FRESNO BIBLE CHURCH
BY-LAWS
Article 1 - NAME
The name of this church shall be Fresno Bible Church.
Article 2 - STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE
Article 3 - THE MEMBERS
1. Membership in this church shall be limited to persons who have experienced salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. A person shall be admitted to membership only after attending the church's membership class, giving a credible confession of faith in Christ before the elders, and signifying his assent to the doctrinal statement in Article 2. The elders, being satisfied as to the conversion and Christian character of the person, shall cause his name to be announced at two Sunday meetings of the church, at least one week apart, and shall consider any objections that may be raised up to and including the date of the last announcement. The congregation, being satisfied as to the conversion and Christian character of the person, shall consider the person a member. Only persons having attained the age of twelve years shall be admitted to membership.
2. Believer's baptism by immersion (unless a person is physically incapable of being baptized by this mode) shall be required of any person desiring membership. If the person has not previously been baptized after placing his faith in Christ, the person shall be offered an opportunity before admission to the membership is permitted.
3. A member may be dismissed from the membership of the church for being habitually absent from the services of the church, for refusal to submit to church discipline, or for an unwillingness to repent. In every case, the member shall be given an opportunity to defend himself before the elders before being dismissed. No member shall be expelled until every effort has been made to reclaim him for Christ and the church.
Article 4 - THE ELDERS
1. The government of this church, under the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be committed to the eldership, consisting of the men from among the membership who are called by God, who meet the biblical requirements, and who are appointed to office by the church.
2. The eldership shall meet at least once a month at the time and place decided upon by themselves. Special meetings may be called by any member of the eldership, every member being notified beforehand of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.
3. The eldership shall work toward a consensus on any decision that affects the life and ministry of the church.
4. The eldership shall not proceed with any important matter of the church involving the expenditure of a large amount of money or a new direction for the church without notify-ing the congregation and considering their input. The eldership shall have the power to make contracts on behalf of the church; this shall include the power to borrow money.
5. The Organization of the Church manual is the official document of the church that details the government of the church, the description of eldership rule, the qualifications of elders, the description of the deaconship, and the qualifications of deacons.
Article 5 - THE DEACONS
1. The specialized service of this church, under the authority of the eldership, shall be committed to the deaconship, consisting of men from among the membership who meet the biblical requirements and who are appointed to office by the church.
2. The deaconship shall meet at least once a month at the time and place decided upon by themselves. Special meetings may be called by any member of the deaconship, every member of the deaconship being notified beforehand of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.
3. The deaconship shall not proceed with any important matter of the church involving the expenditure of a large amount of money without securing consent from the eldership.
4. Refer to The Organization of the Church manual for the description of the deaconship and the qualifications of deacons.
Article 6 - THE TRUSTEES
1. The general maintenance of all church property (land, buildings, and contents) shall be committed to the trusteeship, consisting of three or more persons, each of whom shall be a member of this church.
2. Trustees shall be appointed to office by the elders and deacons. The trustees will serve in five-year terms. They may continue to serve in the office in additional terms if they have a desire to serve in this capacity, function well in the work, and remain qualified in accordance with the qualifications laid out in The Organization of the Church manual.
3. The deaconship shall exercise oversight over the trustees. Purchases and expenditures will be governed by the deaconship.
4. Vacancies in the trusteeship may be filled by special appointment by the deaconship. The person filling the vacancy shall complete the term of the person who vacated the office.
5. The duties of the trustees shall be to maintain and repair, or oversee maintenance and repairs, of all church property. The head trustee shall exercise oversight over the church janitor, and he shall make an annual report to the congregation.
6. The trusteeship shall meet at least bi-monthly at the time and place decided upon by themselves. If necessary, they shall meet once a month. Special meetings may be called by the head of the trusteeship, every member of the trusteeship being notified beforehand of the time, place, and purpose of the special meeting.
7. The deaconship shall appoint a head trustee. The head trustee will first be a member of the deaconship. The duties of the head trustee shall include presiding at all meetings of the trusteeship, taking general oversight of the affairs of the trusteeship in such a manner as may be authorized by the deaconship, and assigning work directives to the trustees.
Article 7 - THE CONGREGATION
1. The congregation, consisting of all members of the church in regular standing, shall, under the leadership of the elders, appoint new members to the eldership. Refer to The Organization of the Church manual.
2. The congregation shall meet at least once a year, during the month of April, and unless otherwise provided by resolution of the eldership, such meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of that month. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the elders, two notices being given beforehand at two Sunday meetings of the congregation, at least one week apart, and each such special congregational meeting shall be confined to the purpose for which it is called.
3. The congregation, consisting of the members present at the meeting, shall work toward a consensus on any decision that affects the life and ministry of the church.
4. At the annual meeting of the congregation the eldership shall submit a complete report of the finances of the church.
Article 8 - THE ELDERSHIP RELATIONS
1. To appoint an elder from outside of this local church to serve on the eldership, the eldership and congregation will apply the same principles in The Organization of the Church manual that are applied to the appointment of the elders from within the church.
2. The elders shall have general oversight of the church. All questions concerning an elder's relationship with the church, such as his duties and, if he is an elder worthy of double honor, his wages, shall be decided upon by the eldership.
3. The appointment of an elder may be terminated at any time when it is determined by the eldership that he no longer meets the requirements of personal desire and biblical qualifications.
BY-LAWS
Article 1 - NAME
The name of this church shall be Fresno Bible Church.
Article 2 - STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE
- We believe in the verbal inspiration of all the Scriptures of both Old and New Testaments, and that they are the final authority in faith and life.
- We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the virgin birth of Christ, and that He is true God and true man.
