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ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this Church shall be St. John's United Church of Christ, Boalsburg, County of Centre, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ARTICLE II - MISSION The mission of St. John's United Church of Christ, Boalsburg is: to worship the living God; to build upon the foundation for living, given in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, our Savior; to share and proclaim God's love as a community of believers in fellowship and service; and to aid and encourage individuals to grow spiritually to their fullest potential, empowered by the Holy Spirit. ARTICLE III - AFFILIATION This Church shall be a part of the United Church of Christ, and the Northern Association of the Penn Central Conference, and it shall sustain that relationship to the United Church of Christ described in those portions of the Constitution and By-Laws of the United Church of Christ relating to local churches adopted July 4,1961 and subsequent revisions. ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP Membership in this Congregation shall be open to any person who: desires to lead a Christian life; has been baptized, confirmed, received by letter of transfer, or reaffirmation of faith in the United Church of Christ; acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; and obligates himself to attend divine worship, commune regularly, and contribute to the support of the Church. ARTICLE V - MEETINGS The Congregation shall hold an annual meeting and such other congregational meetings as are provided for in the By-Laws. ARTICLE VI - ADMINISTRATION The supreme legislation and administrative power of the Congregation is vested in the Congregation itself, assembled in meeting as provided in the By-Laws and subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relating to non profit corporations. It shall be the prerogative of the Congregation to decide by vote, issues such as the buying and selling of real property, building projects, extensive repairs to church property, the calling of a pastor, election of consistory members, approving the budget, approving amendments to the Constitution, the philosophical direction of the work of the Congregation, and such other powers and prerogatives as set forth in the By-Laws. The transaction of all other business and the administration of the Church is entrusted to the Consistory chosen and composed as provided for in the By-Laws. ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be presented in writing at any regular or special meeting of the Congregation. Proposed amendments are to be forwarded to the Consistory for review only before a congregational meeting is called. Notice of a congregational meeting shall be as provided in the By-Laws. By a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present, such proposed amendments will be adopted. Adopted 1/1/94 By-Laws 1. The governing body (voting members) of this Congregation shall consist of all members in good standing as defined in Part VII. PART II - CONSISTORY 1. The Consistory shall be the executive body of this organization. It shall be composed of six elders and six deacons and one youth delegate. Seven of its members shall constitute a quorum. 2. The Consistory shall organize itself in the December meeting. A president, vice president, recording secretary, financial secretary and treasurer shall be elected for a term of one year. The president and vice president must be members of the Consistory and it is preferred that they be elders. Other officers need not be members of the Consistory. 3. Elders and deacons and the youth delegate shall be elected by a majority vote cast at a congregational meeting. The elders and deacons shall be elected for a term of three years; the youth delegate shall be elected for a one-year term. Elders and deacons may serve no more than seven (7) consecutive years. After an absence from the Consistory of one year, they may be re-elected. Two elders and two deacons shall be elected each year. 4. Nominations shall be made for the offices of elder and deacon and youth delegate by a committee appointed by the Consistory. The Consistory will provide for public notice of such nominations and notice shall be given to the Congregation at least two weeks before the election. Two additional nominations for each office may be made by the Congregation at the annual meeting. 5. When elected for the first time, the elders and deacons shall be publicly ordained and installed in their respective offices; thereafter, simply installed. 6. Vacancies on the Consistory shall be filled by Consistory appointment for the unexpired term. 7. The Consistory shall transact the business of the Church, make provisions for the determining and raising of the current expense budget for the Congregation, as well as for the apportionment of the Church and other benevolent projects, the distribution of alms through the deacons, the annual auditing of financial accounts, and the adequate support of the staff of workers. It shall keep a complete and accurate record and report to the Congregation at its regular and special meetings. It shall submit any or all records to the Conference as they may require or request. 8. The Consistory shall approve all bills for payment. 9. The Consistory may authorize any extraordinary expense, but if that expense exceeds 1.5% of the annual general budget, it must receive the approval of the Congregation. Emergency expenditures exceeding 1.5% of the annual general budget may be authorized by Consistory without the approval of the Congregation. 10. The Consistory, through its president, and in consultation with the pastor, shall appoint standing committees as defined in Part V. 11. The Consistory shall meet at least once every month. Special consistory meetings may be called by the president or the pastor. Deacons 12. A deacon is a member of the Church elected by the Congregation and ordained to his or her office. He/she shall aid in securing the funds necessary for the support of the Church, foster the principles of stewardship, and dispense the charities of the Church. Elders 13. An elder is a member of the Church who is elected by the Congregation and ordained to his or her office. He/she shall assist and support the pastor in the spiritual affairs of the Church. An elder shall take heed to oneself that he/she may be an example unto others, guard faithfully all the spiritual interests of the Congregation, maintain order in the house of God, aid in visiting the sick and administer according to his or her ability to the edification and comfort of all members. Youth Delegate 14. A youth delegate is a member of the church elected by the Congregation and ordained to his/her office. The youth delegate must be enrolled in grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 during part of the elected term. He/she is a voting member of Consistory responsible for representing the interests of the Congregation's youth. PART III - SPIRITUAL COUNCIL 1. The Spiritual Council shall consist of the pastor or pastors and the elders of the Congregation who are members in good standing as defined in Part VII. It shall oversee the distribution of the elements for the Lord's Supper and the spiritual well being of the Congregation. Upon request, it shall issue letters of transfer to members in good standing. 