Recovery Chapel Bylaws
Section 1. Holy
Guidance—We adhere in all matters to the Canon of Truth known as the
Holy Bible and consisting of the following God inspired writings: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2
Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel,
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai,
Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts of the Apostles, Romans, 1
Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1
Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews,
James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation.
Section 2. Worship—We praise and worship the Lord God of Israel as revealed in the Holy Bible in three manifestations: The Father of Light Who Created the Universe and Mankind, Jesus Christ the promised Messiah Who came to reconcile us to the Father, and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit of God Who shows His fruits through the life of believers.
Section 3. Discipleship—We accept that Jesus is the Head of this church body and we follow Him faithfully in creating disciples who will follow His instructions as revealed in the Holy Bible.
Section 4. Ministry—We serve God and mankind in the tradition of Jesus Christ. We study and work to be proven worthy of a public ministry that will best use our talents as they were given at creation.
Section 5. Evangelism—We work to show the world that the way to the heavenly Father is through accepting Jesus Christ as their Redeemer.
Section 6. Fellowship—As part of a larger body of believers on earth, we share joyously in the fruit of our labors as equal partakers in God’s kingdom, and strive to widen our fellowship to include brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.
Section 1. Members have made a public profession of allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him in the constant and ongoing sanctification process of discipleship. Members may also maintain a relationship or membership with another religious congregation. Candidates must be accepted for membership by a 2/3 majority of the Board of Trustees or a 2/3 majority of those members present at any regular worship service presided over by the Pastor. They are received into membership upon fulfillment of all of the declarations and requirements as heretofore specified and additionally created by the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. Ordinances—Members may participate in the ordinances of the church as administered by the church, including baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper.
Section 3. Voting—Every member may vote on all matters that come before the congregation. Voting by proxy is prohibited.
Section 4. Rights of Members—Every Member of the church is eligible for consideration by the membership as candidates for the elective offices in the church.
Section 5. Termination of Membership—Membership shall be terminated in the following ways: (1) death, (2) transfer by letter to another church, (3) exclusion by action of this church for any reason that would make them ineligible to become a member if he or she were not yet a member.
Section 6. Action of Exclusion—An action of exclusion in order to terminate any person’s membership may be raised by any Member but must be approved by a 2/3 majority of a quorum of Trustees at a meeting called at least one week in advance by general notice read or published and made available to all trustees and the member in question at the last known address of record. At any meeting called with membership exclusion at stake, the notice shall make clear the nature of the meeting while maintaining the confidentiality of the member in question and any related issues. The member in question shall be charged at such a meeting with specific recommendations by the Moderator of the Trustees, and the member in question may then be heard at said meeting for a time of no more than 15 minutes and introduce information in his or her behalf for up to 30 minutes. The Trustees may then inquire and gain additional information as they may need to make a decision at that time or postpone the meeting by a 2/3 majority of the quorum for good purpose to a specific date and time without giving additional notice for said future meeting. Any future meetings regarding that same cause and member in question shall not require any official notice other than the verbal notification of rescheduling given at any meeting related to the cause and member in question. At any subsequent meeting, any member in question shall be entitled to speak to the charges for up to 15 minutes and may introduce information in his or her behalf for up to 30 minutes. The member in question shall be issued a written decision of the Trustees within five days of the decision in question and said decision will be mailed to the last known address of the member in question.
Article 3—Church Staff and
Officers
The officers of this church shall be required to be members of the congregation and are enumerated as follows:
Section 1. Trustees—The Trustees are those who will direct and oversee the entire congregation in all of its manifestations. They are trusted servants who are responsible for the health and welfare of Recovery Chapel and are elected to a two-year term by a majority vote of the congregation. The initial number of Trustees shall be three and, by a majority vote of the Trustees, may be increased. In all matters of the church, except as may be otherwise provided herein, a majority vote of those in attendance at any meeting shall be sufficient to conduct any business of the church.
Section 2. Pastor—The pastor shall act as the Shepherd of the Congregation and direct the day-to-day affairs of the congregation according to the guidance and wisdom received from the Board of Trustees. The pastor shall be called by a 2/3 majority vote of the Board of Trustees and an additional confirmation vote of 2/3 of the congregation. The Trustees may delegate the duty of a pastoral search to a body of members as the Trustees may agree.
