White Rock Country Baptist Church               Bylaws and Constitution 

Revised January 25,2015PREAMBLE         

ARTICLE   I.  NAME        

 The official name of our church for bank and government records is White Rock Country Baptist Church.We may call it White Rock Country Church from time to time.Leadership White Rock Country Baptist Church seeks to win the lost and build leaders. Through evangelism, lead the lost to Christ. Through discipleship lead believers to fullness of faith. Through training, lead the church to missions. Through practice, leads a life of obedience to Christ. Interactive White Rock Country Baptist Church believes that being the body of Christ requires the participation of all parts of the body every member having unique gifts, talents, and interests is the body. White Rock Country Baptist Church 

Vision Statement

 The vision of White Rock Country Baptist Church is to establish and perpetuate a church with a ministry to reach the lost and to create a church family of individuals who have experienced the life changing effects of a relationship with Jesus Christ.  2/12/10 12:39 PM To establish relationships with the lost, and share with them the good news that Jesus died for them and is longing to know them personally. We envision a family of believers committed to making a positive impact on our culture and community by standing for biblical principles. We have a vision of creating a place where worship is an act of the heart, soul, and mind; a place where the people we are reaching out to, feel at ease; a place of spiritual comfort for the weary; a place where those who have fallen find a hand to help them up. We have a vision of establishing a place to teach the gospel from the pulpit, in the classroom.For the equipping of the Saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. White Rock Country Baptist Church Constitution 

PREAMBLE

 Under the guidelines and leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ, we the members of the White Rock Country Baptist Church adopt the following constitution in order to declare and preserve the principles of our faith, the freedom of our church, and the rights and responsibilities of our individual members. 2/12/10 12:39 PM 

ARTICLE   I.  NAME

  The Name of the church, located at 671 FM 1566 W, Celeste, TX 75423 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas, is the White Rock Country Baptist Church . 

ARTICLE   II.  PURPOSE

 The church is organized and maintained to fulfill the following Mission PurposeStatement: The mission of the White Rock Country Baptist is to share the love of God with unchurched and lostpeople of the Hunt County area and the world in such a way that they have the bestopportunity to become fully developing followers of Christ.  A fully developing follower of Christ ….Worships God: Honors God by worshiping Him corporately, in both large and smallgatherings, and by maintaining private devotions.  Lives by God’s Word: Understands the Bible as the ultimate authority for daily livingand is involved in corporate, small groups, and private Bible study.Contributes to God’s Work: Uses their time, abilities, spiritual gifts, and finances forGod’s glory.  2/12/10 12:39 PM Connects With God’s People: Pursues Christ honoring relationships at home, in the church, at work, and in the community.Impacts God’s World: Reaches out to the lost and unchurched by praying for them,witnessing to them, and inviting them to church. 

ARTICLE  III.  DOCTRINE

 This church affirms the Holy Bible, the verbally inspired word of God, as the authority in all matters of faith and practice. We are distinguished from some but not all Baptist churches in that we are a Free Grace as opposed to “Lordship salvation.”We further identify ourselves as a distinctive body of faith by affirming the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message. ARTICLE IV. POLITY AND RELATIONSHIP Jesus Christ is the head of the church, the true source of all that the church is and does,and His glory is to be the objective of every act, function, and motive of the body, both individually and corporately. It is before Him that all the other leadership must bow.He communicates His will for the church through His word, the Bible. He gives additional guidance by means of the specific leading of the Holy Spirit who indwells the heart of each believer. He calls forth leaders for the church to whom He gives responsibility for the oversight of the church body and the shepherding of its members, The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose its membership and leadership. Persons meeting the membership requirements shall constitute the membership. 2/12/10 12:39 PM All internal groups created and empowered by the church shall exist to further the purpose of the church. They will be accountable to the church. As an autonomous local church, this church is not subject to the control of any ecclesiastical body. However, it relates to and cooperates with the Hunt Baptist Association, the Southern Baptists of Texas, the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, Independent Baptists, and the Free Grace Alliance, and other entities of like faith in sharing the gospel with the whole world. 

ARTICLE  V. ORDINANCES

 

SECTION I. BAPTISM

 A church is understood to be a fellowship of baptized believers brought together to carry out the work of Jesus Christ.A Baptized believer is one who has been scripturally immersed and understands baptism to be a symbol of the salvation which has already been accepted in their life by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. 

