What We Believe
LBC CONSTITUTION
LBC Member Covenant
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this church shall be LAKESHORE BIBLE CHURCH (LBC).
ARTICLE II
FOUNDATION, OBJECT AND PRIORITIES OF MINISTRY
1. The foundation of this Church is the Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 3:11), and its code of guidance in all its affairs, the Word of God, and this Church does here affirm its faith that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of Almighty God (Mark 13:31).
2. The object of this Church shall be to worship God according to the teaching of His Word, to practice the precepts and examples of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ as set forth in the New Testament, to sustain its ordinances and doctrines and to preach and propagate among all peoples the Gospel of Salvation which is by personal faith on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
3. The priorities of ministry of this church flow from the vision of God's glory revealed in Jesus Christ. We exist to savor this vision in worship (John 4:23), strengthen the vision in nurture and education (I Corinthians 14:26; II Peter 3:18), and spread the vision in evangelism, missions, and loving deeds (I Peter 2:9; 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20; 5:16).
STATEMENT OF FAITH
What we believe at LBC is not man-made but has been revealed by God in Scripture. Our Statement of Faith is simply a summary of biblical teaching that explains what we as a local church agree the Bible teaches about God, the Bible, sin, the church, etc.
1. The Word of God:
a. We believe that the Bible, consisting of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, is the revelation of God to mankind.
b. We believe in the verbal plenary inspiration of the Bible.
c. We believe the Bible is infallible and inerrant in its original manuscripts, and is the supreme, sufficient, and final authority for all Christian faith and conduct.
d. We believe that the Bible is sufficient for the knowledge of God, knowledge of His moral will, and that it is necessary for the eternal welfare of mankind. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Cor 2:13; Deut. 29:29; 2 Tim 3:15; John 10:35
2. The Trinity:
a. We believe that there is but one God with one nature, infinitely perfect and existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Gen 1:1, 26; Matt 28:19; John 1:1,3; 4:24; Rom 1:19-20; Eph 4:5,6
3. God the Father:
a. We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, an infinite personal spirit who is perfect in holiness, judgement, wisdom, power, and love.
b. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He justly executes His wrath upon those who reject Him. Gen 1:1; Matthew 23:9, Luke 10:21-22, John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 6:27; Rom 1:7; Col 2:16-17; 1 Tim 1:1-2; 2:5-6
4. God the Son:
a. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, that is, He is fully divine and fully human.
b. We believe He preexisted eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
c. We believe that at the time ordained by God, the eternal Son, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
d. We believe that He lived a perfect life, perfectly obedient to God the Father. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all who will put their faith, hope, and trust in Him. He arose bodily from the dead on the third day, and ascended into Heaven where He is presently High Priest, High King, and Advocate for his people.
e. We believe He will personally, bodily, and visibly return to the earth at the close of this age to judge the living and the dead.
f. We believe He is the world’s only Savior and is the Lord of all. Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38, John 1:1; 20:28; 30:31; Acts 1:11; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9-10; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 1:4-5; 1 Peter 2:21-24; Heb 7:25; 9:28; Matt 20:28; Heb 4:15
5. God the Holy Spirit:
a. We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ.
b. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, the third person of the Trinity.
c. We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer in Christ, that He is received by grace, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide. John 3:5-6; 14:16-17; 15:26-27; 16:7-14; Rom 8:9; Rom 15:16; 1 Cor 3:16
6. Creation:
a. We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, “each after his own kind”, in six twenty-four hour days, and then He rested.
b. We believe that Adam and Eve were historical persons that existed in history, time, and space, and they were the first two human beings created by God. From them the entire human race is descended.
c. We believe that God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
d. We believe male and female are two distinct biological sexes, and their genders are biological realities, and are so from conception to death. Gen 1-2; John 1:3;Col 1:16-17;Luke 3:38; Rom 5:12,14;1 Cor 15:22,45; 1 Tim 2:13-14; Exodus 20:11
7. Man:
a. We believe that man was originally created by a definite act of God, made in the image and likeness of God as male and female, and is dependent upon and accountable to the Creator.
