ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this church shall be the PLYMOUTH VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH doing business as PLYMOUTH VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH of Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Year 1952.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purpose of this church shall be the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. As an evangelistic church, we purpose to be disciples of Jesus Christ by:

Attracting and leading the unsaved to Jesus,

Encouraging Christians to devote themselves to God's purpose in their lives,

Providing a climate in which the worship of God, Christian Education, personal spiritual growth, and fellowship occur,

Equipping Christians for and engaging them in effective mission and ministry to reach the Plymouth Valley area and beyond, and

Challenging Christians to be faithful stewards of all of God's resources.

 

ARTICLE III

POLITY

Recognizing Jesus Christ as the only head of the Church, this congregation shall seek to ascertain and to obey the will of our Lord in all matters of faith and practice. Authority to reach decisions for governing the spiritual and temporal affairs of this church is given to us by Christ. We hold that such authority and responsibility is vested in the membership of the congregation, as represented by the Council of Elders and the appropriate boards.

We shall be a cooperating church of the Central Union Association, the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware, and the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

A. Qualifications For Membership

        Membership in this church shall be open to all persons who:

Confess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Acknowledge Jesus as Lord of their lives,

Have been previously baptized (by any manner),

Make a public profession before the congregation of Christ as Lord and Savior,

Consent to be governed by this constitution, and

Desire to be active in the ministry of this church.

        Baptism at Plymouth Valley Community Church shall be by immersion.

B. Entry Into Membership

Persons who desire to become members of this Church must make application to the Pastor and attend designated classes. They shall be interviewed by a Board of selected members of the Deacons of the church with respect to their qualifications for membership (Article IV, Section A). Upon the affirmative recommendation of the Board of Deacons, they shall be received into membership at a worship service of the church by an affirmation from the majority of the members present. Their planned reception into membership will be announced two weeks prior to the service.

C. Duties Of Members

        By entry into and continuance in membership, each member agrees:

To seek to live, by the grace of God, a holy life,

To regularly attend the services and support the programs of this church,

To contribute financially to the upkeep and ministry of this church, using the tithe as a guide to giving,

To use his or her spiritual gift(s) in the ministry of this church, and

To offer positive encouragement to the leadership of this church.

Removal of Members

Members who unite with other churches shall be removed from membership into the care of their new churches.

Members who die shall be placed on a roll of deceased members.

Members may resign their membership at any time, by written notification to the Board of Deacons.

Membership is a privilege granted by and revocable by the Church as a whole; it is not a right. Members who appear to be disregarding their duties of membership shall be contacted and counseled by the Deacons. If duties of membership continue to be disregarded a written communication from the Deacons will be sent detailing the Duties of Membership as stated in Article IV of this constitution, confirming the results of the previous personal contact and seeking written agreement to faithfully keep their membership commitment. Failure to respond or demonstrate a renewed commitment within a reasonable time will result in a second written notice from the Deacons informing the member that at the next congregational business meeting they will be recommended for removal from membership unless the Deacons are contacted. A majority vote of the congregation will result in the removal of the individual from membership.

Any member who persistently and unrepentantly fails in any of his or her membership duties may be removed from membership at any time, upon recommendation by the Board of Deacons, by a majority vote at a congregational business meeting. The procedure outlined for members disregarding their duties of membership would not be adhered to in these circumstances.

Associate Member

If a member is unable to fully meet his/her obligations as a member, he/she may be moved to an associate Member Status. This may be done either at their own request or by majority vote of the congregation at a Congregational Business Meeting. Associate members will be entitled to the rights and privileges of membership except they do not have the right to vote at church business meetings. Once each year the Board of Deacons will review the list of Associate Members and determine if anyone should be removed from the membership rolls. Approval of the membership would not be required. An associate member can apply to the Board of Deacons to be reinstated as a voting member. Approval of the membership would not be required.

 

ARTICLE V

THE PASTORATE

A. Characteristics

The Pastor shall be characterized by the qualifications for office stated in I Timothy 3:1-7, I Timothy 4:6-16; II Timothy 4:1-5, Titus 1:5-9, and I Peter 5:1-4.

The Pastor shall:

Bear witness of a calling to the Christian ministry,

Have received college and seminary degrees prior to accepting the call to serve this church, and

Be a regularly ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A.

