PREAMBLE
We, the members of Cyntheanne Christian Church, a congregationally-governed body, in order to promote the work of the Church in the spirit of Christ and thus advance His Kingdom, do hereby adopt this constitution.
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
Section A. NAME
The name of this congregation shall be Cyntheanne Christian Church of Hamilton County, Indiana, an independent Christian Church, locally autonomous.
Section B. Purpose
The purpose of this church shall be as revealed in the New Testament, to win people to faith in Jesus Christ and commit them actively to the church, to help them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, that increasingly they may know and do His will, and to work for the unity of all Christians and with them engage in the common task of building the Kingdom of God.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this church shall consist of those who are identified now as members of the congregation and those who shall unite with it by baptism or transfer of membership. Voting privileges shall be accorded to all members who have shown an active interest through a recent continuity of attendance, service or giving.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
Section A. OFFICERS
The officers of the congregation shall be Elders and Deacons selected in accord with Section B. These officers shall be known as the General Board.
The Elders shall promote the growth and welfare of the church; give spiritual oversight to the members with respect to regular attendance at the Lord’s Supper, visitation of the sick and concern for the morally delinquent and the spiritually indifferent; serve at the Lord’s Table; perform such other duties as may be deemed necessary in fulfilling the purpose of the church.
The Deacons shall cooperate with the Elders in promoting the growth and welfare of the church and perform such duties as may be deemed necessary in fulfilling the purpose of the church.
Section B. SELECTION OF THE GENERAL BOARD
A nominating committee, composed of three, one of whom shall be a member of the general board, shall be appointed by the chairman of the church, approved by the general board and announced to the congregation at least six (6) weeks prior to the annual business meeting, to nominate candidates for Elders and Deacons. The committee shall determine, with general board approval, the number and the term of Elders and Deacons to be selected.
All suggestions from the congregation for nominees shall be in the hands of the committee at least ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting. The committee shall seriously consider the qualifications of the nominee for Elders in light of 1st Timothy 3: 1-7 and Titus 1: 5-9 and the nominees for Deacon in light of 1st Timothy 3: 8-13 and Acts 6: 1-4. The committee shall prepare a slate of men who have consented to serve.
The nominating committee shall report its nominations to the general board for approval and then to the congregation at the annual business meeting.
All nominees who receive two-thirds of the votes cast by secret ballot by those present and voting, shall be declared elected.
Vacancies in any office of the church shall be filled for the unexpired term by nomination of the chairman of the general board in consultation with the minister and election by the general board.
Section C. DUTIES OF THE GENERAL BOARD
It shall be the duty of the general board to select the following officers:
- A chairman who shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer and serve as chairman of the congregation.
- A vice-chairman who shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer and serve as vice-chairman of the congregation.
- Trustees who shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business matters under the direction of the general board and subject to the approval of the church, hold legal title to all church property and handle all business transactions related thereto and perform such duties as are required by the laws of the State.
- A clerk who shall keep a complete record of the church membership and such vital statistics as births, deaths, baptisms and weddings; receive all applications for church letters and issue them under the authority delegated by the general board; keep minutes of all regular or special meetings of the church, and be clerk of the general board, keeping record of all its regular or called meetings.
- A treasurer who shall receive and disburse all funds of the church according to the authority designated to him by the general board and shall make or submit a monthly report to the general board and a quarterly report to the church.
It shall further be the duty of the general board:
- To consider and recommend to the congregation general policies.
- To transact business.
- To create and administer a program through the Functional Departments set forth in the bylaws and any other committees deemed necessary in fulfilling the purpose of the church.
The general board shall perform its duties according to the authority granted in this constitution or designated to it by the church. Regular reports shall be made at least semi-annually to the church.
ARTICLE IV – THE MINISTER
Section A. DUTIES
The minister of the church shall perform the duties which usually pertain to that office. As spiritual administrator of the church, he shall be an ex-officio member of all organized groups, auxiliaries and committees.
Section B. SELECTION
The minister shall be chosen by the church as hereinafter provided:
- A representative committee shall be nominated by the chairman and approved by the general board and shall be responsible for recommending a prospective minister to the general board.
- The general board shall consider the recommendation of the committee and if approved recommend the prospective minister to the church.
- The recommendation of the general board must be accepted by at least a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in a regular or special business meeting of the church before a call may be extended.
- The term of his ministry shall be for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days notice. A written statement setting forth the salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the minister and one for the church.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
Section A. MEETINGS TO BE HELD
The church shall hold:
- An annual business meeting the third Sunday of January each year. (See Constitution and Bylaws Amendment 1)
- Special meetings as required, such meetings to be called by the chairman or vice-chairman or upon request of the general board or upon written request of five (5) members of the church.
Section B. NOTICE
Notice of all regular or special business meetings of the church shall be given at a regular Sunday service of the church at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting.
Section C. RULES OF ORDER
All business meetings of the church and the general board shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the church by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting on the amendment, provided that written notice of the proposed amendments has been given to the members of the congregation, or the proposed amendment has been read at a regular Sunday service at least two (2) weeks before the vote is taken.
