Rules, Policies & Procedures

 

RULES OF CHURCH ORDER
ARTICLE I

SECTION A - RECEPTION OF MEMBERS

Each person uniting with this congregation should understand such action as involving commitment to the congregation's covenant. This commitment entails serious intention to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, to be a direct participant in the public worship, service, and financial life of the church, and to do these things in such a manner as to strengthen the unity and usefulness of Christ's church.
1. Presentation for Membership
Individuals may present themselves for membership during services of public worship or in conference with a minister in the following ways:
a. By public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and asking to be baptized by immersion. However, an accommodation may be made for persons with medical conditions that would prohibit baptism by immersion. A request for such an accommodation shall be referred to the Diaconate for consideration and recommendation.
b. By promise of letter transferred from another Baptist church.
c. By statement of previous profession of faith and baptism in another Christian church and now requesting baptism by immersion in this church.
d. By affirmation of a previous profession of faith and a baptism that symbolized identification with the Christian Faith and the church as the body of Christ.
e. By requesting to be under the “Watchcare” of this church, while maintaining membership within another church.
2. Acceptance of New Members:
Candidates for membership shall be accepted by a majority vote or by the acclamation of members present at any regular church worship service or congregational meeting. Membership is official upon approval of the Membership Committee Report at a stated church conference.

SECTION B - RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

1. Members shall have the right to vote in church matters, as hereinafter provided, and to serve in any elected or appointed position with the church or as an elected representative of the church to other groups or associations with which the church may affiliate.
2. Persons under the “Watchcare” program of the church may neither vote in church matters, nor serve in the following capacities: deacons; voting member of any church committee or organization; or, elective representative of the church to other groups or associations with which the church may affiliate.
3. Members may present any matter of church business at a regularly scheduled conference. Action on such matters will not be taken up until the next subsequent stated church conference after due notice, as hereinafter provided, has been given to the church. The only exception shall be the calling of a special conference of the church by the Diaconate after due notice to the church.

SECTION C - TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Transfer of membership to another church will be granted to any member by sending a letter of transfer to the church in question.
2. A person's membership shall be terminated upon his or her written request.
3. A letter of commendation and dismission will be granted upon request to any member who desires to withdraw from membership in this church.
4. Such transfers and dismissions shall be reported to the church at the next church conference.
5. Upon recommendation of the Diaconate and approved at a stated or called conference of the church, the church shall have the authority to terminate a person’s membership.

