KBC

Kerikeri Baptist Church Constitution

Constitution

(Amended 1 August 2021)

Original Constitution dated 12 October 1986

Amended by Members Meeting 26 September 1995

Amended by Annual General Meeting 15 October 1997

Amended by Members Meeting 10 May 1998

Amended by Members Meeting 28 March 1999

Amended by Annual General Meeting 16 October 2003

Amended by Annual General Meeting 9 March 2008

Amended by Annual General Meeting 1 March 2009

Amended by Special Meeting 18 August 2013

Amended by Special Meeting 3 November 2013

Amended at Annual General Meeting 22 June 2014

Amended by Special Meeting 20 September 2015

Amended by Special Meeting 1 August 2021

THE CHURCH

1. The name of the Church shall be the Kerikeri Baptist Church.

2. The Church membership shall be made up of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and have publicly proclaimed their faith by baptism (or as hereinafter provided) and who desire to commit themselves to this Body of God’s people.

3. Those who commit themselves to membership shall uphold the doctrines and be fully committed to the aims and functions of their Church.

4. Doctrine. Belief in -

(a) The Trinity as revealed in Scripture, one God who is three persons in one - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(b) The true humanity and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(d) The Bible as the inspired Word of God and the Church’s only authority in matters of faith, doctrine and practice.

(e) The death of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only atonement for sin and His physical resurrection from the dead, breaking the power of sin forever.

(f) The personal return of Jesus Christ to this world and the resurrection of the dead.

(g) Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone, made possible by the grace of God.

(h) The existence of satan - the evil one who is the enemy of Christ and His Church and is overcome only by the power of Christ

(i) Baptism by a believer and by immersion as the only Scriptural form of baptism and the command of Christ for all believers.

5. Aims and functions.

(a) To assemble regularly for prayer, instruction, praise, fellowship and the public worship of God. To proclaim the Gospel and to seek at all times to win souls for Christ.

(b) To inspire and maintain an active growth in the spiritual life of members and adherents and to build up believers in the Christian faith.

(d) To promote Christian fellowship and understanding among all members and adherents of the Church.

(e) To celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly, this being open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

(f) To practice and encourage believer’s baptism by immersion.

MEMBERSHIP

6. Membership may be granted to believers who have been baptised as believers, who profess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and whose lives evidence such spiritual experience, who are in agreement with the Constitution and who are willing to uphold membership commitment.

7. Application for membership, or the transfer from another Baptist Church, by a believer baptised by immersion, shall be made to a Pastor or Elder and subject to the approval of the Elders, reception into membership shall follow as soon as possible upon declaration of commitment to the Church. Any believer who desires to join the Church, but who has not been baptised by immersion as a believer, shall be asked to prayerfully consider the New Testament teaching regarding baptism, and any such who does not then conscientiously feel obliged to be baptised shall be received into membership, subject to the approval of the Elders, upon declaration of faith and commitment to the Church. Members who have not been so baptised shall not be eligible to the office of Pastor, Elder or Secretary.

8. All applicants approved by the Church or Elders, shall be admitted into membership and welcomed into the Church fellowship at a Church service.

9. The membership Roll shall be reviewed annually by the Eldership who shall, after consultation, where possible, with the persons concerned, transfer to the Supplementary Roll, any names that have ceased to show an interest in the affairs of the Church.

A report of such roll revision shall be made to the Annual Meeting.

LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH

Note: For election of Pastor, Elders and Deacons signed proxy votes can be cast in the manner outlined in Appendix “A” if a member is physically unable to attend.

The Pastor(s)

10. The Pastor(s) shall be entrusted with the oversight of the Church in co-operation with the Pastoral Team, Elders and Deacons. They shall be an ex officio member of all organisations and committees of the Church.

11. All pulpit arrangements shall be made by the Pastor(s) and Elders, in consultation.

12. When a vacancy occurs in the pastorate, a Pastoral Committee approved by the Church shall consider all names suggested to it and submit a nomination for consideration to the Church at a meeting especially called for that purpose, having notified the Church of the meeting at the service on the two Sundays preceding the meeting. The Terms of call shall be in line with the constitution.

13. No call to the pastorate shall be forwarded except on the vote of 75% of the members present at a meeting of which a quorum of 40% is required. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

14. A Pastor shall, where possible, give three months notice of his intention to terminate the position.

15. No resolution terminating the pastorate shall be carried unless passed by a 75% majority at a meeting called according to Clauses 12 and 13.

