Bylaws

Section 1 – Reception of Members

Any person professing faith and that has been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, can qualify to be members. Members are required to adhere to the spiritual direction of the elders of Christ’s Community Church in Sunderland, hold to the confession of faith, and maintain proper standards of living in accordance with that confession.

All attendees seeking to become members will be lead through the membership agreement of Christ’s Community Church and will regularly meet with the elder(s) of the church to discern whether or not it is appropriate for the person to become a member of the church at that time. Upon the elder(s) approval, nominees will be brought forward to the congregation where they will testify the truth concerning Christ and the affirmation of the membership requirements.

Upon approval they will officially be recognized as members and will be eligible to becomes officers within the church so long as they meet the requirements for the desired office and are approved by the eldership.

Section 2 – Honourary Members

Children of parents who are members are considered honorary members so long as they maintain attendance in the local assembly, with exceptions granted according to the circumstances of those who are ill or other notable exceptions, and will be properly catechized according to the measure of faith that has been given to them.

Section 3 – Rights and Responsibilities

Our church is a group of covenant members whose privileges and responsibilities are shared by its members according to the measure of faith given to them. We bear one another’s burdens and blessings, victories and defeats, joys and sorrows. As members of the body, we affect one another either favourably or adversely.

Therefore, we are to live, work, commune, and witness with and too one another for the glory of God. Our mutual blessing; living with one another in an understanding way in unity, spurring each other forward in the faith through maintaining brotherly love, and restoring brothers gone astray. Thus, through the aid of the Holy Spirit, members are encouraged to grow in grace and knowledge through prayer, meditation of the Scriptures, pursue broader education studies beneficial to the life and faith of the believer, and regular attendance of the meetings of the church.

Members are encouraged to contribute tithes, alms, and freewill offerings according to the portion the Lord has given them, lest we become lovers of money which is the root of many evils. Tithes, alms, and offerings are for maintaining what has been deemed as good and already established, for fostering new growth within and outside of the church, and to reach others with the truth concerning spiritual and material matters.

Section 4 – Members Attendance

In order to maintain membership it is important to note the Apostle’s words “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Therefore, in order to maintain membership, members are expected to be in attendance at minimum of twenty-six Sundays a year. Exceptions can be made for those who travel out of area for work, parents with young children, those who are or have family members that are chronically ill, those who are unjustly incarcerated, and other reasonable exceptions according to the discernment of the elder(s).

Members who maintain faithful attendance will be able to hold office so long as they meet the other requirements and are able to conduct the duties of the office faithfully within a timely manner.

A member who wavers in attendance will be visited by a church elder or deacon for the sake of restoring them to the body, ensuring that the member has all they need in terms of spiritual and material matters. If the member is not restored after one year of being habitually absent from services without reasonable excuse, and after the elder(s) and deacon(s) assigned to their restoration have failed to reason with said member, that member will be removed from membership and further prayer, discipline and attempt for restoration will commence according to the discretion of the elder(s).

Section 5 – Public Worship

Public worship services shall be held regularly on the Lord’s Day. At least once a week there shall be a meeting for prayer and Bible study outside of the Sunday service. Further studies in Church History and Theology will be offered throughout the year on a designated day. It shall be the practice of the church to observe the Lord’s Supper at minimum once a week with exceptions according to the discretion of the elders.

Section 6 – Annual Meeting

Each annual meeting shall be opened and closed with prayer. The business discussed at the annual meeting shall include:

a. receipt of the agenda;

b. receipt of the minutes of the previous annual and subsequent special meetings;

c. consideration of the financial statements;

d. report of the auditor or person who has been appointed to conduct a review engagement;

e. reappointment or new appointment of the auditor or a person to conduct a review engagement for the coming year;

f. such other or special business as may be set out in the notice of meeting.

Section 7 – Notice

In the event of the annual or a special meeting, all elders, deacons, and members shall have at minimum two weeks notice of such a meeting.

Section 8 – Discipline Regarding Church Attendance

A member who wavers in attendance will be visited by an elder or deacon for the sake of restoring them to the body, ensuring that the member has all they need in terms of the spiritual and the mundane. If the member is not restored after 1 year of being habitually absent from services, without reasonable excuse and after the elder(s)/deacon(s) assigned to their restoration have failed to reason with said member, that member will be removed from membership and further prayer, discipline and attempt for restoration will commence according to the discretion of the elders.

