BYLAWS 1. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP Section 1.  General       This is a sovereign and democratic Baptist church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  The membership retains unto itself the exclusive right of self-government in all phases of the spiritual and temporal life of this church.      The membership reserves the exclusive right to determine who shall be members of this church and the conditions of such membership. Section 2.  Candidacy      Any person may offer himself as a candidate for membership in this church.  All such candidates shall be presented to the church at any regular church service for membership in any of the following ways:      (1) By profession of faith and for baptism according to the Scriptures.      (2) By promise of a letter of recommendation from another Baptist church and their declaration of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) A statement of prior conversion experience and baptism according to the Scriptures.    Should there be any dissent as to any candidate, such dissent shall be referred to the pastor and deacons for investigation and a recommendation made to the church within thirty (30) days. Section 3.  New Member Orientation (when offered)      New members of this church are expected to participate in the church's New Member Orientation (when offered). Section 4.  Rights of Members      (1) Every member is entitled to vote all elections and on all questions submitted to the church in conference, provided the member is present. (2) Every member of the church is eligible for consideration by the membership as candidates for elective offices in the church according to Scriptural qualifications. (3) Every member of the church may exercise their Spiritual Gifts and their talents in harmony with the fellowship of this church and according to Scripture. Section 5.  Termination of Membership      Membership shall be terminated in the following ways: (1) death of the member (2) dissuasion to another Baptist church (3) exclusion by action of this church (4) erasure upon request or proof of membership in a church of another denomination (5) eighteen (18) months after knowledge of permanently leaving the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Section 6.  Discipline       It shall be the practice of this church to emphasize to its members that every reasonable measure will be taken to assist any troubled member.  The Pastor, other members of the church staff, and deacons are available for counsel and guidance.  The attitude of members toward one another shall be guided by concern for redemption rather than punishment.       Should some serious condition exist which would cause a member to become a liability to the general welfare of the church, the Pastor, the deacons, and all members will take every reasonable measure to resolve the problem in accord with Matthew 18.       If it becomes necessary for the church to take action to exclude a member, a two-thirds vote of the members present is required; and the church may proceed to declare the person to be no longer in the membership of the church.  All such proceedings shall be pervaded by a spirit of the Christian kindness and forbearance.       The church may restore to membership any person previously excluded, upon request of the excluded person, and by vote of the church upon evidence of the excluded person's repentance and reformation. II. CHURCH OFFICERS AND MINISTRY TEAMS       All who serve as officers of the church and those who serve on church ministry teams shall be members of this church.  Their specific duties are incorporated into the Church Operations Manual.  (If a Church Operations Manual is not available, a Church Administration Handbook published by Broadman Press may be used as a guide).  The church will vote annually on the officers and ministry teams required to serve for the upcoming year. III. CHURCH PROGRAM ORGANIZATIONS       The church shall maintain (to the best of its abilities) programs of Bible teachings; church member training, church leader training, new member orientation, mission education, action, and support, and music education.  All organizations related to the church programs shall be under church control, all officers being elected by the church and reporting to the church, and all program activities subject to church coordination and approval. IV. CHURCH MEETINGS Section 1.  Worship Services and Meetings       We will hold regular worship services and meetings as required.  Special services and business meetings will be announced in advance. Section 2.  Quorum       The quorum consists of those members who attend the business meetings provided it is a stated meeting or one that has been properly called.       Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church.  Christ's spirit of love shall be the ultimate authority.  Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, may be suspended by the Chair in order to maintain a spirit of harmony within the church. V. CHURCH FINANCES Section 1.  Accounting Procedures       A system of accounting that will adequately provide for the handling of all funds shall be the responsibility of the Pastor, Treasurer, and Finance/Budget Ministry. Section 2.  Fiscal Year      The church fiscal year shall run October 1 through September 30 or as voted on at its annual meeting. VI. CHURCH OPERATIONS MANUAL       The church shall develop a church operations manual to include church policies and procedures and organization charts depicting lines of responsibility in the administration of the church.  The manual shall be kept in the church office and made available for use there by any member of the church.  The church secretary shall maintain the manual.  The manual shall be reviewed at least annually.  Any church member or church organization may initiate suggested changes in the manual.       Addition, revision, or deletion of church policies requires: (1) the recommendation of the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the policy relates, and (2) approval by the church. Procedures governing specific organizations within the church, may be added, revised, or deleted by:  (1) recommendation of the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the procedures relate, and (2) approval by the church. VII. CHURCH ORDINANCES 1) Baptism:  (Refer to Section 2:  Profession of Faith for determination of eligibility) a) Baptism shall be by immersion in water (unless medical reasons exist prohibiting such.  Then, the Pastor shall determine the mode to be used.) b) Baptism may be administered by anyone within the congregation who has been authorized by the church to perform such function. c) Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church. 2)  Lord's Supper: The church shall observe the Lord's Supper at least once per year, and as often as is decided by the Pastor and deacons.  Such observance is to include as part of the service the instruction given in Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29.  Accordingly, we as a congregation open our observance to all who have examined themselves and wish to participate.  It is not for members of our church only, but for all who profess faith in Christ Jesus, and are submitted to Him in the Body of Christ.  Such determination shall be made by each individual according to their conscience before God. VIII. AMENDMENTS       Changes in the constitution and bylaws may be made at any business meeting of the church provided each amendment shall have been furnished to members present at three consecutive services prior to the business meeting.  Amendments to the constitution shall be by two-thirds vote of church members present.  Amendments to the bylaws shall have a concurrence of a majority of the members present and voting.