Article I: Preamble
Section 1. Name: The name of this church is New Creation Presbyterian Church.
Section 2. Denominational Affiliation: New Creation Presbyterian Church is a particular church of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). New Creation Presbyterian Church belongs to the Missouri Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America.
Section 3. Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical Standards: The doctrinal and ecclesiastical standards of New Creation Presbyterian Church are the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms, and the Book of Church Order. All of these documents are subject to and subordinate to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. Together these documents make up the constitution of the Presbyterian Church of America.
Section 4. Relationship Between the Bylaws and the Book of Church Order (BCO): These Bylaws are intended only as a supplement to the Book of Church Order. If there is any conflict between these Bylaws and the Book of Church Order, the Book of Church Order shall govern.
Section 5. Vision: The vision of New Creation Presbyterian Church is to be a renewed community working with God to make all things new.
Section 6. Mission: The mission of New Creation Presbyterian Church is to work together with God to bring Justice, Beauty, and Truth to the world He loves.
Section 7. Abbreviation: The church name of “New Creation Presbyterian Church” shall be henceforth abbreviated “NCPC” in these bylaws.
Article II: Membership (Ref. BCO Chapter 6)
Section 1. Types: Membership consists of communing, non-communing, and associate members.
Section 2. Communing Members: Communing members are defined in BCO 6-2
Section 3. Non-communing Members: Non-communing Members, also referred to as Covenant Children are defined by BCO 6-1 and 57. Non-communing members may be removed from the rolls if they are not willing to make a profession of faith when they reach the age of 18 under the prayerful discretion and pastoral care of the session
Section 4. Associate Members: Associate members are defined in BCO 46-4
Section 5. Membership Neglect: Members who have willfully neglected the church for one year may be removed from the roles by the session after prayerful consideration and as per BCO 38-4.
Section 6. Positions of Responsibility:
Communing members who have demonstrated the appropriate gifts and abilities, and in consideration of their sharing of time, talents, and treasure may hold nonordained positions of teaching, administration, and ministry leadership within the particular church.
All formal teaching is under the authority and oversight of the session, including subject matter, materials, and teachers. Women may on certain occasions be placed in a teaching position in classes that contain men with the approval of the session.
Non-members may not hold positions of teaching, positions that involve the handling, receipt, expenditure, or decisions regarding church finances, or positions that have decision-making or policy-making responsibilities, unless they have been specifically approved by the Session for those positions and for a stated period of time. These shall be documented in the session meeting minutes.
Article III: Congregational Meetings (Ref BCO Chapter 25)
Section 1. Voting Membership: A congregation consists of all communing members of the church, and they only are entitled to vote. There shall be no proxy voting.
Section 2. Calling a Meeting: A congregational meeting shall be called 1)Whenever it shall seem in the best interests of the church by the session that a congregational meeting should be held to conduct business and receive or dispense information, or 2) when requested in writing by
1/4 of the communing members for a church with 100 or less such members, or
1/5 of the communing members for 101 to 300 such members.
The Session shall call a meeting by giving public notice of at least one week. No business shall be transacted at the meeting except what is stated in the notice.
Section 3. Quorum: The moderator shall ensure that a quorum exists prior to conducting any business. A quorum shall consist of
One-fourth (1/4) of the resident communing members if the church has less than 100 such members, or
One-sixth (1/6) of the resident communing members if a church has more than one hundred (100) such members.
Section 4. Moderator: The senior pastor shall be the moderator by virtue of his office. If it is impracticable or inexpedient for him to preside, the Session shall appoint another Session member to preside until the congregation elects a presiding officer.
Section 5. Clerk: The congregation shall elect a clerk to serve at a particular meeting or for a definite period. The clerk shall keep correct minutes in a permanent form after they are signed by the moderator and the clerk. The clerk shall also send a copy of the minutes to the Session. A Ruling Elder on the session may serve as clerk.
Section 6. Regular Meetings: The Session shall call at least one meeting each year in January or February to present the budget, ministry or church updates, and conduct any other needed business.
