BAR NONE COWBOY CHURCH 2016 CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE l MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1 ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP

Membership in Bar None Cowboy Church is open to anyone who meets the following qualifications:

A. A personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
B. Baptism by immersion after faith in Christ as a testimony of salvation.

Membership may be established in the following way:

A. New Member Class
A new member class will be held a minimum of once a quarter for all those desiring to join Bar None.

SECTION 2 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

A person’s membership in Bar None Cowboy Church may be terminated in one of the following ways:

A. Death
B. Letter
A letter of dismissal for any member in good standing shall be granted to any church of like faith and order upon request from said church.
C. Exclusion
If a member conducts himself in a manner which brings the name of Christ and the church into disrepute, it will be the responsibility of the elders to attempt to restore the member in a spirit of love according to the guidelines set forth in Matthew 18:15-17. If the member fails to respond positively to these attempts, exclusion will require two-thirds (2/3) vote of the church membership present and voting at a called church conference.
D. Erasure
If a member request erasure or offers proof of membership in a church or another denomination, his name will be removed from the roll.

SECTION 3 RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

Each active member present, 16 years of age or older, shall be entitled to one (1) vote on each matter submitted for a vote at any called church conference. The right of a member to vote shall cease upon the termination of his membership in the church. The right of a member to vote may be suspended if the member is in an unresolved elder intervention or if the member is no longer an active resident member. An active resident member is a member on the church roll who lives in or around the Rusk County area and attends the church’s regular worship services at least 6 times in the last 90 day period. Active resident members have the right to vote on the following matters: the call of the pastor and other professional ministerial staff, the annual church budget, indebtedness associated with land acquisition and/or building improvements, cumulative indebtedness for all other aspects of church business that exceeds 20% of the annual church budget, the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the church, the merger or dissolution of the church, and any other matter submitted by the elders to the church for a vote.

ARTICLE ll MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP

SECTION 1 PASTOR

A. Call
Upon the pastor’s termination, a church conference will be called and the church will elect a pastor search team. This team will consist of no fewer than two and no more than eight members. This team will seek out and evaluate prospective pastoral candidates until they achieve complete consensus on a single candidate. They will then report to the elders who will set a time and date for the candidate to be received by the church. On that date, a church conference shall be called and after a full discussion, a vote will be taken by secret ballot. A three-fourths (3/4) vote of the church members present and voting is required to extend a call. If a call is not extended by the church to the candidate, or if the candidate declines to accept, then the pastor search team will be disbanded and a new search team elected. This method will proceed until a pastor is secured.
B. Duties
The pastor shall be the spiritual leader of the congregation. In that capacity, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he shall preach and teach the word of God, lead the church in regular worship services, administer the ordinances of the church, serve as a moderator at church conferences, provide leadership to the ministerial staff, serve as overall administrator of the church, and generally fulfill all his pastoral duties as set forth in Scripture.
C. Termination
The pastor’s duties with the church may be terminated by resignation, death, or dismissal. A vote for dismissal must be preceded by appropriate interventions in accordance with Matthew 18 by the elders, and a vote of confidence by the active resident members of the congregation. If this vote is 51% no confidence, or if the elders determine the percent of no confidence is high enough that the pastor can no longer effectively serve, then they will call a church conference to vote on dismissal.
Such dismissal will require two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present and voting at a called business meeting. The moderator for such a meeting will be a disinterested third party appointed by the elders.

SECTION 2 PROFESSIONAL MINISTERIAL STAFF

A. Call
If it is determined that additional professional ministerial staffs other than the pastor are needed for fulfilling the church’s mission, they may be employed by the church. The pastor and elders will appoint a search team, which will consist of no fewer than three and no more than eight active resident members. This team will seek out and evaluate prospective candidates until they achieve complete consensus on prospective candidates. They will then give their recommendation to the pastor and Personnel Team.
After getting budget approval for the compensation package the pastor and the elders will fill the position.
B. Duties
Professional ministerial staff persons will have specific and written job descriptions as outlined by the pastor and Personnel Team.
C. Termination
The service of professional staff persons may terminate by resignation, death, or dismissal. Dismissal can be made by the pastor and the elders or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present at a church conference called by the elders for that purpose.

