Ridgeland
Baptist Church
1448 Grays Highway Ridgeland, SC 29936
Phone 843.726.3127 Fax 843.726.2199
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1448 Grays Highway Ridgeland, SC 29936 Phone 843.726.3127 Fax 843.726.2199 |
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Constitution Ridgeland Baptist Church
Preamble We declare and establish this constitution to
preserve and secure the principles of our faith, and to govern the body in an
orderly manner. This constitution
will preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of
action of this body in its relation to other churches. I.
Name This body shall be known as the Ridgeland Baptist Church of Ridgeland, South Carolina located at Highway 278 West. II. Objectives
To be a church committed to the Great Commission,
developing a growing concern for the spiritual welfare of others in our
community and around the world and exhibiting a lifestyle that demonstrates to
the unbelieving world that Christianity works.
To foster a positive environment of creative expectancy responsive to
the leadership of the Holy Spirit. To be a worshipping fellowship with honest encounters
between God and man. To take seriously our individual commitments and
responsibilities to Christ and His church. To provide programs and ministries to strengthen
family life. To provide meaningful learning experiences in the
areas of Holy Scriptures, missions, and church
life to help us mature in discipleship. To grow as effective stewards, reaching always to
that single-mindedness by which we are to seek
first the kingdom of God in all affairs of life. To affirm our identity as Southern Baptists through
an active involvement in the cooperative mission
of churches of like faith. To design a church structure and organization that
will enable us to most effectively accomplish
our mission. To provide adequate facilities to support the
programs and ministries of our church. To be proper instruments of Christ-like love which
opens our eyes to the needs of others, compels
us towards ministries of unselfish service, and gives the church its reason for
being. III. Statement of
Faith
The Holy Bible is the inspired word of God and is the basis for any statement of faith. The church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of “The Baptist Faith and Message” as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000. We band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to lost mankind. The ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. IV.
Relationships
The government of this church is vested in the body
of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other
ecclesiastical body but it recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual
counsel and cooperation, which are common among Baptist churches. Insofar as is
practical, this church will cooperate with and support the association and state
convention affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
V.
Church Covenant Having been, as we trust, brought by divine grace to
embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and to give ourselves wholly to Him, we do now,
solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other, to walk together in Him, with
brotherly love, to glory, as our common Lord, We do therefore, in His strength engage – That we will exercise a Christian care and
watchfulness over each other, and faithfully train, school and admonish each
other, as occasion may require.
We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but will uphold
the public worship of God, and the ordinances of His house.
That we will not omit closet and family religion at home, nor neglect the
great duty of religiously training our children, and those under our care, for
the service of Christ and the enjoyment of heaven.
That, we are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth, we will
seek divine aid to enable us to deny ungodliness and every worldly lust, and, to
walk circumspectly in the world, that we may win the souls of men.
That we will cheerfully contribute of our property according as God has
prospered us, for the maintenance of a faithful and evangelical ministry among
us, for the support of the poor, and to spread the Gospel over the earth.
That we will in all conditions, even until death, strive to live to the
glory of Him, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
And may the God of peace who brought again from the dead, our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant
make us perfect, in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is
well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever,
Amen. Bylaws
I.
