We, the members of the Englewood Christian Church of Yakima, Washington, a congregationally governed body, in order to promote the work of the church in the spirit of Christ and thus advance His Kingdom, do hereby adopt these By-Laws.

 

Section A. Name.

The name of this congregation shall be the ENGLEWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

It is incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington as a non-profit corporation.

Section B. Purpose.

1. The purpose of this corporation shall be the same as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation as amended.

2. This congregation is affiliated with the denomination known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) committed to the historical principles of that movement.

The membership of this corporation shall be divided into two classes: participating members and non-participating members.

All people who have become members of the Englewood Christian Church (ECC) shall be participating members unless they have subsequently been classified as non-participating members in accordance with these By-Laws. Only participating members may hold the offices of Vision Council Chair, Ministry Council Chair, Elders, Treasurer, Stewardship Chair or Endowment Chair.

A participating member is one who has shown a commitment to Englewood Christian Church in at least one of the following categories during a calendar year.

1. Attended a church worship service, or
2. Partaken of Holy communion, or
3. Supported the church financially according to its records, or
4. Rendered some service within the congregational structure, or
5. Participated in a ministry or mission activity sponsored by Englewood Christian Church.

1. A member shall be considered Non-Participating when, over a period of a calendar year, he/she has not participated in any of the above activities. A member shall automatically be recognized as a participating member when activity does occur.

2. The Vision Council shall see that a committee shall meet each January to determine the Participating Membership of the previous year. This list shall be presented to the Board of Elders and the Vision Council for review. Careful consideration shall be given to any extenuating circumstances which would make it impossible for a member to participate as listed in Article III, Section A. Vision Council shall officially receive the final report.

1. The Vision Council Chair is elected by the congregation to serve for a period of one year. He/she shall be President of the Corporation and shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer, and preside at all business meetings.

2. The Ministry Council Chair is elected by the congregation to serve for a period of one year. He/she shall serve as head of the Ministry Council, Vice-Chair of the Corporation, and shall fulfill the usual duties of such an officer.

3. The Secretary is elected by the congregation to serve for a period of one year. He/she shall keep minutes of all Vision Council and congregational meetings; keep records of all business meetings, serve as secretary of the Corporation and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Vision Council Chair.

4. The Church Treasurer is appointed by the Vision Council Chairperson, with Executive Committee approval, to serve for a period of one year. He/she shall serve as Treasurer of the congregation, a member of the Stewardship Committee and Endowment Trust Board, and shall make reports at each quarterly meeting of the Vision Council, and Annual Report to the Congregation.

1. The Vision Council Chair, Ministry Council Chair and Secretary may be elected for a second successive term, but thereafter can be elected to the same office after one year of retirement from that office.
2. The Treasurer can serve renewable terms upon the recommendation of the Vision Council Chairperson and the approval of the Vision Council.

1. Elders: Shall be elected by the congregation to serve a three-year term. They may, after one year of retirement, be re-elected again. The Elders shall promote the growth and welfare of the church, give spiritual oversight to the members and provide spiritual counsel to the pastor. They shall give thoughtful consideration to the policies of the church that shall enable it to fulfill its complete mission, encourage by example and word, the missionary, evangelistic, educational and stewardship responsibilities of the church, serve at the Lord’s Table, and perform such other duties as may be necessary.

The chair of the Elders shall serve as a member of the Vision Council.

2. Diaconate: Diaconate shall be elected by the congregation to serve a one year term. They can serve up to three consecutive one year terms before taking a one year retirement after which they can be reelected again.

The duties of the Diaconate shall be to prepare and distribute the Lord’s Supper, receive the offering, help as ushers, prepare new members for baptism, assist the Elders with communion to sick and shut-in members, and perform other duties as necessary.

The chair of the Diaconate shall serve as a member of the Vision Council.

3. Representative of the Congregation at Large: A Representative of the Congregation At Large shall be elected by the congregation for a term of three years to serve on the Vision Council and provide observations and feedback from the congregation. He/She shall also attend the monthly Ministry Council meeting and provide congregational feedback. This person may serve again after being off one term.

4. Regional and General Assembly Delegates. The Nominating Committee shall select the proper number of voting representatives and alternates as determined by the requirements of the Regional and General Assembly. He/She shall be elected at the annual meeting of the congregation or at a special election called for this purpose. They shall serve for a one year period.

1. Annual Meeting. The congregation shall hold its Annual Meeting before December 15 of each year at 511 North 44th Avenue, Yakima, Washington, 98908.
2. Special Meeting. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the Vision Council Chair. Special meetings may also be called upon by written petition of 25 or more participating members of the congregation.

  3.   Notice of Meetings.

a. Notices of meetings of the congregation shall be delivered to each participating member not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting by either postage mail, email and/or notices in the Englewood Christian Worship & News weekly newsletter.

b. Contents of Notices. Notices of Annual Meetings shall state the place, day and hour of the meeting. Notice of Special Meetings shall in addition to the information required for Annual Meetings, state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

c. Voting Members. Members who are considered participating members shall have the right to vote at congregational meetings.