b. We believe that through disobedience, the first man sinned and fell from his original state of moral perfection. As a consequence, he brought upon himself and upon the whole human race the penalty for sin, which is spiritual and physical death.
c. We believe that since Adam, every person is born with an inherently sinful nature. All human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, sinning in thought, word, and deed. Every person, therefore, stands under the just condemnation of God and is unable to save himself or to present deeds worthy of merit before God. Gen 1:26-27; 2:7, Rom 2:6-16, 5:12-21, 6:23; Matt 5:20-48; John 3:36
8. Salvation:
a. We believe that all human beings have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and have thereby incurred physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God.
b. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
c. We believe that a person is saved by God’s grace alone, made possible through the shed blood of Christ, whereby he died a substitutional death on the cross for all those who will repent of their sins and confess Him as Savior and Lord.
d. We believe that those who repent of their sins and receive by faith Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord become new creatures. They are delivered from condemnation and the wrath of God and receive eternal life.
e. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved who go to heaven, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost who go to hell.
f. We believe salvation is a gift from God and is not earned by any good works whatsoever. Eph 2:8-9; 1 Cor 15:3; Acts 16:31, Rom 10:9; Acts 3:19; Rom 3:29; John 3:16, 1:12, 10:28; Phil 1:6; 1 John 5:13, John 5:24
9. The Family:
a. We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.
b. We believe marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
c. We believe marriage is a spiritual and physical union into which one biological man and one biological woman may enter for the glory of God, and under the Scriptural ideal, is only to be broken by death. We also recognize that because of sin, there are times in which divorce occurs such as in instances of adultery.
d. We believe the husband and wife are of equal worth before God.
e. We believe the marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people, therefore, a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ.
f. We believe that children from the moment of conception are a blessing and heritage from the Lord and are under the care of their father and mother as ordained by God.
g. We believe that the Christian family is a covenant community wherein children are raised to know, fear, and love the Lord, as well as raised to love God and love people as defined in Scripture. Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.
10. Christian Conduct:
a. We believe the ethical standards in the Bible, especially those in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, should be the basis for personal conduct, interpersonal relations, and public policy. These standards are required of all people, in all cultures, in all generations.
b. We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of their fellow man in Christian charity; that they should strive to be blameless before the world; a faithful steward the time and possessions God has given them; and seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
c. We believe that God expects every believer to live a life of obedience, in which every area of his life is brought under the Lordship of Christ and the Word of God. Through this the fruit of the Spirit becomes increasingly evident in their life. Obedience to God is an ongoing work of grace applied through the power of the Holy Spirit.
d. We believe the goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. A believer who resists the gracious working of the Holy Spirit, and fails to grow in obedience, is chastened in infinite love by his Heavenly Father so that he may learn obedience.
e. We believe that God disciplines those he loves and that as Christians we submit ourselves to the correction of the church for the development of Christ in the individual.
f. We believe it is a basic Christian duty to seek the salvation of the lost as well as teaching them to obey all that God has commanded. Deuteronomy 5:1-21, Matthew 5-7, 22:36-40, 28:18-20, Malachi 3:6, Acts 17:30, 1st Corinthians 10:31, Hebrews 12:6, 13:17.
11. The Church:
a. We believe in the invisible universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members.
b. We believe in the local visible church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ who are baptized and associate together for worship, evangelism, work, edification, accountability, and fellowship.
c. We believe that the Church and the elders are charged with the spiritual development of the body of Christ through teaching, correction, rebuke, and instruction in righteousness.
d. We believe as Christians we submit to the Lordship of Christ through faithful membership in a local church, submitting to all training and correction according to the Bible. Acts 1:8, 2:41-42; Eph 2:19-22,5:19-21; Heb 10:23-25
12. The Ordinances:
a. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church, baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; I Corinthians 11:23-26.
13. Religious Liberty:
a. We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from undue interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other. I Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:7-9, 12.
14. Church Cooperation:
a. We believe that local churches can promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether a regional or district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Acts 15:36,41; 16:5; I Corinthians 16:1; Galatians 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4, 10, 11.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Lakeshore Bible Church (LBC) will have two forms of membership. Covenantal Membership and Voting Membership.
