Crossroads Baptist Church

SECTION 1. THE PASTOR

A. CALLING A PASTOR

1. When a vacancy occurs in the pastorate, the deacons shall elect a pulpit committee of five (5) to nine (9) godly men of the church. The committee shall be comprised of no less than two (2), nor more than four (4) deacons; and no less than two (2), nor more than five (5) members. The committee may also include up to (2) two assisting pastors. The chairman of the deacons shall be the chairman of this committee. No active member of the pulpit committee shall be considered for the vacancy.

2. The purpose of this committee shall be to seek, interview and examine a suitable pastor who is biblically qualified and espouses a methodology compatible with the needs of the church.

3. The committee should be united in spirit and in vote with no more than one (for a committee of 5 to 7 men) or two (for a committee of 8 to 9 men) dissensions or abstentions in presenting a candidate to the church body for consideration.

4. The candidate must preach a minimum of three messages to the church. He must meet with the church to explain and answer questions concerning his methodology, and his doctrinal beliefs.

5. The candidate’s wife shall also be questioned by the committee pertaining to her salvation testimony and support of our church constitution. She shall also give her salvation testimony to the church.

6. Voting is to be done immediately after the candidate preaches his final message and the questioning opportunity has been completed. A candidate must be approved by the church with at least a three-fourths (3/4ths) vote of the quorum.

7. Voting of one candidate must be done before another candidate can be considered and presented to the church.

8. A minimum salary shall be set by the church body before any candidates are considered. The final amount of his compensation shall be approved by the church at the time of the election of a pastor, depending on individual qualifications, experiences and needs.

9. The pulpit committee shall be responsible to notify the pastor-elect of the call, to report his response to the congregation, and to make the necessary arrangements for his relocation.

10. Upon the acceptance of the pastor-elect he and his wife shall be considered members of the church. Their children shall be voted into membership according to Article V, Section 3 of this constitution.

11. The deacons may elect an interim pastor to provide pulpit supply and assist in the leadership responsibilities of the church. He is to understand that this position is temporary. Any man accepting this position would be disqualified as a pastoral candidate for the vacancy unless his position as interim should be terminated for a period of at least three (3) months.

B. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PASTOR

He shall be an ordained or licensed Baptist minister, subscribing without reservation to the doctrinal statement as found in

Article III of this Constitution. He shall be qualified in accord with I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9. He shall not have been divorced or married to one who has been divorced.

C. DUTIES OF THE PASTOR

1. He will endeavor as a faithful servant to live and hold forth the Word of God. (I Timothy 4:12, I Peter 5:3)

2. He shall fulfill his spiritual duties in the church as outlined in the New Testament. These duties include the following:

a. Leading and overseeing the church body in its spiritual direction (Acts 20:17-31, I Timothy 3:5; 1 Peter 5:1-3; Hebrews 13:7,17)

b. Preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word without reservation or apology (Acts 20:17,28; I Timothy 4:13; 5:17; II Timothy 4:1-4)

3. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees connected with the church or any of its organizations.

4. The Pastor shall approve and invite only those guest speakers who subscribe without reservation to the doctrinal statement. The Pastor shall respectfully confer with the deacons when inviting speakers.

5. The Pastor shall approve all speakers for all church organizations and functions.

6. The Pastor shall be the moderator of the Church in the conducting of business. (Acts 15; Acts 20:28) At the Pastor’s judgment, he may entrust this duty to a deacon for a particular item of business or meeting.

D. COMPENSATION OF THE PASTOR

1. Salary – The pastor shall receive a salary and housing allowance at least adequate for meeting the financial needs of his family; a sum determined by mutual agreement between pastor and church, and paid in accordance with a mutual arrangement.

2. The pastor shall be entitled to an annual vacation with full pay in accordance with the following schedule: One week after six months, one additional week per year to a maximum of four weeks.

3. Car expense, insurance policies, retirement, education and other expenses in connection with church associated activities shall be considered and reviewed each fiscal year and acted upon as the church so chooses.

E. TERMINATION OR DISMISSAL OF THE PASTOR

1. The Pastor shall be free to resign as he feels led of the Holy Spirit but out of Christian courtesy shall give thirty (30) days written notice to the church.

2. Whenever dismissal proceedings may be in order against a pastor on grounds of proven immorality, heresy in doctrine, apostasy, or failing to properly attend his duties as pastor of the church, his services shall be terminated by a three-fourths (3/4ths) vote of the active church membership present and voting. In the event the congregation votes the pastor’s services terminate abruptly, the salary involved shall continue for thirty (30) days, and he shall be entitled to any earned and unused vacation pay on a pro-rata basis.

3. A recommendation for temporary financial provision may be made by the deacons, subject to approval by three-fourths vote of the active members present.

SECTION 2. ASSISTING PASTORS

A. CALLING OF THE ASSISTING PASTORS

1. The assisting pastors shall be employed with the same procedures as the hiring of any church staff other than the pastor as outlined in Article VI, Section 6.

2. The membership of an Assistant Pastor and his wife shall be in accordance with article 6 Section 1 A; 5, and 10.

B. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ASSISTING PASTORS

The qualifications of assisting pastors shall be the same as that of the pastor as noted in Article VI, Section 1, B.

