Peyton Community Church Bylaws

Preamble

Our Heavenly Father has shown Himself a God of order.  He intends for man to live in an ordered world.  Indeed, man’s first responsibility, as recorded in Genesis 2:15, was to “cultivate and keep” the garden where God had placed him.  Likewise today, our duty is to strive to order the society where we are placed.  Our greater society, this great American experiment now in its third century, has successfully demonstrated the ability, moreover the responsibility, of a moral people to govern itself.  We recognize that where the human heart rules unbounded, sin is unrestrained.  Let us, therefore, be about the Lord’s business and strive together to bring order to our world by beginning in the house of God.

This Church shall be governed by five elements:

-          Congregation

-          Senior Pastor (spiritual and corporate direction)

-          Board of Elders (spiritual direction)

-          Board of Deacons (corporate direction)

-          Board of Overseers (accountability of Senior Pastor)

Article I – Membership

The standard for voting membership (18 years or older) is:

-          Agreement to be governed by the Peyton Community Church (PCC) By-Laws

-          Support of PCC with attendance and financial support

-          Evidence of consistent Christian Life

-          Completion of PCC membership class

At the inception of these by-laws, the currently serving deacons will use the previous years giving records to create the active membership roll.

Current members vote to nominate the Board of Deacons, and vote on selection of a new Senior Pastor.

Membership rolls will be updated annually in accordance with the PCC Deacon Guideline Reference Book.

Article II – Officers

Section 1 – Senior Pastor

Serves dual role as Pastor of Congregation and President & CEO of the Corporation thereby allowing direction of financial resources to ministries serving the goals of the Church.

-          Selects Board of Elders.

-          Selects Board of Overseers who is then approved by the Board of Elders.

-          Member of all Church Boards and chairman (or may designate a representative) for all business meetings.

Current members select Senior Pastor through one of two processes depending if the Senior Pastor chooses to participate in the process.

If yes:

The Senior Pastor selects two candidates.  Candidate one speaks at the regular church service.  The Pastor formally recommends the candidate at a subsequent business meeting.  Members vote to approve by three-fourths present.  If not elected, the second candidate follows the same process.   If neither candidate is chosen, follow the process outlined below.

If no, or if the member vote fails to meet the three-fourths criteria:

The Elders call for a business meeting on Sunday to be held on Monday of the following week (eight days later).  During the meeting, a Pastoral Selection Committee is chosen.  The committee will consist of seven members to include Elders and any remaining vacancies to be added from the membership, nominated by the membership using secret ballot.  The committee selects a candidate.  The candidate speaks at the regular church service.  The committee formally recommends the candidate at a subsequent business meeting.  Members vote to approve by three-fourths present.  If not elected, the aforementioned process is repeated until the services of a suitable pastor are secured.

Section 2 – Board of Elders

Board of three to seven men with their spouses, who covenant together with the Senior Pastor and Congregation, to provide positive spiritual growth for the entire Church.

Selection Process:

The Senior Pastor chooses Elders, who are confirmed by a three-fourths vote of current Deacons. 

Elders have no term limit and can serve the Church as long as they meet the specifications outlined in the New Testament. An Elder may be removed by the Senior Pastor, and a simple majority of the Deacons, for any of the following reasons:

1)       Immoral conduct

2)       Sinful financial practices

3)       Teaching doctrine contrary to the PCC Statement of Faith

If the majority of Elders believe the Senior Pastor has demonstrated:

1)       Immoral conduct

2)       Sinful financial practices

3)       Teaching doctrine contrary to the PCC Statement of Faith

They shall express such opinion (s) to the Pastor and then, if necessary, contact the Board of Overseers for investigation and evaluation of appropriate discipline.

Section 3 – Board of Deacons

Board of three to seven men with their spouses, who covenant together with the Senior Pastor and Congregation, to provide for the business management of the church. 

Selection process:

The Senior Pastor, with no advance notification, presents sermon on Deaconship.  At the completion of the service a special business meeting is held.  Anonymous nominations are held where the church members write in one name for position of Deacon.  The current Deacons and the Senior Pastor tally votes, and the Board is selected from those with most number of nominations.  Senior Pastor may veto any nomination.  On the following Sunday, during the service, the Deacon candidate (s) are brought before the Congregation/membership to be prayed over, laid hands on, and welcomed into the PCC Deaconship.

Deacons have a three-year term (staggered by board members) at which time they may be re-elected by the aforementioned selection process.  Deacons will elect, among themselves a Chairman, Treasurer, and Clerk/Recorder.  Deacons will conduct Church business in accordance with the PCC Deacon Guideline Reference Book, which will be kept current and updated every three years during an annual business meeting.  The Senior Pastor and the majority of the Elders may remove a Deacon for any of the following reasons:

1)       Immoral conduct

2)       Sinful financial practices

3)       Teaching doctrine contrary to the PCC Statement of Faith

At the inception of these bylaws, Deacons currently serving will continue in office with a term (not to exceed three years) assigned by the Senior Pastor.

Section 4 – Board of Overseers

A Board of seven active Senior Pastors of local respected Congregations or the Antioch Presbytery.  They must agree to make themselves available to serve the Church at their own expense at the request of the Board of Elders.  They have no authority within the Church unless contacted by the Elders for the purpose of disciplining the Senior Pastor.

Selected by the Senior Pastor, approved by the Board of Elders.

A total of seven.  The Senior Pastor and Elders may replace one each year.

If contacted by the Board of Elders and tasked with investigating alleged pastoral misconduct, a consensus of four of the seven Overseers are required to take disciplinary action at which time they assume complete authority over the Senior Pastor and may take any disciplinary action they deem necessary including removal.

Article III – Finances

Section 1 – Fiscal Year 

The fiscal year begins 1 September and ends 31 August.

Section 2 – Financial Reviews

The Church will submit to an annual financial review to be performed by an external agency.  The Senior Pastor chooses this agency.  The review results will be presented at the fall business meeting.

Article IV – Church Meetings

Section 1 – Quorum

Quorum requirements, for official church meetings, will be complied with in accordance with the PCC Deacons Guidelines Reference Book.

Section 2 – Annual

The annual business meeting will be held during the first quarter of each fiscal year.  The agenda and meeting date will be announced one month prior.

Section 3 – Periodic

Periodic meetings will be called to conduct normal church business to include, but are not limited to, the following:

-          Financial reviews

-          Election of Officers

-          Calendar events

-          Changes and/or updates to the Deacon Guidelines Reference Book

These meetings will be announced as far in advance as possible.

Section 4 – Special/Workshop

Special meetings and/or workshops will be called to conduct any church business requiring immediate or on-going attention.  These meetings will be announced as far in advance as possible.

Article V – Ordination

If the Senior Pastor and majority of Elders and Deacons decide that one of its male members possesses the qualifications for ordination, they shall call a council of pastors and brethren from other churches and/or the Antioch Presbytery to examine the candidate and determine whether to proceed with the ordination.  The council may assist in the ordination service, as the Senior Pastor desires. 

Article VI – Amending the Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by three-fourths majority vote of the members present and voting at an annual or bylaws business meeting of the church, provided notice is given with agenda at least one month prior to the meeting.  The proposed change shall be posted in the church, on the website, and attention called to it during the interim services.

We, the congregation of Peyton Community Church, on this Ninth day of February in the year Two Thousand and Three of our Lord and Savior, through prayer, fasting and much deliberation do hereby consign ourselves to abide according to these bylaws.  By willful act of this congregation we submit to the authority vested in them, we place our trust in the offices created through them, and we accept the responsibility to faithfully discharge the duties enumerated within them.

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