Grace Reformed Baptist Church - GRBC Constitution and Bylaws

GRBC Constitution and Bylaws

Article I
Name

The name of this church is Grace Reformed Baptist Church.

Article II
Purpose

This church’s purpose is to glorify God by being “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). To this end, we commit to walk together so as to be and do everything Christ wills for a local church. We will defend the true faith, maintain God’s worship, proclaim God’s law and gospel, evangelize the lost, edify God’s people, and nurture fellowship with one another as members of Christ’s body.

Article III
Articles of Faith

The Bible is our only inerrant and infallible authority for determining questions of faith and practice. We regard, however, the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 as an excellent, though uninspired, summary of the chief doctrines of God’s Word. We adopt this Confession as expressing those things believed among us.

Article IV
Membership

A. Requirements for Membership

Any person exhibiting adult maturity¹ shall be eligible for membership who, in the judgment of the elders², has a credible profession of repentance toward God and faith in Christ³, manifests a life transformed by the power of Christ⁴, has been baptized as a believer⁵, expresses substantial agreement with the Confession and Constitution of this church⁶, intends to give wholehearted support to its ministry and submit to its government and discipline⁷, and is not under the biblically warranted corrective discipline of a church.⁸

¹Acts 5:14; 8:3,12
²Acts 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:5; 1 Pet. 5:1-2; Heb. 13:17
³Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:14; 8:12; 16:30-34; 20:21
⁴1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Thess. 1:2-10
⁵Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:41; 8:12; 16:30-34; 18:8
⁶1 Cor. 1:10; 14:40; Rom. 15:5-6; Eph. 4:3-6
⁷Acts 2:42; Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 1:10; 12:25-27; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 13:17
⁸Matt. 18:17-18; Rom. 16:17-19; 2 Thess. 3:6

B. Reception into Membership

A person desiring membership should request a membership interview with the elders. The purpose of this interview is to determine if the applicant meets the membership requirements as set out in Art. IV.A. If the applicant has been a member of another church, investigation may be made of their standing in that church and reason for leaving. If a former church raises an objection, the applicant may be denied membership. If the elders are satisfied that the applicant meets membership requirements, the church will receive the applicant into membership at the next scheduled celebration of the Lord’s Supper. At that time the applicant will be asked the following questions:

Do you acknowledge that you are a sinner, justly deserving God’s wrath, and without hope apart from his sovereign mercy?

Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the only Savior of sinners, and do you rest on his death and righteousness alone for your salvation?

Do you promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will live a life worthy of a follower of Christ?

Do you submit yourself to the Constitution of this church?

Do you promise to faithfully support this church in its worship and work and submit to its government to the best of your ability?

After the candidate has answered these questions in the affirmative, the applicant is a member.

C. Termination of Membership

1.Types of Termination

a. By Death. When a member dies, his name will be removed from membership.

b. By Transfer. When requested, the elders may give a member in good standing a letter of commendation to another church. No letter will be given to a member under corrective discipline. The elders also may refuse a letter of commendation to any church which in their judgment is disloyal to the Christian faith or does not take godly care of its members.

c. By Resignation. As a rule, members may resign from membership. Members should do so in an orderly way by first consulting with the elders. A resignation offered by a member guilty of sin which warrants corrective discipline is invalid, and the church shall proceed with appropriate disciplinary action. When the elders judge that the church has no further disciplinary business with the member, the resignation (if not withdrawn) will then be accepted.

d. By Dismission. If without good cause a member ceases to carry out the responsibilities of membership he may be dismissed. In such cases the elders will try to resolve the difficulty by counsel and admonition; however, if this fails, the elders may dismiss the person from membership.

e. By Excommunication. The church must remove from its membership anyone who teaches or insists on holding heretical doctrine, who impenitently conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with a Christian profession, or who persists in disturbing the unity, peace, or purity of the church. The procedure to be followed in such cases is set out in Article V.

