ARTICLE I - NAME, INCORPORATION, POLITY
Section 1 Name The name of this church shall be New Hope Fellowship.
Section 2 Incorporation New Hope Fellowship will be incorporated under and in accordance with the laws of the state of New Hampshire governing religious bodies, and the handling of property shall be in accordance with such laws.
Section 3 Polity New Hope Fellowship is an independent, self-governing body in accordance with the principles of the New Testament which were conceived by Jesus Christ and practiced by the apostles and the New Testament Churches. These principles recognize no control, explicit or implied, by any other ecclesiastical body or person and acknowledge only the Lordship of Christ and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Each member is committed to vote not on the basis of personal whim, tradition, or preference, but on the basis of the will of God as revealed through His Word and by His Holy Spirit.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
Section 1 Objectives The five objectives of this church can be found in the Great Command (Matthew 22:37-40) and in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20). 1) To worship God; 2) To minister to one another; 3) To go and make disciples of all nations; 4) To encourage the fellowship of believers; and 5) To disciple believers.
Section 2 Practical Application of Objectives We believe that God would have us accomplish our objectives by being a church that is balanced – solid in the Word yet open to the Spirit. We are conservative evangelicals who believe that God gave both His Word and His Spirit to direct and empower the church. We do not want to limit God, but want all things to be done in a fitting and orderly way. We are open to God moving in His way, not us moving Him our way. Our corporate worship needs to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and yet not be offensive to the seeker or new believer since our call is to the lost. We seek to create this balance through contemporary heart-felt worship combined with solid teaching of the Word that is communicated in a practical and understandable way. We seek to be a church that is easy for the lost to come to, but challenging to the saved.
ARTICLE III - CHURCH DOCTRINE
1. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God. (II Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2)
2. We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; Mark 12:29; John 5:17-30)
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His complete and perfect humanity. We believe in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal future return to this earth in power and glory to rule over the nations. (Isa. 7:14; Hebrews 7:26; Acts 2:32; I Cor. 15:3,4; Acts 1:9,11)
4. We believe that man was created good and upright in the image of God, but man voluntarily sinned and thereby incurred both physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Gen 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Rom. 5:12-19; Rev. 21:8)
5. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential to salvation, and that His indwelling presence is necessary for the living of a godly Christian life; and that it is only by grace, through faith in the precious blood of Christ, that man can be saved from sin and its evil. (Luke 24:47; Romans 8:16; 10:13-15; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7; Eph. 2:8-10)
6. We believe in the Holy Spirit as a person, separate and distinct from and coequal in the triune Godhead with the Father and the Son. He is sent to dwell within the heart of each child of God, to comfort, to teach, to empower, and to lead into all truth. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 2:4; 10:44-46; 15:8,9)
7. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation, which is the second death. (Matt 25:46; Mark 8:34-38; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8)
8. We believe that the church is the Body of Christ. (Eph. 1:22, 23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23)
9. We believe that baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances instituted by our Lord. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Matt. 26:20-29)
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership Requirements for New Hope Fellowship:
The applicant shall:
(1) Have experienced personal salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ,
(2) Have been baptized subsequent to their salvation,
(3) Be in agreement with the Church Covenant and Doctrinal Statements,
(4) Have attended the church membership class,
(5) Have met with the Pastor and Elders.
Section 2 Membership Acceptance Procedure After fulfilling all of the membership requirements, an Elder shall announce the applicant’s name at two successive Sunday morning services of New Hope Fellowship. Membership may be granted on the second Sunday, provided no objection has been raised and substantiated to the Elders up to and including the date of the last announcement. Each Pastor and his wife before being called by the congregation shall meet the membership requirements (see Article VIII, Section 1). They will become members upon the acceptance of their call to ministry at New Hope Fellowship. They will be required to attend the Membership Class after their arrival.
Section 3 Membership Definition A member is a person who meets all of the membership requirements (Article IV, Section 1), is fulfilling the Membership Covenant (Article IV, Section 4), and who subscribes to the Church Doctrinal Statement (Article III). A member must be 18 years of age or older to vote in the transactions of the church.
Section 4 Duties of Church Members It shall be the duty of the members of the church to subscribe to the Membership Covenant:
Membership Covenant
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF A MEMBER
At New Hope Fellowship we never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches. We only expect our members to do what the Bible expects every Christian to do. These responsibilities are spelled out in our Membership Covenant.
