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A SUGGESTED
MODEL
for Churches adopting
1. Confession of Faith
2. Church Covenant
3. Constitution
4. By-Laws
by
Charles E. Cloyd
and
R. Charles Blair
Additional copies of this booklet may be obtained by writing:
Charles E. Cloyd
Route 2, BBC
Mayfield, Kentucky 42066
or
R.Charles Blair
Route 3, Box 15
Clinton, Kentucky 42031
Second Edition 1988
PRINTED BY REV. WENDELL SANDEFUR
Route 2. Box 159E. Falls of Rough, Ky. 40119 - Phone 502/276-5554
1
Introduction
The following materials are presented as suggestions for writing a suitable
Constitution and Bylaws for a church. Many churches print a Church Member
Handbook, and in it materials similar to the enclosed suggestions are
included. A handbook of this nature is very valuable for the instruction and
guidance of churches and their members. A Constitution, by its very nature,
should be brief and general. By-laws and handbooks may be more detailed.
A set of Bylaws is important for the following reasons: First, the church
needs a guide or set of, rules to go by in time of disagreement. When the church
has no pastor, Bylaws are a great aid in matters of procedure. Second, the
church needs something to put in the hands of new members to instruct them in
matters of procedure. The Confession of Faith and the Church Covenant are useful
in this matter also. Third, the church needs a Constitution and Bylaws as an
agreed upon procedure when forming a corporation or performing other legal
actions. Fourth, the church needs a Constitution and Bylaws to protect itself
when taking action against a church member. This writer has known several
instances when churches dismissed a pastor or church member and the individual
immediately went to court charging defamation of character or similar charges.
Bylaws will be the main protection the church has in these cases.
The writer has personally participated in writing Bylaws for three churches.
This material is not presented as the final word for churches anticipating
adopting a Constitution and Bylaws. However, the writer believes that the
essential elements are contained herein. The Constitution of the United States
has stood the test of time primarily because it did not go into great detail in
its enactments but rather was not specific in details. The writer believes that
churches would be wise in not going into detail in the writing of specific rules
for the guidance of the church.
The Confession of Faith and the Church Covenant are of such lone standing acceptance among the churches as to not need explanation 01 copyright agreement. The writer knows of no other need for acknowledgement.