THE CONSTITUTION OF CHRIST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Miami, Florida
ARTICLE I-NAME
The name of this church shall be Christ Congregational Church located in Miami-Dade County, Miami, Florida.
ARTICLE II-PURPOSE
The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize a Christian fellowship and unity within the church and the Church Universal; to make the will of God as set forth in the teachings of Jesus Christ dominant in the lives of all; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.
ARTICLE III-POLICY
This church shall be a part of the United Church of Christ and it shall sustain that relationship to the United Church of Christ described in those portions of the Constitutions and By-Laws of the United Church of Christ adopted July 4, 1961, relating to local churches.
The government of this church is vested in its members who exercise the right of control of all its affairs, subject, however, to the laws of the State of Florida relating to corporations not for profit.
ARTICLE IV-FAITH AND COVENANT
Faith-This church acknowledges as its sole head, Jesus Christ, and looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to guide and prosper its creative, enlightening, and redemptive work in the world.
This church acknowledges as its heritage the faith of the historic church expressed and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers, granting to each individual the right to interpret the Word of God through reason, faith, dictates of conscience, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
This church stresses the responsibility of each generation to reaffirm the faith in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, and in the light of the revelation from ancient Scriptures, from contemporary knowledge, and from divine inspiration and insight.
Our expression of faith which we recommend as the basics of individual faith is found in the Statement of Faith approved by the United Church of Christ on July 5, 1959.
Covenant-We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and Will of God. We purpose to walk together in the ways of the Lord made know or to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of the church to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshipping God and striving for truth, justice, and peace. As did our fathers and mothers, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us. We pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.
ARTICLE V-MEMBERSHIP
Membership in this church shall be open to any person who has been baptized, confirmed, or has made a public confession of Christ as Lord.
Members shall pledge themselves to attend services of worship with reasonable regularity, avail themselves of the Sacraments, live a Christian life to the best of their ability, share in the life and work of the church fellowship, contribute to the support of the church and its benevolent programs, and seek diligently after the spiritual welfare of one another and others in the community.
Application for membership may be made to the Pastor or Board of Deacons. Those who have not previously accepted Christ as Lord, shall receive instructions before they are asked to profess their faith.
Applicants who hold membership in any other recognized Christian fellowship may be received by a letter of transfer of membership and/or instructions. A member may request that a letter of membership be transferred to any church of his/her choice. His/her name shall be removed on notifications of his/her acceptance in another church.
Categories of membership and qualifications for types of membership, shall be defined by the Board of Deacons.
ARTICLE VI-THE GOVERNING BOARD
The governing body designated herein as the Church shall be the membership assembled in a properly ordered meeting. The vote of the majority of active members present shall be the action of the church. The right to vote shall be the privilege of every active member. A quorum shall consist of 25 members plus 5% of the active membership over 500. The right to vote or hold church offices shall be the privilege of every member, however, a paid member of the church or school staff shall not be elected an officer of the church.
The Church Council shall be the Executive Board and the policy making body of the church. It shall be the governing body of the Church when the membership shall include the fully elected president, secretary/clerk, vice-president, pastor, elected members at large, the chairman of the three boards, president of recognized Church organizations, and any others designated in the by-laws.
The total composition of the council's membership, their tenure of office, qualifications and obligations shall e defined by the by-laws.
ARTICLE VII-THE CHURCH COUNCIL
The president of the council shall be the moderator of the church. With the approval of the council he/she shall appoint such committees of the council and chairpersons thereof as defined in the by-laws. Replacements for vacancies on boards may be recommended to the council by the respective boards and shall require the approval of the council.
The secretary of the council shall be the clerk of the church.
The vice-president of the council shall preside in the absence of the president and shall be the vice-moderator of the church.
The decisions of the boards shall be subject to approval by the council. A dissenting board shall have the right of referral to the church at is next meeting.
The decision to hire, dismiss or act upon the resignation of any salaried employee of the church (exclusive of the Pastor, whose relation is specified in Article IX and exclusive of 3C's teachers and secretary) shall be the right of the council.
ARTICLE VIII-THE BOARDS
The Board of Deacons (also known as the Diaconate) shall cooperate with the Pastor in ministering to the spiritual interests of the church and the community. They shall assist in the Sacraments and minister to the needy, sick, bereaved, and spiritually impoverished. They shall promote programs of visitation, evangelism, and concern for the well-being of the members. They shall accept responsibility for such equipment essential for worship, sacraments, and church ordinances, and supervise the ministry of worship in the following areas, including, but not limited to: ushering, greeters, chancel flowers, communion and refreshments.
