I.      Officers of the Congregation

1.    At the annual meeting, the congregation shall elect for terms of one year the following officers:

a.  Chairperson of the congregation, who also shall serve as chairperson of the General Board.

b.  Vice-Chairperson of the congregation, who also shall serve as vice-chairperson of the General Board.

c.  Secretary of the congregation, who also shall serve as secretary of the General Board.

d.    Treasurer of the congregation, who also shall serve as treasurer of the General Board.

e.  Financial Secretary of the congregation, who also shall serve as financial secretary of the General Board.

B.   Qualifications

1.  Officers must be members of the congregation.

2.  Officers must be active in the congregation’s life and give evidence of seeking to grow in their own understanding and practice of the Christian Life.  Such evidence would include the following:

a.  Conduct of one’s life in light of the teaching of Jesus Christ.

b.  Promotion of Good Will and Christian fellowship in the congregation and community.

c.  Attendance at the worship services and regular meetings of the congregation.

d.  Regular financial contributions to the support of the congregation and its outreach    program.

e.  Willingness to fulfill assignments on behalf of the congregation.

f.   Demonstrated skills or evident potential in carrying out responsibilities of the particular office.

1.  The Chairperson shall call and preside at all regularand special business meetings of the congregation and General Board and perform such other duties normally associated with the office of the chairperson. The chairperson shall be an ex-officio member of all departments and committees.

2.  The vice-chairperson shall serve to support the chairperson, preside in his or her absence at meetings of the congregation and General Board, and perform such other duties normally associated with the office of the vice-chairperson.

3.  The secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the congregation and General Board and provide for these minutes to be reviewed and approved by their respective bodies.

4.  The treasurer shall pay all accounts of the congregation as authorized by the budget or special action of the General Board, provide accurate records of all income and expenditures, make written reports at each regular meeting of the General Board, and provide for an annual audit of both income and expenditures for action by the General Board and the congregation.

5.  The financial secretary shall be responsible for depositing all income to its proper accounts and providing the treasurer of the congregation with copies of all such deposit receipts.  The financial secretary shall also keep an accurate record of each contribution and send quarterly reports to contributors as directed by the Stewardship and Finance Committee.

D. Vacancies of these offices arising by death, resignation, or removal shall be filled by appointment by the chairperson. This appointment is to cover the unexpired term of the office and is subject to approval of the majority of the General Board at its next regularly scheduled board meeting.

II.    General Board

A.   Fiscal Year and Meetings

1.  The church fiscal year shall begin July 1 and end June 30.

2.  Regular meetings of the General Board shall be held the first Thursday evening of each month.

1.  Membership of the General Board shall be composed of the officers of the congregation, elders, members of the diaconate, trustees, church school superintendent, historian, chairperson of standing committees, and the chief elected officers of major constituency group of men, women, and youth.

2.  The pastor(s) of the congregation shall serve as member(s) ex-officio of the General Board.

1.  Officers of the congregation shall serve on the General Board by virtue of office held and for their current term of office. They shall serve the General Board, as well as the congregation, as chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and financial secretary.

2.  Elders, members of the diaconate, and trustees shall be elected to serve on the General Board by the congregation for a term of three years and may be reelected for one additional three-year term. After serving two consecutive three—year terms on the General Board, they shall be ineligible for reelection to the General Board until one year has elapsed.

a.    The minimum number of these members shall be:

(i)    Elders....................................... 8

3.  Chairpersons of standing committees established by the General Board and the chief elected officers of major constituency groups of men, women and youth shall be members of the board by virtue of office and for their current terms of office.

1. The positions of the church school superintendent, historian, church clerk, assistant treasurer, assistant financial secretary assistant secretary, assistant church school superintendent, and missions treasurer shall be appointed positions for one year terms.

2.  The chairperson of the congregation shall recommend such appointees to the General Board for their approval.

3.  The responsibilities of these appointed positions are as follows:

a.  The superintendent of the church school shall organize and supervise all activities of the church school in cooperation with the Christian Education Committee and carry out the activities of the church school according to the church policies.

b.  The church historian shall gather and preserve data pertaining to the history, life, and work of the church, making available for publication historical material authorized by the church, presenting to the General Board the annual historical statement, and filing General Board annual records.

c.    The church clerk shall keep a complete written record of the church membership and such vital statistics as births, deaths, baptisms, and weddings to correspond with the church office records. The church clerk shall be a member of the Membership Committee.

d.  The assistant treasurer will act in the absence of the regular treasurer. He or she shall also be bonded.

e.    The assistant financial secretary of the congregation, who also shall serve as assistant financial secretary of the General Board in the absence of the financial secretary.

f.   The assistant secretary shall serve as secretary of the General Board in the absence of the secretary.

g.  The assistant superintendent of the church school shall act in the absence of the regular superintendent.

h.  The Missions Treasurer of the congregation, who also shall serve as missions treasurer of the General Board.

