Grace Baptist Church By-Laws

1. Article I - Congregational Meetings
   1. Section 1 - Notice of Meetings
   2. Section 2 - Number of Meetings
   3. Section 3 - Method of Calling Meetings
   4. Section 4 - Responsibility for Meetings
   5. Section 5 - Quorum for Transaction of Business
   6. Section 6 - Voting Age
2. Article II - Membership
3. Article III - Church Officers
   1. Section 1 - The Method and Requirements for Election of Elders and Deacons
   2. Section 2 - Nomination of Officers
4. Article IV - Church Boards
   1. Section 1 - Monthly Meetings
   2. Section 2 - Quorum and Call for Meetings
   3. Section 3 - Duties of the Church Clerk
   4. Section 4 - Duties of the Church Treasurer
5. Article V - Committees
   1. Section 1 - Finance Committee
   2. Section 2 - Missions Committee
6. Article VI - Church Corporation
7. Article VII - Amendments

1. Section 1 - Notice of Meetings. Notice of all congregational meetings shall be given at regular worship services on the two successive Sundays immediately prior to the meeting. In an emergency, a meeting may be called on shorter notice by notifying each local member by mail of the time, place and purpose of the congregational meeting.
   
   
2. Section 2 - Number of Meetings. Congregational meetings shall be held quarterly for the reception of reports and the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. A congregational meeting shall be held in October and shall be called the Annual Meeting. The regular election of officers and adoption of a budget shall take place at the Annual Meeting.
   
   
3. Section 3 - Method of Calling Meetings. It shall be the right and responsibility of the Elders to call all congregational meetings. A written request to call a congregational meeting, stating clearly its purpose, signed by fifteen members of the church in good and regular standing and presented to the Clerk, shall require the Elders to call such a meeting. When special congregational meetings are called, there must be notice given to the congregation as to the purpose.
   
   
4. Section 4 - Responsibility for Meetings. The Elders shall arrange the details of all congregational meetings and see that all possible preparation for their successful conduct is made, following the principles outlined in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.
   
   
5. Section 5 - Quorum for Transaction of Business. The voting members present at any constitutionally called congregational meeting shall be considered a quorum for the transaction of business. All church officers shall be voted upon by written ballot.
   
   
6. Section 6 - Voting Age. Any member of the church eighteen years of age or over, in good and regular standing, shall have the right to vote on any question properly brought before the congregation.

2. Article II - Membership

In order to keep an accurate membership roll, there shall be an annual review of the membership roll by the Elders one month prior to the Annual Meeting. All who have been inactive members for whatever cause, will be classified as such and will be notified of this action in writing.

3. Article III - Church Officers

1. Section 1 - The Method and Requirements for Election of Elders and Deacons.
   
   
   1. Except for the Pastor, all officers shall have been a member of the church for a period of at least one year before being placed in nomination.
      
      
   2. Consent must be secured from the nominees before their names are placed before the congregation.
      
      
   3. The term of church officers shall begin upon their election. The normal term of office for both elders and deacons shall be 3 years. Upon the completion of a full term each officer shall be required to wait one year before being eligible for reelection. This requirement may, however, be set aside if the congregation deems it beneficial to do so. Terms shall be so arranged that not all are completed at the same time.
      
      
2. Section 2 - Nomination of Officers. Each year, two months prior to the Annual Meeting, a nominating committee shall be constituted. This committee shall consist of the existing Elders and three other members to be selected from the congregation by the Elders to serve on this committee.

   It shall be the function of this committee to review the Biblical requirements for Elders and Deacons, and then to go over the list of male members in good standing to consider whether or not new names should be presented to the congregation for election as Elders and/or Deacons. Recommendations may be made to this committee from any member of the church provided it is done so in writing and with the prior approval of the individual being recommended.

   This committee shall post on the bulletin board all nominees for said offices two Sundays prior to the Annual Congregational Meeting. Members of the congregation may present names in writing to the nominating committee for consideration prior to the time the names of nominees are posted on the bulletin board.

   If there are those in the congregation who have Scriptural grounds for objecting to any of the nominees, they shall personally bring these to the attention of the Elders one week prior to the congregational meeting.

   At the congregational meeting the Elders will present the nominees to the congregation for the proper action.

   Each nominee shall be voted on separately and independently from the other nominees.

   Each nominee for office must receive two-thirds majority of votes from those present and voting.

4. Article IV - Church Boards

1. Section 1 - Monthly Meetings. The Elders and Deacons shall hold their respective meetings monthly.
   
   
2. Section 2 - Quorum and Call for Meetings. The quorum of the Elders or of the Deacons shall be two-thirds of the total number of their total number. They shall meet at the call of their Chairman, or at the request of any three of their members.
   
   
3. Section 3 - Duties of the Church Clerk. The Clerk shall keep a record of all business transacted at the congregational meetings, keep an accurate record of the membership, and carry on all necessary and related correspondence for the congregation.
   
   
4. Section 4 - Duties of the Church Treasurer. The Treasurer shall deposit all church funds in a bank account or accounts, as instructed by the Deacons and Finance Committee, which account shall be opened and maintained in the name of the church. He shall disburse the same at the direction of the Deacons. He shall make monthly reports to the Deacons and an annual report to the congregation at the Annual Meeting. He shall submit his books for an annual audit at the end of the fiscal year, and at such other times as he may be directed by the Deacons to do so. He may be required to furnish a bond, the amount of which shall be determined by the Deacons, and the cost of which shall be paid by the church. The Treasurer shall be primarily responsible for all offerings received by the church, and immediately following any service he shall see that all offerings are counted and that a record of them is maintained. An assistant Treasurer may be appointed to assist in these duties.

5. Article V - Committees

1. Section 1 - Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall be comprised of the Deacons, the Treasurer, and up to 3 additional members who are recommended by the nominating committee. Their duties include preparing and recommending to the congregation an annual budget. After it has been approved by the congregation, this committee is to oversee the administration of the budget.
   
   
2. Section 2 - Missions Committee. The Missions Committee shall be comprised of the Elders and up to three additional members to be recommended by the nominating committee. Their duties shall include leading the church into supporting and participating in responsible missionary activities and efforts.

6. Article VI - Church Corporation

In compliance with the laws of the State of Florida for Corporations Not for Profit, the Church shall from its members in good standing elect at least 3 (but not more than 7) men to serve as trustees of the corporation. They shall serve for a term of one year, and perform such services as required by law. This election shall take place at the annual business meeting. Those elected shall select 'a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a secretary, and a Treasurer' (as outlined in our Articles of Incorporation) for purposes of carrying out their required services.

7. Article VII - Amendments

Amendments to the By-Laws may be adopted by a majority of the members present and voting at a congregational meeting, provided that such amendments have been distributed by the Elders in written form at least two weeks prior to the congregational meeting.