THE CHURCH CONSTITUTION
of Emmanuel Bible Church of
Salem, Oregon, Inc.
Approved by Membership on 07-20-08
Atricles VI - IX are listed below. Click Here for Articles I - V
ARTICLE VI –Election and Duties of Church Officers
Section 1 - Board of Elders
a. The Board of Elders shall consist of all staff pastors and five elected elders from the Membership, each sharing equally in spiritual authority and responsibility for the Church. Each works under the authority of the Board of Elders and ultimately under the authority of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.
b. The term of office for four of the elected elders and staff pastors shall be three years. The terms of the elected elders shall be arranged so that no more than two of the terms of office shall terminate in the same year. The term of office for the fifth elder shall be one year. Each staff pastor shall submit to a reaffirmation vote when his term of office ends. The Board of Elders shall elect its chairman (not a staff pastor) and secretary annually, immediately after the Annual Church Business Meeting. Each elder must qualify according to the standard for elders set in I Timothy 3:3-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
c. The Board of Elders shall hold the highest level of spiritual authority under Christ in the Church. Though it has been given the final human authority in the oversight of the ministry of the Church by the membership, the Board of Elders shall respect the function of the Church Board and the various committees, boards and Church officers that report to the Church Board. The Board of Elders is accountable to the Church Membership and ultimately to the Lord.
d. The elders are charged with the spiritual welfare of the congregation. They are to be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word. They shall shepherd, guard, guide, feed and pray for the flock at EBC under the authority of the Great Shepherd, Jesus, the Head of the Church.
e. Any time the Board of Elders deems an elder’s conduct or teaching to be detrimental to the function, testimony or doctrinal purity of the Church, the Board of Elders, in its own discretion, may suspend the elder’s authority and responsibility in the Church thereby removing him from office. Final termination of a suspended staff pastor contracted by the Membership shall not be effective until a vote is taken at a Membership Meeting called by the Board of Elders for that purpose. A 75% majority is needed to retain a suspended staff pastor.
Section 2 - Church Board
a. The Church Board shall consist of the Chairman and the Secretary of the Board of Elders, a Staff Pastor, the Deacon Council Chairman, the Board of Trustees Chairman, the Missions Committee Chairman, the Church Treasurer, the Moderator and any other members as determined annually by these officers. All Church Board members shall have equal vote in board meetings. No person may hold more than one Church Board position at a time. The Church Board is accountable to the Membership.
b. The Chairman of the Board of Elders shall also be Chairman of the Church Board and shall be authorized to sign documents obligating the Church. The Secretary of the Board of Elders shall also be the Secretary of the Church Board.
c. The Church Board is an administrative board whose principal function is to integrate and coordinate the ministries of the Church.
d. When it deems necessary, the Church Board shall develop items and recommendations to be presented to the Membership at Church Business Meetings. The Church Board shall prepare the Annual Church Budget for consideration at the Annual Church Business Meeting.
e. The Church Board shall recommend to the Membership the creation of additional staff positions. This recommendation shall include a full job description.
Section 3 - Board of Trustees
a. The Board of Trustees shall consist of not less than three members. The term of office shall be three years. To the extent possible, the terms of office shall be arranged to avoid multiple terminations in one year. The Board of Trustees shall elect its chairman annually. The Board of Trustees is accountable to the Church Board.
b. The Trustees shall have charge of all Church property and shall be responsible for its maintenance.
Section 4 - Missions Committee
a. The Missions Committee shall consist of not less than three elected members and one representative from the Board of Elders. The term of office shall be three years. To the extent possible, terms of office shall be arranged to avoid multiple teminations in the same year. The Missions Committee shall elect its chairman and secretary annually. The Missions Committee is accountable to the Church Board.
b. The Missions Committee shall have charge of the missionary ministry of the Church, leading the Church in missions involvement, recommending missionary personnel for church support, and preparing the Annual Missions Budget for member consideration and vote.
Section 5 - Church Treasurer
a. The Church Treasurer shall be elected annually from the Membership and his duty shall be to receive, hold and disburse all funds of the Church and keep a record of all financial transactions. He shall give a complete account of Church funds at the Annual Meeting of the members. The Church Treasurer is accountable to the Church Board.
b. The Assistant Treasurers shall be accountable to the Treasurer and shall serve at the Treasurer’s pleasure.