Article V
Church Discipline

A. Corrective Discipline

1.General Statement

a. Corrective discipline may be necessary when a member is guilty of heretical doctrine or disorderly, immoral, or scandalous conduct. Whenever possible, before more drastic steps are taken, an effort will be made to resolve difficulty, correct error, and remove offense through counsel and admonition.³⁶ The principles found in Matt. 18:15-16, Rom. 16:17-20, 1 Cor. 5:1-13, 2 Thess. 3:6-15, 1 Tim. 5:19-20, and Tit. 3:10 must be carefully followed and appropriately applied to each case of corrective discipline. In some cases public reproof and admonition and public repentance may be warranted. In some cases excommunication (removal from membership) may be necessary. Members must submit to and enforce as appropriate the church’s decision in acts of corrective discipline.

³⁶Gal. 6:1

b. Since the church is a spiritual institution, the actions taken by the church in corrective discipline are also spiritual. They include (where appropriate) public reproof, social avoidance and withdrawal of distinctive Christian fellowship, suspension from the Lord’s Supper and other member privileges, and removal from membership. These actions are designed to promote repentance through a sense of sorrow and shame. The church has no right, however, to confiscate goods, revoke conjugal rights, or inflict corporal punishment of any kind. Nevertheless, a member guilty of criminal actions may be reported to the civil authorities and forfeits the right to pastoral confidentiality.

c. The goals of corrective discipline are always the glory of God, the welfare and purity of the church, and the restoration and spiritual growth of the offender.

2. Public Reproof and Suspension

Public reproof and suspension are means by which the church calls an impenitent member to repentance for sin too blatant to be dealt with in an exclusively private manner, or deals with serious sin even where there may have been hopeful signs of repentance. The elders may evoke public reproof whenever in their judgment misconduct, patterns of sin, or doctrinal error pose a significant threat to the holiness, unity, or testimony of the church, to the spiritual health of the offending member, or to the welfare of the member’s family. In all such cases, however, the offending person is still regarded as a Christian and member of the church. Therefore, in accord with the procedures outlined below for each major category of offense, at the elder’s meeting, the elders will recommend that the offending member be reproved and suspended, giving the grounds for this recommendation. This action must be announced to the congregation in order to maintain a climate of holiness and peace, the elders have the right, at their sole discretion, to impose a temporary suspension which will bar a member from not more than one Lord’s table while they deliberate the most prudent course of action. Those who humbly receive this discipline, confess their sin, and manifest a transformed life shall afterward be publicly commended for their godly repentance. If reproof is not heeded, further discipline may be imposed.³⁷

³⁷Gal. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Cor. 2:5-8; 7:7-11

A suspended member may not partake of the Lord’s Table, , or participate in ministries under the church’s oversight. In some cases, suspension may also result in the interruption of intimate fellowship with the members of the church.³⁸

³⁸2 Thess. 3:6-15

The major categories of sin warranting reproof and suspension are:

a. A stubborn private offender (Matt. 18:15-17). When a private offense remains unresolved even after the method prescribed in Matthew 18 has been followed, it is considered an aggravated offense. The brethren involved shall bring the matter to the elders. If they judge the matter to be serious and cannot persuade the offender to repent, the elders may publicly reprove and suspended the offender. If, after a period of suspension, he remains unrepentant, excommunication shall be enacted.

b. Holding to heretical doctrine (Tit. 3:10; cf., 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 2:17-18; 1 John 2:20-24). When a member comes to hold serious doctrinal error contrary to Scripture and our Confession of Faith, he may be reproved and suspended as an heretical man. Each member is responsible to preserve the unity of the church in her essential Christian doctrines; therefore no member should conceal heresy should it arise, but rather reprove it and disclose it to the elders.³⁹ The elders will confront and admonish the offender. If he persists in such heretical beliefs, the elders should publicly reprove and suspend the offender. If, after a period of suspension, the offender remains impenitent, excommunication shall be enacted.

