’s regular worship services for a period of three months, without justifiable cause, shall be placed on an inactive membership list and shall not be permitted voting privileges until restored to active membership by the Council of Elders.

9. DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS

Members may be dismissed for any of the following reasons: Church discipline, transfer of membership to another Church, non-attendance, or moving to another city.

i. Church Discipline

See process outlined above in Section 6.

ii. Transfer of membership to another Church

Transfer of membership to another Church will be granted upon request, provided that the said Church is Evangelical and considered reasonably sound in doctrine and practice by the Council of Elders. Transfer of membership shall be granted by letter.

Members who wish to join another Church that is significantly different in doctrine and practice and not approved by the Council of Elders shall be dropped from membership rolls, but no letter shall be given.

The transfer of membership by letter may be granted by the majority vote of the Council of Elders.

iii. Non-attendance

Members who do not regularly attend worship services and are not attending worship services elsewhere for three months consecutively shall be placed on an inactive membership list (see Article VI, Section 7 above) and shall be considered subjects for the first stage of Church discipline, unless a justifiable cause for absence is known by the Council of Elders.

Members who do not regularly attend worship services in this Church, yet are attending worship services elsewhere shall be contacted, reminded of their duties as members, and asked about their intentions. Members who are consecutively absent for six consecutive months, but are attending another Church shall be dismissed from membership, which dismissal shall not be considered Church discipline.

iv. Move to another city

Members, who move from this city, shall supply the Church with their new address and apply for a letter of dismissal within one year provided there is an Evangelical Church in the place to which they move. If necessary, it shall be the duty of the Council of Elders to remind such members of their duties in this respect. In case there is no such Church in the place, or there are circumstances which render it inadvisable to change membership, the member shall report to the Church at least once annually, in person or by letter. All non-resident members who do not so report shall be subject to dismissal by the Church after appropriate efforts have been made to contact the member and remind them of their obligations.

Article VII - Government

The Church shall be governed by the Council of Elders who shall be appointed and approved by the congregation (see Article VIII.1.iii for procedures regarding the appointing of Elders). The Council of Elders, under the headship of Christ shall have authority to govern the Church in accordance with the Word of God. In regard to all matters fiscal or legal the Council of Elders shall function as the representative board of the Church. However, the congregation must give their approval to the recommendations made by the Council of Elders in the following matters:

1. The acceptance of new members into the Church (see Article VI for procedures regarding the acceptance of new members).

2. The appointment of officers and the employment of vocational elders, which shall be done upon the recommendation of the Council of Elders (see Article VIII for procedures regarding the appointing of officers).

3. The approval of annual budgets, which shall be recommended to the Church by the Council of Elders and when approved shall be administered by the Board of Deacons, Trustees, and Financial Officers of the Church (see Article IX for procedures regarding stewardship of Church resources).

4. The discipline of members which shall be done under supervision of the Council of Elders (1 Cor. 5:1-13).

5. The making of amendments to the Church constitution (see Article XI for rules governing amendments).

Article VIII - Officers

In accordance with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, there shall be two classes of officers in the Church: Elders and Deacons (Philip. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13).

1. ELDERS

i. Qualifications

Elders must be men who meet the moral and spiritual qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, evidencing a call from God to the work of Eldership, and having a desire for the work.

ii. Responsibilities

General Description: Elders are called both overseers and shepherds in Scripture (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Pet. 5:1-4) and are responsible as under-shepherds of Christ, who is the Chief Shepherd, for feeding, leading, protecting, watching over, and caring for the flock. They are given authority to rule and govern the affairs of the Church (1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Tim. 3:4-5), including matters of doctrine and fellowship (Acts 15:1-16:4) and the stewardship of finances (Acts 11:29-30). In order that Elders may give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-4) they may choose to delegate the administration of finances to others. 

Specific Responsibilities: Specific responsibilities of the Elders shall include:

overseeing, coordinating and promoting the ministries of the Church,

equipping the membership of the Church for the work of the ministry,

teaching the whole counsel of God both formally and informally,

correcting error,

administering the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper,

planning and overseeing worship services,

examining prospective members and acquainting them with the mission, vision, beliefs, covenant, and constitution of the Church,

examining prospective candidates for office,

overseeing the work of the Deacons,

overseeing the process of Church discipline,

scheduling and providing a moderator for business meetings,

and mobilizing the Church for world missions.

iii. Nomination, Examination, and Appointment

The nomination and examination of candidates for Eldership will be the responsibility of the Council of Elders. Appointment of a nominee to Eldership must receive congregational approval (see below).

