Article I

Name

The name of this Church shall be The Church in Aurora.

Article II

Purpose

The purpose of this Church shall be to bind together followers of Jesus Christ to share in the worship of God, and to make God’s will dominant in their lives and in the World.

Article III

Polity

The government of this Church is vested in its members and it shall be subject to no denominational body in its faith or practice, except that it shall strive to cooperate with all religious bodies and to share their common aims and work.

The members of this Church shall have the undisturbed right to follow the Word of God according to the dictates of their own consciences.

Article IV

Membership

The members of this Church shall be persons who have been received into its fellowship by any of the following methods:

a.

presentation of a letter of transfer from another Church, or, if a member of another Church and a letter is not available, by statement of desire to become a member of this Church;

b.

confession of faith and baptism;

c.

recommendation of the Minister and/or the Elders when baptism is waived because of personal conviction.

Article V

Sacraments

Section 1.  The rite of baptism shall be administered by the Minister upon request, using the mode preferred by the parents of children or the adults being baptized.  Baptism may be performed during worship, privately, or in the home.

Section 2.  Communion of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed at times determined by the Minister and the Elders.  Communion shall be open to all who sincerely desire to participate

Article VI

Meetings

Section 1.  The Church shall meet for worship each Sunday except when such worship is temporarily suspended by vote of the Church Board.  Additional services of public worship may be called by the Minister and Elders.

Section 2.  The enrolled members of the Church shall meet  annually on any day during the month of January, chosen by the  Church Board, at the usual place of meeting, for the election of  officers and for any other business, including the presentation of reports of all in charge of the various activities and records. 

Section 3.  Special meetings of the enrolled membership may be called for any convenient time at the usual place of meeting by a  majority vote of the Church Board or by the Moderator upon presentation of a petition signed by at least thirty members over  eighteen years of age.

Section 4.  All business meetings of the Church membership shall be called by notification to each member by mail or by  notification from the pulpit and the Church bulletin for the two  Sundays preceding the meeting.

Section 5.  By an affirmative vote of a majority of those present at a business meeting, the members may veto or amend actions taken or prescribe new actions to be taken, on any subject, by the Church Board, by its officers or by any group the members so appoint.

Article VII

Church Staff

The Church Staff shall consist of a Minister or Ministers and additional positions considered necessary for the operation of the program of the Church.

Section 1.  Ministers.  There shall be one or more Ministers of this Church, duly elected by a majority vote of the Church membership acting in business session.

The terms of call of any Minister shall be agreed upon at the time of election.  Service may be terminated by the Minister after notice to the Church Board, with salary and service continuing until a termination date agreed upon by the Minister and the Church Board.  Service may be terminated by a three-fourths vote of the Church Board and a three-fourths vote of the Church members attending a business meeting, but not without paying three months’ salary and after voting to terminate.

In the event of a ministerial vacancy, the Elders and the Church Board shall arrange to have a qualified person serve as an interim Minister.

A candidate for a ministerial position of the Church shall be a graduate of an academically recognized denominational or interdenominational theological school that required four years of undergraduate training and three or more years of post graduate theological training, and who then is eligible for ordination. Ordination may be by a denominational or a Community Church.  Candidates shall share the viewpoint of our non-denominational Church and Community Church heritage and indicate a willingness to cooperate with the International Council of Community Churches.

Section 2.  Staff Positions.  The positions of Director of Christian Education, Director of Music, Organist, and Office Secretaries shall be Staff Positions.  The Church Board may at any time create or eliminate other staff positions as required for the operation of the Church program.  The Church Board shall act upon recommendations of the Elders to appoint or discharge persons for these positions.

Section 3.  Duties.  Duties of the staff and lines of authority shall be determined by the Elders.  The Senior Minister shall be the Head of Staff.

Article VIII

Elected Officers

Section 1.  Moderator.  There shall be a Moderator elected at the annual meeting of the Church.  The Moderator shall be elected for a two-year term and may not be elected for two consecutive terms.

Section 2.  Associate Moderator.  There shall be an Associate Moderator elected at the annual meeting of the Church.  The  Associate Moderator shall be elected for a two-year term and may not be elected for two consecutive terms.

Section 3.  Clerk.  There shall be a Clerk elected at the annual meeting of the Church for a one-year term.