1. The Covenantal membership of this church shall consist of persons who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior, adhere to the LBC Covenant, and affirm the Apostles Creed (both of which are stated below in section 1a & 1b). Covenant members agree to submit themselves to the discipleship of the Elders, and commit to support the church in its various forms of ministry through the giving of their time and resources.
a. The Apostles Creed
i. I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hades. The third day He rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
b. The Church Covenant
i. Being made by God into a holy nation, a royal priesthood, and a people for God’s own choosing, (1 Peter 2:9–10) we joyfully affirm our covenant together:
ii. Loved dearly by God in Christ Jesus, (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 4:10)
1. we will love Him who first loved us, and we will walk in brotherly love, (Mark 12:29–31; John 13:34–35; Romans 12:10; 1 John 4:11)
2. by working and praying toward unity, (Ephesians 4:3–6) by regarding one another as more important than ourselves, (Philippians 2:3–11)
3. by bearing with one another’s difficulties, (Colossians 3:12–14)
4. by exercising spiritual gifts for one another’s good, (Romans 12:4–8; 1 Cor 12:12–14:19; Ephesians 4:11–16; 1 Peter 4:10–11)
5. by admonishing one another with the truth, (Ephesians 4:15, 25; 2 Timothy 3:16–4:2; Hebrews 3:12–13)
6. and by putting away all forms of destructive talk. (Ephesians 4:25, 31; Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 2:1)
iii. Brought together by God, (1 Peter 2:10)
1. we will come together regularly to worship God and to build one another up (Hebrews 10:24–25)
2. by participating in song, (Ephesians 5:19–20; Colossians 3:16) in prayer, in the Lord’s Supper, and in the reading and preaching of the Holy Scriptures. (Acts 2:42, 12:12; 1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Timothy 3:16–4:2)
iv. Encouraged by the intercession of the Holy Spirit, (Romans 8:26) we will intercede for one another in prayer. (2 Corinthians 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, James 5:14–15)
v. Called as children of God, we will treasure our Heavenly Father’s discipline of us, (Proverbs 3:11–12; Job 5:17; Hebrews 12:5–11)
1. by seeking full maturity in Christ, (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Ephesians 2:10, 4:13; Colossians 1:28 18; James 5:16)
2. by confessing our sins to one another, (1 John 1:9)
3. by submitting to the discipline of the church, (Matthew 18:15–20)
4. by exercising affectionate care and watchfulness over one another, (Matthew 18:10–14; Luke 17:3)
5. by pleading for the repentance of those who sin against us, (Matthew 18:15; Luke 17:3)
6. and by continually forgiving one another. (Matthew 18:21–35; Luke 17:3–4; Colossians 3:13)
vi. Blessed richly in Christ Jesus, we will contribute our riches and effort cheerfully, regularly, and richly to the support of church ministry, to the relief of the poor, and to the spread of the Gospel through all nations. (Acts 2:44–45, 11:27–30; 2 Corinthians 9:5–7; 1 John 3:17)
vii. Made free from sin by Christ Jesus, we will live in the world as holy and set apart from it by denying ungodliness and the passions of the flesh. (Ephesians 4:22–24; 1 Peter 1:14–16, 2:11–12, 2:16)
viii. May all Heaven and Earth see God’s manifold wisdom revealed through His church. (Ephesians 3:10–11)
2. The Voting Membership of this Church shall consist of persons who confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Voting Members who give evidence of regeneration by living consistently with their profession and with the views of faith, doctrine, and practice of this Church, who have been baptized by immersion and who have been received into its membership according to the Bylaws of this Church.
a. Voting Members must be a Covenant Member for a minimum of 1 year before submitting a request to the Elders to be a Voting Member. Elders will take candidates through the Voting Member process and then the Elders may make a recommendation to the existing Voting Members for full church approval. Voting will take place at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called by the Elder Board.
b. Voting Members are required to attend the majority of worship services quarterly or their voting status will be removed unless exempted by the elders. Any exemptions must be renewed quarterly. If voting status is removed the voting member will still be recognized as a Covenant Member. Any Voting Member whose status is changed to a Covenant Member must be notified within 7 days by the Board of Elders.
c. Elders have the option to waive the one year Covenant Member period for a transferring active member of a like-minded church.