ARTICLE II

SECTION A - THE STAFF

1. The Senior Minister
a. The Senior Minister shall be an ordained Baptist minister and, having been elected to the office of Senior Minister, shall become a member of the church.
b. The Senior Minister shall provide primary leadership to the church as it strives to achieve its vision of mission and ministry. He/she shall develop and maintain an organization that moves the church effectively toward meeting its objectives. He/she shall serve as moderator of church conferences and, when possible, be an ex-officio member of all committees elected by the church. He/she shall be a role model as a Christian human being and sustainer of church culture. The Senior Minister shall provide visionary leadership for the long-range planning process and serve in whatever ways he/she and the church mutually agree to be in the best interest of God's Kingdom.
c. The Senior Minister may be removed from his/her office on recommendation from the Personnel Committee, approval of the Diaconate and by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a Sunday morning service duly constituted as a conference of the church, after due notice of the purpose of such a conference has been given to the congregation and the Senior Minister.
d. The Senior Minister may resign from the church, giving thirty days' notice of his/her intention to relinquish the position of Senior Minister.
e. When a vacancy has been announced in the office of Senior Minister, a Senior Minister Search Committee shall be named.
1) The committee and its chair shall be nominated by the Officers of the Diaconate and recommended to the Diaconate. In addition, the Officers of the Diaconate may recommend the appointment of one member of the
Pastoral Staff as staff liaison to the Senior Minister Search Committee. The committee and its chair shall be composed of seven members elected by the church to be a group that reflects the life of the church. The members of the Senior Minister Search Committee shall serve until a Senior Minister is called or until relieved of their duties by the church.
2) Within the guidelines established by the Personnel Committee as approved by the Diaconate, the compensation and benefits of the Senior Minister shall be those agreed upon by the Senior Minister candidate and the Search Committee.
3) The Senior Minister Search Committee may recommend the name of a candidate for Senior Minister only with the consent of at least five of its seven members, and shall offer for consideration only one name at a time. The committee shall present the name of a candidate for Senior Minister to the Diaconate and with their recommendation to the church.
4) A called church conference shall be convened to vote on the joint recommendation of the Senior Minister Search Committee and the Diaconate, after due notice to the congregation has been given. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of those present and voting shall constitute a call to the candidate to serve for as long as he/she and the church mutually agree that his/her service as Senior Minister is in accord with the purpose of God and in the best interest of the church. If the church does not call the person recommended by the Search Committee, the committee shall be dissolved and a new committee constituted.
2. Pastoral Staff Ministers
a. Other ministers involved in all phases of the church's pastoral ministry may be called as needed to serve for an indefinite period. Such ministers may be called by the church upon the recommendation of the Senior Minister, the appropriate search committee, and the Personnel Committee. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members present and voting at a duly called conference of the church shall constitute a call.
b. Pastoral staff ministers shall be directly responsible to the Senior Minister who shall oversee their work. These ministers shall also be in close communication with church committees having responsibility for their particular areas of the church's ministry and shall be ex-officio members of those committees.
c. Duties, compensations, schedules, and vacations of these ministers shall be those agreed upon by them, the Senior Minister and the Personnel Committee, and as generally outlined in the job description provided by the church for each staff member.
d. Termination of service of these ministers shall be subject to the same procedures as those relating to the Senior Minister.
3. Program Ministers
a. These ministers may be called by the church upon recommendation of a Pastoral Staff Minister, assigned Search Committee and the Senior Minister with the approval of the Personnel Committee.
b. Program Ministers report directly to a Pastoral Minister. These ministers shall be in close communication with church committees having responsibility for particular areas of the church ministry and shall be ex-officio members of those committees.
c. Duties of these ministers shall be agreed upon by the Program Minister and the responsible Pastoral Minister, the Senior Minister and/or the Personnel Committee.
d. Program ministers may be terminated upon recommendation of the responsible Pastoral Minister and the Senior Minister and with the approval of the Personnel Committee.
4. Directors, Coordinators, Assistants, and Other Staff
a. These employees may be hired upon recommendation of a member of the Pastoral Staff and Senior Minister, with the approval of the Personnel Committee.
b. These employees report to the appropriate Program or Pastoral Staff Minister. These employees are managed under the guidelines and policies set forth in the First Baptist Church Personnel Policy Manual.
c. Duties and responsibilities of these employees shall be agreed upon by the employee, the responsible Program or Pastoral Minister, the Senior Minister and the Personnel Committee.
d. These employees may be terminated upon recommendation of a Pastoral Minister, the Senior Minister and the approval of the Personnel Committee.

SECTION B - LAY OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH

1. All elected lay officers and committees, except as herein otherwise provided, shall begin their terms of office on the first Sunday in January.
2. The Diaconate
a. Qualifications
Deacons shall be elected from members of the church as hereinafter provided, in view of I Timothy 3:8-13.
b. Election and term of service
1) Within the first quarter of the calendar year, or as soon thereafter as feasible, following two weeks' advance announcement, the church in morning worship shall have an at-large election to choose a Deacon Nominating Committee of nine members. The members of the Deacon Nominating Committee shall be announced to the church and shall be published in the News.
2) The Deacon Nominating Committee members shall be ineligible for nomination to the Diaconate. Further, a Deacon Nominating Committee member shall serve for one year and then be ineligible for service on this committee again for a period of two years. No two members of the same household may serve on the Deacon Nominating Committee.
3) The Deacon Nominating Committee shall invite all church members to suggest names to the committee for consideration as possible nominees to the Diaconate. After adequate time for study and receiving the consent of each nominee, it shall present for election by the church in morning worship on a Sunday a list of names equal to the number of vacancies to be filled on the Diaconate. On the Sunday of the election in morning worship, any member may place in nomination the names of members not included among the nominees of the Deacon Nominating Committee.
4) Twenty-eight deacons shall be elected annually on a Sunday in morning worship, except when resignations or deaths have reduced the total number of deacons to fewer than eighty-four, in which case a sufficient number shall be elected at the annual election of deacons to restore the number to eighty-four. The deacons shall determine which of those elected shall serve the unexpired term or terms by having them draw lots, omitting from the drawing any deacons having been elected to their first term. No two members of the same household may serve on the Diaconate at the same time.
5) Deacons shall serve for a term of three years each, except those assigned to fill an unexpired term. After serving the terms for which they are elected, all shall be ineligible for re-election until the expiration of two years, except those chosen by the deacons to fill unexpired terms of one or two years. Any of the latter will be eligible for immediate re-election.
6) Those elected to the Diaconate for the first time shall be ordained. The ordination of those previously ordained by this or another Baptist church shall be honored.
7) In the annual service of ordination and installation of deacons, special recognition as Senior Deacon shall be extended to those who have been elected as deacon for five or more times, of which at least four times were by this church. Having been so recognized or having previously been honored by the title of Senior Deacon shall not preclude these persons from consideration by the Deacon Nominating Committee.
c. Duties
Deacons serve the church as spiritual leaders whose stature in the church lends authority to their office. With the Senior Minister and other ministers they have particular responsibility for the life of the church, to safeguard its good name, care for its fellowship, and promote its welfare. The deacons do not act as a board of directors, or in the place of the church, but as a matter of practical necessity they oversee the work of the church, referring all matters of major concern to the church with their recommendations. The Diaconate may act on behalf of the church in emergencies providing the action of the Diaconate shall be ratified at the next church conference. The Chair has the authority to appoint task forces and ad hoc committees to further the business of the church and the Diaconate.
d. Meetings
Unless otherwise determined by the Diaconate, the regular meetings of the Diaconate shall be on the first Monday evening of each month. At other times the Chair or the Senior Minister may, after due notice, call a special meeting. A majority of the membership of the Diaconate must be present for business to be conducted.

