CONSTITUTION
of
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
SOMERSET, PENNSYLVANIA

PREAMBLE
We, the members of the First Christian Church, Somerset, Pennsylvania, a congregationally governed body, in order to promote the work of Christ’s Church in the spirit of Christ and thus advance His Kingdom, do hereby adopt this Constitution.

ARTICLE I
Name and Purpose

Section A. NAME: The name of this organization shall be the FIRST     CHRISTIAN CHURCH, of Somerset, Pennsylvania. Committed to the support of public worship of Almighty God according to the forms, principles and doctrines of the body of people known as Christian Churches, Churches of Christ.

Section B. PURPOSE: The purpose of this church shall be as revealed in the New Testament, to win people to faith in Jesus Christ and commit them actively to the church; to help them grow in 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.

ARTICLE II
Membership

The conditions of membership in this congregation shall be those imposed by the New Testament, including baptism by immersion as taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles. Members of other congregations who have complied with the requirements of the New Testament will be received into fellowship on presentation of proper letters, or by statement.

ARTICLE III
Officers
Section A. ELECTION: The church at its annual business meeting shall elect the following officers for a term designated as follows:

1. ELDERS: To be elected for a term of 3 years. Qualifications for the office are those found in Scripture; specifically 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

2. DEACONS: To be elected for a term of 3 years. Qualifications for the office are those found in Scripture; specifically 1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12-13.

3. DEACONESS: To be elected for a term of 3 years.

4. Nominees for the above to be ratified by a majority vote. All nominees to be considered individually by a YES or NO vote. Votes not cast for an individual are not considered in vote total.

5. TREASURER: To be elected for a term of one year.

6. FINANCIAL SECRETARY: To be elected for a term of one year.

Section B. DUTIES:

1. The ELDERS shall promote the church growth and welfare of the church, give spiritual oversight to the members with respect to regular attendance at the Lord’s Supper, visitation of the sick and concern for the morally delinquent and spiritually indifferent, give thoughtful consideration to policies of the church that will enable it to fulfill its complete mission; encourage by example and word the missionary, evangelistic, education and stewardship responsibilities of the church; serve at the Lord’s table, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

2. The ELDERS shall serve as Trustees and shall act as the legal agents of the church in all business matters; hold legal title to all church property and handle all business transactions related thereto; have supervision over all endowments and trust funds; and perform such duties as are required by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under direction of the Church Board and subject to the approval of the congregation.

3. The DEACONS shall cooperate with the Elders in promoting the growth and welfare of the church; assist in the greeting and ushering of the worshipers; distribute the Lord’s Supper; assist in the preparation of candidates for baptism; counsel and serve in the business affairs and program activities of the church; cooperate in ministering to the needy, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

4. The DEACONESSES shall perform the same general duties as the Deacons and cooperate with them in promoting the growth and welfare of the church; minister to families in time of sickness and bereavement, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

5. The TREASURER shall disburse all funds of the church according to the authority designated by the Church Board; serve as a member of the Finance Committee; make regular reports at each regular meeting of the Church Board, and an annual report to the congregation.

6. FINANCIAL SECRETARY shall be responsible for overseeing the recording of all funds and their deposit in the proper church accounts; and shall serve as a member of the Finance Committee and shall be qualified to be one of the Co-signers of the church.

Section C. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
1. The Nominating Committee composed of not less than three members of the congregation shall be appointed by the chairman of the Church Board and announced to the congregation at least four weeks prior to the annual business meeting. It shall be their duty to present nominees as candidates for officers of the church.
2. All suggestions from the congregation for nominees shall be in writing and signed and in the hands of the Nominating Committee at least 15 days prior to the election. The committee shall then consider qualifications, outline duties, secure consent from nominees and prepare the slate of candidates.
3. The Nominating Committee shall report its nominations to the congregation at the annual business meeting.

Section D. THE CHURCH BOARD:
1. The Church Board shall consist of the elected officers of the church and shall elect its chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary for a period of one year, the vice-chairman to succeed to chairmanship the following year.

2. It shall be the duty of the Board:
a. To consider and recommend general policies to the congregation.
b. To transact routine business.
c. To administer the program of the church through the designated committees.
d. The Church Board shall meet once per month, at such times as agreed upon by a majority of the members, ten members or more constituting a quorum. It shall meet in special session as required on call of the chairman, or upon request of ten or more members of the Church Board.

3. The Church Board shall perform its duties according to the authority granted it in this constitution or designated to it by the congregation.

Duties of the Church Board Officers shall be as follows:

1. The Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer, call and preside at all regular or special business meetings of the congregation, and serve as Chairman of the Church Board and present an annual report to the congregation.

2. The Vice-Chairman shall fulfill the usual duties of such an office, call and preside at all regular business meetings of the congregation in the absence of the Chairman, and serve as Vice-Chairman of the Church Board.

3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all regular or special business meetings of the congregation, serve as secretary of the Church Board, keep a record of all its regular or called meetings, and perform such other duties as may be assigned.

ARTICLE IV
The Minister

Section A. DUTIES:
The minister of the church shall perform the duties which usually pertain to that office, and as spiritual administrator of the church, and shall make a monthly report to the Church Board.

Section B. SELECTION:

The Minister shall be chosen by the congregation as herein after provided:

1. The Elders shall serve as the Pulpit Committee and be responsible for recommending a prospective Minister to the Church Board.

2. The Church Board shall consider the recommendation of the Pulpit Committee, and if approved, recommend the prospective Minister to the congregation. It shall be the policy of the congregation to consider only one prospective Minister at a time.

3. The recommendation of the Church Board must be accepted by at least a two-third majority of members present and voting in a regular or special business meeting of the congregation before a call may be extended.

4. The term of his ministry shall be for an indefinite period and subject to termination by either party upon thirty days written notice. A written statement setting forth the beginning salary to be paid and other conditions of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the Minister and one for the congregation.

ARTICLE V
Meetings

Section A. ANNUAL ELECTION: An annual election meeting shall be held the second Sunday of the eleventh month of the church year. Special meetings, as required, to be called by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, or upon request of the Church Board or written petition of twenty-five or more members of the congregation.

Section B. NOTICE: Notice of all regular or special business meetings of the congregation shall be given at a regular Sunday service of the church at least one week in advance of the meeting.

Section C. RULES OF ORDER: All business meetings of the congregation and the Church Board shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VI
Recognition

After a member of the Church Board has served the church long and faithfully and feels that he can no longer continue in an active capacity, by the vote of the Board he may be placed on the Emeritus list, with full privileges.

ARTICLE VII
Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the congregation by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting on the amendment, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment has been read at the regular Sunday service at least two weeks before the vote is taken.

ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution Statement

Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organizations or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disclosed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Please of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

(Amended by congregational vote: February 4, 2007)