By-Laws of the First Congregational Church
of
Kennebunkport
Maine
Article I -
Name
This
Church (founded in 1730 in what was then the town of
Arundel) shall be called
the First Congregational
Church of Kennebunkport, Maine.
The
purpose of this Church shall be to bind together the followers of
Jesus Christ for the worship of God and to make God’s will dominant
in their lives, individually and collectively, especially as that
will is set forth in the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. We seek democratic life and organization, simplicity
and vitality of faith, intellectual freedom to follow the dictates
of conscience enlightened by the Holy Spirit, educational quality,
evangelistic purpose, missionary zeal
to include Christian outreach to the community, both local
and worldwide for believers and
non-believers alike, social passion, nonsectarian fellowship, and
unselfish devotion to the kingdom of God.
Section 1. Divine Guidance.
This Church acknowledges
Jesus Christ as its head, and finds in the Holy Scriptures,
interpreted by the Divine Spirit through reason, faith, and
conscience, its guidance in matters of faith and discipline.
Section 2. Government. The government of this church
is vested in its members, who exercise the right of control in all
its affairs, subject in legal matters to the articles of
incorporation granted by the Secretary of the State of
Maine. The church, in the conduct of all
its business, being an incorporated body, is subject to Chapter 20,
Maine Revised Statutes, Sections 24 to 32. All meetings will be
conducted in conformance with Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Section 3.
Affiliation.
While this Church is
amenable to no ecclesiastical judicatory, it is affiliated with the
York Association of the Maine Conference of the United Church of
Christ, accepting the obligations of mutual counsel, comity, and
cooperation implied by that membership, and pledging itself to share
in the common aims and work of that body.
Section 1.
General -- Becoming a Member.
Any person who is not a member of
any other Christian church may become a member of this Church by
profession of faith.
Any member of any other Christian
church may become a member of this Church by letter of transfer or
by reaffirmation of faith. A person may become a member by joining
with the congregation in reading the Covenant at a scheduled Church
service. New or
prospective members shall first meet with the Pastor and the Board
of Deacons to become acquainted with the by-laws and the programs of
this Church. In an
unusual circumstance, such as prolonged illness, a person who is
unable to appear at a Church service may be admitted to membership
in absentia. Members,
after attaining membership, are expected, to the best of their
ability, to attend the regular services of worship, to contribute
financially to the support of the Church and its benevolences, to
participate in its life and work, and to manifest their faith in
their daily living.
There
shall be two classes of membership: Parish Members and
Covenant Members:
Section 2. Parish
Members. Any person who
participates in the activities of this Church, and who, because of
the temporary nature of their expected residence in the community,
wishes to retain membership in other Christian churches (for
example: a student eighteen years of age or more or any other person
as described above), may become a Parish Member. Parish Members
shall have the same rights and responsibilities as Covenant Members
except as modified elsewhere in these By-Laws.
Section 3. Covenant Members. Any person may become a Covenant member who,
in the judgment of the Board of Deacons, has given evidence of
living in complete devotion to Jesus Christ, and upon a majority
vote of the members present at any meeting of the church.
Section 4. Inactive
Members. A member who has not responded to any
communication from this Church for two consecutive years may, by
vote of the Board of Deacons, be placed on an inactive list and
shall then not have the right to vote or hold office. An inactive
member may be reinstated as a member upon making a written request
to the Board of Deacons.
The Diaconate shall convey any such placement on the inactive
list or reinstatement to the Pastor, the Treasurer and the
Clerk.
Section 5. Termination of
Membership. Any Covenant Member of this
Church may terminate membership by sending a written resignation to
the Board of Deacons. A Covenant Member desiring to leave this
Church and join another may request a letter of transfer from the
Board of Deacons.
Parish Member membership shall automatically terminate upon
departure from the community, and they shall not be issued letters
of transfer. Any person who has been on the inactive list for three
years may have their membership terminated by action of the Board of
Deacons. The Diaconate
shall convey any such termination to the Pastor, the Treasurer and
the Clerk.
Section 1. Pastoral Search
Committee. When a vacancy
occurs on the Pastoral staff, the Board of Deacons shall select a
Pastoral search committee of seven members to seek a replacement.
The Deacons will prepare a list of search committee nominees
representing a reasonable cross section of the Church, all of whom
are Covenant Members of the First Congregational Church of
Kennebunkport, Maine. Any Covenant Member of the church is
eligible for nomination to the search committee. The Board of
Deacons shall call a meeting of the Church to present its list of
nominees and to elect a search committee. The names of the nominees
shall appear in the call to the meeting. Any member of the church
may submit to this meeting any additional name or names with the
additional nominee’s written consent.
