Church Constitution
The Constitution of Temple Baptist Church
The Constitution of the Temple Baptist church, located in Madison Heights, Virginia, shall be as listed herein, and shall not be changed without a majority vote of the entire membership favoring such change and at a special called meeting held in the said Church and not prior to a fifteen day notification period.
It is further understood that the Temple Baptist Church shall remain an Independent Missionary Church and can never become affiliated with any form of Organized religion, except by unanimous vote of the entire membership.
Article 1: The Call of the Pastor
The call of the Pastor of the said Church shall be a permanent call, until such time as a majority of the membership deems it wise for a change of Pastoral leadership. A Thirty-day notice must be given to the Pastor, if and when such a change arises and likewise to the Church, should the Pastor see fit to resign.
If the Pastor sees fit to resign, his resignation will not be put to a vote of the Church. Pastor must meet and uphold the qualifications of I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9.
If a change of Pastoral leadership comes before the church for a vote, in order for a member to qualify to vote they must comply with Article #4 and must be consistent in their tithing and attendance, and this will be determined by the majority of the Pastor and Deacon board.
Article 2: The Election of Church Officers
All Officers of the Church shall be elected from year to year by a majority vote of the assembled membership in the month of January each year. Qualification of all Officers of the Church shall be as follows:
- Be able to give Scriptural knowledge of their Salvation.
- To pledge their faithful support of the Church with their time, talent, and tithe.
- To endeavor to live a life at all time above reproach and without question both in the Church and in the Community.
- To be faithful to the services of Temple Baptist Church.
- To be faithful in tithing.
- To abstain from the use of tobacco.
- To abstain from the sale or use of alcoholic beverages.
Failure to meet the above qualification will automatically result in the immediate resignation of the office being held. (Above applies to Sunday School Teachers, Pastor & Pastor’s Wife, Deacons, and Deacons’ Wives.) All Deacons must meet the qualifications found in I Timothy 3:8-13.
Additional officers may be added as deemed advisable by a majority vote of the assembled membership, and also removed by the same rule.
Article 3: The Reception of Membership
Membership into the said Church shall be by profession of faith in Christ as Savior, followed by Scriptural baptism, or by letter from an organized Baptist Church of like faith and practice or by Christian Statement that they are a born again, Scripturally baptized believer. The Church reserves the right to refuse membership to anyone upon a majority vote of the congregation.
Article 4: Discipline of the Membership
The discipline of the membership of the said Church shall be based upon the Scriptures in Matthew 18:15-17 and I Corinthians 5.
Upon a member’s absence from the Church for a period of three consecutive months, excepting reasons agreed upon by the Pastor and the Deacons such as sickness, School or Military Service, His/her right to vote in all business matters of the Church will be withdrawn and their names placed on an inactive roll.
Article 5: Ordinances of the Church
The ordinances of the said Church shall be as follows: (1) Baptism by emersion after profession of faith has been made in Christ, by its entire membership, according to Romans Chapter 6:3-11. (2) Communion or Lord’s Super, as based upon the Scriptures in I Corinthians 11:23-29.
Article 6: Business Meetings
All voting members must be 18 years or older.
Business meetings of the said Church shall be held on any Wednesday night, providing announcement has been made on preceding Sunday. The Moderator of all Business meeting shall be the Pastor of the Church, or appointed by the Pastor and Deacons by a majority vote.
The Pastor or Deacon reserves the right to discuss all motions brought before the church from the floor before the motion can be discussed or voted upon.
Reason for the above is to provide the time and discussion needed so that the Pastor and Deacons can come before the Church with a recommendation.
Article 7: Buying and Selling of Church Property
No property shall be brought or sold without a majority vote of the assembled membership in a special called business meeting, ten days after the announcement is made at a Sunday’s Service.
The duly elected trustees will hold the title to all Church property.
Article 8: The Autonomy of the Church
The said Church reserves the absolute right to maintain its own program and business affairs, both financial and real estate or otherwise, that no person, group of persons, church or organizations, can exercise any authority over the program and business affairs of said Church.
Article 9: The financial Program
The said Church will be financed only by the tithes, offerings and contributions made on a free will basis. No sales, suppers, or any such services shall be held in the said Church or elsewhere for the purpose of raising Church funds.
Article 10: Missions
The said Church shall maintain at all times a Home and Foreign Mission Program, based upon the authority as given by the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 24:46-63 and Matthew 28:18-20, and that at least ten (10) per cent of all regular offerings shall be given for the support of both Home and Foreign Missions, which we believe only to be for the spreading of the Gospel. Special Missions Offerings may be taken at any time upon the discretion of the Pastor and/or deacons.
The Church reserves the right to begin and operate a Christian Nursery, Christian Day School, Bible College, and a Christian Radio Station. These shall begin and be operated under the authority of the local Church for the purposes of Soul-Winning, Bible Teaching, and as a mission arm of the Church.
No home mission project will ever interfere with support of Foreign Mission projects.