ARTICLE IV
LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION
1. Under the authority of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, the membership of the Church is the final authority within this local Church. This authority is normally exercised through the election of officers to govern the Church.
2. The vote of the membership of this Church at a properly called meeting, as provided in the Bylaws, shall be required to effect the following actions:
a. Accept Voting Members into the Church;
b. Elect Elders of the Church;
c. Discipline members by dismissing them;
d. Discipline Elders by removing them from office;
e. Accept, reject, or otherwise dispose of any matter submitted to the membership of the Church by the Elder Board;
f. Adopt, amend, or repeal the Constitution or Bylaws of this church as recommended by the Elder Board;
g. Approve the call and job description of those Elders who receive compensation from the Church for fulfilling their Elder responsibilities as recommended by the Elder Board.
3. The offices of the Church shall be Elder and Deacon. The purpose of the officers of the Church is to lovingly govern, care for, and equip the membership to do the work of the ministry.
4. The leadership of the Church shall be vested in the Elder Board who are responsible for governing the Church, teaching the Word and tending the flock of God in this Church. The Elders shall be equal in authority but may be specialized in function.
5. Deacons shall assist the Elder Board by performing services of ministry, advice, administration, implementation, and other such services as the Elders deem necessary.
ARTICLE V
THE CHURCH PROPERTY
1. In the event of a division of this Church, from which may God in His mercy save us, the property of this Church shall belong to that group of such division as represents the largest portion of the Church membership before recognizing a division therein provided such group is loyal to this constitution; otherwise, it shall belong to the group remaining loyal to this constitution though it may not be the largest group in such division.
2. Should a condition arise at any time in the future when for any reason, the Church work cannot continue, the Church property shall be transferred to a non-profit organization that shares a similar belief statement as LBC.
3. Should conditions arise where a consolidation with another church of the same denomination be advisable, the Elder Board shall be authorized by the Church to negotiate the terms of such consolidation in so far as the property of this Church is concerned.
ARTICLE VI
REVISIONS, ADDITIONS AND AMENDMENTS
1. Revisions, additions or amendments of this constitution may be made only in the following manner:
a. at the annual meeting; and
b. by a majority vote of the Voting Membership, or a two-thirds vote of those Voting Members present and voting at such meeting, provided at least ten percent (10%) of the Voting Membership of the Church is present at such meeting; and
c. after presentation by written motion at a special business meeting held at least three months before the annual meeting; and
d. if notice of the proposed change or addition has been given, in writing and from the pulpit on at least two weekends in the interim period between said meetings.
2. Article II (1) and VI (2) of this constitution shall not be repealed, amended nor revised.
LBC BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 PROCEDURE
All actions regarding Voting Membership, either of admission or dismissal, shall be by vote of the Church upon recommendation of the Elder Board.
Section 2 INSTRUCTION TO NEW MEMBERS
All persons uniting with this Church shall previously be made acquainted with the Church Covenant and the Membership Statement of Faith. New Voting Members shall pledge themselves to fulfill their stewardship obligations to regularly attend worship and participate in service and giving, when they make public profession of faith and join the Church.
Section 3 REMOVAL OF MEMBERS
a. Voting Members may be removed from all membership upon recommendation by the Elders and a majority vote of the members present at any business meeting.
b. Members in good standing may request a letter of recommendation to present to a different church. Members who unite with another Church will be automatically removed from the membership roll. c. Voting Members who are found to be inactive in the worship, fellowship and ministry of the Church will be removed from the voting membership roll (SEE CONSTITUTION ARTICLE III SECTION 2b). It is the responsibility of the Elder Board to remind members of their duties in this respect. d. Members whose conduct consistently or grievously contradicts the commitments outlined in the Church Covenant may be subject to Church discipline under the leadership of the Elders.