³⁹1 Cor. 1:10-11

c. Divisive teachings or behavior (Rom. 16:17-20; Tit. 3:10). When a member propagates serious doctrinal error contrary to Scripture and our Confession of Faith, or tries to sow discord among the members, he may be reproved and suspended as a factious man. Each member is responsible to preserve the unity of the Spirit; therefore no member should conceal flagrantly divisive behavior, but rather reprove it and disclose it to the elders.⁴⁰ The elders will confront and admonish the offender. If he persists in such behavior, the elders shall publicly reprove and suspended the offender. If, after a period of suspension, the offender remains impenitent, excommunication shall be enacted.

⁴⁰1 Cor. 1:10-11

d. Disorderly behavior (2 Thess. 3:6-15; cf., 1 Thess. 5:14). When a member persists in conduct which flagrantly disregards the order which God has established for His creation, or for the home, church, workplace, or state-so that he behaves in an unruly way contrary to God’s appointment, he may be publicly reproved and suspended as a disorderly or unruly man. When the elders learn that a member is behaving disorderly, they will confront and admonish him. If the offender persists in this behavior, the elders shall publicly reprove and suspend the offender. If, after the period of suspension, the offender remains impenitent, excommunication shall be enacted.

e. Scandalous sin (1 Cor. 5:1-13). When a member sins (in such a way as may disgrace the name of Christ) in any of the things which God’s moral law commands or forbids, he may be publicly reproved and suspended. If he shows hopeful signs of repentance, including submission to the elders, it would be wrong to excommunicate him, but it may still be prudent to publicly reprove and suspend him for a time so that he may clearly manifest repentance, so that reproach not be brought on the name of Christ and the testimony of the church, so that others may not be emboldened to sin, and so that the offender not fail to test his own soul and realize the gravity of his offense. If fruits worthy of repentance are not forthcoming, the elders later shall excommunicate the offender according.

f. Contempt of church discipline. If a member is suspected of sin warranting corrective discipline, yet to avoid discipline absents himself from the church’s meetings, or refuses to meet with the elders so that the matter may be investigated, the member may be publicly reproved and suspended. The elders later may excommunicate the offender.

g. Failure to fulfill the responsibilities of membership may lead to temporary suspension prior to dismissal.

3. Excommunication

a. Excommunication involves removing a person from membership in the church and denying to them the privileges of membership. It requires the withdrawal of distinctively Christian fellowship and the practice of social avoidance. Excommunication does not exempt family members from carrying out their biblical duties to the excommunicated person, nor does it preclude continued attendance at the church’s meetings for worship.

b. Some sins (ethical or doctrinal) are so heinous that the offender may be immediately excommunicated. This measure is to be used when both aggravated lawlessness is discovered and there is no hopeful sign of repentance. This measure is designed to cure the offender of his lethal attachment to his sin and to promote his sincere and enduring repentance. The elders, therefore, having made an unsuccessful effort to bring the offender to repentance, shall excommunicate the offender.

c. Suspended members shall be excommunicated if they remain impenitent.

d. All acts of excommunication must be executed by a majority of the elders. To be valid, an act of excommunication must be approved by two thirds of the elders.

B. Protective Discipline

While the church has no authority to exercise discipline over non-members, it does have the right and responsibility to protect its members from those who would disrupt its peace or the purity of its life and doctrine. When such persons trouble the church, the elders shall name them, identify their errors, and warn the members not to associate with them.⁴¹

⁴¹2 Tim. 1:15; 4:14-15; Tit. 1:10-16

C. Restoration

Since one purpose of church discipline is to restore a fallen member, the elders shall forgive and restore to full membership a suspended or excommunicated member who gives satisfactory evidence of his repentance.⁴²

⁴²2 Cor. 2:1-11

Article VI
The Lord’s Supper

In order to maintain the purity of this ordinance, the policy of this church is that only believers who are members in good standing of a true church (i.e., a church holding to the basic tenets of evangelical Christianity) are permitted to partake of the elements of the Lord’s Supper. If a visitor wishes to partake of more than one Lord’s Supper, he must consult with the elders.

