CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS OF AGAPE BAPTIST CHURCH

ARTICLE I NAME

This Body shall be known as AGAPE BAPTIST CHURCH

ARTICLE II CHARACTER

SECTION 2.1 THE GOVERNMENT

The government of this Body is vested in the Lord, who is the Head of the Church.  The Pastor(s) and Leaders direct it in accordance as teaching of the New Testament (Heb. 13:17).  This Body affiliated with the Vietnamese National Baptist Fellowship, Puget Sound Baptist Association, Northwest Baptist Convention of the Southern Baptist Convention.

This document is not a higher authority than the Word of God.  It must be remembered that the local church itself is a living, growing, and flexible body subject ultimately to the authority of Jesus Christ alone as it is declared in the Word of God (Eph. 1:22; 4:12-16).  As we grow in the Word, this document is therefore subject to amendment according to the provisions of Article IX.  This document is, however, to be followed in all its parts as a protection to all until part of all is amended according to its provisions.

SECTION 2.2 DOCTRINE

This Church receives the Holy Bible as its authority in matters of faith and practice.  This Church adopts the Baptist Faith and Message.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 3.1 RECEPTION

Membership in this Church shall be extended upon request to all who show evidence of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and scriptural Baptism.  Those desiring to transfer from other churches of like faith may do so by letter, reconfirmation (wanting to be a member of this Church) or statement of faith and Baptism.

SECTION 3.2 RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

All members should obey the teaching of the Holy Bible.

SECTION 3.3 RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Full voting privileges are the right of all members at all business meetings.  All members deserve to join all public activities and get benefits from these events.

SECTION 3.4 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Any member, upon request, shall be granted a letter of recommendation to another church of like faith.  Any member joining another church not of the same faith shall have their name removed from the church records.  Termination may also result from action taken in accordance with Article VIII “Church Discipline,” attached.

ARTICLE IV CHURCH OFFICERS

The officers shall be members of this local church.  They shall consist of the following: Pastor(s), and Leaders.

SECTION 4.1 PASTOR(S)

It is understood from New Testament evidence that the work of undershepherding and overseeing the Church is to be administered through the office of Pastor(s).  The Pastor(s) must meet the requirements in I Timothy 3:1-7, Tit 1:6-9, Malachi 3:9-12.  The basic assignment of this group of men is threefold: (1) LEAD – give oversight and direction to the Church (Hebrews 13:7, Thes. 1:5); (2) FEED – guide the Church through instruction of the word (John 21:15-17, 2 Tim 4:1-2); (3) EQUIP – equip the members for the ministry (Eph. 4:11-13).  The term of Pastor(s) shall be until personal leave or dismissal (the senior pastor and the Church can dismiss other pastors; the Church can dismiss the senior pastor).  A dismissal from the church shall require a two-thirds vote of members of the Church membership.  With personal leave, the senior pastor has to let the Church know at least one month in advance.

SECTION 4.2 LEADERS (ELDERS)

The appointment of men to the Leadership Team shall be through nomination by the official Pastor(s), followed by a majority vote of the Church at large (Exodus 18:21-23, Luke 6:12-15, Acts 6:1-6).  Any person considered for a Leader, as a model, must meet the following requirements in I Timothy 3:8-13 (holiness, moral and talent) and Malachi 3:9-12 (tithing).  The primary purpose of the leaders is to assist the senior pastor to effectively serve the body.  The Leaders form the committees and lead the committees through their term(s).  The term of a Leader is two years and is reselected until dismissal, personal leave or resignation. 

SECTION 4.2.1 MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Leadership Team includes the Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor(s), Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Prayer committee, Director of Worship committee, Director of Discipleship committee, Director of Fellowship Committee, Director of Evangelism Committee, Director of Ministry Committee, Director of Men & Women, Director of Young Adult, Director (Pastor) of Youth and Director of Children.  The Senior Pastor leads the Team.  The members should be added or reduced depending on the need of the Church.