ARTICLE II
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
Section 1 OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
The Biblical offices of the Church are Elders and Deacons. The Elder Board are the legal directors of the Church. Elders shall be called to office by vote of the membership of the Church as described in Article II, Sections 2 of these Bylaws. All Elders and Deacons of the Church shall be members in good and regular standing. The Church also recognizes the administrative positions of Clerk, Treasurer, and Financial Secretary and may employ additional personnel as described in Article III of these Bylaws.
Section 2 ELDERS
a. Qualifications. Elders and nominees for Elder shall be men of demonstrable godly character, above reproach in public and private, and committed to shepherding the flock of God and to teaching and guarding sound doctrine, as expressed in the Lakeshore Bible Church Elder Statement of Faith. Elders and nominees will exemplify the Biblical characteristics of elder-overseers in I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and I Peter 5:1-4 and will agree with the Lakeshore Bible Church Statement of Faith and commit to the LBC Elders Covenant.
b. Responsibilities. The fundamental responsibility of the Elders is to devote themselves to prayer and the Word. The Elders are responsible for governing the Church as godly servant leaders. They must teach the Word and tend the flock of God in this Church. The responsibilities of the Elders shall include: examining prospective members and candidates for baptism and acquainting them with the LBC Statement of Faith and Church Covenant, overseeing the process of Church discipline, examining prospective candidates for office, scheduling and providing a moderator for business meetings, providing for reporting and recording of official Church business, overseeing the work of the Deacons and appointed Church agents and committees, conducting worship services, administering the ordinances of the Gospel, equipping the membership of the Church for the work of the ministry, teaching the whole counsel of God both formally and informally, correcting error, overseeing, coordinating and promoting the ministries of the Church, and mobilizing the Church for world mission.
c. Composition. The Elder Council shall be comprised of Staff and Non-Staff Elders.
i. Staff Elders are men who receive financial compensation from the Church as they fulfill God's call to the specific ministries of the Word, prayer and shepherding the flock. In addition to the duties of their office as described in Section ‘b’ above, Staff Elders shall perform the duties determined by the Elder Board and approved by the congregation. The duties shall be in writing at the time of employment and substantial changes shall be approved by the Church.
ii. Non-Staff Elders are men recommended by the Elder Board and called by the Church who serve voluntarily without financial support from the Church as they fulfill God's call to the specific ministries of the Word, prayer and shepherding the flock.
d. Call by the Church. The Voting Members shall call Staff Elders and Non-Staff Elders (1) by ballot upon recommendation of the Elder Board and (2) by at least a two-thirds vote of those Voting Members present and voting at the meeting with at least ten percent (10%) of the voting membership of the Church. Oral notice of any such meeting, stating its object, shall be given from the pulpit on the two successive weekends preceding the meeting. Notice shall also be given by mail (electronic or otherwise) to the membership at least one week before the meeting. Elders shall serve 3 year terms. If not elected at an annual meeting, Elder term shall extend past 3 years to the next annual meeting.
e. Organization. The Elder Board shall organize itself however it determines to be best to achieve the mission of the Church. The Elders shall be equal in authority but may be specialized in function. Meetings of the Elder Board may be held at any location and may be conducted by means of electronic communication through which the Elders may simultaneously hear each other. Unless the Board provides otherwise, meetings of the Board may be held immediately upon notice. The Elder Board will meet at least quarterly and will consist of a quorum which is at least one-half of the Non-Staff Elders plus at least one-half of the Staff Elders, except for matters on which only Non-Staff Elders are entitled to vote, in which case a majority of the Non-Staff elders shall constitute a quorum.
f. Action Without A Meeting. The action required or permitted to be taken by the Elders of this church may be taken by written action approved in writing by that number of Elders that would be required to take the same action at the meeting of the Elders at which all Elders then in office were present. The decision to pursue an action without a meeting requires the unanimous recommendation of the Pastor for Preaching & Vision (or the senior pastor equivalent). This recommendation must be communicated to the other Elders, including a timeframe for Elder responses on the action being so taken. Any Elder may submit in writing his objection to taking such action without a meeting within the timeframe stated in the recommendation. Once an objection to action without a meeting is submitted, the action being considered can only be decided upon in a meeting to be held in person, by audio connection, or by video conference.