They shall provide for or approve pulpit supply in the absence of the pastor or during a pulpit vacancy. They shall define church membership and other varieties of association with the church, and shall regularly review the membership roles and make decisions in accord with the requirements of Article V.
The Board of Trustees shall have the care and custody of church property as a sacred trust, whether real or personal, in accordance with the provisions of Articles of Incorporation and by the authorization of the council and/or the church.
They shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease or transfer real properties without specific vote of the church. they shall have the power to give or to withhold consent from any group within or outside the church to use its properties, and shall see the properties are not used for unworthy purposes.
The Board of Christian Education shall suggest the Director of Educational Ministries to the council for hiring. The Board shall cooperate with this person in selection of staff and faculty for Christian Education programs, and shall have final jurisdiction over educational materials and equipment to be used. This Board shall have supervision over the Church School, confirmation instruction, vacation school, and youth and sports programs.
No committee appointed by the Boards or by the Council shall submit any resolutions to the church without the advance knowledge of the council. No Boards shall submit resolutions to the church without the advance knowledge of the Council.
The composition of the Boards, their membership, tenure of office, further qualifications and obligations are defined in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE IX-THE PASTOR
Section 1 - The Incumbent Pastor
The Pastor with the assistance of the Council and the Boards, shall have charge of the spiritual welfare of the church and have under his/her care all services of public worship, administering the Sacraments, preaching the Word, and enlisting followers of Christ. He/she shall be supervisor of activities of the church in cooperation with the Council, Boards, and church organizations, and shall be a voting member of the Council, the Board of Deacons, and the Board of Christian Educations, and shall be an ex-officio member, with voice, but no vote, on the Board of Trustees.
Section 2-Choosing a New Pastor.
It shall be the responsibility of the Pulpit Committee, appointed by the Church Council to seek a candidate for a vacancy in the office of pastor. This committee shall report such vacancy to the Conference Executive to submit names of candidates for the vacancy.
The Pulpit Committee, after due study and investigation, may invite a candidate to preach a trial sermon at the church, following which, the church, within one week, shall vote on acceptance. A vote of 2/3 active members present in favor of the candidate shall constitute a call. The candidate need not be among those recommended by the Conference, but must have the approval of the Conference before the call is extended.
When the candidate accepts the call, he/she and the church shall request the Florida Conference to arrange a proper service of installation or recognition. A report of this service shall be properly signed by officers of the Conference, and copies be sent to the secretary of the United Church of Christ and tot the Committee for Church and Ministry.
The Pastor shall be called for an indefinite period. In order to terminate this relationship, three months notice shall be given by either party. The procedure shall be in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws of the United Church of Christ.
When either party decides to terminate this relationship, the termination shall be sent by the President of the Council to the Conference Minister for appropriate action.
Responsibilities of the Pastor shall be in conformity with the Constitution and By-Laws of the United Church of Christ.
The church may at its discretion choose and Associate or Assistant Pastor(s)
ARTICLE X-PROPERTY
The Church may, in its corporate name, sue or be sued, acquire or purchase, gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise own, hold, invest, reinvest, or dispose of property, both real and personal, for such work as the church may undertake and may purchase, own receive, hold, manage, care for, and transfer, rent, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber, sell, assign, transfer, and convey such property for the general purposes of the church; it may receive and hold in trust both real and personal property and invest and reinvest same and make any contracts for promoting the objects and purposes of the church.
Upon dissolution of the church, its assets and all property and interests of which it shall be possessed, including any devise, bequest, gift, or grant contained in any will or other instrument, in trust or otherwise, made before or after such dissolution, shall be transferred to Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ.
ARTICLE XI-CHURCH MEETING
A meeting of the church shall be held annually for election of officers, members of council and Boards, and to transact any business may be necessary. At this meeting the church shall hear reports from the officers, Boards, organizations, pastor and any special committees.
Special church meetings may be called by the Council or by a petition to the Council signed by not less than 15% of the active membership. the council shall call such a meeting within three weeks from receipt of the petition and adequate notice shall be given by Council, clerk or pastor. All meetings shall be announced to the church of at least two weeks in advance.
ARTICLE XII-RULES OF ORDER
Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the constitution or By-Laws.
ARTICLE XIII-AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this constitution may be made at any duly-called meeting by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present.
Amendments to the By-Laws may be made at any duly-called meeting by a 2/3 majority vote.
All amendments proposed shall be made public at least two weeks before the meeting.
Approved at Congregational meeting, January 24, 1999