Business Meeting for Updated By Laws

Introduction

Over a year and a half ago, our church updated our Church Constitution. Shortly after that, some events took place, which made us realize it was still in need of some changes. At the time, I, as your pastor, made two significant decisions. I vowed to preach through the book of 1 Corinthians so that we may know God’s expectations concerning our church. And I also promised to revisit our current Constitution and By-Laws. Concerning the Church Constitution and By-Laws, I stated my plans to send it to the National Center of Law and Liberty for their review and recommendations. I did as promised, and they recommended the following in their correspondence with me.

They recommended that we combine them into one document labeled Calvary Baptist Church By-Laws. Churches no longer use both a Church Constitution and By-Laws

They recommended that we produce a new document with amendments adequately placed. Modifications are not to be listed at the end of the By-Laws. Instead, they are voted on, and a completely new document is produced with the amendments in their proper place.

They recommended using the National Center of Law and Liberty (NCLL) sample By-Laws for our new By-Laws. Several things were not needed, and a possibility of leaving out some required articles in the current document.

They recommended we make our Church Covenant separate from our By-Laws. Church Covenants are not required to be in our By-Laws and can always be a document updated and voted on separately.

With their recommendations in mind, we (me, our church staff, and the board, which is comprised of the deacons) submit the following changes to our current By-Laws,

We are submitting a more comprehensive Statement of Faith replacing the current Statement of Faith. Our reason is this. The existing Statement of Faith is vague and does not provide Scripture references for each statement. The new Statement of Faith is comprehensive and lists many Scriptural references for each article.

We are submitting a new By-Law document inclusive of what was our Church Constitution and By-Laws. It is now labeled “Calvary Baptist Church By-Laws.”

We are submitting a new By-Law document that places all previous amendments in their proper place.

Amendment 3.6.1 is now included in Article 4.5 on page 20.

Amendment 3.6.2 is now included in Article 5.4 on page 24.

Amendment 3.6.3 is now included in Article 12.4 (page 33) in conjunction with Articles 2.1 and 2.2.9.1 on pages 1 and 14.

Amendment 3.6.4 is now included in Article 3.3 on page 17.

Amendment 3.6.5 is now included in Article 3.1 (page 16) in conjunction with Articles 2.1 and 2.2.9.1 on pages 1 and 14.

Amendment 3.6.6 is no longer in our By-Laws but will be in a separate church document labeled “Church Covenant.”

Amendment 3.6.7 is now included in Article 3.2 on page 16.

Amendment 3.6.7 is now included in Article 3.1.

Per our current By-Laws, amendments and changes can be made by two-thirds of the members present and voting at any annual meeting, or a meeting specifically called for that purpose. The proposed changes shall be given public distribution in writing at least one month before the meeting. Therefore, we are calling to accept the new By-Law document in the evening service on Sunday, July 10. Attached to this email are two documents – the current Church Constitution/By-Laws and the proposed By-Laws. We humbly request that you review the proposed By-Laws. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. I am willing to answer any of them. Please do so before July. Please contact the church office if you cannot open these documents and would like a printed copy. We will have printed copies available upon request.

Thank you for helping us in this matter. We look forward to a bright future at Calvary Baptist Church as we continue to worship and serve the Lord together.