of the
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH
216 Fourth Street
Englewood, New Jersey 07631

First Printing 1973; Amended and Restated as of November 1, 2009; Accepted on November 16, 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM DESCRIPTION / PAGE #
PREAMBLE / 3
CONSTITUTION / 4
ARTICLE I – NAME / 4
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND CHURCH COVENANT / 4
ARTICLE III – POLITY, GOVERNMENT, FELLOWSHIP AND MISSION / 5
ARTICLE IV – REGISTERED AGENT AND REGISTERED OFFICE / 6
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP / 6
ARTICLE VI - CHURCH GOVERNANCE AND DENOMINATIONAL COOPERATION / 8
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF MEMBERS / 9
ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES / 10
ARTICLE IX – MINISTRIES / 14
ARTICLE X – CHURCH OFFICERS / 17
ARTICLE XI – ELECTIONS / 18
ARTICLE XII – WORSHIP AND BUSINESS MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH / 18
BY-LAWS / 20
ARTICLE I - DUTIES OF THE PASTOR / 20
ARTICLE II – DUTIES OF DEACONS / 21
ARTICLE III – DUTIES OF DEACONESSES / 21
ARTICLE IV – DUTIES OF TRUSTEES / 22
ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF CHURCH CLERK / 22
ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT / 22
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF THE TREASURER / 22
ARTICLE VIII – INDEMNIFICATION AND BONDING / 23
ARTICLE IX – SYSTEM OF GIVING / 23
ARTICLE X – HISCOX DIRECTORY / 24
ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS / 24
ARTICLE XII – CHURCH COVENANT / 25
ADDENDUM


PREAMBLE

Reposing our faith wholly in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, believing in the teachings and practices of the Baptists and in those great distinctive principles for which they have ever stood, namely:

  1. The prominence of Christ as our divine Lord and Master.
  2. The supreme authority of the Bible and its sufficiency as our only rule of faith and practice.
  3. The absolute separation of Church and State.
  4. A transformed church Membership.
  5. The ordinance of believer’s baptism in obedience to the command of Christ.
  6. The complete independence of the local church and its independence in associated fellowship with other Baptist churches.

We, therefore, band ourselves together as a body of baptized Believers in Jesus Christ and adopt for our government, plan of worship and service the following articles.


CONSTITUTION

God, make the door of this Church wide enough to receive all who need human love, fellowship and fatherly care; and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and hate. The true mission of this Church is to save the souls of humankind. We are here for no other purpose; and the mission of the Church being so clear, that is the only test of a real Church.

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH of Englewood, New Jersey (referred to hereinafter as “Ebenezer”, “the Church”, “this Church” or the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND CHURCH COVENANT

Here at the Ebenezer Baptist Church we have a vision that each one would reach one with the empowering gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to equip purpose-driven disciples through biblical understanding, spiritual growth and development and social outreach ministries so that we may become witnesses while sharing the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ with our community and the world.

As a gathering of baptized believers we acknowledge and share in the uplifting and practice of Christian relationship in our Church Covenant. Our covenant reflects that we are believers who come together under The Direction under the power of The Holy Spirit to work together for the good of the church body. We demonstrate our faithfulness to this covenant through various displays of holiness. Through our worship, through our giving of Tithes and Offerings and through ministry both in our fellowship and in the world abroad. It is through the covenant that we reinforce the ideals of working together and agree to be led and govern in all things by the power of the Holy Spirit as we recognize the right of the majority to govern.

We believe this covenant is maintained as a body through personal relationship and covenant with Jesus Christ. This personal relationship should be evident through prayer, devotion, worship, and spiritual development of oneself and family. We should demonstrate our faith through our actions, and the life in which we live from day to day.

This personal relationship should also be evident in our treatment of one another and the concern for the fellowship as well as the surrounding community. Sharing as a Christian family, we pray for and work with one another. Being mindful to always encourage and protect each other and to cultivate Christian courtesy. We are led by Jesus’ lesson of reconciliation in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew to be mindful that we are in constant obligation to live as those who walk in the light of the Gospel.

ARTICLE III – POLITY, GOVERNMENT, FELLOWSHIP AND MISSION

1.  Ebenezer is a not-for-profit corporation, incorporated in the State of New Jersey. This Church acknowledges Jesus Christ as its head and finds in the Holy Scriptures (interpreted by the Divine Spirit through reason, faith and conscience) its guidance in matters of faith and discipline. The government of this Church is vested in the members, who exercise the right of control in all its affairs (subject, in legal matters, to its Articles of Incorporation and the laws governing not-for-for profit church organizations in the State of New Jersey).

2.  This Church shall maintain affiliation and cooperation with the local organized work of the Baptist denomination, State and National Baptist Convention and Association, and their affiliates.

3.  This Church shall also cooperate with the National Council of Christ, and the World Council of Churches of Christ.


ARTICLE IV – REGISTERED AGENT AND REGISTERED OFFICE

1.  The Registered Agent of the Church shall be the Pastor.

2.  The Registered Office of the Church shall be the address of the Church.

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP

1.  Admission by Baptism: Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and showing evidence of transformation, adopting the word of God as their basis of faith, and practicing the view held by this Church, may upon baptism by immersion be received into the membership.

2.  Admission by Letter: Members of other Baptist churches may be received upon their testimony of Christian standing and the transfer of their letter denoting their baptism by immersion and their being a member in good standing prior to their leaving.

3.  Admission by Restoration: A former member of a Baptist church, whose membership has lapsed for any reason, may be restored to the fellowship of the church on profession of faith.

4.  Admission by Experience: A person who is not a member of another church, but has been immersed upon the profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and has accepted the views of faith and practices as approved by this Church, may be received into membership by virtue of this experience.