SECTION 3 LAY PASTORS

A. Purpose and Function
Lay pastors shall serve as an extension of the ministry of the senior pastor and in that capacity may serve as ex-officio members of teams, administer the ordinances of the church, assist in leading worship, and generally perform any other ministerial function of the senior pastor with his approval or at his request.
B. Qualifications
Since lay pastors represent the ministry of the senior pastor, they must be men beyond reproach who meet the biblical qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. Lay pastors must have a connection to the cowboy culture.
C. Selection
Lay pastors shall be appointed as needed by the senior pastor and elders.
D. Duties
Each lay pastor will have specific responsibilities as assigned by the senior pastor.
E. Term of Office
Lay pastors will be appointed to three year terms, but may serve multiple terms by mutual consent of the senior pastor, the elders, and the lay pastor involved.
F. Removal
A lay pastor may be removed before their term of office expires by death, resignation, or consensus decision of the elders.

SECTION 4 ELDERS

A. Purpose and Function
Elders shall serve to provide spiritual leadership and accountability to the church in accordance with scripture. They will provide a brotherhood of support and accountability for the pastor, assist the ministry teams with difficult issues, serve as arbiters in matters of conflict or church discipline, and in general provide spiritual leadership, guidance, and assistance wherever and whenever appropriate. The elder body shall be made up of three appointed elders plus the pastor, who is also an elder.
B. Qualifications
Because elders may be called on to handle the weightiest matters of the church, they should above all be men filled with wisdom, love, and the Holy Spirit. All elders must meet the Biblical qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 and must have a connection to the cowboy culture. The senior pastor shall be an elder.
C. Selection and Term of Office
- 1. On or about November 1 of each year, the church will be asked to submit in writing the names of men to serve as elders. These names will be screened by the pastor and existing elders to ensure that the nominees meet the qualifications set forth above. If it is determined that a nominee is qualified, he will be considered by the elders as a candidate.
- 2. Once a list of qualified candidates has been assembled, existing elders will select new elders on or before January 31. The candidate selected by the existing elders will serve as an elder for a three year term unless precluded by death, resignation, or removal. An elder may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
- 3. The length of term for an elder shall be 3 years. The first selected elders will serve a 1 year, 2 year, and 3 year term as determined by the elder body so that one elder will rotate off each year and a new elder established.
D. Removal
Any member of the church may bring a written scriptural reason for removal of an elder. Elders may be removed from office by their own decision or by consensus decision of the other elders. Removal shall be based upon being spiritually unqualified or the inability to serve.
E. Vacancies
Elder vacancies can occur by death, resignation, or removal. When a vacancy occurs, the existing elders shall elect an interim to fill the vacancy until the next election.

ARTICLE III SUPPORT STAFF

The pastor and Personnel Team will employ and terminate other employees as necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the church.

