CONSTITUTION
AND BYLAWS
OF
PLANTERSVILLE
BAPTIST CHURCH
PLANTERSVILLE,
TEXAS


Preamble
      For the more certain preservation and security of the principles of our faith, and to the end that this body may be governed in an orderly manner, and for the purpose of preserving the liberties inherent in each individual member of this church, and the freedom of action of this body with the respect to its relation to other churches, we do declare and establish this Constitution and Bylaws, which shall supersede previous Constitutions and Bylaws.

Article I.
Name and Purpose.
         Section 1.  The name of the corporation shall be Plantersville Baptist Church, Plantersville, Texas.
         Section2.  This church is formed to support public worship, and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ through such ministries as may be determined by the church.

Article II.
Authority and Doctrine.
         Section 1. Authority. 
The authority of this church is vested in its members. Every member has the right to a voice in its government, plans, and discipline. This church is subject to the control of no ecclesiastical body, but recognizes and sustains the obligation  of mutual counsel and cooperation with other churches and organizations.
         Section 2.  Doctrine.                                                                                                                                  
The following statements are accepted as common ground of faith: 
(a)The Bible is the written trustworthy record of God’s revelation of Himself to humanity, and the authority for doctrine and practice.
(b)God is the ruler of all that is; Jesus Christ, whose reality and wisdom are expressed through the presence of God’s Holy Spirit, is the head of the church.
(c)We believe in a regenerated church membership.  The experience of conversion through faith in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for baptism and subsequent church membership.
(d)We believe immersion in water answers Jesus Christ’s command to baptize, and immersion symbolizes the heart of the gospel message: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(e)We believe there are two New Testament ordinances, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and we believe both are symbolic in nature.  Baptism and the Lord’s Supper symbolize not only the Christian gospel, but the Christian’s participation in the gospel’s message.
(f)We believe a marriage constitutes one man and one woman united in holy matrimony.
(g)We believe “The Baptist Faith and Message” adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on May 9, 1963, represents a consensus of our members and is suitable for general instruction and guidance.  We believe the preamble to “The Baptist Faith and Message” calls for its continual interpretation as a confession of
faith and prevents it from being construed as a creed.
(h)We believe in the freedom of the individual conscience and in the voluntary principle of worship and the practice of faith.  The freedom of the Christian means neither faith nor practice may be coerced.
(i)We believe in the principle of separation of church and state.
(j)We believe Christian cooperation and the fellowship of the church are not dependent upon organizational unification.  We believe we are united in Jesus Christ with all others who are children of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Article III.
Fellowship.
         Section1.  Scope of Fellowship. 
 It is a mission of this church to be inclusive in the extension of its fellowship to its members, to persons under
watch care of the church, and to persons participating in any of the ministries of the church without formal relationship to the church.
          Section 2.  Membership: Establishment.  
A person may be received as a candidate for membership at any service or any business meeting in any one of the following ways:
(a)By public profession of faith in Jesus Christ and subsequent baptism.
(b)By letter or promise of letter from a church of like faith and order.
(c)By statement of faith in Jesus Christ and baptism by immersion for those requesting membership without letter or promise of letter.
Those having sought membership as defined above shall be confirmed as members
by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the next following
business meeting.
          Section 3.  Membership: Privileges and Responsibilities.  
Each member shall have the right to vote in the governance of the church.  Each member shall have the responsibility of participation in programs and activities of the church, and of financial support of the church.
         Section4.  Membership: Termination.  
Membership shall terminate upon any one of the following conditions:
(a)Upon notice of the death of a member, the name of that member shall be removed from the church roll.
(b)At the request of a church of like faith and order, a letter of recommendation of the member who wishes to join that church shall be granted.
(c)If a member requests removal from membership in this church, that request shall be referred to the pastor.  If efforts to secure continuance in fellowship fail, such request shall be granted and membership terminated.
(d)Upon satisfactory evidence that a member has united with a church of another denomination, notice shall be given at a regular business meeting of the church, and the name removed from the church roll.
(e)Should a member become an offense to the church by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct or by denying acceptance of fundamental doctrines of the church, that person’s membership may be
terminated, but only after due notice and hearing, and after redemptive efforts have been made to bring such member to reconciliation.
         Section5.  Restoration.  
 After fellowship has been withdrawn from a member, the member may be restored to membership when proper acknowledgements are made with evidence of sincere repentance.
          Section 6.  Watchcare.
If a person chooses not to ask for membership, but wishes to be closely related to the church, such person may be placed under the watchcare of the church by majority vote of members present at the next following business meeting.  Individuals under watchcare may not vote on matters of church business.
        Section 7.  Persons Without Formal Relationship to the Church.  
The church recognizes that it is called to extend its fellowship and ministries to those persons in the community who do not offer themselves for membership or watchcare, but seek an informal relationship with the church.