e. Organization
The officers of the Diaconate shall consist of a Chair, a Chair-elect, a Secretary, and a Secretary-elect. The nomination of these officers shall be made at the November meeting of the Diaconate. The election of these officers shall be held at the first regular Monday evening meeting in December. The Committee on Committees shall submit a slate for these offices—one name for each position. At the November meeting, additional nominations may be made from the floor. If there is more than one nominee for any office, voting will be by written secret ballot for that office. Otherwise, voting may be done by voice or show of hands. A majority vote by the deacons who are present shall be necessary for election.
3. Church Clerk
a. The Church Clerk shall be elected annually at a stated church conference. A nomination by the Committee on Committees will be made at that time, and other nominations may be made from the floor. A favorable vote by two-thirds of the church members present and voting shall be necessary for election.
b. It shall be this person's duty to keep accurate, written records of all business conferences, to report these to the church when requested, and to see that permanent records are safely stored at the church.
4. Church Historian
a. The Church Historian shall be elected annually at a stated church conference. A nomination by the Committee on Committees will be made at that time, and other nominations may be made from the floor. A favorable vote by two-thirds of the church members present and voting shall be necessary for election.
b. This person shall assist the church in making and keeping accurate, comprehensive records of its current life and work; in gathering and
safeguarding all historical records of the church; in helping the church understand and learn from its own history; and in helping church members know and appreciate their larger heritage as Baptists.
5. Sunday school class officers, teachers, and leaders of the educational ministry shall be reported by the Christian Education Council to the church at a stated church conference.

ARTICLE III

SECTION A - COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS

1. Church committees shall be of three general types; standing committees, distinctive purpose committees, and organizations.
2. Standing committees are the committees that perform continuing functions in the life of the church.
3. Distinctive purpose committees are set up to perform temporary or ongoing services of special interest and need to the church.
4. Organizations are set up to perform functions in the life of the church that are the responsibilities of neither standing nor distinctive purpose committees.
5. Each committee and organization is responsible for developing and maintaining a policy manual or procedures as needed. These policies should be reviewed periodically to reflect committee practice. When considering policy revisions, the committee may invite the previous three chairs of the committee to be involved in discussions on the policy revisions.

SECTION B - COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES

1. The Committee on Committees and Chair shall be appointed by the Officers of the Diaconate from the current Diaconate. A group reflecting the life of the church and consisting of at least seven members will serve one year and meet regularly throughout the church year.
2. The duties shall be:
a. to recommend for election by the church at a stated church conference the members of the standing committees of the church, distinctive purpose committees, and organizations of the church as are hereinafter provided;
b. to fill vacancies that occur during the year on all committees and organizations for which it is responsible for nominating members; and
c. to recommend to the Diaconate the officers for the coming year.