Section 3. Ministerial Staff—Ministerial Staff members are those who are called to carry on the work of Recovery Chapel according to the guidance and wisdom received from the Pastor and/or the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. Moderator –The Moderator will facilitate the Board of Trustees and chair the business meetings of the congregation. The Moderator shall also sign instruments for the congregation as needed. The Moderator shall be nominated by the Trustees and confirmed by a 2/3 majority of the congregation for a two-year term.
Section 5. Clerk—The Clerk shall be a member of the Board of Trustees who has been called to keep the minutes and decisions of Recovery Chapel and the Board of Trustees. The Clerk shall also keep the membership rolls. The Clerk shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Trustees and serve for two-years.
Section 6. Treasurer—The Treasurer is member of the Board of Trustees and shall supervise finances for the congregation, negotiate legal instruments, report the financial condition to the Trustees at each meeting, and propose an annual operating budget which shall be revised or approved by the Trustees and submitted to the congregation for discussion and approval by a majority vote at a specially called meeting. The Treasurer shall also substitute for the Moderator in the Moderator’s absence. The Treasurer shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Trustees and serve for two years.
Article 4 – Church
Operations
Section 1. Finance—The congregation shall not go into debt except as proposed by a unanimous resolution of the Board of Trustees and approved by 80% of the congregation. The only exception is the debt that is incurred in the course of regular business for amounts that are paid within thirty days of the receipt of invoice. In the event that an invoice cannot, for any reason, be paid within thirty days of receipt of the invoice, then no additional services or goods will be acquired on account from any vendor until all outstanding debt (except for debt approved by 80% of the congregation) is paid up to date.
Section 2. Dissolution—Upon dissolution of the congregation and termination of regular weekly services, any funds in the treasury will go first to secured creditors, then unsecured creditors, then to other churches (of a similar purpose) or charitable groups (as specified in Internal Revenue Code 501(3)c) of a similar purpose.
Section 3. Affiliation—Recovery Chapel will not be affiliated with any specific denomination or embrace any world religion. We are strictly a Christ centered faith-based movement and rely upon God and His Word for all instruction. Members of Recovery Chapel may belong to any other Christian assembly, but might also be subject to an Action of Exclusion if their affiliation produces controversy within Recovery Chapel or between Recovery Chapel and the public.
Section 4. Trademark—Recovery Chapel owns the trademark for Recovery Chapel and shall control its use through agreements with other congregations desiring to use the name Recovery Chapel.
Section 1. Trustee Meetings—The Trustees will meet once monthly at a time and place to be decided upon by 2/3 of the Trustees present. Upon written or verbal notification to all Trustees, the Moderator shall order the Clerk to notify all participants and find 2/3 agreement for cancellation of a scheduled meeting. The Moderator shall appoint a parliamentarian whose responsibility it will be to assure compliance with Robert's Rules of Order and the bylaws at each meeting.
Section 2. Special Business Meetings—A specially called congregation-wide business meeting may be held as required by these bylaws, as desired by the Trustees, or as requested by a petition of 5% of the active membership. The Church Clerk shall schedule a Special Business Meeting for no less than eight days (or more than sixteen days) after being notified that there is a need for such a meeting. Notice of the subject, date, time and location must be published in the church newsletter or bulletin for the specially called business meeting at least one week before the meeting and announced at all services every day for at least seven days prior to the special business meeting.
Section 3. Quorum—A quorum consists of those who attend a meeting, provided it is a regular meeting or one that has been properly called.
Section 4. Parliamentary Rules—The current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church in areas not addressed by this Constitution and Bylaws.
Article 6 – Ordinances
Section 1. Baptism—Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience. A person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who professes Him publicly at any worship service, and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord, shall be received for baptism by immersion in water and may be administered by the pastor or whomever he or the Board of Trustees shall authorize.
Section 2. The Lord's Supper—The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience and any member or professing Christian may participate in any such ordinance.
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Article
7 – Committees
The Board of Trustees may form, dismantle and preside over such committees as it deems necessary to
conduct church business. Committee members must be members of the church.
Article
8 – Definitions
Any reference in this document to a percentage or fraction does not indicate an exact amount, but a minimum
amount required before an action is legitimate.
Article 9 – Adoption and
Amendment of Bylaws
These Bylaws shall be adopted by the signing of this document by the Incorporator of Recovery Chapel and shall only be amended by a 2/3 quorum of the members in attendance at a Special Business Meeting as may be called to order under Article 5, Section 2 of these Bylaws.
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Farris Robertson, Incorporator