Section 7. Rules of Order: A congregational meeting shall be conducted according to the latest edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 8. Member Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of each individual member to act and speak as the Lord directs in church matters. It therefore behooves each member to be in a close and proper relationship with the Lord so the Holy Spirit may act through the member and the will of God may thereby be accomplished.
Section 9. Purposes for Congregational Meetings: A congregational meeting may be held to:
Call and remove the Pastor and Associate Pastors.
Elect Ruling Elders and Deacons.
Report on the purchase and sale of real property and assumption of loans.
Approve and amend the Bylaws.
Review, discuss, inform and act on other matters referred to the congregation by the Session.
Article IV: Election, Ordination and Installation of Ruling Elders and Deacons (Ref. BCO Chapter 24)
Section 1. Governing Rules: Denominational rules regarding the election, ordination and installation of ruling elders and deacons are set forth in BCO Chapter 24.
Section 2. Size and Rotation: The Session shall decide the number of members of the Session and Board of Deacons on an as needed basis. The offices of ruling elders and deacons is perpetual, and the term of office is indefinite. Sabbaticals may be granted to members of the Session and Board of Deacons by the Session when needed and or requested by the member. If a sabbatical is greater than one year, then the member must undergo the nomination and election procedures in order to resume their positions as Ruling Elders or Deacons.
Section 3. Procedure for Nominations: The congregation may submit to the Session names for consideration as church officer nominees. The Session may solicit nominations as deemed necessary to fill needed positions. The congregation shall be informed that all nominees must be male church members who are active in the church and that the nominees must be willing for their names to be submitted. Qualifications for church officers are set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1.
Section 4. Preparation and Training of Officer Candidates
Once nominated, the Session or a member of the Session will ask all nominees for church office if there is any reason they cannot or should not serve as an officer in the church, as this will be a time for full disclosure of any problem or issue that could harm the church body if it became known.
All nominees for church office shall complete a training course before election in which the constitution, doctrines, and government of the church, and the qualifications and duties of the church officers are discussed. Church officer training shall be under the supervision of the senior pastor and may involve other ordained church officers. This training requirement may not apply to previously ordained elders or deacons as determined by the Session.
During church officer training classes the Senior Pastor and/or Session shall explore the particular gifts of the candidate related to eldership vs. deaconship.
Following the training course and before election, each candidate will meet with the Session to show his understanding of the course material and to be evaluated by the Session for the particular office of elder or deacon.
The Session shall call a congregational meeting for the purpose of electing, by secret written ballot, the candidates recommended by the Session. This meeting shall take place at times that are deemed necessary by the Session. The Session shall make known to the congregation the names of all recommended candidates at least one month prior to the meeting.
Ruling elders and deacons shall be ordained and/or installed during a Sunday morning worship service as soon as feasible after election.
Article V: Pastors, Staff, and Contractors
Section 1. Pastor: The responsibilities of the Pastor are defined by the Book of Church Order. The Senior Pastor shall serve as moderator of both the Session and congregational meetings. He shall be an ex-officio member of all boards, ministry teams, and organizations connected with the church. The Pastor shall provide day-to-day leadership to the staff in accordance with applicable policies of the Session and Board of Deacons. The Pastor is not a member of the church but is a member directly of the Presbytery.
Section 2. Associate Pastor: An Associate Pastor, if there is one, shall be assigned specific ministry responsibilities by the Pastor and Session. In the temporary absence of the Pastor, the Associate Pastor shall perform all of the Pastor’s ministerial duties. When the church is without a pastor, the Session will normally request the Presbytery to appoint the Associate Pastor as moderator of the Session.
Section 3. Assistant Pastors and Other Staff:
As needs require, professional staff may be added as determined by the Session. Staff members may be paid employees or unpaid volunteers.
The additional professional staff may include Assistant Pastors, interns or lay people (members and non-members) as needs dictate.
Administrative staff shall perform clerical, custodial, financial and other support functions as the Session determines. Actual hiring may be delegated by the Session.