When the list of nominees has been completed, the members
present shall be provided with ballots on which each may vote for
not more than seven nominees. The nominees receiving the highest
numbers of votes shall be elected to the committee, which shall
choose its own presiding officer and adopt its own rules of
operation. When the committee is seeking an Assistant/Associate
Pastor, the Pastor shall be an ex officio member, without
vote, of the committee.
The Search Committee shall be responsible to and shall
periodically report to the Board of Deacons, which in turn
recognizes the need for the committee to maintain the
confidentiality of both the candidate(s) and the committee. The
duties and powers of the search committee may be terminated at the
discretion of the Church. In the event that a committee member is no
longer able to continue active participation on the committee, the
Diaconate may choose to appoint a new member to fill the vacancy
created from the next highest person previously
nominated.
When the Search Committee has selected a candidate for the
position of Pastor or Assistant/Associate Pastor, it shall introduce
the candidate to the congregation and at a special meeting propose
that the candidate be called to serve the Church. A two-thirds
favorable vote by secret ballot of the members present at the
meeting shall be necessary to call the candidate.
Section 2. Interim Pastor. When there is a need to
appoint an Interim Pastor, the Board of Deacons shall serve as the
Search Committee. When the Board of Deacons has selected a candidate
for the position of Interim Pastor, it shall confirm the candidate’s
call by a two-thirds vote.
An Interim Pastor may retain membership in his/her home
church.
Section 3.
Installation/Membership.
A Pastor, having accepted
the call, shall seek Covenant Membership in this Church.
Section 4. Pastoral
Leadership. The Pastor shall be
charged with the spiritual welfare of the Church. The Pastor shall preach the
gospel of Christ, oversee all services of public worship, administer
the sacraments, administer the activities of the Church in
cooperation with the various boards and committees, administer the
day-to-day activities of the staff, and serve as an ex officio
member, without vote, of the Church Council and of all boards
and committees.
Section 5. Assistant/Associate
Pastor(s).
Upon recommendation of the Officers
of the Church, the Congregation may authorize one or more positions
of the Assistant or Associate Pastor by a two-thirds vote of those
present and voting at a meeting in which this item appears in the
call. Assistant or Associate Pastors shall be called in accordance
with the provisions of Article VI, Section 1. Each such Pastor shall
stand in the same pastoral relation to the Church as the Pastor, but
the Pastor, with the advice of the Diaconate and in consultation
with the other Pastor(s), shall be responsible for determining the
division of their duties, and for giving such counsel and guidance
as the Pastor may deem appropriate. Assistant and Associate
Pastor(s) shall be ex officio members, without vote, of such
committees as may seem appropriate, except the Pastoral Relations
Committee.
Section 6. Termination.
Any Pastor who wishes to resign shall
give 60 days written notice. The Congregation may request the
resignation of a Pastor at any time by a two-thirds vote of the
members present at a special meeting called for that purpose, with
the expectation that the resignation will be effective within 90
days. In the case of loss of Pastoral standing on the part of a
Pastor, dismissal will be effective immediately, but the salary and
benefits may, at its discretion, be continued for up to ninety
days.
Section 7. Pastoral Relations
Committee. The Pastoral Relations Committee
shall have three members
elected by the Church for three-year terms, one member to be elected
each year. Upon completion of a full term, a Committee member shall
not be eligible for election to the same Committee until one year
has elapsed. The
Committee shall select a Chair. They shall act as the
Pastor’s advisor, serving as a liaison team between the Pastor and
the congregation, the purpose of which would be to
facilitate a positive, creative relationship between the Pastor,
staff, and members of the Church family, addressing any issues that
may arise that would impact the effectiveness of their
ministry. The Committee shall maintain confidentiality
whenever appropriate. The Committee is the primary
vehicle for Church Members to air any concerns or complaints about
the Pastor in a constructive and anonymous manner. The Committee is also
responsible for gathering input for the Pastor’s annual review, and
shall deal with all personnel matters concerning the Pastor,
including annual salary, benefits, and expense recommendations which
shall be submitted to the duly constituted Finance Committee prior
to the Annual Budget Meeting
Section 8. Church Secretary. The
Secretary is a paid employee who performs such duties as the Pastor
may from time to time assign.
These may include but not be limited to, calendars,
newsletters, meeting minutes, maintenance of Pastor’s contact lists,
email processing, etc.
Article VI. - Officers and
Delegates
Section 1. General. The
officers of the Church
shall be the Pastor, the Moderator (chair), the Assistant Moderator,
the Treasurer, the Clerk, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and
the Chairman of the Board of Deacons. If an officer wishes to
resign, the officer shall send a written notice to the Chair.
Section 2. – The Pastor. The Pastor shall
perform the duties usually attaching to this office and as described
in Article V.
Section 3. – The Moderator.