ARTICLE IV MINISTRY TEAMS

SECTION 1 GENERAL MINISTRY TEAMS

A. Purpose and Function
Ministry teams shall be organized to carry out the specialized ministries of the church. Each ministry team shall have specific functions and responsibilities as assigned or approved by the pastor and/or elders.
B. Structure
Ministry teams will be made up of an even number (usually 4-10) people organized to carry out a necessary ministry or function of the church. Each team member will have individual functions and responsibilities as assigned by the team. A staff member or lay pastor will be assigned to each team to offer assistance and serve as a liaison between the team and the senior pastor and elders. One member of the team shall be designated by the lay pastor or staff member to be team leader and will be responsible for ensuring that the team functions properly. Teams will function by consensus, not majority vote. This means that teams must arrive at decisions that can be supported by each member of the team. If consensus cannot be reached, the matter shall either be tabled or placed before the pastor and elders for a final decision.
C. Qualifications
Team members must be members of the church in good standing, love the Lord and have a desire to see His kingdom grow, have credibility with other church members, have a passion for the mission of the team, be determined to make the team a top priority in their lives (this means that they are willing to rearrange their daily schedules or do whatever it takes to participate in team meetings and activities), and desire to use their talents and abilities to accomplish the team’s mission. Non church members can be active on ministry teams but cannot be representatives that reach consensus on decisions.
D. Formation of Teams
General ministry teams may be formed as needed by the pastor and/or elders, by the Leadership Team, or by any lay pastor, ministry team leader, or church member with the pastor’s approval.
E. Selection and Term of Office
Members of general ministry teams may be appointed by the pastor and/or elders, or be enlisted by a lay pastor or ministry team leader. Ordinarily members will be enlisted by the team leader or lay pastor directly responsible for the team. The term of office for general ministry team members will be one year, but members may serve multiple terms by mutual consent of the team leader, lay pastor, and team member involved. All selections of team representatives must be approved by the pastor.
F. Removal
If a team member causes conflict, fails to carry out his or her responsibility to the team, or otherwise hampers the work of the team, every effort should be made by the team leader and assigned staff person to rectify the issue in a positive redemptive manner. However, if the problem persists, a team member may be removed by the pastor and/or elders, or by consensus decision of the other team members.

SECTION 2 STANDING MINISTRY TEAMS

A. Purpose and Function
Standing ministry teams shall provide oversight of the church’s regular business affairs and assist in finding and providing the tangible resources necessary to effectively carry out the church’s ministries.
B. Structure
Standing ministry teams shall be composed of six members serving three year terms with two members rotating off each year. A staff member or lay pastor will be assigned to each team to offer assistance and serve as a liaison between the team and the senior pastor and elders. Each year, one member of the team shall be designated by the pastor, lay pastor or staff member to be team leader and will be responsible for ensuring that the team functions properly. Teams will function by consensus, not majority vote. This means that teams must arrive at decisions that can be supported by each member of the team. If consensus cannot be reached, the matter shall either be tabled or placed before the pastor and elders for a final decision.
C. Qualifications
Qualifications for standing team members will be the same as those of general ministry team members (Article IV, Section 1).
D. Standing Teams
The standing teams of the church shall be:
- 1. Personnel Team
  The Personnel Team will be responsible to ensure that the church has adequate support staff to effectively carry out its ministries. They will fill staff vacancies as needed or as directed by the church, conduct periodic staff evaluations, make salary recommendations, and mediate church/staff disputes.
- 2. Facility Team
  The Facility Team will be responsible to ensure that the church has adequate facilities to effectively carry out its ministries. They will oversee the care, maintenance, and use of all facilities and grounds except the arena. They will also assist the pastor and elders with long-range planning which will ensure that the church has adequate facilities to meet future needs.
- 3.Finance Team
  The Finance Team will be responsible to ensure that the church has adequate financial resources to effectively carry out its ministries. They shall work cooperatively with the pastor, elders, lay pastors, professional staff, and team leaders to find maximum resources for meeting each ministry need. They shall also be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget, for the oversight and accounting of all financial records, and for assisting the pastor and elders with long-term planning which will ensure that the church has financial resources to meet future ministry needs.
- 4. Arena Team
  The Arena Team will be responsible for providing the tools, resources, and personnel necessary for the church to effectively carry out its arena ministry. They shall be responsible for the oversight, care, maintenance, and use of the arena. They will work with the Leadership Team as well as other ministry teams to develop strategies and plan events that will utilize the arena to effectively reach the cowboy/western culture for Christ.
E. Selection and Term of Office
Members of standing ministry teams may be appointed by the pastor and/or elders, or be enlisted by a lay pastor or ministry team leader. Ordinarily members will be enlisted by the team leader or lay pastor directly responsible for the team. The term of office for standing ministry team members will be three years with two team members rotating off each year.
F. Removal
If a standing team member causes conflict, fails to carry out his or her responsibility to the team, or otherwise hampers the work of the team, every effort shall be made by the team leader and the assigned staff person to rectify the issue in a positive redemptive manner. However, if the problem persists, a team member may be removed by the pastor and/or elders, or by consensus decision of the other team members.