B. Duties Of The Pastor

The Pastor shall:

Be the preaching elder of the church and lead in the services of public worship, preach the Gospel and conduct the ordinances.

Set an example for all believers in word and deed, making prayer and spiritual life of the highest priority.

Set a vision for the church regarding its purpose and direction, motivating and guiding the members.

Make the Great Commission primary business, ever increasing in knowledge and expertise regarding the growth of the church in quality and quantity.

Oversee the training of all leaders of the church, teaching and equipping persons for the use of their spiritual gifts.

Direct and coordinate the ministry of paid staff persons, all of whom shall be accountable to the Pastor in conjunction with the Council of Elders and the appropriate boards and committees.

Be a voting member of all church boards and committees, influencing them to achieve the vision and purpose of the church.

C. Pastoral Staff

Other full-time ministerial staff members shall be characterized by the same qualifications for office as those of the Senior Pastor, that is, those stated in I Timothy 3:1-7, I Timothy 4:6-16, II Timothy 4:1-5, Titus 1:5-9, and I Peter 5:1-4.

Other full-time ministerial staff members shall:

Bear witness of a calling to the Christian ministry, and

Have received a college degree prior to accepting the call to serve this church.

Part-time staff may be recommended by the appropriate boards and hired based on appropriate qualifications, not having to meet the qualifications stated for the other full-time ministerial staff members.

D. Termination Of Pastorate

The term of office may be ended upon thirty days notice on the part of the Pastor or other full-time ministerial staff members or sixty days notice on the part of the church. In case of termination by the church, the church shall have the option of terminating the office earlier and paying the compensation for the balance of the sixty days. Any grievance against the Senior Pastor or other full-time ministerial staff members shall be taken to the Board of Deacons. The Deacons may involve the Area Minister or some other form of third-party mediation in an attempt to resolve the conflict. If the grievance is not resolved at the level of the Board of Deacons, they shall submit the grievance to the Council of Elders, who shall use all appropriate methods to resolve the grievance. If the grievance is not resolved at the level of the Council of Elders, they shall call a business meeting of the church. Notice of such meeting and its purpose shall be read from the pulpit on the two Sundays immediately preceding the called business meeting. A majority roll call vote of the total church membership shall make valid termination of said office.

 

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS

The officers of Plymouth Valley Community Church shall be the Moderator, the Treasurer, the Clerk and the Pastor.

A. Duties Of Officers

Moderator: A Moderator shall be elected at an annual election. He or she shall preside at all business meetings of the congregation and the Council of Elders, be an ex-officio member of all boards and committees, and encourage and assist them in their work.

Treasurer: A Treasurer shall be elected at an annual election. He or she shall keep an accurate account of all monies deposited in the bank, pay by check all approved obligations of the church, make detailed reports to the church at each regular business meeting and at the annual meeting, be a member of the Board of Stewards.

Clerk: A Clerk shall be elected at an annual election. He or she shall keep record of all transactions at business meetings of the church and of the Council of Elders and conduct all official correspondence in the name of the church.

The Pastor: (see Article V, Section B, #7.)

B. Terms Of Office Of Officers And Board Members.

Church officers, board chairpersons, and board members shall be elected to two year terms and may be re-elected for two succeeding terms for a maximum of six years in one position.

A minimum of half of the board chairpersons and half of the board members of each board shall be elected each year. If there are resignations prior to term completion, additional individuals must be elected.

When a board chairperson or board member resigns prior to completing their term the person elected as their replacement shall complete the remainder of the original two year term.

Attendance And Participation Of Officers And Board Members

All members of all boards shall attend regular meetings and participate actively in the functioning of the group, and whenever unable to do so shall notify the chair. Members who are absent from board meetings for more than three (3) months shall have their status reviewed by the member's board for consideration of action. Any recommendation for action shall be referred to the Council of Elders.

D. Qualifications For Officers And Board Members

Officers, board members and committee members shall be members of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church as stated in Article IV, C.

