BY-LAWS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, MIAMI, FLORIDA
ARTICLES I, II, III AND IV are complete as stated in the Constitution.
ARTICLE V-MEMBERSHIP
In accordance with the Constitution of the United Church of Christ and the gospel covenant which binds into a unity "faithful people of all ages, tongues and races," membership shall be open to all who meet the constitutional requirements, regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, age, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.
Only active members shall have the privilege of voting or holding an elective position on the Council or any of the Boards. Nominees for the Council shall have been active members for at least one year.
Members elected to the Council, Boards and/or Committees are expected to attend meetings regularly. Three consecutive absences from such meetings, without prior notice to the chairperson, shall be treated as an automatic resignation of that member from such Council, Board or Committee. The chairperson shall be required to recommend a suitable replacement to the Council at its next meeting, and the Council is empowered to appoint replacements.
Qualifications and privileged of "members" other than "active" shall be defined by the Board of Deacons.
ARTICLE VI is complete as stated in the Constitution
ARTICLE VII-THE CHURCH COUNCIL
Section 1-Constituents
The Church Council shall consist of the elected President, vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and the Pastor, Director of Christian Education, Chairpersons of all Boards and Permanent Committee, Presidents of all Church Fellowship Groups, and elected Members-at-large, one for each 100 active members of fraction thereof, plus the immediate Past President, who shall serve without vote in an advisory capacity for six months.
The Treasurer of the Church, at the discretion of the Council may be elected or appointed by the council. If elected by the church, his/her term shall run concurrently with the vice-president and shall be eligible for re-election. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the church's financial records and payment of financial obligations and shall submit an annual report of the church's entire financial situation at the annual meeting.
The Recording Financial Secretary shall be elected or appointed by the Council and, if elected, shall be eligible for re-election. He/she shall keep records of the church stewardship, pledges of the members and payments thereto, making deposits of the same and issuing quarterly receipt-statements to the members and contributors.
The President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Members-at-large shall serve for two years and shall not succeed themselves to the same office. The President and Secretary shall serve their terms concurrently. In an emergency situation the terms for all officers may be extended one year.
Section 2-Council Appointed Committees
Following are some of the committees which are appointed by the President with the approval of the Council. such committees shall be represented on the Council.
The Pastoral Relations Committee shall consist of five (5) members, which shall support and maintain an open relationship between the Pastor and the members of the congregation. It lets the pastor know what people in the church are thinking. It does not function as a decision making body, but is there to evaluate and recommend. They shall conduct an annual evaluation of the Pastor's work, reviewing such with the Pastor, reporting on said evaluation to the Board of Deacons, and recommending any changes in the terms of call to the Board of Trustees.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) members, which shall be appointed two months before the annual meeting shall submit a slate of names for each office and vacancy, which must be approved by the Council before being submitted to the congregation for vote.
Any other assistants and committees as may be deemed necessary, with duties specified by the Council
ARTICLE VIII-THE BOARDS AND ELECTED COMMITTEES
The Boards and Elected Committees are conceived of as leadership groups charged with the tasks of capturing the vision for ministry, setting policy, and mobilizing the membership for involvement in that ministry, both within the congregation and in the wider community.
Section 1-The Boards
The Board of Deacons-The members of the Board of Deacons shall be responsible for the total spiritual life of Christ's Church. They shall aid, advise, and cooperate with the Director of Music, Organist, Pastor, and any salaried staff members regarding the music for church worship.
The Board of Deacons shall consist of six (6) members plus the Pastor. Members shall serve for three years. They may succeed themselves for another three year term or in an emergency situation, their term can be extended for one year.
The Board shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and a secretary.
The Board of Trustees-The members of the Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the property, personnel other than those involved in the 3C's School, and financial matters of the church. They are good stewards over the material matters of the church, seeking to do all their business according to the Spirit and Will of Christ.
The Board of Trustees shall consist of five (5) members plus the Church Treasurer and Financial Secretary. With the exception of the Treasurer and the Financial Secretary, they shall serve for a period of three years each. Approximately One-third of the Boar4d shall be elected each year. Members may succeed themselves for another three year term or in an emergency situation, their term can be extended for one year.
