Constitution | Newtown Bible Church

Our Constitution

Upon request we will furnish you with a full copy of our Constitution.

ARTICLE I: Location of Offices

The name of this corporation is Newtown Bible Church of Newtown, Connecticut. It is a Connecticut non-profit religious corporation with the principal office in Newtown, Connecticut.

ARTICLE III: Statement of Faith

The Statement of Faith of this church is on file at its principal office in Newtown, Connecticut.

ARTICLE V: Church Membership

Applications for Membership. All requests for membership shall be made to an elder. Upon making such a request, the applicant shall be enrolled in a class for prospective members wherein they will have the opportunity to review the Statement of Faith and this Constitution. After completing the class the prospective member shall meet with the elders for a personal interview where they shall express their hearty agreement with the Statement of Faith and Constitution and testify of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

ARTICLE VII: Deacons/Deaconess

Section 1. Qualifications. The deacons shall be men who are members and who possess the qualifications described in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. A deacon shall be beyond reproach, a man of dignity, not double-tongued, not addicted to wine, not fond of sordid gain, one who holds to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, a good manager of his children and household, and the husband of a wife who is dignified, not a malicious gossip, but temperate and faithful. Any man called to this office must be able to conscientiously affirm his agreement with our Statement of Faith and this constitution. Should he at any time change his convictions respecting these standards, he is under moral obligation to make this fact known to the elders. Section 2. Duties. Christ, the Head of His Church, has instituted the diaconate as an aid to the people of God in general. While the office of deacon is a serving rather than a governing office, God has promised special blessings to those who serve well as deacons. Deacons are responsible to administer the ordinary business, secular affairs and benevolent concerns of the Church so the elders may devote themselves without distraction to the biblical priorities of their office. Deacons must fulfill the duties of their office in cooperation with and under the oversight of the elders. Section 3. Number of Deacons and Tenure of Office. The number of deacons shall not be fixed. The church shall select as many as are needed for the work to be done from among the men who give evidence of having the biblical qualifications for the office. Section 4. Nomination. The nomination of deacons shall be done in the same manner as for the elders as set forth in Article VI.5. of this constitution. Section 5. Candidacy, Examination & Recognition. The candidacy of deacons shall be done in the same manner as for elders as set forth in Article VI.6. of this constitution except they shall be examined according to the qualifications in 1 Tim. 3:8-13 instead of Article VI.1. of this constitution. After having served above reproach the elders will present the candidate(s) to the church at a regular worship meeting. This will be his official installation into the office which shall be conferred for life, so long as he is able to serve and continues to manifest the qualifications of the office. Section 6. Discipline of Deacons. The discipline of deacons shall be the same as set forth in Article VI.9. of this constitution. Section7. Termination of Office. Paragraph A. Reasons for Termination. While the reasons given below are sufficient for termination of office, whether or not an individual leaves or is removed from the diaconate is at the discretion of the elders. (1) Voluntary Resignation. A deacon may resign his office if for good and valid reason he finds he is no longer able to discharge the duties of it with a good conscience. (2) Non-culpable Incompetence. In cases where the elders determine that a deacon is no longer competent to fulfill all the duties of his office, by reason of infirmities not of themselves culpable, they shall explain their concerns to him and obtain his resignation. (3) Church Discipline. A deacon may be removed from office through church discipline according to Section 6 of this Article. Paragraph B. Implications of Termination. The implications of termination are the same for deacons as set forth in Article VI.10.B.1., 2. and 3. Section 8. Fees and Compensation. Deacons (as such) as well as any elder appointed councils and committees shall not receive any stated or fixed salary for their services. However, nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Deacon, council or committee member from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation. Any person receiving compensation directly or indirectly from Newtown Bible Church shall not be in a position to determine the nature or amount of said compensation.

ARTICLE IX: Settlement of Disputes

In any dispute arising between church members or staff pertaining to any matters of spiritual teaching or practices, church finances, or title to property purchased with church contributions, the dispute shall be resolved by the elders. A decision shall be reached after prayerful consideration in a spirit of humility, with each elder regarding one another before himself.

ARTICLE XI: Disbursement of Funds

Section 1. Moneys and Properties. The Corporation shall receive all moneys or other properties transferred to it for the purposes for which the Corporation was formed. However, nothing contained herein shall require the elders to accept or receive any money or property of any kind if it shall determine in its discretion that receipt of such money or property is contrary to the expressed purposes of the Corporation expressed in this constitution Section 2. Disbursement of Funds and Properties. The Corporation shall hold, manage and disburse any funds or properties received by it from any source in a manner that is consistent with the expressed purposes of this corporation. All checks, drafts, demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, as the elders may from time to time designate.

