by-laws – Page 2

Admission

The terms of admission to this congregation are: (1) Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, (2) Repentance from sin, (3) Confession of faith, (4) Baptism by immersion in water for the remission of sins, and (5) Signing of the Membership Covenant.

Members of other congregations who have already professed their faith in Christ and have been baptized by immersion may become members of this congregation by signing the Membership Covenant.

Responsibilities

Each member shall live a dedicated, committed, and Christ-like life. Each member shall serve in areas for which they are gifted and regularly set aside financial gifts and offerings to support the work of this congregation as God has prospered.

Members of the church are not personally liable for the church’s debts solely because of their membership.

Active Member

Any person who the church staff has determined has met the requirements, accepted the admission responsibilities, and signed the Membership Covenant shall be placed on the membership roll as an active member.

Active members are indicated via “Member” status in the church database.

Inactive Member

If a member of this congregation has not attended weekend worship services for a period of three months, and if such absence is not for illness or temporary absence from the community, that member shall become an inactive member and shall not be eligible to vote in a congregational meeting.

A person may be restored to active membership by making a statement to the church staff of his or her intent. After sixty days, the church staff may then restore voting privileges.

Discipline

The church staff shall discipline members who become unwilling to submit to the authority of the Word of God. In all cases, the model found in the New Testament shall be followed (Matthew 18:15-18, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 2 Corinthians 2:5-8, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, James 5:19-20).

If the church staff deems the person unresponsive or otherwise unwilling to submit to the authority of the Word of God, they shall remove the person’s name from the membership roll.

A person may be restored to membership only by action of the church staff and upon re-signing of the Membership Covenant. (See Church Discipline Policy.)

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Name

The name of this congregation shall be YOUR CHURCH.

Statement of Purpose

YOUR CHURCH, located in Your County, Your State, shall exist as an Independent Christian Church, founded upon the faith and practices of the church as it is found in the New Testament.

YOUR CHURCH shall maintain fellowship and be identified with Independent Christian Churches nationwide.

These by-laws provide mutually agreed-upon guidance for the operational matters of congregational faith and life.

Autonomy

This congregation shall forever remain free and independent of all other organizations, religious or secular, within the limitations imposed by the laws of the state of Pennsylvania and the United States of America.

Organizational Purpose

YOUR CHURCH is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Earnings

No part of the net earnings of YOUR CHURCH shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes outlined in the purpose clause hereof.

No substantial part of YOUR CHURCH’s activities shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from the Federal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Dissolution

Upon the organization’s dissolution, any remaining assets will be given to Milligan University, located at 1 Blowers Boulevard, Milligan College, TN 37682.

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Membership