Membership Section
1. General
This is a sovereign and democratic Baptist church under the lordship of
Jesus Christ. The Membership
retains unto itself the exclusive 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 each membership. Section
2. Candidacy
Any person may offer himself as a candidate for membership of this
church. All such candidates shall
be presented to the church at any regular church service for membership in any
of the following ways: (1) By profession of faith and for baptism according
to the policies of this church, (2) By promise of a letter of recommendation from
another Baptist church, (3)
By restoration upon a statement of prior conversion experience and baptism in a
Baptist church when no letter is obtainable. Should there be any dissent as to any candidate, such dissent shall be referred to the pastor and the deacons for investigation and the making of a recommendation to the church within thirty (30) days. A three-fourths vote of those church members present and voting shall be required to elect such candidates to membership. Section
3. New Member Orientation
New church members will be expected to participate in the church’s new
member orientation plan. Section
4. Voting Rights of Members
Every member of the church is entitled to vote at all elections and on
all questions submitted to the church in conference, provided the member is
present or provision has been made for absentee balloting Section
5. Termination of Membership
Membership shall be terminated in the following ways:
(1) death, (2) dismission to another
Baptist church, (3) exclusion by action of this church, (4) by request or
evidence of membership in another
church. Section
6. Discipline (1)
It shall be the basic purpose of the Ridgeland Baptist church to
emphasize to its members that every reasonable measure will be taken to assist
any troubled member. The pastor,
other members of the church staff, and deacons are available for counsel and
guidance. Redemption rather than
punishment should be the guideline which governs the attitude of one member
toward another. (2)
Should some serious condition exist which would cause a member to become
liability to the general welfare of the church, every reasonable measure will be
taken by the pastor and by the deacons to resolve the problem. All such proceedings shall be pervaded by a spirit of
Christian kindness and forbearance. But,
finding that the welfare of the church will best be served by the exclusion of
the member, the church may take this action by a two-thirds vote of the members
present at a meeting called for this purpose: and the church may proceed to
declare the offender to be no longer in the membership of the church. (3)
Any person whose membership has been terminated for any condition which
has made it necessary for the church to exclude him may upon his request be
restored to membership by a vote of the church upon evidence of his repentance
and reformation. 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 to function as a New Testament church. The pastor will lead the congregation, the organizations, and the church staff to perform their tasks. The pastor is leader of pastoral ministries in a church. As such he works with the deacons and church staff to: (1) lead the church in the achievement of its mission, (2) proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (3) care for the church’s members and other persons in the community. A pastor shall be chosen and called by the church whenever a vacancy occurs. His election shall take place at a meeting called for that purpose, of which at least one week’s public notice has been given. A pastor selection committee shall be appointed by the church to seek out a pastor, and its recommendations will constitute a nomination. Any member has the privilege of making other nominations according to the policy established by the church. The committee shall bring to the consideration of the church only one name at a time. Election shall be by ballot an affirmative vote of three fourths of those present being necessary for a choice. The pastor, thus elected, shall serve until the relationship is terminated by his request or the church’s request. He shall preside at meetings of the church. The pastor shall give at least two weeks notice at the time of resignation before terminating his responsibilities as pastor. Section
2. Church Staff
This church shall call or employ such staff members as the church shall
need. A job description shall be
written when the need for staff members is determined.
Vocational staff members other than the pastor shall be recommended to
the church by the personnel committee and employed by church action.
At least two weeks notice at this time of resignation should be given. Section
3. Deacons (1)
There shall be nine deacons. Deacons
shall be elected at a called business meeting of the church by secret ballot.
The deacons shall serve on a rotation basis.
This year the term of office of one third of the number of deacons shall
expire, and election shall be held to fill the vacancies.
In case of death or removal or incapacity to serve, the church may elect
a deacon to fill the unexpired term. After
serving a term of three years, a deacon shall be eligible for reelection only
after the lapse of at least one year. There
is no obligation to constitute as an active deacon a person who comes to the
church from another church where he has served as deacon. (2)
In accordance with the meaning of the work and the practice of the New
Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church.
The task of the deacon is to serve with the pastor and staff in
performing pastoral ministries task; proclaim the gospel to believers and
unbelievers; care for the church members and other persons in the community;
lead the church to achieve its mission. Section
4. Moderator
The pastor shall serve as moderator. Section
5. Church Clerk
The church-elected clerk of the church shall keep in a suitable book a
record of all the actions of the church, except as otherwise herein provided.
He is responsible for keeping a register of the names of members, with
dates of admission, dismission, or death, together with a record of baptisms.