ARTICLE II: Mission

Section 1. General Statement. This church exists to glorify God through worship and discipleship. Accordingly, a biblical understanding of God's nature and character is essential. Therefore, the primary purposes of this church are to help people understand: 1) The holiness of God; 2) Ourselves and our need for repentance; 3) God’s forgiveness and our need for restoration; and 4) The necessity of willingly serving the true and living God. Paragraph A. Worship (Isa. 6:1-8; John 4:23-24). Worship deals exclusively with God and is the most essential activity in which the Church and individual believers are involved. In worship the Church centers its attention upon God and praises and glorifies the Lord for who and what He is. Paragraph B. Discipleship. Discipleship deals with our human relationships and is defined in Matt. 28:18-20 where our risen Lord commanded that we “make disciples of all the nations.” (1) Evangelism (Matt. 5:13-16; 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 1:8). Discipleship begins with proclaiming the good news of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Therefore, this church must train believers in evangelism so they will be equipped to clearly communicate the Gospel to the lost. (2) Baptism (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; 8:36-39; Rom. 6:1-11). Baptism by immersion is a believer's solemn and beautiful proclamation of their faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior and union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. This ordinance is administered to those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and evidence the fruit of repentance in their lives. (3) Edification (Matt. 28:20; Rom. 12:1-8; 1 Cor. 3:5-15, ch. 12-14; Eph. 4:7-16; Col. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Pet. 4:7, 10-11). Edification is the means by which Christians grow and become more like the Savior. The two agents used in edification are God's word (John 17:17; Acts 20:32) and ourselves as Spirit gifted believers (1 Cor. 12:7). Christians must study and exercise their spiritual gifts for the benefit of the Church so all believers may mature and properly participate in church life. (4) Fellowship (Acts 2:41-47; Heb. 10:24-25). Fellowship promotes love, affection, unity 1

ARTICLE IV: Corporate Membership

Section 1. Corporate Members. The Corporation shall have no members apart from the elders. The elders may confer and revoke at their discretion some or all of the rights of a corporate member upon any person or persons who are not actually corporate members and who do not have the right to vote for the election of officers or on a disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or on a merger or on a dissolution or on changes to this constitution, but no such person shall be a corporate member. Section 2. Members of the Fellowship. Nothing contained in Section 1 of this Article shall be construed to limit the right of the Corporation to refer to persons associated with it as “members,” even though such persons are not corporate members and no such reference in or outside of this constitution shall constitute anyone other than the elders as being a corporate member. All rights that would otherwise vest in the members shall vest in the elders. Those admitted to church membership do not constitute a legislative body, nor do they constitute members in the Corporation and they cannot vote, pass resolutions binding upon the Corporation, nor shall they have any equity in the real property of the Corporation, or rights to vote on its disposal. Said property of the Corporation is dedicated to religious and charitable purposes.

ARTICLE VI: Elders

Section 1. Qualifications. Each elder must be an active member of this church and possess the qualifications described in 1 Tim. 3:1-7and Titus 1:6-9. He shall be ... A. One who desires the office. He has a great desire to serve the Church as an overseer. B. Blameless; above reproach. Accusations against him are baseless and there are no hidden sins. C. The husband of one wife; a one-woman man. He has single-minded dedication to his wife. D. One who rules his own house well and with dignity. His wife is submitted to his leadership and his children are faithful, not accused of rebellion to God or disobedience. E. Self-controlled,temperate,sober. He has mastered his appetites and desires. F. Sensible, sane, of sound mind. He is in his right mind. G. Well behaved, orderly, decent. He is known for his good behavior. H. Given to hospitality. He is hospitable to friends and strangers alike. I. Forbearing, considerate, moderate, gentle. He is attentive and understanding with others. J. Peaceable; not quick-tempered, inclined to anger, pugnacious nor violent. He seeks peace and is not easily provoked. K. Loves goodness and what is good. He loves people of good character and things of good quality. L. Has a good reputation with those outside the Church. His good character is consistent in every area of life and recognized even by unbelievers. M. Just, righteous. He makes fair and impartial judgments based on righteousness. N. Holy, devout, pious. He strives to avoid sin and live righteously. O. Apt to teach. He is teachable and able to teach, exhort and persuade believers and refute false teaching. P. One who holds firmly to the faithful word and teaches it. He is loyal to and teaches the word of God and sound theology. Q. Not a drunkard or given to drink. He is neither a habitual nor excessive drinker of alcohol. R. Not greedy or covetous; not a lover of money; not fond of sordid gain. He does not pursue materialistic accumulation of wealth and possessions. S. Not a new convert; not a novice. He has been a Christian long enough for his godly character to be evident to all. T. Not arrogant or self-willed. He is humble and prefers others before himself.

