By-Laws

ARTICLE I - CHURCH GOVERNMENT

Section 1

First Baptist Church of Aston, Inc. (also doing business as and hereafter referred to as First Baptist Church of Aston; First Baptist Church Ministries; and First Baptist Church) is a fundamental Baptist Church.? We use the Congregational form of church government.

1. First Baptist Church is an autonomous church governed by its elected officials (refer to ARTICLE III).
2. First Baptist Church has the right to accept members, to exclude errant members, and to restore excluded members who give satisfactory evidence of repentance.
3. The governmental power of First Baptist Church cannot be transferred to any ecclesiastical or secular organization outside the church or to any persons, committees, or boards within the church.
   

Section 2

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Foundation and Head of every true church. We assert that First Baptist Church is a true church. The Bible is our sole authority in matters of faith and practice.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND CHURCH BUSINESS

Section 1 - Schedule

Membership meetings may be held at any time at the request of the pastor and/or deacons. If the church is without a pastor, the deacons by two-thirds majority vote may request a special membership meeting. The time and place of special membership meetings will be announced in the same manner as regular membership meetings. Two weeks advance notice is required for all business meetings. The regular annual business meeting of the church is in the first quarter. During this meeting the annual reports are given, the deacons, secretary, and treasurer are ratified, and other business is conducted as necessary.

Section 2 - Participation, Voting and Quorum

1. Anyone may attend a business meeting. Only active members, at least 18 years old, may participate and vote in the membership meetings.
2. Ordinary quorum. At least fifty percent of qualified active voting members constitutes the quorum for a regular membership meeting of the church.
3. Special quorum. At least seventy-five percent of qualified active voting members constitutes the quorum for a special membership meeting of the church. The pastor and deacons make the determination regarding the need for a special business meeting. Voting by secret ballot is mandatory at all special business meetings.
   

Section 3 - Governance of Meetings

The pastor presides at all membership meetings. If the pastor is absent, the chairman of the deacons presides.

Section 4 - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the church is the calendar year.

Section 5 - Church Business, Prayer, and Christian Fellowship

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation and builder of the church. Every member of First Baptist Church should exercise his/her rights and privileges as believers in sincerely seeking to know God’s will in appropriate matters regarding church business. To know the will of God is more important than to know the will of men. Any issue that needs to be resolved by the congregation in a membership meeting must be made a matter of continued prayer until God's will is known. Unless every member honestly and humbly seeks the will of God, the opinion of the majority may not be God's will. The main “business” of the church is preaching and teaching the gospel to everyone. Only when the church is in a condition of warm Christian fellowship can the main “business” of the church be effective in the church and community. Conflict, disagreement, animosity, gossip, etc. hurt the testimony and ministry of the church. Every member of the church should safeguard the fellowship and testimony of the church.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Section 1 - The Pastor/President

The Senior Pastor of the church is designated president of the corporation. The Pastor shall preside at all meetings of the members and directors; he shall have general and active management of the affairs of the corporation; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect, subject, however, to the right of the directors to delegate any specific powers, except such as may be by statute exclusively conferred on the President, to any other officer or officers of the corporation. Together with one (1) other officer who shall be specified in a Resolution by the Church authorizing the action, the President shall have the authority to execute bonds, mortgages and other documents requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation. He shall be EX-OFFICIO a member of all committees and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of President.

Section 2 - The Deacons/Trustees

The deacons of First Baptist Church also serve as the trustees of the corporation. Refer to the constitution for more information regarding our doctrinal position on the office and duties of the deacons. Also, we want to indicate that we don’t subscribe to “deacon rule.” In the spiritual sense, the deacons do not run the corporation.

Section 3 - The Secretary

The church secretary is the church clerk. The church secretary is a deacon nominated by the pastor and deacons and then ratified by the membership. The secretary serves for one year or until a successor is ratified. At the start of every membership meeting, the Church Clerk is recognized as the person who is keeping the minutes. The clerk keeps a complete record of the transactions at all membership meetings of the church. He also keeps a register of the names of members, with the dates of admission, dismissal or death, together with records of baptisms. He shall notify all officers and delegates of their election or appointment. He shall issue letters of dismissal and recommendation. The Secretary of the corporation shall be the officer designated, along with the Pastor/President, to execute bonds, mortgages, and other documents requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation. The Secretary is the custodian of the seal.

Section 4 - Treasurer

The Treasurer is a deacon nominated by the pastor and deacons and then ratified by the membership. The treasurer serves for one year or until a successor is ratified. The treasurer oversees all financial activities of the church.

Section 5 - Others

All Church officers, members of committees, officers of all ministry-related organizations, and all Sunday School officers and teachers must be active members of the church in good standing. All committees are formed and operated under the auspices of the pastor. Committee members are chosen from among active members. They should follow principles of Biblical separation.

ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-laws may be introduced by the pastor and deacons in writing through formal motion at any membership meeting but shall not be acted upon by the church until a later membership meeting. At that meeting an affirmative 80 percent vote of the quorum is required for acceptance. No amendment can be adopted that is contrary to the clear teachings of the Scriptures and to historic Fundamental Baptist beliefs and practices.

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