BYLAWS of the Massachusetts Baptist Bible Fellowship

Transcription

1 BYLAWS of the Massachusetts Baptist Bible Fellowship Article I Purpose The stated purpose of the MBBF is To cooperate together as a fellowship to establish independent Baptist Churches. Among the ways the MBBF can cooperate in establishing churches are the following. 1. Encourage support of young or struggling Churches and Pastors both financially & in prayer. 2. Encourage Pastors through fellowship and relationship. 3. Hold meetings that are both profitable and encouraging. MBBF Officers met in December of 2013 and decided to initiate practical themed State Meetings. The themes are as follows: Church Growth: Discipleship, Leadership Development, Evangelism Church Planting: Locally, Nationally, Internationally Personal Development: Leadership, Communication, Administration 1

2 1. Encourage support of BBFI colleges with an emphasis on Boston Baptist College with its potential for greater local impact. 2. Encourage support of foreign Missionaries who will establish independent Baptist Churches around the world. Article II Articles of Faith The Articles of Faith of the MBBF shall be the same as those adopted by the BBFI. Article III Monthly Meetings Monthly meetings will generally be conducted on the second Tuesday of each month. These meetings will be organized around the themes listed in Article I section 3. They will be scheduled and coordinated by the State Director with time allotted for State business meetings. Minutes will be kept and financial reports given along with any prayer and financial support raised for Church Planters. Each host Pastor will work with the Director in setting the schedule and speakers. Alternative meetings for fellowship and mutual encouragement will be scheduled as well as open months for MBBF camp, etc. 2

3 Article IV Elections and Officers The MBBF shall have 4 elected officers. Each will be a Senior Pastor of a BBFI listed Church and a supporter of Missions. (i.e. Colleges, Home, Foreign, Projects) The Officers will serve three year terms. The new officers will be nominated from the floor of the regular business meeting in October The secretary will record the nominees and distribute the list via . Any absent Pastors nominated must be contacted by the secretary to determine their willingness to serve. A vote will be taken in the November business meeting with nominees excused from the room. Elected Officers will begin their three year terms in January Director The office of State Chairman and State Representative have been combined. This Pastor guides the fellowship in cooperating together to fulfill its purpose(s). He moderates the business meetings as well as coordinating and promoting the monthly MBBF Meetings. He also represents the State in the three National Meetings and is responsible to coordinate fund-raising for the three annual projects. 1. Baptist Bible Tribune Offering February 2. Boston Baptist College & Baptist Bible College May 3. Missionary CARE Offering September 3

4 Assistant Director This Pastor is to assist the Director in guiding the fellowship toward the fulfillment of our purpose. He will be ready to assume the Director s duties in his absence. Secretary This Pastor is to maintain business meeting minutes. He is to keep an up to date list of cooperating MBBF Pastors. He is to keep an updated list of the MBBF BYLAWS. He shall be authorized to sign checks in absence of the state treasurer. Treasurer This Pastor will present a monthly financial report of State funds. He will receive and disburse funds as designated. Present an annual summary report at the February meeting of the MBBF. Article V Financial Support The MBBF receives and distributes funds through its Treasurer in 6 categories. 1. Church Establishment This is a one - time start up gift of a minimum of $ Usually Churches which receive this gift have been operational for a year. 2. Director s Travel Reimbursement A minimum of $ is allotted to the State Director to support his travel to each of the three BBFI Meetings. 3. Designated Funds Funds designated to individual Pastors, Churches, Projects, and special needs are disbursed as directed. 4

5 4. Operational Funds Check and bank charges, Officer s meetings for planning are included in this category. 5. Emergency Fund This would include special needs that occur in an unforeseen manner. These funds may be distributed by the Treasurer and State Director. They will then be reported in the next monthly meeting. 6. Church-Planter s MBBF Meeting Reimbursement- $75.00 is given to any Bivocational Pastor who misses work to attend a monthly meeting. Article VI Qualification for Combined MBBF Support Church planters qualify for State Funds by interviewing with a minimum of three State Officers. The State Officers form the, Missions Committee. The candidate will submit a Home Missionary Application, (Attached) with his sending Pastor s recommendation. They will then recommend the individual in a regularly scheduled business meeting of the MBBF. All approved BBFI Missionaries are considered qualified for MBBF support. Article VII Designated Funds The MBBF does not corporately support designated works on a monthly basis. All regular support is the result of monthly giving by Pastors who lead their Churches to make monthly contributions. Each month s contribution 5

6 check should include an itemized form showing the various recipients. Exceptions could be made at business meetings to disburse funds incrementally, for example from the New Church Fund. 6