2. The pastor shall be the chairperson of the Spiritual Council. PART IV - THE PASTOR 1. The Congregation shall elect as pastors only ministers who have been recommended or approved by the Conference office of which the Congregation is a part. 2. The Consistory shall nominate one candidate for the pastorate to be voted upon by the Congregation. The Congregation shall consider only one candidate at a time and shall vote by ballot for or against his or her election. If he/she is elected, the Consistory shall then tender him or her a call according to the form prescribed by the Conference. The call must be confirmed by the Penn Central Conference. 3. The change in pastor shall be in accordance with the By-Laws of the United Church of Christ. 4. The pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period. In order to terminate this relationship, three months notice shall be given by either the pastor or the Congregation. 5. It shall be the duty of the pastor to set a good example for the Congregation, conduct all services on Sundays, holy days and such other days as the Congregation may desire, direct the work of religious education, administer the Holy Sacrament, visit the sick, comfort the distressed, and perform all such duties as belong to the pastor's office in the United Church of Christ. He/she shall make an annual report of his or her work to the Congregation. 6. The pastor or pastors are ex-officio members of all organizations within the Congregation. PART V - STANDING COMMITTEES 1. A standing committee shall act for and on behalf of the Congregation and Consistory. Committees shall maintain an awareness of the Church activities and interests in their designated areas of responsibility but shall seek the approval of Consistory in executing their duties. Likewise, as matters of concern arise before the Consistory as a whole, the President shall refer the matter to the appropriate committee for study and recommendation. 2. Each committee shall have a Chairperson or Co-Chairpersons. Each Chairperson shall appoint one member as secretary to maintain a file of all committee reports and proceedings. Chairpersons shall be responsible for calling committee meetings and notifying all members. All committees shall meet not less than quarterly and shall report to the Consistory on a regular basis. 3. Each committee shall prepare a budget to finance the yearly program it outlines and shall submit it to the Finance Committee for inclusion in the annual budget. 4. Each committee shall be composed of at least five (5) individuals, but shall determine for itself the appropriate size necessary to fulfill its obligations. A member of the Consistory should be appointed to each committee. 5. It is recognized that there are other groups and organizations, such as the Women's Group, that make significant contributions to the well being of the Church. Worship and Music Committee 6. This committee shall oversee the worship and safety needs of the Congregation. It shall be responsible for recruiting and training of ushers, greeters, and acolytes, providing oversight for the worship and music program of the Church, decorating the sanctuary for special occasions, recruiting persons to deliver flowers to the sick and shut-ins, preparing the elements for communion and baptism, helping to plan worship celebrations, and maintaining paraments, robes, and altarware. This committee shall also be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the pipe organ, piano, hand bells, and chimes; they shall coordinate tunings and repairs as required. Finance Committee 7. This committee shall be responsible for all aspects of the financial life of the Church, including but not limited to the assessment of financial needs, the raising of money, the financial record keeping, the overseeing of those records, and the annual auditing of the financial records. This committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget in consultation with the other standing committees. It shall monitor, throughout the fiscal year, the income and expenses of the Congregation and shall keep the Consistory and other standing committees informed as to the status of the current budget. The Finance Committee shall maintain proper Church insurance and see that proper bonds are maintained on those individuals who manage the daily finances of the Church. Property Committee 8. This committee shall be responsible for all tangible property owned by the Congregation, including but not limited to the Church owned buildings, furniture, and equipment and supplies. This committee shall be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all properties, including custodial services. It shall call attention to repairs and improvements as needed and supervise commercial and/or volunteer maintenance and improvement efforts. This committee shall project future maintenance and other needs. It shall be responsible for developing contract specifications and seeking qualified bids for major repairs and improvements. It shall be responsible for complete management of rental properties. It shall serve as a focal point for the examination of the purchase or sale of any real property. Christian Education Committee 9. This committee shall be responsible for providing the support functions necessary to carry out the total educational ministry of the Church, including Sunday school, nursery, vacation bible school, youth fellowship, and continuing education for laity, bible study, and the Church library. Evangelism Committee 10. This committee shall be responsible for encouraging the spiritual growth of the Congregation. It shall undertake steps appropriate to reach out and encourage church involvement of active, inactive, new, and