We declare and establish this constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith, and to govern the body in an orderly manner. This constitution will preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in its relation to other churches. Article I NAME
This body shall be known as the Hopewell Union Church of Barnett, MO. We are a Bible believ
ing congregation of three denominations: currently Presbyterian, Christian, and Baptists. In the word-by-word inspiration and divine authority of the Holy Scriptures.
2. In one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit
3. In the Lord Jesus Christ as true God and true Man; His virgin birth, spotless humanity, vicarious death, bodily resurrection, present advocacy, and His personal, imminent, bodily, and visible return.
4. In the fall of man, resulting in his complete and universal separation from God and his need of salvation.
5. That the Lord Jesus Christ died and shed His blood as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.
6. That salvation is a free and everlasting gift of God, entirely apart from works, that every person is responsible to receive or reject salvation by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that a soul once truly saved can never be lost.
7. That the Holy Spirit regenerates with divine life and personally indwells the believer upon his faith in Christ for salvation.
8. In the bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost.
9. In the unending life of the saved with the Lord, and the unending punishment of the unsaved.
10. In the responsibility of each believer, motivated by the love of Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ and to live sacrificially for the proclamation of the Gospel into the entire world. Article III PURPOSE
The purpose of this church shall be to glorify God and His Son, Jesus Christ, as empowered by the Holy Spirit, through the teaching and preaching of the word of God, the administration of the ordinances, the spiritual growth of its members, a testimony to the community, and the winning of the lost, both here and throughout the world. Article IV LEGAL POWER
This organization shall have the power to buy, own, and sell real property; to receive donations; to erect, maintain, and operate buildings, camps, schools, and any other facilities for the purpose and advancement of this church. To borrow money and to issue bonds in compliance with proper legal requirements. To execute all contracts, mortgages, pledges, and promissory notes in connection therewith. To perform any and all acts necessary and proper to the purpose stated in Article III of this constitution. This authority shall be executed by the trustees of the church. Article V MEMBERSHIP
A. Any person desiring membership in this church must consent to the following procedure:
1. Make his or her request known to the pastor or to one of the deacons.
2. Receive a copy of the church constitution for his/her examination and approval.
3. Meet with the pastor or a deacon for consultation regarding the individual’s experience of salvation.
4. Upon the candidate’s satisfactory confession of faith and his/her acceptance of the church constitution; to be baptized as a believer and received into the membership of the
Church. (Previous baptism may be accepted at the discretion of the consulting deacons.)
5. Candidates for membership shall not be accepted by letter alone, but shall also comply
with the previous sections. Duties
Members shall take part in and support the Church to the following agreement: CHURCH COVENANT
Since we have committed ourselves to Jesus Christ and have experienced the acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption of God our Father, we covenant together as members of this church that with God’s help through the guiding presence of His Spirit:
We will walk together in brotherly love. We will show loving care for one another and encourage, counsel, and admonish one another. We will assemble faithfully for worship and fellowship, and will pray earnestly for others as well as for ourselves. We will endeavor to bring up those under our care “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. We will seek, by Christian example and personal effort, to win others to Christ and to encourage their growth toward Christian maturity. We will share one another’s joys and sorrows. We will oppose all conduct which compromises our Christian faith and will uphold high standards of Christian morality. We will prove the reality of our conversion by living Godly, fruitful lives. We will maintain a faithful ministry of worship, witness, education, fellowship and service. We will be faithful stewards of our resources and abilities in sharing the Gospel with people of all nations. As a result of the covenant relationship, we will seek earnestly to glorify God in our daily lives. Active Roll of Members
1. Those who attend the services faithfully and seek to comply with the standards set forth in scripture and in this constitution.
2. Those who are actively engaged in out-of-town college work or military service and return for vacation or holidays.
3. Those who are actively engaged in missionary work and when home on furlough consider Hopewell Union Church as their home church.
4. Those who have been active members and have become shut-ins. Inactive Roll of Members
1. Those visited and who wish to be on the inactive roll.
2. Those visited and not in attendance for three months.
3. Those who have moved away and have not asked for a letter.
4. Those who are in regular attendance at other churches. Restoration
Persons on the inactive roll may be restored to the active roll on request when they resume the responsibilities of those on the active roll. Voting
Active members in good standing may introduce business and vote in business meetings of the church. Termination of Membership
Termination of membership shall be granted to any member upon written request, or at such a time as the full membership may deem necessary for the purpose of upholding the testimony of this church. Article VI LEADERSHIP
Members who are elected or appointed to any position in this church shall walk faithfully in fellowship with the Lord, and shall glorify God in their deportment. This walk should be according to Romans 6:4, Ephesians 5:15, and I Thessalonians 4:1 among other scriptures
Article VII OFFICERS
A. Pastor
1. The pastor shall meet the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, and I Peter 5:1-3.
2. In calling a pastor, he shall be nominated and elected by a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members of the church present at a meeting called for that purpose. The pastoral relationship may be dissolved at any time, either by the church or the pastor by written notice of such intent thirty to sixty days in advance. In dissolving the pastoral relationship, the decision shall rest upon not less than 2/3 majority vote of all the active members of the church present at a meeting called for that purpose.