The Board of Trustees shall elect a chairperson, vice-chair and a secretary. The Board shall oversee the following responsibilities: property maintenance, finance, property rentals, legal matters, investments and loans, employee relations, etc. The Trustees, in September, shall develop a proposed budget for the coming year in consultation with each Board member, permanent committee and fellowship group in the church. They should develop an operating budget to be approved by the church council and brought before the congregation to be adopted at the annual general meeting in January.
The Board of Christian Education-the members of the Board of Christian Education shall be responsible for the educational program for all ages in the church. This includes preschool through adults for Sunday School, all Youth Fellowship groups, Adult Education, annual church functions such as Christmas and Easter festivities, picnics, summer camps, conferences, family outings, etc.
The Board of Christian Education shall consist of six (6) elected members plus the Director of Educational Ministries and a youth activities leader, which shall be appointed by the Board. They are elected to a three year term and may succeed themselves for another three year term or in an emergency situation their term can be extended for one year.
The 3C's Governing Board shall consist of five (5) elected members plus the Director of Educational Ministries and Assistant Director for the Pre-School. They shall elect a chairperson and secretary. Their responsibilities shall be to organize and supervise the weekday programs of the 3C's Pre-School. They shall suggest the Assistant Director to the council for hiring, the salaries of all staff, budget and monthly statements to the Trustees for approval, keep financial records, pay the teachers, submit an annual report to the Budget Committee of their anticipated reimbursement to the church and make annual reports to the congregation.
All Boards are required to meet at least ten times during the year, to submit report of actions and resolutions to the Council, and make an annual report to the church. A quorum of any Board shall be a majority of the members on that Board. The Boards shall elect a chairperson within ten days of election.
Section 2-The Permanent Committees
The Stewardship Committee shall hold before our entire church membership a New Testament concept of Christian Stewardship. They shall develop and conduct the Every Member Canvass for time, talent and money. They shall keep church members informed as to the needs being met by their Christian Stewardship, that they might know just how effective their stewardship is in the work of the Kingdom.
The Stewardship Committee shall be composed of five (5) elected members, each serving a three year term, with approximately one-third going off each year. They may succeed themselves for another three year term or in an emergency situation their term can be extended for one year. They should elect a chairperson and secretary.
The Christian Outreach Committee-Since we are called "to be Christ in the world" and "seek the well-being of all people", the Christian Outreach Committee should study human need on the local, national and world levels, determining priorities, considering especially those lifted up by the United Church of Christ Board of Homeland and World Missions, and seeking to educate and mobilize the entire congregation to minister to those needs.
The Christian Outreach Committee shall be composed of five (5) members elected for three-year terms, so approximately one-third of the members go off each year. They should elect a Chairperson and a Secretary.
If any member of a board or committee has three consecutive unexcused absences from the monthly meeting, they will no longer be considered as being interested in serving on the board or committee and will be replaced.
ARTICLE IX-THE PASTOR
The relation of the Pastor to the church shall be that of a self-employed individual under contract to the church, represented by the Board of Trustees and Deacons. Unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties, the contract shall be reviewed annually and agreement reached before recommendations are made to the Budget Committee, Church Council and congregation. The contract shall include an understanding of the church's responsibilities for the annuity and/or housing allowance, continuing education, and other rights and privileges agreed upon by both parties.
ARTICLE X is complete as stated in the Constitution
ARTICLE XI CHURCH MEETINGS
The Annual Meeting of the Church shall be held on or before the last Sunday of January. Newly elected offices and Board members shall meet within two weeks after the annual meeting with the previous Council and Boards. New officers and Board members shall be installed in office on the first Sunday after such meeting.
The financial Year of the Church shall be the same as the calendar year. An auditing of the books shall be made annually and a report submitted to the church at it annual meeting.
ARTICLES XII AND XIII are complete as stated in the Constitution.
Approved in Congregational Meeting, January 24, 1999