ARTICLE VIII: Officers of the Corporation

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Financial Secretary. If there are less than five (5) members of the Corporation, the officers who exist will be responsible to fulfill the duties of the remaining offices, along with the responsibilities of their office. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the elders, other officers as may be appointed in accordance with Section 3 of this article. Section 2. Appointment. The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed with the provisions of Section 3 of this article, shall be chosen annually and shall serve at the pleasure of the elders. Officers shall be selected from and made up of members of the elders. Each officer shall hold his office until he shall resign, be removed, or become otherwise disqualified to serve, or until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. Section 3. Subordinate Officers. The elders may appoint and may empower the Chairman to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in this constitution or as the elders may from time to time determine. Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office due to death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or any other cause shall be filled as the vacancy occurs and in the manner prescribed in this constitution for regular appointment to such office. Section 5. Inability to Act. In cases where officers or persons authorized by the Corporation to act in their place become unable to act, the elders may delegate the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or other person whom the elders may select. Section 6. The Chairman. The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the remaining elders, have general supervision, direction and control of the activities and officers of the Corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the elders, which are to be conducted according to scriptural principals as set forth in Phil. 2:2-8. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, if any, and shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the elders or this constitution. Section 7. Vice-Chairman. In the absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall perform all the duties of the Chairman and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for him by the remaining elders or this constitution. Section 8. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes at the principal office or such other place as the remaining elders may order, of all meetings of the members, the elders and its committees, either the time and place of holding, whether regular or special and if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at the meetings, the elders and committees’ meetings and the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office in the State of Connecticut the original and a copy of the Corporation’s constitution, as amended to date. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the elders and any committees thereof required by this constitution or by law to be given, shall keep the seal of the Corporation in safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as prescribed by the remainder of the elders. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Corporation, a church membership register, showing the names of the church members and their addresses. Section 9. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The books of the accounts shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any elder. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the remaining elders, shall render to the elders, whenever they request it, an account of all his transactions and the financial condition of the Corporation and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the remaining elders. He shall make the financial reports at each regular elder meeting and at the annual meeting of members. Section 10. Financial Secretary. The financial secretary shall collect, count, record and deposit in the church's accounts all offerings and gifts to the church. He shall not be assisted in any way by the treasurer nor be a member of the treasurer's immediate family or household. The financial secretary shall, each week, provide the treasurer with records and receipts of all offerings and gifts received and deposited. The financial secretary shall also keep separate and individual records of all who give to the Corporation. Annually in January, or as requested, the financial secretary shall provide each giver with a record of his/her gifts to the Corporation. The financial secretary shall also provide the treasurer and elders with reports annually, quarterly and as requested by the elders.

ARTICLE X: Other Provisions

Section 1. Endorsement of Documents, Contracts. The elders, except as otherwise provided in this constitution, may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized in writing by the elders, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract agreement, or to pledge its credit, or to render it liable for any purpose or to any amount. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, any note, mortgage, evidence of indebtedness, contract, conveyance, or other instrument in writing and any assignment or endorsement thereof executed or entered into between this corporation and any other person, when signed jointly by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and the Secretary and the Treasurer of this corporation shall be valid and binding on this corporation in the absence of actual knowledge on the part of the other person that the signing officers had no authority to execute the same. Section 2. Representation of Shares of Other Corporations. The Chairman or other officer or officers designated by the elders are each authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporations standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority herein granted may be exercised by any such officer in person or by any other person authorized to do so in proxy or power of attorney duly executed by said officer. Section 3. Construction and Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions contained in the general provisions of the laws of the State of Connecticut binding upon religious non-profit corporations shall govern the construction of this constitution. Section 4. Amendments. This constitution may be amended and new and additional Articles and Sections may be made at any time by the elders in the exercise of the power granted to said elders in this constitution. Any amendment to this constitution shall be presented at the annual meeting of the church membership. Section 5. Record of Amendments. Whenever an amendment or new Article or Section is adopted, it shall be copied in the book of minutes with the original constitution, in the appropriate place. If any Article or Section is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written assent was filed shall be stated in said book.

ARTICLE XII: Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, all assets of the Corporation shall be used to satisfy all outstanding indebtedness of the Corporation. The elders shall cause any assets of the Corporation remaining thereafter to be distributed to another corporation with purposes similar to that identified in Article II of this constitution as amended.