Suggestions for candidates for Eldership may be made by members of the Church through submitting a letter to the Council of Elders stating the name of the person and the reasons for suggesting them as candidates. All such suggestions will be prayerfully considered by the Council of Elders.

Those persons who, after prayerful consideration, are unanimously approved by the Council of Elders will first be approached by a delegate from the Council with an inquiry regarding their interest in becoming a candidate for Eldership. Those who are interested will agree to under-go a private examination and training process supervised by the Council of Elders. They will be examined in both personal life (according to the standards of 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Tit. 1:5-9), biblical understanding, and ministry skills. Training will consist of biblical, theological, and ministerial study and development of practical skills. Training will be tailored to the needs of the candidate and shall be monitored by a current Elder under supervision of the Council of Elders.

Candidates who pass examination and complete training with the unanimous approval of the Council of Elders will be presented to the congregation as nominees for Eldership and will be subject to the congregation’s approval and appointment. Candidates may be presented as nominees in any duly called business meeting (see Article X.2.ii). Nominees must receive a 2/3 vote of approval from a quorum of the voting members of the Church in order to be appointed as Elders.

Candidates who do not pass examination or complete training will not be presented to the congregation as nominees for Eldership. The reasons for lack of approval by the Council of Elders shall be stated to the candidate. Such candidates may be eligible for reconsideration after a season of continued spiritual growth and faithful membership within the Church.

iv. Ordination

Nominees for Eldership who successfully complete the examination and training process and are approved for appointment by the congregation shall be set apart to the office of Elder through ordination in a public worship service.

The ordination service shall consist of a public examination of doctrinal faithfulness, an ordination charge, and prayer with the laying on of the hands of the Council of Elders (1 Tim. 4:14). Those who are ordained shall be fully licensed with all the duties and privileges of the Ministry of the Gospel. Ordination shall not be revoked except for disciplinary reasons, although active service on the Council of Elders of all non-vocational (Lay) Elders will be subject to term limits.

Nominees for Eldership in this Church who have received ordination in another Church of similar doctrine and practice may be appointed as Elders without repeating the ordination process. However, they shall still be subject to the nomination, examination, and appointment process.

v. Council of Elders

The Elders of the Church together form the Council of Elders. The number of Elders shall be determined by the needs of the ministry and the qualification and call of men within the Church.

The Elders of the Council shall be equal in authority, though they may be specialized in function. Each Elder should serve in capacities most suited to his desires and gifts, but always in submission to the other members of the Council and the by-laws of this constitution.

The Council of Elders must be unanimous in their decisions regarding: the appointment of Elders, the appointment of Deacons, and the hiring of staff. This high standard ensures equality of authority, provides mutual accountability, and necessitates the constant exercise of love and humility among the Eldership. When unity is not present on any of these issues, the Council shall delay action and give time for prayer and fasting until a unanimous decision has been reached. On all other matters, a 2/3 majority vote by the Council of Elders shall be required.

The Council of Elders shall meet at least once each month for prayer, encouragement, accountability, and discussion regarding the oversight of the congregation. No member of the Council shall be absent without leave from the Chairman of the Council and no member shall be absent three times in succession without good reason and the consent of the Council.

The Council of Elders shall annually select a Chairman and Secretary. The Chairman shall conduct the meetings of the Council and the Secretary shall record minutes of those meetings.

vi. Lay Elders

A Lay Elder is any man who serves as an Elder without being a full-time staff member of the Church. Lay Elders will be equal in authority to Vocational Elders, even though their sphere of responsibilities will necessarily be more narrow. Lay Elders will also be subject to term limits (Article VIII.1.ix).

vii. Vocational Elders

A Vocational Elder is any man who serves as an Elder as a full-time staff member of the Church. Financial compensation is mandated and encouraged in Scripture, especially for those who labor in the special ministry of regularly preaching and teaching the Word (1 Cor. 9:1-14; Gal. 6:6-10; 1 Tim. 5:17-18). Vocational Elders shall function under the authority of the Council of Elders as mediated through day-to-day oversight of the Pastor for Preaching, who shall serve as the senior executive officer of the Church. The Pastor for Preaching shall be subject to the Council of Elders.