Having received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and having been baptized, and being in agreement with New Hope Fellowship’s statements, strategy, and structure; I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the New Hope Fellowship family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:
I. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF NEW HOPE FELLOWSHIP…
Romans 15:5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,”
A. By acting in love toward other members.
I Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
B. By refusing to gossip and tear one another down verbally.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs ...
C. By following the leaders.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
D. By resolving conflicts biblically
Matthew 18:15-17 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
II. I WILL SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NEW HOPE FELLOWSHIP…
A. By praying for its growth.
I Thessalonians 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.”
B. By sharing the Good News with others.
I Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do it with gentleness and respect...
C. By inviting the unchurched to attend.
Luke 14:23 Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
D. By warmly welcoming those who visit.
Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
E. By giving regularly.
I Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. New Hope Fellowship encourages the giving of a tithe as a guideline for one’s financial giving.
III. I WILL SERVE THE MINISTRY OF NEW HOPE FELLOWSHIP…
A. By discovering and using my gifts and talents.
I Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully
administering Gods grace in its various forms.
B. By being equipped to serve by my pastor and teachers.
Ephesians 4:11,12 God gave ... some to be pastors and teachers to prepare Gods people for works of ministry, so that the body of Christ may be built up...
C. By developing a servants heart.
Philippians 2:3,4,7 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others...
IV. I WILL SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY OF NEW HOPE FELLOWSHIP…
A. By attending faithfully.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together ... but let us encourage one another.
B. By developing habits that keep me growing spiritually.
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
C. By living a godly life.
I Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
Section 5 Discipline
(1) It shall be the basic purpose of New Hope Fellowship to emphasize to its members that every reasonable measure will be taken to assist any member who falls into a sinful lifestyle. The Pastor, other members of the Pastoral staff and Elders are available for counsel and guidance. Confession, reconciliation, and restoration, rather than punishment should be the guideline which governs the attitude of one member toward another.
(2) Should a member persist in a sinful lifestyle and remain unrepentant, every reasonable measure will be taken by the Pastor and by the Elders to resolve the problem according to Scripture (Matthew 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1; I Cor. 5:1-5). All such proceedings shall be pervaded by a spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance, with the goal of confession, reconciliation, and restoration. But, when the member refuses to repent, the Board of Elders may take the action of disciplining a member, declaring the offender to be no longer a member of the Church.
(3) The Elders will inform the church body of the actions they have taken in regards to the individual removed from fellowship.
Section 6 Restoration Any former member whose membership has been terminated because of church discipline may be restored to membership by completing the following steps:
(1) Showing evidence of repentance.
(2) Presentation in writing of a petition of restoration of membership to the Elder Board.
(3) Appearance before the current Board of Elders.
(4) The repentant believer will present or read his/her written petition of restoration before the church membership at a meeting called for that purpose. At such time the believer may be admitted back into the fellowship.
Section 7 Termination of Membership Membership may be terminated in one of the following manners:
(1) By death.
(2) By the member moving membership to another body of believers.
(3) By a member requesting to be released from his covenant obligations. After the church has patiently and kindly endeavored to secure his continuance in the fellowship, the request will be granted.
(4) When disciplinary action (Matt. 18:15-17; Gal. 6: l-2; I Cor. 5:1-5) has failed to restore a member to his covenant relationship to the Lord.
(5) When it is noticed that a member has fallen away from the fellowship and is no
longer upholding the membership requirements (Article IV, Section 1) and fulfilling the Membership Covenant (Article IV, Section 4), an Elder will contact them with the purpose to encourage their renewed commitment to New Hope Fellowship. If, after a period of six (6) months, they still choose to not reunite with New Hope Fellowship, they will be removed from membership.
(6) When a member can no longer support the Church Doctrinal Statement (Article III).
ARTICLE V - ORDINANCES
Section 1 The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper shall be administered as a commemoration of His death, the elements being used as symbols of His body and blood. It shall be observed on such occasions as the Board of Elders shall deem desirable. It shall be open to all self-examined believers regardless of church affiliation (I Cor. 11:17-34; Luke 22:14-20).
