CONSTITUTION of the Pittsylvania Baptist Association
ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this body shall be the Pittsylvania Baptist Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Association.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE The purpose of the Association is to honor Jesus Christ by providing training and resources to the church as we worship, evangelize, minister, disciple and fellowship.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1. The Association shall be composed of churches which follow the New Testament teaching of salvation by grace and believer’s baptism by immersion and who cooperate with the Association. “Cooperation” includes sending messenger(s) to the meetings, submitting an Annual Church Profile to the Clerk, and financially supporting the Ministry Action Budget.
SECTION 2. Churches which apply for admission to the Association shall have their applications reviewed by the Ministry Team and upon recommendation by that team may, upon affirmative vote by the Association, be admitted under watch care of the Association for a period of one year. During the watch care period the Ministry Team will work with the church to define its relation to the Association and to be of assistance in developing its work and mission if a newly established church. At the end of the year of watch care the Ministry Team will make such recommendations to the Association meeting in annual session as deem appropriate. The Association may receive into full membership the applying church only after at least one full year has elapsed following its application.
SECTION 3. The Association may withdraw fellowship from any member church who does not support the Associational programs and budget during the previous year. Any member church may withdraw its membership by written notification to the Association.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS & REPRESENTATION SECTION 1. MEETINGS The Association shall meet semi-annually. A spring meeting shall take place in April. The fall meeting shall take place on Tuesday after the third Sunday in October with afternoon and night sessions. The date of a meeting may be changed by the Executive Committee. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATION Each church shall be entitled to two messengers, and one additional messenger for every fifty members over one hundred. No church shall be entitled to more than ten messengers. Messengers and/or alternates elected by their respective churches and duly registered shall constitute the voting body of the Association. Churches under Watch Care may send non-voting messengers to Associational meetings.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS SECTION 1. The Officers of the Association shall be the Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Parliamentarian, Treasurer, Music Director, Clerk, and Associational Ministries Coordinator.
SECTION 2. The Associational Council shall be composed of the Officers of the Association and the Team Chairmen.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SECTION 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Association, Team Chairmen, and two representatives from each member church, one of whom may be Pastor.
SECTION 2. The Officers of the Association shall also be the officers of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 3. The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility of carrying on the purpose and work of the Association between meetings.
ARTICLE VII - MINISTRY TEAMS The following Teams shall be composed of members elected for three year terms, one third of members replaced each year: (1) Worship Team (composed of 6 members), (2) Evangelism Team (composed of 9 members), (3) Discipleship Team (composed of 9 members, (4) Ministry Team (composed of 12 members, three of whom will be from WMU leadership. The Campus Minister at Averett College and the Hargrave Military Academy Chaplain will be ex-officio members), (5) Support Team (composed of the following committees). (A) Properties (6 members) (B) Personnel (6 members) (C) Nominating (6 members) (D) Finance/Stewardship (6 members) (E) Historian and Association Historian
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS Amendments to the preceding articles of this Constitution may be acted upon during either of the Association’s spring or fall meetings provided that: (1) the proposed amendment has been presented to and reviewed by the Associational Council prior to its initial presentation to the Association; (2) the proposed amendment has been offered in writing and read at the previous semi-annual meeting of the Association; and (3) the amendment so presented shall receive not less than two-thirds majority approval of those messengers present and voting.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP A. Ninety days before an Associational meeting the petitioning church shall submit to the Ministry Team a letter of intention demonstrating its willingness to cooperate with the Association. Included shall be copies of its Articles of Faith, Constitution, and Covenant. B. After consultation with the petitioning church and review of the documents required by the previous section (1.A), the findings of the Ministry Team shall be reported to the Executive Committee prior to the Associational meeting. The Ministry Team shall report the church’s petition and make a recommendation to the Association for consideration. C. A two-thirds majority vote of messengers present and voting shall be necessary for approval.
ARTICLE II - NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, TERMS OF OFFICE
SECTION 1. Officers of the Association The Officers of the Association shall be elected at the Spring Meeting. They shall take office at the conclusion of the fall meeting and serve for a one year term. The Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Moderator.
