What We Believe

Constitution

Doctrinal Statement | Covenant

HARVEST BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTITUTION
OSWEGO, ILLINOIS

Preamble

Whereas, the Lord instructs the local church to do all things decently and in order, this congregation sets forth the following, which will serve as the guide for the orderly conduct of the business affairs of this church.

ARTICLE I: NAME
This church was organized June 24, 1963 as the Oswego Baptist Church located at the corner of Benton and Madison Streets in Oswego, Illinois. On April 22, 1992, the Church was renamed as Harvest Baptist Church. In July, 1993, the church was relocated to its present facilities at 5315 Douglas Road, Oswego, Illinois.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
We exist to...

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Eligibility
Any person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and who has been baptized by immersion as a believer is eligible for membership at Harvest Baptist Church.

Section 2: Procedure
Membership at Harvest Baptist Church involves a three-step process:

1. Informational/Educational classes: Those interested in membership or who desire to join Harvest Baptist Church must attend a series of membership classes. These classes are for the purpose of sharing information about the church, studying Biblical passages pertaining to commitment and service within a local church, and answering any questions that prospective members may have. Individuals under the age of sixteen (16) are exempt from attending these classes.

2. Interview: This is an encouraging time with at least two members of the deacon board present. The interview is for the purpose of hearing prospective member's testimony and to further answer questions and share information about church membership and commitment.

3. Presentation to Congregation: The deacon board will recommend new members to the congregation. Membership is then granted upon the majority vote of the congregation as an official welcome. A new member's reception will be held which is an informal social time for new members to meet the church leadership and to welcome new members into the church family.

Section 3: Responsibilities
A member of Harvest Baptist Church has the responsibility to uphold the Biblical standards of living as recorded in the Church Covenant:

Section 4: Classification
Active member: All members are considered active members in good standing unless membership has been terminated in any matter as outlined in Section 6 below.

Section 5: Privileges
All members 16 years of age or older may participate and vote in the official transactions of the business meetings at Harvest Baptist Church.

Section 6: Termination
Membership may be severed by any of the following:

  1. by death
  2. by written request from the member
  3. by removal through church discipline
  4. by prolonged absence of more than one year

Any member who is absent from church services without reasonable cause (i.e., college, illness, military service, etc.) for a period of one year will be removed from the membership roster. It is the policy of this church to reach out to those members who have voluntarily and without cause distanced themselves from the church and have not attended services or participated in the ministries of the church. Everything possible that can reasonably be done to seek the restoration of the member shall be done prior to removal. Any termination of membership by discipline or removal shall be the responsibility ot the Board of Deacons. If membership in the church is severed by written request from the member, by church discipline or by removal, the person may only be reinstated by following the procedure for church membership as outlined in Section 2 above. However, in certain instances, the Board of Deacons may waive the requirement to repeat the informational/educational classes.


ARTICLE IV: DISCIPLINE
The ultimate goal of church discipline is to restore fellowship and bring reconciliation before God and between the Christians involved in the dispute.

Offenses or complaints between members should be handled in accordance with the principles established in Matthew 18:15-17. Any member who feels that an offence has been committed against them or feels that conduct unbecoming for a member has occurred should:

  1. First seek to talk individually with the offending believer. Many times it may be discovered that a simple misunderstanding has occurred that can easily be reconciled. If an offence has actually occurred, the parties should seek to achieve restoration.
  2. If the matter remains unresolved, another meeting should occur with two or three other non-involved believers present also. It is recommended that the other non-involved people be mature believers in Jesus Christ.
  3. If this fails to resolve the matter, the offense should be brought to the attention of the deacon board with reference to the offense involved and the steps that had been followed to try to achieve resolution and reconciliation. The matter then becomes the responsibility of the deacon board. The determination of the deacon board will be binding.
  4. If the offense is such that it warrants the attention of the entire church, the deacon board will bring the matter before the church membership in order that the church body may seek to win and reconcile the offending believer.
  5. If all else fails, the deacon board will take appropriate disciplinary action that could ultimately lead to a complete break in fellowship.

ARTICLE V: PASTORAL RELATIONS

Section 1: Calling of a new senior pastor or an associate pastor
The calling of a new senior pastor or an associate pastor shall be as follows:

  1. The Board of Deacons shall appoint a Pastoral Search Committee to include representation from the Board of Deacons, church leadership and the general congregation as deemed appropriate.
  2. The Pastoral Search Committee shall be responsible for soliciting resumes, reviewing resumes, contacting and interviewing prospective candidates, arranging for candidates to speak at the church, setting up a question and answer session between the candidate and the congregation, and all else that is deemed appropriate to complete their responsibility. The Pastoral Search Committee shall present their recommendation to the Board of Deacons for approval.
  3. Upon recommendation of the Board of deacons, a candidate shall be presented to the church for vote. Approval must be by at least a two-thirds majority vote by written ballot of those present at a properly called business meeting of the church. Only one candidate at a time may be presented to the church for vote. Any candidates for senior or associate pastor pastor presented to the church shall be believers in and teachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and shall meet the spiritual, personal, and family qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
  4. In the absence of a senior pastor, the Board of Deacons shall be responsible for arranging for speakers at church services until a new senior pastor is called.