Section 2 Baptism
Since baptism is an outward testimonial of an inward spiritual transformation, it shall be administered only to those who have given evidence of having been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. The church shall recognize as valid any regular form of believer’s water baptism if it is in agreement with the convictions of the individual believer, but the church shall practice believer’s baptism by immersion, a mode recognized as biblical, accurately portraying the believer’s death, burial and resurrection with Christ (Acts 2:38; 8:26-40; Matt. 28:19,20). New Hope Fellowship does not recognize any form of infant baptism as believer’s baptism.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1 Annual Meeting The fiscal year of the church shall be from June 1 to May 31. The annual meeting will be held during the month of June with the date to be determined by the Elders. The meeting shall be called by the Church Clerk by a written notice with agenda signed by him/her. Any items to be included on the agenda, other than Elder or ministry team reports, must be submitted to the Elders for approval. Any item not included cannot be voted on at this meeting. All annual reports of officers, the Elders, staff, ministry teams, and specially appointed committees shall be presented at this meeting. Notice of the annual meeting of the church shall be read from the pulpit on two (2) successive Sundays previous to the date set for such meeting. One third (1/3) of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn to a given date.
Section 2 Special Meetings Special meetings to act on financial and operational business matters of the church shall be called by the Elders. The Elders shall determine the agenda and shall direct the Church Clerk to give a written notice with agenda signed by him/her. Any item not included on the agenda cannot be voted on at this meeting. The written notice must be posted for two (2) Sundays and shall be read from the pulpit and may take place on the second Sunday.
Section 3 Voting Members must be eighteen (18) years of age or older to vote.
Section 4 Balloting In all elections the written ballot shall be used. All other voting shall be by show of hands unless otherwise requested and approved by a majority vote of the members present. The moderator will appoint at least two members, present at the meeting, to count the written ballots.
Section 5 Participation Unsolicited participation beyond silent, prayerful observation in annual or special meetings of the church shall be the privilege of members. Upon the majority vote of the voting members present, any annual or special meetings of the church may be declared a membership only meeting, thus excluding all nonmembers from the meeting.
Section 6 Absentee Ballot In the event of any unavoidable absence by an eligible voting member of the church, that member may request from the Church Clerk an absentee ballot, and thus, make their vote count by submitting that ballot in a sealed envelope to the Moderator prior to the vote being taken at the meeting, provided, in the judgment of the Moderator, that the matter being voted on does not substantially differ from that presented in the call to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII - ELDERS
Section 1 Elder Board The official leadership of New Hope Fellowship shall be its Elders. The number of Elders shall not be less than two in addition to the Senior Pastor. The Elders may add additional Elders at their discretion in an attempt to maintain a ratio with regular attenders so that the needs of the congregation are being met. Each Pastor, by virtue of his position, shall be a member of the Elders unless otherwise stated in his call. Any of the Elders, including the Senior Pastor, may be elected as the Chairman of the Elders.
Section 2 Selection of Elders The position of Elder should be viewed as a calling from God and not just a job description to be filled. It will be the expressed intent of New Hope Fellowship to seek qualified men for the position of Elder. The Elders may choose not to fill an Elder position if there are no men qualified for the position at a given time. The nomination of a man to serve in the capacity of Elder will be the responsibility of the Elders. An Elder shall announce the candidate’s name at three (3) successive Sunday morning services of New Hope Fellowship. Provided no objection has been raised and substantiated to the Elders, up to and including the date of the last announcement, the nomination shall be approved by the congregation’s verbal vote of affirmation on the fourth Sunday. Eldership will then be confirmed with a time of anointing with oil, laying on of hands, and prayer.
Section 3 Length of Term for Elders An Elder will serve for increments of three (3) years with no term limits. To begin with: one third (1/3) for one (1) year, one third (1/3) for two (2) years, and one third (1/3) for three (3) years. As the terms of the above Elders expire, the positions shall be filled for a term of three (3) years. If there is a vacancy by death, resignation or removal, this same vacancy may be filled, but does not have to be filled, for the unexpired term by the same process for calling an Elder.