Section 3 DEACONS
a. Qualifications. Deacons and nominees for Deacon shall be men and women who are members in good standing and demonstrate godly character and possess particular gifts of service. Deacons will exemplify the godly characteristics set forth in I Timothy 3:8-12.
b. Responsibilities. The Deacons shall advise and be ready to assist the Elders in any service that shall support and promote the ministry of the Word, new and existing ministries of the Church, and the care for the members of the congregation. Deacons shall assist the Elder Board by performing services of ministry, advice, administration, implementation, and other such services as the elders deem necessary.
c. Composition. The Deacons may be both men and women. Deacons may or may not be employed by the Church. The number of Deacons shall be determined by the needs of the ministry and by the call and qualification of men and women in the Church.
d. Call by the Elders. The Elders shall call Deacons.
e. Organization. Under the direction of the Elders, the Deacons shall organize themselves however they determine to be best to achieve the mission of the Church. The Elders or the Deacons may designate any specific Deacon or group of Deacons to specialize in some particular diaconal function. Meetings of the Deacons, or subcommittees thereof, shall be held as needed to best fulfill the responsibilities of the Deacons.
Section 4 REMOVAL
a. By resignation. Elders or Deacons may resign their office at any time if they find they are no longer able to discharge the duties of the office.
b. Grievance. Where a grievance exists against an Elder or Deacon due to teaching contrary to the beliefs of the Church as set forth in Article II of its Constitution or to alleged conduct on their part unfitting an Elder or Deacon, such grievance may be brought before the Elder Board by any two members in good standing. If the Board, after thorough investigation and consideration, believes the grievance to be true and substantial, then the call of the Elder or Deacon may be terminated at any business meeting upon the recommendation of the Board of Elders when supported by closed ballot of a majority of those Voting Members of the Church present and voting with at least ten percent (10%) of the voting membership of the Church present at such meeting. Oral notice of any such meeting, stating its object, shall be given from the pulpit on the two successive weekends preceding the meeting. Notice shall also be given by mail (electronic or otherwise) to the membership at least one week before the meeting.
c. Lack of Reaffirmation. If an Elder fails to be reaffirmed to the office of Elder a special business meeting shall be called to consider the question of terminating the call of that Elder. The call shall be terminated only if supported by closed ballot of a majority of those Voting Members of the Church present and voting with at least ten percent (10%) of the voting membership of the Church present. Public notice of any such meeting, stating its object, shall be given on the two successive weekends preceding the meeting. Notice shall also be given by mail (electronic or otherwise) to the membership at least one week before the meeting.
Section 5 LICENSING AND ORDINATION
In the matter of licensing and ordaining any person to the Gospel Ministry, the Church shall follow the procedure approved by the Elder Board.
ARTICLE III
CHURCH EMPLOYEES
In addition to Staff Elders, the Church may employ additional personnel. The Elder Board or their designees will be responsible for determining the duties of and hiring such personnel.
ARTICLE IV
CHURCH FINANCES
Section 1 IN GENERAL
No method of raising funds shall be entertained which is in conflict with the Scriptural ideals of the Church.
All funds donated for missions by the societies and organizations of the Church shall pass through the Church Finance Secretary and the Treasurer in order that due record may be made and credit given to the Church. The Deacons shall provide assistants for the Financial Secretary in accounting for funds donated.
Section 2 CONTRIBUTIONS
It is understood that membership in this church involves financial obligations to support the Church and its causes with regular and proportionate giving. Each member shall be encouraged to give cheerfully, regularly, and sacrificially. Special offerings may be sought by the Church, or by any of its organizations, with the approval of the Elder Board. This shall not preclude individuals from making special offerings or designated gifts at any time as the Spirit of God may move them.