The Pastoral Team

16. The Church, with the agreement of the Pastor(s), may appoint additional pastoral assistants who will form the Pastoral Team under the leadership of the Pastor(s). Such appointments and terminations shall be made in accordance with Clauses 12 and 15.

Elders

17. The Elders, in co-operation with the Pastoral Team shall be responsible for the oversight and spiritual welfare of the Church.

18. The total number of elected elders shall not exceed five for the first sixty members and one for each additional twenty members or part thereof. They shall hold office for a term of three years and shall retire annually on rotation and shall be eligible for re-election.

19. Nominations for the position of elder shall be forwarded to the existing elders for prayerful consideration at least six weeks prior to voting. They will be chosen according to the qualities of an elder as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Once approved, their names shall be forwarded to the Church Secretary to post on the Church notice board not later than two Sundays prior to the election.

20. All nominations shall be voted on and shall require a majority of 75% to be elected. Where the number of nominees exceeds the number of positions to be filled, appointment shall be by ballot. A quorum of 40% is required. If Eldership falls below four, the remaining Elders may appoint a person to fill the vacancy until election of additional Elders are held. Notification will be made to members as soon as practicable.

21. The appointment of an Elder or a Deacon may be terminated by a 75% vote at a members meeting.

Deacons

22. The Deacons in co-operation with the Pastoral Team, and Elders shall be responsible for the administrative affairs of the Church.

23. The Deaconate shall consist of the Pastor(s), Treasurer and up to eight other Deacons, each of whom shall have a specific portfolio e.g. Secretary, which will be determined as the need arises. Deacons shall hold their office for two years and half their number shall retire annually in rotation and shall be eligible for re-election. The Deaconate shall meet regularly and 60% shall form a quorum. The Deacons and Elders will meet together at least three times a year.

24. Nominations for the office of Secretary, Treasurer and Deacons, which shall be signed by two Church members and the nominees, shall be in the hands of the Deacons who will post the names on the Church notice board not later than the Sunday prior to the election. They will be chosen according to the qualities of a deacon as found in 1 Timothy 3:8-12.

25. The Church Secretary, Treasurer and Deacons shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by secret ballot. Where the number of nominees exceeds the number of positions to be filled, appointments shall be determined by ballot. Each nominee shall require a 65% majority to be elected.

26. The Church Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all business meetings of the Church, taking charge of all records, keeping the Church Roll of members and in conjunction with the Pastor(s), compiling the annual report.

27. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the recording and disbursing of all Church monies in accordance with the resolutions of the Church and Deacons, keeping of all necessary books, presenting to the Annual Church Meeting a Statement of Accounts. The financial Accounts and Annual Performance Report of the Kerikeri Baptist Church are to be prepared by a suitably qualified independent person or organisation. This is to be presented to a church meeting within 5 months from the financial year end provided however the Elders or Deacons may at any time for any reason call for an audit of the accounts by an auditor.

28. The Church meeting, on a recommendation from the Deacons, may appoint additional administrative staff. If the meeting gives authority for appointment to proceed, details of the appointment shall be decided upon by the Deacons.

29. All people occupying positions referred to in Clauses 10, 16, 18 and 23 shall be Church members.

CHURCH MEETINGS

30. The Annual Meeting of the Church shall as far as possible be held in the months of May or June, the Church year having closed on the preceding 31 March. 30% of members shall form a quorum.

(a) Presentation of the Annual Reports and Statement of Accounts of the Church for the preceding year.

(b) Presentation of Reports and Financial Statements from all Church organisations.

(d) Any appointments considered necessary by the Deacons.

(e) A report from the Elders on roll revision

31. Notice of the Annual Meeting and every Church business meeting, and of the impending elections, shall be given at the Church services on the two Sundays immediately preceding the meeting. For the purpose of calculating a quorum, members overseas or hospitalized or not resident in the Bay of Islands area shall not be included.

32. Church meetings for the consideration of Church business shall be held twice a year in addition to the Annual General Meeting, but special meetings may be called by the Deacons as occasion requires. 25% of members shall form a quorum.

33. In the event of any vacancy in the Deacons, or in any appointment referred to in Clause 30(d) occurring during the year, the Deacons may appoint a person to fill the vacancy and report this to the following Church members meeting.