Section 4.  Stewardship Directors.  There shall be six elected offices of Stewardship Director, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new Stewardship Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 5.  Treasurer.  There shall be a Treasurer elected at the annual meeting of the Church for a one-year term.

Section 6.  Associate Treasurer.  There shall be an Associate Treasurer elected at the annual meeting of the Church for a one-year term.

Section 7.  Elders.  There shall be six offices of Elder, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new Elders shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 8.  Deacons.  There shall be eighteen elected offices of Deacon, nine men and nine women, each with a three-year term.  Six terms of office, three of each gender, shall start each year.  Three men and three women shall be elected at the annual  meeting of the Church.

Section 9.  Membership.  There shall be six elected members of the Membership Committee, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new members shall be  elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 10.  Fellowship.  There shall be six elected members of the Fellowship Committee, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new members shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 11.  Trustees.  There shall be six elected offices of Trustee, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 12.  Missions Directors.  There shall be six elected offices of Missions Director, each with a three-year term.  Two terms of office shall start each year.  Two new Missions Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 13.  Endowment Fund Directors.  There shall be three elected offices of Endowment Fund Director, each with a three- year term.  One term of office shall start each year.   One new  Endowment Fund Director shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 14.  Christian Education.  There shall be nine elected members of the Christian Education Committee, each with a three-year term.  Three terms of office shall start each year.  Three new members shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Church.

Section 15.  Term of Office.  Except as otherwise noted herein, the maximum continuous time a person can serve in a particular  position as officer or on a committee, whether elected or  appointed, shall be six years.

 Section 16.  Vacancy of Office.  During the Year.  In the event  that a vacancy occurs during the term of an elected office, the procedure shall be:

Moderator.  The Associate Moderator shall fill the office until the next annual meeting.

Associate Moderator.  The Chairman of the Elders shall, in addition, fill the office until the next annual meeting.

Treasurer.  The Associate Treasurer shall fill the office.

Clerk, Stewardship Director, Associate Treasurer, Elder, Deacon, Membership, Trustee, Missions Director, elected Endowment Fund Director, Fellowship, Christian Education.  The Church Board shall, by a majority vote, elect a replacement to fill that office until the next annual meeting, when a replacement shall be elected to complete that term.

Article IX

Duties of Elected Officers

Section 1.  Moderator.  The Moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the Church and the Church Board and is charged with the obligation of seeing that all elected officials and appointed committees perform their respective duties.

Section 2.  Associate Moderator.  The Associate Moderator shall assist the Moderator in the discharge of the Moderator’s duties and obligations.  The Associate Moderator shall assume the Moderator’s duties in his absence.

Section 3.  Clerk.  The Clerk shall act as secretary of the Church and the Church Board.  The Clerk shall keep a record of the proceedings of all business meetings and perform other duties regularly pertaining to the office of Clerk or Secretary of an assembly.

Section 4.  Stewardship Directors.  They shall lead the Church Board in developing the stewardship and financial programs of the Church.  They shall be responsible for overseeing the time and  talent Program and ongoing stewardship education.

They shall, among themselves, select one Director to be chairman of Stewardship, the duties of which shall be to direct the financial program of the Church, to prepare an itemized annual budget which must have Church Board approval, and to arrange for an annual audit of the Church financial records by a professionally qualified person.

After a budget for the coming year is approved by the  congregation, any subsequent requests for funds not included in the budget must be presented first to the Stewardship Directors for their recommendations before being submitted to the Church Board for action.

Section 5.  Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall receive, disburse and account for all monies of the Church including permanent or endowed funds, as authorized by the Church Board.

Whenever called upon to do so, the Treasurer shall give an accounting to the Church membership or the Church Board.

The Treasurer shall be bonded with any cost incurred paid by the Church.

Section 6.  Associate Treasurer.  The Associate Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in the discharge of the Treasurer’s duties. The Associate Treasurer shall be bonded with any cost incurred paid by the Church.

Section 7.  Elders.  The Elders shall actively assist the Minister or Ministers in the spiritual work of the Church.  They shall arrange for substitution in the event of the absence of the regular Minister or Ministers.  They shall have charge of assistance in the Communion service.

They shall act as liaison between the Minister or Ministers and the Church Board with regard to the discharge of their duties.

They shall act as liaison between the Director of Music and the Organist and the Church Board with regard to the discharge of their duties.

They shall pass upon the usage of the Church premises, by any and all non-Church related groups as so desire its use.