1.  The General Board shall perform its duties according to the authority granted in the constitution, or otherwise delegated to it by the congregation.

2.  In keeping with the traditions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the ultimate authority of the General Board shall rest with the congregation. All organizations within the congregation shall be responsible to and report regularly to the General Board, and through it to the congregation.

3.  The General Board shall concern itself with policy rather than administrative matters, taking into full account the responsibility of the congregation to the total nurture, witness and mission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the needs of the immediate community and world outreach.

4.  All business meetings of the General Board shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised).

1.  The General Board shall conduct its affairs in harmony with the constitution and the bylaws of the congregation.

2.  The General Board shall be charged by the congregation with conducting the business affairs of the congregation and providing for the planning, coordination, resourcing, evaluation and implementation of the work and activities of the congregation.

3.  The work of the church shall function through ten standing committees:

b.  The membership of the above ten committees shall be selected in the following manner, subject to the confirmation of the General Board.

i.   The chairperson, vice-chairperson, chairperson of the board of elders, and pastor(s) shall constitute a committee to select the respective committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.

ii.  The committee shall then act with the respective chairpersons in the selection of the members of each committee.

iii. Members of standing committees shall be appointed to serve a one year term. There should be a minimum of four on each committee.

c.  Each committee shall organize itself to conduct the business for which it is responsible, meet as frequently as needed with a minimum of once each quarter, attend to its business, and plan its general program, which shall be presented and approved by the General Board. Upon approval, the committee shall proceed to administer its program in cooperation with the other committees.

d.  The committee chairpersons are responsible for regular written reports to the General Board. Annual summaries and program evaluations shall be given by the General Board officers to the congregation.

e.  The purpose and duties of the standing committees shall be as shown in Appendix A.

4.  The General Board shall establish other special committees as needed for the conduct of its work. Officers and members shall be selected as described heretofore.

5.  The General Board shall receive the proposed annual budget for the congregation from the Stewardship and Finance Committee and recommend its approval or approval with amendment to the congregation at its annual meeting. Subsequent over-expenditure or requests for additional funds from organizations within the congregation shall be approved or disapproved by the General Board.

III.   Pastor(s)

1.  The pastor of the congregation shall be the spiritual leader and perform the duties which usually pertain to the office of pastor.

2.  The pastor of the congregation shall be the chief administrator of the congregation, and in cooperation with the chairperson of the congregation and the General Board, encourage orderly procedures in the life and work of the congregation in compliance with the congregation’s constitution and bylaws and the policies and procedures of the congregation and the General Board.

3.  The pastor shall give special attention to the selection and training of the congregation’s leaders.

4.  The pastor shall be an ex-officio member, without vote, of all boards, committees, departments, commissions, task groups, and constituency groups of the congregation.

5.  The pastor shall supervise the professional and administrative staffs, and, in conjunction with the Property Committee chairperson, shall supervise the custodial staff.

1.    The pastor(s) shall be chosen by the congregation as hereinafter described:

a.  A search committee shall be appointed by the Board of Elders. It shall be composed of the chairperson of the elders, the diaconate, and representatives of the major constituency groups of men, women, and youth of the congregation.

b.  The search committee shall utilize the services of the congregation’s executive regional pastor for information and counsel concerning prospective candidates.

c.  The search committee shall consult only one prospective pastor at a time; however, information may be secured on several persons in a given period.

d.  The search committee shall recommend a prospective pastor to the Board of Elders. Upon approval by at least a three-fourths majority of those present and voting, the Board of Elders shall recommend employment of the prospective pastor to the General Board.

e.  The General Board, at a stated or called meeting, may approve the recommendation of the Board of Elders by at least three-fourths majority of those present and voting. Upon approval, the General Board shall recommend employment of the prospective pastor to the congregation.

f.   The congregation, in a stated or called meeting, may approve the recommendation of the General Board by at least a three-fourths majority of the members present and voting.

g.  Upon approval of the congregation, a call shall be extended to the prospective pastor by the General Board, on behalf of the congregation.

C.   Terms of Employment

1.  An agreement of employment setting forth the salary to be paid to the pastor(s) and other conditions of the call shall be presented to the pastor with a copy filed in the church office and with the regional office.

2.  The term of the pastor(s) and all pastoral duties and responsibilities shall be terminated upon 30 days notice by the pastor or Board of Elders. Salary and fringes shall be discontinued 60 days from the date of resignation, if the Board of Elders gives the pastor less than 60 days notice of such resignation. Both the pastoral duties and responsibilities and the salary and fringes may be extended by mutual agreement of the pastor and Board of Elders.