As needs may require, the Session may also hire non-staff personnel to perform custodial or other tasks as an independent contractor.
Section 4. Additional Requirements for All Pastors and Staff: All pastors and staff members, regardless of position, are called to serve others within the church. They must be ready, willing, and able to pray with and for others and contribute to the worship and spiritual work of the church. As such, each staff member is deemed a minister to the church body. Each employee must agree with and abide by the principles of Biblical marriage and sexuality under the oversight of the session. Violation of these requirements shall constitute cause for discipline up to and including employment termination.
Article VI: The Session (Ref BCO Chapter 12)
Section 1. Membership:
The Session is composed of the following voting members: Pastor (Teaching Elder), Associate Pastors (Teaching Elders), Ruling Elders who have been elected, ordained, and installed.
A Ruling Elder shall serve as Clerk of the Session. A different Ruling Elder may serve as the Clerk if the established Clerk is absent.
Section 2. Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the Session and the individual elders are defined in the Book of Church Order and below. They are charged with maintaining the spiritual life and government of the church and have the power to:
Inquire into the knowledge and Christian conduct of the members under their care.
Censure those found delinquent.
Receive members into communion of the church or remove them for just cause.
Examine, ordain, and install Elders and Deacons on their election.
Approve and adopt the budget of the church.
Establish as deemed appropriate all committees, ministry teams, and organizations connected with the church and provide oversight to them.
Exercise authority over worship, the preaching of the Word, and administration of the Sacraments.
Determine the best means for promoting the spiritual interests of the church.
Appoint godly men and women to assist in the work of the church
Hire professionals when deemed necessary.
Maintain open communication between the congregation and missionaries, especially encouraging prayer for the missionaries.
The elders currently active on the Session shall constitute the corporate officers of NCPC. The Clerk and/or the Moderator of the Session shall serve as signer(s) of any documents on behalf of the Corporation, including for loans encumbering church property.
Section 3. Session Meetings:
Meetings of the Session will be governed by the Book of Church Order with minutes and records maintained as prescribed.
The pastor is, by virtue of his office, the moderator of the Session. Exceptions are delineated in BCO 12-2, 12-3, and 12-4.
Assistant Pastors, although not members of the Session, may be invited to attend and participate in discussion without vote.
The Session may give permission for guests who are not members of the Session to be present at Session Meetings as needs require.
In a church with fewer than four Ruling Elders the pastor and one ruling elder shall constitute a quorum. A quorum greater but not less than this may be fixed by a majority vote of the Session members.
Section 4. Convening of Session Meetings: Session meetings will be convened:
On the average of once per month. These may be canceled, rescheduled, or added to based on current situations and needs of the church.
The minimum number of Session Meetings is quarterly.
When the pastor judges it is requisite.
When requested by any two of the ruling elders.
When there is no pastor, by two ruling elders.
When directed to do so by Presbytery.
Section 5. Records: The Session shall have the following records kept:
Minutes of its meetings, including a record of the administration of the sacraments and changes in church membership.
Minutes of the congregational meetings.
Rolls of the members of all types, with dates of reception or removal.
Resolutions and policies adopted by the Session.
Appropriate accounting records.
The bylaws with any amendments.
A manual of NCPC Standard Operating Procedures, Instructions, and Guidelines.
Minutes of committees/ministry teams and Board of Deacons.
Records required by the General Assembly and the Presbytery, including current copies of the Book of Church Order and Roberts’ Rules of Order.
Section 5. Church Budget: The Session shall approve and adopt the budget of the church. The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31. The Session shall present the approved budget to the congregation at a congregational meeting to be held in January or February of that budget year.
Section 6. Church Treasurer: The Church Treasurer, and any Assistant Treasurers deemed necessary, shall be appointed by and serve under the supervision of the Session. The Treasurer shall ensure that all disbursements are made properly and are accounted for accurately. The Treasurer shall prepare monthly financial statements for review by the Session.
Section 7. Ministry Teams: The Session may establish ministry teams to assist in carrying out the ministries of the church. Ministry teams shall operate under the authority and guidance of the Session. All ministry team members shall be approved by the Session. Ministry teams shall keep minutes of team meetings and shall submit them to the Session for review.