Church membership is a duty of every Christian (except in extraordinary cases). The New Testament does not envision Christ’s disciples living in any other way than joined together in local congregations, in which they are formally committed to the body and under the oversight of its elders. Christians who are able to be members of a true church, but who will not do so, are walking in a disorderly way and are not eligible to partake of the Lord’s Table. In this policy we have the same standard as for our members, should they walk in a disorderly way (cf., Article V.A.2.c).

Article VII
Officers

A. General Statement

Christ alone is head of His church; yet He has ordained that His church be governed through officers whom He appoints, and to whom He gives gifts and graces for their work. There are two kinds of church officers – elders and deacons. The church’s duty is to seek to discover those to whom Christ has imparted the graces and gifts necessary for office. After formally recognizing them by the method described in Art. VII.E., the church is to set them apart publicly, then submit to their authority and support their ministries.

B. General Prerequisites

1. All officers of this church must be males, members of Grace Reformed Baptist Church, meet the scriptural qualifications for their office, and be able to fulfill their official duties.⁴³

⁴³1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9; Acts 6:3

2. Any man set apart to church office must agree with our Confession of Faith and this Constitution. If he holds views differing from these documents at any point, he must reveal this to the elders prior to his installation in office. The elders will determine if any of these points of difference are substantial enough to disqualify the candidate from church office. If a church officer changes his views on matters addressed in our Confession of Faith or this Constitution, he must in an orderly way make this known to the elders immediately.

3. We acknowledge the gifts that God has given women and the valuable service that they give to the church. We recognize their valid role in the formal instruction of children and other women, in the informal instruction of men, and in service to the church. Nevertheless, the Bible prohibits women from holding the office of deacon or elder, and from teaching or having authority over a man in any formal meeting of the church.⁴⁴

⁴⁴1 Tim. 2:12

C. Elders

1. Those whom Christ calls to rule in the church are called elders, pastors, or overseers (interchangeable names designating the same office).

2. The authority of elders is a divinely ordained and delegated authority which nevertheless has important limitations.⁴⁵

⁴⁵Heb. 13:17

a. The Scriptures are the infallible and unchanging rule of the church’s faith and practice, to which elders are bound in discharging their office. Insofar as the elders’ instruction accords with the Scriptures, that instruction has the authority of Christ himself. When the Bible gives clear direction to the church on any issue, its teaching is always to be obeyed. Moreover, when elders require obedience to their directives and decisions, they must seek to gain the consciences of God’s people through the ministry of the Word. In some cases, when no clear regulative word is given in Scripture, elders must exercise their authority subject to the regulative principles of Scripture and to the light of nature and Christian prudence.

b. The elders’ authority is limited to the sphere of the church. They may not usurp the lawful authority of others (e.g., husbands, parents, civil rulers, employers), impose corrective actions beyond those of biblical church discipline, or command God’s people in matters not specified in Scripture.

c. Elders are authorized and responsible to give comprehensive oversight to the church, including preaching and teaching the whole counsel of God, watching for the welfare of the members’ souls, and directing the church in all its tasks. Elders, however, must exercise their authority with sensitivity to God’s people and as servants and examples to them.

d. While elders are shepherds over the flock, they are also members of the flock and are entitled to the same privileges, have the same duties, and are subject to the same discipline as other members.

e. The authority of every elder is the same, so that every elder has equal rule in the church. Though elders will possess differing gifts and perform differing functions in the church, this diversity of gift and function does not negate real parity among them.

3. Though a plurality of elders is the biblical norm, the Bible does not specify the number of elders each church shall have, nor dictate the length of an elder’s term of office. Elders may continue in office as long as they are biblically qualified and able to fulfill their duties.

4. Under ordinary circumstances, elders will keep in strict confidence matters revealed to them in the course of counseling. If, however, a member confesses sin which warrants church discipline, the elders (in order to discharge their duty to Christ and the church) may divulge the matter to the church. Likewise, if a member confesses sin which involves violation of criminal law, the elders may report the violation to the civil authorities. Under the terms of this paragraph, members must not expect absolute confidentiality in such cases.