SECTION 3 LEADERSHIP TEAM

A. Purpose and Function
The Leadership Team will serve to provide a forum in which the various ministry teams can brainstorm, coordinate activities and events, share resources, and generally work together to enhance the overall effectiveness of the church’s ministries. It will be responsible for setting the church calendar.
B. Structure
The Leadership Team will consist of the team leaders from each ministry team, the pastor, the elders, the lay pastors, and staff. In addition, its meetings will generally be open to the participation and input of the entire church membership. Leadership team meetings shall be moderated by the senior pastor or a person whom the senior pastor will designate.
C. Meetings
The Leadership Team will meet as often as necessary to effectively plan and coordinate the activities and events of the church.

ARTICLE V CORPORATE OFFICERS

SECTION 1 PRESIDENT

The senior pastor shall serve as president and overall administrator of the corporation. He will serve as moderator at church conferences and be responsible for ensuring that the daily business affairs of the church are appropriately and effectively executed.

SECTION 2 TRUSTEES

A. Purpose and Function
When authorized and instructed by the elders, Trustees shall sign the title to church property, all legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or rental of property; all notes and loan instruments; and such other legal documents as may require execution on behalf of the church. There shall be three trustees.
The trustees will have no decision making authority, they will only execute the will of the church in legal matters.
B. Selection
The trustees will be the current elders.

SECTION 3 CLERK/SECRETARY

A. Purpose and Function
The Church Clerk shall serve as secretary of the corporation. The responsibilities of the clerk will be to keep the minutes of all church conferences, insure that a proper file of all members is maintained, and prepare an annual report to be available to the members for inspection.
B. Selection and Term of Office
A volunteer may be appointed by the pastor and elders. A paid staff position can be filled by the Personnel Team.
The Church Secretary shall serve as Church Clerk.

SECTION 4 VACANCIES

In the event a vacancy occurs in any corporate office, the elders shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VI CHURCH BUSINESS

SECTION 1 FINANCE

A. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the church will be on a calendar year basis beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year.
B. Accounting Procedures
A system of accounting that will adequately provide for the handling of all funds shall be the responsibility of the Finance Team.
C. Budget
The Finance Team, in consultation with the pastor and ministry team leaders, shall prepare and submit a budget for congregational approval prior to the beginning of each fiscal year.
D. Checks, Drafts, etc.
All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the church shall be signed by at least two people who have been designated by the Finance Team for that purpose.
E. Deposits
All funds of the church shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the church in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as determined by the Finance Team.

SECTION 2 CHURCH CONFERENCES

A. Church Conferences
Church conferences may be called by the elders or by written petition of 25% of the active members presented to the elders. An active member is one who lives in or around the Rusk County area and has attended the church’s regular services at least six (6) times in the 90 days preceding the circulation of the petition. Only active members may participate in church conferences.
B. Notices
Notices of the time and place of all church conferences shall be given not later than the Sunday prior to such meetings by publication in the church newsletter or worship bulletin, or by public announcement at a regular Sunday morning worship service.
C. Place of Church Conferences
All church conferences shall be held on the premises of the church.
D. Quorum
The church members present at any duly called church conference shall constitute a quorum.
E. Proxies
Voting by proxy at any church conference shall not be allowed or recognized.
F. Will of the Church
All ministry teams, officers, and organizations of the church shall carry out the will of the church on any given matter duly expressed by its vote.
G. Rules of Procedure
The order of proceedings at church conferences shall be determined by the rules of practice contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.
H. Conduct of Church Business
All business of the church shall be conducted in a manner that honors Christ and respects others. The church shall strive to seek the will of God by prayerful deliberation and common consensus.

