Preamble:
Stony Brook Community Church was established in 1996 as an outgrowth of the ministry of the College Church in Northampton, Massachusetts. We, the members of Stony Brook Community Church, while humbly acknowledging the godly heritage passed on to us by the College Church and desiring a continuing special relationship with College Church, believe that God has led us to faithfully carry on that heritage as an independent local church. To that end, and to glorify God by the proper ordering of our community, we establish these bylaws:
Article I -- Name, Character and Polity
The name of the church is Stony Brook Community Church.
The church shall be an independent body, having within itself all necessary rights of government and discipline.
Article II -- Purpose
Stony Brook Community Church exists to bring glory to God through true worship, faithful obedience to the whole teaching of God's Word, loving relationships with one another, and joyful proclamation of the good news that repentant sinners can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Article III -- Statement of Faith
1. We believe in the Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as the sole basis of our faith. We believe the Bible is infallible, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, without error in the original manuscripts and is the supreme and final authority in all matters of life and godliness. (II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:19-21; I Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:19-20)
2. We believe that there is one true God eternally existing in three persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- who share equally all the attributes of deity and participate fully in the essence of the divine God-Head. God has spoken to humanity, and the Bible is His Word, given to make us wise unto salvation. God is Lord and King over His world; He rules all things for His own glory, displaying His perfections in all that He does, in order that humans and angels may worship and adore Him. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 5:17; John 14:16,17; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 1:1,2; II Timothy 3:15; Daniel 4:34-37; Isaiah 6:1-5; Revelation 4:1-11)
3. We believe that all human beings are created in the image of God. The sin of disobedience, however, brought with it an alienation from the Creator which is humanly irreconcilable. In this fallen state, no one can please God since human nature is corrupt and in desperate need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. God, who is rich in mercy, provided a way by which relationship with Himself could be restored through the death of His only Son whose shed blood provides an atonement for sin. By an act of His free grace, God pardons sin and imputes the righteousness of Christ to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation. Those who receive God's grace through faith are justified in His sight. We believe, also, that one can be assured of this salvation the very moment Christ is trusted as Savior and Lord. This assurance is not based on human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony and promises of God's Word. (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 32:16,17; Genesis 3:6-24; Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:10-18, 23; Ephesians 2:1-8; Romans 4:1-3; Romans 5:1,6-10; Romans 8:9,14-17; I John 5:10-13)
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is fully God, who having humbled Himself, became fully human as well through the Virgin Birth. He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of the world by dying on the cross as substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone for the remission of their sins. He rose from the dead, appeared to various of His followers, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and humanity, continually makes intercession for His own. (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14; Matthew 20:28; Hebrews 9:11-12; I Peter 3:18; Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; I Timothy 2:5,6)
5. We believe that the Holy Spirit is God and has come into the world to reveal and glorify Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth, seals, sanctifies and empowers them through His spiritual gifts for life and service. His fullness, power and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith. (John 15:26; John 16:8-11; John 3:3-8; Titus 3:5; II Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:1-3; Romans 8:2; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16; I Corinthians 2:1-4; I Corinthians 12; I Thessalonians 1:5)
6. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church and the Church, His Body, is composed of all those living and dead who have been joined to Him through saving faith. We also believe that the Church is manifested locally through congregations of believers in Christ who assemble regularly for worship, instruction, fellowship and prayer. (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15; I Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 10:24,25; Acts 2:42-46)
7. We believe that the Christian sacraments are outward rites instituted by Christ, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs and seals of facts and realities of salvation. Baptism is the public act of confessing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; it is a symbol of one's faith-union and identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection unto newness of life. The Lord's Supper consists in a faith-partaking of the bread and wine which symbolize the death of Christ for the remission of our sins and the continual dependence upon Him for our spiritual nourishment. The Lord's Table is open to all who are in a right relationship with one another and with the Lord. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38-41; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:11,12; Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:19,20; Matthew 5:23,24; I Corinthians 10:1-33; I Corinthians 11:23-26)
8. We believe that Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world and make disciples of every nation. We also believe that the Gospel has to do with the whole person and therefore our responsibility entails an involvement in the social dimension of the human condition as well as the spiritual. All of this is done in the name of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; Matthew 25:31-46; I John 3:17; James 2:15-17; Acts 1:8)
9. We believe that the one who trusts in Jesus Christ enters immediately, upon physical death, into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits the resurrection of the body to judgment and everlasting glory. The unbeliever enters immediately into eternal conscious separation from the Lord and awaits the resurrection of the body to judgment and everlasting condemnation. (II Corinthians 5:8; I Corinthians 3:10-17; Revelations 20:11-15; Acts 24:14-16; Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 9:27,28; Hebrews 10:26-31; I Peter 4:17).