The
Moderator shall be elected for a term of one year, and may be
reelected. He/she shall normally have served at least one (1)
year as Assistant Moderator. If this is not possible, a
Moderator shall be elected by the membership. The Moderator
shall be diligent to see that all requirements of the Articles of
Incorporation, these bylaws, job descriptions and other official
instructions are followed. The Moderator shall report
violations not otherwise corrected to the appropriate officer for
action.
The Moderator shall
actively participate in the life and mission of the church.
The Moderator shall have general oversight of the congregation,
boards, committees and all other church activities. The
Moderator in cooperation with the Pastor and the boards shall have
the responsibility of advocating a sense of direction for the
congregation. The Moderator shall make every effort to ensure
that conflicts within the church are resolved.
The Moderator
shall preside over all Congregational Meetings and the Annual
Meeting and shall serve as leader for church retreats, budget
workshops and other Congregation meetings. In the absence of
the Moderator, the Vice Moderator shall preside, and if both are
absent, the Pastor shall preside. The Moderator is an ex-officio member of all
church boards and committees, may attend any meeting, may vote to
break a tie, and shall act as liaison between boards, committees and
the Pastor. The
Moderator shall establish an annual Nominating Committee and shall
serve as a member of such committee.
The Moderator shall
present all actions that require a vote to the Congregation. The Moderator is responsible
for updating the Congregation at the monthly Church Congregation
meetings and shall produce a written report for the Clerk. The Moderator shall produce
the Church’s Annual Report
Section 4. - The Assistant
Moderator. The Assistant
Moderator shall be elected for a term of one year, and may be
reelected. He/she shall normally then be nominated to be
Moderator at the end of the Moderator’s term. The Assistant Moderator
shall chair the Nominating Committee, and shall preside at meetings
in the absence of the Moderator. Should a vacancy occur during
the Moderator’s term of office, the Assistant Moderator shall fill
the remainder of said term. The Church Congregation may fill
the position of Assistant Moderator for the balance of the
term.
Section 5. – The Clerk. The Clerk shall be
elected by the Church to a three-year term and may be
reelected.
The
Clerk shall be a member ex officio,
with vote, of the Church Congregation and shall act as its
secretary, shall call all
meetings, shall keep a faithful record of all meetings,
posting the Council minutes on a Church bulletin board within
ten days following each meeting. The Clerk shall establish
quorums at these meetings, know the bylaws, and ensure that the
meetings are conducted in accordance with the bylaws. The Clerk
shall be responsible for ensuring the safekeeping of all church
deeds, insurance policies, and all other legal documents, which
shall be physically maintained at the Church or in a safe deposit
box.
The Clerk shall keep the roll of the church
membership, as provided by the Board of Deacons, a record of
baptisms and marriages, shall conduct correspondence and letters of
gratitude for gifts received, shall perform such other duties as
usually pertain to the office of clerk of an assembly, and shall make an annual
report.
As Clerk of
an incorporated body, the incumbent must be sworn into office by a
justice of the peace or notary public after each election to
office.
An Assistant
Clerk may be elected by the Church to a three year term, may be
reelected, and must be sworn into office by a justice of the peace
or notary public after each election to
office.
Section 6. – The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall
be elected by the Church for a one year term and may be
reelected. He/she is
responsible for managing the cash flow of the Church and supervising
the Assistant Treasurer.
As an ex officio member of the
Trustees, the Treasurer attends all Trustee meetings and receives
financial approvals from the Trustees. He/she produces a written
annual report for the Clerk, a written monthly report to the
Trustees and Church Congregation.
The
Treasurer receives an accounting of all funds from the Assistant
Treasurer and collects and accounts for all other funds coming into
the church, giving receipts for all funds received. The Treasurer deposits funds
to appropriate accounts; will establish all accounts necessary to
manage the Church’s funds, including restricted, savings, checking
and money market accounts.
Section 7. – The Assistant
Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer shall be
elected by the Church for a one year term and may be reelected. The Assistant
Treasurer assists the Treasurer and serves in the Treasurer’s
absence. The Assistant
Treasurer, assisted by selected members of the Diaconate, shall
count the weekly offering and make timely deposits. The Assistant Treasurer
shall provide a written statement of pledge status to any pledging member so
requesting.
Section 8. – The Stewardship
Committee. The Stewardship Committee
shall consist of three
members. One member
shall be elected by the Church each year for a three-year term.
Members of this committee must be a Covenant Member of the Church.
Upon completion of a full term, a member shall not be eligible for
election to the same Committee until one year has elapsed. The Stewardship Committee
shall work to bring awareness to the Congregation of the need for
long-term and consistent financial support. The Committee appoints a
Chair and sets annual goals for its performance. It is responsible for
designing the annual Stewardship Sunday program, communicating to
the Congregation the need and process for pledging and monitoring
total receipts versus pledges.