Article VII: The Board of Deacons (Ref BCO Chapter 9)
Section 1. Membership: The Board of Deacons consists of the body of deacons who have been elected, ordained, and installed. The Pastor and any Associate Pastor shall be advisory members of the Board.
Section 2. Duties of Deacons: In the discharge of their duties the Deacons are under the supervision and authority of the Session as defined in the Book of Church Order. The Board is charged with service to the physical and spiritual needs of the church and has power to:
Minister to those in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress.
Develop the grace of liberality in the members of the church.
Devise an effective method of collecting the gifts of the people and distributing those gifts. They shall maintain confidentiality as possible and desired in the receiving of gifts.
Care for the real and personal property of the church.
Keep in proper repair and cleanliness the church buildings and property.
Perform other responsibilities delegated by the Session.
Section 3. Deaconal Assistants: NCPC may have individuals to assist the deacons in their designated physical and spiritual duties.
The Board of Deacons may recommend to the Session godly men and women members of the congregation to be Diaconal Assistants
The Session may then approve and then appoint those recommended as Diaconal Assistants.
These men and women shall be openly appointed and recognized.
Diaconal Assistants are not officers of the church and, as such, are not subjects for ordination.
At its discretion the Deacon Board may include Deaconal Assistants in its meetings and communications for their input and to share information.
Section 4. Deacon’s Fund: The Deacon’s Fund, is a special account set aside for the purposes of financial aid to those in need. If monetary relief is considered to be appropriate, the following rules shall be followed:
The Deacon’s Fund is
Supported by the contributions of individuals.
Accounted for separately from all other funds utilized by the Deacons.
Under the oversite of Treasurer and Session.
The Board of Deacons shall have authority to dispense these funds at its discretion in consideration of the most appropriate way to show love to those in need.
The Deacons shall make a financial report of a general nature to the Session at least yearly concerning the Fund.
The Deacon’s board shall maintain a written policy regarding the use of the Deacon’s fund including determination of need, approval, amount of / form of relief, and distribution of relief.
Section 5. Meetings: The meetings of the Board of Deacons shall be held in accordance with the Book of Church Order.
The Board of Deacons shall meet separately at least once a quarter, and whenever requested by the Session.
The Board shall select a chairman and secretary to serve in accordance with the Board’s desire.
The Board shall determine the number necessary for a quorum.
Section 6. Use of Church Facilities: The Deacons shall respond to all requests for use of church facilities, according to the following guidelines:
The Deacon’s board shall maintain a written policy regarding the use of the facilities of NCPC.
All requests for use of facilities outside the ministries of NCPC must be approved by the Board of Deacons with notification of the Session.
The Deacons shall only approve requests for use of church facilities, whether indoor or outdoor, that comply with all doctrinal and ecclesiastical standards and other governing documents, including, but not limited to, those doctrines and standards articulated in Article I, Section 3 of these Bylaws, and these Bylaws.
The Deacon’s Board at its discretion may seek the advice or input of the session regarding particular requests for the use of NCPC facilities.
As an exception to the general policy, the Session may approve the use of areas within the facility – e.g. the narthex, fellowship hall, and/or classroom space (but not the sanctuary) for public purposes such as polling places for state or local elections.
Article VIII: Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws
Section 1. Adopting the Bylaws: These bylaws shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at a properly called congregational meeting. They shall take effect immediately upon adoption and copies will be made available to new members added to the congregation thereafter.
Section 2. Amendments to the Bylaws: Any change to the bylaws, however limited or extensive, is considered an "amendment".
The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a properly called meeting of the congregation.
Changes proposed by any member shall be submitted to the Session at least three weeks prior to the congregational meeting. The Session shall make public those proposed amendments at least two weeks before the meeting.
Section 3. Other NCPC Guiding Documents: All other policies, guidelines, or standard operating procedures regarding NCPC and its ministries are approved and adopted by the Session and do not require congregational approval.