First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs

The Constitution for the First Baptist Church

ARTICLE I — NAME  
The name of this church shall be, The First Baptist Church of Cedar Springs, Michigan .  
 
ARTICLE II — PURPOSE  
The purpose of this organization shall be, to preach and teach the Word of God, to minister in Christian service to the community in which it is located, to promote the spiritual development of believers and to seek the salvation of the lost through evangelism and missions at home and abroad.
   
ARTICLE III — ARTICLES OF FAITH  
As a general statement of our faith, we adhere to those adopted by the Grand Rapids Association of Regular Baptist Churches.  
 
ARTICLE IV — COVENANT  
The church covenant which binds every member of his church shall be that which has been adopted by the Grand Rapids Association of Regular Baptist Churches.  
 
ARTICLE V — MEMBERSHIP  
Section 1: Admission of Members
Clause A:
Every candidate for admission to the church by baptism, experience, or letter, shall relate his or her Christian experience to the membership committee.  
Clause B:
The Deacons, having satisfied themselves that the candidate is eligible for membership, shall recommend to the church that the candidate be received, and candidates so recommended may be received at any regular meeting of the church, as well as at any business meeting, by a majority vote of the members present and voting.  
Clause C:
The candidate shall be required to subscribe to the Articles of Faith and the Covenant of this church before receiving the privilege of membership.  
Clause D:
Excluded members may be restored to membership upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons after such members have given to them a satisfactory explanation , or acceptable evidence of honest repentance.  
Clause E:
The Membership Committee shall consist of the Board of Deacons and the Deaconesses for the purpose of examining the candidates.  
Section 2: Duties of Members  
The duties and obligations of members are set forth in general in the Church Covenant.  
Section 3: Dismission of Members  
Clause A:
A letter of dismission may be granted by a majority vote to any member in good standing who wished to unite with any other Baptist church or a certificate of Christian character may, in like manner, be granted to a member wishing to unite with an evangelical church of another denomination.
 Clause B:
Open letters (i.e., letters addressed to no particular church will not be granted.)  
Clause C:
Any person granted a letter of dismission, regardless of whether he has joined another church or not, shall be denied the right of participation in any business meetings of this church until he has been duly restored to membership.  
Clause D:
Any person granted a letter of dismission from this church, and desiring to be restored to membership without having joined another church, may do so in the manner prescribed in Clause A, Section 1, of this Article.  
Clause E:
The act of granting a letter, rather than its acceptance by another church shall be considered as severing the member’s connection with this church.  
Section 4: The Observance of the Lord’s Supper
The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be administered on the first Sunday of each month, unless the Church Board shall for some special reason, change the date temporarily.*  
*Amendment adopted October 21, 1980 .  
Section 5: Discipline of Members  
Clause A:
A Covenant Committee, consisting of the Board of Deacons with the Pastor shall handle all violations of the Church Covenant which call for disciplinary action.  
Clause B:
In cases of personal differences between members of the church, the Covenant Committee shall recommend that the persons involved endeavor to settle their differences in accordance with the instruction of Christ as recorded in Matthew 18:5-17. Refusal on the part of anyone to comply with these instructions shall make him liable to discipline, whether responsibility in the first instance was his or not.  
Clause C:
Any member of the church in good standing may prefer charges before the Covenant Committee against any other member whom he believes to have been guilty of a serious Covenant violation.  
Clause D:
When charges are made against a member, the accused shall be notified personally, or by letter, of the nature of the charges and shall be summoned to appear before the Covenant Committee to make answer to the charges. Such notice shall be given at least one week in advance of the hearing. If the accused does not appear, and does not give a satisfactory reason for non-appearance, the Covenant Committee, recommend to the church that such member be excluded. If the accused appears before the Committee, there shall be a full and fair hearing of the case, and the Committee is empowered to acquit the accused if the majority of those present believe him innocent of the charges. If, on the other hand, a majority of the Deacons present are convinced that the accused is guilty of the charges, and that he should be disciplined, they shall recommend to the church that he be excluded from the membership of the church. The church must either approve the recommendation, or hear the case itself.  
Clause E:
Anyone against whom charges have been made, and in whose case the Committee has recommended exclusion, may appeal to the church for a hearing. The church shall then decide whether to hear the case or whether it will act, without such hearing, upon the recommendation of the Covenant Committee.  
Clause F:
One purpose of this section is to give full protection to any member who may be accused, and at the same time to protect the church from interruptions of its regular business, and from interference with its spiritual activities by the intrusion of matters of discipline which might be wasteful of time, harmful to the young, or discouraging to the membership.
 Clause G:
It is specifically directed that the Covenant Committee in safeguarding the purity and peace of the church, shall move with special promptness in the case of anyone who is obstructing the work, or who is disturbing the peace of the church by slander, falsehood, unseemly gossip, conspiracy, or other unfair and unchristian methods. It is recognized that a Baptist church is a democracy in which the majority must rule. It is recognized further that, while anyone has the right of private opinion on all questions, and the right of appeal in any proper and parliamentary manner, no one shall have the right of engaging in secret or open propaganda in an effort to thwart the will of the majority, nor has anyone the right to disturb the peace of the church and to interrupt its work, nor bring in into disrepute before the public by such methods as are calculated to discourage the faithful and to injure the cause.
 Clause H:
The Board of Deacons is empowered to make its own rules and regulations as the method to be followed in conducting all hearings on cases of alleged Covenant violation.  
Clause I:
Members who for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months absent themselves from the regular services of the church without excuse having been contacted at least twice during the twelve months (at least once by the Deacons and at least once by the Pastor) and any members who are found guilty by the Covenant Committee of disorderly conduct or heretical doctrine so opposed to the church’s life and faith as to destroy the possibility of fellowship, shall be presented by the Deacon Board at any regular business service for erasure from the church roll. Full restoration shall be available by the same business procedure when faithfulness is re-established.*  
*Amendment adopted October 21, 1980 .  
 