The Stephen Ministry, Shepherds, Prayer Chain and any other care-giving programs shall all report to the Elders.  One Elder shall be selected by the Chairman as representative to the Deacons and one Elder as representative to Missions.  The Elders shall be responsible for personnel policies and shall institute a system for written annual performance reviews for all staff positions.

They shall, among themselves, select a chairman who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.  The chairman of the Elders shall act as presiding officer of the Church Board in the absence of the Moderator and the Associate Moderator.

Section 8.  Deacons.  The Deacons shall work with the Elders, Minister or Ministers to promote the influence of the Church and to assist with the worship service.

They shall arrange for a staff of ushers for all public services of worship.

They shall assist the Elders as required in the Communion service.

They shall prepare the Elements for the Communion service and prepare the chapel for service.

They shall coordinate the acolyte program in the Church.

They shall, among themselves, select a chairman who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.

Section 9.  Membership.  The Membership Committee shall be charged with expanding membership of the Church and developing orientation programs for new members.  The committee shall work with the Senior Minister in these duties, and the Senior Minister and a member of the Fellowship Committee shall be ex officio members of this committee.  The members shall, among themselves, select a chairman who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.

Section 10.  Fellowship.  The Fellowship Committee shall develop programs for integrating new members into the Church  and for involving current members in Church activities.  It shall also oversee the Receptions Committee.  A member of the Membership Committee and chairman of the Reception Committee shall be ex officio members of this committee.  The members shall, among themselves, select a chairman who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.

Section 11.  Trustees.  The Trustees shall act to maintain and preserve all physical properties of the Church in a prudent manner.

They shall act to protect the Church against liability and loss of property.  They shall engage the services of any person or persons necessary for the discharge of their duties.  They shall act as trustees of all lands and buildings held in the corporate name of the Church.  They shall act as trustees of all permanent funds and endowments of the Church unless other provisions are made at the time of establishment of such funds.  They shall act as trustees and custodians of all legal documents and related papers pertaining to the physical properties of the Church.  These shall be subject to audit at any time by the Church Board.

They shall not dispose of or encumber any lands or buildings except in a manner prescribed by action of the Church membership in a business meeting.  They may make lease arrangements covering properties not in use for regular Church programs.

They shall authorize, with Church Board approval, the specifications, appearance and placement of all memorial plaques and other signage.

They shall act in legal matters where it is necessary to sign the corporate name of the Church.  Any instrument, which the membership, by majority vote at a business meeting, shall direct or authorize to be executed on behalf of the Church shall be subscribed with its corporate name by one or more Trustees as required by that instrument.

They shall establish, publish, and review, at least once a year, a schedule of fees or rentals to be charged for the use of Church properties.

They shall, among themselves, select a chairman who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.

Section 12.  Missions Directors.  They shall lead and develop the missions program of the Church, promote awareness of Christian service programs and direct the expenditure of funds for these purposes as allocated in the budget or received in special collections.

They shall, among themselves, select one Director to be chairman of Missions.

Section 13.  Christian Education.  The Christian Education Committee shall study, devise, and promote programs in the area of Christian Education and training for the whole Church apart from the regular worship program.

This committee shall supervise the execution of the above programs.  Supervision of Sunday School and youth programs shall be under the direction of the committee.  Supervisory help shall be appointed by this committee.

In the event that a staff member is employed by the Church to direct its educational programs, that person shall work with this committee in planning and carrying out its decisions and policies.  The members shall, among themselves, select a chairman for the activities of the group.

Article X

Appointed Committees

Except as otherwise indicated, the Moderator shall name the  committees herein listed.  Committee membership is subject to approval of the Church Board.

Section 1.  Reception.  This committee shall have twelve members,  men and women.  They shall select a chairman among themselves, and the Chairman shall serve as an ex officio member of the Fellowship Committee.

This committee shall be responsible for regular and special receptions including Sunday coffee hours and shall report to the Church Board through the Fellowship Committee.

Section 2.  Long Range Planning.  This committee shall have as many members as may be deemed appropriate by the Moderator from time to time, which members shall have staggered two-year terms.  The Associate Moderator shall serve as chairman of this committee.  This committee shall be responsible for recommending and maintaining a long-range plan for the Church and for identifying upcoming needs.

