Revised: 01-21–2020
BYLAWS
of
Newbridge Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance
I. Name
Newbridge Church
II. Relationships
A. This church is connected with and subordinate to its parent religious organization, The Christian and Missionary Alliance, a Colorado nonprofit corporation. In consideration of the mutual benefits generated and derived from this relationship, this church agrees to be subject to and abide by the terms and conditions of Article XV of the Uniform Constitution of Churches of the Christian Missionary Alliance hereof relating to the reversion of property of accredited churches.
B. LAY DELEGATE(S) TO GENERAL COUNCIL. Pursuant to Article VI Section 6.2, paragraph a, Bylaws of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, lay delegates to General Council shall be appointed for each General Council by the governance authority. The delegate(s) shall be certified by the senior pastor and reported to the proper authority upon request.
C. LAY DELEGATE(S) TO DISTRICT CONFERENCE. Pursuant to Article II, Section 1, paragraph a, Uniform Constitution for Districts of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, lay delegates to District Conference shall be appointed for each District Conference by the governance authority. The delegate(s) shall be certified by the senior pastor and reported to the proper authority upon request
III. Purpose
The purpose of this congregation shall be to cooperate with The Christian and Missionary Alliance, as incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, in promulgation of its purposes, as laid down in the Manual of the C&MA.
IV. Membership
The active membership shall consist of those persons who subscribe and conform to the qualifications for membership, as stated in the Alliance Constitution for Churches; and who are duly received into the membership.
A. Application
Persons age eighteen (18) and above desiring to unite with this church shall make application to the Committee on Membership by completing the membership application/declaration.
B. Qualifications for membership shall consist of:
1. Confession of faith in Jesus Christ and evidence of regeneration.
2. Belief in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; in the verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures as originally given; in the vicarious atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the eternal salvation of all who believe in Him and eternal punishment of all who reject Him.
3. Acceptance of the doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King.
4. Full sympathy with the principles and objectives of The Christian and Missionary Alliance and cooperation by systematic support of its work.
5. Such other qualifications for membership as may be stated in the bylaws.
C. Reception
Upon due examination and approval by the Committee on Membership, the candidate shall be received into membership. Those bringing letters from other churches, including the C&MA, shall be examined and received into membership in the usual manner.
D. Junior Members
Young people having reached the age of twelve years may be received as junior members upon due examination. However, they are not granted the privileges of voting members until the age of eighteen (18), at which age and upon the review of the membership committee they would become members.
E. Associate Members
Persons who anticipate living in the community on a temporary basis (12 months or more), and who hold membership in another evangelical church, may join as Associate Members. The procedure will be the same as regular membership. Associate Members have all rights and privileges except voting.
F. Removal from Active Membership
Members in good and regular standing may be granted letters of recommendation to other evangelical churches. Any member ceasing to be active for a period of twelve months may be placed on an inactive list. Membership committee will review active membership annually.
G. Membership with Newbridge Church is required for all elected or staff positions in the church.
V. Discipline
When a member ceases to believe and defend the doctrines of the Bible as set forth in the Statement of Faith of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, or his conduct is unbecoming a Christian, he shall be disciplined according to Scripture, with the intent of helping to restore that individual’s proper relationship to God and the Church Body (Matthew 18:15- 17; I Corinthians 5:12-13; II Corinthians 13:1; Galatians 6:1ff; II Thessalonians 3:6-15; I Timothy 5:20). The process of handling of discipline is outlined in section E-8 of the policy and procedure manual of the C&MA
VI. Governing Board
A. Executive Power
The executive power shall be vested in the Governing Board. It shall have the right and responsibility to fill any vacancy in any department between annual meetings, and any office not otherwise stated in these Bylaws.
B. Eligibility
To be eligible for membership on the Governing Board, active membership in this congregation is required. The member must also be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
C. Quorum
A quorum of the Governing Board, consisting of a majority of its members, including the Pastor/or Chairman, is required in order to transact business.
D. Members
The Governing Board shall consist of the following officers:
Lead Pastor
Recording Secretary Treasurer
All other elected persons
E. Single Board System with a Majority of Elders
1. NAME. The governance authority of the Newbridge church shall be known as the Governing Board and shall serve as the trustees of the corporation in matters before the state of New Jersey.
2. NUMBER. The number serving as the Governing Board shall be a minimum of five, including the lead pastor.
3. COMPOSITION. The Governing Board shall consist of the officers mentioned in section VI, paragraph D. A majority of elders on the board is to be maintained.
4. QUALIFICATIONS. The qualifications for elders are set out in I Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9. Other members of the governance authority are expected to maintain a lifestyle in keeping with the spirit and intent of these same references. Further, each must be an active member of this church.
5. DUTIES. The duties of leaders are set forth in the Constitution, these bylaws, and position descriptions adopted by the Governing Board.
6. TERM. All officers and elders are to be elected at the annual meeting.
F. Trustees
The legal trustees of this church will be the Governing Board.
VII. Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall consist of the senior pastor, and two lay members. Two members shall be elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall make its report known to the congregation at least seven days prior to the Annual Meeting by publishing and posting a written report.
VIII. Annual Meeting
A. The annual meeting
The annual meeting of the congregation shall take place before the end of March. A notice of the meeting must be posted at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting.
The presence of 25 percent of the active voting membership shall constitute a quorum.
B. Special Congregational Meetings
A special congregational meeting may be called at any time by the Lead Pastor or the Governing Board.
Notice must be given two Sundays preceding the meeting.
IX. Elders
Elders shall consist of men who qualify according to Scriptural standards. They are to be elected for a term of two years at the annual meeting. The Lead Pastor of the Church may serve as Chairman. The elders are the highest level of servant leadership in the church. They shall serve with the Lead Pastor to oversee both the temporal and spiritual affairs of the church.
X. Elections
A. Those to be elected
Those to be elected at the annual congregational meeting shall be: Elders, Recording Secretary and Treasurer.
B. Nominations from membership
Any active member of Newbridge Church may nominate any person who is also an active member of Newbridge Church for an elected position according to the following:
1. The member wishing to place someone in nomination must contact and obtain permission from the person to be nominated and receive assurance that the person will allow his/her name to be considered.
The member wishing to place the name in nomination will then submit the name to the Nominating Committee, in writing, at least one month before the annual meeting.
The Nominating Committee will satisfy itself that the person to be nominated meets the criteria of the Constitution and Bylaws for holding elected office.
The Nominating Committee may consider the person to be nominated as their nominee if so desired. The Nominating Committee may also elect NOT to consider the person as their nominee.
Once the Nominating Committee has completed its work and rendered its report, an official ballot will be prepared for use at the annual meeting. The Official Ballot will contain the names as presented for each position. There will be no nominations received from the floor during the election process.
C. Plurality
Where required, the election shall be based on the rule of plurality.
D. Conflict of Interest
In order to avoid a conflict of interest, members of elected boards shall recuse themselves from any decisions directly related to family members.
XI. Financial Audit
The Governing Board shall make provision for the internal audit of the church books, to be completed by April 30 of the calendar year.
XI. Amendments
The Bylaws of this church may be amended at any regular or specially-called business meeting by a two-thirds vote of the active voting members present, of which there must be a quorum of 25 percent. Such meetings shall have been announced on two weeks previously, and copies of proposed amendments made available to the membership.