Section 3 FINANCIAL PLANNING
The financial planning of the Church shall be carried out through the medium of annual budgets for carrying out the various programs of its work. Annual budgets shall be adopted by the Church upon unanimous vote of the Elder Board, or, if authorized by the Board, the Deacons or other committee. Matters involving staff compensation shall be the responsibility of the non-staff members of the Elder Board. The Elder Board may delegate this responsibility provided such delegation is to lay Deacons or other non-staff members of the Church.
Section 4 ACCOUNTS
Financial receipts from all sources shall be accounted for by the Finance Secretary according to the purposes for which contributions are designated. The Treasurer of the Church shall disburse these funds promptly according to the financial program of the Church as detailed in the Budgets or other authorized designations. All monies for missions shall be remitted in accordance with the Mission Budget of the Church or otherwise designated, preferably each month and not less than each quarter.
Section 5 INDEBTEDNESS
No note or contract exceeding 1% of the total annual budget whereby the credit of the Church is pledged shall be made except by recommendation of the Elder Board and approved by the Voting Members of the Church.
Section 6 AUTHORITY TO BIND THE CHURCH
There must be a minimum of two elders of the Elder Board, in accordance with the consent of the Elder Board, these Bylaws, the Church Constitution, and any applicable laws, to execute legal documents relating to real estate, church property, and church finances.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section 1 FOR WORSHIP
Public services shall be held on the Lord's Day. The Lord's Supper shall be celebrated at such times as the Elder Board may determine. Other religious services may be appointed as the advancement of the work of the Church may require.
Section 2 FOR BUSINESS
a. The Annual Vision Meeting (AVM). The AVM shall be held sometime during the last month of the fiscal year of the Church for the purpose of calling and reaffirming the officers and other business. Officers called at the annual meeting shall assume their duties at the beginning of the new fiscal year.
b. Special Meetings. The Elder Board or 10% of the Voting Members of the Church in good standing, may call for a special meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be given from the pulpit or by other notification, the particular object of such meeting being clearly stated in the notice. In the calling of special meetings for purposes where an interval after advance notice is required by provision in these Bylaws or according to law, such provisions shall be observed. Notice shall be given at least one week in advance for meetings on especially important matters not otherwise provided for.
c. Rules Governing Business Meetings. Robert's Rules of Order shall be recognized as the general pattern for the conduct of the business meetings of the Church. Seeking the Lord's wisdom and blessing through thankful prayer shall be a part of every meeting.
d. Notice Provisions. Unless specifically defined in other sections of these Bylaws or the Constitution, "notice . . . in writing" means a written announcement sent by regular U.S. mail or other electronic means, and "notice . . . from the pulpit" means an oral announcement at each of the weekend worship services.
ARTICLE VI
ORGANIZATION OF MEMBERS FOR MINISTRY
Members of this church shall have the liberty to participate in and organize themselves for ministry, provided that such participation and organization does not conflict with Article II of the Constitution. Any such organization may seek church sanction from the Elder Board as an official ministry of Lakeshore Bible Church. Such sanction shall be granted provided that 1) the object, purpose, belief and conduct of the organization and its members is consistent with Article II of the Constitution, and 2) the primary officers of the organization are: members of the church, or other regular attenders of the church who have been approved under guidelines established by the Elder Board. Sanction by the Elder Board does not necessarily imply support of the organization by the church with personnel, finances, or facilities. Such support may be requested as provided by the leadership of the church.
ARTICLE VII
DISCIPLINE
Church discipline shall be carried out by the Elder Board in accord with the Constitution and Bylaws and as explained in our Relational Commitments developed by the Elder Board and approved and consented to by the Voting Members.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
General
Amendments to these Bylaws may be introduced through written motion at any annual meeting, with the exception of Article II(4)(b) regarding amending the Statement of Faith which as previously stated may only be amended by a recommendation of the Elder Board to the church. Amendments shall not be acted on until the following annual meeting, at which time an affirmative vote of the majority of the voting membership of the Church, or a two-thirds vote of those Voting Members present and voting at the meeting shall be required for acceptance; provided, however, that at least ten percent (10%) of the voting membership of the Church be present at such meeting, and that notice of the proposed change or amendment be given from the pulpit on at least two weekends and in writing to the voting membership in the interim period between the meetings.