C. DUTIES OF THE ASSISTING PASTORS

The assisting pastors shall be responsible to the church through the pastor. He shall be directly under the supervision of the pastor for all his duties.

D. COMPENSATION OF THE ASSISTING PASTORS

The compensation of the assisting pastors shall be determined by the same procedures as that of the pastor as noted in Article VI, Section 1, A, 8; and D, 1-3.

E. TERMINATION OR DISMISSAL OF THE ASSISTING PASTORS

1. The assisting pastors shall be free to resign as led of the Holy Spirit and out the Christian courtesy shall give thirty (30) days written notice to the pastor and church.

2. Since assisting pastors are answerable to the pastor, the pastor shall have authority to dismiss any of his assistants immediately for reasons sufficient to himself.

3. A recommendation for temporary financial provision may be made by the deacons, subject to approval by three-fourths vote of the active members present.

SECTION 3. DEACONS

A. QUALIFICATIONS:

1. The qualifications of all deacons shall be those set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-6.

2. These men must be active members for at least one (1) year, willing to follow the leadership of the Pastor, and to serve the assembly.

B. NUMBER AND TERM:

1. The number of deacons shall be determined by the church

according to its need.

2. The term of office shall be for two years, not to exceed two consecutive terms. No deacon shall be eligible for reelection until the expiration of twelve calendar months from the end of his second consecutive term.

C. DUTIES: THE DEACONS SHALL:

1. Assist the Pastor in promoting the spiritual welfare of the church, in conducting the services and in the administering of the ordinances.

2. Visit the sick, distressed and unfaithful members of the church.

3. Approve with the Pastor the type and kind of public assemblies on the church property.

4. Review and update the church roll regularly and prior to the annual business meeting in cooperation with the church clerk.

5. Be responsible for the supply of speakers for the pulpit when the church is without a Pastor.

6. Hold in trust and have oversight of the property of the church. Keep the same in good repair. They shall have no power to alter or make any major changes in the church property without consent of the church.

7. Manage the financial concerns of the church, including provision for payment of all salaries, wages, and other obligations. They shall keep, through the treasurer, a faithful account of all monies received and disbursed. They shall cause accurate and detailed reports of all finances to be rendered to the church at the annual meeting and at other times as deemed necessary.

8. Bring any disbursements of more than five hundred ($500.00) dollars that is not budgeted before the church for approval.

9. Be further governed in their duties and responsibilities by the Church Charter of Incorporation. They are responsible to the church at all times and in all matters. They are the custodians of all legal documents of the church.

10. Shall not purchase, sell, mortgage, or encumber any real estate belonging to the church or use in any way money, real estate, or gift of any kind devised to the church, without authority in writing given by the church at a regular or special business meeting.

11. Shall be responsible for counting all church offerings. At least one (1) deacon and one other man shall count the offering.

D. MEETINGS

1. The deacons shall meet as soon as possible after the annual business meeting for the election of its officers.

2. A quorum of the deacons for any deacon’s meeting shall be a majority.

E. STRUCTURE

1. Offices – Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary. Other offices can be created as deemed necessary. They shall function as the corporate officers of the church.

2. Committees within the deacons shall be created and dissolved as deemed necessary.

SECTION 4. CHURCH TREASURER

A. The treasurer shall be elected annually by the members of the church. He shall be able to succeed himself for a period not to exceed five (5) years. He shall receive and take charge of all monies and disburse same in accordance with orders of the church or of its deacons. He shall keep a full and faithful account of all monies received and paid out specifying the purposes for which they were received and expended. He shall make a report to the church, quarterly and annually, and to the deacons as often as he may be required to do so.

B. His books and accounts shall be examined by a public accountant annually.

SECTION 5. CLERK

1. The clerk shall be elected at the annual church meeting by the membership for a period of 1 year, and shall be able to succeed himself (herself) on an yearly basis.

2. The clerk shall keep a full and careful record of all church business. A complete register of the names, residences, baptisms, dismissals, etc. of the church members shall also be maintained.

SECTION 6. CHURCH STAFF

1. When the services of additional paid personnel are needed in the operation of the church, the church shall approve the necessary position(s) and finances.

2. The pastor shall be responsible for the engagement and dismissal of all paid employees of the church. All such personnel are responsible to the pastor in the performances of their duties.

SECTION 7. ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES

Organizations and committees may be enacted under the direction of the church leadership for the proper administration of the church the leadership of such must be active members and must be willing to follow the leadership of the Pastor.

SECTION 8. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1. The Pastor and deacons shall function as the Nominating Committee. Suggested names from the church body shall be submitted to this committee for consideration. (Acts 6:3)

2. The committee’s purpose is to recommend to the church at least one or more candidate(s) for each vacant office.

3. Committee nominations shall be posted one month prior to the election at any business meeting.

4. A candidate must be elected by a 3/4th vote of the Quorum.

SECTION 9. PROVISIONARY CLAUSE

If there are no qualified individuals to handle any duties as specified in this constitution, the church will take provisionary measures until it is capable of fulfilling the constitution in every respect.