In addition to following the nomination, examination, and appointment process outlined above (Article VIII.1.iii), the employment of Vocational Elders must be approved by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the voting members of the Church in a duly called meeting (Article X.2.ii). The salary of Vocational Elders shall be determined by the Council of Elders in accord with the congregationally approved annual budget. Vocational Elders may not determine or vote on their own financial compensation.

Vocational Elders shall not be subject to term limits (Article VIII.1.ix). Staff members will not necessarily hold the office of Elder.

viii. The Pastor for Preaching

The Pastor for Preaching shall be a Vocational Elder who is specially gifted and deeply burdened for regular pulpit ministry and shepherding the flock and, who with the unanimous approval of the Council of Elders, is appointed by a 2/3 majority of a quorum of the voting members of the Church. His Eldership is not subject to term limits. He shall be equal in authority to the other Elders of the Council in the general areas described in Article VIII.1.ii above, but will be given the specific responsibilities detailed below.

The Pastor for Preaching shall arrange for and oversee (or delegate the oversight of) all public and regular services of the Church. He shall be the regular preaching pastor for Lord’s Day services and shall secure pulpit supply in his absence.

The Pastor for Preaching shall function as the senior executive officer of the Church, thus being responsible for the day-to-day administration of all other Staff Members and Employees, including other Vocational Elders. In the absence of other Vocational Elders, the Pastor for Preaching shall be primarily responsible for overseeing the various worship, discipleship, and evangelism ministries of the Church. In all of his responsibilities, he shall be accountable to the Council of Elders.

In the absence of a Pastor for Preaching, the Council of Elders shall be responsible for arranging and conducting the public and regular services of the Church. The Council of Elders shall also be responsible for the search, examination, and initial approval of candidates for the Pastor for Preaching. Upon unanimous approval by the Council of Elders, candidates must be presented to the congregation for approval and official calling.

The Pastor for Preaching may not be dismissed by the Council of Elders, but only by a 2/3 majority of a quorum of the voting members of the Church in a duly called business meeting (see Article X.2.ii below).

ix. Term of Service

Lay Elders shall be appointed by the Church for a normal term of four years. They shall stand for reaffirmation not later than the fourth annual meeting of the Church following their appointment. Reaffirmation of a Lay Elder shall be by 2/3 vote of a quorum of the voting members of the Church. Lay Elders shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Following two consecutive terms Lay Elders will not serve actively in office for a period of one year. Following this period they are again eligible for nomination as Elder. Such nominations must follow the nomination, examination, and appointment process outlined above in Article VIII.1.iii. 

Vocational Elders shall not be subject to term limits.

x. Termination, Grievances, and Discipline

Termination of Eldership may occur because of: conclusion of service term (for Lay Elders, see Article VIII.1.ix. above), resignation, or discipline. Resignations should be made through a written letter submitted to the Council of Elders with at least fourteen days notice and reasons for resignation stated.

Where a grievance exists against an Elder, either due to his preaching or teaching contrary to the beliefs of the Church as set forth in Article IV of this Constitution or to alleged conduct unfitting to an Elder, such grievance must be brought before the Council of Elders by any two active members in good standing with the Church, in accord with the teaching of 1 Timothy 5:19. When a grievance against an Elder is present, his authority and responsibilities as an Elder may be temporarily revoked while an investigation of the grievance is taking place. If the Council of Elders, after thorough investigation and consideration, believes the grievance to be true and substantial, then the Eldership of the accused Elder may be terminated at any business meeting upon the recommendation of the Council of Elders when supported by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the voting members of the Church in any duly called business meeting (see Article X.2.ii.). Such a termination should only be considered disciplinary if it also includes censure as noted below.