He shall issue letters of dismission voted by the church, preserve on
file all communications and written official reports, and give legal notice of
all meetings where such notice is necessary, as indicated in these bylaws.
The church may delegate some of the clerical responsibilities to a church
secretary. All church records are
church property and should be filed in the church office when an office is
maintained. Section
6. Treasurer
The church shall elect annually a church treasurer.
It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive, preserve and pay out
upon receipt of vouchers approved and signed by authorized personnel, all money,
or things of value paid or given to the church, keeping at all times an itemized
account of all receipts and disbursements.
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 quarter. Upon
rendering the annual account at the end of each fiscal year, and its acceptance
and approval by the church, the records shall be delivered by the treasurer to
the church clerk, who shall keep and preserve the account as part of the
permanent records of the church. Section
7. Corporate Officers
There shall be three corporate officers designated in the following
manner: The chairman of deacons
shall serve as the president of the corporation; the vice-chairman of deacons
shall serve as vice-president of the corporation; the church treasurer shall
serve as treasurer of the corporation.
They shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any
property without a specific vote of the church authorizing each action.
It shall be the function of the corporate officers to affix their
signatures to legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or rental
of property or other legal documents where the signatures of corporate officers
are required. III.
Committees, Coordinating Groups, Program Services, and Program Organizations The church, upon the counsel of the deacons, church council, or nominating committee shall call into being such committees, program services and program organizations as are necessary to carry out the mission of the church. IV.
Church Meetings Section
1. Worship Services
The church shall meet regularly each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and
Wednesday evening for preaching, instruction, evangelism, and for the worship of
Almighty God. These meetings will
be open for the entire membership of the church and for all people and shall be
conducted under the direction of the pastor. Section
2. Special Services
Revival services and any other church meetings which will be essential in
the promotion of the objectives of the church shall be placed on the church
calendar. Section
3. Regular Business Meetings
Regular business meetings shall be held quarterly on a designated Sunday
night. Section
4. Special Business Meetings
A specially called business meeting may be held to consider special
matters of significant nature. A
one-week notice of the subject, date, time, and location must be given for the
specially called business meeting unless extreme urgency renders such notice
impracticable. Section
5. Quorum
The quorum consists of those who attend the business meeting, provided it
is a stated meeting of one that has been properly called. Section
6. Parliamentary Rules
Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, is the authority for parliamentary
rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church. V.
Church Finances Section
1. Budget
The finance committee, in consultation with the church council, shall
prepare and submit to the church for approval an inclusive budget, indicating by
items the amount needed and sought for all local and worldwide expenses.
It is understood that membership in this church involves financial
obligation to support the church and its causes with regular, proportionate
gifts. Section
2. Accounting Procedures
All funds for any and all purposes shall pass through the hands of the
church treasurer, and be properly recorded on the books of the church.
A system of accounting that will adequately provide for the handling of
all funds shall be the responsibility of the finance committee. Section
3. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the church shall run concurrent with the calendar
year, as amended October 14, 1995, January 1 through December 31. VI.
Church Operations Manual Section
1. Organizational Chart
An organizational chart shall be prepared which will depict lines of
responsibility in the administration of the church.
This chart shall be reviewed periodically by a special long-range
planning committee and shall be revised as needed.
A copy shall be included in the church operations manual. Section
2. Policies and Procedures
Church policies and procedures shall be described in the church
operations manual. The manual shall
be kept in the church office and made available to any member of the church.
The manual shall be maintained by the church secretary.
Changes in policies and procedures may be initiated by any church member or organization, addition, revision, or deletion of church policies requires: (1) the recommendation of the church officer or organization (including committees) to whose areas of assignment the policy relates (2) discussion by the church council, and (3) approval by the church. Procedures
may be added, revised, or deleted by: (1) recommendation of the appropriate
officer or group (2) approval by the church council, and (3) approval of the
church if deemed necessary by the church council. VII.
