Constitution and By-Laws

Preamble:

Through common purpose and public statement of our faith, the following document is evidence of our commitment to the preservation of our shared faith, descriptive of our orderly manner of government, and declares our God given responsibility to preserve autonomous freedom of action in relation to other Churches and within our own membership toward our primary purpose of reaching the entire world with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ. With this document we declare and establish our constitution.

Section I: Our Name

The name of this congregation is Hope Community Church. We serve in Tipton County as a member of the Big Hatchie Baptist Association.

Section II: Our Purpose

"We exist to glorify the Father by being a fire that consumes the world with the Love of Jesus Christ by sharing that Love with those that need Hope." We are Kingdom people that do Kingdom work here on this earth by fulfilling God's purpose.

We summarize this process by this statement: "Kingdom In, Kingdom Out!"

Section III: Our Values

These are the foundational priorities that motivate our structure and strategy as a Church:

1. Authenticity- We will be real in everything we do, through the relationships we make as a body, the issues we face, and the Hope we have.
2. Family- We value family and hold the family unit as a priority to God's work.
3. Empowerment of Ministries- We value the ministries that God has called individuals to and it is the responsibility of Hope Community Church to empower individuals to the ministry God has called people them too.
4. Adaptability (Fluid)- We value being all things, to all people so, that we may bring them into the Kingdom of God.
5. Serving Others- We value serving as Jesus set forth, by serving others.
6. Worship- We value in all things to worship God.
7. Relationships- We value relationships with those part of the Kingdom of God and those that are searching.

Section IV: Our Core Beliefs

4.1 WE BELIEVE….
We believe that God is our only HOPE for making any sense of this world and of this life we are living. Specifically, we believe that Jesus is the invisible God, that came to this earth and gave you and I the example of how to live and how we are to relate to Him. (Colossians. 1:15) God has also designed a corporate life that includes great blessing for those who embraced Jesus, His purpose, His values and His teaching. God desires an intimate relationship with us, to be the very center of our lives and of our community.

4.2 THE TRINITY
The one God is infinitely perfect and eternal and exists in three persons, showing forth as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

4.3 JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR
Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is the complete fulfillment of everything promised in the Bible. Jesus put a face on the one true God who reaches out to us. His love for mankind was so great that he dies for us on the cross and rose from the dead that we may begin a reverent, eternal friendship with God.

4.4 THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit was sent to dwell within, and fill each person who believes in the person and work on Jesus Christ. Those who believe in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit. Those who voluntarily and consistently obey the words of Jesus are filled with the Holy Spirit. His mission is to exalt Jesus and everyone who believes, by bringing to mind the significance of the words and words of Jesus, by pouring out the love of God in our hearts, by giving each believer gifts for service and brings light upon the true meaning of the Word of God, and also assists us in prayer to the Gather through the perfect meditation of Jesus.

4.5 THE BIBLE
The Bible is our charter for authority, being fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, who breathed out this God-message through His chosen human servants. The truths contained therein will not lead one into error if followed as intended. We believe in God's word over man's word.

4.6 THE SINFULNESS OF MAN
Every person is born with a sinful nature and thus alienated from a Holy God.

4.7 SALVATION BY GRACE
God graciously and freely grants forgiveness and declares righteous to anyone who will trust Jesus Christ by faith, and in the complete payment He made for our debt of sin by the sacrifice of His perfect and sinless life.

Section V: Our Partnership

1. General:
This is a Southern Baptist Church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The partnership retains unto itself the exclusive right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of this Church.

The local Church, led by the elders, reserves the exclusive right to determine who shall be partners of this Church and the conditions of such partnership.

2. Candidacy:
Any person may offer themselves as a candidate for partnership in this Church. All such candidates shall become a partner in the following ways:
A. By accepting Christ for the first time and for baptism.
B. By a promise letter of recommendation from another Southern Baptist or like-minded church.
C. By statement of faith. Have previously made a decision for Christ and have been baptized by immersion.
D. By baptism. Have previously made a decision for Christ, but have not been baptized.

Should there be any dissent as to any candidate for "Partnership," such dissent shall be referred to the elders for investigation, with a decision made concerning the matter within thirty (30) days.