Elders who are found guilty of heretical teaching or ungodly conduct of such a nature that the Council of Elders believes to be damaging to the Name of Christ, the integrity of the gospel, or the testimony of the Church, shall be censured and disciplined upon a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the voting members of the Church in any duly called business meeting (see Article X.2.ii.). Such censure and discipline shall effectively revoke the ordination of the said Elder and terminate his service as an Elder, although not necessarily his membership in the Church.

xi. Minimum Number of Elders

A minimum of three Elders is necessary to form the Council of Elders. If for some reason the number of Elders decreases to two or less, the Council of Elders will temporarily be merged with the Board of Deacons until such time as a third Elder is duly trained, examined, confirmed, and ordained by the congregation in accordance with the process set forth in the Constitution. 

2. DEACONS

i. Qualifications

Deacons must meet the moral and spiritual qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:8-12, evidencing a giftedness from God for the ministry of a Deacon and having a desire for the work. 

ii. Responsibilities

Deacons are servants of the Church whose primary responsibility is to minister to the people by caring for their physical and material needs. This includes, but is not limited to, feeding the hungry, befriending the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick; and visiting the imprisoned. As servants of the Church, the Deacons shall also be responsible to assist the Elders and Overseers of the Church in the following ways: providing advice and counsel, assisting in administering the business affairs of the Church that pertain to its material assets, assisting in administering the ordinances of the Gospel, and assisting in the greeting and welcoming ministries of the Church. In all their service, Deacons shall be subject to the Council of Elders.

iii. Nomination, Examination, and Appointment

The nomination and examination of candidates for the office of Deacon will be the responsibility of the Council of Elders. Appointment of a nominee to the office of Deacon must receive congregational approval (see below).

Suggestions for candidates may be made by members of the Church through submitting a letter to the Council of Elders stating the name of the person and the reasons for suggesting them as candidates. All such suggestions will be prayerfully considered by the Council of Elders.

Those persons who, after prayerful consideration, are unanimously approved by the Council of Elders will first be approached by a delegate from the Council with an inquiry regarding their interest in becoming a candidate for the office of Deacon. Those who are interested will agree to under-go a private examination and training process supervised by the Council of Elders. They will be examined in both personal life (according to the standards of 1 Tim. 3:8-12), biblical understanding, and ministry skills. Training will be tailored to the needs of the candidate and shall be monitored by a current Elder or Deacon under supervision of the Council of Elders.

Candidates who pass examination and complete training with the unanimous approval of the Council of Elders will be presented to the congregation as nominees for the office of Deacon and will be subject to the congregation’s approval and appointment. Candidates may be presented as nominees in any duly called business meeting (see Article X.2.ii). A nominee must receive a 2/3 vote of approval from a quorum of the Church in order to be appointed as Deacon.

Candidates who do not pass examination or complete training will not be presented to the congregation as nominees for the Office of Deacon. The reasons for lack of approval by the Council of Elders shall be stated to the candidate. Such candidates may be eligible for reconsideration after a season of continued spiritual growth and faithful membership within the Church.

iv. Ordination

Nominees for the office of Deacon who successfully complete the examination and training process and are approved for appointment by the congregation shall be set apart to the office of Deacon through ordination in a public worship service.

The ordination service shall consist of an ordination charge, and prayer with the laying on of the hands of the Council of Elders (1 Tim. 4:14). Ordination shall not be revoked except for disciplinary reasons, although active service as a Deacon will be subject to term limits.

Nominees for the office of Deacon in this Church who have received ordination in another Church of similar doctrine and practice may be appointed as Deacons without repeating the ordination process. However, they shall still be subject to the nomination, examination, and appointment process.

v. Term of Service

Deacons shall be appointed by the Church for a normal term of four years. They shall stand for reaffirmation not later than the fourth annual meeting of the Church following their appointment. Reaffirmation of Deacons shall be by 2/3 vote of those members present and voting at the meeting. Deacons shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Following two consecutive terms the Deacons will not serve actively in office for a period of one year. Following this period they are again eligible for nomination as Deacon. Such nominations must follow the nomination, examination, and appointment process outlined above in Article VIII.2.iii. 

vi. Termination, Grievances, and Discipline

The termination of a Deacon’s term of service and the handling of both grievances and discipline shall concur with the process and standards outlined above for the termination, grievances, and discipline of Elders (see Article VIII.1.x).

