Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship
By-Laws

ARTICLE I          COORDINATING COUNCIL

Section 1.            The coordinating council shall consist of the officers of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship (moderator, moderator-elect, treasurer, and clerk), the ministerial staff (ex-officio/non-voting), and committee chairpersons of standing committees.

Section 2.            Election of Officers: The coordinating council shall present nominations for the officers of the church. Additional nominations may be made from the floor, with prior consent of the nominees.

Section 3.            Length of Service

1. The moderator and moderator-elect each shall serve a one-year term with the moderator-elect assuming the office of moderator in the second year.
2. The treasurer and clerk are elected for three-year terms and may be re-elected.
3. Standing committee chairpersons shall serve on the coordinating council.

Section 4.            Calling of Ministers

1. The coordinating council will consider staff needs and make recommendations to the congregation.
2. When positions are approved by the congregation, the coordinating council will form a search committee.
3. The coordinating council will seek nominations from the congregation for membership on the search committee.
4. The search committee will make a recommendation of a candidate to the coordinating council.
5. The coordinating council will review this information and make a recommendation to the church.
6. The candidate must be approved by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members  present at a specially called church business meeting.

Section 5             Coordinating Council Meetings

1. The coordinating council shall meet at least every other month, alternating months with the church business meetings as possible.
2. Council members must be in attendance to vote on matters presented at meetings.
3. Special or called meetings may be requested by the moderator or the moderator-elect in the absence of the moderator or by at least three (3) members of the council (one of whom may be the pastor). Written or email notice shall be provided at least one (1) week prior to the date of a special or called meeting.

ARTICLE II     GENERAL

Section 1.            Duties of the Officers

1. The moderator shall preside at church business meetings, serve as chair of the coordinating council, and be an ex-officio (non-voting) member of all church committees.
2. The moderator-elect shall serve in the absence of the moderator and shall serve as coordinator of the nomination process of the coordinating council.
3. The clerk shall maintain accurate minutes of church business meetings and meetings of the coordinating council and serve as repository for all church records.
4. The treasurer, cooperating with the finance committee, shall be responsible for all monies received, the disbursement of funds, and keeping records, and shall report appropriately to the coordinating council and the church. The treasurer shall be a member of the finance committee.

Section 2.            Committees

1. The standing committees of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship shall be the
1. Education committee
2. Facilities committee
3. Finance committee
4. Fellowship committee
5. Missions committee
6. Personnel committee
7. Worship committee
8. Outreach relations committee
9. Such other standing committees designated by the coordinating council and approved by the church.
2. Election of standing committee members—The coordinating council annually shall present nominations to the congregation for three years membership on all standing committees. Persons with gifts and passion for an area of service are encouraged to volunteer for committee participation.  With the exception of the personnel committee, all committees are open to additional non-voting church members participating in their work.
3. Election of standing committee chairpersons and chairpersons-elect —Having been duly elected to serve as members of a standing committee, chairpersons and chairpersons-elect are normally elected by their respective committees to serve one- year terms.

1. Duties of standing committees:
1. The education committee shall oversee the spiritual education of the adults, youth, and children of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship. This committee is responsible for the timely ordering of educational materials.
2. The facilities committee shall manage and make recommendations to the coordinating council and Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship regarding the construction, care, and use of the church facilities.
3. The finance committee shall establish financial policies and administer the finances of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship.
4. The fellowship committee shall direct and coordinate the social and fellowship activities of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship.
5. The missions committee shall lead and encourage the members of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship to share the love of Christ by reaching out to the un-churched and hurting. Proposed mission projects may be submitted to this committee.
6. The personnel committee shall oversee and make recommendations to the coordinating council and church regarding employment or termination of personnel except for anyone in a ministerial position. The personnel committee shall conduct annual evaluations of all ministers and staff and submit written recommendations concerning these to the coordinating council. Any action concerning the employment of ministerial staff shall be the responsibility of the coordinating council. In addition to these duties, the personnel committee shall be responsible for nominating interim ministers when needed.
7. The worship committee shall assist the ministers in coordinating and planning the worship services.
8. The outreach/relations committee shall plan, initiate, and maintain programs and/or projects designed to project the church’s presence within the community.  
2. The coordinating council may appoint ad-hoc committees and designate chairs as needed. (Example – Care group and benevolence committees).

Section 3.            Policies/Limitations

1. The fiscal year for Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship shall be January 1 – December 31.
2. Each September the moderator-elect shall invite suggestions from the membership of the church for officer and standing committee vacancies. In turn, the council will present nominations to the membership for election by a simple majority of the members present.

1. Standing committees shall be composed of at least three (3) members.

1. Members of an immediate family shall not serve simultaneously on any standing committee (e.g., husband and wife, father and son living in the same household).
2. The only business to be conducted at special called meetings of the coordinating council shall be in reference to the stated purpose of the meeting.
3. A simple majority of the coordinating council shall constitute a quorum.
4. If the moderator-elect serves less than one-half (1/2) of an uncompleted term of the moderator, the moderator-elect may serve the succeeding full term as moderator.
5. Having served a three-year term on a standing committee, each member is requested to rotate off that committee for one year before being nominated again.
6. A member may serve as chairperson of only one (1) standing committee at a time.  Also, a member may serve as chairperson-elect of only one (1) standing committee at a time.
7. Members may serve on no more than two (2) standing committees at a time. Members may represent only one committee at meeting of the coordinating council.
8. With the recommendation of the coordinating council, a three/forth (3/4) vote of the members present will be required to remove a minister or officer at a special or called church meeting.
9. The standard of parliamentary procedure shall be the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE III    AMENDMENT

Section 1.            These by-laws may be amended by a majority of the members present and voting at any regular business meeting of Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship, provided  such amendments be given in writing to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the time the vote is taken.

ARTICLE IV    REVIEW

Section 1.            These by-laws shall be reviewed by the coordinating council at least every five (5) years.