Section 9 – General Discipline of Members

It is vital to the testimony of this church that the purity of the church be preserved and its peace protected. Thus any member who brings reproach on the church’s standards through sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these (Galatians 5:19-21) will be visited by the elder to receive council in hopes of restoring the member to the body. After an appropriate amount of time, dependent on the elders’ discretion, if the member does not wish to receive love through discipline and grace the matter may be brought before the church, with the accused being summoned, among any witnesses before the members of the church, and if the accused are found guilty of sin and refuses to repent, they shall be removed from their membership and revoked from all offices and duties and excommunicated from the church in hopes that their souls might be saved.

Section 10 – Act or Termination of Membership

1. Upon 15 days’ written notice to a member, the elders may pass a resolution authorizing disciplinary action or the termination of membership for violating the above mentioned standards of the church.

2. The notice shall set out the reasons for the disciplinary action or termination of membership. The member receiving the notice shall be entitled to give the elders a written submission opposing the disciplinary action or termination not less than 5 days before the end of the 15-day period. The elders shall consider the written submission of the member before making a final decision regarding disciplinary action or termination of membership.

3. Membership in the church may also be terminated by death; by a letter of transfer to any church of like confession, or by resignation.

Section 1 – Duties and Office

The elders shall focus on the care, protection and leadership of the congregation by functioning like literal shepherds, tending to the emotional, spiritual and practical needs of the members, and guarding the flock against impending danger. Additionally, the elders shall focus heavily on instruction and doctrine, ensuring that the foundations of sound doctrine are upheld within the church life. Finally, The elders will also preach on Sunday mornings and teach various times throughout the week.

No man shall be invited to be an elder of the church unless he can gladly and without reservation affirm the doctrinal statement set forth under Articles II & III, as well as the Biblical standards set for eldership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and be an individual who tutors, corrects and instructs those in the congregation in manners of sound doctrine. The church shall further recognize the elders as servants of God, acknowledging their office in its Scriptural authority, be willing to submit to their leadership, provide for the chief elder’s (the pastor) physical and spiritual needs, and “to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.”

Section 2 – Election and Term

Elders shall be nominated by the existing elders and then be brought forward before the congregation. Any member will have the opportunity to provide any reason as to why a nominee should not become an elder and require two other witnesses to support their case. If there is no opposition, or if there is insufficient evidence to support an objection, the elder shall be appointed.

Section 3 – Vacancies

The office of an elder shall be vacated immediately:

1. if the elder resigns office by written notice to the church, which resignation shall be effective at the time it is received by the church or at the time specified in the notice, whichever is later;

2. if the elder dies or becomes bankrupt;

3. if the elder is found to be incapable by all other elders or a legal court.

Section 4 – Calling of Meetings

All meetings solely pertaining to the elders shall be announced with at least two weeks notice with exceptions for emergencies.

Section 5 – Decision-Making

All decisions made at the elders’ meetings must be made with unanimous consent.

Section 1 – Officers

The elders shall appoint qualified members of good character to various offices to aid in the administration of the church. These offices include, but are not limited to, treasurer, secretary, and deacon. Multiple offices may be held by the same person. These offices shall be retained by their holder at the discretion of the elders or until the holder resigns.

Section 2 – Duties of the Treasurer

The treasurer is responsible for the recording, depositing, distribution, and re-reimbursement of funds of the church. Additionally, he is responsible for the quarterly financial report as well as the annual statement. Finally, the treasurer shall prepare and submit the annual charity report.

Section 3 – Duties of the Secretary

The secretary shall record and keep the minutes of any non-elder meetings of the church. He or she shall also maintain the membership and baptismal records. Finally, the secretary is responsible for ensuring communication to the rest of the church, such as sending emails, according to the direction of the elders.

Section 4 – Deacons and Deaconesses

a. Qualifications

Those who serve as deacons or deaconesses shall be men or women of good repute, characterized by consistent Christian conduct, stability of temperament, and ability to give spiritual leadership according to appropriate boundaries as directed by the elders in accordance with the principles presented in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 2:1-10.

b. Appointment

Deacons or deaconesses are to be appointed by the elders and affirmed by the members of the church. Deacons and deaconesses can be released from their office by the elders, so long as their duties are no longer needed and all elders are in agreement.

c. Duties

It shall be the duty of the deacons and deaconesses to assist the elders in promoting the spiritual welfare of the church. They shall be the elder’s assistants in terms of ministry by exercising prudent watch and care over the church members in both spiritual and material matters, to assist at baptisms and in the administration of the Lord’s Supper, and serve with all honour in any other area that is required.