Preamble Constitution and By-Laws International Baptist Church Berlin Constitution This congregation is a communion of people who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We voluntarily bind ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ and personally commit to sharing the Good News of salvation to lost mankind. We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God and the basis of our belief. The ordinances of the church are Believer s Baptism and the Lord s Supper. This church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention on May 9, 1963. (See Appendix Summary Statement of Faith ) The purpose of the International Baptist Church Berlin is: 1. To worship and serve God and to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ as set forth in Matthew 28:19-20. 2. To minister to the needs of the members and others as the church is able to do so as set forth in Matthew 22:37-39. 3. To become a fellowship of believers as set forth in Acts 2:42. Article I: Name, Government, Affiliation Section A: Name This body shall be known as International Baptist Church Berlin, Germany (IBC Berlin), and uses the English language to worship God and to minister to people from all nations. Section B: Government The government of this church is vested in the members who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but recognizes and sustains obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation with churches of like faith and order. Section C: Affiliation We acknowledge our longstanding affiliation and affirm our intention of continuing our relationship with the International Baptist Convention and the Bund Evangelisch- Freikirchlicher Gemeinden in Deutschland (Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany). We are fraternally related to the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance.
2 Article II: Membership Section A: Request for Membership Persons who desire to be a part of this congregation may apply for membership in any of the following ways: 1. By Profession of Faith A person who publicly professes faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be received as a candidate for believer s baptism (by immersion) and for church membership. 2. By Transfer of Membership Letter Member(s) of churches of similar faith which practice believer s baptism (by immersion) may be received on the promise of a transferring membership letter(s), after making a statement affirming their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 3. By Statement Baptized believers may present themselves for membership by making a statement affirming their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and their believer s baptism (by immersion). 4. By Association a. Associate members are Christian believers who have not experienced believer s baptism by immersion. b. Christian believers may present themselves for associate membership by making a statement of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and confirming their baptism. c. Associate members are warmly welcomed into the fellowship of International Baptist Church Berlin and have all rights and responsibilities of church members with the following qualifications: associate members will voluntarily submit to the church s teaching regarding salvation and baptism and refrain from promoting any other doctrine; and shall have voting rights with one exception: voting on changes in the Constitution and By-Laws. 5. By Watchcare a. Watchcare members are baptized believers who desire to maintain their previous church affiliation. b. Christian believers may present themselves for watchcare membership by making a statement of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and confirming their baptism.
3 c. Watchcare members are warmly welcomed into the fellowship of International Baptist Church Berlin and have the right to participate in but not lead teams or committees with the following qualifications: watchcare members will voluntarily submit to the church's teaching regarding salvation and baptism and refrain from promoting any other doctrine; and shall not have voting rights. 6. By Restoration Individuals who have been excluded from membership from membership in this or another church of similar faith and practice on biblical grounds may present themselves for restoration of membership by confessing the sin causing the exclusion, giving evidence of a repentant spirit, and committing to a process of restoration supervised by the pastor and assisted by the Leadership Council. (Galatians 6:1). Section B: Reception of Membership Individuals may be received into membership who: 1. Comply with the requirements specified in the preceding Article 2, Section A. 2. Complete the membership class, agree to our faith statement, accept the constitution of this church, and commit to our church covenant. (See Appendix Church Covenant ) 3. Confirmed by a majority vote of the church upon the recommendation of the Leadership Council at a regular worship service of the church two weeks after completing the membership class. Section C: Rights and Privileges Members and associate members listed on the active roll (See Article 2, Section D, Paragraph 3) may vote in the transaction of church business and serve in any capacity or position provided they meet the prescribed qualifications for a given ministry as presented in the constitution, bylaws, or ministry operations manual. Section D: Termination of Membership Membership in the church may be terminated in any of the following ways: 1. Letter of Transfer Any member who desires a letter to another Baptist church is entitled to have it granted upon receipt of the request from the gaining church. 2. Letter of Acknowledgment Upon request from a church of another denomination, a Letter of Acknowledgment shall be granted and the member s name shall be dropped from the church roll.