Section 4 Qualifications for Elder There are biblical qualifications for the office of Elder. While no man will be perfect in all of these areas there must be evidence of a willingness to continually grow and mature in these qualifications. An Elder must have been a member for at least one (1) year. Any Pastor, upon the acceptance of his pastoral call to New Hope Fellowship becomes an Elder member, unless otherwise stated. The qualifications for an Elder are found in I Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:5-9. An Elder must be:
1.) above reproach (not being able to bring any charge of wrongdoing against)
2.) the husband of but one wife (completely faithful and devoted to his wife)
3.) temperate (watchful as he oversees the flock)
4.) self-controlled (enslaved to nothing, free from excess)
5.) respectable (good behavior, orderly)
6.) hospitable (unselfish with personal resources, the ability to love and welcome
people into one’s home)
7.) able to teach (has the ability to teach)
8.) not given to drunkenness (not controlled by any substance but the Holy Spirit)
9.) not violent but gentle (not given to physical acts of violence)
10.) not quarrelsome (not argumentative)
11.) not a lover of money (not greedy, stingy, or pursuing money)
12.) he must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper
respect
13.) he must not be a recent convert (one who is immature in the faith)
14.) he must also have a good reputation with outsiders (a good testimony)
Section 5 Duties of Elders
(1) To oversee” and manage” as a shepherd of his flock (1 Tim. 3:4,5; 5:17; John 21:16; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 5:2). Because the Elders before God are to oversee every ministry, committee, officer, subsidiary officer and activity of the church, it is their responsibility to have those members consult with them before starting any new ministry endeavor. It will be the intent of the Elders to empower people for ministry while at the same time keeping with our objectives and vision stated in Article II. See (5) below.
(2) To feed the church of God” (Acts 20:28; John 21:15-17). It is the responsibility of the Pastor and Elders to feed members and attenders the truth of God’s Word as revealed in the Scriptures and illumined in individual hearts by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the major emphasis of their ministry should be on prayer and the ministry of the Word of God. The decision, counsel and direction of the Elders should be given only after careful study of God’s Word to ascertain the appropriate application of God’s truth to a situation. It is, therefore, the authority of the Elders and Pastor as the official leadership to ensure that all Bible studies, Sunday school classes, youth groups, etc., are faithfully feeding people the truth of God’s Word.
(3) To guard the church from doctrinal perversion and error (Titus 1:9-10; John 10:12; Matt. 9:36). It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Elders to ensure the doctrinal soundness of all offices, ministries and teachings of the church.
(4) To anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord and to pray over them (James 5:14-16). This is to be done at the request of the afflicted person and in faith following the direction of the Holy Spirit.
(5) To delegate responsibility to qualified individuals (Acts 6) to carry out the various aspects of ministries that will develop to fulfill the vision of the church.
(6) To delegate responsibility of the financial matters of the church to qualified individuals (Acts 6) to include, but not limited to:
(a) The care of the property of the church and management of business affairs.
(b) The authorizing of the church treasurer to pay bills of the church.
(c) The supervising of the raising of funds by the tithes and freewill offerings of
the people.
(d) The making of provision for adequate financial records.
(e) The signing of contracts as authorized by the church.
(f) The developing of a job description and salary package of all paid staff.
(g) The disbursing of monetary benevolences of the church.
(h) To appoint a Budget Committee whose responsibility is to submit a budget to
the Elders. The budget will then be voted on by the congregation at the said
meeting called for that purpose.
The Elders shall not borrow money in the name of the church or pledge any of its real property without a vote of the church as herein provided.
ARTICLE VIII - PASTORAL STAFF
Section 1 Qualifications The New Testament uses the following terms for the Pastor: pastor (Eph. 4:11), elder, overseer (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17, 28). The Pastors shall meet the Biblical qualifications for the office as set forth in I Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The office of Pastor is viewed as a calling by God for a life ministry among God’s people and not a job description to be filled. The Pastor shall subscribe without mental reservation to the Membership Covenant and Church Doctrinal Statement and accept the Constitution and Bylaws of New Hope Fellowship.
Section 2 Selection of Senior Pastor When the Senior Pastorate becomes vacant, the Elders will appoint a Pulpit Committee of not less than four (4) and not more than six (6) members. The make-up of this committee must include at least one (1) Elder and may include women. The Pulpit Committee shall take the necessary steps to recommend a candidate for the pastoral office. The Pulpit Committee shall bring to the consideration of the church only one (1) man at a time. After prayerfully examining the candidate’s doctrine, personal character and ministerial record, and upon a unanimous vote of the Pulpit Committee, the candidate shall be given opportunity to conduct one (1) or more regular worship services and meet the congregation. If the Committee still unanimously concurs, the candidate shall be recommended to the church for consideration. An affirmative vote by written ballot of three fourths (¾) of the members voting at a duly called meeting shall be necessary to extend a call.
Section 3 Call of the Senior Pastor The call of the Senior Pastor is for an indefinite period of time.