3. New Partners Orientation:
Prospective Partners that wish to join Hope Community Church are expected to experience an information session. New partners will be encouraged to participate in the Church's new partner's class. Through this class each individual will learn their spiritual gifts, their purpose, their abilities, their personality, and their experiences. Also, each head of the family or individual are asked to sign a covenant with the Church prior to the official partnership.

4. Termination of Partnership:
Partnership shall be terminated by the elders in the following ways: 1.) by death, 2) willful dismissal to another Church, or 3) exclusion by action of this Church.

5. Church Discipline:
It shall be the basic purpose of Hope Community Church to emphasize to its partners that every reasonable measure will be taken to assist any troubled partner. The elders, other partners of the Church staff, and community group leaders are available for counsel and guidance. Redemption rather than punishment should be the guideline that governs the attitude of one partner toward another. The process expressed in the following section (Conflict Management) shall prevail should a partner, in a public manner, reflect poorly upon the Lord of the Church through a lifestyle of un-confessed sin.

Should some serious condition exist which should cause a partner to become a liability to the general welfare of the Church, every reasonable measure will be taken by the elders to resolve the problem. A spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance shall pervade all such proceedings. But, finding that the welfare of the Church will best be served by the exclusion of the partner, the elders may take this action, and the decision presented to the community group to which the partner is accountable; and the Church may proceed to declare the offender to be no longer in partnership with the Church.

Any person whose partnership has been terminated for any condition that has made it necessary for the Church to exclude him/her may upon his/her request be restored to partnership by 100% approval by the elders of the Church upon evidence of his/her repentance and reformation.

6. Conflict Management and Discipline:
In dealing with conflict between two or more parties within the Church, or should Church discipline need to be initiated, the counsel of Matthew 18: 15-17 will be taken. The necessary leadership will meticulously follow the following process:

1. The two parties will be counseled to meet privately to deal with the conflict. In the case of discipline, an elder of designated leaders(s) shall confront the individual privately for counsel to call for rectifying action.

2. If no resolution occurs, the pastor or other elders, or qualified leader within the Church will serve as an intermediary between parties.

3. If no resolution occurs, then the issue and the parties will be brought before the elders of the Church for the management and resolution.

4. If no resolution occurs, measures must be taken to exclude the parties of the Church for a period of time until peace has been reached. The Community Group to which the partner(s) is accountable shall be notified for prayer and counsel. All parties will meet with designated leadership apart from sponsored Church gathering times for counsel and restoration. When these occur, the restored parties will resume full partnership.

Section VI. Church Leadership:

The Church Leadership shall be comprised of Elders, Ministry Directors (Staff), Deacons, Servant Leaders (SALT) and Administrative Teams

A. Elders

The elders are called to be pastoral, shepherding leaders in the Church and shall meet and maintain moral and spiritual qualifications as set forth by Scripture in Titus 1:5-9 and I Timothy 3:1-7. Prospective elders must have a ministerial calling upon their lives, affirmed by the elders and the Body, to serve in such a capacity. The elders are the accountability team and shall govern and oversee the policies, personnel and the programs of the Church. Decisions concerning the vision of the Church, personnel, partnership, or any other decision deserving elder attention must be approved only with 100% agreement.

Elders will be ordained as set forth by the Scripture prior to holding his office. Elders are nominated from the Church ballot after a period of prayer and fasting. The partnership selects and presents prospective Elders to the Elder Board for consideration. After prayer and consideration by the partnership and the elders, the elders will affirm and present new elders to the congregation. Elders may be removed by 100% agreement from the remaining Elders. Elders will serve for a total of four years.

B. The Pastor

The Senior Pastor is considered an Elder and shall meet and maintain moral and spiritual qualifications as set forth by Scripture in Titus 1:5-9 and I Timothy 3:1-7. The Senior Pastor is called by God and affirmed by the Elders, and ordained to serve the Church in this position. He must exhibit the ability to administrate the affairs and leaders of the Church, cast vision and direction as God leads, and edify the Body through the administration of the Word of God. The Senior Pastor is responsible to the other Elders for supervision and accountability. Upon the vacancy of a Senior Pastor, the Elders shall announce an election from the total membership of a Senior Pastor Search Team, which makes recommendations to the Elder Board regarding the potential calling of a Senior Pastor. At least one Elder shall serve as a member of the search team. The Senior Pastor can be affirmed only with an eighty percent of congregational approval.