3. STAFF MEMBERS

i. Description

Staff Members include any persons who are regularly employed by Fulkerson Park Baptist Church, including Vocational Elders, Ministerial Staff, and Support and Custodial Staff.

ii. Vocational Elders

See Article VIII.1.vii above.

iii. Ministerial Staff

Ministerial Staff are Staff Members who serve as ministers of the Church while not occupying the Office of Elder. Ministerial Staff may include, but is not limited to, Staff Members who serve in student ministry, children’s ministry, discipleship, education, music ministry, outreach, and evangelism. Ministerial Staff shall function under the authority of the Council of Elders as mediated through day-to-day oversight of the Pastor for Preaching, who shall serve as the senior executive officer of the Church.

iv. Support and Custodial Staff

Support and Custodial Staff are Staff Members who serve in financial, secretarial, and janitorial positions. Support and Custodial Staff shall function under the authority of the Council of Elders as mediated through day-to-day oversight of the Pastor for Preaching, who shall serve as the senior executive officer of the Church.

v. Employment and Dismissal

The employment and dismissal of all Staff Members shall be administered by the Council of Elders within the constraints of the congregationally approved annual budget. Vocational Elders must also be approved for employment by a 2/3 vote of the Church in a duly called business meeting (Article X.2.ii).

Dismissal of Vocational Elders must follow the termination process outlined in Article VIII.1.x above. Dismissal of Support and Custodial Staff may be done directly by the Council of Elders.

vi. Compensation

The compensation (including salary and benefits) of all Staff Members shall be determined by the Council of Elders in accord with the congregationally approved annual budget. Vocational Elders may not determine or vote on their own financial compensation.

4. TRUSTEES

Trustees shall function as financial stewards and building and property managers of the Church. Their responsibilities include, but may not be limited to: counting and depositing the offerings, carrying out the regular financial obligations of the Church; auditing the financial records of the Church; assisting in the formulation of the annual budget; supervising regular property maintenance (including removal of snow, landscaping and maintenance of yard, and general supervision of janitorial staff); presenting needs regarding building upkeep and equipment repairs/updates to the congregation; securing bids and estimates for upkeep and repairs; organizing Church work days; overseeing the use of the building by third parties; and securing the physical safety of the building at the end of all scheduled meetings and services. Trustees shall be appointed by, function under, and may be removed by the Council of Elders.

5. OPERATIONAL POSITIONS

Operational positions are not standing offices of the Church. All operational positions (whether staff positions or not) exist under the authority of the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders, as overseers of the congregation, are given authority to create, fill, and dissolve operational positions at any time, as deemed necessary for the good of the overall ministry of the Church. This ensures that the ministries of the Church are streamlined in their operational efficiency and that the members of the body are better able to give themselves to actual ministry, as opposed to administration.

Operational positions may (but are not required to) be filled by Elders and Deacons as long as the responsibilities entailed in that position do not overstep the boundaries of such offices as set forth in Article VIII, Sections 1-2 above.

Operational positions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Financial Secretary, Church Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Head Usher, Sunday School Teachers, Small Group Leaders, Discipleship Leaders, and Leaders of various programs within the Church.

Article IX - Stewardship

1. CONTRIBUTIONS

It is understood that membership in this Church involves financial obligations to support the Church and its ministries with regular and proportionate giving. Each member shall be encouraged in Scriptural giving as the Lord prospers and leads (2 Cor. 8:1-15). Because giving is an act of worship, contributions will generally be collected each Lord’s Day through passing the collection plate (1 Cor. 16:2).

Special offerings may be sought by the Church, or by any of its ministries, with the approval of the Council of Elders and/or the Pastor for Preaching. This shall not preclude individuals from making special offerings or designated gifts at any time as the Spirit of God may move them. While special offerings and designated gifts to specific ministries are encouraged, members are expected to channel their primary regular giving to the approved general budget of the Church.

2. ADMINISTRATION

The administration and distribution of Church finances shall be carried out according to the approved annual budget. Specific accounts for various ministries may be set up and overseen by those delegated by the Council of Elders.

