Church Constitution

(A) Persons may become members of the church by applying for membership with the Board of Elders. To be received into membership, applicants must give a credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; provide testimony of a Scriptural baptism following their conversion; give credible evidence of a life consistent with being a disciple of Jesus Christ; and be willing to enter solemn covenant with the church. Applicants are recommended for membership to the congregation upon being evaluated by one or more of the members of the Board of Elders. By joining and uniting with the Church, members declare their willingness and commitment to submit to the authority and discipline of the congregation and follow the leadership of the Board of Elders of Sylvania Church. Heb. 13:17.

(B) Members may be removed from membership by their resignation from membership, or by having their membership revoked. Should a member resign while under the process of church discipline, the Board of Elders may, at their discretion, yet proceed with church discipline proceedings, including excommunication.

Membership in this Church shall not vest in any member any proprietary rights in the Church, but shall only entitle the member, if age 18 or over, to vote as set forth in this Constitution, on the following matters:

(1) The acceptance of members;
(2) The annual budget and any amendments thereto;
(3) The sale, purchase, or encumbrance of real-estate;
(4) The incurring of indebtedness;
(5) The creation or dissolution of any new ministerial position;
(6) The hiring of any candidate for a ministerial position;
(7) The appointing of Elders, Deacons, the Senior Pastor, and any Interim Pastor;
(8) The removal of an Elder, including the Senior Pastor, or Deacon;
(9) The final charge of removing members by the process of excommunication by way of church discipline;
(10) The amending of this Constitution.

Any vote on the items listed in this section requires approval of three-fourths of the votes cast, and must be done by ballot form, except for the acceptance of new members and the approval of the annual budget. The acceptance of new members and the annual budget shall be done by an open show of hands. Members may vote absentee. Where ballot-voting is required, any absentee vote must be received prior to any vote held where absentee vote is permitted.

At all properly called meetings, those members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Any man ordained an Elder by the church shall maintain the honor due an elder, even when that individual is not an active Elder on the Board of Elders. The authority of the Elders shall rest in a Board of Elders as described herein below. Deacons may have their responsibilities shaped by the Board of Elders. Deacons ordained by the church shall maintain the honor of their role even when not active.

In the event that the church is too small to maintain both offices, one Board will function as both Elders and Deacons until such time that qualified Deacons are recognized. Acts 6:1, et seq.; Titus 1:5.

In the event that the church no longer has qualified officers, the membership may invite another like-minded congregation to oversee the church until such time that qualified officers are raised up.

The Scriptures indicate that normally there should be a plurality of Elders in the local church. Acts 20:17; Phil 1:1. These men are called “Bishops” (meaning overseers) because they have oversight of the assembly. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17. They are called the “Pastor-teachers” given to the church “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering unto the building up of the body of Christ.” Eph. 4:11 12; Acts 20:28. There is parity (equality) among the Elders, each bearing authority in the deliberations and decisions of the Board of Elders. Thus the plurality and parity of the Elders guard the flock from the weaknesses of rule by one man and use the collective wisdom of several godly men to rule the flock of God as one Board.

The qualifications for a man chosen to fill the office of Elder are clearly set forth in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The recognition of these qualifications by the congregation will help prevent the infiltration of hirelings who forsake the flock, and wolves who enter in and destroy the flock. John 10:12-13; Acts 20:28-30. Any man called to the Eldership must be able conscientiously to affirm his agreement with and support of the Confession and Constitution of the church. Should he at any time move from his support of the Confession and Constitution, he is under spiritual and moral obligation to make this fact known to the Elders for further consultation. In the event of irreconcilable differences after consultation, this fact must be made known to the church for further disposition. To be qualified to serve as an Elder of the church, other than as senior pastor, one must have been an active member of the church for at least the preceding two years.

All Elders are pastors of the flock. Acts 20:28. They are responsible for the spiritual ministrations of the church, the implementation of discipline, the oversight of the souls of the members, and the oversight of all ministries and functions of the church. They shall give account to God for all things in the church. Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:2-3.

While every Elder should be “apt to teach,” some will be more engaged in formal and public teaching while others will be more engaged in pastoring (that is, private teaching and admonishing) and governing. 1 Tim. 5:17a. The gifts of each man will be considered by the Board of Elders in assigning responsibilities.

It shall be the duty of the Elders to be diligent and faithful in attendance at meetings of the Board of Elders, and the regular services of the church. They shall make suggestions regarding the pulpit ministry and encourage the one preaching in the work of the Lord.

For the sake of the spiritual good of its members, the church shall always strive to have at least four Elders. No maximum number of Elders shall be established. The Board of Elders shall notify the congregation any time the Board of Elders determines that additional Elders are needed. A three-fourths approval by the Congregation is required to approve the expansion of the number of elders to serve on the Board of Elders. At no time will a majority of the elders be made up of employees of Sylvania Church.

Elders will be approved by the congregation in accordance with a four-step process: Each year: (1) A call will be made to the congregation to submit names of men who the congregation believes display the qualities of Biblical Eldership within the church. The congregation shall only submit the names of men who are at least 30 years of age and who have been members in good standing for at least the preceding two years. (2) The current Elders will review the names of the men, ask each if he is willing to serve as an Elder, and properly evaluate those willing to serve, consistent with the Scriptural standards of Eldership and this Constitution. (3) The names of those men approved by the Elders as being qualified to be Elders and willing to serve as same shall be presented to the congregation. The membership of the church will have not less than two weeks to evaluate these men independently, asking questions and addressing concerns. A public meeting will be held with prospective Elders for an open forum in which to ask questions and hear candidate responses. (4) At the end of the public evaluation period, the whole church body will vote by closed and signed ballot on the approval of the Elder candidates.

Any accusation brought against an Elder must be brought by at least two witnesses; otherwise, it cannot be heard. 1 Tim. 5:19. The witnesses must bring their accusation to the Board of Elders, with the Elder in question being present. The accused Elder may not moderate, chair, or vote at such a meeting. An Elder may be removed from the Eldership by the following process:

Step 1: A majority of the Board of Elders eligible to vote on the matter determines that the accused Elder is: (a) continuing in unrepentant sin; (b) no longer fully and strictly subscribes to the church’s Confession; or (c) is otherwise Biblically unqualified. The accused Elder may not vote on this issue. If the Board of Elders makes such a determination, it will notify the Elder in writing of its vote and its reasoning.

Step 2: The Board of Elders shall then appoint a meeting at which the church membership will vote regarding the removal of the accused Elder from office in accordance with this Constitution. If the cause of his removal is continuing, unrepentant sin, the offending Elder will also be excommunicated or removed from membership of the Church by this same vote.