Section 4 Resignation of the Pastor The ministry of any Pastor may be terminated at the will of the Pastor upon a thirty (30) day notice.
Section 5 Dismissal of the Pastor The ministry of any Pastor may be terminated. A two-thirds (2/3) vote by the Elders in favor of dismissal is necessary to bring the termination before the congregation. A one-half (1/2) vote of the congregation in favor of the dismissal is necessary for the termination to take place. Upon the termination of the ministry, the Pastor shall be relieved of all pastoral responsibilities. The Elders shall be responsible for carrying out the works of ministry until an interim is appointed. A severance package may be considered at the discretion of the Elders.
Section 6 Duties of Senior Pastor The Senior Pastor shall have responsibility for leading in the development, organization, coordination and administration of the total ministry of the church with the support and cooperation of the Elders. This responsibility involves plans and programs for the public worship of God, for continuing presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12-16). He shall have the responsibility of conducting annual performance reviews of all pastoral or ministerial staff. The Senior Pastor shall be reviewed annually by the Elders.
Section 7 Interim Pastor When the need for an interim Pastor arises, the Elders shall have authority to appoint a man to such position for a period of time as needed.
Section 8 Additional Pastoral or Ministerial Staff When the need arises for additional pastoral staff, the Elders will follow the same procedure listed for seeking a Senior Pastor (Article VIII, Section 2). The Elders will have the authority to hire additional ministry staff that has already been budgeted for, such as a church secretary, custodian, office manager, etc. The Elders may choose to delegate the authority to hire additional ministry staff to a ministry, committee, officer, or pastor. The Elders will reserve the right of final approval of the person hired for such position.
Section 9 Ministry Leave for Pastoral Staff Each member of the pastoral staff may request from the Elders a leave from their ministry responsibilities for a designated period of time. Reasons for the leave may include, but are not limited to; education, mission trips, personal time of refreshment, medical reasons, or family related issues.
ARTICLE IX - CHURCH OFFICERS
Section 1 Officers of the Church The Officers of this church shall be Moderator, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Church Clerk. The Elders may at their discretion add as many assistants to each position as deemed necessary.
Section 2 Accountability, Selection, Eligibility and Appointment The church Officers will be appointed by and accountable to the Elders of New Hope Fellowship. All Officers must have been active members of the church for at least six (6) months and be at least twenty-one (21) years of age. Officers will be selected by the Elders yearly, preceding the annual meeting with the term of office beginning with the completion of the annual meeting. The names of all Officers selected by the Elders will be read on the two (2) Sundays previous to the annual meeting. Provided no objection has been raised and substantiated to the Elders up to and including the date of the last announcement (this constitutes affirmation by the congregation), these Officers will then be appointed for their respective rolls. The Elders may remove a church Officer from their respective position. Reasons for removal may include, but are not limited to, competency level and moral issues. For removal concerning moral issues see Article IV, Section 5.
Section 3 Duties of Church Officers
Moderator The Moderator, under the direction of the Pastor and Elders, shall preside at all the regular and special business meetings of the church using the most current version of Robert’s Rules of Order as a guide, unless otherwise stipulated herein. In the absence of the Moderator, the Executive Chairman of the Elders shall call the church to order and a temporary Moderator shall be appointed by the Elders for said meeting. There are no term limits on the Moderator.
Treasurer The Treasurer shall keep records of all monies received by and disbursed for the church. The Treasurer shall pay promptly by check, upon receipt of bills according to the purchasing and budget controls approved by the church. A written itemized account of all receipts and disbursements shall be kept and reported monthly to the Elders. A written report shall be submitted to New Hope Fellowship at its annual business meeting. All books, records and accounts kept by the Treasurer shall be considered property of the church and shall be open to inspection at all times. The Elders shall audit the records of the Treasurer. The Elders may at their discretion delegate this responsibility to an Audit Ministry Team. (See Article X, Section 3 for Audit Ministry Team selection). The Treasurer shall not be related by blood or marriage to any assistants that may be added in the future. A person may serve as Church Treasurer for a period of five (5) one (1) year terms and then must take a mandatory two (2) year leave. A family member may not succeed to the Treasurer position.
Financial Secretary The Financial Secretary, under the direction of the Elders, shall receive, count and deposit all monies received by the church and keep an individual record of each person’s giving. The Financial Secretary shall provide each person with an annual statement of his/her giving by January 31 provided that they have used church envelopes or checks. Financial records shall be kept for a period of seven (7) years. All personal giving records are confidential and not open for inspection. A monthly report of church income will be given to the Elders. The Financial Secretary shall not be related by blood or marriage to the Treasurer. There are no term limits for the Financial Secretary.