SECTION 3 CONTRACTS

The Trustee’s shall execute and deliver any contract or instrument in the name of the church which may be authorized by the church to be so executed and delivered. In this connection, the church body as a whole shall be the ultimate authority for all actions taken by the church and no other person, organization, or corporate officer shall have any authority to contract or otherwise bind the church without express authorization from the church body.

SECTION 4 BOOKS AND RECORDS

The church shall keep and maintain a complete and accurate record of all financial accounts, membership lists, and church conference minutes at its principal office. All books and records of the church may be inspected by any member, or its agent or attorney, for any purpose at any reasonable time.

SECTION 5 PROHIBITIONS AGAINST SHARING IN CORPORATE EARNINGS

No member, officer, or person connected with the corporation, or any other private individual shall receive at any time any of the net earnings of pecuniary profit from the operations of the corporation, provided that this shall not prevent the payment to any such person of a reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the corporation in effecting any of its purposes as shall be fixed by the church; and no such person or persons shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets upon the dissolution of the corporation. All members of the church shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed that upon such dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the corporation, after all debts have been satisfied, then remaining in the hands of the officers of the church shall be distributed, transferred, conveyed, delivered, and paid over, in such amounts as the church may determine or as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction upon application of the church, exclusively to charitable, religious, or educational organizations which would then qualify under the provisions of Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.

SECTION 6 EXEMPT ACTIVITIES

Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, no member, officer, or representative of the corporation shall take any action or carry on any activity by or on behalf of the corporation not permitted to be taken or carried on by any organization exempt under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or they may hereafter be amended, or with any organization contributions which are deductible under 170 (C) (2) of such code and regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.

ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the active members present at a church conference called for that purpose. Amendments may be proposed by the elders or by written petition of 25% of the resident membership presented to the elders. Proposed amendments for church consideration shall be made available to the congregation in written form two weeks prior to the church conference in which they will be voted on. Amendments will be numbered, dated, and attached to the original instrument.

A-1-2010
Building / Facility Funds
In order to handle available funds in the Bar None Building / Facility fund. Team leaders may collectively agree on asset purchases and improvements needed for the facility and church. Loan payments will always take priority with the Building / Facility fund. As other monies come available in the Building / Facility fund, team leaders must reach a consensus on the use to further the mission of the church. The limit for allocation by team leaders will be $50,000.00 per each individual item. All land purchases will still be presented to the church for approval.

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

A-1-2011

Contributions to AFCC
It was approved to give 2.5% of the monthly tithe income to the American Fellowship of Cowboy Churches. We will allocate for only the year of 2012 month – end surplus of 10% to the support of the AFCC.

A-2-2011

Distribution of Designated Funds
In order to more efficiently distribute correctly the funds “designated” the person giving to the said Team or purpose will need to put their specific desire in the memo of their check or in writing. This money will then be allotted for that specific need or purpose and if not used by the year end, will roll over into the next year. If it is not specified and is not spent on the said team the funds will be placed into the General fund.

A-3-2011

Arena Team
The Public Relations Team and the Special Events Team have been combined with the Arena Team. Two Lay Pastors have been assigned to Arena Team to help with these additions.

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS

A-1-2016

Statement of Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
We, Bar None Cowboy Church, believe that God wonderfully and firmly creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.

We (BNCC) reserve the use of restrooms and shower facilities to one’s biological gender.

We (BNCC) believe that the term “biblical marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as defined in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We (BNCC) believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We (BNCC) believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Bar None Cowboy Church, as a local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Bar None Cowboy Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Bar None Cowboy Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement on Biblical Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22)

We (BNCC) believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11)

We (BNCC) believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be rejected and are not in accord with Scripture nor the statement of Bar None Cowboy Church.

We (BNCC) are committed that ALL activities on the properties of (BNCC) are considered an act of worship to our Lord Jesus Christ and will be in accordance with scripture and our church constitution.

Church Constitution