ARTICLE V COMMITTEES & SECRETARY

SECTION 5.1 FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

The Financial committee shall concern itself with the understanding of the church and commitment to the Biblical concepts of stewardship.  The Treasurer shall sign all checks.  The check has the amount over $2,000.00 (two thousand dollars) must have two signatures.  The Committee shall (i) have care of all Church monies, prepare the annual budget, and provide monthly financial statements to the Leadership Team and the Church; (ii) be responsible for seeing to the storing of the bank statements for a period of five years; (iii) be responsible for preparing and mailing a record of contributions to each member; and (iv) do fundraising. 

SECTION 5.2 WORSHIP COMMITTEE

The Worship committee shall be responsible for the overseeing and coordination of all music, drama, the Ordinances, and worship ministries.

SECTION 5.3 DISCIPLESHIP COMMITTEE

The Discipleship committee shall coordinate the educational work of the Church including Sunday School, Home Bible Studies, Training, Retreat and Small Group Studies…

SECTION 5.4 FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

The Fellowship committee shall coordinate all visitations and fellowship activities of the Church.

SECTION 5.5 EVANGELISM COMMITTEE

The Evangelism committee shall concern itself with the Church’s actual carrying out of the Great Commission.  The committee shall be responsible for developing a creative short-term and long-term ministry of evangelism through existing churches ministries.

SECTION 5.6 MINISTRY COMMITTEE

The Ministry committee shall coordinate all church outreach events such as Christmas programs, Community Service programs, camping, picnic…  Working with the Fellowship Committee to serving the church through fellowship times.

SECTION 5.7 PRAYER COMMITTEE

The Prayer committee shall coordinate all church prayer activities.  

SECTION 5.7 SECRETARY

The Secretary shall be responsible for all paperwork and keep the record of church members at the Church office.  

ARTICLE VI MEETINGS

SECTION 6.1 REGULAR SERVICES

Regular services shall be held for the purpose of worship and proclamation of the Gospel on Sunday as well as at any other time by the needs of the Church.

SECTION 6.2 BUSINESS MEETINGS

A business meeting shall be held when the situation is needed, but there will be at least one each year in October.  At the meeting in October, the annual budget shall be adopted and new officers will be approved.  The Senior Pastor with approval of the Leadership Team upon giving of a one-week notice may call special business meetings.  

SECTION 6.3 QUORUM

The members present at any Church business meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  A majority vote of the members present shall be prevail.

ARTICLES VII CHURCH FINANCES

SECTION 7.1 ANNUAL BUDGET

The Financial committee shall prepare and submit to the Church for approval an inclusive budget, indicating by item the amount required and wanted for all local and worldwide expense.

SECTION 7.2 RECORDS

All funds for any and all purposes shall pass through the hands of the Church Treasurer and be properly recorded.  From this information, monthly financial statements shall be prepared and made available to members at their request.  All financial records shall be audited annually or at more frequent intervals at the request of the Leadership Team.

SECTION 7.3 PROPERTY

No property belonging to the Agape Baptist Church may be sold without prior approval of the Pastor(s), Deacons and Leaders.  All properties shall be purchased that over $2,000.00 must be approved by the Leadership Team.

ARTICLE VIII: CORRECTIVE CHURCH DISCIPLINE

We believe in the responsibility and necessity of church discipline as clearly outlined in Scripture.  It is a very difficult area and hard to practice.  Nevertheless, church discipline has the divine authority of Scripture and is fundamental to the purity of the church.  In church discipline, the following matters must be carefully understood and applied.

SECTION 8.1 THE PATTERN AND BASIC FOR DISCIPLINE

The discipline of the church is first patterned after the fact that the Lord Himself disciplines His children (Heb. 12:6).  The Lord has delegated the discipline of the Church family to the Church itself.