Section 3.  Archivists.  There shall be as many positions of Archivist as deemed appropriate by the Moderator from time to time.  Candidates for these positions must be Church members for at least ten years recommended by other Archivists and appointed for staggered terms of three years.  They are responsible to the Church Board to carry out assigned responsibilities and shall report directly to the Church Board through a non-voting member on the Board.  A chairperson may be elected by the Archivists to coordinate their work.

The Archivists are responsible to identify, collect and preserve all items and records pertaining to the history of the Church.  They will also collect such items as Annual reports, copies of the Spires, newspaper articles, etc., as records of Church activities.  They may obtain help from the trustees to carry out their responsibilities.  They will organize and index the collections to facilitate the retrieval of information from the files and will assist persons looking for information that may be in the collections.  From time to time displays of significant material from the collections may be prepared by the Archivists.

Section 4.  Nominating.  This committee shall have one member for each operating committee, as chosen by each such committee, together with four appointed members who are not church officeholders nor appointees to other Church committees.  The Moderator shall name a member to serve a two-year term, assistant chairman the first year and chairman the second year.  This committee shall propose, at the annual meeting of the Church during the month of January, a list of nominees to fill the offices that have become vacant.

Section 5.  Memorials.  This committee shall have seven members and shall report directly to the Church Board through a non-voting member on the Board.  They shall receive, acknowledge and disburse memorial gifts not in the Endowment Fund.

They shall keep accurate records of all memorial gifts.

Section 6.  Endowment Fund.  Members of this committee shall be three elected Directors, see Article VIII, section 13, together with two Directors appointed by the Moderator for staggered terms of two years.  They shall, among themselves, select a chairman from the elected Directors who shall be responsible for the activities of the group.

This committee shall manage and oversee the Endowment Fund and investment of the same, shall be responsible for educating the congregation on Endowment, and shall develop programs for soliciting contributions to the Endowment Fund.

Article XI

Governing Body

Section 1.  Church Board Membership.  Voting membership of the Church Board shall include the Moderator, Associate Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer; one member from each of the Elders, Trustees, Stewardship Directors, Christian Education Committee,  Fellowship Committee, Membership Committee, Mission  Directors, Endowment Fund Directors, and Women’s Guild; and  two members from Deacons, one man and one woman.  The Associate Treasurer shall vote in the absence of the Treasurer.   Each committee shall select its representative(s) to the Board.

Section 2.  Church Board Meetings.  The Church Board shall be called for an organizational meeting as soon as possible after the annual congregational meeting.  They shall also meet at appropriate times to act upon the proposed annual budget and to approve the annual budget.

An official meeting of the Church Board will require a quorum of two-thirds of the voting members.

Section 3.  Church Board Procedures.  The Moderator and Clerk shall act as presiding officer and secretary.

The Moderator may call a special meeting of the Church Board upon notification to the respective members.

Any five elected officers acting in unison may call a special meeting of the Church Board upon notification to the respective members.

Until newly elected officers are installed and the new committees are appointed, their predecessors shall continue to act.

Meetings of the Church Board are open to members of the Church and appropriate matters may be included on the agenda by advance notification to the Moderator or Clerk

Section 4.  Church Board Duties and Powers.  It shall be the duty of the various groups of the Board to enumerate their specific duties and activities within the framework of the Code of Regulations.  These shall be recorded by the Clerk and periodically reviewed.

The Board shall record its actions and decisions in such manner that continuity of action is assured as the membership of the Board changes.

This Board is empowered to prescribe and perform any necessary duties not herein provided and not herein prohibited.

The Church Board shall receive reports of work done by the various elected groups and appointed committees.  They shall take appropriate action on all business matters of the Church, manage its properties and provide its revenues.  They shall promote its programs of worship and Christian Education extending its influence and usefulness in the community and the world.

Reports of all meetings of the Church Board proceedings and actions shall be sent to its members.

All unusual and extraordinary matters, including matters requiring action by the members of the Church, must be referred to and acted upon by the Church Board.

Committees, in addition to those listed in Article X, and service organizations deemed necessary for the operation of the Church may be created and eliminated by the Church Board.  Purpose, membership, and terms of membership must be clearly stated and recorded.

Article XII

Amendments

These regulations may be amended by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the membership present at any lawful meeting of the Church membership, upon notice of the full text of the proposed amendment or amendments being given in the same manner as the notice of special meetings.

Article XIII

Effective Date

This Code of Regulations supersedes all previous codes.  This Code has been accepted by the Church membership as of this date and is effective immediately.