34. The Deacons shall, on receipt of a petition signed by at least 20% of the members of the Church, call a special meeting of the Church in accordance with Clause 33. In the event of the Deacons failing to call such a meeting within ten days of the receipt of such a petition, the petitioners may themselves convene a meeting of the Church by placing in a prominent place in the Church (at least two Sundays before the date of such meeting) a notice signed by them stating the time and place of the meeting, and the nature of the business to be transacted. A copy of the notice shall be handed to a Pastor and the Secretary before the morning service on which the notice is posted in the Church. Only business specified in the notice calling the meeting shall be transacted.

35. The Deacons shall appoint a chairman who shall be a member in good standing to preside at all meetings of the Church.

36. If the pastorate shall become vacant, the Church may appoint a Moderator who shall be a member in good standing of a Baptist Church. He shall have the right to act as a chairman of meetings of both the Elders and the Deacons and of Church meetings when filling of the vacant pastorate is under discussion.

37. At all Church meetings the chairman, if a member of the Church, shall have a deliberative vote, and in the case of an equality of votes, shall also have a casting vote.

38. Each Church member, when present at Church business meetings, shall have an equal voice in the discussion of business. Members under the age of eighteen shall not have voting rights.

39. Clauses 30 to 38 shall not apply to any resolution affecting the real property of the Church, in which case the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1932 apply.

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

40. In cases of difference between members, our Lord’s rule as set out in Matthew 18:15-17 shall be followed.

41. The Church shall have the power to suspend or expel any member for conduct inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture. Cases shall first be investigated by the Pastor(s) and Elders. If action is considered necessary, they shall then present their report and recommendations to the Elders Court and then to a Church meeting of which adequate notice shall be given to the person or persons affected.

ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

42.1 No alteration or addition shall be made to this Constitution unless adopted by a 65% majority of members present at a meeting of which a quorum of 40% is required, with one months notice having been given at a Church service, together with notice of the proposed addition or alteration.

42.2 Unless the church agrees to forgo its charitable status and income tax exemption, no alteration shall be made to the constitution that would in any way detract from the exclusively charitable nature of the church and in particular shall not alter the provisions of clauses 44 and 45 hereof.

DECLARATION OF TRUST

43. The landed property of the Kerikeri Baptist Church, including the sites of both Church buildings and manse, shall be vested in the Baptist Union of New Zealand as Trustee, which shall hold same for and on behalf of the aforesaid Church and shall deal with the property by consent and direction of the Church in accordance with the trusts declared in the Sixth Schedule to the Baptist Union Incorporation Act 1923.

NO PRIVATE PECUNIARY PROFIT FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL

44.1 No decision of the Church or its leadership shall be made which would allow a member or members to receive any private pecuniary profit provided that:-

(a) A member may receive reimbursement for all expenses properly incurred by that member in conjunction with the affairs of the Church;

(b) The Church may pay reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or employee of the Church in return for services actually rendered to the Church;

(c) Any member of the Church may be paid for all usual professional business or trade charges for services rendered, time expended and all acts done by that member of by any firm or entity of which that member is a partner, employee or associate, in connection with the affairs of the Church;

(d) Any member may retain any remuneration properly payable to the member by any company or undertaking with which the member may in any way be concerned or involved for which that member has acted in any capacity whatever notwithstanding that member’s connection with the company or undertaking is any way attributable to the member’s connection with the Church.

(e) Nothing shall prevent the Church from making payments to any individual (whether a member of the Church or not) in fulfilling any purposes expressed in clause 2 of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand’s Model Constitution.

44.2 Members or leaders of the Church, in determining all reimbursements, remuneration and charges payable in the terms of this clause, shall ensure that the restriction imposed by the following clauses are strictly observed.

44.3 Notwithstanding any thing contained or implied in this constitution no member of the Church or any person associated with a member shall participate in or materially influence any decision made by the Church in respect of payment to or on behalf of that member or associated person, of any income benefit or advantage whatsoever.

WINDING UP PROVISIONS

45. Subject to clauses 17, 18 and 19 of the Sixth Schedule to the Baptist Union Incorporation Act, if the members resolve at a properly constituted meeting of the Church adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present at such Church meeting that the Church should be wound up then the net proceeds arising form such winding up shall be applied with the prior approval of the Church members and the prior approval of the Baptist Union of New Zealand to such charitable purposes within New Zealand as the members may determine, or in default of such determination as may be determined by a Judge of High Court of New Zealand on application by the members, and such proceeds shall not be paid or distributed amongst the members of the Church.