Our Bylaws - Originally Constitution & Bylaws
| obcbylaws032118rev091921.pdf |
Questions & Answers (Q & A) related to above Bylaws
The following is not meant to be a substitute for you actually reading and understanding the above "latest' Bylaws. This is offered only as an aid to help you get an answer quickly and efficiently. If you feel the Q & A is not enough or seems different than what you recalled or thought, please read the actual Bylaws above. Remember our Bylaws have underwent many changes over the years and many have not kept up with some of the finer points or clarifications. Also these Q & A do not cover every part of the Bylaws, just a few selected areas where people seem to ask the most questions at meetings or mention during Council meetings, etc. :
Q: Does membership in Olga Baptist require a vote?
A: Yes, being received by a vote (majority of those members present) of the church is part of the qualifications and conditions for membership.
Q: Does membership in Olga Baptist require agreeing to anything?
A: Yes, membership also requires subscribing to our covenant and Bylaws and a copy of the church Bylaws (among other things such as church directory, new member training materials, etc.) shall be contained in a new member packet.
Q: Can all members vote?
A: No, only active members 18 years of age or older.
Q: Do members have a right to review or inspect all church records?
A: No this is limited to specific records such as minutes and financial reports, but does not include donor records, minutes of deacons when they contain confidential matters, personnel files (or minutes) of anybody addressing matters of discipline.
Q: Are members expected to do anything besides living a the Christian live and abstaining from sinful behavior contrary to the church's purpose and doctrine?
A: Yes, they should attend church services regularly, give regularly, and share in the organized work of the church.
Q: Is there such a classification for members as “inactive” or “active”?
A: Yes, these two classification exist and are explained in detail ins Section H and Section I of our bylaws.
Q: Are there any limitations placed upon members who fall into the classification of “inactive”?
A: Yes, They are not allowed to serve on any committee (or team) and have no voting rights (business meetings, elections, or any voting matters); however, “inactive” members may participate in other Church activities.
Q: Besides our normal (regular) meetings who sets other or special meetings and services of the church?
A: These additional/special meetings would be recommended by the Church council and set according to the needs of the congregation.
Q: Can a required or regularly scheduled meeting be suspended or altered?
A: Yes if the suspension or alteration is decided by vote of the congregation in a regularly scheduled Church meeting.
Q: As a member of the Church can I provide or submit the name of a person for consideration as pastor… even though I’m not on the pastor search committee?
A: Yes, any church member may provide the name of a candidate for pastor to the committee.
Q: How many candidates will the pastor search committee bring to the church for consideration as pastor?
A: Only one (1) candidate at a time will be presented.
Q: If the pastor search committee presents a candidate, then will any other candidates be presented?
A: Not necessarily. The pastor search committee can only present one (1) candidate for consideration at a time. Then there will be an election following the presentation of this candidate. This election shall take place at a special meeting called for the specific purpose of electing this candidate as pastor. However, notice of this special meeting must be given at least two weeks prior to the meeting for this purpose. If the candidate is not elected, then the pastor committee will meet to determine again another candidate and the process will repeat.
Q: If I volunteer for a leadership position who decides if I am accepted for the volunteer position?
A: The Church. The Nominating Committee only “coordinates” (as opposed to actually filling) the staffing of such volunteer leadership positions. The Nominating committee approves the volunteer prior to the worker being approached for recruitment. The officers, workers and teachers of church ministries and programs shall be “recommended” by the church nominating committee for election by the church, so final decision is that of the Church and not the “coordinating or recommending” Nominating Committee.
Q: Who is responsible for staffing/hiring administrative personnel?
A: The Church. The Personnel Committee only “assists” the Church in such matters related to staffing, staff needs, securing staff needs, benefits, other compensation, policies, job description and personnel services. As with all committees which serve the Church the committee may serve the Church by assisting, coordinating, recommending, but final authority lies with the Church.
Q: Who is responsible for properties administration, church maintenance, policies regarding church property use, securing of maintenance personnel?
A: The Church. The Buildings and Grounds Committee “assists” the Church in matters related to this. This committee also “makes recommendations” or “consults” with other committees regarding these and other matters related to our Church property and the administration of same. So, ultimately the Church decides based on the recommendations of the Building and Grounds Committee and their consultation with other committees.
Q: Who is responsible for the overall finance development plan and the Church budget?
A: The Church. The Finance Committee “serves” the church in that the committee “develops and recommends” the overall finance development plan and budget. This committee also “works with” the treasurer in the “preparation and presentation” of the required financial affairs reports to the Church. The Finance Committee “prepares and submits” to the Church for approval the complete budget. So while the Finance Committee “serves” the church by “developing and recommending” plans and budget… plus “works” with church treasurer, it all is ultimately presented to the Church and the church decides and is responsible.
Q: Who decides which or what local missions projects we support and in which we support?
A: The Church. The Mission Committee “serves” the Church by “seeking to discover” possibilities for local missions projects and further “serves” the Church in “establishing and conducting” those missions projects assigned to them by the Church. So the Church decides (based on the Mission Committee’s shared findings as a result of the committee’s seek-to-discover efforts) which local mission projects we have, and the Church in turn approves or disapproves, then assigns those approved to the Mission Committee for establishing and conducting these mission projects.
Q: Does the Church Council have any authority to change, modify, adjust, or make decisions on their own?