SECTION C - STANDING COMMITTEES

1. General Provisions
a. Standing committees shall be such as the church, upon recommendation of the Committee on Committees and the Diaconate shall deem advisable.
b. Members of standing committees shall be elected for three years, their terms arranged so that one-third shall be replaced each year, the Committee on Committees designating each year the committee Chair.
c. After serving three years on any standing committee, no person will be eligible to serve again on the same committee until the expiration of one year.
d. Insofar as possible, no person should serve on more than one standing committee at a time.
e. Members of a standing committee shall be elected by the church at a stated conference upon recommendation by the Committee on Committees, and shall serve until their terms have expired or their successors have been elected.
f. Standing committees shall be limited in the expenditure of church funds to the amount designated in the church budget for their work. Any excess of this amount shall require approval of the Finance Committee.
g. All standing committees shall be composed of seven or more members.
h. The spouses of staff members may be elected to any committee listed below: Activities, Adult Education, Membership, Missions, Receptions, and Senior Adults.
i. No two members of the same household may serve on the same standing committee at the same time except the following: Activities, Membership, Receptions, and Senior Adults.
j. The officers of the Finance Committee, Personnel Committee, Property Committee and Stewardship Committee shall consist of a Chair and Chair-elect. The Chair-elect shall follow the Chair of these committees.
2. For its area of responsibility, each committee shall formulate and submit recommendations for the Mission and Ministry Plan for review and approval by the Finance Committee, Diaconate, and the church at large.
3. Activities—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Youth, Recreation Coordinator, and the Youth and Activities Assistant to organize and run church-wide activities for recreational and fellowship purposes.
4. Adult Education—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Christian Education in the planning, implementation and evaluation of church educational programs specifically related to adults. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
5. Affiliation—This committee shall monitor the activities and policies of the various organizations with which the church is or may become affiliated. It shall coordinate appropriate representation of the church to meetings of the affiliates. It shall coordinate with the Senior Minister to make recommendations to the Finance Committee concerning allocation of funds to these affiliates.
6. Children’s Ministries—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister to Children and the Minister of Christian Education to establish and carry out nurturing activities for school-age children in a Christian environment. These activities shall provide for the children's growth in a spiritual, social, experiential and educational setting. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
7. College Ministries—This committee shall plan, direct and implement church programs specifically related to college and graduate students under the direction of the Minister of Youth and Youth and Activities Assistant. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
8. Communications—This committee shall coordinate with the Director of Communications/Media Center to study the communication needs of the church, both internal and external, and to plan and implement programs and/or printed and electronic materials to meet these needs.
9. Finance—This committee has joint responsibility with the Minister of Administration for monitoring financial activities and internal controls of the church. Upon counsel with the staff and appropriate committees, the Finance Committee approves and presents the annual Mission and Ministry Plan to the Diaconate and the church for approval.
10. Kindergarten—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Christian Education, the Kindergarten Director and the Kindergarten Director of Operations to establish policies for the operation of the Kindergarten. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
11. Media Center—This committee shall partner with the Director of Communications/Media Center to establish policies, to develop programs, and to obtain volunteer staffing for the Media Center. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
12. Membership—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Christian Education to orient and assimilate new members into the life and work of the church.
13. Missions—This committee shall coordinate with the Missions Coordinator to provide leadership, foster communication, promote involvement, and educate church members in local, national and global missions. The committee shall have the responsibility for budget submittal and the expenditure authorization for all missions related finances.
14. Music and Worship—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Music and Worship to evaluate and give support to the music and worship ministry of the church.
15. Personnel—This committee shall coordinate with the Senior Minister and the Minister of Administration to develop and administer personnel policies and guidelines for all church personnel. These policies shall promote a positive employee relations climate that fosters a culture of personal growth and continuous performance improvement. It shall coordinate with appropriate staff personnel and search committees in the filling of staff vacancies.
16. Preschool Ministries—This committee shall coordinate with the Ministers of Preschoolers and the Minister of Christian Education to establish and implement church programs related to preschoolers. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
17. Property—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Administration and the Director of Facilities in the supervision of facilities and grounds maintenance and repair. The committee shall establish policies for the use of church facilities and vehicles.
18. Receptions—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Administration and the Director of Food Services to plan and conduct all church-wide receptions.
19. Scholarship—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Youth to establish policies for and promote congregational involvement in scholarship funding. It shall receive and act on all requests for scholarship assistance.
20. Senior Adults—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Pastoral Care and Community Relations to plan and implement special programs and events for senior adults and with the Recreation Coordinator for special activities for senior adults.
21. Single Adults—This committee shall develop, implement, oversee, and evaluate the ministry for and with Single Adults in consultation with the Minister to Single Adults and Youth. The committee is composed of no more than twelve members. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
22. Spiritual Formation—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Christian Education to lead the church in the enhancement of spiritual lives, both individually and as a congregation. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
23. Stewardship—This committee shall coordinate with the Senior Minister and Minister of Administration to develop overall member stewardship in church life and work and to coordinate the planning and implementation of the annual financial stewardship program.
24. Youth Ministries—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Youth and the Youth and Activities Assistant to plan and implement church programs specifically related to youth. The Chair serves on the Christian Education Council.
25. Other standing committees as deemed needed by the Committee on Committees and the Diaconate may be nominated by the Committee on Committees and recommended to the Diaconate and for election by the church.