ARTICLE VI — MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS  
 Clause A:
The fiscal year of the church shall close on the last day of December.*  
Clause B:
The annual business meeting of the church for the election of officers by ballot, presentation of a current expense budget and a missionary budget, and for the transaction of business, shall be held the third Tuesday night of October.*  
Clause C:
Quarterly business meetings shall be held on the third Tuesday nights of January, April and July.*  
*Amendment was adopted March 11, 1975  
 
ARTICLE VII — QUORUM  
Clause A:
Twenty-five of the resident membership shall constitute a quorum for all business meetings.  
Clause B:
Only members in good standing over fifteen (15) year of age shall be qualified to vote in any business meeting, and the quorum shall be determined by a count of the qualified voters present.
 
ARTICLE VIII — OFFICERS AND BOARDS  
Section 1: Officers in General  
The officers of the church shall be Pastor, Deacons, Clerk, Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, Trustees, and Deaconesses and such other officers as may from time to time seem necessary for the welfare of the church or the promotion of its service to the community.
 Section 2: The Pastor
 Clause A:
The Pastor shall be elected at a special or regular meeting of the church, public notice of such action having been given from the pulpit two (2) Sundays immediately preceding the date of meeting, and three-fourths (¾) of the ballots cast shall be necessary for his election.
 Clause B:
The Pastor shall continue in office until he resigns, or until his resignation is requested in the following manner: The question of severing the Pastoral relationship may be considered at any regular or special business meeting provided the Deacons have received a written request for such action by ten (10) adult members in good standing, representing no fewer than ten (10) families, and provided, further, that public notice of such meeting shall have been given on two (2) successive Sundays just prior to such meeting. A majority vote shall decide the question.
 Clause C:
The Pastor shall be ex-officio member of the Board of Deacons and of all other boards and standing committees and he shall preside at all business meetings.
Section 3: Deacons
Clause A:
The church shall elect from its membership twelve (12) Deacons. At each annual meeting three (3) shall be elected to serve for a term of four years.* The election shall take place in the following manner: At least six (6) weeks prior to the annual meeting for the election of officers, the Pastor shall mail to each family in the church a short exposition of the New Testament requirements for Deacons. Each member who is qualified to vote shall then be expected to return to the church office a list of those who, in the judgment of the member, most nearly conform to the New Testament requirements. The number of names submitted by any one member shall not be limited, but each list must be plainly signed by the one submitting it. The Nominating Committee shall select from these lists the seven (7) whose names most frequently appear, and at the annual business meeting each qualified voter shall be privileged to vote for three (3) from this list of seven (7).  
*Amendment adopted April 15, 1986 .  
Clause B:
It shall be the duty of the Deacons to supervise the work of the church in all its departments, to seek out such members as need special help and encouragement, to inquire into the fitness and qualifications of applicants for membership, to visit the sick, to serve the elements of the Lord’s Supper, and to assist the pastor generally in the management of the church and shepherding of the flock.  
Clause C:
The Board shall constitute the Covenant Committee, in accordance with Article V, Section 5, Clause A.  
Clause D:
The Board of Deacons shall constitute the Pulpit Committee, whose duty is shall be to select and present to the church possible candidates for the pulpit, and provide for pulpit supplies in the absence of the Pastor.
Clause E:
As soon as feasible after the annual election, the Board shall organize by electing a chairman, and a secretary.  
Clause F:
The Board shall hold regular meetings at such times and places as may be deemed advisable and for the best interest of the church.
 Clause G:
It shall be the duty of the Board to present at the annual business meeting in September a current expense budget and a missionary budget for the ensuing year. These budgets become operative only when adopted and approved by the church.  
Clause H:
It shall be the duty of the Board to supervise and direct all expenditures and all financial work, except that expenditures in excess of two hundred dollars outside of the regular budget must first be submitted and approved by the church at a regular or special business session.
 Clause I:
The Board shall be authorized to fill all vacancies whether occurring within the Board itself or is other offices of the church. Such appointments shall be in effect only until the next Annual Business meeting.  
Clause J:
No Deacon shall succeed himself for a period of one year.  
Section 4: Deaconesses
Clause A:
The church shall elect from its membership nine deaconesses. They shall be elected as follows: two for a term of one year; two for a term of two years; and three for a term of three years, after which three shall be elected each year for a term of three years.*
*Amendment adopted October 18, 1988 .
Clause B:
It shall be the duty of the Deaconesses to prepare the elements for the Lord’s Supper, and to assist women candidates for baptism. They shall also serve as the church flower committee.
 Section 5: Clerk
Clause A:
As each annual meeting the church shall elect from its membership a clerk to serve for the ensuing year.  
Clause B:
The Clerk shall keep a fair record of the proceedings of the church, have charge of the statistical records and minutes of business meetings, keep a register of all the members, and perform such other duties as may be required by the church.  
Section 6: Treasurer
Clause A:
At each annual meeting the church shall elect from its membership a current expense treasurer.
 Clause B:
The Current Expense Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the church and shall apply the same as directed by the church. He shall keep a true and fair book of accounts, shall report to the Board of Deacons at each of its regular meetings, and shall make a full report at the first quarterly meeting*
*Amendment was adopted March 11, 1975  
Section 7: Sunday School Superintendent
Clause A:
The Sunday School Superintendent shall be elected by the church from its membership at each annual meeting.  
Clause B:
The Sunday School Superintendent becomes a member of the Christian Education Committee upon election.*
Clause C:
The Superintendent shall appoint all officers and teachers of the school excepting in the case of organized classes, where, however, the selections by classes must be subject to his/her approval. The Superintendent’s appointment must, in tern, be subject to the approval of the Christian Education Committee. The Superintendent shall be directly responsible to the Christian Education Committee.*  
*This amendment was presented at the October 15, 1996 Annual Business Meeting; and adopted by a two-thirds vote January 19, 1997  
Section 9: Trustees
Clause A:
Agreeable to the provisions of the Act of Incorporation and the laws of the State, the Board shall elect four Deacons to the office of Trustee. The election will be in the following manner: At the December Board Meeting, two new Trustees will be selected and their term will commence on January 1. [Note: Two current Trustees will remain for one more year.]*
 Clause B:
The Trustees shall serve for a term of two years. In the case of any vacancy occurring during the year, the unexpired term shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, Section 3, Clause 1.*
*Amendment adopted October 18, 1988 .  
Clause C.
It shall be the duty of the Trustees to hold in trust the property of the church, to sign such mortgages and notes as the church may require, to see to the insurance on the church property, and to fulfill all requirements of civil law respecting the Trustees of a corporation not for profit, subject always to the instructions of the church.
 Section 10: Terms of Officers  
The terms of the officers of the church shall coincide with the fiscal year.*
*Amendment was adopted March 11, 1975
 