A: The Church Council’s purpose is only to “serve” the Church by leading through planning, coordinating, conducting and evaluating the ministries and programs of the Church in areas already planned and already previously approved. If there are matters not already approved by the Church these matters shall be referred to the Church for approval or disapproval.
Q: Does membership in Olga Baptist require a vote?
A: Yes, being received by a vote (majority of those members present) of the church is part of the qualifications and conditions for membership.
Q: Does membership in Olga Baptist require agreeing to anything?
A: Yes, membership also requires subscribing to our covenant and Bylaws and a copy of the church Bylaws (among other things such as church directory, new member training materials, etc.) shall be contained in a new member packet.
Q: Can all members vote?
A: No, only active members 18 years of age or older.
Q: Do members have a right to review or inspect all church records?
A: No this is limited to specific records such as minutes and financial reports, but does not include donor records, minutes of deacons when they contain confidential matters, personnel files (or minutes) of anybody addressing matters of discipline.
Q: Are members expected to do anything besides living a the Christian live and abstaining from sinful behavior contrary to the church's purpose and doctrine?
A: Yes, they should attend church services regularly, give regularly, and share in the organized work of the church.
Q: Is there such a classification for members as “inactive” or “active”?
A: Yes, these two classification exist and are explained in detail ins Section H and Section I of our bylaws.
Q: Are there any limitations placed upon members who fall into the classification of “inactive”?
A: Yes, They are not allowed to serve on any committee (or team) and have no voting rights (business meetings, elections, or any voting matters); however, “inactive” members may participate in other Church activities.
Q: Besides our normal (regular) meetings who sets other or special meetings and services of the church?
A: These additional/special meetings would be recommended by the Church council and set according to the needs of the congregation.
Q: Can a required or regularly scheduled meeting be suspended or altered?
A: Yes if the suspension or alteration is decided by vote of the congregation in a regularly scheduled Church meeting.
Q: As a member of the Church can I provide or submit the name of a person for consideration as pastor… even though I’m not on the pastor search committee?
A: Yes, any church member may provide the name of a candidate for pastor to the committee.
Q: How many candidates will the pastor search committee bring to the church for consideration as pastor?
A: Only one (1) candidate at a time will be presented.
Q: If the pastor search committee presents a candidate, then will any other candidates be presented?
A: Not necessarily. The pastor search committee can only present one (1) candidate for consideration at a time. Then there will be an election following the presentation of this candidate. This election shall take place at a special meeting called for the specific purpose of electing this candidate as pastor. However, notice of this special meeting must be given at least two weeks prior to the meeting for this purpose. If the candidate is not elected, then the pastor committee will meet to determine again another candidate and the process will repeat.
Q: If I volunteer for a leadership position who decides if I am accepted for the volunteer position?
A: The Church. The Nominating Committee only “coordinates” (as opposed to actually filling) the staffing of such volunteer leadership positions. The Nominating committee approves the volunteer prior to the worker being approached for recruitment. The officers, workers and teachers of church ministries and programs shall be “recommended” by the church nominating committee for election by the church, so final decision is that of the Church and not the “coordinating or recommending” Nominating Committee.
Q: Who is responsible for staffing/hiring administrative personnel?
A: The Church. The Personnel Committee only “assists” the Church in such matters related to staffing, staff needs, securing staff needs, benefits, other compensation, policies, job description and personnel services. As with all committees which serve the Church the committee may serve the Church by assisting, coordinating, recommending, but final authority lies with the Church.
Q: Who is responsible for properties administration, church maintenance, policies regarding church property use, securing of maintenance personnel?
A: The Church. The Buildings and Grounds Committee “assists” the Church in matters related to this. This committee also “makes recommendations” or “consults” with other committees regarding these and other matters related to our Church property and the administration of same. So, ultimately the Church decides based on the recommendations of the Building and Grounds Committee and their consultation with other committees.
Q: Who is responsible for the overall finance development plan and the Church budget?
A: The Church. The Finance Committee “serves” the church in that the committee “develops and recommends” the overall finance development plan and budget. This committee also “works with” the treasurer in the “preparation and presentation” of the required financial affairs reports to the Church. The Finance Committee “prepares and submits” to the Church for approval the complete budget. So while the Finance Committee “serves” the church by “developing and recommending” plans and budget… plus “works” with church treasurer, it all is ultimately presented to the Church and the church decides and is responsible.
Q: Who decides which or what local missions projects we support and in which we support?
A: The Church. The Mission Committee “serves” the Church by “seeking to discover” possibilities for local missions projects and further “serves” the Church in “establishing and conducting” those missions projects assigned to them by the Church. So the Church decides (based on the Mission Committee’s shared findings as a result of the committee’s seek-to-discover efforts) which local mission projects we have, and the Church in turn approves or disapproves, then assigns those approved to the Mission Committee for establishing and conducting these mission projects.
Q: Does the Church Council have any authority to change, modify, adjust, or make decisions on their own?
A: The Church Council’s purpose is only to “serve” the Church by leading through planning, coordinating, conducting and evaluating the ministries and programs of the Church in areas already planned and already previously approved. If there are matters not already approved by the Church these matters shall be referred to the Church for approval or disapproval.
We used to have a CONSTITUTION and not just BYLAWS?!
Yes, typically Churches have Constitution & Bylaws (C&BL)... not just Bylaws. Here is what our C&BL was like way back in September of 1988:
| obcconstitutionoriginal.pdf |