 

ARTICLE VII

ELDERS

There shall be a Council of Elders. Elders should strive to exhibit the character, experience and ability to teach and preach, direct the affairs of the church, shepherd the flock of God, and guard the church from error. The Elders shall consist of the chairpersons of the Board of Teachers, Deacons, Witnesses and Stewards; the Moderator, the Elder at Large and the Pastor. The elders shall enlist the Church Clerk, who will function as a non-voting secretary.

The Moderator shall chair the Council of Church Elders. The Elders shall strive for unanimity in all decisions.

A. Duties Of The Elders

The Elders shall:

Be responsible for generating, promoting and maintaining a vision for the church.

Oversee, coordinate and evaluate all staff and ministries of the church in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Great Commission in mind.

Oversee, coordinate and evaluate the work of all boards, encouraging them in their work, coordinating their efforts and resolving disputes when necessary.

Nominate a Nominating Committee for election by the congregation.

Review and evaluate all matters of importance before they are presented to the congregation.

Appoint committees as necessary for the carrying out of their work.

B. Qualifications Of Elders

The Elders shall:

Exhibit the spiritual gifts of prophecy, encouragement, leadership and discernment.

Have been a member of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church for a minimum of two years.

 

ARTICLE VIII

BOARDS

A. The Board Of Deacons

Duties of the Board of Deacons

The Board of Deacons shall:

Be responsible for the ministries of worship and caring.

Plan and administrate all services of worship with the Pastor, generating ideas for meaningful, relevant, inspiring and faithful worship with a view toward spiritual and numerical growth.

Model and encourage both corporate and private ministries of prayer, and see that prayer is central for all church ministry.

Oversee, with the elders, the spiritual life of the congregation and inspire and model spiritual growth, both personal and corporate.

Interview candidates for church membership, discern their relationship with Christ, and make appropriate recommendations to the church.

Generate, maintain and promote a ministry of watch care over the membership of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church; this ministry shall include caring, hospitality, fellowship, and nurture, touching each and every member.

Generate, maintain, and promote conflict resolution and reconciliation among the membership; this ministry shall focus especially on the prevention of conflict and on the facilitation of honest and positive communication.

Contact, counsel, and make recommendations concerning members who appear to be disregarding their duties.

Be responsible for the administration of the fellowship/benevolence fund.

Appoint committees as necessary for the carrying out of their work.

2. Qualifications Of Deacons

The Deacons shall:

Exhibit the spiritual gifts of discernment, caring, service and administration.

Have been a member of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church for at least one year.

B. The Board Of Stewards

1. Duties Of The Board Of Stewards

The Board of Stewards shall:

Model and encourage stewardship both corporate and private, and see that the Biblical concept of the tithe is encouraged as a guide for giving. They shall generate a ministry of stewardship that creates a financial climate in which ministry can grow and flourish.

Maintain and oversee the physical plant of the church so that it accommodates ministries and invites growth.

Coordinate the production of an annual budget for all church ministries and operations, and recommend such to the elders for congregational approval.

Generate and maintain an accounting and auditing of all church receipts and expenditures.

Generate and maintain financial procedures that facilitate and encourage program ministries.

Administrate, account, and audit the funds of Plymouth Valley Christian Nursery School in conjunction with the total finances of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church.

Be empowered to make necessary emergency unbudgeted expenditures up to $5,000 and notify the congregation of such expenditures at the next worship service. Refer any sale or lien of church property to the congregation. Approval requires a two-thirds majority vote of total membership by roll call.

Appoint committees as necessary for the carrying out of their work.

2. Qualifications Of Stewards

Stewards shall:

Exhibit the spiritual gifts of giving, service and administration.

Have been a member of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church for t least one year.

C. The Board Of Witnesses

1. Duties Of The Board Of Witnesses

The Board of Witnesses shall:

Generate, maintain and promote an evangelism ministry at Plymouth Valley Community Church to reach the Plymouth Valley community and beyond.

Generate, maintain and promote mission work in the Plymouth Valley community and beyond.

Support other related evangelical and mission-oriented ministries, beginning with American Baptist ministries but not limited to such.

Maintain a growing edge of awareness in the most faithful and effective evangelism and missions.

Promote not only support of other agencies but also direct personal involvement in evangelism and missions.

Oversee the work of American Baptist Men and the American Baptist Women Organizations.

Promote the publicity of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church to increase the profile and visibility of its ministries in the community and beyond.

