PREAMBLE

To ensure the preservation of the principles of our faith, and so that this church body may be governed in an orderly manner, and to preserve for ourselves and further generations the liberties inherent in each individual and the freedom of action of this body with respect to its relation to other Christian groups, we do declare and establish this constitution.

NAME OF THE CHURCH

This church shall be known as ESIC Baptist Church of Edwardsville, Illinois.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of this church shall be to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and all our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

CHURCH DOCTRINE

Soul Freedom

We believe in love. We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed or the control of clergy or government. We believe in diversity and oppose racism, sexism, violence and hatred. We are committed to protecting and preserving the earth and the environment. We are filled with joy and celebrate the freedom of Christianity.

Bible Freedom

We believe in the authority of Scripture. We believe the Bible, under the Lordship of Christ, is central to the life of the individual and the church. We affirm the freedom and right of every Christian to interpret and apply scripture under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Church Freedom

We believe in the autonomy of our local church. We believe this church is free, under the Lordship of Christ, to determine our membership and leadership, to order our worship and work, to ordain whomever we perceive as gifted for ministry, and to participate as we deem appropriate in the larger Body of Christ.

Religious Freedom

We believe in freedom of religion, freedom for religion, and freedom from religion. We support the separation of church and state.

PROPERTY

All property of this church is to be held for the use and benefit of those of the membership. If ESIC Baptist Church is dissolved, then all remaining assets after payment of the debts of the church will go to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The foregoing shall be considered a part of any and all instruments transferring title to property to this church whether or not this provision is specified in the deeds.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Governance

The government of this church is vested solely in the persons who comprise the membership. All authority of the church rests with the membership and can be determined by a majority vote of the membership.

Section 2: Qualifications

Individuals who have accepted the grace of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and who have made ESIC Baptist Church their chosen place of worship, communion, and fellowship are considered members of this local church.

Section 3: Discrimination

No one shall be prevented from attendance, membership, office holding, or leadership in this church; or in anyway discriminated against; based on race, gender, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, parental status, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, or income. People in this church shall be protected against all forms of discrimination, sexual misconduct and molestation.

Section 4: Misconduct

All church staff, officers, leadership, teachers or supervisors shall be instructed in prevention of discrimination and sexual misconduct/molestation.

Section 5: Prevention

No person shall become church staff, officer, leader, teacher or supervisor without disclosing any history of sexual misconduct or molestation. Church employees are subject to criminal background checks.

Section 6: Claims

Nothing prevents a claimant from contacting law enforcement. Any person with a claim of discrimination or misconduct against any church staff, officers, leadership, teachers or supervisors should bring the matter to the attention of the highest ranking church official not involved in the claim. That church official is obligated to take the matter to the deacons, if possible, and then to the church for resolution. In the case of possible violation of law - law enforcement officials must be notified. In any alleged case of child molestation, all church officials are required to immediately report the allegation to law enforcement.

Section 7: Receiving Members

A person may become a member of this church by:

· Accepting the grace of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord and by making ESIC Baptist Church their chosen place of worship.

Or

· Having previously acknowledged the grace of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord in another Christian fellowship and by making ESIC Baptist Church their chosen place of worship.

Persons may be presented as a candidate for membership in any one of the following ways:

· Present themselves to the church during worship or other session.

· Request presentation by a member of the church during worship or other session

The church may recognize new membership by responding with a positive gesture such as applause or a spoken response like, “Amen” or “Halleluiah”.

Section 8: Baptism

Baptism, while customary, is not required for membership in this church.
Section 9: Termination of Membership

The church may remove the names of members upon

Written request from the individual.

Recommendation and concurrence of a two-thirds majority vote of the church membership.

Transfer of membership to another church.

Death.

ARTICLE II - OFFICERS

Section 1: The Offices

The church establishes the following officers:

· Moderator

· Treasurer

· Church Clerk

· Financial Clerk

· Deacon(s)

· Trustee(s)

· Sunday School Coordinator

· Musical Director

The signatory officers of the church shall have the authority to sign legal documents including checks on behalf of the church.