prospective members. It shall also be responsible for overall publicizing of the Church using such media as it deems appropriate. The committee shall give oversight to the visitation and tape ministry programs. Stewardship and Mission Committee 11. This committee shall be responsible for educating the Congregation in the areas of stewardship and mission; encouraging members to be good stewards of their time, talents, and treasures; promoting mission work of the Church at home and abroad; and involving members in reaching out to our neighbors, locally and worldwide. Church and Ministry Committee 12. This committee shall promote good relations among the staff and Congregation. It shall develop and interpret a job description for all staff positions. This committee shall provide to the Finance Committee a recommendation as to staff salaries and benefits as part of the annual budget process. The committee shall periodically evaluate existing staff members and interview and make recommendations to the Consistory for filling vacant positions. This committee shall encourage the enlistment of young men and women into the Christian ministry and shall encourage staff members to continue their training and education. Fellowship Committee 13. This committee shall be responsible for providing fellowship activities for the Congregation, including but not limited to church dinners, picnics, sport activities, trips, socials, fellowship hours and where appropriate, dinners for bereaved families. It shall also be responsible for the upkeep of the kitchen and supplies. PART VI - CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS 1. The annual meeting of the Congregation shall be held in the month of November of each year. The Congregation shall be notified of the date, time and place of the meeting at least two weeks in advance. At this meeting the Consistory, the officers of the Church, the pastor, and all church organizations shall submit their annual reports in writing. Additional business shall include the approval of a new budget, election of new Consistory members, and other business as required. 2. Special meetings of the Congregation may be called by the Consistory, or by petition to the Consistory signed by not less than five percent of the members in good standing as defined in Part VII. It shall be incumbent upon the Consistory to announce said special meeting within two weeks from receipt of said petition. The Congregation shall be notified of the date, time, and place of the meeting at least two weeks in advance. Special meetings may be called by the Consistory as provided for in other sections of the By-Laws. 3. Twenty-five members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for all congregational meetings. PART VII - MEMBERS 1. Membership in this Congregation shall be open to any person who: desires to lead a Christian life, has been baptized, confirmed, received by letter of transfer, or reaffirmation of faith in the United Church of Christ; acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and obligates oneself to attend divine worship, commune regularly, and contribute to the support of the Church. 2. To be in good standing, members of the Church are expected to live sober, righteous and godly lives and labor faithfully to bring others to Christ. They shall take an active part in the life and work of the Church. This shall include regular attendance at divine worship, devout use of the Holy Sacraments, diligent observance of private devotions, liberal financial and moral support towards the maintenance of the Church and its benevolent undertakings, regard for its established law and authority, untiring zeal in bringing the unchurched under its influence and sincere endeavor to apply the teachings of Jesus to all human relationships. 3. All members in good standing are entitled to a voice, to vote, and to hold office, unless otherwise stated in the Constitution or By-Laws. 4. All members are entitled to a full share in the fellowship and spiritual blessings of the Church, and the services of its pastor, officials and other workers, as well as to the Christian sympathy and support of all members. 5. If a member shall neglect to partake of the Holy Communion, refuse to contribute to the support of the Church, or continuously absent oneself from the public worship for one year, he/she shall be contacted by the Spiritual Council and encouraged to renew their commitment to the Church. If he/she continues in such neglect of duty for another year, the Council shall again contact the individual and make every effort to show care and concern for that individual's absence. If, at the end of the third year, he/she shall give no evidence of change of heart and conduct, the Council, at their discretion, shall notify the individual to ascertain their membership intentions. 6. If any member of the Church shall unite with another congregation without a letter of transfer, the Spiritual Council shall remove his or her name from the church register. PART VIII - OBLIGATION TO THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 1. The Congregation is expected to regularly contribute towards the support of all branches of the United Church of Christ, according to the rules of the United Church of Christ and the Conference. 2. The Congregation shall make such reports to the Conference authorities as may be requested. 3. Voting delegates and alternates to the annual meeting of the Penn Central Conference shall be selected each year. The portion of the traveling expenses not paid by Penn Central Conference, and the registration fees of the pastor, delegates, and alternates shall be paid by the Congregation. PART IX - DISCIPLINE 1. Discipline in cases of conduct deemed un-Christian, lies in the hands of the Spiritual Council, except in the case of the pastor. Discipline in the case of a pastor shall be in conformance with the By-Laws of the United Church of Christ. PART X - RULES OF ORDER 1. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the Parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these By-Laws. PART XI - AMENDMENTS 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be presented in writing at any regular or special meeting of the Congregation. Proposed amendments are to be forwarded to the Consistory for review only before a congregational meeting is called. Meetings shall be in accordance with the provisions of Part VI. By a two-third affirmative vote of the members present, such proposed amendments will be adopted. Adopted 11/23/97 Amended 11/16/03 Amended 1/18/04 |