- We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that with His shed blood He obtained for us an eternal redemption.
- We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension into heaven, and in His present life there as our High Priest and Advocate.
- We believe in the personal, imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the total depravity of all mankind, and in the necessity of regeneration.
- We believe that salvation is the free gift of God, entirely apart from works, and is possessed by all who have by faith received the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
- We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine Person and that He indwells all believers.
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting punishment of the lost.
Article 3 - THE MEMBERS
1. Membership in this church shall be limited to persons who have experienced salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. A person shall be admitted to membership only after attending the church's membership class, giving a credible confession of faith in Christ before the elders, and signifying his assent to the doctrinal statement in Article 2. The elders, being satisfied as to the conversion and Christian character of the person, shall cause his name to be announced at two Sunday meetings of the church, at least one week apart, and shall consider any objections that may be raised up to and including the date of the last announcement. The congregation, being satisfied as to the conversion and Christian character of the person, shall consider the person a member. Only persons having attained the age of twelve years shall be admitted to membership.
2. Believer's baptism by immersion (unless a person is physically incapable of being baptized by this mode) shall be required of any person desiring membership. If the person has not previously been baptized after placing his faith in Christ, the person shall be offered an opportunity before admission to the membership is permitted.
3. A member may be dismissed from the membership of the church for being habitually absent from the services of the church, for refusal to submit to church discipline, or for an unwillingness to repent. In every case, the member shall be given an opportunity to defend himself before the elders before being dismissed. No member shall be expelled until every effort has been made to reclaim him for Christ and the church.
Article 4 - THE ELDERS
1. The government of this church, under the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be committed to the eldership, consisting of the men from among the membership who are called by God, who meet the biblical requirements, and who are appointed to office by the church.
2. The eldership shall meet at least once a month at the time and place decided upon by themselves. Special meetings may be called by any member of the eldership, every member being notified beforehand of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.
3. The eldership shall work toward a consensus on any decision that affects the life and ministry of the church.
4. The eldership shall not proceed with any important matter of the church involving the expenditure of a large amount of money or a new direction for the church without notify-ing the congregation and considering their input. The eldership shall have the power to make contracts on behalf of the church; this shall include the power to borrow money.
5. The Organization of the Church manual is the official document of the church that details the government of the church, the description of eldership rule, the qualifications of elders, the description of the deaconship, and the qualifications of deacons.
Article 5 - THE DEACONS
1. The specialized service of this church, under the authority of the eldership, shall be committed to the deaconship, consisting of men from among the membership who meet the biblical requirements and who are appointed to office by the church.
2. The deaconship shall meet at least once a month at the time and place decided upon by themselves. Special meetings may be called by any member of the deaconship, every member of the deaconship being notified beforehand of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.
3. The deaconship shall not proceed with any important matter of the church involving the expenditure of a large amount of money without securing consent from the eldership.
4. Refer to The Organization of the Church manual for the description of the deaconship and the qualifications of deacons.
Article 6 - THE TRUSTEES
1. The general maintenance of all church property (land, buildings, and contents) shall be committed to the trusteeship, consisting of three or more persons, each of whom shall be a member of this church.
2. Trustees shall be appointed to office by the elders and deacons. The trustees will serve in five-year terms. They may continue to serve in the office in additional terms if they have a desire to serve in this capacity, function well in the work, and remain qualified in accordance with the qualifications laid out in The Organization of the Church manual.
3. The deaconship shall exercise oversight over the trustees. Purchases and expenditures will be governed by the deaconship.
4. Vacancies in the trusteeship may be filled by special appointment by the deaconship. The person filling the vacancy shall complete the term of the person who vacated the office.
5. The duties of the trustees shall be to maintain and repair, or oversee maintenance and repairs, of all church property. The head trustee shall exercise oversight over the church janitor, and he shall make an annual report to the congregation.
6. The trusteeship shall meet at least bi-monthly at the time and place decided upon by themselves. If necessary, they shall meet once a month. Special meetings may be called by the head of the trusteeship, every member of the trusteeship being notified beforehand of the time, place, and purpose of the special meeting.
7. The deaconship shall appoint a head trustee. The head trustee will first be a member of the deaconship. The duties of the head trustee shall include presiding at all meetings of the trusteeship, taking general oversight of the affairs of the trusteeship in such a manner as may be authorized by the deaconship, and assigning work directives to the trustees.
Article 7 - THE CONGREGATION
1. The congregation, consisting of all members of the church in regular standing, shall, under the leadership of the elders, appoint new members to the eldership. Refer to The Organization of the Church manual.
2. The congregation shall meet at least once a year, during the month of April, and unless otherwise provided by resolution of the eldership, such meetings shall be held on the second Wednesday of that month. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the elders, two notices being given beforehand at two Sunday meetings of the congregation, at least one week apart, and each such special congregational meeting shall be confined to the purpose for which it is called.
3. The congregation, consisting of the members present at the meeting, shall work toward a consensus on any decision that affects the life and ministry of the church.
4. At the annual meeting of the congregation the eldership shall submit a complete report of the finances of the church.
Article 8 - THE ELDERSHIP RELATIONS
1. To appoint an elder from outside of this local church to serve on the eldership, the eldership and congregation will apply the same principles in The Organization of the Church manual that are applied to the appointment of the elders from within the church.
2. The elders shall have general oversight of the church. All questions concerning an elder's relationship with the church, such as his duties and, if he is an elder worthy of double honor, his wages, shall be decided upon by the eldership.
3. The appointment of an elder may be terminated at any time when it is determined by the eldership that he no longer meets the requirements of personal desire and biblical qualifications.