10. We believe in the visible dynamic return of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to complete His saving work and establish His eternal kingdom. (Matthew 24:29-31; Matthew 25:31; Luke 17:26-37; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:3; II Thessalonians 2:1-12; Titus 2:13; Revelation 21)
Article IV -- Membership
1. Eligibility. Membership at Stony Brook Community Church is open to anyone age twelve or older who has declared his or her faith in Jesus Christ, who has been baptized, and who accepts the Statement of Faith of the Church.
2. Admission and removal. Applicants for membership shall normally complete a course of instruction supervised by the Council of Elders and shall be admitted to membership upon the approval of the Council of Elders after having expressed a desire to keep the covenant of the church. Membership shall be for life, except that a member may withdraw from membership, a member may be removed for disciplinary reasons by the Council of Elders in accordance with scriptural procedure (Matthew 18:15-20), or a member may be removed if he or she has remained inactive for one year and has not responded to initiatives of the Council of Elders.
3. Voting privileges. Only members who are age eighteen or older shall be eligible to vote in congregational meetings or to hold any spiritual office of the church as defined by these bylaws (Article VI section 1). Members who move away but express the desire to identify with and support Stony Brook Community Church, and members who are commissioned by Stony Brook for extended ministry in other places shall be considered non-voting members. Non-voting members may be returned to the list of active voting members on their return to regular fellowship at Stony Brook and by the action of the Council of Elders. Only voting members will be counted in calculating a quorum.
Article V -- Church Covenant
Having repented of our sins and come to new life through faith in Jesus, and desiring to unite with the local manifestation of Christ's spiritual body known as Stony Brook Community Church, we rely on the Holy Spirit to help us as we strive together:
1. To grow in knowledge of God and obedience to His word -- seeking to become more humble in submission to Christ, to His commands, and to those He has placed in authority over us;
2. To grow in love for one another -- making every effort to meet together regularly for fellowship and worship, striving to be watchful of one another, especially of children and those in need, praying with and for one another, being thoughtful and courteous to one another, slow to take offense, quick to forgive and quick to seek forgiveness;
3. To grow in compassion for the lost -- endeavoring by example, by word and by prayer to bring others out of darkness and into His wonderful light, and contributing, as the Lord directs, to the financial support of God's work at Stony Brook, to the relief of the needy, and to the proclamation of the Gospel to all peoples.
Article VI -- Government
1. Offices. The spiritual offices of the church shall be the Elders, the Pastors and the Deacons. The temporal offices of the corporation shall be the President, the Treasurer and the Clerk.
2. Elders. The church shall be governed by a Council of Elders, normally consisting of not fewer than three and not more than five members of the church. The exact number of Elders shall be determined by the Council of Elders.
a. Qualifications. Elders shall be members of the church who meet all of the Biblical qualifications for the office (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:2,3), who accept responsibility for spiritual oversight of the church, who give evidence of whole-hearted agreement with the Statement of Faith and Church Covenant set forth in these bylaws, and who have been elected to the Council of Elders by the congregation.
b. Selection of Elders. The nominating committee shall convene at the request of the Council of Elders to select and examine candidates for Elder. The Nominating Committee, after the approval of at least three-fourths (3/4) of its members, may submit a candidate's name to the membership. The prospective Elder shall be called by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the voting members present in person or by written proxy at an annual or special meeting of the membership.
c. Term. A practical one-third (1/3) of the members of the Council of Elders, excluding the senior Pastor, shall be elected annually by the membership. The term of each elder shall expire at the annual meeting closest to the three-year anniversary of appointment. Elders may be re-elected for additional terms.