SECTION II. THE LORD’S SUPPER

 The church will observe the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis as led by the Pastor. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act whereby by the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of Christ and anticipate His imminent Second coming. 

ARTICLE  VI.  AMENDMENTS

 This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present at a church conference called for that purpose. Amendments may be proposed by the Pastor and staff or by written petition signed by 25% of the resident members and duly presented to the Pastor and staff.WHITE ROCK COUNTRY BAPTIST CHURCH BY LAWS, REVISED

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP

  

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP

  Membership in the White Rock Country Baptist Church is open to anyone who meets the following qualifications:A. A personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.B. Baptism by immersion after faith in Christ as a testimony of salvation.Membership may be established in the following ways: A. LetterCandidates who are members in good standing of another church of like faith and order may petition the Church to acquire a letter of membership from the previous church. B. StatementCandidate who have previously been members of another church of like faith and order, but are unable to obtain a letter of membership from said church, may join by affirming that they are baptized (immersed) believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, holding to the historic teachings of Christianity, and desiring membership in the Church. C. BaptismCandidates accepting Christ as their Savior and requesting Christian baptism by immersion will be accepted as members upon baptism. All candidates for membership shall give a verbal testimony of their conversion,baptism, and walk with Christ to a pastor or elder. 

SECTION 2. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

 A person’s membership in the White Rock Country Baptist Church may be terminated in one ofthe following ways:A. Death upon proper written notice a week in advance and approval of the staff.B. LetterA letter of dismissal for any member in good standing shall be granted to any church of like faith and order upon request from said church.C. ExclusionIf a member conducts himself in a manner which brings the name of Christ and the church into disrepute, it will be the responsibility of the staff under the guidance of the pastor to attempt to restore the member in a spirit of love according to the guidelines set forth in Matthew 18:15-17. After at least a year If the member fails to respond positively to these attempts, exclusion will require a two-thirds(2/3) vote of the church membership present and voting at a called church conference with consideration of our own failures. D. ErasureIf a member requests erasure or offers proof of membership in a church of another denomination, his name will be removed from the roll.    

SECTION 3. RIGHTS OF MEMBER

  Each member present, 16 years of age and older, shall be entitled to one (1) vote on eachmatter submitted for a vote at any called church conference. The right of a member tovote shall cease upon the termination of his membership in the church. Members havethe right to vote on the following matters: the call of the pastor and other professionalministerial staff, the annual church budget, indebtednessassociated with land acquisition and/or building improvements, cumulativeindebtedness for all other aspects of church business that exceeds 20% of the annualchurch budget, the disposition of substantially all of the assets of the church, themerge or dissolution of the church, and any other matter submitted by the staff to thechurch for a vote.  

ARTICLE  II.  MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP

 

SECTION 1. PASTOR

 A. Call Upon the pastor’s termination, a church conference will be called and the church will elect a pastor search team from the deacon-staff. This team will consist of no fewer than two and no more than eight members. This team will seek out and evaluate prospective pastoral candidates until they achieve complete consensus on a single candidate. They will then report to the deacon-staff who will set a time and date for the candidate to be received by the church. On that date, a church conference shall be called and after a full discussion, a vote will be taken by secret ballot. A three-fourths (3/4) vote of the church members present and voting is required to extend a call. If a call is not extended by the church to the candidate, or if the candidate declines to accept, then the pastor search team will begin a new search and come before the church with a second recommendation. This method will proceed until a pastor is secured. B. DutiesThe pastor shall be the spiritual leader of the congregation. In the capacity, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he shall preach and teach the word of God, lead the church in regular worship services, administer the ordinances of the church, serve as moderator at all church business meetings, provide leadership to the ministerial staff, serve as overall administrator of the church, and generally fulfill all his pastoral duties as set forth in Scripture.Addendum: January 2013 The church voted that no pastor or lay pastor shall marry persons of like sex anywhere, and if so, his office as pastor or lay pastor will be terminated forthwith, and if he is duly ordained, he will return his ordination or licensure certificate.  C. TerminationThe pastor’s duties with the church may be terminated by resignation, death, or dismissal. Such dismissal will require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at a called business meeting. The moderator for such a meeting will be a disinterested third party appointed by the staff. D. QualificationsThis person shall be called to preach by the Lord and empowered by the Lord to preach with resultant spiritual effectiveness. This person must adhere to the Free Grace preaching of salvation and sanctification as opposed to “Lordship” salvation. Prospective pastors and staff will sign a statement to this effect unless the church changes the constitution at that time. 

