CONSTITUTION OF
THE
COMMUNITY CHURCH OF UNION
The Community Church of Union is
the gathering of Christians from various backgrounds to worship
God, and share in the unity we have in Jesus Christ. We seek to
serve one another and our community in Christ's love, and honor
and glorify God. Respecting the variety of spiritual gifts and
Christian growth, all members shall have liberty and freedom of
conscience regarding their faith.
ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP
The Community Church of Union
shall entertain two types of membership. All applications for
membership are subject to the approval of the Church Board.
Section 1. By Letter:
Those persons shall be admitted
into regular membership in this Church who are members in good
standing in any other church of Christian faith, by the legal
transfer of his or her letter. Membership may be removed by
letter of
transfer.
Section 2. By Confession of
Faith:
Those persons shall be admitted
into regular membership in this Church who mayor not be members
of any other church, upon confession of faith in Jesus Christ as
their personal Savior. Such confession may be made either in the
presence of the Pastor, the Church Board, or the Congregation.
ARTICLE II. GOVERNMENT
Section 1. Form of Government
This Church shall be inter-faith
in character and independent in form of government. The majority
of members present at regular or called business meetings shall
rule in all matters of business excepting in those matters
delegated to the Church Board and matters concerning amendments
as provided for in ARTICLE III of this Constitution.
Section 2. Votes and Quorums
All members shall be entitled to
vote and hold office. Twenty five votes shall constitute a
quorum of the membership for the transaction of business. A
lesser number shall have the power to adjourn.
ARTICLE III. MEETINGS FOR
BUSINESS
Section 1. Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting for business
shall be held each January. At this meeting the financial
statement of the Church shall be submitted. Committee and Other
Church Group activity and financial reports may be presented at
the discretion of the Church Board. Officers and committee
vacancies shall be filled at this meeting. Nominees shall come
from the Nominating Committee roster or from the Congregation at
the time of election.
Section 2. Special Meetings
S Special
Meetings may be held at the call of the Pastor, the Church Board
or upon the written request of five members, each call to g
give at least one week's notice of the meeting and a statement of
the special business to come before it. The chairman of the
Church B Board or the Pastor shall
act as the presiding officer at all business meetings. Major
property transactions require a majority vote of t
the congregation at a special meeting with at least two weeks'
notice. The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of
the e members, at a special meeting, with at
least two weeks' notice.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
The Officers of the Church shall
be the Pastor, Church Board, Trustees, Financial Secretary,
Treasurer, and Clerk.
Section 1. Pastor
In the election of a Pastor, the
Church board shall authorize the Pulpit Committee to conduct a
pastoral search for candidates and recommend them to the Church
Board. The pastoral candidate shall have Church Board's approval
prior to approval by the Congregation. In the event any pastoral
relationship should be desired to terminate, sixty days notice
shall be given by either party. Pastoral Duties shall be
determined by the Pastor and the Church Board.
Section 2. Church Board
The Church Board shall be
composed of at least five members elected at an annual meeting,
each for a term of three years. They shall not succeed
themselves in office until one year has intervened. The Church
Board is the active governing body of all committees, the daily
activities of the church and all transactions, and shall
determine its form of organization. The Church Board will assign
the duties of the Pastor, all officers, and all committees, and
fill vacancies as needed.
Section 3. Trustees
| The Trustees shall consist
of three members who shall be elected to serve a term of three
years. The Trustees shall be directly responsible to the Congregation and to the Church Board.
The Trustees shall have supervision over the buildings and
grounds and all other property owned by
the Community Church of Union. |
Section 4. Other
Officers
| The other officers of the Church are Financial
Secretary, Treasurer, and Clerk, whose terms and
duties will be determined by the Church Board. |
ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES
The Congregation
shall elect all Committee members. Each committee shall
form its own organization.
Section 1. The Pulpit
Committee
The Pulpit Committee shall be
composed of three members elected at the Annual Meeting for a
term of one year. In the event the Church is without pastoral
service, it shall be the duty of the Pulpit Committee to secure
likely candidates for the office and after due care shall
recommend the candidates to the Church Board for approval before
presentation to the Congregation. The action of the congregation
shall determine the election of a Pastor. It shall be the
further duty of the Pulpit Committee to supply the local Pulpit
in event the regular Pastor is absent.
Section 2. Auditing Committee.
The Auditing Committee shall be
composed of two members elected at the Annual Meeting for a term
of one year. It shall be the duty of the Auditing Committee to
annually audit the records of the Financial Secretary and
Treasurer and the Church Foundation Treasurer and present its
report in writing to the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Worship and Festival
Committee
The Worship and Festival
committee shall be composed of three members who shall be
elected at the Annual Meeting for a term of two years. It shall
be the duty of this committee to give the people of the
Congregation opportunities for meaningful worship, to celebrate
the great occasions of our Christian faith, to provide Greeters
and fellowship after the worship service.
Section 4. Communion Committee
The Communion Committee shall
consist of at least eight members, each member elected for a
term of two years.
Section 5. Memorial Committee.
The Memorial Committee shall be
composed of three members elected at the Annual Meeting for a
term of three years. They shall receive and care for memorial
funds given to the Church, as approved by the Church Board.
Section 6. Nominating and
Personnel Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall
be composed of four members nominated by the Church Board, or by
the Congregation at the Annual Meeting for a term of one year.
It shall be the duty of this committee to maintain a roster of
candidates for elective offices of the Church and to present
them to the Church Board prior to the Annual Meeting.