d. Discipline, removal and resignation. Accusations of sin against an Elder shall be brought to the Council of Elders in accordance with scriptural teaching, and an Elder judged guilty of such sin shall submit to such course of discipline as the Council of Elders may determine (I Timothy 5:19-20). After due process, an Elder may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the church membership present at a meeting called for that purpose. An elder may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation.
e. Duties. The Council of Elders shall have oversight of all aspects of the life of the church, including all its ministries and financial affairs (1 Tim 3:5; 1 Tim 5:7). In fulfillment of their responsibilities the Elders shall enlist the assistance of other godly leaders, but the Elders shall exercise direct responsibility for:
f. Moderator of the Council. The Elders shall appoint from among themselves a moderator, other than the senior Pastor, who shall convene and moderate meetings of the Council of Elders.
g. Elders employed by the Church shall not vote on matters related to their own position or salary, or on matters related to the position or salary of their supervisors.
h. The Elders shall appoint Deacons and other such officers and committees as they see fit to carry out ministries of the church and to advise and assist them in guiding the various ministries of the church. Deacons and all such committees and officers shall serve at the pleasure of and under the authority of the Council of Elders.
i. Directors. The Council of Elders shall serve as the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
3. Pastors.
i. Qualifications. The senior Pastor shall meet all of the qualifications for the office of elder and shall give evidence of whole-hearted agreement with the Statement of Faith and Church Covenant set forth in these bylaws.
ii. Selection. To select a Pastor the Council of Elders shall convene the Nominating Committee of the Church to act as Search Committee. The Nominating Committee, after the approval of at least three-fourths (3/4) of its members, may submit a candidate's name and the conditions of the Call to the membership at a special meeting to be held for that purpose. The prospective pastor shall be called for an indefinite term by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the voting members present at the meeting in person or by written proxy. Upon selection, the pastor shall be considered a full voting member of the Church.
iii. Duties. The senior Pastor shall serve on the Council of Elders for an indefinite term, shall be a full voting member of the Council except on matters related to his own position or his own salary, shall work to strengthen the leaders of the church and build the spiritual vision of the church, shall be accountable to the Council of Elders for all aspects of his ministry, and shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Council of Elders.
iv. Resignation and removal. The senior Pastor may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of such notice. After due process, the senior Pastor may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council of Elders and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the church membership present in person or by written proxy at a meeting called for that purpose.
b. Additional Pastors.
i. Call. Associate or assistant pastors may be appointed to assist the senior Pastor, and shall be called in the same manner as provided in section 3 a ii, except that the approval of the senior Pastor shall be required and the call may be for a specified term.
ii. Duties. Associate or assistant pastors shall be directly responsible to the Senior Pastor and shall perform all such duties as the senior Pastor may, with the consent of the Council of Elders, assign to them.
iii. Resignation and removal. Associate or assistant pastors may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation, and may be removed, after due process, by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council of Elders.
4. Deacons. The Council of Elders shall appoint Deacons from among the members of the church to serve the church by exercising all such responsibilities as the Council of Elders may assign to them.
a. Qualifications. Deacons shall meet the scriptural qualifications for the office (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Tim 3:8-16).
b. Duties. Deacons may be appointed to support or advise the Council of Elders in carrying out its duties, to supervise ministries of the church, or to perform particular tasks, but shall be without power to exercise any authority except as expressly granted by the Council of Elders.
c. Ministry Council. The Elders shall establish a Ministry Council made up of members who meet the qualifications of Deacon to advise and assist the Elders in guiding the various ministries of the church. The Elders may delegate to the Ministry Council any authority or responsibility not specifically reserved to the Elders in these bylaws.
d. Term. Deacons shall be appointed for terms dependent on the nature of service and the extent of need.
e. Resignation and Removal. Deacons may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation, and may be removed by the Council of Elders.
5. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall normally consist of not fewer than five members of the church, including at least one elder, its exact size being determined by the Council of Elders.
a. Qualifications. Members of the Nominating Committee shall meet the scriptural qualifications for the office of Deacon.
b. Selection and Term. Each year in advance of the annual meeting the Council of Elders shall invite members of the congregation to submit names of candidates for vacancies on the Nominating Committee or additions thereto. A list of candidates judged qualified by the Council of Elders shall be presented to the congregation for election at an annual or special meeting of the congregation. Each member of the nominating committee shall normally serve for a term of two years.
c. Duties. The Nominating Committee will convene at the request of the Council of Elders to select and examine candidates for Elder and for Pastor, and to present one candidate for each position being filled to the congregation for election. At the request of the Elders, the Nominating Committee may also assist in the selection and examination of Deacons.
d. Removal. Members of the Nominating Committee may be removed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council of Elders.
6. Offices of the Corporation.
a. The President, Treasurer and Clerk shall serve at the pleasure of the Council of Elders.
b. President. The President of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Council of Elders and shall normally be the Moderator of the Council of Elders.
c. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Council of Elders. The Treasurer shall have charge of the financial records of the church, and shall give bond if and when required and in such amount as the Council of Elders may determine, and shall receive and disburse the funds of the church under the direction of the Council of Elders, and shall be responsible for a quarterly reporting of the financial situation of the church to the Council of Elders and a yearly report to the congregation at the annual meeting. The Treasurer may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation.
d. Except as the Council of Elders may generally or in particular cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases, transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts and other obligations made, accepted or endorsed by the Church shall be signed by the President or by the Treasurer.
e. Clerk. The Clerk shall be appointed by the Council of Elders. The Clerk shall maintain a current list of the voting and non-voting members of the church, shall keep the history and records of the church, including membership records, minutes of meetings of the membership, records of official actions of the Council of Elders, and records of baptisms, and shall assume such other duties as the Council of Elders may determine. The Clerk may resign by written notice to the Council of Elders at least thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation.
Article VII -- Meetings
1. The annual meeting of the church shall normally be held in the month of September of each year, on such date and time as the Council of Elders may determine. The purpose of the meeting is to reaffirm the purpose and vision of the church, review the ministries of the church and the plans for the coming year, elect Elders, and elect members of the Nominating Committee. Notice of such meeting shall be given at least fourteen (14) days in advance by posting within the place of usual assembly of the congregation or by publication in the weekly church bulletin.
2. Special meetings of the church may be held at any time upon the call of the senior Pastor, majority of the Council of Elders, or by written petition of one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the church. Notice of such meeting shall be given at least fourteen (14) days in advance by posting within the place of usual assembly of the congregation or by publication in the weekly church bulletin.
3. One-third (1/3) of the voting members of the church as defined in Article IV section 3 shall constitute a quorum. Votes on appointment and removal of Elders, senior Pastor or members of the Nominating Committee shall be by secret ballot.
4. The Moderator of meetings of the membership shall be appointed by the Council of Elders and shall normally be the Moderator of the Council of Elders.
5. A majority of the Council of Elders, Nominating Committee or any other committee established by the Council of Elders shall constitute a quorum for transacting the business of each group.
Article VIII -- Endowments
The church is to be financially supported by the regular, current giving of its members. Consequently, the church will not accept endowment gifts or bequests (which restrict the spending of principal either permanently or temporarily) whereby the income may be used to support any operating or capital expenditure of the church.
Article IX -- Relationship with Other Groups
The Church may cooperate or affiliate itself with any organization while such organization continues to be in agreement with the Articles of Faith of the Church.
Article X -- Alteration, Amendment and Repeal
1. These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed upon the recommendation of a majority of the Council of Elders and by the affirmation of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present in person or by written proxy at any annual or special meeting of the corporation duly called for that purpose.
2. In the event that any section of these by-laws shall be declared unlawful or otherwise unenforceable, such declaration shall not affect any other provisions of this document.
Article XI -- Articles of Organization
The bylaws, the powers of the corporation and its Elders and members, and all matters concerning the conduct and regulation of the ministry and business of the corporation, shall be subject to the provisions set forth in the Articles of Organization. All references in these bylaws to the Articles of Organization shall be construed to mean the Articles of Organization of the corporation as from time to time amended or restated. The Articles of Organization are incorporated herein and can be amended only upon the recommendation of a majority of the Council of Elders and by the affirmation of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present in person or by written proxy at any annual or special meeting of the corporation duly called for that purpose.