C. Ministry Directors/Staff

Hope Community Church will only ordain those who are eligible to become Elders or Deacons. We believe the Scripture identifies two offices with the Church, Elder (Pastor, Bishop) and Deacon. Pastors are Elders who pursue the role of preaching and teaching. Therefore, we will not ordain anyone to an office of the Church that is not explicitly identified by Scripture.

Therefore, Ministry Directors are those who seek position of leadership at the staff level within the Church, but need not meet every requirement as stated in Titus 1:5-9 and I Timothy 3:1-7. Ministry Director positions include but are not limited to : Youth Director, Children's Director, worship Director, etc. Ministry Directors are directly accountable to the Elders. Ministry Directors may seek to be ordained only if they meet every requirement of Titus 1:5-9 and I Timothy 3:1-7. Once ordained, this staff member will join the Elder Board and assume the responsibilities of this office. Thus, Ministry Directors may or may not be Elders.

Adding Staff: The Elders will nominate a staff search team, which will affirm, approve and recommend a prospective staff member to the Elders who will approve with 100% of the vote. One elder must be on this search team.

Removing Staff: Only with 100% approval from the Elders will staff be released from service. Staff may be released at the discretion of the Elders due to a failure in 1.) performance or 2) moral and ethical issues.

D. Deacons

The office of Deacon is an office of servant-hood. The number of Deacons will be determined by the need of the Church. One who seeks the office of Deacon must hold and maintain the requirements of Scriptures as set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13. Deacons will be set apart to this office by ordination. They will be responsible to the Elders of the Church and have a two-fold function 1.) Deacons must exemplify a God-given ability and desire to serve the Body. Responsibilities of a Deacon include, but are not limited to, caring for urgent needs within the congregation, ministering to the needs of widow, and assisting the Elders with the duties related to serving the Body (hospital visitation, etc.) 2.) Deacons must mobilize the Church to be a serving Church. Specifically, Deacons must organize and mobilize those people with the gift of service within the Church. The group of partners will establish a ministry called SALT (Serving All Leadership Teams). SALT will be accountable to the Deacons as recommended by the Elders.

Deacons are nominated from the Church by ballot after a period of prayer and fasting. The partnership selects and presents perspective Deacons to the Elder Board for consideration. After prayer, consideration, and testing as set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13, by the Partnership and Elders, the Elders will affirm and present new Deacons to the congregation.

Removing Deacons; Deacons will be evaluated and advised regularly (at least yearly) by the Elders to maintain the high standards established by Scripture. Only with 100% approval from the Elders will a Deacon be released from service. Deacons may be released at the discretion of the Elders due to 1.) a failure in performance, 2) moral and ethical issues and/or 3) a desire by the Deacon to step down from service.

E. Servant Leaders (SALT - Serving All Leadership Teams)

The members of this group will have a recognized spiritual gift in the area of service and shall act as servants only with no administrative role within the Church other than in areas of service the Body of Believers.

SALT will be made up of all people in the Church with the spiritual gift of serving and have accepted the responsibility to serve on this team. They will be responsible to the Deacons. Members of this team will be selected by the Deacons and approved and affirmed by the Elders. SALT members may be removed from service at any time due to moral and ethical issues with 100% agreement from Elders.

F. Administrative Teams.

In order to develop leaders who can lead others to salvation and spiritual growth, two teams will be organized for shepherding and accountability.

A) Community Group Leadership Team - The leadership team will be made up of leaders serving as a teacher or pastoral shepherd for their Community Group. The teacher is responsible for the teaching of the Word and the shepherd is responsible to act as a pastor leader to the group. These leaders will participate in an accountability time (at least twice monthly) with the Community Place Director or with one of the Elders. In consideration of the needs and desires of the Partnership, each leader will be set apart for this leadership responsibility by the Elders.

B) Ministry Team - A Ministry Team will form under the direction of the Elders to assess new ministries and leaders, oversee and perform ministry training, monitor existing ministries, and cast vision for new ministries. Each leader will be affirmed by the Elders and set apart for this leadership responsibility.

Section VII. Process for Changing Constitution:

Changes in this Constitution shall be presented to the Church for discussion to be considered by the Elders at a regular or specially called meeting with the following provisions: the change(s) shall be published and distributed to the Partnership. Changes may occur only with a majority approval of the congregation.