SECTION 2. PROFESSIONAL MINISTERIAL STAFF  2/12/10 12:39 PM

 A. CallThe pastor appoints all staff members upon approval of the congregation. Professional ministerial staff sufficient for fulfilling the church’s mission will be employed by the church. Such ministerial staff will require two-thirds (2/3) vote of the congregation upon the recommendation of the Pastor. The pastor will decide salaries of his professional staff in consideration of the annual budget for salaries. B. DutiesProfessional ministerial staff persons will have specific and written job descriptions as outlined by the pastor and Personnel Team. C. TerminationThe service of professional staff persons may be terminated by resignation, death, or a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a church conference called by the staff for that purpose. D. QualificationsThis person must believe and teach Free Grace as opposed to Lordship salvation.. 2/12/10 12:39 PMHe must be loyal to the pastor and church or offer his resignation. 

SECTION 3. LAY PASTORS

 A. Purpose and FunctionLay pastors shall serve as an extension of the ministry of the senior pastor andin that capacity may serve as ex-officio members of teams, administer theordinances of the church, assist in leading worship, and generally perform anyother ministerial function of the senior pastor with his approval or at hisrequest. B. QualificationsSince lay pastors represent the ministry of the senior pastor, they must be faithful, loyal to the pastor and godly men.C. SelectionLay pastors shall be appointed as needed by the senior pastor and approved by the staff. 2/12/10 12:39 PM D. DutiesEach lay pastor will have specific responsibilities as assigned by the seniorpastor. E. Term of OfficeLay pastors will be appointed to three year terms, but may serve multiple terms by mutual consent of the senior pastor, the staff, and the lay pastor involved. F. RemovalA Lay pastor may be removed before their term of office expires by death,resignation, or consensus decision of the pastor and staff. 

SECTION 4.  DEACON-STAFF MEMBERS

 A. Purpose and FunctionThe Deacon-Staff shall serve to provide spiritual leadership and accountability to the church in accordance with scripture. They will provide a brotherhood of support and accountability for the pastor, serve as arbiters in matters of conflict or church discipline, and in general provide spiritual leadership, guidance, and assistance wherever and whenever appropriate. The elder body shall be made up of three elected staff plus the pastor, who is also an elder. B. QualificationsBecause the Deacon-staff may be called on to handle the weightiest matters of the church, they should above all be men filled with wisdom, love, and the Holy Spirit.The senior pastor shall be an elder. This person must adhere to Free Grace theology as opposed to “Lordship salvation.” C. Selection and Terms of Office1. On or about January 1st of each year a list of names will be developed by the staff from eligible men from the congregation (submitted by the congregation, or asked to be nominees by the staff). These names will be screened by the pastor and the staff to ensure that the nominees meet the qualifications set forth. If it is determined that a nominee is qualified and he is willing to serve, his name will be placed before the church as a candidate. However, if the staff, the pastor, or the nominee determine that he is not qualified, then he will not be a candidate. 2.Once qualified candidates have been qualified, an election will be held on or before January 31st each year to elect or reelect elders.  The pastor will not be voted upon yearly but upon his calling and/or departure, or dismissal.  2/12/10 12:39 PM  D. RemovalAny member of the church may bring a written scriptural reason for removal of an elder. Staff may be removed from office by their own decision or by consensus decision of the other staff. Removal shall be based upon being spiritually unqualified or the inability or failure to serve. E. VacanciesStaff vacancies can occur by death, resignation, or removal. When a vacancy occurs, the existing staff shall select an interim to fill the vacancy until the next election. 