No political activity shall be allowed by the officers or the membership on behalf of the church.

Section 2: Election and Removal

The officers will be elected by the church membership. Officers can be removed from office by a majority vote of the church membership.
Section 3: Moderator

The moderator will be the chairperson for the church and will preside over business sessions of the church. When the moderator cannot be present for business session, the church membership will select an interim moderator. The Moderator will be a signatory officer of the church.
Section 4: Treasurer

The Treasurer will be responsible for leading the church in management and accurate record keeping of the church finances. The Treasurer will be chairperson for the Budget and Finance Committee. The Treasurer will be a signatory officer of the church.
Section 5: Church Clerk

The Church Clerk will be responsible for membership records as granted by the church, and for maintaining accurate records of business meetings of the church. Included in the maintenance of church membership records shall be correspondence regarding requests for letters of membership and for deletions.
Section 6: Financial Clerk

The Financial Clerk will collect all monies and report to the treasurer. The financial clerk will serve on the Budget and Finance Committee and keep all tax records and attendance records for the church and for individuals. The Financial Clerk will be a signatory officer of the church.
Section 7: Deacon(s)

The deacons shall be ordained by the church and shall serve to make all spiritual decisions for the church. The deacons shall be responsible for benevolence giving. The deacons shall regularly consult with the pastor and are responsible for evaluating the pastor. The deacons shall serve communion.

Section 8: Trustee(s)

The trustees shall be responsible for the physical facilities of the church.

Section 9: Sunday School Coordinator

The Sunday School Coordinator shall oversee all activities of the Sunday School.

Section 10: Musical Director

The Musical Director shall oversee all music activities for the church.
Section 11: Signatory Officers

The Moderator, Financial Clerk, and Treasurer, shall constitute the signatory officers of the church for the signatures required on all legal documents including checks.

ARTICLE III- ADMINISTRATION

Section 1: Organization

The church shall meet regularly on each Sunday for worship and bible study, and to conduct church business. The church shall meet at other times as determined by vote of the church membership. The Church shall meet as often as necessary to preview the business of the church and lead the church in fulfilling its mission, with a minimum of four (4) meetings annually. Special business meetings of the church may be called with advance notice to members of the church.

A quorum shall consist of at least 5 members of the church, 3 of whom must be officers, assembled in a regularly scheduled meeting conducted by the Moderator or his (her) designee. Unless otherwise specified, a majority vote of those members present shall be required for church action. Where not specifically defined in this Constitution and By-laws, Robert’s Rules of Order will be followed in conducting business meetings.
Section 2: Facilities Use

To use church facilities you must have church approval and:

· Contact the church and ask about availability for the date needed. Please discuss the kind of space(s) needed.

· The church facilities calendar is posted on the bulletin board near the main back entrance. Facilities availability are first come first, first served based on the calendar.

· Regularly scheduled church activities have precedence of use.

· It is the policy of ESIC Baptist Church to make our facilities available to people or groups based on our philosophy: "We believe in love. We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We affirm the freedom and responsibility of every person to relate directly to God without the imposition of creed or the control of clergy or government. We believe in diversity and oppose racism, sexism, violence and hatred. We are filled with joy and celebrate the freedom of Christianity. We believe in freedom of religion, freedom for religion, and freedom from religion. We support the separation of church and state."

· RENT: Use of the church by members is free. Use of meeting rooms to community groups for one-time kinds of meetings is usually free. Regularly meeting groups are expected to make a small donation to the church for use of the facilities. Small, private weddings or other small services are free. Larger weddings or other activities which might involve several rooms or the kitchen(s) are expected to make a donation to the church for use of the facilities.

· Use of the soccer field and outdoor facilities is basically first come first served and it is free.