3. It shall be the duty of the pastor to preach the Word, to oversee the services of worship and other meetings of the church, to administer the ordinances and promote the spiritual welfare of the church. He shall be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees. Deacon
1. The deacons shall meet the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13.
2. Each denomination may nominate candidates for deacon to be elected by a 2/3 vote of the voting members of the church present at a meeting called for that purpose.
3. The term of office for deacon shall be three years with right of succession with the same vote of the church.
4. Deacons may resign or be asked to resign with 30 days written notice.
5. A candidate for deacon must be an active member of the church in good and regular standing for at least one year before being elected.
6. It shall be the duty of the deacons to assist the pastor in administration of the ordinances. They shall counsel and cooperate with the pastor and assist him in the discharge of his duties. Upon the inability of the pastor to serve, they become a temporary Pulpit Supply Committee to see to the provision of speakers and the continuance of the ordinance observation as needed. It shall be their duty to visit the sick, the poor, and the distressed and generally keep in touch with the church family and to seek to develop the spiritual life of the members. The pastor and deacons are charged with the relief work for the poor. Those elected shall meet the Scriptural qualifications as outlined in 1 Timothy 3-8-13. They shall attend and actively support all phases of the church program; be at least tithers of their income and cooperative in spirit. The deacons shall have no authority over any member, agency, committee, or business matter, except as granted by the church. No one may serve until he has been a member of this church for 1 (one) year
Deacons shall meet monthly, and shall organize themselves as needed to carry on their tasks and shall select the Deacon Screening Committee from their ranks. There shall be 12 (twelve) or more deacons serving at all times. General Church Clerk
The Clerk shall be elected for a term of one year and shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the Church and shall keep a register of the membership with date of their reception and removal; record baptisms, marriages and deaths, and make a report of the same to each regular meeting of the church and a full report annually. The Clerk shall preserve on file all communications, documents, written official reports, notify all persons elected to office, give legal notice of all called meetings of the church when such notices are necessary; report all communications intended for the church and conduct the correspondence as may be necessary. Denominational Church Clerk
The duties of the Denominational Church clerk shall be the same as those of the General Church Clerk within their denominations. The Denominational Clerk shall issue letters of transfer and shall report that information to the General Church Clerk. Church Treasurer
The Church Treasurer shall keep all records and accounting of all the monies received and disbursed for the proper functions of the Church. The Treasurer shall make a written report for each regular business meeting, and a full written annual report. Disbursing of the money in the church fund shall be done by the authority of the voting members or the Church Trustees. The Church Treasurer shall be elected annually. Sunday School Treasurer
The duties of the Sunday School Treasurer shall keep all records and accounting of all the Sunday School monies receipts and disbursements for the proper function of the Sunday School. The Sunday School Treasurer shall be elected annually. Sunday School Superintendent
The duties of the Superintendent shall be to administer the Sunday School; to see that the material needs of the Sunday School are met; and to be informed of the spiritual needs of the Sunday School in general. The Sunday School Superintendent shall be rotated annually between the three denominations of the Church. Assistant Sunday School Superintendent
The duties of the assistant shall be to assist the superintendent as he may require and to assume the duties in the absence of the superintendent. The Assistant Sunday School Superintendent shall be rotated annually. Article VIII TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees shall consist of one member from each denomination. This board shall have the management and control of all property belonging to the church. It shall not encumber with loan, transfer, sell or purchase any real estate for the church except by the authorization conveyed through a 2/3 majority vote of the membership present at a constitutionally called meeting. The Board of Trustees shall have authority to dispose of church property up to $100.00, but any amount over shall be a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members present in a constitutionally called meeting. There shall be no merchandising in this church or on the church property EXCEPT for furthering the Gospel ministry. Article IX MEETINGS
A. Public Worship
The Pastor shall conduct services of worship on the Lord’s Day. The Pastor shall also have control of the pulpit on the Lord’s Day. The Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper shall be observed at least once each month on the Lord’s Day. Church Business Meetings
The church business meetings shall be conducted regularly at a frequency to be decided by the voting members of the church. All matters of business shall be decided in proper business meetings by simple majority vote of voting members present unless otherwise specified in this constitution. The rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall be used in the church business meetings in all cases where they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution. Special Business Meetings
Special business meetings may be called by the Pastor, the Board of Trustees, or on the written request of seven adult members specifying the object thereof. Such notice shall be read at the public service on the Lord’s Day at least one week preceding the day fixed for the meeting. No special meeting shall be held on the same day on which notice is given. The authority and decisions of the congregation shall be ultimate and final in any constitutionally called meeting. No other business except that previously announced shall be brought up at any special meeting. Deacons and Trustees Meetings
The Deacons shall meet regularly as often as they deem necessary. The Trustees shall meet regularly as often as they shall deem necessary
Article X
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Any Voting Member may propose amendments to this Constitution. The proposal must be presented in written form to the Board of Deacons four Sundays before the meeting to decide on the amendment. The church shall be notified of the proposed amendment two Sundays prior to the meeting to decide on the amendment. The proposed amendment will then require a 2/3 majority vote of the voting members present for its adoption.