Section 2: Pastoral Staff Term
All pastoral staff shall, for an indefinite term, perform all the scriptural and necessary duties of their offices.
The Senior Pastor shall:
1. be a member of any and all committees and at his discretion, attend any or all committee meetings, or delegate another member of the pastoral staff to attend the meeting(s)
2. have administrative authority over the day to day activities of the church office staff
3. have administrative authority over the day to day responsibilities of the pastoral staff
4. have the authority to call the church membership together for special business meetings as needed

Section 3: Pastoral Termination
Termination of a pastor shall be:

  1. by resignation. If a pastor wishes to terminate his ministry with the church, he shall, if possible, give the church at least 30 days prior notice.
  2. by dismissal. For the senior pastor, this shall require a recommendation of the Board of Deacons and a two-thirds vote of the congregation at a meeting called for that purpose. For an associate pastor, this shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all members of the deacon board or a two-thirds majority vote of the congregation at a meeting called for that purpose.

    In the event of dismissal, a pastor's salary shall continue to be paid at the discretion of the deacon board.

ARTICLE VI: BOARD OF DEACONS

Section 1: Description
The Board of Deacons shall be composed of the senior pastor, one member of the associate pastoral staff, and a maximum of twelve deacons elected by the congregation as outlined in Section 3 of this Article. The exact number of board members to be elected each year (up to the twelve maximum) to be determined by the board according to the administrative and leadership needs of the church.

Section 2: Requirements
All deacons must be members of the church and meet the spiritual, personal and family qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

Section 3: Term Length
Deacons shall be elected for a three-year term.

  1. The Board of Deacons shall appoint a nominating committee each year consisting of at least one member of the deacon board and at least two members from the congregation.
  2. Prior to the annual business meeting, members of the church shall submit nominations for deacon to the nominating committee. The number of names submitted by each member shall not exceed the number of vacancies to be filled on the deacon board.
  3. The nominating committee then tabulates the nominations and notifies the Deacon Board of the nominees. The Deacon Board then determines if the nominees meet the spiritual qualifications to serve. The Senior Pastor shall also consult with all pastoral staff members to discuss the spiritual qualifications of the nominees and notify the Deacon Board of any information that may disqualify a nominee from serving.
  4. The nominating committee shall contact those individuals receiving the most nominations and who also meet the spiritual qualifications for deacon to inform them of the congregation's desire to have them serve as deacon. After prayerful consideration, the nominee will inform the nominating committee of their consent to serve.
  5. The nominating committee shall continue to contact those receiving the most nominations and meeting the qualifications to serve until the slate for deacon board is in agreement with the number of vacancies to be filled.
  6. The nominating committee then prepares the ballot and the election is held at the annual business meeting as outlined in By-laws, Article 1, Section 3.
    Having served a full term of three years, deacons may not succeed themselves on the Board immediately. A period of one year shall elapse before members may again be eligible for election as deacons.

ARTICLE VII: ORGANIZATION/OPERATION

Section 1: Responsibilities
The executive and administrative work of the church shall be carried on by or under the supervision of the Board of Deacons.

Section 2: Officers
The Board of Deacons shall at the beginning of each year a) elect their own chairman, treasurer, clerk and any other positions as deemed necessary and b) collectively determine individual areas of responsibility and supervision.

Section 3: Meetings
The board shall establish regular-meeting times as needed to conduct the business affairs of the church. Special meetings of the board may be called at any time with due notice by the Senior Pastor, the Deacon Board Chairman or any four members of the board. The Chairman of the Deacon Board shall serve as moderator at board meetings and all business meetings of the church. In the absence of the Chairman, the board shall designate a moderator from among the board members.

Section 4: Vacancies
The board may fill by appointment, if deemed necessary, any vacancies that may occur on the board, except for Pastoral staff, until the next annual election. At the next annual election, the appointee must step down and the vacancy will then be filled by the election process as outlined in Article VI, Section 3.

Section 5: Trustees
The Chairman of the Board and any other two deacons appointed by the Board shall act as trustees to serve as legal representatives of the church. This shall be done whenever necessary in accordance with state or local laws for the purchase, sale or mortgage of church real estate or in any other instances when the necessity shall arise. Sale, purchase or mortgage of church real estate shall only be done after official approval of the church membership for such action.