Amendments Changes in this constitution and bylaws may be made at any regular business meeting of the church, provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous meeting, and copies of the proposed amendment be furnished to each member present. Amendments to the constitution shall be by two thirds vote of all members of the church present entitled to vote; amendments to the bylaws shall have a concurrence of a majority of the members present and voting. VIII. Ridgeland
Baptist Church Child Care Ministry Section
1. Name Ridgeland Baptist Church names its operation of Weekday Child Care the Ridgeland Baptist Church Child Care Ministry. Ridgeland Baptist Church Child Care Ministry will conduct its business as a ministry in faith and subsidiary to Ridgeland Baptist Church. Ridgeland Baptist Church Child Care Ministry acknowledges the constitution of Ridgeland Baptist Church as its governing authority as well as its use of Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, as the basis for all parliamentary rules of procedures. Section
2. Mission Statement Ridgeland
Baptist Church Child Care Ministry is committed to partner with parents in the
provision of an environment in which young children can develop according to
God’s plan for their lives. Section
3. Board A. Board consists of the
following: 1.
Five voting active Ridgeland Baptist Church members plus Pastor as ex-officio
member. Members selected as
follows: a. Four active RBC members nominated by Deacon Board subject to approval by Church membership for a term of three years with a 1:1:2 rotation (one member rotates off and is replaced each of the first two years and two members rotate off and are replaced the third year. Three-year cycle repeats. Deacon Board will nominate exact number needed to fill vacant positions for presentation to the Church.
b. Deacon Board appoints one member of its Board subject to approval by
Church membership to serve as fifth member of the CCM Board. This position is to
be appointed each year and is to be an active Deacon Board member for the full
year's term. This member may be
reappointed by the Deacon Board as long as the prior conditions have been met
except if such reappointment would result in the member serving more than three
consecutive years either at large, as Deacon Board appointee, or some
combination thereof.
c. The five voting members of the CCM Board will not be eligible for
reelection/reappointment for a period of one year after any three consecutive
years of service.
d. In case of death or removal or incapacity to serve, the Deacon Board
will nominate someone to fill the unexpired term subject to church membership
approval. B. Board Responsibilities. CCM Board is responsible for the
proper function of the CCM according to the purposes established by these
bylaws.
1. Establish and maintain policies and procedures for effective
operations of CCM.
2. Constantly measure performance of CCM against established mission
statement and Biblical Doctrine and present appropriate reports and
recommendations to the church.
3. Accurately account for moneys both income and disbursements.
4. The Board shall have full authority to set fees, salaries, and other
compensation. 5. Modify and approve CCM budgets. Set up guidelines for budget process. 6. Submit budget request to RBC Finance Committee for consideration in the RBC budget.
7. Establish and maintain staff job descriptions and compensation.
8. Review employee performance. Staff
performance appraisal to be prepared and provided by the director.
Director performance appraisal to be prepared and provided by the pastor.
a. Board will insure that the director reports to the pastor who serves
as an immediate supervisor. 9. Select, hire, and dismiss staff, including director, as necessary and with the assistance of the director when appropriate. 10. Hear and act as grievance Board for unresolved issues by a parent and/or employees. C. Meetings of Board
Members.
1. Regular Meetings.
Board to meet at least quarterly to review recent operations and
performance of CCM. Director will
be expected to attend a portion of this meeting at which time director will
present a report
and discuss it with the Board.
2. Special Meetings.
A special meeting of the Board may be called at the request of at least
three Board members.
3. Quorum.
Four of the five Board members shall constitute a quorum.
4. Voting.
Each Board member is entitled to one vote. Each Board member must be
present to vote. No absentee or proxy voting. Section
4. Fiscal Year, Accounting 1. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money issued in the name of the Ridgeland Baptist Church Child Care Ministry shall be signed by one Board member of the RBC CCM and the director. 2. The fiscal year of the RBC CCM shall begin January 1 of each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December of the same year. |