Section B. Rules of Order. All meetings of the congregation shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, revised. Use of the common consent procedure shall be encouraged at Vision and Ministry Council Meetings.

Section A. The affairs of the congregation shall be managed and directed by the Vision Council in accordance with provisions of law and the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. The Vision Council shall establish the policies for the growth, well being and the ministry of the congregation in accordance with the adopted ministry plan.

Section B. Membership. The Vision Council shall be composed of the following and shall have voting privileges:

1. The Minister or Ministers employed by the congregation.

2. The Chair of the Vision Council (also designated as the President of the corporation).

3. The Chair of the Ministry Council (also designated as the Vice-President

of the Corporation).

4. The Secretary

5. The Treasurer

6. The Chair of the Personnel Committee

7. The Chair of the Endowment Trust Board

8. The Chair of the Property Committee

9. The Chair of the Stewardship Committee

10. The Chair of the Elders

11. The Chair of the Diaconate

12. The Representative of the Congregation At Large

Section C. Meetings. The regular meetings of the Vision Council shall be each quarter (Jan., April, July, October) on the 2^nd Sunday following the morning worship service. Special meetings of the Vision Council shall be called by the Vision or Ministry Council Chairperson, or upon request of one third of the members of the Vision Council or by written petition of 25 or more members of the congregation. No notice need be given of the time and place of regular meetings of the Vision Council held at 511 North 44th Avenue, Yakima, Washington, 98908. Notice of all other meetings shall be given to all members of the Vision Council in writing no later than seven days proceeding the time of such Special Meetings. Such notice may be sent by e-mail, or U.S. Mail, to each member at his/her address as it appears on the records of the congregation. Meetings of the Vision Council shall be open to all participating members of the congregation, but only members of the Vision Council shall be allowed to vote.

Section D. Quorum.

One over half of the total number of members of the Vision Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

1. Process. People to be elected shall be secured by the Nominating Committee and then presented to the Vision Council for approval. Upon approval, the slate of officers shall then be sent to the congregation for final approval.

2. Nominating Committee. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the Vision Council at the regular meeting of the Vision Council within the first quarter of the church year to serve for one year or until a successor committee is appointed. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of two representatives from the congregation at large selected by the Vision Council, two representatives selected by the Elders, and four representatives selected by the Diaconate.

a. The nominating committee shall consider qualifications and secure consents. The list of nominees shall be in the church office by the second Sunday in November.

b. Those to be secured by the Nominating Committee for election by the congregation shall be:

Vision Council Chair

Ministry Council Chair

Secretary of the Vision Council

Representative of the Congregation at Large

Elders (to serve 3-year terms)

Diaconate (to serve 1-year terms)

Representatives to the Regional and General Church Conventions

 

The Chair of the Vision Council shall appoint the Property Committee Chairperson, the Stewardship Committee Chairperson and the Personnel Committee Chairperson; the Endowment Trust Board shall select their representative to the Vision Council. The Elders and Diaconate shall also select their representative to the Vision Council.

c. Vacancies in any of the elective offices shall be filled by participating members nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by a majority of the Vision Council, present at a regular meeting of such council.

Section A. Purpose. The Ministry Council is charged with the responsibility of implementing the various ministries of ECC, encouraging the development of new ministries and overseeing their development and evaluating their effectiveness in line with our stated missional goals. The Ministry Council shall have responsibility for implementing the Ministry Plan as well as overseeing responsibilities related to the traditional Departments of Christian Action, Christian Education, Membership, Outreach, Worship and Evangelism.

1. Membership. The Ministry Council shall consist of the Chair who has been elected by the congregation and volunteers among the members and non members who desire to serve and are approved by the Ministry Chairperson. The members of the Ministry Council shall be open to include new members when and as new ministries are developed. Short term task forces may be attached to the Ministry Council to accomplish specific tasks/projects.

2. Meeting. The Ministry Council shall meet at least twice each quarter on the Third Sunday of each month following the morning worship service.

 

 

Article IX

Standing Committees

 

1. Purpose. The Personnel Committee shall insure fairness and consistency in the treatment of all persons employed either full or part time by Englewood Christian Church. The Committee persons shall be selected from participating members of the congregation who have training or experience in the management of personnel. They shall be appointed by the Vision Council upon recommendation by the Chairperson of the Vision Council. The Committee shall be responsible to the Vision Council.
2. Membership. There shall be three (3) members, one (1) rotating off each year with the stipulation that for the first year one (1) shall serve a one year term, one (1) for two years and one (1) for three years. Committee members may be reappointed for a second term but thereafter must have a period of one year before being reappointed. The Committee shall select from within its membership its own Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary annually.
3. Responsibilities. Responsibilities of this Committee shall include: seek, interview and recommend for employment candidates for vacancies in the church staff, except for the Pastor, follow same procedure when additional staff positions are approved. Ensure evaluation of all church staff on an annual basis or more often if needed; confer with any appropriate committee in this evaluation. Evaluate Pastor(s) annually and assist the Pastor in evaluating other church staff. The Chair of the Committee shall serve on any Search and Call Committee which may be appointed during his/her term of office. Recommend salaries and benefits for all employed church staff. Periodically, but not less than once every three years, conduct a comprehensive comparison study for each employee position regarding wages and benefits paid. Write a job description for each employee position and once every three years review the descriptions for any appropriate changes that may be necessary. Serve as a clearing house for inquiries, concerns and suggestions about church staff’s work performance either from members of the congregation or from staff persons themselves. Conduct exit interview with each employee upon termination.

