FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALBANY CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS (Revised December 2014) Table of Contents Constitution Preamble 4 Name 4 Objectives 4 Statement of Basic Beliefs 4 Church Covenant 5 Polity and Relationships 5 Bylaws Church Membership 7 General 7 Candidacy 7 Rights of Members 7 Termination of Membership 8 Discipline 8 Church Officers and Committees 9 Church Officers 9 Pastor 9 Church Staff 10 Deacon Body 11 Church Moderator 12 Church Clerk 12 Church Treasurer 12 Trustees 13 Church Committees 13 Personnel and Finance 14 Budget Committee 14 Money Counters and Tellers 15 Missions and Evangelism 15 Building and Grounds 15
ARTICLE SIX CHURCH MEETINGS SECTION 1: WORSHIP SERVICES The church shall meet regularly each Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening for worship. The Pastor shall direct these services or make arrangements for a leader. Prayer, praise, preaching, instruction, and evangelism shall be among the ingredients for these services. The Pastor, in consultation with other church leaders, has the authority to cancel services due to inclement weather and other special circumstances. Cancellations or changes should be communicated to the membership of the church. SECTION 2: SPECIAL SERVICES Revival services and other church meetings essential to the advancement of the church’s objectives shall be placed on the church calendar through Church Council at the recommendation of the Missions and Evangelism Committee. SECTION 3: REGULAR BUSINESS MEETINGS The church shall hold regular monthly business meetings. Exceptions may be made by the Pastor and other leaders of the church and should be printed in the bulletin and announced prior to the meeting. SECTION 4: SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETINGS The church may conduct called business meetings to consider matters of special nature and significance. Notice of special called business meetings must be given one week in advance unless extreme urgency renders such notice impractical. The notice shall include the subject, the date, time and place; and it must be given in such a manner that all resident members have opportunity to know of the meeting. SECTION 5: QUORUM
A Constitution and By-Laws Committee shall develop a Church Operations Manual to include church policies, procedures, and organization charts depicting lines of responsibility in the administration of the church. The manual shall be kept in the church office and made available for use there by any member of the church. The church secretary shall maintain the manual. The Church Council or special committee shall review the manual at least annually, with authority to recommend changes for the church to consider. Any church member or church organization may initiate suggested changes in the manual. Addition, revision, or deletion of church policies requires: The recommendation of the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the policy relates. Discussion by the Church Council Approval of the church, if the Church Council deems it necessary. ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENTS Changes in the constitution and by-laws may be made at any regular business meeting of the church provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous business meeting and copies of the proposed amendment shall have been furnished to each member present at the earlier meeting. Amendments to the constitution shall be by a two-thirds vote of the church members present. Amendments to the by-laws shall have a concurrence of a majority of the members present and voting. ARTICLE TEN DISSOLUTION In the event the church ceases to exist, any remaining assets shall be convened to a similar nonprofit organization qualifying for tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or as they hereafter be amended.