5.  Admission by Watchcare: A person who is a member of another Christian church but sojourning in this community for a brief period of time may be received into the membership of the Church for a three- to six-month period. Students may unite under Watchcare while they are enrolled in a local institution of learning.

6.  Application for membership and procedure for Receiving New Members: All applicants accepting invitation for membership to the Church shall respond sufficiently to inquiries regarding their personal salvation. The names of all applicants for membership shall be recommended to the Church for admission, and presented to the congregation and voted upon.

7.  Transferal to other Baptist Church and other Denominations: Any member, if in good standing, shall be granted, upon request, a regular letter of transferal to any other church of the same faith and order. When a member of this Church desires to unite with some other evangelistic church, a certification of Christian standing may be given upon recommendation of the pastors and deacons.

8.  When members may be Received and Dismissed: Members may be received and dismissed at any regular service of the Church.

9.  There are five ways by which the relation of members may be dissolved:

a. By Letter: Any member in good standing who desires a letter of dismissal
and recommendation to any other Baptist church may receive it upon
request and upon the recommendation of the Board of Deacons and the
vote of the Church. The church to which membership is requested shall
be named in the request and the letter shall be sent to the pastor or clerk
of that church. Such letter shall be valid only for six (6) months after its
date, unless reviewed, and this restriction shall be stated in the letter.

b. By Statement: Any member in good standing may be granted a certificate
of standing for the purpose of associating with any evangelical church
other than a Baptist church.

c. By Expulsion: Should any member become an offense to the Church and
its good name by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct, or by
consistent breach of such members covenant vows, the Church may terminate such member’s membership. The Ministry of Deacons will begin the process of due process and hearing to address the issues, and after prayerful consideration, final dismissal will be determined by the Pastor and those appointed at the discretion of the Pastor to decide the matter.

d. By Suspension: The Church will prepare a list of those members who
have for a period of two (2) or more years failed to participate in the
service of worship, financial support, or the educational program of the
Church without valid excuse. If they are satisfied that the persons so
described cannot be reclaimed, they shall present to the Church a
recommendation that these delinquent members be erased from the
membership roll. Upon such action being taken by the Church, said
members shall thereafter cease to be members of this Church.

e. By Death.

10. There are four conditions of membership:

(a) A transformed heart

(b) A confession of faith

(c) The reception of baptism and the Lord’s Supper

(d) A Christian Life

ARTICLE VI – CHURCH GOVERNANCE

AND DENOMINATIONAL COOPERATION

The government of this Church is vested in the members who compose it, and, as such, it is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical organization. Also, none of the Ministries or Committees can usurp its executive governmental or policy-making powers.

This Church shall maintain affiliation and cooperation with the local organized work of the Baptist denomination, State and National Baptist Convention and Association, and their affiliates.

This Church shall also cooperate with the National Council of Christ, and the World Council of Churches of Christ.


ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF MEMBERS

In order that persons applying for church membership may be informed as to the duties of members, the Church Covenant shall be presented to them during the Ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper they shall subscribe to it in letter and in spirit.

Members in Good Standing - Members in good standing are those parishioners who:

A.  Understand and work toward the obligations of fellowship described in the church covenant.

B.  Contribute regularly and cheerfully, to the expenses of the church with notable Tithes and offerings.

C.  Faithfully, as may be appropriate, observe the Constitution/By-Laws, Standing Rules, Policies, and organizational guidelines of Ebenezer Baptist Church.

D.  If officers of the Church and/or members of a Church Organization, are in regular attendance at meetings, accept and fulfill their responsibilities and are continually making positive contributions to the work of their groups.

Members who disregard their Covenant obligations

A. It shall be the duty of the Deacon Ministry and Deaconess Ministry to seek to reclaim those members who disregard their Covenant obligations: when in any case they are satisfied that the member cannot be reclaimed, they shall present to the Church a recommendation that the name of the delinquent member be removed from the membership roll. Upon such action being taken by the Church, said member shall thereafter cease to be a member of this Church.

B. When the program of the Church has been approved by majority membership present in its regular session, then it shall become the duty of each member to cooperate as much as possible. If a member fails to follow the program of the Church – such as taking envelopes, paying tithes and free-will offering regularly, attending meetings, missing more than six communion services or fails to cooperate in accordance to the Covenant of this Church, it shall be the responsibility of Deacon Ministry to follow up with said member(s).


ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES

The Pastor shall have the power to appoint committees as he deems expedient to gather information or provide input on affairs of the Church. The Pastor or his designee will serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

Official Ministries, Standing Committees, Councils, Ministries, and Church Organizations, unless otherwise provided herein, may establish Organization Guidelines to govern the specific duties and responsibilities of their members and the methods and procedures for accomplishing their purposes and goals. Such guidelines may not be in conflict with the laws of the State or the Constitution and By-Laws and standing rules of the Church. Whether or not published in written form, Organization Guidelines are subject to review and final approval by the Pastor and a Review Committee and shall under no circumstances be subject to legal or other redress outside the confines of the Church.

The Committees will include but not be limited to the following:

1. Constitution/By-Laws Committee

A.  There shall be a Constitution/By-Laws Committee composed of 9 members (2 Deacons, 2 Trustees, 5 lay members) to be elected for three (3) year terms which are staggered so that at least one-third (1/3) of their members expire each year.

B.  The purpose of the Constitution/By-Laws Committee will be to review the Constitution and By-Laws of the church on a two year basis. The Committee will evaluate amended By-Laws based upon the growth and development of the church and whatever policy and procedures regarding the church are deemed necessary. All amendments are to be presented to the church for vote and congregational approval.