4 3. Dropping from the Active Roll Members who permanently leave Berlin will be removed from the active roll and placed on the inactive roll. Members residing in Berlin who willfully lose all contact with the church will, after one year of repeated attempts to restore their active participation, be removed from the active roll and transferred to the inactive roll. The active roll indicates that the member is actively participating in the life of the church. The inactive roll is for those who have not been active in the life of the church or have moved from the general church area. 4. Dismissal Matters of discipline will be governed by the Scriptures. Redemption rather than punishment should be the guideline which governs the attitude of one member to another. Should some serious condition exist which would cause a member to become a liability to the general welfare of the church, every reasonable measure will be taken by the Pastor and by the deacons to resolve the problem. All such proceedings shall be guided by a spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance. But, finding that the welfare of the church would best be served by the exclusion of a member, the church, upon the recommendation of the Pastor, may take action by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a special business meeting called for this purpose (Galatians 6:1-5). Article IV: Meetings of the Church Section A: For Devotion (Worship) Public services for worship shall be held regularly on such days and at such hours as shall be determined by the vote of the Ministry Council. Other meetings such as Bible study, fellowship, and ministry shall be held regularly, after the Ministry Council has been notified. Section B: For Business 1. The business meetings shall be conducted at least quarterly during the months of February, June, September, and November. An agenda shall be distributed one week in advance of the meeting. The Pastor shall be moderator of these meetings. If the Pastor cannot be present he will appoint a Moderator pro tem. 2. Special business meetings may be called at any time by the Pastor, by 3 Officers or a majority vote of the Ministry Council. The notice shall be given at least two weeks prior to the meeting and shall indicate the purpose of the special business meeting. The two week notice may be waived only in case of emergency. No other business may be conducted at the meeting. Absentee ballots are possible for special business meetings and must be submitted in writing to the Moderator prior to the special business meeting. 3. The quorum for regular and special business meetings shall be 20% of the active membership, who are physically present at the meeting.
5 Section C: Rules of Order Parliamentary procedure of all business meeting shall be regulated by Robert s Rules of Order. Article III: Amendments to the Constitution Any proposed amendment or change to this Constitution shall be presented in writing to the Ministry Council for consideration. The Constitution and By-Laws Committee with the approval of the Ministry Council shall present the proposed amendment or change at a regular business meeting. Upon an affirmative vote of 75% of active members present the amendment or change to the Constitution and By-Laws will become effective. By-Laws Article I: Organization of the Church Section A: Pastors, Deacons, and Officers of the Church The officers of the New Testament Church are Pastors and Deacons. For organizational and legal purposes other church officers are included to serve the congregation and assist the Pastor and Deacons. All church officers must be members of the church, lead a life in accordance with biblical principles, and follow the guidelines set forth in the descriptions below. The officers of the church shall be: Pastor, Ministers, Deacons, Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, and Trustees. 1. Pastor a) Duties: To give spiritual leadership to the church in fulfilling its stated purpose, to proclaim the Good News, and to care for the membership. The Pastor shall serve as the Moderator of the church and in his absence appoint someone to serve as Moderator Pro Tem. The Pastor shall be accountable to the Staff Relations Committee b) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the office of pastor the candidate must be Baptist in doctrine and practice, an active member in a Baptist church, exhibit Christian character, fulfill the requirements for membership (see Article II, Section B), and meet the following scriptural qualifications of an overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7): Full of the Spirit, mature in character, above reproach, a lifestyle consistent with Christian truth, self-controlled, able to manage and teach, balanced in judgment, hospitable, free from addictions, purely motivated in service, not quick tempered, not quarrelsome or stubborn, a model of giving, proven faithfulness, if married
6 devoted to spouse who is also devoted to the Lord and has a well ordered family life. c) Selection: Pastor Search Committee Selection: i. A Pastor Search Committee shall be selected consisting of five active church members, men and women, representative of the total church membership and ministries (one member of the Leadership Council, two members from the Deacon Council, and two other members at large). The election shall be by ballot at a business meeting called for that purpose with those receiving the highest number of votes in each category making up the committee. ii. The Committee shall select its leader by ballot without nomination. The Committee shall be aware of information given in the current International Baptist Convention s Guide for Pastor Search Committees. Procedure: i. The Pastor Search Committee shall consider and bring only one name to the church at a time. ii. Members of the church may submit candidates to this committee in sufficient time to allow review, however no nominations may be brought forward from the floor. iii. The Pastor Search Committee shall make their recommendation to the church at a special business meeting scheduled during a regular Sunday service for which two weeks notice has been given. iv. The chairman of the Staff Relations Committee shall moderate this meeting and shall appoint three persons to tally the votes. v. The tally of votes shall be taken immediately and reported to the church. vi. The selection of the Pastor shall be by ballot with a vote of at least 75% of members present voting in the affirmative. vii. If the 75% vote is not obtained, there shall be no discussion, and the Pastor Search Committee shall then repeat the selection process. viii. The recommendation of the Committee shall include a covenant agreement mutually agreed upon by the Pastor and the church. It shall include the term of service, salary and benefits package prepared jointly by the Staff Relations Committee, Finance Committee, and the Pastor Search Committee and offered to the candidate.