SECTION D - DISTINCTIVE PURPOSE COMMITTEES

1. General Provisions
a. Distinctive purpose committees shall be such as the Diaconate shall deem advisable.
b. Distinctive purpose committees shall be limited in the expenditure of church funds to the amount designated in the church Mission and Ministry Plan for their work. Any excess of this amount shall require approval of the Finance Committee.
c. The size of each committee shall be determined by the Committee on Committees in consultation with the Chair of that committee.
2. Baptism—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Music and Worship in conducting the Ordinance of Baptism.
3. Communion—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Music and Worship in the preparation for the Ordinance of Communion.
4. Employee and Vocational Support—This committee’s mission is to offer support, guidance, counseling, and coaching for First Baptist members in career transition. The Minister of Pastoral Care and Community Relations is the staff liaison for the committee.
5. Face to Face—This committee provides a quiet space in the Chapel for personal reflection, prayer, and Holy Communion for church members and the community at large. This opportunity is offered weekly September through mid-May. The Minister of Music and Worship and the Minister of Christian Education are staff liaisons for the committee.
6. Flower Guild—This committee shall in coordination with the Minister of Music and Worship be responsible for the provision of flowers in the sanctuary each Sunday and at such other worship services as may be requested.
7. Food Service Volunteers—This committee assists with Wednesday night suppers. Duties consist of drink preparation, line service on the adult and Kids’ Corner lines, and cleaning the tables after the meal. The Minister of Administration is the staff liaison for the committee.
8. Grants Committee—This committee is available to assist staff members and other church committees in the preparation of grant applications to help meet funding needs for general program expansion and enhancement. The committee works with staff members to seek funds for additional materials, supplies, equipment, conferences, seminars, or professional development. The committee also researches non-government grant matches, communicates funding information to the staff, and maintains a list of proposals that have been funded and those that are under consideration.
9. Greeters—The purpose of this committee is to welcome worshipers and provide assistance as needed on Sunday mornings at the exterior doors. The Minister of Administration is the staff liaison for the committee.
10. Health Care Advocacy—This committee shall serve as a support for First Baptist members’ health and health education needs. The Minister of Pastoral Care and Community Relations is the staff liaison for the committee.
11. Information Technology Advisory—The purpose of the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC) is to provide support and consultation with the Media and Technology Director for the church's business technology needs.
12. Ministry to Families—This committee shall coordinate with the Ministers of Pastoral Care to provide care and assistance to shut-ins.
13. Monday Morning Prayer Group—This committee meets weekly to honor prayer requests for church members, community concerns, and personal needs. Ministers of Pastoral Care are staff liaisons for the committee.
14. Neighborhood Partnership—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Pastoral Care and Community Relations and the Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator to plan and implement ministry programs to the residents of an inner city neighborhood.
15. Sanctuary Guild—This committee in coordination with the Minister of Music and Worship weekly shall keep the Sanctuary and Chapel in order.
16. Security—This committee shall coordinate with the Director of Facilities to provide adult presence in the building during Sunday and Wednesday services and such other church services as needed and to assist with emergencies.
17. Technical Operations—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Music and Worship to provide for the operation and maintenance of the sound, telecast, broadcast lighting, and recording equipment and facilities.
18. Ushers—This committee shall in coordination with the Minister of Music and Worship enlist and train ushers to serve at all regularly and specially scheduled worship services.
19. Visitor Host—This committee provides information to visitors and assists them with finding a Sunday school class or other locations in the church. The Minister of Christian Education is the staff liaison for the committee.
20. Wedding—This committee shall coordinate with the Minister of Music and Worship to help plan and advise on weddings at the church.

