Bylaws
I. Purpose
The Bylaws provide broad guidelines of governance for the church, with Biblical expectations of integrity, honor, kindness, and responsibility. The Church Policy Manual contains detailed information regarding staff, members, officers, teams, job descriptions and evaluations thereof.
II. Church Membership
Membership of Life Way Fellowship shall consist of people who have made a profession of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, have followed His example by being baptized as a believer by immersion, and are in agreement with the Articles of Faith.
In accordance with the Articles of Faith, all qualifications, rights, discipline and termination of membership are based on Scripture.
III. Church Trustees
A. Church trustees will consist of the Chairman of the following teams: Facilities, Finance and Advisory Council. Each Trustees will be an active/resident member of the church.
B. The trustees are hereby designated as the Directors of the Corporation as the term is defined and used in the Texas Nonprofit Corporation Code. They shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any property of the church without a specific vote of the church authorizing each action.
Upon authorization:
- Trustees shall act as legal representative of the church.
- Trustees shall sign any, and all legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or lease of church property or any other legal document requiring the signature of the trustees for and in behalf of the church.
IV. Church Staff
All staff member employment shall be recommended by the appropriate team and presented to the church body for approval. A written job description and hiring agreement will be prepared when church staff is needed.
Church offices of pastor, elders and deacons shall be recommended as well by the appropriate team and presented to the church body for approval.
V. Teams
All Teams and activities are to be correlated with the church program schedule in order to attain goals set forth by the church.
A. The Advisory Team consists of 7 members nominated and elected by the church, with the pastor serving as an ex-officio member. In turn, the team will elect a Chairman and Co-Chair, and Secretary to record official.
- Their role shall be to recommend to the church objectives and goals; review the coordinated program plans recommended by the pastor, church officers, organizations, and committees; to recommend to the church the use of leadership, calendar time, and other resources according to program priorities; and to evaluate program achievements in terms of church goals and objectives.
- All matters agreed on by the Advisory Team calling for action not already provided for shall be referred to the church for voting purpose.
B. The Finance Team shall be the custodian of all moneys of the church and shall disburse these moneys by checks as authorized by the church. This team shall be made up of 5 members elected by the church body.
- They shall keep, at all times, an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements and shall render a quarterly written report of this account to the church.
- They shall have the responsibility of assuring that the adopted budget is adhered to.
- It shall recommend financial policies to the church and shall foster and programs of stewardship.
- In consultation with the Advisory Team for the new church year, it shall draw up and submit to the church an annual budget during the month of October for the next calendar year. The taking of special offerings shall be approved by this team.
C. The Facilities Team will study the condition of building and grounds, making recommendations regarding state of repair, additions, and any new building programs.
D. Other teams shall be formed as necessary to meet the goals and purposes of the church.
VI. Church Meetings
A. Worship Services:
The church shall meet regularly each Sunday morning for the worship of God, for preaching, instruction, evangelism, prayer and Bible study. These meetings will be open for the entire membership of the church and for all people and shall be conducted under the direction of the designated moderator.
B. Regular Business Meetings:
Regular business meetings shall be held quarterly. The agenda shall be circulated or made know to the church one week prior to the business meeting. Active/resident members over the age of 18 are eligible to vote.
C. Special Business Meetings:
A special called business meeting may be called by the pastor, other church officers, or by action of the Advisory Team to consider special matters of significant nature. A one-week written notice or announcement must be given for the especially called business meeting, specifically stating the agenda items.
D. Quorum:
The quorum consists of members who attend the business meetings, provided it is a stated meeting or ones that has been properly called.
E. Parliamentary Rules:
Robert's Rules of Order (revised edition) is adopted as the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the church and for all other meetings that demand voting of the church members, including committee meetings.
VII. Records and Reports:
The Church will maintain the following records and repots:
- Adequate and correct books and records of accounts (financial records).
- Business meeting minutes.
- A record of its members, giving their names and addresses.
- Contribution statements for contributors.
- Reports of annual review of all church financial books, records, and proceedings.