3. ANNUAL BUDGET

The financial planning of the Church shall be carried out through the medium of annual budgets for carrying out of the various programs of its work. Annual budgets shall be determined by the Council of Elders in counsel with the Board of Deacons and the Trustees and Financial officers of the Church. The annual budget shall be presented by the Council of Elders to the Church for approval and shall be adopted when approved by 2/3 vote of a quorum of voting members of the Church in the annual business meeting.

4. SALARIES AND FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR MINISTRY

i. Vocational Elders

Salaries for Vocational Elders (including the Pastor for Preaching) shall be determined by the Council of Elders and approved in general categories by the congregation through the adoption of the annual budget. Vocational Elders shall not have authority to determine or vote on their own compensation.

ii. Other Church Staff

Compensation for other Staff shall be determined by the Council of Elders and approved in general categories by the congregation through the adoption of the annual budget.

iii. Guest Ministers and Ministries

Compensation for guest ministers or ministries shall include the covering of all expenses plus an honorarium as determined by the Council of Elders and in accord with the annual budget, but may also include love offerings collected during public worship, as determined by the Council of Elders, for the specific purpose of using our material things to honor those who minister to us in spiritual things (I Cor. 9:11; Gal. 6:6-10).

5. DEBT

The Church shall not accumulate debts beyond 5% of the approved annual budget without approval from the Council of Elders and at least a 2/3 vote of the congregation

Article X - Meetings

1. WORSHIP

i. Lord’s Day

Public worship services will be held on the Lord’s Day under the direction of the Pastor for Preaching.

ii. The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated as often as the Council of Elders shall deem appropriate to the corporate worship and spiritual edification of the congregation. The Lord’s Supper will be administered by Elders with the assistance of Deacons.

iii. Special Meetings

Special worship services, which may include evangelistic meetings, seminars, crusades, or conferences, will be held at the discretion of the Council of Elders, provided that the expenses for such meetings are within the approved annual budget.

2. BUSINESS

i. Annual Business Meeting

The Church shall hold an annual business meeting during the last month of each fiscal year for the primary (though not exclusive) purpose of appointing Church officers and approving the annual budget.

ii. Special Meetings

Special business meetings may be called by the Council of Elders or a minimum of 1/3 of the membership. Public notice of the meeting must be given at least fourteen days in advance with the particular object of such meeting being clearly stated. Business in specially called meetings will be limited to the pre-stated purpose(s).

iii. Rules of Conduct

The following rules of conduct will be observed in all business meetings. (a) A quorum of the voting members of the Church must be present. A quorum is at least 1/3 of the Council of Elders and 1/3 of the voting members of the Church. (b) The Council of Elders must designate a moderator to preside over the meeting and a secretary to record minutes. (c) Permission to speak must be requested of the moderator. Disorderly persons may be asked by the moderator to remain silent. (d) Motions must be in accordance with the Church constitution and seconded before being presented for a vote (see Article VII for matters which may be presented to the congregation for approval by vote). (e) Motions presented to the Church will be passed with a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the voting members of the Church, except amendments to this Constitution which will require a 3/4 vote. (f) Minutes of the meeting will be recorded and entered into permanent Church records.

Article XI - Amendments

1. GENERAL

As followers of Jesus who look to the infallible Holy Scriptures as our rule of faith and practice, we do not desire to elevate any document of human making to a level equal with the Scriptures. Therefore, we acknowledge the fallibility of this constitution and the occasional need for revision through amendments

2. REQUIREMENTS

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member of the congregation who is in good standing.

Amendments to this constitution must be proposed in writing to the Council of Elders before being presented to the congregation. While the passing of amendments do not require the unanimous consent of the Council of Elders, such amendments must be presented to the Council in advance of presentation to the congregation, in order to ensure that all things are done decently and in order.

Members who are not willing to submit to proposing amendments to the Council of Elders in advance of presentation to the congregation will not be allowed to present said amendments to the congregation.

The Council of Elders may not instate amendments to this constitution without the approval of the congregation (see below).

3. APPROVAL

Proposed amendments must be presented in writing to the entire Church membership at least two weeks in advance of the annual business meeting and must be approved by 3/4 of a quorum of the voting members of the Church (see Article X.2.iii above).