Church Clerk The Church Clerk shall serve as recording secretary at all called business meetings of the church. He/she shall maintain permanent records of all official actions, written reports and communication of the church, except as otherwise herein provided. The Clerk shall maintain a permanent record of the names and dates of baptisms, funerals, weddings, admissions, dismissions, births, and deaths. All books and records shall be considered property of the church and shall be open to inspection at all times by any member of the church. The Church Clerk shall give notice of all meetings as indicated in these Bylaws. There are no term limits on the Church Clerk.
Section 4 Vacant Offices In case of a vacancy in any office, the Elders may appoint a replacement to fill said vacancy for the unexpired term. The Officer will be selected by the Elders. The name of the Officer selected will be read on two (2) successive Sundays. Provided no objection has been raised and substantiated to the Elders up to and including the date of the last announcement (this constitutes affirmation by the congregation), these Officers will then be appointed for their respective rolls for the fulfillment of the unexpired term.
ARTICLE X - MINISTRY TEAMS, COMMITTEES, AND OTHER POSITIONS
Section 1 Ministry Teams, Committees, and Other Positions The Elders may form as many Ministry Teams, Committees, or other positions as deemed necessary for the fulfilling of the objectives and vision of the church (See Article II). All people serving in any capacity are accountable to the Elders. Membership requirements will be determined by the Elders in policy statements for each Ministry Team, Committee, or other position.
Section 2 Audit Ministry Team Selection At the discretion of the Elders an Audit Ministry Team of three (3) members may be selected by the voting membership of the church. Potential members of the Audit Ministry Team must be members and will be nominated by the congregation on the two (2) Sundays previous to the church meeting to vote on them. These members may not be related to the Treasurer or other members of the Audit Ministry Team by blood or by marriage. The Church Clerk will prepare the written ballot. No nominations will be accepted from the floor of the meeting. The members of the Audit Ministry Team shall be elected for a term of three (3) years: one third (1/3) for one (1) year, one third (1/3) for two (2) years, and one third (1/3) for three (3) years to begin with; thereafter one (1) or more each year for a three (3) year term. As the terms of the above group members expire, the positions shall be filled for a term of three (3) years. If there is a vacancy by death, resignation or removal, this same vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by a vote of the congregation. Audit Ministry Team members shall possess financial/business acumen.
Section 3 Audit Team Ministry It shall be the responsibility of the Audit Ministry Team to examine annually all financial records of the church with the exception of the Financial Secretary’s records of personal giving and the Elders’ Benevolence Fund. A report of its findings shall be presented in writing to the Board of Elders and at the Annual Meeting. If deemed necessary by the Elders, an outside auditing firm may be retained to complete an audit of the financial records.
ARTICLE XI - LICENSING AND ORDINATION
Section 1 Application Individuals desiring licensing and ordination as a minister by New Hope Fellowship must make written application for such to the Board of Elders. This application must include their personal testimony of faith in Jesus Christ, call to ministry and doctrinal statement; and it shall specify their desire for licensing, ordination or both.
Section 2 Requirements and Approval The requirement for licensing and ordination of ministers shall be an obligation to have served a three (3) year internship of service with at least one year of that being at New Hope Fellowship to establish the proper experience which would qualify for and by the Internal Revenue Code. The applicant shall be subject to approval by the Board of Elders, and majority vote of a quorum of the church membership.
Section 3 Revocation If the ordained minister is not serving to the best interest of the ordaining church body, the Board of Elders, and church body may revoke at will the licensing and/or ordination of the said minister in the same manner that it was granted. Any revocation of license or ordination shall be in written form and a copy of revocation shall be forwarded to the Internal Revenue Service of the respective district.
ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION
This corporation may be dissolved by a three-fourths (¾) majority vote of the congregation at a meeting called for that purpose. In the event of the dissolution of the corporation no individual member is entitled to any of the assets of this corporation. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more religious/exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS
Section 1 - These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present at a duly called church meeting provided that:
(1) The proposed change in the Bylaws has been approved by Elders.
(2) Prior notice, including proposed changes of at least thirty (30) days have been given to the members of the church, and the provisions of Article VI pertaining to special meetings have been complied with.