7 2. Ministerial Staff ix. The Pastor shall be called by the church to serve until the relationship is dissolved at the request of either the pastor or the church. In either case, at least a 90 days notice shall be given to terminate the relationship unless otherwise mutually agreed. x. When employing a Pastor the church shall assist and support him in securing the proper work permit in accordance with German Labor Laws. It is also to assist in checking the German law to determine the use of titles they earned abroad. xi. Upon acceptance of the call and arrival in the church, the Pastor is automatically an official member of the church. Additional ministerial staff shall be considered according to the needs of the church and approved by the church in a business meeting. a) Duties: Each ministerial staff member shall be assigned duties as determined by the Staff Relations Committee and guided by the Ministry Operations Manual. All ministerial staff shall be accountable to the Pastor. b) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the position of Ministerial Staff the candidate must be Baptist in doctrine and practice, an active member in a Baptist church, exhibit Christian character, fulfill the requirements for membership (see Article II, Section B), and meet the following scriptural qualifications of an overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7): Full of the Spirit, mature in character, above reproach, a lifestyle consistent with Christian truth, self-controlled, able to manage and teach, balanced in judgment, hospitable, free from addictions, purely motivated in service, not quick tempered, not quarrelsome or stubborn, a model of giving, proven faithfulness, if married devoted to spouse who is also devoted to the Lord and has a well ordered family life. c) Selection: The selection of all ministerial staff shall follow the same procedure for selecting and calling a pastor with the exception that the Pastor shall serve as the committee s Leadership Council member and shall also serve as the committee s leader. d) When employing someone, the church must assist and support the employee in securing the proper work permit in accordance with German Labor Laws. It is also to assist the staff in checking if they are entitled by German law to bear the titles they earned abroad. The employees shall be called by the church to serve until the relationship is dissolved in keeping with German law.
8 3. Deacons a) Duties: To attend to and implement the pastoral care and practical needs of the church. (For further detail, see below Deacon Council, Article I, Section B, 2.) b) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the office of deacon the candidate must exhibit Christian character, demonstrate faithful and active ministry in the church, and meet the following scriptural qualifications of deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13): Full of the Spirit, mature in character, demonstrate verbal consistency, free from addictions, purely motivated in service, sound knowledge of Christian truth, a lifestyle consistent with Christian truth, proven faithfulness, if married devoted to spouse who is also devoted to the Lord and has a well ordered family life. c) Selection: i. The Pastor will begin the deacon selection process by announcing the need for additional deacons and by reminding the congregation of the qualifications and responsibilities of the deacons. ii. After prayerful reflection, members may nominate in writing the names of potential deacons to the Deacon Council. iii. The Pastor and/or Leadership and Deacon Council members will contact nominees to determine their willingness to serve and to review the qualifications and responsibilities of a deacon. iv. After prayerful deliberation, the Leadership and Deacon Councils will select and recommend to the Ministry Council the names of those to be presented to the church as deacon candidates. v. In turn, the candidates for Deacon shall be recommended to the church by the Ministry Council. vi. The church will approve the recommendations individually by a vote of more than 75% at which time their service begins. vii. Upon appointment each deacon shall be asked for a minimum one church-year commitment subject to review, recommitment, and reaffirmation by the church each subsequent year (1 st October). Additional details shall be included in the Ministry Operations Manual. 4. Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, and Trustees a) Moderator: The Pastor shall serve as the Moderator. The duties of the Moderator are outlined in the Ministry Operations Manual. In the absence of a pastor, the church shall select a moderator to serve until the arrival of a pastor.
