CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS

FELLOWSHIP CHURCH OF ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS

 

ARTICLE I. TITLE

The title of this church will be known as Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

 

 

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia exists to glorify God. This is accomplished through obedience to Christ's great commission to the church in Matthew 28:18-20 and his great commandments for his followers found in Matthew 22:36-39:

Christ's Great Commission

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

 

Christ's Great Commandments

36  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

37Jesus replied: '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (NIV)

 

ARTICLE III. STATEMENT OF FAITH

This church accepts the Baptist Faith and Message as its doctrinal statement. The church also affirms the Apostle's Creed (see McGrath, Alister. "I Believe": Exploring the Apostles' Creed. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1997).

 

 

ARTICLE IV. AFFILIATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

This church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denominational control. Recognizing, however, the benefits of cooperation with other churches in advancing God’s kingdom, this church voluntarily affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention in its national, state (Arkansas Baptist State Convention), and local expressions (Red River Baptist Association). The church also will partner with other evangelical ministries for the purpose of missions, resource sharing, and mutual edification.

ARTICLE V. MEMBERSHIP

 

Section I. Church Membership

Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia is composed of all those who have trusted and confess Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, have been baptized as believers, and have been accepted into membership. Those who desire to join Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia can do so by baptism, statement, or transfer of letter, and by signing the membership covenant. The church may refuse membership to one who:

a.     Does not confess Christ as Savior and Lord

b.    Has not been baptized as a believer

c.    Is unwilling to accept responsibilities of church membership

 

Section 2. Responsibilities of Church Members

Each member of Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia accepts responsibility to the Lord and to other church members to actively pursue a growing, maturing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Members also accept responsibility to protect the unity of Fellowship Church, to support the ministry of Fellowship Church, and to nurture the health of Fellowship Church under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

 

Section 3. Discipline of Church Members

It is the church's responsibility to guide and correct its members who demonstrate sinful, unrepentant behavior. This discipline is always to be done for the ultimate goals of glorifying God, maintaining the health and unity of the church, and restoring the individual.

 

Section 4. Removal from the Church Membership

Church members may be removed from membership by a written request to be removed either from the members themselves or from another church with whom they have affiliated.

  

ARTICLE VI. MINISTRY ORGANIZATION

 

Fellowship Church of Arkadelphia has chosen to function under a system of congregational government as described as below:

 

Section 1: Pastors/Elders/Overseers

The elders/pastors/overseers are appointed by the congregation to be ministry leaders who are responsible for leading the church as informed by Scripture under the lordship of Jesus Christ. They must meet the scriptural qualifications as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. They are charged with the tasks of exemplifying godly character, providing visionary leadership, safeguarding doctrinal fidelity, and equipping the church members for ministry.
 

Section 2: Deacons

The deacons will function as servant leaders as outlined by scripture (see Acts 6; 1 Timothy 3; and Titus 1). They will be selected and affirmed by the congregation. They can be dismissed in the same manner as elders.

 

Section 3: Church Staff

Ministry staff includes those individuals who fill positions as program managers and directors. They should be people exemplifying godly character, growing in their walk with Christ, and gifted in their area of leadership. The Leadership Team shall determine their responsibilities, job descriptions, and appointments. The Leadership Team shall be responsible for the administrative supervision of the ministry staff. Any member of the ministry staff may be removed by a general consensus decision of the Leadership Team.

 

Section 5: Leadership Team

The elders/pastors/overseers, deacons, and staff of the church will function in an entity known as the Leadership Team. The Leadership Team appoints trustees to execute legal documents required by law. The church empowers the Leadership Team to make decisions in its behalf. It is the responsibility of the Leadership Team to sacrificially serve the congregation by being careful observers of their needs and listeners to their ideas and concerns. The Leadership Team and the congregation will function in a relationship similar to that of a healthy family. Decisions will be made by consensus.

 

Pastoral elders can be added to the church at the recommendation of the Leadership Team. After a time of dialogue with the pastoral candidate, the congregation will make a decision on the candidate based on general consensus. Pastoral elders will serve continuous terms on the Leadership Team.

 

Any member of the Leadership Team can be dismissed by the consensus of the Leadership Team. Church members are invited to express concerns about individual leadership team members in a manner consistent with 1Timothy 5:19. Normal grounds for dismissal include: a) becoming physically or emotionally incapable of performing leadership duties, b) failure to meet the spiritual and moral qualifications of Christian leadership as outlined in Scripture, c) failure to agree with key doctrinal issues as considered non-negotiable by the Leadership Team, d) and failure to uphold Fellowship Church's membership covenant in an exemplary manner.
 

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS

 

The church Leadership Team shall review this document as necessary. Any amendments, modifications, or changes will be initiated by the Leadership Team and affirmed by the church. The church will be informed of any proposed changes and the reason for such changes and opportunities for input and discussion will be given. If a general consensus is reached by the church concerning the changes, they will be implemented in a revision of the Constitution/ByLaws.