BYLAWS
- The church year shall begin on January 1.
- The general board:
- Shall hold its regular meetings when called.
- Shall hold special meetings as required on call of the chairman or upon request of one member of the general board.
- Shall make every effort to fulfill the purpose of the church by carrying out a program through the following Functional Departments (the chairmen of which shall be board members):
- Worship
- Education
- Missions
- Property
- Evangelism
- Membership
- Finance
- Shall observe the following order of business:
- Call to order by presiding officer.
- Devotions and prayer.
- Reading and approval of minutes of previous meetings.
- Minister’s report.
- Report of church clerk and approval of report.
- Report of treasurer and approval of report.
- Regular and special committee reports.
- Action on recommendations in reports.
- Consideration of unfinished business.
- New business and program suggestions.
- Adjournment.
- Pastor’s inspirational moment and benediction.
- All Auxiliary organizations of this church shall make reports at regular intervals to and receive recommendations from the general board.
- All employees of the church, except the minister, shall be employed by the general board by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting. Such employees shall be responsible to the general board, or to such authority as it may designate, for the performance of duties required. A written statement setting forth terms of the contract shall be in duplicate, one for the employee and the other for the church records. ( See Bylaws Amendment 2)
- As per the Constitution, Article 3, Section C, paragraph e, the Treasurer shall be a member of the General Board and shall receive and disburse all funds of the church and shall make or submit a monthly report to the general board and a quarterly report to the church. Upon the request of the Treasurer, the general board may appoint for an annual term another member (or members) of the
congregation to assist the Treasurer in the following positions and duties: - Financial Collections Secretary:
- Who will assist the Treasurer in: the counting and recording and depositing of collections and donations and other income; recording individual donations records; preparing individual donations receipts for each donation of $250 or more; preparing individual donations receipts for the calendar year; and such other donations and income records as shall be requested by the Treasurer or by the general board. These records will also include the appropriate computer records.
- Financial Payments Secretary:
- Who will assist the Treasurer in: the organization of invoice and expense records; verification of expense payments and checks to be written; recording of payments made; preparation of expense reports, and such other payments and expense reports as shall be requested by the Treasurer or by the general board. These records will also include the appropriate computer records.
- These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members of the general board present and voting in a regular or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the members of the general board at least seven (7) days prior to the vote thereon.
The Treasurer shall continue to be responsible to the general board and to the church for all the above noted records. The Treasurer shall also be the one who shall be designated by the general board as having the authority to sign all checks and disburse any funds. The general board may designate the chairman of the general board as also having the authority to sign checks for disbursement of funds. All disbursements and payments shall be as directed by the general board.
Constitution and BYLAWS – AMENDMENT 1.
Reference: ARTICLE 5. MEETINGS
Section A.
(sub-section) a.
The Constitution and BYLAWS of Cyntheanne Christian Church was
amended on December 1, 1996 at the Annual Business Meeting as
follows:
Original Version
The church shall hold:
a. An annual business meeting the first Sunday of December
each year.
Amended Version
The church shall hold:
a. An annual business meeting the third Sunday of January
each year.
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BYLAWS – AMENDMENT 2.
Reference: BYLAWS Section 5.
Pertaining to procedures for amending church bylaws.
The BYLAWS of Cyntheanne Christian Church was amended on June 24, 2003 at a scheduled General Board Meeting as follows:
Original Version
5. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the
members of the general board present and voting in a regular
or special meeting, provided that the proposed amendment has
been submitted in writing to the members of the general board
at least seven (7) days prior to the vote thereon.
(Constitution and BYLAWS of Cyntheanne Christian Church) — Page 10
Amended Version
Renumber the original Bylaws Section 5. as Section 6. and insert
a new Section 5. as follows:
5. As per the Constitution, Article 3, Section C, paragraph e, the
Treasurer shall be a member of the General Board and shall
receive and disburse all funds of the church and shall make or
submit a monthly report to the general board and a quarterly
report to the church.
Upon the request of the Treasurer, the general board may
appoint for an annual term another member (or members) of the
congregation to assist the Treasurer in the following positions
and duties:
(1) Financial Collections Secretary:
Who will assist the Treasurer in: the counting and recording
and depositing of collections and donations and other
income; recording individual donations records; preparing
individual donations receipts for each donation of $250 or
more; preparing individual donations receipts for the
calendar year; and such other donations and income
records as shall be requested by the Treasurer or by the
general board. These records will also include the
appropriate computer records.
(2) Financial Payments Secretary:
Who will assist the Treasurer in: the organization of invoice
and expense records; verification of expense payments and
checks to be written; recording of payments made;
preparation of expense reports, and such other payments
and expense reports as shall be requested by the Treasurer
or by the general board. These records will also include the
appropriate computer records.
The Treasurer shall continue to be responsible to the general board and to the church for all the above noted records. The Treasurer shall also be the one who shall be designated by the general board as having the authority to sign all checks and disburse any funds. The general board may designate the chairman of the general board as also having the authority to sign checks for disbursement of funds. All disbursements and payments shall be as directed by the general board.