D. Deacons

Christ has established the office of deacon as an aid to God’s people in general and to the elders in particular. The office of deacon is a serving rather than ruling office.

The duty of deacons is to administer the church’s business affairs and benevolent concerns so that the elders may devote themselves without distraction to the biblical priorities of their office. Deacons must fulfill their duties in cooperation with and under the oversight of the elders.

The Bible does not specify the number of deacons each church shall have, nor dictate the length of a deacon’s term of office. Deacons may continue in office as long as they are biblically qualified and able to fulfill their duties, and as long as they retain the congregation’s confidence as expressed in the procedure for the review of officers (Art. VII.F.).

E. Appointment of Officers

1.General Statement

The appointment of officers is the prerogative of Christ alone; however, He has ordained that the church be active in recognizing those whom He is appointing. The Lord’s appointment of a man to church office is recognized by his possessing the graces and gifts required by Scripture and by his and the church’s conviction that the Lord is calling him to minister in that office. The proper recognition of officers is of such importance that it should be done only after prayerful waiting on God and a frank evaluation of the qualifications and aspirations of those being considered. Each member has a duty to participate in this process.

2. Procedure of Appointment

a. Nominations to office may be made by either the elders or the church. Elder candidates must go through elder training. After completion of this training the men will be voted on by the church. Each candidate must give their testimony, a short statement of beliefs, and an explanation of any exceptions to the 1689 London Baptist Confession. A vote will be conducted and a man must receive a three-fourths majority to be placed into office.

b. Any meeting for the election of officers must be announced on four Lord’s Days prior to its being held. At this meeting, a unanimous vote is desirable; however, if unanimity is not realized, no less than three-fourths of the ballots cast is required for election.

c. Officers will be installed by the laying on of the hands of the elders at a regular worship service.

F. Review of Officers

1. The church shall reconfirm (or withdraw) its confidence in the biblical qualifications of each officer four years after his ordination and every fourth year thereafter. Ordinarily this will take place at the annual church business meeting. Circumstances may require that an officer be reviewed before the scheduled time. A review meeting may be called by a majority of the elders (or by a majority of the other elders in the case of an elder).

2. The purpose for the review of officers is to gauge the church’s continuing support for her officers and to encourage those officers who have continued in the faithful discharge of their responsibilities.

3. Any meeting for the review of officers must be announced on four Lord’s Days prior to its being held. At this meeting, a unanimous vote is desirable; however, if unanimity is not realized, no less than three-fourths of the ballots cast is required for election.

At least four weeks prior to a review meeting, the elders will remind the congregation of the scriptural qualifications for church office.

4. An officer may resign his office without prejudice if he does so in an orderly way and for valid reasons. This resignation, together with its reasons and proposed effective date, must be submitted in writing to the elders.

G. Financial Support of Elders

1.Though all elders are equal in authority, not all possess gifts warranting financial support by the church. Special ability in ruling and especially in public teaching are gifts worthy of financial support.

2. The elders may determine that an existing elder or nominee be supported. An elders’ meeting, will be held to discuss and vote on this recommendation. During this meeting, special attention will be given to the relevant teaching of Scripture.⁴⁷ A unanimous vote is desirable; however, if unanimity is not realized, no less than three-fourths of the ballots cast is required.

⁴⁷Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 Cor. 9:1-18

If this meeting coincides with an elder’s confirmation or reconfirmation to office, the procedures set for due process in such cases will take precedent over the procedure set out in this paragraph.

3. The financial support of an elder may be subject to review. Review is warranted when an elder is no longer able to carry out those duties for which he is being supported, when the church no longer needs his services, or when the church is no longer able to support him. In such cases, the elders and deacons shall constitute a board of review and withdraw that support. In such cases, a unanimous vote is desirable; however, if unanimity is not realized, no less than three-fourths of the ballots cast is required.

The ending of financial support does not constitute a removal from office. An elder’s continuing qualification for office is subject to review as a separate matter.