SECTION 2. Associational Ministries Coordinator A. Upon recommendation of the Personnel Committee an Associational Ministries Coordinator shall be elected by the Association and serve until a successor is necessary. The Associational Ministries Coordinator’s duties will be defined by the Personnel Committee and approved by the Association at the time of election. B. In the event of the death, resignation, or disability of the Associational Ministries Coordinator the Executive Committee shall make provisions for the continuance of the work until the office is filled by election of the Association at a regular or called meeting.
SECTION 3. Committees A. The Moderator and the Associational Ministries Coordinator shall be ex-officio members of all committees without voting privileges. The Moderator shall vote only when a committee is deadlocked in a tie vote. B. The Nominating Committee shall nominate for approval by the Association one person for each vacancy that may occur. C. No person shall serve on more than one committee at a time. D. The specific duties of all officers, employees, and committees shall be defined in the Associational Handbook.
SECTION 4. Appointments Special Committees and/or other appointments for specific purposes may be made by the Moderator at the request of the Association or the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III - RESPONSIBILITIES
SECTION 1. Officers The responsibilities of the Officers of the Association shall be those usual to their respective offices, plus those assigned to them by the Constitution and Bylaws and/or the Association.
SECTION 2. Associational Council The Associational Council shall be composed of the Officers of the Association and the Team Chairmen. This Council shall coordinate the yearly Action Goals of the Association and plan the calendar. The Associational Ministries Coordinator shall chair the committee.
SECTION 3. Executive Committee A. The Executive Committee shall give a report of their meetings at the fall Associational meeting. B. The Executive Committee shall hold quarterly meetings. Other meetings may be called by the Moderator at the request of at least five committee members. C. Vacancies which may occur on the Executive Committee may be filled upon nomination by the member church and a majority vote of the committee. SECTION 4. Ministry Teams A. Worship Team....will facilitate corporate worship among the churches of the Association and strengthen the worship ministry of the individual church through annual meetings and conferences. B. Evangelism Team....plans and executes events that provide opportunities for sharing the Gospel. C. Discipleship Team....responsible for providing opportunities for training and consulting with churches on matters of Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Church Growth, and Vacation Bible School . D. Ministry Team....discovers and provides creative means of doing ministry through missions events, missions education, and pastoral care ministries. E. Support Team....provides the administrative infrastructure for the association. 1. Finance/Stewardship -- shall propose a yearly Ministry Action Budget and work with the Treasurer to administer the budget. The committee shall develop and coordinate a year-round stewardship program and recommend methods of financing the work of the Association. The committee shall secure a yearly audit of the Association’s financial records and report the findings during the Fall Associational Meeting. The committee will also be prepared to assist member churches with Stewardship programs. 2. Nominating -- shall nominate to the Association individuals to serve as officers and committee members. 3. Personnel -- shall make recommendations to the Association concerning the employment of all employees and propose a job description, salary, and employment agreement for each. The committee shall present or recommend future staff requests or needs to the Executive Committee and/or Association. 4. Properties -- shall be responsible for the maintenance and protection of all properties and the purchase of new equipment as approved by the Association and/or Executive Committee. F. The Woman’s Missionary Union Director shall serve as a member of the Associational Council and promote missionary education and involvement of women, girls, and children in missions, The WMU is an auxiliary to the Association.
ARTICLE IV - GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Parliamentary Authority In all points of order not already provided for in this Constitution and Bylaws, the Association shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
SECTION 2. Publishing of Constitution and Bylaws The Constitution and Bylaws of the Association shall be printed each year in the Annual and be available at all meetings.
SECTION 3. Non-Budgeted Expenditures Any action involving the obligation or the expenditure of funds not provided for in the Ministry Action Budget of the Association shall be referred to the Executive Committee for study and appropriation. SECTION 4. Amendments to the Bylaws Amendments to the preceding articles of the Bylaws may be acted upon during either of the Association’s spring or fall meetings provided that: (1) the proposed amendment has been presented to and reviewed by the Associational Council prior to its initial presentation to the Association; (2) the proposed amendment has been offered in writing and read at the previous semi-annual meeting of the Association; and (3) the amendment so presented shall receive not less than two-thirds majority approval of those messengers present and voting.
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