9 b) Clerk: The Clerk shall be selected annually and assume the duties outlined in the Ministry Operations Manual beginning on 1 st October. The Clerk shall be accountable to the Moderator. c) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be selected annually and assume the duties as outlined in the Ministry Operations Manual beginning on 1 st October. The Treasurer is an ex officio member of the Finance Committee and shall be accountable to the leader of the Finance Committee. d) Trustees: The Trustees shall be selected for five-year terms and assume the duties as outlined in the Ministry Operations Manual beginning on 1 st October. The Trustees shall be accountable to the Moderator. e) Term of Service: These church officers, except for the Moderator, shall be asked for a minimum one church-year commitment subject to review, recommitment and reaffirmation by the church each subsequent year (1 st October). Section B: Leadership, Deacon, and Ministry Councils of the Church 1. The Leadership Council The Leadership Council of the church is responsible for the spiritual oversight and strategic initiative of the church. The Leadership Council works under the direction of and in harmony with the Pastor who guides and assists the Leadership Council in their shared responsibility of the pastoral leadership of the church with a special focus on ministries of guiding, teaching, and protecting the church. The Leadership Council shall meet at least monthly to pray about and plan for the overall supervision, teaching, protection, management, and care of people within the congregation. The Leadership Council is made up of the Pastor, Ministerial Staff, and any additional members as selected by the church to maintain a minimum of three members. Should the number of members fall below the minimum of three, the remaining members of the Leadership Council shall consult with the Deacon Council in the accomplishment of its responsibility until the church selects qualified members to fill out the Leadership Council. Members shall be selected in the following manner. a) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for membership on the Leadership Council the candidate must exhibit Christian character, have demonstrated faithful and active ministry as a deacon, and meet the following scriptural qualifications of an overseer (1 Timothy 3:1-7): Full of the Spirit, mature in character, above reproach, a lifestyle consistent with Christian truth, self-controlled, able to manage and teach, balanced in judgment, hospitable, free from addictions, purely motivated in service, not quick tempered, not quarrelsome or stubborn, a model of giving, proven faithfulness, if married devoted to spouse who is also devoted to the Lord and has a well ordered family life.
10 b) Selection: 2. The Deacon Council i. The Pastor will begin the Leadership Council selection process by announcing the need for additional members and by reminding the congregation of the qualifications and responsibilities of the Leadership Council. ii. After prayerful reflection, members may nominate in writing the names of potential members to the Leadership Council. iii. The Pastor and/or Leadership and Deacon Council members will contact nominees to determine their willingness to serve and to review the qualifications and responsibilities of the Leadership Council. iv. After prayerful deliberation, the Leadership and Deacon Council will select and recommend to the Ministry Council the names of those to be presented to the church as candidates for Leadership Council. v. In turn, the candidates shall be recommended to the church by the Ministry Council. vi. The church will approve the recommendations individually by a vote of more than 75% at which time their service begins. vii. Upon appointment each member shall be asked for a one church-year commitment subject to review, recommitment, and re-affirmation by the church each subsequent year (1 st October). Additional details shall be included in the Ministry Operations Manual. The Deacon Council of the church is responsible for the pastoral care and practical needs of the church. The Deacon Council works under the direction of and in harmony with the Pastor who guides and assists them in fulfilling their shared responsibility of the pastoral ministry of the church with a special focus on ministries of care, benevolence, and support. The Deacon Council shall meet at least monthly to pray about and plan for the people-serving and people-caring ministries of the church. The Deacon Council is made up of church selected deacons and should maintain a number of qualified members sufficient to accomplish the ministry entrusted to them by the church. Additional details shall be included in the Ministry Operations Manual. 3. The Ministry Council The ministry of the church will be supported by the Ministry Council which is composed of the leaders of the Leadership Council, the Deacon Council, Administrative Committees, and Ministry Teams. Together, they work cooperatively within the framework of the Ministry Council by making recommendations concerning policies, programs, personnel, or expenditures which are perceived to benefit the church s life and standing.