Specific details of member giving are confidential and
exclusively managed by the Assistant Treasurer.
Section 9. – Board of
Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall have
six members elected by the Church for three-year terms, two members
to be elected each year. The Board of Trustees shall appoint a Chair and
Vice-Chair, who will act as Chair in the Chair’s absence. Upon completion of a full
three-year term, a Board member shall not be eligible for election
to the same Board until one year has elapsed. All Board members must
be Covenant Members of the Church.
Trustees are
responsible for the care and management of the revenues of the
Church and its real and personal property, both directly and through
standing committees if assigned; they shall administer all the
business affairs of the church as the church shall direct, or as may
seem wise in their own best judgment, in the absence of specific
direction by the Church.
Trustees negotiate all contracts for services such as
insurance, fuel, plowing and grounds maintenance, etc. The Trustees are
responsible for engaging and discharging for cause (except for the
Pastor, who is called by the Congregation) all Church paid personnel
and all agreements for hiring shall be recommended by the Trustees
to the Church Congregation for approval. Trustees exercise oversight
on disposition of all financial gifts to the Church (unless
otherwise indicated by the giver) and all recommendations for
spending general church funds must be approved by the Trustees. The Treasurer, as an ex officio member of the
Trustees is available to help the Trustees understand the financial
impact of Trustee decisions.
Trustees shall make a report to the church at its annual
meeting and as called for at other times.
Section 10. – Board of Deacons. The Board of
Deacons shall have six members elected by the Church for three-year
terms, two members to be elected each year. Upon completion of a
full three-year term, a member shall not be eligible for election to
the same Board until one year has elapsed. All Board members must be
Covenant Members of the Church.
The Board of
Deacons, by reason of members’ spiritual maturity, shall assist the
Pastor in the pastoral care of the Church, the appearance of the
Sanctuary, weekly greetings, collections, welfare of the needy,
etc. The Board of
Deacons shall provide for the maintenance of public worship and
advise the Pastor on its conduct; shall prepare and serve the Lord’s
Supper, and shall assist in the enlistment and welcoming of new
members,
The Board of Deacons shall
determine membership status, shall keep a register, with addresses,
of the members of the Church, segregated into Covenant
Members, Parish Members,
inactive members and terminations, with dates and modes of their
reception and removal.
The Board if Deacons shall issue letters of transfer. In the absence of the
Pastor, they shall serve as a supply committee.
Permanent Diaconate. Each Deacon, at the completion
of his/her term, shall be enrolled in the Permanent Diaconate, and
shall continue as a member thereof as long as he/she shall be a
member of the Church. Members of the Permanent Diaconate may be
called upon to assist the Board of Deacons in the performance of its
duties.
Section 11. – Lay Visitors. Lay Visitors are volunteers
who, under the supervision of the Pastor, coordinate visits to
Church members in need of support. They shall be elected by the Church
for a one year term and may be reelected.
Section 12. – Outreach Committee. The
Outreach Committee shall
consist of three members.
One member shall be elected by the Church each year for a
three-year term and may be reelected. The Pastor shall serve as an
additional permanent member of the Committee. The Outreach Committee shall
appoint a Chair. It is
responsible for interfacing with our local community, our broader
church community and for mission work that the Committee decides is
appropriate. It shall
establish goals and establish outreach programs to support these
goals, distributing all outreach funds and materials
collected.
Key
Woman. The Key Woman shall be elected by the Church
for a one year term and may be reelected. The Key Woman shall become a
member of the Church Community Outreach Society Board of Directors
and attends its monthly meetings. The Society itself manages
the County Food Pantry, Fuel Assistance and Snacks for School
Children programs. As a
volunteer, the Key Woman decides upon the extent of her own
involvement. The Key
Woman gathers and delivers to Christ Church all food products
collected at our church for Holiday Food Baskets. Attendance at UCC
Conference is optional, but attendance at Ladies’ Society is
encouraged. The Key
Woman shall provide a monthly update to the Congregation and shall
produce a written report for the Clerk and the Church’s Annual
Report to the membership.
Section 13. - Board
of Christian Education. The Board of Christian
Education
shall consist of three members.
One member
shall be elected by the Church each year for a three-year term and
may be reelected.
The Board of Christian Education shall be
responsible for educational programs for all ages, shall maintain
the Church library, and shall encourage stewardship education. The
Board may appoint a Christian Education
Director who shall supervise Church
school operations and shall be an ex officio member of the
Board with voice and vote. The Christian Education Director
is
responsible for designing, with assistance and guidance from the
Pastor and the Christian Education Committee, the Church’s Sunday school
program, for building awareness of missions for adults and children
and reaching out to other groups to share interests in work on more
community based projects.
