FLORISSANT VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(Disciples of Christ)
Constitution
Preamble and Reaffirmation
Whereas Jesus taught us to love God with all our heart, our mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves; and whereas we understand that to mean we are to love God through service to and with one another and to care for ourselves; and whereas Jesus on the night of his arrest told us to observe his last meal with his disciples and remember him in this observance; further because Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples of others by baptism; and because we find the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) embodies diverse beliefs and peoples in a structure which enables our ministry as a congregation:
We hereby reaffirm the establishment of Florissant Valley Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) in Florissant, Missouri as a congregation of the universal church of
Christ to serve and worship God, on this 7th day of the month of May in the year 1993.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this congregation shall be the Florissant Valley Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It shall be affiliated with and committed to the historic principles of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The Congregation defines its existence for the following purpose: The Florissant Valley Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) exists to preach the Gospel in love according to Jesus through the manifestations of the Church, both locally and beyond ourselves.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this congregation, as part of the whole family of God on earth, shall consist of the following- those who are now members of the congregation; those who shall unite with it by confession of faith in Jesus Christ, giving expression to their faith through baptism; and those who unite by transfer of membership, thereby reaffirming their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE IV - THE CONGREGATION
Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities
The Congregation shall be self-governing, managing all its affairs under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It shall own, control and encumber its property; organize and carry out the mission and witness of the congregation; establish its budget and financial policies; call its minister(s) and employ other support staff, and participate through voting representatives, in Area, Regional, and General Assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). All participating members shall have voting privileges at congregational meetings.
Among its other responsibilities, the Congregation shall proclaim the gospel, administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper; provide for the spiritual nurture of its members; be faithful in Christian stewardship by sharing proportionately to provide resources for the life, work and witness of the total Church; seek ways to be of service to the community; and witness to the oneness of the church of Jesus Christ through ecumenical cooperation with other churches.
The Congregation shall sustain its minister(s) in faithfulness and honor; and in matters pertaining to relationships with the minister(s), seek counsel from the executive staff of the Area and Regional offices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
In addition, the congregation shall exercise and enjoy all other rights, privileges and responsibilities requisite or appropriate to carrying out its purpose.
ARTICLE V - THE CONGREGATION
Organization
Section A: Officers
The Congregation shall elect from its members a moderator, vice-moderator(s), financial secretary and treasurer. These officers shall be nominated as stated in the bylaws and shall be elected at a business meeting of the congregation. They shall serve as officers of the congregation and of the Church Council as set forth in bylaws.
Section B: Church Council
The Congregation shall have a Council which shall be responsible to it and have authority to act on its behalf
The Council shall be composed of members as set forth in the bylaws and for terms of office as stated therein.
The Council shall establish by its action the program and budget of the congregation, subject to action by the congregation at its annual meeting. It shall be responsible also for conducting all legal business matters of the congregation and carry out such other responsibilities as may be defined in the bylaws.
The Council shall be responsible for coordinating the program and work of the congregation including long-range planning. It shall design and administer programs as directed and approved by the congregation.
The Council shall establish such committees and task groups as necessary to enable the congregation to carry out its purpose. The Council shall be responsible for receiving reports from the minister(s), officers, program committees, and auxiliary organizations within the congregation.
Stated meeting of the Council shall be provided in the bylaws.
Section C: Elders, Deacons, Trustees
The Congregation shall have Elders, a Diaconate, and Trustees. Their election, qualifications and responsibilities shall be set forth in the bylaws.
ARTICLE VI - THE MINISTER
The Minister(s) of the congregation shall be provided with a written job description including qualifications and guidelines. Responsibility for development and review of the job description shall be as set forth in the bylaws.
General responsibilities, qualifications, and procedures for the calling of the minister shall be as provided in the bylaws.
ARTICLE VII - CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
The Congregation shall meet at least 30 days prior to the first day of the fiscal year to adopt its budget and at least 30 days prior to the first day of the program year to elect its officers, Elders, Diaconate, and Trustees. Voting representatives to Area, Regional, and General Assemblies shall be elected by the congregation as set forth in the bylaws. Notice of all stated or special congregational meetings shall be announced at regular Sunday morning worship services of the congregation at least one week in advance of the meeting and by means of the church newsletter or a written notice sent through the mail and postmarked at least 10 days before the meeting. Purpose, date, time, and place of meeting shall be indicated in each notice.
Special meetings may be called by the Moderator or Vice-Moderator of the congregation or upon request of the Church Council or written petition of 20 percent or more of the participating members of the congregation.
All business meetings of the Council shall be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order. Congregational meetings will also be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order, with the exception of a voting procedure to allow valid absentee voting. The rules for absentee voting shall be set forth in the bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII - FIDELITY BONDS
The Congregation may provide for Fidelity Bonds for any officer or employee of the congregation charged with the direct receipt or disbursements of funds.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
The Constitution may be amended at any congregational meeting by a two-thirds vote of members present voting by show of hands or written ballots and by valid absentee ballots, provided written notice of the proposed amendment has been sent through the mail to members of the congregation at least 10 days prior to the time the vote is to be taken, or the proposed amendment has been read at two successive Sunday morning worship services immediately prior to the time the vote is taken.
Amendments shall be submitted by the Church Council or by petition of 20 percent or more of the participating members of the congregation.
ARTICLE X - PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS
The adoption of this constitution by a two-thirds vote of the congregation of Florissant Valley Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) renders null and void all previous constitutional documents of the congregation, with the exception of the legal Articles of Incorporation.
ARTICLE XI - DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of Florissant Valley Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), all real property owned by the congregation shall become the property of the Southeast Gateway Area of the Mid-America Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A public sale shall be held to dispose of remaining tangibles, and all monies from the sale shall be donated to a recipient chosen by the congregation. A motion for dissolution shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the participating members of the congregation present voting by show of hands or written ballot and by valid absentee ballots in a meeting called for the purpose of considering the motion.
ARTICLE XII - ADOPTION
This constitution shall become effective when adopted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the participating members of the congregation present voting by show of hands or written ballots and by valid absentee ballots” at a called congregational meeting. Adoption of this Constitution will supersede all previous constitutions of the congregation.