D.   Resignation

1.   Voluntary resignation of the pastor shall be submitted to the General Board in writing, after consultation with the chairperson of the congregation and the Board of Elders.

2.  Involuntary resignation of the pastor shall be dealt with confidentially between the pastor, the chairperson of the congregation, the Board of Elders, and the regional executive pastor.

3.  The General Board shall take final action in approving or disapproving the resignation, voluntary or involuntary, of the pastor by at least three-fourths majority of members present and voting.

IV. Elders, Members of the Diaconate, Trustees

A.   Qualifications

1.  The qualifications for elders, members of the diaconate, and trustees shall be the same as described for the officers of the congregation by Bylaw I, B.

B.   Responsibilities

1.  An elder will be appointed to membership on each of the standing committees of the Church. Elders primarily shall be responsible for the following duties:

a.  The spiritual life and development of the congregation.

b.  Assisting and sharing with the pastor(s) in the conduct of his or her pastoral and priestly functions.

c.    Presiding at the Lord’s Table.

d.  Providing supportive counsel for the pastor(s) regarding the spiritual life and development of the congregation.

e.  Recommending to the General Board, as a committee, the amount of salary paid to each of the regular employees of the church.

2.  Two members of the diaconate will be appointed to serve on each standing committee of the church. The diaconate primarily shall be responsible for the maintenance and growth of the congregation through its individual members and corporate life in witness in the community. They also shall be responsible f or the following specific duties:

a.    Serve Communion and receive the offering during worship service of the church.

b.    Cooperate with the greeters in ushering and acclimating guests at church services.

c.    Prepare Communion tables and candelabras.

d.    Provide needed transportation to church services.

e.    Cooperate with the pastor in carrying out the pastoral ministry of the church.

3.  The trustees shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business matters, under the direction of the General Board and subject to the approval of the congregation, hold legal title to all church property and handle all business transactions related thereto.

a.  Be responsible for the care, repair, and maintenance of all church properties.

b.  Supervise the purchase and installation of all major equipment.

c.  Maintain adequate insurance coverage on all equipment and buildings belonging to the church.

d.  Arrange for borrowed funds and the repayment thereof.

e.  Serve as directors of the Bequests and Memorials committee as provided for in the policy of said committee.

f.   Mortgage, borrow, sell, lease, convey, assign any and all right, title and interest in the church property including real estate upon approval by a majority of the congregation present and voting at a duly notified congregation meeting, upon the signature of the chairperson of the trustees and any other trustee.

V.   Emeritus Officers

A.   Qualifications

1.  Those who, because of failing health, advanced age, or personal desire and whose services and consecration to the church merits the honor, may be retired from active responsibility and shall be eligible to be elected for life with their activity to continue as they desire. Emeritus status can be conferred upon an elder, a member of the diaconate, or a trustee.

2.  Age alone should not be a major criterion.

B.   Election

1.  The power to recommend for nomination to each of these officers shall rest solely within the active Boards of Elders, diaconate and trustees. Said boards may, at any time, recommend an individual for the respective emeritus position by officially notifying the Nominating Committee of the General Board.

2.  The Nominating Committee shall then follow the normal election procedures.

A.   Appointment

1.  By the third regular meeting of the General Board each fiscal year, the chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Board.

2.  This committee shall consist of two elders, and four members of the diaconate chosen by their respective boards from the General Board, and whose terms of office do not expire at the end of the fiscal year, plus two members of the congregation at large.

3.  This committee shall be subject to the approval of the General Board.

B.   Duties

1.  This committee shall acquaint itself with the requirements of the office to be filled and shall name one person for each office. The committee shall interview each of its nominees, acquainting him or her with the duties of the office and securing his or her consent to have his or her name submitted as a candidate. The Nominating Committee shall, in selecting nominees to be presented to the congregation, take into consideration the following necessary qualifications:

a.  Nominee must be a member of the First Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), Dowagiac, Michigan.

b.  Nominee shall have been a member for at least six months or shall have occupied a comparable position in the past two years in the previous church from which transferred.

c.  Nominee shall be acquainted with the church program and in sympathy with its aims and policies.

2.  The Nominating Committee shall give a report in writing to the General Board; and if the nominees suggested are approved by the board, they shall be brought to the congregation for election. Vacancies in the offices of elders, diaconate and trustees shall be filled by appointment by the chairperson of the General Board subject to that board’s approval.

A.  These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members of the General Board present and voting in a regular or special meeting, provided the proposed amendment has been submitted to the membership of the General Board and announced to the congregation at least two weeks prior to the vote thereon.