ARTICLE  III.  SUPPORT STAFF

 The pastor will employ and terminate other employees as necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the church.   2/12/10 12:39 PM  SECTION 1. PRESIDENT The senior pastor shall serve as the president and overall administrator of the corporation. He will serve as moderator at church business meetings and be responsible for ensuring that the daily business affairs of the church are appropriately and effectively executed. SECTION 2. TRUSTEES A. Purpose and FunctionWhen authorized and instructed by the staff, Trustees shall sign the title to church property; all legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or rental of property; all notes and loan instruments; and such other legal documents as may require execution on behalf of the church. There shall be three trustees. B. Selection and Term of OfficeTrustees shall be appointed by the staff to three year rotating terms with one trustee rotating off annually. C. Removal A trustee may be removed by death, resignation, or consensus decision of the staff. SECTION 3. CLERK/SECRETARY A. Purpose and functionThe church clerk shall serve as secretary of the corporation. The responsibilities of each of the clerk will be to keep the minutes of all church business meetings, insure that a proper file of all members is maintained, and prepare an annual church profile report to be given to the Hunt Baptist Association. B. Selection and Term of OfficeThe Church Secretary shall serve as Church Clerk. SECTION 4. VACANCIES In the event a vacancy occurs in any corporate office, the staff shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term. 2/12/10 12:39 PM ARTICLE VI. CHURCH BUSINESS SECTION 1. FINANCES A. Fiscal yearThe fiscal year of the church will be on a calendar year basis beginning onJanuary 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.  B. Accounting ProceduresA system of accounting that will adequately provide for all the handling of all funds shall be the responsibility of the Financial Team. C. BudgetThe Finance Team, in consultation with the pastor and ministry team leaders,shall prepare and submit a budget for the congregation’s approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year.  E. DepositsAll funds of the church shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the church in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as determined by the Finance Team. SECTION 2. CHURCH BUSINESS MEETINGS A. Church Business meetingsChurch business meetings may be called by the staff or by written petition of 25% of the active resident members presented to the staff. An active resident member is one who has attended the church’s regular worship service at least 6 times in the 90 days preceding the circulation of the petition. B. NoticesNotices of the time and place of all church business meetings shall be given not later than the Sunday prior to such meeting by publication in the church newsletter or worship bulletin, or by public announcement at a regular Sunday morning worship service. C. Place of Church Business meetings 2/12/10 12:39 PM All church business meetings shall be held on the premises of the church. D. QuorumThe church members present at any duly called church conference shall constitute a quorum, E. ProxiesVoting by proxy at any church conference shall not be allowed or recognized, F. Will of the ChurchAll Ministry Teams, officers, and organizations of the church shall carry out the will of the church on any given matter, duly expressed by its vote. G. Rule and ProcedureThe order of proceedings at church business meetings shall be determined by the rules of practice contained in Robert’s Rule of Order, Revised. H. Conduct of Church Business All business of the church shall be conducted in a manner that honors Christ and respects others. The church shall strive to seek the will of God by prayerful deliberation and common Consensus. SECTION 3. CONTRACTS The Trustee’s shall execute and deliver any contracts or instruments in the name of the church which may be authorized by the church to be so executed and delivered. In this connection, the church body as a whole shall be the ultimate authority for all actions taken by the church and no other person, organization or corporate officer shall have any authority to contract or otherwise bind the church without express authorization from the church body. SECTION 4. BOOKS AND RECORDS The church shall keep and maintain a complete and accurate records of all financial accounts, membership list, and church conference minutes at its principal office. All books and records of the church may be inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney, for any purpose at any reasonable time. SECTION 5. PROHIBITION AGAINST SHARING IN CORPORATEEARNINGNo member, officer, or person connected with the corporation, or any other private individual shall receive at any time any of the net earnings of pecuniary profit from the operations of the corporation, provided that this shall not prevent the payment to any such person of a reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the corporation in effecting any of its purposes as shall be fixed by the church; and no such person n or persons shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporation assets upon the dissolution of the corporation. All members of the church shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed that upon such dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the corporation, after all debts have been satisfied, then remaining in the hands of the officers of the church shall be distributed, transferred, conveyed, delivered, and paid over, in such amounts as the church may determine or as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction upon application of the church, exclusively to charitable, religious, or educational organizations which would then qualify under the provisions of Section 501 (C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended. SECTION 6. EXEMPT ACTIVITIES Notwithstanding any other provision of these by-laws, no member, officer, or representative of the corporation shall take any action or carry on any activity by or on behalf of the corporation not permitted to be taken or carried on by any organization exempt under Section 501 ( C ) ( 3 ) of the Internal Revenue Code and its Regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended, or by any organization contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 ( C ) ( 2 ) of such code and regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended. 

ARTICLE  VII.  AMENDMENTS

 These Bylaws may be amended by the staff or by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present at a church conference called for the purpose. Amendments may be proposed by the staff or by written petition of 25% of the resident membership presented to the staff. Proposed amendments for the church consideration shall be in written form and mailed two weeks prior to the conference to the last known address of all members eligible to vote. Amendments will be numbered, dated and attached to the original instrument.