Discipline is further based on the holy character of God (1 Pet. 1:16; Heb. 12:11). The pattern of God's holiness, his desire for the church to be holy, set apart unto Him, is an important reason for the necessity of church discipline.  The Church is therefore to clean out the leaven of wickedness from its ranks (1 Cor. 5:6-8).  A failure to discipline in a church today evidences a lack of awareness of the holiness of God.

Church discipline must be patterned after and based on the divine commands of Scripture. We have numerous passages, which both command and give us biblical directives on the how, when and where of church discipline.  Again, a failure to exercise this responsibility demonstrates a lack of obedience and belief in the authority of the Bible (1 Cor. 5:1-13; Matt. 18:17-18; Titus 3:10; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 5:20; Gal. 6:1).

A final basis for the necessity of church discipline is the testimony of the church in the world.  The world observes the behavior and life of the church.  When the church acts no differently than the world it loses its credibility and authenticity (1 Pet. 2:11-18; 3:8-16; 4:1-4).

SECTION 8.2 THE PURPOSE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE  

1. Concern for the glory of God and the testimony of the flock.

2. The restoration and building up of the sinning believer.

3. The winning of a soul to Christ (if only a professing Christian).

4. The purity of the local body and its protection from moral and doctrinally impure influences, knowing a little leaven can leaven the entire lump (1 Cor. 5:6-7).

5. Finally, discipline in the name of our Lord always includes a readiness to forgive.  The many or majority who discipline must also be ready and eager to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love to the sinning person (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

SECTION 8.3 THE PRACTIC OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

1.   When it is to be Practiced: Great care must be exercised here.  According to Scripture, there are five categories, which warrant church discipline. These are:

1. Difficulties between members (Matt. 18:15-17).

2. Divisiveness. People causing divisions in the church (Rom. 16:17-18; Titus 3:9-11).

3. Disorderly conduct. Conduct clearly out of line with the prescribed commands of Scripture (2 Thess. 3:6-15).

4. Sins of the type mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5: incest, immorality, covetousness, idolatry, abusive speech, drunkenness, and swindling (1 Cor. 5:1, 11).

5. False teaching. Erroneous teaching and views which concern the fundamentals of the faith, not lesser differences of interpretation (1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; also implied in Rev. 2:14—16; Phil. 3:2-3, 15-19; Rom. 16:17-18).

The key concerns here are: (a) the holy character of God, (b) the testimony of the flock, (c) the effect upon the unity and purity of the flock, and (d) the edification and restoration of the individual.

2.   How it is to be Practiced

Scriptural procedure here is clear and specific steps are prescribed. They are as follows:

1. Recognize the offense.

2. Seek private correction and/or reconciliation with the offender (Matt. 18:15). This is when the problem involves two believers. The one offended or the one who recognizes the offense is to go privately and try to rectify the problem. If this fails, he is to take witnesses, preferably spiritual leaders, so that if it has to be brought before the whole church it can be firmly proven or established (Matt. 18:16-17).

3. Seek reconciliation through the spiritual leadership if the problem involves an offense that is against the whole body, or is a threat to its unity (Galatians 6:1).  On the other hand, if these first steps are not heeded, it constitutes a warning that further action will be taken and gives occasion for serious rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:12-14; Titus 2:15; 3:10).

4. Seek reconciliation through the whole body.  If further action is necessary, it is to be taken before the whole church (Matt. 18:17).

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS

SECTION 9.1 BY MEMBERS

Amendments to the Constitution and By Laws may be made or changed at a church business meeting, providing any such amendment has been presented in writing at a meeting and a copy of the proposed amendment is provided to each member present.  Approval of an amendment to the Constitution and By Laws shall require a two-thirds vote of members of the Church present and entitled to vote.

City Renton Record.  Retreived on August 7, 2008: http://rentonwa.gov/visiting/default.aspx?id=2172

Renton Data.  Retreived on August 7, 2008: http://www.city-data.com/city/Renton-Washington.html