11 Administrative Committees and Ministry Teams may be established for any purpose deemed necessary to the church. All Administrative Committees and Ministry Teams shall be subject to the authority of the church and accountable to the duly appointed leadership of the church. All church committee members and ministry team leaders shall be recommended by the Ministry Council and approved annually by the church. Special committees may be appointed for a term of up to one year by the pastor or the Ministry Council at the request of the church when the need arises. The pastor shall be considered an ex-officio member of all committees and teams. The Ministry Council shall meet at least monthly. a. Administrative Committees: An administrative committee is a group of church members who have joined together to meet specific church functional needs. As such it has the following characteristics: i. Committees are designated as standing or special according to their responsibilities. ii. iii. iv. Responsibilities are assigned by the church via the Constitution, By-laws, and Ministry Operations Manual. All committee members must be members of the church. Motions may be made to the church as a committee with no requirement of a second on the motion. v. Administrative Committees include Finance (standing), Staff Relations (standing), Ministry Placement (standing), Pastor Search (special), Constitution and By-Laws (special). The Leadership Council will work with administrative committees in overseeing the church administrative functions. vi. Administrative Committees (leaders and members) shall be approved annually and begin serving on 1st October. Their duties, eligibility, and selection process will be set forth in the Ministry Operations Manual. b. Ministry Teams: A ministry team is a group of people within the church who have joined together to meet a church ministry need to accomplish the purposes of the church. Each ministry team and its responsibilities will be approved by the church for a specific period of time. The ministry teams have the following characteristics: i. The team does not deal directly with the church body. They will present their recommendations to the Ministry Council. If church approval is required the motion(s) will be made by the Ministry Council. ii. The tasking for ministry teams comes from the church membership and is clarified by the Ministry Council. They are given authority by the church to accomplish these tasks.
12 iii. iv. Each ministry team is accountable to a Leadership or Deacon Council member who will serve as the coordinator responsible for managing, guiding, and supporting the ministry of the team. Each ministry team will be led by a church approved leader who will represent the team on the Ministry Council. Ministry team leaders must be a church member. v. Ministry team members do not have to be members of the church, and ministry teams are encouraged to seek new team members as needed. vi. vii. viii. ix. Teams are also encouraged to recommend new tasking. Changes to existing ministry teams or tasking will be approved by the Ministry Council. The duration of the team is one calendar year, maximum. Each year the Ministry Council will determine which teams need to be extended for another year and bring a recommendation to the church. Ministry Teams include Worship, Preschool Ministry, Children s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Small Group Ministry, Hospitality/Fellowship, Publicity, Women s Ministry, Men s Ministry and other ministry teams as recommended by the Ministry Council and approved by the church. Ministry Teams (teams and leaders) shall be approved annually and begin serving on 1st October. Their duties, eligibility, and selection process will be set forth in the Ministry Operations Manual. Article II: Amendments to Bylaws Any proposed amendment or change to these Bylaws shall be presented in writing to the Ministry Council for consideration. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee with the approval of the Ministry Council shall present the proposed amendment or change at a regular business meeting. The amendment will then be voted on at the next regular church business meeting. Upon an affirmative vote of 60% of active church members present the amendment or change to the Bylaws will become effective. These revisions will go into effect immediately upon approval and will replace all previous versions of the Constitution and By-Laws of IBC Berlin. We the undersigned testify to the approval of this revised Constitution and Bylaws by the International Baptist Church Berlin: Constitution Team Members: