The Forest City Community Church
Pastor: Tom Guengerich
PO Box 31
Forest City, IL 61532
Office: 309-597-2111
Home: 309-968-7942
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Constitution and By-Laws
Download Constitution & By-Laws
Constitution and By-Laws of Forest City Community Church Forest City, Illinois
ARTICLE I - Name
The name of this church shall be FOREST CITY COMMUNITY CHURCH.
ARTICLE II - Incorporation
The Forest City Community Church shall be incorporated as a religious corporation in the State of Illinois.
ARTICLE III Purpose & We Believe
Section 1 - Purpose
The purpose of the Forest City Community Church shall be
to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage the growth and development of the Christian faith through:
Proclaiming the Bible as the inspired word of God and as the basic guide to a good Christian life
Providing an adequate program of Christian Worship
Promoting, providing and supporting a program of Christian Education through Sunday and vacation church schools and all forms of activity related to the development and enrichment of such program
Creating in each individual a sense of responsibility toward the needs of the church and the kingdom of God, in the local church and in the larger field of missionary activity, resulting in such a response of personal service and monetary support, commensurate with ability, that pledges and financial drives may be unnecessary
Co-operation with and support of educational, civic, health and social programs intended for the betterment of community life represented in the church and in the community
Section 2 We Believe
The Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16), without error in the original writings, and final authority for the Christian faith and life
In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
That Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and became man in order that He might reveal God and die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into Heaven, where at the right hand of God, He is now our High Priest and Advocate
The work of the Holy Spirit includes conviction, regenerating new life in believers and indwelling believers to guide, instruct and empower them for godly living and service
That man was created by God in the image of God, but fell into sin and, of himself, is unable to remedy his lost condition or escape eternal punishment for sin
That salvation is the gift of God imparted to man by grace and received by repentance and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins
That the true church is composed of all such persons who through faith in Jesus Christ have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are all united together in the body of Christ of which He is the Head
That our local church is but a part of the true church, so that all who share our beliefs are welcome
That we, who through faith in Christ have become a part of God's family, should emphasize the common beliefs that bring us together and not let minor issues of doctrine keep us apart
That our faith should affect every aspect of our daily lives, thus revealing God's love to all those around us
That the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed by this church
That God wants us to live our lives in a way that will help draw out the best there is in every life we touch. We aim to help create a community spirit in which all people living in the Forest City and the surrounding communities will come to know each other better and really live together as good neighbors. It is our further aim to help develop a world brotherhood concept of Christianity
ARTICLE IV Membership
Section 1 Requirements
In order to become a member of this church:
A person who has reached the age of accountability or on who desires to transfer membership from another church shall acquaint himself/herself with the purposes and principles of the church and express a desire to be united with it
He/She must make, or have previously made, a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior and Lord, thereby trusting in Jesus death and resurrection for salvation and confirming a desire to serve God with the help of His Holy Spirit
A person must be or have been baptized in some manner
All applications for membership must be approved by the church council
If he/she so desires, a person may become a member of the Forest City Community Church and also retain membership in another church
Section 2 - Duties
A person received into membership willingly assumes responsibility to be faithful to the duties essential to the Christian life, such as:
Regular attendance and participation in the public affairs of the church
Assistance in the formulation of its programs and policies
Giving according to his ability to support its functions
All active members sixteen years of age or older, may share in the business transactions and voting activities of the church.
Section 3 Transfer of Membership
Whenever it becomes necessary for a member to leave the fellowship of the Forest City Community Church, letters of transfer may be granted in the following manner:
A letter of transfer from the membership of the Forest City Community Church to the membership of any church upon request of the pastor of the church
If a member is entitled to two letters of transfer, these may be granted to some other congregation upon request of the pastor of that congregation. Whenever two letters are granted, one letter shall be the letter of transfer by which the member came into the Forest City Community Church and the other letter shall be from the Forest City Community Church
ARTICLE V Officers (proposed yet to be approved)
Section 1 The Council
The Forest City Community Church shall be governed representatively by a Council consisting of:
The Minister
Three Stewards, elected by the congregation
Six Trustees, at least 21 years of age, elected by the congregation
The Superintendent of the Sunday School
One representative from each of the various intrachurch societies, such as Youth Fellowship, W.C.F., etc.
All voting members of the Council must be members of the Forest City Community Church.
Section 2 Length of Terms
Stewards and Trustees shall be elected for a term of three years with one Steward and two Trustees being elected each year. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be the Trustees and the third high shall be the Steward. No one shall hold either or both of these offices by election for more than two consecutive terms, or six years, but may be re-elected after one year to succeed a retiring Steward or Trustee.
Vacancies on the Church Council shall be filled by its remaining members within 45 days. The member or members so appointed shall serve until the next Annual Meeting when the unexpired term of office shall be filled by the congregation in the regular manner of election.
All other positions in the church not covered by the constitution, the council shall determine how they shall be selected.
Section 3 Function of Council
The Council shall be responsible for ascertaining the general needs and common will of the church membership as concerns programs and policies. It shall be responsible for presenting needs and plans to the church for information, study, discussion, rejection or final agreement.
Each year following the Annual Congregational Meeting and election, the Council shall meet and elect a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary-Clerk and a Treasurer from the Trustees and Stewards.
The Vice-Chairman to be automatically stepping up to the Chairman position the next year with a new Vice-Chairman being elected. The Chairman cannot be elected a Vice-Chairman for one year.
The CHAIRMAN shall preside at all meetings and shall have authority to appoint committees when such seems to be needful in the discharge of the Council's work
The VICE-CHAIRMAN shall serve in the absence of the Chairman
The SECRETARY-CLERK shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Council, the Annual Congregational Meeting, and all other Congregational Meetings in which a decision by vote is made. He/She shall keep on file a record of the names of members of the church with date of reception, marriage, death or withdrawal, and a record of all baptisms and dedications. He/She shall preserve a file of communications, documents, correspondence and reports pertaining to the business of the church. Where necessary, he/she shall notify officers of their election. He/She shall give legal notice of meetings when necessary. He/She shall sign and send certificates of membership to other churches upon request, and conduct any other correspondence of the church that may be called for
The TREASURER shall keep an accurate record of all money received and disbursed by him/her during his/her tenure of office. He/She shall make regular reports to the Council and his/her books shall be audited annually by a Certified Public Accountant or a committee appointed by the Chairman. At the Annual Congregational Meeting each year a full financial report of receipts and disbursements shall be rendered to the membership of the church
The council shall meet monthly at a time designated by the Chairman. Whenever the need arises, a special session of the Council may be called by the Chairman or by two members of the Council. A majority of Stewards and Trustees shall constitute a quorum and no business shall be legal in the absence of such a quorum.
Section 4 Duties of Trustees
The Trustees, in addition to serving on the regular Council, shall have charge of the management of and hold title to all church property as hereinafter provided and are responsible for keeping the church building and other buildings belonging to the congregation in good repair, adequately insured, and adapted to uses it approves. They shall have no power to buy, transfer, sell, convey, mortgage, lease, otherwise encumber, or dispose of any real property without a specific vote of the members of the church authorizing such action, as provided in ARTICLE VII, Paragraph 3.
All property and furnishings shall be placed in care of the Trustees, and shall not be added to, or taken away from without their consent.
The Trustees shall meet each year following the Annual Congregational Meeting and choose a President from their members. Other meetings shall be held at the call of the President or of two of the Trustees. A majority of the members of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum, and in voting, a two-thirds majority of all Trustees shall be required.
The Secretary-Clerk of the Council shall attend all meetings of the Trustees and keep an accurate record of proceedings, but shall have no vote unless he/she is a Trustee.
A report shall be made at the Annual Congregational Meeting setting forth the transactions of the year, the estimated value of the property, and its condition.
ARTICLE VI Property
The title and possessions of all church property of every kind and character shall be in the Trustees to be held by them in trust, nevertheless, for the use and benefit of the congregation. The congregation shall have such ownership as long as there are at least 10 voting members.