SECTION E - ORGANIZATIONS

1. General Provisions
a. Organizations shall be such as the Diaconate shall deem advisable.
b. Organizations shall be limited in the expenditure of church funds to the amount designated in the church Mission and Ministry Plan for their work. Any excess of this amount shall require approval of the Finance Committee.
c. The size of each organization shall be determined by the Committee on Committees in consultation with the Chair of that committee, unless otherwise stated.
2. Christian Education Council—This council shall coordinate with the Minister of Christian Education to develop, implement and oversee the Christian education program of the church. Members are the chairs or representatives of the Children’s Ministries Committee, College Ministries Committee, Preschool Ministries Committee, Youth Ministries Committee, Media Center Committee, Adult Education Committee, Kindergarten, Single Adults Committee, Spiritual Formation Committee, and a Chair recommended by the Committee on Committees from the congregation at large.
3. The Long-range Planning Forum—The Long-range Planning Forum (LRPF) is an organization charged with understanding the hopes and dreams of the congregation. This organization serves in an advisory capacity to other committees and organizations to help identify and coordinate the future needs of the church. The LRPF is constituted of members of the congregation who are appointed by the Deacon Chair in consultation with the Senior Minister and the current LRPF Chair and Chair-elect. Staff liaisons are the Senior Minister and the Minister of Administration.
4. Remembrance Garden/Columbarium—The purpose of this organization is to provide oversight of the garden for the permanent interment of cremated remains and the memorialization of others interred or entombed at other locations. The organization is composed of members as determined by the Remembrance Garden Rules and Regulations with the Minister of Administration serving as an ex-officio member.
5. First Baptist Church Greenville, S.C. Foundation—The purpose of this organization is to manage a trust to carry out the purposes of First Baptist Church. Contributions shall be used to fund missions, property, leadership development and general ministries as determined by the appropriate designated committees. Trustees serve rotating terms; they are nominated by the Diaconate and elected by the congregation as provided in the trust agreement. The Chair of the Diaconate, Senior Minister and Minister of Administration shall serve as ex-officio members of the Foundation. The responsibilities of the trustees will be to provide for the management and oversight of the Foundation.

ARTICLE IV

SECTION A - STATED CHURCH CONFERENCES

1. Unless otherwise determined by the Diaconate—with two weeks' notice to the church in the News—stated church conferences will be held as needed to consider the business of the church.
2. Yearly reports will be made, and, unless otherwise designated above, lay officers and committee leadership of the church shall be elected and the Membership Report approved.
3. Fifty church members shall constitute a quorum for stated conferences. To make actions official, a majority vote of those present and voting shall constitute a decision, unless other majority fractions are prescribed in the Rules of Church Order.

SECTION B - CALLED CONFERENCES

1. The church may be convened into a called conference by the Diaconate after due notice has been given in at least one issue of the News preceding the date of the proposed conference.
2. The church shall be convened into a called conference pursuant to Article II, Section A.1.e. Senior Minister Search Committee.
3. At such called conferences, only matters pertaining to the subject of the called conference may be considered.
4. Fifty church members shall constitute a quorum for called conferences. A majority vote of those present and voting shall constitute a decision, unless other majority fractions are prescribed in the Rules of Church Order.

SECTION C - CALLED CONFERENCES FOR REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

1. A conference of the church to sell, lease or otherwise convey the real property constituting the church campus situated at Cleveland Street and Faris Road may be called by the Diaconate. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting at such conference shall constitute approval of such action. Due notice of such conference and its purpose must be given to the church as provided in Article IV, Section B - Called Conferences .
2. A conference to acquire, sell, lease or otherwise convey any real property of the church other than the church campus property may be called by the Diaconate. A majority vote of those present and voting at such conference shall constitute approval of such action. Due notice of such conference and its purpose must be given to the church as provided in Article IV, Section B - Called Conferences .
3. A conference is not required for gifts and conveyances of other real property to the church which may be received and subsequently conveyed in accordance with the policies of the Finance Committee.

SECTION D – PROCEDURES AND PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. The Senior Minister shall serve as Moderator of all conferences. In his absence, one of the other ministers or the Chair of the Diaconate shall serve.
2. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used as the official order of procedure for all church conferences.

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS AND REVIEWS

1. Amendments
These rules of order and procedures may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any stated conference of the church, provided:
a. that written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given at the previously stated conference;
b. that the proposed amendment shall both be announced in the News and be made available to church members no less than a week prior to the conference at which the proposed amendments are presented for first reading; and
c. that a report on proposed amendments shall have been given to the Diaconate for review before the first reading.
2. Reviews
The Rules of Church Order shall be reviewed at least every five years.

Revised May 16, 2007