Section 6 - Church Secretary
a. The Church Secretary shall be elected annually and shall record the minutes of all Membership Business Meetings, prepare the Church Annual Report including an exact record of the Church Membership. The Church Secretary is accountable to the Membership.
b. The Assistant Church Secretary shall assist the Secretary as requested.
Section 7 - Deacon Council
a. The Deacon Council shall consist of not less than four elected members, two men and two women. The term of office shall be two years. To the extent possible, the terms of office shall be arranged so as to have a minimum of one man and one woman continue in office at the end of each year. The Deacon Council shall elect its chairman and secretary annually. Each deacon must qualify under the standards given in Acts 6:3 and I Timothy 3:8-13. The Deacon Council shall be accountable to the Board of Elders.
b. The Deacon Council’s main task is to provide the flock day-to-day shepherding under the oversight of the Board of Elders.
Section 8 - Nominating Committee
a. The Nominating Committee shall consist of not less than five members elected annually for one year terms. The Nominating Committee is accountable to the Membership.
b. The Nominating Committee’s purpose is to select nominees for Church officers to be elected at the next Annual Church Business Meeting. The Nominating Committee shall elect its chairman immediately after the Annual Church Business Meeting.
Section 9 - Church Moderator
a. The Church Moderator shall be elected annually by the Membership and shall preside at all Church Business Meetings ensuring that such meetings are conducted consistent with historical Church practice and in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. The Church Moderator is accountable to the Membership.
b. The Assistant Church Moderator shall serve in the absence of the Church Moderator or at his request.
Section 10 – Financial Review Committee
a. The Financial Review Committee, composed of two members, shall be elected annually to serve a one year term. The person receiving the highest number of votes shall serve as chairperson. The Financial Review Committee is accountable to the Membership.
b. This committee shall conduct a review of all Church accounts and report the results at the Annual Church Business Meeting.
ARTICLE VII – Rules and Regulations
Section 1 - Membership Business Meetings
a. The Annual Business Meeting of the Church shall be held the second Tuesday in January. All annual reports from the various ministries of the Church must be given in writing to the Church Secretary at least two weeks prior to the date of the Annual Business Meeting.
b. Special Business Meetings may be called by the Church Board or the Board of Elders at any time the need may arise. If possible, two weeks notice of such meetings shall be given stating the major agenda matters to be considered.
c. A three-fourths (75%) majority of the votes presented by written ballot shall be required on all business pertaining to Church finances.
d. Inactive members, as described in Article IV, Section 5, may not exercise the right to vote in business meetings.
e. Minutes of the last Annual Church Business Meeting and all Special Business Meetings of the year, the list of nominees for Church offices and a copy of the proposed Church budget and proposed missions budget shall be made available to the Membership at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting.
Section 2 - Finances
a. EBC friends and members shall meet the financial obligations of the Church through voluntary contributions.
ARTICLE VIII – Amendments
Section 1 - This Constitution may be amended as circumstances may require. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Membership in written form at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which such proposal is to be voted upon and must be adopted by a three-fourths (75%) majority of the votes presented by written ballot.
ARTICLE IX – Cleavage and Dissolution
Section 1 - Cleavage. In the event of cleavage within this Church Membership resulting in two or more groups becoming separate entities, title to all real and personal property shall remain with the majority group continuing to subscribe to the Absolutes of Faith and to abide by this Constitution.
Section 2 - Dissolution. In the event this Church is dissolved, so as no longer to exist as a corporate body, the Church Board at the time of dissolution, shall distribute all the tangible assets of the Church remaining after payment of all debts, to tax-exempt organizations of its choosing, being organizations described in Sec. 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as exempt by the Federal Government. All the distributed assets shall be used for religious or charitable purposes, and no part of them shall be used to benefit any private member, shareholder or individual. In its distribution, the Church Board shall give preference to organizations representing as nearly as possible the beliefs and practices set forth in the Absolutes of Faith and Constitution of the Church.