BY-LAWS OF VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH

 

 

I. MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1. General

 

Victory Baptist Church is a democratic body under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The membership retains unto itself the right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of this church.

 

The membership reserves the exclusive right to determine who shall be members of this church and the conditions of such membership.

 

 

Section 2. Candidacy

 

A person may request to be a candidate for membership at any service of the church. The request shall be considered on the basis of the person’s spiritual qualifications without regard to social standing, financial status, nationality, race, or race. The person may request membership on any of the following bases:

 

1) By profession of faith and for baptism according to the policies of this church.

 

2) By promise of a letter from another Baptist church which practices believers baptism.

 

3) By restoration upon a statement of prior conversion experience and believers baptism in a Baptist church when no letter is obtainable.

 

4) By statement of faith in Jesus Christ, having previously made a personal and public profession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and having received believers baptism.

 

Any person wishing to become a member of Victory Baptist Church while remaining a member of another church outside of the Lexington area may do so as a "Watchcare Member." The person's reception shall be considered under Article I, Section 2, Paragraph 1, Subsection 4. Once elected to membership, watchcare members shall be granted full member privileges.

 

All candidates received shall counsel with the Pastor, a staff minister, a deacon, or commitment counselor regarding the commitment of the candidate. After counseling, each candidate shall be presented to the church for approval at a regularly scheduled business meeting. A three-fourths vote of those members present shall be required to elect any candidate to membership.

 

A meaningful orientation shall be provided to new members when they unite with our fellowship. The responsibility of such orientation shall be under the guidance of the Pastor and the Church Council.

 

Section 3. Termination of Membership

 

Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:

 

1) Death.

 

2) Transfer of letter to another Baptist Church.

 

3) Exclusion by action of this church.

 

4) At the request of the member.

 

Subsection two should not be interpreted to preclude watchcare membership.

 

Should a member become an offense to the church, and to its good name by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct, or by persistent breach of covenant vows, or non-support of the church, the church may, after faithful efforts have been made to bring the member to repentance and amendment, terminate their membership by a three-fourths vote of members present at a regular business meeting.

 

 

II. CHURCH OFFICERS

 

All church officers must be members of the church. The officers of this church shall be as follows:

 

 

Section 1. Pastor

 

The Pastor is responsible for leading the church in functioning as a New Testament church. The Pastor will lead the congregation, the organizations, the Church Council, and the church staff in performing their tasks. A major concern of the Pastor is to perform pastoral responsibilities. The Pastor is the leader of worship, proclamation, education and pastoral ministry.

 

When the church is without a pastor, a pastor search committee shall be appointed by the church to seek out a suitable pastor. Members of the Pastor Search Committee shall be selected from nominations by the church at a business meeting and then voted upon. The top seven nominees shall make up the Committee. The Pastor Search Committee working with the church shall determine the pay package for the prospective Pastor. The Committee shall present a job description and pay package guidelines to the church for approval by a three-fourths vote. Subsequent to church approval, the Committee shall negotiate with prospective pastors and submit a written recommendation to the church. Their recommendation to the church shall constitute a nomination, though any member has the privilege of making another nomination to the Pastor Search Committee. The Committee shall bring only one candidate at a time to the church for consideration. Election shall be by ballot at a meeting called at least one week in advance for the purpose. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of those members present shall be necessary for a call. The Pastor, thus elected, shall upon acceptance of the call, serve until the relationship is terminated at his request or at the church's request. The Pastor shall give at least four week's notice at the time of resignation before terminating his responsibilities as Pastor.

 

Section 2. Church Staff

 

“The church shall call or employ such staff members as the church shall need. The personnel committee will perform the responsibilities of a search committee. The personnel committee working with the church and finance committee will determine the pay package and benefits for the prospective staff member, and shall present a job description, resume, pay package, and written recommendation to the church. Staff members shall be under the guidance of the Pastor, aided by the Personnel Committee.”

 

 

Section 3. Deacons

 

In accordance with the meaning of the word and the practice of the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. The task of the deacon is to assist the Pastor in performing pastoral responsibilities. They shall be zealous to guard the unity of the spirit within the church and in the bonds of peace. They shall serve as a council to advise and confer with the Pastor in all matters pertaining to the welfare and work of the church.

 

At least once each year, deacons shall be nominated by the church for a three-year term, then confirmed by the Deacon Nominee Examination Committee, and then voted upon by secret ballot at the next regular business meeting. A deacon candidate shall be a member of the church for two years before they shall be eligible to serve as a deacon. An ordained deacon from another Baptist church will be eligible for nomination after one year of membership. A deacon who has joined from another church must go through the nomination, examination, and voting process prior to serving as a deacon of Victory Baptist Church.

A statement regarding deacon selection guidelines will be included in the Policy Manual of the church and will include qualifications required of deacons and a detailed process for selecting deacons.

 

The deacons shall be responsible for seeing that the pulpit is filled when the church is without a pastor.

 

 

Section 4. Moderator

 

The Moderator and Assistant Moderator shall be laymen, nominated and elected by the church for a period of one year. The Moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the church and perform other duties as assigned by the church. Robert's Rules of Order is adopted as the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church, deacons, Church Council, organizations, and committees.