· The soccer field and outdoor facilities can be reserved by following the same procedure as use of the church listed above.

· Priority use of the soccer field is given to: 1. Church use 2. YMCA use 3. Organized-league teams.

ARTICLE IV - CHURCH STAFF

The church staff will be the pastor, and other ministerial positions, as the membership deems necessary to fulfill the mission of the church. The responsibilities of church staff are outlined in this section.

The pastor is leader of pastoral ministries of the church, and s/he works with the church membership and staff to fulfill the mission of the church as defined in the constitution.

ARTICLE V- CHURCH COMMITTEES

Committees needed to fulfill the mission of the church will be elected by a majority vote of the church membership. The following church committees are standing committees and may be called and assembled as needed:

· Budget & Finance

· Activities

· Education and Vacation Bible School

· Nominating

· Pastoral Search

Section 1: Budget & Finance Committee - The Budget & Finance Committee will be responsible for administering the financial affairs of the church, and maintaining the records of church finances. The Budget & Finance Committee will issue a report monthly to the church providing the current financial status of the church. The Budget & Finance Committee will develop an annual budget and present to the church for approval. The Church Treasurer will be the chairperson for the Budget & Finance Committee.

Section 2: Benevolence Committee - The Benevolence Committee shall be composed of the deacons and be responsible for giving to needy individuals should the need arise. The church gives to the needy through Baptist Associations, special giving, and regular budgeted contributions. It is not the practice of the church to give to individuals in need. However, the Benevolence Committee in communication with the pastor may give church moneys to needy individuals in exceptional cases. Any expenditure by the Benevolence Committee must be duly reported to the treasurer and the church body at the next business meeting of the church.

Section 3: Activities Committee - The Activities Committee will lead the church in developing a program for meaningful spiritual activities for the church.

Section 4: Education and Vacation Bible School Committee - The Education and Vacation Bible School Committee will lead the congregation to religiously educate it by organizing and staffing the study of Scripture, of Christian doctrine, and of secular subjects directly related to Christian education.

Section 5: Nominating Committee - The Nominating Committee will bring nominations before the church to fill vacancies as they occur, or to address other needs as designated by the church.

Section 6: Pastoral Search Committee - The Pastoral Search Committee will bring recommendations before the church to fill a vacancy in the position of pastor. A pastor shall be chosen and called by the church whenever a vacancy occurs. The pastor search committee will make periodic reports to the church, and will present their recommendation to the church for vote in business session. A favorable vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of members present is required for the call of a pastor.

Section 7: Ad Hoc Committees - The moderator, with the approval of the church, may appoint ad hoc committees and chairpersons to deal with specific matters that are expected to be of limited duration. Upon task completion the ad hoc committee will be dissolved.

Section 8: Other Church Committees - The church may elect other committees, as it deems necessary to fulfill the mission of the church.

ARTICLE VI: ORDINANCES

The ordinances of the church are Baptism, Communion and Ordination.

Section 1: Baptism

Baptism by immersion is the customary form of baptism for this church and is encouraged for those persons who publicly acknowledge Christ as Lord for the first time. Rebaptism is not required for persons who have previously been a member of another Christian fellowship and were baptized by a mode of baptism other than immersion, unless requested by the individual.

Section 2: Communion

The Holy ordinance of Communion is a covenant between a believer and God. Communion at this church is open to whoever takes it.

Section 3: Ordination

This church may call individuals to special service through ordination. The church shall approve candidates for ordination and establish a charge for their ordination. Church membership may individually bless the candidate during ordination.

ARTICLE VII – AFFILIATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

This church voluntarily affiliates with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

ARTICLE VIII – RATIFICATION AND CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION OR BYLAWS

The initial ratification of the Constitution and Bylaws will be by a favorable vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of those present. The Constitution or Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting of the church. The proposed amendment shall be presented to the church in writing at least thirty days prior to the time of voting.

Adopted on June 3, 2007