ARTICLE IX — COMMITTEES  
Section 1: Music Committee  
The Music Committee shall consist of five (5) members – one to be elected by the Music Committee as Chairman. At the end of the term, a new Chairman would be elected by the Committee to remain the following year with the new Committee of four elected by the general assembly. The Chairman shall be limited to two consecutive terms. The committee shall be responsible for the music of the church services, shall secure a pianist, shall have the care of the musical instruments and of the music library, and shall conduct monthly meetings, plan the calendar and be further governed by the orders of the church and of the Board.*
*Amendment adopted March 13, 1973 .  
Section 2: Ushers’ Committee  

The Board shall appoint the Chief Usher.  
Section 3: Nominating Committee
Clause A:
The chairman of the Committee shall be appointed by the Pastor, and four (4) members shall be elected by the church at the third quarterly meeting.*
*Amendment was adopted March 11, 1975  
Clause B:
It shall be the duty of this Committee to determine the nominees for Deacons in the manner specified in Article VII, Section 3, Clause A: to suggest names for all other officers and committees to be elected by the church, and to interview all nominees with a view to obtaining their consent to serve if elected.  
Section 4: Auditing Committee  
The Auditing Committee shall consist of two (2) persons who shall be elected at the annual meeting. They shall examine the books of the Treasurer together with all necessary vouchers and shall make their report at the first quarterly meeting.*

*Amendment was adopted March 11, 1975
 
ARTICLE X — SUBSIDIARY ORGANIZATIONS  
Clause A:
No subsidiary organizations of this church shall engage in any practice or policy contrary to the general position of the church itself.  
Clause B:
All regular teachers and officers of subsidiary organizations shall be members in good standing in this church.
 
ARTICLE XI — AMENDMENTS  
This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, provided the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing at a previous regular business meeting.
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — I  
Sunday School Treasurer
The Sunday School Superintendent shall appoint a Secretary-Treasurer who shall receive all moneys of the Sunday School, and shall apply the same as directed by the Church and Sunday School. He shall keep a true and fair book of accounts, shall report to the Board of Deacons regularly, shall make a full report at the quarterly and Annual Business meetings. 
This amendment was presented at the December 12, 1950 Quarterly Business meeting. This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote March 13, 1951 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — II  
New Members of the Board of Deacons
The Sunday School Superintendent and the Church Treasurer shall have the required New Testament qualifications of a deacon, and shall upon their election to the office become voting members of the Church Board, if not already a deacon.*