Section 6: Committees
The Board shall be able to create any committees deemed necessary to carry out the work and ministry of the church. The Board shall be able to disband any committees that are no longer needed. Any such committees appointed shall report directly to the Board of Deacons unless directed to do otherwise.

ARTICLE VIII: AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Section 1: Existence of Organizations
No society, organization, local chapter, or branch of any parachurch ministry, or the like, shall be brought into existence within the church without the knowledge and approval of the Board of Deacons.

Section 2: Leadership of Organizations
Presidents, sponsors or leaders of any such approved organizations within the church shall be members of the church. Their appointment or election must be approved by the Board of Deacons.

Section 3: Reports
At the discretion and direction of the Board of Deacons, all such organizations shall make reports to the Board of Deacons and/or the church membership.

Section 4: Termination
The Board of Deacons shall have the right to terminate and disband any such organizations within the church, especially if such organizations:

  1. Take doctrinal stances that differ from Biblical teaching
  2. Are no longer in harmony with the doctrinal statement of Harvest Baptist Church
  3. Seek to displace the importance of the local church
  4. No longer serve to support the mission statement of Harvest Baptist Church

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I: BUSINESS MEETINGS

Section 1: Quarterly Business Meetings
Quarterly business meetings shall be held at the church at the beginning of each quarter. Preferably, the third Sunday evening of January, April, July and October shall be set aside for that purpose. The January meeting shall be designated as the annual business meeting.

Section 2: Annual Business Meetings
The annual business meeting shall be held at the church preferably on the third Sunday evening of January. Business brought before the membership at the annual meeting shall include the presentation and approval of the budget, the election of deacons, and any reports deemed necessary by the Board of Deacons.

Section 3: Election of Deacons
The election of deacons shall be by ballot. Each church member in attendance at the annual meeting shall vote "yes" or "no" for each nominee slated on the ballot. The nominating committee shall be responsible for preparing, distributing, collecting and tabulating the ballots.

Section 4: Additional Business Meetings
Additional or special business meetings may be called at any time by the Pastor, a majority vote of the Deacon Board or by written petition to the Deacon Board by any twenty unrelated voting members of the church. Such petition should clearly indicate the reason for calling the special meeting. At such a petitioned meeting, the only business to be transacted shall be the business for which the meeting had been specifically called.

Section 5: General Definitions and Guidelines
* The fiscal year is defined to correspond to the calendar year and shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
* A quorum is required at all church business meetings for the transaction of business. Twenty-five church members of voting age shall constitute a quorum.
* All business conducted shall be by simple majority vote unless specified differently by various sections of the church constitution or by-laws.
* Quarterly, annual or specially called business meetings shall be posted in the bulletin and be announced as part of the regular Sunday announcements on the two consecutive Sundays prior to said meeting.
* Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed in all business meetings.
* No absentee ballots shall be allowed in any church elections or vote.

ARTICLE II: WAGES AND SALARIES
All wages and salaries shall be paid out of the general offering church funds. Pastoral staff salaries are recommended by the Deacon Board and included in the annual budget. Membership approval of the wages and salaries is incorporated in the approval of the budget at the annual meeting. This change in pastoral salaries is retroactive to the first of January of the current fiscal year.

ARTICLE III: AMENDMENTS
This constitution and by-laws may be amended at any business meeting of the church by a two-thirds vote of the members present provided that both of the following provisions have been met:

  1. Such amendment has been duly considered and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Deacons.
  2. Notice of the intent to amend the constitution or articles, church covenant, doctrinal statement or position papers has been posted in the bulletin and announced as part of the regular Sunday announcements on the two consecutive Sundays prior to said meeting.

ARTICLE IV: DISSOLUTION
In the case of dissolution, all assets of the church shall be dispersed in the following manner:

  1. Any outstanding debts, loans, mortgages, bills and the like shall be paid first. If funds are not available to meet the outstanding debts, assets and properties will be sold to obtain the necessary funds.
  2. All remaining assets, or the net proceeds thereof in the case of sale, shall be donated to not-for-profit Christian ministries or missions as determined by vote of the church membership.
  3. The board of deacons shall have the responsibility of carrying out these procedures.

    Those who support the work of this ministry with tithes, offerings, and donations do so in obedience to the principles of giving established in God's Word. As such, all such gifts become the property of this local church to be used for the Lord's work. No one shall have the right to seek individual recompense for any gifts given.

This Constitution was approved by the membership of Harvest Baptist Church on October 21, 1998, and replaces all preceding documents.