All prospective staff employees who have been interviewed and recommended for employment may serve as temporary employees until approval of their contracts by the Vision Council at either a regular meeting or a special called meeting as provided in Article VII, Section C.

Section B. Endowment Trust Board:

1. Purpose. The Endowment Trust Fund has been established for the purpose of receiving, investing, distributing, and managing said funds. To help achieve this goal, the Endowment Trust Board has been created for overseeing this Fund on behalf of the congregation.
2. Authority. The Endowment Trust Board shall act under direct authority of the Vision Council of Englewood Christian Church. Care and management of the Englewood Christian Church Education Trust Fund shall also be the responsibility of the Endowment Trust Board.

a. Trust Agreement. The Endowment Trust Board shall monitor the Trust Agreement that the Englewood Christian Church has with the Northwest Regional Christian Church and secure additional documents whenever the occasion rises where Englewood Christian Church may acquire documents which would come under term of the Trust Agreement (as per Board action, May 15, 1991).

b. Membership. The Endowment Trust Board shall consist of three (3) members of the congregation, each serving two years on a rotating basis. The members shall be appointed by the Vision Chairperson with approval of the Vision Council

Other standing committees may be established by the Vision Council and Ministry Council as deemed necessary. Task forces may be appointed by the Chairman of the Vision Council or Ministry Council as needed.

Section A. Selection. The Pastor shall be chosen by the congregation as hereinafter provided.

1. When there is determined a vacancy in the position of Pastor, the Chair of the Vision Council shall call into existence the Search and Call Committee that shall serve until a new pastor has been chosen by the congregation. The committee shall consist of five (5) representatives, three from the Vision Council and/or Ministry Council and two from the congregation. The Chair of the Personnel Committee shall be one of the members of the Search and Call Committee. The Chair of the Vision council, in consultation with the Chair of the Ministry Council, shall propose the names to the Vision Council for their approval.

2. The Chair of the Search and Call Committee, along with the Chair of the Vision Council, shall contact the Regional Minister of the Northwest Regional Christian Church for guidance in the process and for the securing of names of possible candidates.

3. Upon receiving the name of the recommended candidate, the Vision Council must approve the nomination by a two-thirds majority to be sent to the congregation for approval. The congregational vote must approve the nomination by at least a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in a regular or special business meeting of the congregation before a call may be extended.

4. Term of Pastorate. The term of the pastor shall be open as long as the relationship is beneficial to both the congregation and the pastor.

Section B. Qualifications. The Pastor shall be a duly ordained minister with standing of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination of which Englewood Christian Church is affiliated.

Section A. Purpose. It shall be the purpose of the Executive Committee to act on important decisions if it is not practical to wait for the regularly scheduled Vision/Ministry Council meeting. All actions of the Executive Committee are to be reported to the Vision Council for their approval.

Section B. Membership. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the pastor (who shall serve as chairman), other ministers employed by the congregation, the Chairs of the Vision and Ministry Councils, the Chair of the Elders and the Chair of the Diaconate.

Section C. Responsibilities. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for studying the needs of the congregation, evaluating its present activities and planning future ministries. It shall also be responsible for correlating plans and activities of departments and groups and arranging the calendar of activities.

The procedure governing employment of staff shall be as follows:

Section A. Employees other than heretofore provided shall be secured upon recommendation of the Personnel Committee, the Pastor, or the Executive Committee as the case may be. The Personnel Committee shall recommend to the Vision/Ministry Council the employment or release of such employees as shall be deemed necessary from time to time.

Section B. Final authority in all such matters, except the calling of the Pastor, shall reside with the Vision Council.

Section C. Employment shall be by a two-thirds vote of the Vision Council members present and voting, each employee to be responsible to the Vision Council in consultation with the Personnel Committee, and the Pastor.

Section D. Supervision of the staff shall be under the direction of the Pastor.

Section E. A written statement covering terms and conditions of employment shall be included in the minutes, a copy of which shall be given to the employee.

Amendments, alterations or repeals of these By-Laws may be adopted by a majority of the participating members of the congregation present at any Annual or Special Meeting of the congregation; provided that the notice of such Annual or Special Meeting sets forth the proposed amendment, alteration or repeal or a summary of the changes to be effected thereby.