This amendment was adopted January 16, 1979  
This amendment shall not be construed as placing any limitation upon the right of these three officers to succeed themselves to their respective offices as often as they shall be re-elected.  
This amendment was presented at the March 7, 1960 Quarterly Business meeting. This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote June 14, 1960 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — III  
Deacons
Clause H of Section 3 under Article VIII be changed to read as follows: “It shall be the duty of the Board to supervise and direct all expenditures and all financial work, except that expenditures in excess of two hundred dollars out side of the regular budget must first be submitted and approved by the church at a regular or special business session.”
This amendment was presented at the December 13, 1960 Quarterly Business meeting. This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote of the church, March 14, 1961
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — IV  
Proposal stated an amendment to the constitution which would allow persons to be church members after board approval upon reaching the age of 10 years.
 This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote December 20, 1972 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — V  
Music Committee
Amended Constitution to have the Music Committee made up of five (5) members – one to be elected by the Music Committee as Chairman. At the end of the term, a new Chairman would be elected by the Committee to remain the following year with the new Committee of four elected by the general assembly. The job description to remain the same except for monthly meetings and planning the calendar.  
Motion to amend the recommendation to limit the Chairman consecutive service to two consecutive terms. Carried  
This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote March 13, 1973 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — VI  
Article V – Membership
Repeal Section 4 – SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS in its totality.  
Clause I to Section 5 – DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS to read as follows: “Clause I – Members who for a period of twelve consecutive months absent themselves from the regular services of the church without excuse, having been contacted at least twice during the twelve months (at least once by the Deacons and al least once by the Pastor) and any members who are found guilty by the Covenant committee of disorderly conduct or heretical doctrine so opposed to the church’s life and faith as to destroy the possibility of fellowship, shall be presented by the Deacon Board at any regular business service for erasure from the church roll. Full restoration shall be available by the same business procedure when faithfulness is re-established.  
This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote October 21, 1980 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — VII  
Observance of the Lord’s Supper
Article 5, Section 4, Clause B be changed to read as follows: “The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be administered on the first Sunday of each month, unless the Church Board shall for some special reason, change the date temporarily.”  
This amendment was adopted by a two-thirds vote October 21, 1980 .    
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION - VIII  
Article VIII, Section 9
Trustees
Clause A:
Agreeable to the provisions of the Act of Incorporation and the laws of the State, the Board shall elect four Deacons to the office of Trustee. The election will be in the following manner: At the December Board Meeting, two new Trustees will be selected and their term will commence on January 1. [Note: Two current Trustees will remain for one more year.]  
Clause B:
The Trustees shall serve for a term of two years. In the case of any vacancy occurring during the year, the unexpired term shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, Section 3, Clause 1.  
This amendment was presented at the July 27, 1988 Quarterly Business Meeting; adopted unanimously October 18, 1988 .
   
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — IX
 Article VIII, Section 4
Deaconess
Clause A:
The church shall elect from its membership nine deaconesses. They shall be elected as follows: two for a term of one year; two for a term of two years; and three for a term of three years, after which three shall be elected each year for a term of three years.  
This amendment was presented at the July 27, 1988 Quarterly Business Meeting; adopted unanimously October 18, 1988 .  

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — X  
Article VIII, Section 3
Deacons

Clause A:
The first two sentences of this clause shall be changed to read — The church shall elect from its membership twelve Deacons. At each annual meeting three shall be elected to serve for a term of four years.

Amendment adopted 4/15/86 .
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — XI
 Article VIII, Section 7
Sunday School Superintendent
Clause B:
The Sunday School Superintendent becomes a member of the Christian Education Committee upon election.
 Clause C:
The Superintendent shall appoint all officers and teachers of the school excepting in the case of organized classes, where, however, the selections by classes must be subject to his/her approval. The Superintendent’s appointment must, in tern, be subject to the approval of the Christian Education Committee. The Superintendent shall be directly responsible to the Christian Education Committee.  
This amendment was presented at the October 15, 1996 Annual Business Meeting; and adopted by a two-thirds vote January 19, 1997
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — XII  
Amendment to the Constitution — I
Sunday School Treasurer  
Repeal this amendment in its entirety.  
This amendment was presented at the October 15, 1996 Annual Business Meeting; and adopted by a two-thirds vote January 19, 1997
 
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION — XIII  
Article V, Section 6
Associate Membership  
Associate membership shall be available to persons who are residents of the community but who desire to retain their membership in their prior church for extenuating reasons (such as missionaries who desire to remain affiliated with their sending church or students who desire to remain members of their home church). It is understood that this only pertains to such cases and is not more generally applied.  
Applicants must meet the standard for membership as stated in ARTICLE V, Section 1, and must be members of a sister Baptist Church , from whom we would receive a letter stating their membership is in good standing.  
Associate members have all the rights of regular members, are subject to the discipline of the church, but do not have the right to vote or hold any elective office.
 This amendment was presented at a special business meeting Sunday, March 2, 2003 and adopted by a two-thirds vote Sunday, April 27, 2003 .