Article IV.
The Church’s Ministry.
          Section 1.  Pastor. 
 A pastor shall be chosen and called by the church when a vacancy occurs.  A committee of at least seven members nominated and elected by the church shall seek out and recommend to the congregation a person deemed suitable to serve as pastor and minister.  The most recent personnel policies and procedures adopted by the church shall be followed in calling a pastor.  The election of the pastor shall require an affirmative vote of 90% of the members present and voting at a business meeting announced at least one week prior to the  election date.  The pastor thus elected shall serve at the will of the church or until the pastor may choose to resign.
(a)The pastor shall serve as the spiritual leader of the church, and shall promote the interests of the church.
(b)The pastor’s role of leadership in the church shall in no way diminish the congregational authority of the church.
         Section2.  Staff.  
The church shall call as ministers of the gospel those men and women who have been called of God, and whom the church deems necessary to serve it.  The most recent personnel policies and procedures adopted by the church shall be followed in the calling of such ministers.
          Section 3.  Church Clerk.
There shall be at least one individual who shall fulfill the function of keeping records of church proceedings, and keeping and making available at business meetings, copies of the Constitution and Bylaws, financial policy,
personnel rules, rules regulating election of deacons, and any other rules, policies or procedures adopted by the church.  Such individual shall be familiar with methods and practices used in the church office to maintain a correct register of church members.
          Section 4.  Employees.
The church may secure the services of full or part-time employees, such as secretaries, clerks, or maintenance persons, as needed.  These positions shall be filled in accordance with current personnel policies.
         Section5.  All Members.  
We believe in the priesthood and ministry of all believers.  All are called to serve as Christian ministers under the voluntary principle.
                                 
Article V.                 
Deacons.  
Deacons are Christian servants who are asked by the church to serve by maintaining the unity, integrity, and usefulness of the church’s ministry.
         Section1.  Deacon Council.                                                                                                                           The work of the Deacon Council shall include the following:
(a)Strengthen Sunday School ministry through personal involvement and leadership.
(b)Permeate the congregation with the mission, vision, and program efforts of the church.
(c)Listen carefully to the congregation.
(d)Give wise counsel to committees, staff, and pastor.
(e)Support specific ministries of this church.
(f)Accept deacon committee assignments.
        Section2.  Nomination and Election. 
There shall be an active group of deacons, the Deacon Council, elected according to the rules adopted by the church, provided that such rules include the following:  individuals for ordination as deacons shall be selected prayerfully by the pastor, with counseling by the current Deacon Council, when deemed necessary, to be
presented before the congregation of church members; the list of deacon nominees shall be presented to the church at least one month prior to deacon election; election of deacons shall be by ballot at a business meeting. An individual may be considered for election and ordination as a deacon and member
of the Deacon Council, at the discretion of the pastor and church.
        Section 3.  Qualifications of deacons shall be those adopted by the church.
        Section 4.  The office of Deacon Emeritus may be conferred by the church at its discretion in appreciation for long, unselfish, and exemplary service in the work of the Lord through this church.  A Deacon Emeritus shall have all the privileges of an active deacon.

Article VI.
Church Governance.
      Section1.  Church organization.  
All organizations of the church shall be under church control; all organizational officers being elected by the
church and reporting regularly to the church.
     Section 2.  Committees.  
Special committees shall be formed when deemed necessary by the church.
     Section 3.  Officers. 
The officers of the church shall consist of a president, a vice president, a secretary, and such assistant officers as may be deemed necessary by the church.
(a)President.  The pastor shall be president of the corporation. He shall act for the corporation in ceremonial capacities. He shall preside at all business meetings of the church unless the pastor and church
have agreed otherwise, or as elsewhere provided in these Bylaws. The pastor, or designated representative, shall be an ex officio member of all organizations and committees of the church.  
(b)Vice President.  The vice president shall perform the corporate and ceremonial duties of the president in the
absence of the president.  The minister of administration shall be vice president of the corporation.  If such position be vacant, the church may elect a vice president to serve during such vacancy.
(c)Secretary.  The church clerk shall be secretary of the corporation.
         Section 4. Rules for governance.  
The church shall be governed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act, the Articles of Incorporation, this Constitution and Bylaws, and such rules and regulations as the church and its committees may adopt which are not in conflict herewith.

Article VII.
Meetings.
         Section 1.  Regular worship services shall be conducted each Sunday and each Wednesday unless the pastor or a designated staff member shall make a temporary change.  Worship services shall be under the direction of the pastor or, when the church is without a pastor, shall be under the direction of a staff member chosen to perform this duty.
         Section 2.  Business meetings shall be held as often as decided by the church, but no less than once a quarter. Notices of business meetings are to be announced at least one week in advance.
         Section 3.  Special meetings may be called for the transaction of urgent business.  The time, place, and
purpose of any special business meeting shall be announced on the Sunday before the meeting is to be held on Wednesday evening, or on a Wednesday evening before the meeting is to be held on Sunday.  No business except that for which the meeting was called may be transacted.
         Section 4.  The church may allow absentee voting under rules and procedures adopted by the church membership.
         Section 5.  The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of OrderRevised shall govern business procedure in all cases when they are applicable and when they are not inconsistent with this Constitution and Bylaws.
         Section 6.  Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and Bylaws, all action taken by the church membership shall be by 90% of the members present at any given business meeting.

Article VIII.
Amendments.
         This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote in any regular business meeting, if such amendment shall have been published in a church publication and read aloud at two preceding business meetings, the first of such meetings being not less than sixty nor more than ninety days prior to the date of
voting.


Constitution and Bylaws adopted on September 3, 2017