 

Section 5. Clerk

 

The Clerk shall be nominated and elected by the church for a period of one year. The Clerk shall keep a suitable book of minutes of all business meetings of the church. The Clerk is responsible, with assistance of the church secretary, for keeping a register of the names of members with dates of admission, transfer, or death, together with a record of baptisms. The Clerk shall file all communications and written official reports. All church records are church property and should be filed in the church office. The Clerk's records pertaining to church business shall be opened to any church member.

 

Section 6. Treasurer

 

The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be nominated and elected by the church for a period of one year. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to render to the church at each regular business meeting an itemized report of the receipts and disbursements for the preceding month. A treasurer's report shall be audited annually. The Treasurer and/or Assistant Treasurer shall sign all checks and certify that all payments are properly authorized by the church. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be bonded.

 

A financial secretary may be employed by the church. The Financial Secretary shall assist the Treasurer in carrying out the will of the church in all financial matters under the direction of the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.

 

 

Section 7. Trustees

 

Three trustees shall be nominated and elected by the church, one-third of whom shall be elected annually to serve for three years. They shall hold in trust the property of the church. They shall be responsible for the maintenance and care of all church property and equipment. They shall affix their signatures to legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, or purchase, or rental of property or other legal documents where the signatures of trustees of this corporation are required. They shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any property without a specific vote of the church authorizing each action.

 

 

Section 8. Other Officers

 

Other officers as needed to carry out the work of the church shall be added.

 

 

 

III. THE CHURCH COUNCIL

 

Section 1. Membership of the Church Council

 

1) Church Staff Members

 

Every church staff member in a ministry position shall be a member of the Church Council. The Pastor shall serve as the chairman of the Church Council. It is understood that the Pastor is an ex-officio member of all church organizations and committees named, and his leadership is to be recognized in them.

 

2) Lay Members

 

Membership of the Church Council, other than staff members, will be determined by the congregation of Victory Baptist Church. A motion will be made annually by the Church Council recommending which program directors, officers and deacons will serve on the Church Council for the following Church year. The motion is to be brought before the Church for approval at the regular business meeting in August of each year.

 

Section 2. Responsibilities of the Church Council

 

The major functions of the Church Council relate to planning, coordinating, and evaluating. The Council is usually assigned the following duties on a continuing basis. These are to be performed as required by the planning and administrative needs of the church.

 

1. Formulate and recommend to the church suggested church objectives and goals.

2. Develop and recommend to the church action plans for reaching church goals.

3. Prepare the annual church calendar of activities.

4. Review and coordinate suggested program plans and actions by church officers, organizations, and committees; and provide for adequate communication among church officers, organization, and committees.

5. Review, report, and evaluate as appropriate to the church the use of resources in terms of the needs of church programs as they work toward the achievement of the objectives and goals of the church.

 

 

 

IV. ORGANIZATIONS

 

The church may organize Sunday School, discipleship training, Brotherhood, Woman’s Missionary Union, music, and other organizations as deemed necessary to carry out the program of the church. All organizations of the church shall be under church control, and all officers shall be elected by the church and will report regularly to the church.

 

 

 

V. COMMITTEES

 

The church may authorize and establish, as needed, standing committees to carry out its work.

 

The Nominating Committee recommends church members to fill all organization and committee positions. Members of the Nominating Committee shall be nominated by the church at the regular July business meeting and voted upon at the regular August business meeting. The top seven vote getters shall make up the committee.

 

The Nominating Committee will recommend church members to fill organization and committee positions at the regular July business meeting and as vacancies occur throughout the year. All nominations will be confirmed and voted upon at the next regular business meeting. Organization and committee terms begin September 1st.

 

 

 

VI. ORDINANCES

 

The ordinances of this church shall be Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

VII. CHURCH MEETINGS

 

Section 1. Worship Service

 

The church shall meet regularly in open session on the Lord's Day and on Wednesday for preaching, prayer, instruction, evangelism, and for the worship of the Almighty God.

 

Section 2. Regular Business Meeting

 

Regular business meetings shall be held monthly at a time and place to be determined by the Moderator or Assistant Moderator. Notice of the time and place shall be announced in the church calendar and in the bulletin of the Sunday morning worship service at least one week preceding the meeting. The quorum shall consist of the members present at any regular meeting or one that has been properly called.

 

 

Section 3. Special Business Meeting

 

A special business meeting may be called by the Moderator or Assistant Moderator. Notice of the time and place shall be announced in the morning worship service at least one week preceding the meeting.

 

 

 

VIII. POLICY MANUAL

 

The Policy Manual of Victory Baptist Church shall be considered binding.

Amendments or additions to the Policy Manual may be made at a regular business meeting of the church by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. Amendments or additions must be written, but may be approved without prior notification of the church.

 

 

 

IX. AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be amended or changed at a regular business meeting of the church by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided such amendments have been written and read at a regular business meeting of the church at least 28 days previous and distributed among the membership in printed form.