::Northwest Community Church

Northwest Community Evangelical Free Church By-Laws

Page Two

We, the members of Northwest Community Evangelical Free Church, do hereby declare and establish By-Laws to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and to govern the body in an orderly manner and to maintain the autonomy of this church in freedom of action in relation to other churches and organizations.

Article 1 – Meetings

A. Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the business meetings of the Church.

B. Special Meetings

The Church membership may call a special business meeting by presenting a petition signed by at least 10% of the Church membership to the Church Chairman or Board of Elders.

The petition must be accompanied by a list of items to be acted upon by the Church at the special business meeting. Only the items listed will be addressed at the meeting.

The Board of Elders, by a majority vote, may also call a special business meeting.

C. Absentee Voting

Members may vote who are absent from the meeting. The church will provide ballots which the member may use to vote on items at a regular or special meeting. The member should turn in the filled in and signed Absentee Ballot to an Elder or Deacon prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

Article 2 – Elders

A. Elder - Selection

(1).	Becoming an Elder Candidate To be considered for nomination as an Elder, a man¹ must be an active member of the church and must aspire to the position. His aspiration to the position of Elder may be ascertained by a discussion with a current Elder or Pastor, or by his submission of a letter to the Board of Elders, which states his desire to be considered for the position of Elder. Members of the congregation may also recommend that the Elders consider a man for Elder candidacy.
(2).	The Selection Process The Board of Elders will compile a list of candidates whose lives are consistent with biblical standards of behavior. These candidates will go through the following selection process:
	(a).	Interviews There will be an Elder interview of every Elder candidate. If he is married, there will be an Elder interview of the candidate's wife by at least two Elders. The candidate may or may not be present at the wife's interview as he and his wife determine.
	(b).	Leadership Review There will be a review of the candidate relative to the biblical requirements for Elder (cf. 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; 1 Peter 5) and to his understanding of and commitment to the unique mission and vision of the church by the current Elder board, without the candidate being present.
	(c).	Prayer The entire evaluation process will be accompanied by prayer by the Board of Elders, the candidate, and the congregation. All candidates must be agreed upon by a consensus of the Board of Elders before being put before the congregation. The congregation will vote on the Elder candidate at a Business Meeting of the church called for this purpose.
	(d).	Congregational Review The list of Elder candidates who have passed through a), b), and c) (above) will be published for review by the congregation with a date given for the final vote. This date will be at least one month after the initial list is published. If someone in the church feels that a candidate is not qualified (ref. Constitution Article VI, Sec. 2, and any pertinent Scripture passages), such must be stated in writing, signed, and submitted to the Board of Elders before the final vote is taken. This action may or may not disqualify a candidate from standing for a vote. The Board of Elders shall make the final decision.
(3).	The Final Selection of an Elder The candidates will be voted on by the congregation at a business meeting at which this was one of the stated items of business. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the members of the church present (or voting absentee) at the meeting is required.

B. Elder - Term of Service

An Elder is elected to a two year term of office, and may succeed himself in office. If he wishes to serve a second consecutive term, the Elders may elect to waive the interview, but all other aspects of the selection process will be followed. If he wishes to serve a third consecutive term, he will submit to all aspects of the selection process. For each subsequent term, the entire selection process will be repeated every other term.

C. Elder - Responsibilities

(1). Regarding Pastoral Ministry
	The Elders will involve themselves in all pastoral areas of ministry. Responsibilities in each area of ministry may be divided among the Elders as they deem appropriate.
(2). Regarding Church Involvement
	Elders will regularly be present at the church’s worship service(s), will support the church’s ministry through financial stewardship, and will pray for the ministries of the church.
(3). Regarding Management
	The Elders have primary oversight responsibility for the major aspects of the church’s ministry, with emphasis on equipping the church to fulfill its scriptural mandates, as guided by the Northwest Community Church Mission Statement. The Elders will serve as shepherds as they lend leadership and oversight to the people-intensive aspects of the church’s work. The Elders will provide oversight to the Deacons, who will handle many of the ongoing administrative responsibilities of the church. The Elders will support and give direction to Ministry Coordinators who help carry out the pastoral work of the church. Each Elder will be expected to attend the regularly scheduled Elder’s meetings. The meeting schedule will be determined by the Board of Elders.
(4). Regarding Church Membership
	Elders are responsible for interviewing those individuals who wish to join the Church.
(5). Regarding Pastoral Evaluation
	The Board of Elders will be responsible to evaluate the ministry of each member of the pastoral staff on a yearly basis, or more frequently, if deemed necessary. This evaluation will provide feedback to the pastoral staff, and may be the basis for altering a job description.
(6). Regarding salaries for staff
	The Elders will be responsible for recommending salaries and compensation packages for the pastoral, ministry and administrative staff. These recommendations will be voted on by the congregation at the Annual Business Meeting of the church as part of the overall church budget. Only aggregate salary information will be presented to the congregation. Individual salary information may remain confidential to the Board of Elders.
(7). Regarding a Church Chairman
	A Church Chairman shall be selected from among the Board of Elders by the Elders themselves. The Church Chairman will be selected by a 2/3’s majority of the Board of Elders. His duties, in addition to the regular responsibilities of an Elder, are to chair all business meetings of the church, and chair all Board of Elder meetings. He will be in place as the Church Chairman for one year, and may succeed himself in office, but may not serve more than three years in succession.

D. Elder - Dismissal

(1). Reasons
		An Elder may be dismissed for moral impurity, doctrinal defection, or for failing to minister to the Body as specified in the By-Laws.
(2). Procedures
		An Elder is dismissed by a 2/3’s majority vote from the other Elders.

¹ Based on 1 Timothy 3, our understanding is that an Elder is to be a male.

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:: Northwest Community Church ::
:: 8900 Guilbeau Road | San Antonio, Texas 78250 | 210-680-3041 ::