Appoint committees as necessary for the carrying out of their work.

2. Qualifications Of Witnesses

Witness shall:

Exhibit the gifts of evangelism, mercy, service and administration.

Have been a member of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church for at least one year.

D. The Board Of Teachers

1. Duties Of The Board Of Teachers

The Board of Teachers shall:

Be responsible for the ministry of Christian education and leadership development,

Generate, maintain and promote the Sunday School of Plymouth Valley Community Church,

Oversee the ministry of Plymouth Valley Christian Nursery School with a view toward reaching and teaching children in Christ.

The Director shall:

Be an ex-officio member of the Board of Teachers. It shall be preferable, but not mandatory, for the Director to be a member of Plymouth Valley Community Church.

Recommend policy, personnel changes and proposed budget to the Board of Teachers.

Nominate a Nursery School Advisory Committee to be appointed by the Board of Teachers.

Extend the teaching ministry of the church into the work of other Boards, researching and helping to train them in their various ministries, insuring a growing edge of expertise and effectiveness.

Appoint committees as necessary for the carrying out of their work

 

2. Qualifications of Teachers

Teachers shall:

Exhibit the spiritual gifts of teaching and administration.

Have been a member of Plymouth Valley Baptist Church for at least one year.

 

ARTICLE IX

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Special committees shall be appointed by the Council of Elders with majority approval of those members in attendance at a church business meeting.

A. Constitution Committee

The duties of this committee shall be:

To interpret the existing Constitution.

To review and make recommendations relative to the existing constitution.

B. Nominating Committee

Includes each board chairperson and others appointed by the Elders, as needed and approved by a majority vote of members in attendance at a church business meeting.

Nominations

To be announced at least two weeks before elections.

At least one person to be nominated for every position.

All candidates shall have given permission before being nominated.

May appoint non-voting junior members to each board upon recommendation by the youth ministry.

C. Search Committee

Composition

One representative shall be elected by each Board.

Moderator, who shall serve as chair, and Elder at Large.

Two at-large members to be nominated by the Nominating Committee.

Elected by a majority vote of members in attendance at a church business meeting.

Duties and Procedures

The committee shall investigate the merits of each person under consideration in regard to the characteristics specified in Article V, Section A, to determine his or her fitness for said pastorate. When a suitable person is found, the committee shall recommend the candidate to the church for consideration.

The Call

The call of a pastor or another full-time ministerial staff member shall come before the church at a duly called business meeting, notice of such meeting and its purpose having been read from the pulpit on the two Sundays immediately preceding the called business meeting. A three-fourth's vote of the church members attending the business meeting shall be necessary to extend a call. Only one candidate shall be presented to the church at a time. The vote shall be by written ballot.

Conditions Of The Call

The call to the pastorate of the church shall be prepared by the Search Committee in consultation with the Board of Deacons and the Board of Stewards. It shall include a job description indicating the expectations of both the church and the pastor; it shall also include base salary, housing provision and/or allowance, social security, health and accident insurance, vacation period, provision for attendance at the annual meeting of the American Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania and Delaware and the biennial meeting of the American Baptist Convention, U.S.A., and continuing education and opportunities for ministry in other places.

 

ARTICLE X

CHURCH BUSINESS MEETINGS

A. Meetings Of The Congregation

Congregational meetings will be held as necessary. The Elders will set the specific dates.

Notice of meetings shall be given in writing and announced from the pulpit two weeks in advance.

A quorum for the transaction of business shall be twenty-five percent (25%) of the total church membership, and voting members must be 18 years of age or older. Unless otherwise stipulated in this constitution, motions will be passed by majority vote.

Provision shall be made for absentee ballots. They must be signed and submitted to the Moderator prior to the relevant business meeting.

Nominations from the floor will not be accepted.

 

ARTICLE XI

CHURCH YEAR

The Church Year, fiscal and program, will run from July 1 to June 30.

 

ARTICLE XII

AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION

Amendments may be made at one of the regular business meetings of this church by a two-thirds majority vote of members present.

Public notice of the amendment must be made in writing on the two successive Sundays preceding the business meeting at which the amendment will be introduced.

 

ARTICLE XIII

RULES OF ORDER