Article I.      NAME AND PURPOSE

Section A         NAME

(a) The name of this congregation shall be FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ) of DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN, affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

(b) The congregation is and shall be affiliated with and shall support the Outreach witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through the Church Finance Council and selected agencies reporting to the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Section B         PURPOSE

(a) It shall be the purpose of this congregation to promote a Christian fellowship of worship, work, and service in a spirit of Christian love, mutuality, and service based on congregational government. We believe in the historic principles of the body known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We propose to be a church as revealed by the New Testament, to exercise a democratic form of government which springs from the equality of the clergy and laity, engaged in the ecumenical task of building the Kingdom of God and accepting the two principal ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

(b) As members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and we proclaim Him as Lord and Savior of the world. In His name and by His grace, we accept our mission of witness and service to mankind.

(c) The purpose of the church shall be to win people to faith in Jesus Christ and commit them actively to the Church, to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ that increasingly they may know and do His will, and to work for the unity of all Christians and with them engage in the common task of building the Kingdom of God.

(d) To assist in these tasks, we encourage:

1.    The family as a vital part of the church

2.    All members of the church to participate in the program.

3.    A welcome to everyone without regard to race, color, or station in life.

4.    All women, men, and youth to participate in the church on an equal basis.

5.    Acceptance of church stewardship to include time, talent, and money.

6.    All personnel and business practices of the church to reflect a Christian attitude in human rights.

7.    A flexible program to permit the church to strive to be a progressive and pioneer church.

8.    A recognition of the role of the church in the entire family life of its members (worship, marriage, funerals, etc.).

Article II.     MEMBERSHIP

Section A         The membership of this church shall consist of:

(a) Those who are now identified as members of the congregation.

(b) Those who confess their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and are baptized by immersion -- baptism being symbolic reenactment of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(c) Those who transfer their membership from other churches (practicing baptism by immersion or baptism by some other means) either by a re-affirmation of faith, or by a church letter. The transfer of non-immersed candidates will be accepted if they believe they have received a meaningful baptism.

(d) We affirm that all who are baptized into Christ are members of His universal church and belong to and share in His ministry through the people of one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Membership in a particular church is membership in the whole people of God.

Article III.    RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONGREGATION

Section A         The congregation shall manage its affairs under the Lordship of Jesus Christ; determine its faithfulness to the gospel and respect to the basis of membership; own, control, and encumber its property; organize and carry out the mission and witness of the congregation; establish its budget and financial policies; call its pastor(s) and other staff; and participate, through voting representatives, in regional general assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in forming the corporate judgments of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Section B         The congregation shall demonstrate voluntarily its mutual concern for the nurture, mission, and witness of the whole church; and, among other responsibilities, it shall proclaim the gospel; administer baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper; provide for the spiritual nurture of its members; grow in understanding that the church board is a universal fellowship; transcend all barriers within the human family, such as race and culture; be faithful in providing resources for the total life, work, and witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); choose voting representatives to the general and regional assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); and seek to realize the oneness of the church of Jesus Christ through cooperation with other churches of the community and with present and emerging ecumenical structures.

Section C         The congregation shall sustain its pastor(s) in faithfulness and honor; and in matters pertaining to relationships with the pastor(s) seek counsel from the executive regional minister.

Section D         The congregation shall exercise and enjoy all other rights and responsibilities requisite or appropriate to carrying out its purpose.

Article IV.  

OFFICERS, GENERAL BOARD, ELDERS, DIACONATE, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES

Section A         OFFICERS

(a) The congregation shall elect from its members a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and financial secretary. These officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of the congregation and shall serve as officers of the congregation and the General Board as set forth in the bylaws.

Section B         GENERAL BOARD

(a) The congregation shall have a General Board which shall be responsible to the congregation and have authority to act on behalf of the congregation when it is not in a congregational meeting. The General Board shall be composed of members as set forth in the bylaws and for terms of office therein stated.

(b) The General Board shall be responsible for receiving reports from its pastor(s), officers, and various organizations within the congregation. It shall establish by its action the program and budget of the congregation, subject to action by the congregation at its annual meeting. It shall be responsible also for conducting all legal business matters of the congregation and carry out such other responsibilities as may be defined in the bylaws. A legal meeting of the General Board requires a quorum consisting of ten members present. Any action requiring passage of a motion will necessitate a majority approval of those voting, except as stated in the bylaws in regard to selection of the pastor.

(c) Regular meetings of the General Board shall be held at least once each month on a day defined in the bylaws. Special meetings of the general board shall be called by the Chairperson of the Board upon request of the pastor(s) or three members of the general board. Notice of special meeting shall be made by telephone or by announcement at a Sunday morning worship service and by mail to all board members. The purpose, date, time and place of the meeting shall be indicated in each notice.

Section C         ELDERS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIACONATE

(a) The congregation shall have elders and members of the Diaconate. Their election, qualification, and responsibilities shall be as set forth in the bylaws.

Section D         TRUSTEES

(a) The congregation shall have trustees. Their election, qualifications, and responsibilities shall be as set forth in the bylaws. The trustees shall hold title to all properties of the congregation and shall manage the same under the direction of the General Board of the congregation and shall perform such other duties as may be required by the trustees by the laws of this state.

Section E         COMMITTEES

(a) The congregation, through its General Board, shall establish standing committees and other organizations necessary for the conduct of the work of the congregation as set forth in the bylaws.

Article V.    CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

Section A         While congregational meetings may be called at any time during the year, one such meeting must be held annually in the last quarter of the fiscal year. Notice of all stated or special congregational meetings shall be announced at a regular Sunday morning worship service of the congregation at least one week in advance of the meeting and a written notice mailed to each member of the congregation and postmarked at least ten days before the meeting. Purpose, date, time, and place of meeting shall be indicated.

Article VI.   AMENDMENTS

Section A         This constitution may be amended, upon a two—thirds vote of the General Board, present and voting, recommending amendment(s) to the congregation and by a two-thirds vote of the congregation present and voting in stated or special meeting, provided the proposed amendment(s) have been circulated to the congregation by mail at least ten days prior to the time the vote is to be taken and the proposed amendment has been read at two successive Sunday morning worship services just prior to the Sunday worship service that the vote is to be taken.