Constitution and By Laws Calvary Baptist Church, Kerrville, Texas
Constitution and By Laws
Calvary Baptist Church
113 Methodist Encampment Road
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Established November 1, 1914
EIN 30-1046562
Revision October 2020
CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS
PREAMBLE
So, all things shall be done decently and in order, so all members work together helping each other in Christian service. We adopted this Constitution and By Laws.
ARTICLE I Name, location, object
Section I. This autonomous body of believers will be called CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH under the laws of the State of Texas.
Section II. Place
The official meeting place will be 113 Methodist Encampment Road, Kerrville, Texas-in Kerr County and the State of Texas. The church has the right to meet in other places for special services. All business will be conducted at the place of worship.
Section III. Object: p. 2
We will exist as an organism to share the Gospel of Christ.
To hold Christian Fellowship, Christian Education in Biblical doctrine and in giving to support the financial needs of the church + support of missionary work through the Southern Baptist Convention and the General Baptist Convention of Texas and the Medina River Association (Compañerismo Hispano).
ARTICILE II. Doctrine
All our beliefs are based on God’s Holy Word as our only authority. As official members of this church; we accept the church Covenant as declared our beliefs according to God’s word.
We also adhere to the Southern Baptist Faith and Message.
ARTICLE III Church Ordinances
The Lord’s Supper and Baptism:
The Church has two ordinances, Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. The ordinances are administered by the Pastor of the church or any other person voted by the church: Every believer in Christ is welcome to participate in. Observe cautions of 1 Corinthians 11.
ARTICLE IV The Nature of the Church:
The governing policy of the church consists in the membership it is composed of. The local church is totally autonomous – we are not subject to any entity – yet we voluntarily work with The Southern Baptist Convention – The General Baptist Convention of Texas and the Medina River Baptist Association – The Mexican Baptist Convention of Texas – The Hispanic Fellowship of the Medina River Association.
ARTICLE V Legal Matters: p. 3
Section 1. Voting: All members have a right to vote on any legal transaction concerning the church. Respecting the majority vote.
Section 2. Properties of the Church:
No official, no member, pastor or any other person related to this church or entity has the authority to sell – mortgage or control the properties of this church – only that in an official business meeting the church decides by majority vote to do so. The majority vote has the right to legally sell any property the church owns.
ARTICLE VI Membership:
The church has the right to receive anyone desiring to become a member by: an official letter from another church of the same order of faith, by a personal testimony of their conversion experience, by believer’s baptism.
Candidates:
The candidate for membership will be presented to the church in a regular church service by:
a. A public profession of faith.
b. By an official letter from another church of the same faith and order.
c. By restoring a member that has left church and wishes to return to have fellowship.
ARTICLE VII Officers: p. 4
Section 1. The deacons – secretary – treasurer -
Sunday school director – brotherhood director – W.M.V. director – training union director, all are elected by the church annually.
Section 2. Termination of Officials:
All directors with the exception of Pastor shall be elected annually. Their duty begins in January of each year to the conclusion of year elected. The church approves all officers or directors and trustees.
Section 3. Pastor:
The Pastor of the church shall be an ordained minister of the Gospel or can be licensed by a Baptist church. The Pastor shall cooperate with all Southern Baptist Agencies – State Baptist Convention and Medina River Association. He shall also be the moderator in all business meetings of the local church.
Section 4. Reports:
Each officer should submit a monthly report of his duties to the church secretary so they can be recorded.
Section 5.
The church has all authority in any business when a majority vote is expressed.
Section 6. Termination of Membership: p. 5
A. By a member being deceased.
B. Move to another city – if he asks for his letter.
C. When he joins another denomination:
D. Failure to attend or participate.
ARTICLE VIII Discipline:
Section 1. Rights of the church:
The church has a right to discipline any member:
- Who violates the rights of the church.
- If any member is immorally living or violating the church vows.
- If any member becomes mentally unstable by disrupting the public services of the church or continues to interrupt services.
ARTICLE IX Meeting
Section 1. The church shall meet Sunday morning – Sunday evening and Wednesday night.
The pastor shall direct these meetings unless church approves one of the church officials to perform these services.
Section 2. The church has a right to call any special business meeting as required, at least a week notice is usually expected.
Trustees:
Information on file.
The Christian & the Social Order
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society
... in the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death...
Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood or adoption.
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. ... The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation... Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage.
Local addition. Children should honor and obey their parents. Ephesians 6:1-3. (Minors: More than secular educational institutions.)
Add scripture references. Gen. 2:18, Gen. 2:24, Dt. 5:18. Dt. 6; Isaiah 62:5. Rom. 1:18-2:1. (All general letters and epistles. Those intended for all churches.)