Documentation

The Lighthouse Church, Forres, CONSTITUTION

NOTE:

This is the official Constitution of

The Lighthouse Church, Forres.

It is the prayerful & humble intent of those who originally composed this constitution that it will facilitate the Membership of this church in fulfilling the 'Great Commission' of Jesus Christ. That is, to go and make disciples of all peoples, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and to teach them everything that Jesus commanded. (The Gospel of Matthew 28:19-20)

1. Name & Character
The name of this particular Christian community is The Lighthouse Church, Forres (hereafter referred to as the Church). It is baptistic in its model of church government and affiliations and subscribes to the Declaration of Principle of the Baptist Union of Scotland. The shared purpose, vision, beliefs and core values of the Church are contained within the Member's Handbook. This Church is a non-profit making organization.

2. Purpose
To glorify God through helping people: to discover the good news of Jesus Christ; to come into membership and life of the Christian family; to mature in the understanding and practice of faith in Jesus; and to be equipped for service in the church and mission in the world.

3. Trustees / Church Office-Bearers
a) The Trustees of the Church will normally be its Office-Bearers - Pastor, Church Administrator and Treasurer. The number of trustees shall not number fewer than three persons. All Trustees are to be Category A Members and normally members of The Leadership Team. The election and removal of Trustees can only be made by a vote of the membership at a duly noticed and called Church meeting.

b) As long as the church remains a recognised charity, the trustees/office-bearers are to carry out their responsibilities as directed by the relevant national regulatory body for charities in Scotland.

4. Leadership
4.1 Leadership Team
a) A Leadership Team will be formed comprising of the Pastor and an appropriate number (not fewer than two) of Category A Church members. The Church Administrator and Treasurer may or may not be members of the Leadership Team. The election and removal of members of the Leadership Team can only be made by a vote of the membership at a duly noticed and called Church meeting.

b) The Leadership Team has the responsibility of overseeing and facilitating all the ministries and business within the church to ensure that the Church functions in accordance with its stated purpose.

4.2 Management & Support Team
a) A Management & Support Team will be formed normally comprising of a suitable number of Category A Members to meet the requirements of 4.2b. The appointment and removal of members of the Management & Support Team is to be determined by current Team Members with the agreement of The Leadership Team.

b) Under the oversight of The Leadership Team, the role of the Management & Support Team is to assist The Leadership Team in discharging its responsibilities; specifically in practically managing and supporting all the ministries and business within the Church, to ensure that the Church functions in accordance with its stated purpose.

4.3 Qualifications for Church Leadership
Guidance in the selection of church leaders is to be informed by the church document 'Foundational Principles of Christian Leadership'.

5. Membership:
5.1 General
Membership in this Church will consist of all persons who have met the qualifications for membership and are named on the membership role.

5.2 Membership Categories
The Membership role will be divided into two categories and reviewed on a regular basis:

A. Active/Resident Members: All members who reside within the Church's ministry area or are currently active in the Church.

B. Inactive Members: Members who have become inactive as a result of moving out of this Church's ministry area and have not joined another church.

5.3 Qualifications for Membership:
i. A personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
ii. Baptism and Confirmation where appropriate, as a testimony of salvation, membership of the Kingdom of God and of the wider Christian family. (The mode of baptism practised by the Church is Believers Baptism by immersion).
iii. Completion of an appropriate Church Membership course.
iv. Continuing commitment to follow Member's Handbook.

5.4 Responsibilities of Membership
The responsibilities of membership are described in the Member's Handbook.

5.5 Voting Rights of Membership
a) Every Category A Member shall have the right to vote on the following matters: the annual budget of the Church; the election and removal of Trustees; the calling or removing of a Pastor; the election and removal of members of The Leadership Team; the disposition of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Church; the merger, affiliation or dissolution of the Church; the acquisition of real property and related indebtedness; acceptance and amendments to the constitution of the Church; and any special issue that The Leadership Team presents.

b) A quorum is required for all such matters, which will comprise of at least one half (50%) of the entire category A membership or fifteen category A members, whichever is the lesser. A majority vote of two-thirds of the entire category A membership is required to pass any motion relating to the above issues. Provision shall be made for adequately informed proxy voting.

c) Normally any such voting will take into account the recommendation of The Leadership Team. Should The Leadership Team's recommendation be discounted, the reasons are to be clearly articulated for discussion at an appropriate duly noticed and called Church meeting.

5.6 Termination of Membership
a) Members shall be removed from the Church roll for the following reasons:

i. Death
ii. Transfer of membership to another church.
iii. By personal request of the member.
iv. Disciplinary dismissal if the member's beliefs, life and conduct become significantly inconsistent with that described by the Member's Handbook.

b) Procedures that may result in the disciplinary dismissal of a member shall be according to Matthew 18:15-17, with the additional guidance of 1 Timothy 5:19-21 in the case of The Leadership Team, whilst also applying 1 Corinthians 16:14 and 1 Peter 4:8.

c) The Leadership Team will have the overall responsibility of administering the issues relating to clause 5.6 a) iv).

5.7 Restoration of Members
Members dismissed shall be restored by The Leadership Team according to the spirit of Galatians 6:1 and 2 Corinthians 2:7-8, when their lives are judged to be adequately restored to that which is described by the Member's Handbook.

6. Church Meetings
A General Church Meeting will be held at least quarterly, one of these being the Annual General Meeting. The content of the meetings will include issues relating to Church finances, the policy and ministry of the church. Should the need arise a Special Church Meeting may be called by the Leadership Team. The notice for all meetings will be no less than 14 clear days. Notification may be made either by oral announcement at an official church function and/or in written form such as church newsletter or personal letter.

7. Assets
All heritable properties of the Church shall be held on behalf of the Church by the Trustees.

8. Finance
a) The financial year shall end on 31st December. The Church accounts shall be reviewed in compliance with statutory requirements for presentation at the Annual General Meeting.

b) All monies raised by or on behalf of the Church shall be applied to further the objects/purpose of the Church and for no other purpose provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Church and fees to professional and technical advisors.

c) The Church is permitted to engage and pay any person or persons whether on a full or part-time basis or whether as consultant or employee to supervise, organize, carry on the work of and advise the Church and, subject to the provisions of clause (8. d. below) of this constitution to make any reasonable and necessary provision for the payment of pension and superannuation to or on behalf of employees or former employees and their wives, husbands and other dependants.

d) Any employee of the Church shall have no voting powers with regard to the terms and conditions of their employment.

9. Alterations to the Constitution
A resolution to alter this constitution shall not be valid unless;

a) no less than two-thirds of the entire category A membership vote in favour of any resolution at a General, Annual or Special Meeting of the Church.

And

b) where reasonably possible, notice (setting out the terms of the proposed alteration) shall have been given to the members not less that 14 clear days before the meeting at which the alteration was proposed.

10. Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Church, any assets remaining after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Church, but shall be given or transferred to a recognized charitable organization(s) having similar objects/purpose to that of the Church.

11. Availability of Copies of this Constitution
A printed copy of this constitution is to be made available to any member or appropriate organization on request.

December 2007