All records are the property of the congregation. (Congregation as used throughout this Constitution means church members.)
ARTICLE VII Congregational Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the congregation shall be held in September with the specific date determined by the Council, but special meetings may be called by the Chairman anytime occasion requires, or when 10% of all voting members petition the Church Council in writing for such a meeting, stating in the petition the reasons therefore.
The Chairman of the Council shall preside over all annual and special meetings of the congregation.
Meetings held for taking a vote on the election of the minister, members of the Council, or major changes and incurment of responsibility and obligation of the church shall be publicized by announcement at church services two weeks in advance, and by an item in the church news-letter or special letter to all members at least one week in advance of taking such votes. Ten members present after such notice of meeting has been given shall constitute a quorum for business.
All elections shall be by ballot with a majority vote of the members required for election. Numbered absentee ballots shall be available two weeks in advance of voting. Ballots will be registered and held by the Chairman of the council until day of meeting.
All questions concerning major changes .and incurment of responsibility and obligation of the church shall require a two-thirds majority of all votes cast for approval except for Amendments as provided in ARTICLE X.
ARTICLE VIII The Minister
When the pastorate is vacant, the Church Council shall be in charge of securing pastoral services. Much depends upon the kind of man chosen for the leadership of the church. Therefore much thought and prayer should be practiced by every member of the Council. Where possible, the Council, or a committee named by them, shall hear the candidate in his own pulpit and investigate his work in the church and in the community. When the Council is satisfied with his qualifications, it shall invite him to conduct a worship service for the congregation. After the service, the congregation shall hold a
special meeting, called in accordance with ARTICLE VII, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution.
After having been recommended to the congregation by the Council, the minister shall be called by not less than a two-thirds majority of all votes cast. At the time of his installation, the minister shall publicly declare his adherence to the spirit of this Constitution and By-Laws.
After a minister assumes his office, the pulpit shall be closed to any other person or persons seeking to hold regular or continued worship services. The church shall be open and available to any family for baptisms, weddings and funerals with the privilege of employing the service of any minister desired by the family subject to the approval by the Council.
The tenure of the minister shall be on a yearly basis voted on at the Annual Meeting except when a special congregational meeting is called for voting on termination according to ARTICLE VII, Paragraph 1.
The minister can be terminated when he has been charged for unwise or unbecoming conduct or departing from any doctrine or spirit of the Constitution and By-Laws.
The termination date will be set by the Council giving primary consideration to the needs of the congregation and secondary consideration to the needs of the minister. The vote to retain the minister shall be taken by secret ballot and shall require a two-thirds majority of all votes cast.
ARTICLE IX Ordinances
Two ordinances shall be observed - Baptism and Communion.
Baptism may be administered in any form the candidate chooses.
Parents who so desire may have their children baptized or dedicated, publicly or privately, by requesting such service of the minister. Communion shall be held at least four times a year, preferably on the first preaching Sunday of January, April, July, and October.
Communion shall be administered by the minister and anyone selected by him. A committee to prepare communion emblems shall be named by the Church Council. Participation shall be voluntary and failure or refusal of any person to participate shall in nowise prejudice his status in the church.
In the absence of a professional minister, the Council may empower one of its members to administer either or both of these ordinances or sacraments.
ARTICLE X Amendments
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended, revised, or nullified only at a congregational meeting duly called as hereinafter provided and by action of three-fourths majority of all voting members present. Any proposed amendment to the Constitution must be presented in writing to the Secretary-Clerk of the Church Council at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. Notice of such meeting shall be given in accordance with ARTICLE VII, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution. Such notice shall contain the complete text of the proposed amendment.
ARTICLE XI Copies of Constitution
Copies of the Constitution and By-Laws shall be provided to all new members as they join.
The Secretary-Clerk shall revise continuously a master copy of the Constitution and By-Laws in accordance with church decisions.
ARTICLE XII Roberts Rules of Order
Robert's Rules of Order as revised shall govern all proceedings except as otherwise provided herein.
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