The following bylaws are being proposed as a help and guide for the Hopewell congregation. We serve a God who desires all things to be done "well and in good order" (1 Cor. 13:40). These bylaws, we pray, will help to serve that good order and promote the peace, purity, and unity of the church.
Hopewell Church
Ashland, OH
Bylaws
In the name of God, the Father, Son and Spirit, Amen.
I. Name
The name by which this organization shall be known in law shall be “Hopewell Church.”
II. Constitution
The constitution of Hopewell Church is primarily the inspired Word of God, which is contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible, along with the subsidiary doctrinal statements of the Westminster Standards and London Baptist Confession of 1689. We receive these bylaws and recognize them to be a tertiary document, subordinate to the constitution, to aid and assist the operations of Hopewell Church.
Freedom of conscience in the area of baptism (adult-believer or paedo-baptism) is guaranteed to the members and officers of the church.
While we adopt the Westminster Standards & 1689 London Confession as authoritative doctrinal statements and receive these bylaws as a guide for our church operations, these documents do not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. We believe that the Bible itself, being the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind.
For purposes of Hopewell Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline our board of elders with the help of the Holy Spirit serve as the interpretive authorities on the Bible’s meaning and application.
III. Membership
The membership shall consist of all communicant, non-communicant members, and associate members, all of whom have the privilege of pastoral oversight, instruction, and government by the church. Communicant members are those who have been baptized, have made a credible profession of faith in Christ, and have been received into membership by the board of elders. Non-communicant members are the children of communicant members. Associate members are those believers temporarily residing in a location other than their permanent homes. Such believers may become associate members without ceasing to be members of their home churches.
A person may be received into membership at Hopewell by the approval of the board of elders. In order to be received as members applicants must first become acquainted with the church’s vision, philosophy, and doctrines, and give public assent to the membership vows.
All communicant members in good standing have the right of voice and vote when in attendance at congregational meetings.
Members may be removed from membership by order of the elders when a member removes himself to another church or for disciplinary purposes. The latter must be done with all humility and godly discretion, and in conformity to the good order laid down by God in Holy Scripture.
Members have the right of objection and have the solemn duty to hold their leaders accountable to Scripture. Should a member believe the officers of the church to be out of order on any action, he may file a formal, written complaint expressing his rationale. Such a grievance may be issued after the member has taken the appropriate steps to rectify the situation personally. The leadership must then discuss the issue at its next meeting, recognizing the solemnity of it, and determine if any repentance is in order. The complaint must be filed in the church’s minutes along with the leadership’s response.
If the member is not satisfied with the board’s response, he may seek to reiterate his grievance and/or make an appeal to a third party peacemaking group for assistance.
IV. Church officers
The officers of the church are deacons and elders. Those eligible for church office are male communicant members that demonstrate characteristics in keeping with the Scriptural rule. Those who serve in these positions must be nominated by a member, trained, approved by the standing elders, and formally endorsed by a majority vote at a congregational meeting.
Elders may be designated ruling or teaching elders. As Christ’s under-shepherds they are responsible for the governance of the church, whether through teaching, prayer, admonition, or church discipline. They must seek to watch over the flock diligently, encouraging their spiritual nurture, and protecting it from moral or doctrinal corruption.
The elders must meet together regularly to decide the church’s business. Each elder participating in the meeting is entitled to equal voice and vote. The moderator of the meeting shall only vote in order to break a tie.
An elder or deacon may be divested of his office by church discipline for an offense in doctrine or life. He may also be divested upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the congregation. An elder or deacon also may resign from his office.
V. Marriage
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Hopewell will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the officers and staff of Hopewell shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Hopewell shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.
VI. Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
VII. Amendment of Bylaws
By a majority vote the elders may see fit to amend the church’s bylaws. The proposed Amendments to the bylaws will then be distributed to the communicant and associate members of the congregation in advance of a meeting called for the purpose of amending the bylaws. The Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of those members, communicant and associate, present at the meeting.
I. Name
The name by which this organization shall be known in law shall be “Hopewell Church.”
II. Constitution
The constitution of Hopewell Church is primarily the inspired Word of God, which is contained in the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible, along with the subsidiary doctrinal statements of the Westminster Standards and London Baptist Confession of 1689. We receive these bylaws and recognize them to be a tertiary document, subordinate to the constitution, to aid and assist the operations of Hopewell Church.
Freedom of conscience in the area of baptism (adult-believer or paedo-baptism) is guaranteed to the members and officers of the church.
While we adopt the Westminster Standards & 1689 London Confession as authoritative doctrinal statements and receive these bylaws as a guide for our church operations, these documents do not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. We believe that the Bible itself, being the inspired and infallible Word of God, speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind.
For purposes of Hopewell Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline our board of elders with the help of the Holy Spirit serve as the interpretive authorities on the Bible’s meaning and application.
III. Membership
The membership shall consist of all communicant, non-communicant members, and associate members, all of whom have the privilege of pastoral oversight, instruction, and government by the church. Communicant members are those who have been baptized, have made a credible profession of faith in Christ, and have been received into membership by the board of elders. Non-communicant members are the children of communicant members. Associate members are those believers temporarily residing in a location other than their permanent homes. Such believers may become associate members without ceasing to be members of their home churches.
A person may be received into membership at Hopewell by the approval of the board of elders. In order to be received as members applicants must first become acquainted with the church’s vision, philosophy, and doctrines, and give public assent to the membership vows.
All communicant members in good standing have the right of voice and vote when in attendance at congregational meetings.
Members may be removed from membership by order of the elders when a member removes himself to another church or for disciplinary purposes. The latter must be done with all humility and godly discretion, and in conformity to the good order laid down by God in Holy Scripture.
Members have the right of objection and have the solemn duty to hold their leaders accountable to Scripture. Should a member believe the officers of the church to be out of order on any action, he may file a formal, written complaint expressing his rationale. Such a grievance may be issued after the member has taken the appropriate steps to rectify the situation personally. The leadership must then discuss the issue at its next meeting, recognizing the solemnity of it, and determine if any repentance is in order. The complaint must be filed in the church’s minutes along with the leadership’s response.
If the member is not satisfied with the board’s response, he may seek to reiterate his grievance and/or make an appeal to a third party peacemaking group for assistance.
IV. Church officers
The officers of the church are deacons and elders. Those eligible for church office are male communicant members that demonstrate characteristics in keeping with the Scriptural rule. Those who serve in these positions must be nominated by a member, trained, approved by the standing elders, and formally endorsed by a majority vote at a congregational meeting.
Elders may be designated ruling or teaching elders. As Christ’s under-shepherds they are responsible for the governance of the church, whether through teaching, prayer, admonition, or church discipline. They must seek to watch over the flock diligently, encouraging their spiritual nurture, and protecting it from moral or doctrinal corruption.
The elders must meet together regularly to decide the church’s business. Each elder participating in the meeting is entitled to equal voice and vote. The moderator of the meeting shall only vote in order to break a tie.
An elder or deacon may be divested of his office by church discipline for an offense in doctrine or life. He may also be divested upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the congregation. An elder or deacon also may resign from his office.
V. Marriage
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Hopewell will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the officers and staff of Hopewell shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Hopewell shall only host weddings between one man and one woman.
VI. Sanctity of Human Life
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life.
VII. Amendment of Bylaws
By a majority vote the elders may see fit to amend the church’s bylaws. The proposed Amendments to the bylaws will then be distributed to the communicant and associate members of the congregation in advance of a meeting called for the purpose of amending the bylaws. The Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of those members, communicant and associate, present at the meeting.