Constitution and
Bylaws
of PortlandMennoniteChurch,
Portland, Oregon
Revised
& Adopted December 1996
Amended
April 2000, November 2001
Preamble:
We,
the members of PortlandMennoniteChurch, an Oregon
not for profit corporation and a congregationally governed body, do hereby
adopt this constitution.
Article I Name:
The
name of this organization will be the PortlandMennoniteChurch
located at 1312 S.E. 35th Avenue, Portland,
Oregon.
Article II Mission:(Article II, newly adopted mission statement approved
by the congregation, Nov. 2001.)
By
the grace of God, PortlandMennoniteChurch is striving to be an
Anabaptist community that is shaped by the life of Christ,
acts with the compassion of Christ, and worships in the name
of Christ.
Article III Membership:
The
membership of this organization will consist of persons who profess faith in Jesus
Christ, are in agreement with the faith and practices of the MennoniteChurch, and are received into the
fellowship of this congregation.
Article IV Intra-Mennonite
Relations: (Article IV amended and
approved by the congregation, Nov. 2001.)
This
organization will be a member of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference and
a member of the Mennonite Church USA, and will be ready as a congregation to
give and receive counsel. Delegates representing PMC
at the annual meetings of these conferences shall be appointed by the Church
Council for two year terms.
Article V Organization:
Section 1: Officers: The
appointed officers of this congregation will be Church Chairperson and the
Church Treasurer(s). They will be the legal signees for the organization. Section 2: Structure: The
structure of this congregation is comprised of the Elders
Council, Church Council, and various committees and groups.
Their function is to carry out the mission of the congregation as stated in
Article II of the constitution.
Article VI Amendments:
This
Constitution and Bylaws may be amended or revised by a two-thirds vote of all
the membership present in a regularly called business meeting of this
organization, provided a copy of the proposed changed will be circulated in the
membership of the congregation at least three weeks prior to the business
meeting at which the proposed amendments or revision will be considered.
Article VIIEnacting Clause:
This
Constitution and Bylaws will become effective immediately upon adoption by a
two-thirds vote of all the membership present at a meeting announced to be held
for the purpose of said adoption. It will supersede all previous constitutions
and bylaws and such rules as are in conflict with it. All incumbent officers
will continue to serve under this constitution until the term for which they
have been elected has been completed or until their successors have been
elected.
Bylaws
Article I Membership:
Section 1. Church membership will be by baptism, transfer of
letter, confession of faith, or letter of associate membership. Section 2. Persons of temporary residence, who qualify for
membership as stated in Article III of the Constitution, will be encouraged to
become associate members, and as such will have all rights and privileges of
regular members without giving up membership in their home church.
Section 3. All membership requests will be granted on
recommendation of the Pastor and approval of the Elders Council and affirmation by the Congregation.
Section 4. Members of the Congregation are asked to make an annual
reaffirmation of their membership Section 5. (Article I, Section
5, new bylaw approved by the congregation, November 2001.)
Only members and associate members will be eligible to
vote during church business meetings. Section 6. Membership terminations, suspensions and transfers by
letter will be by approval of the Elders Council and notification to the Congregation.
Section 7. Any member of this Congregation who withdraws their
membership or who is suspended or terminated from membership thereby forfeits
all legal and official rights in the organization.
Section 8 Members will not be liable, solely because of such membership, for
the debts of the Church
Article II
Officers - Selection and Duties:
Section 1 Church Chairperson:
a. The Church Chairperson will be selected at a
congregational meeting for a term of three years.
b. The Church Chairperson will preside at, or appoint a
chair for, all congregational meetings initiated by Church Council. These
meetings will be called according to the procedures stated in the Bylaws,Article IV, Section 4.
c. The Church Chairperson will chair the Church Council
and as such will help coordinate and implement the total church program.
Section 2. Church Treasurer(s):
a. The Church
Treasurer(s) will be selected at a congregational meeting for a term of three
years.
b. The Church
Treasurer(s) will have charge of and be responsible for all church funds. They will keep records of all financial
transactions and bring reports periodically to Church Council and to the annual
business meeting.
c. The Treasurer’s
report will be audited annually and reported to the congregation.
Article III. Congregational
Structure:
Section 1.Councils:(Article III, Section 1 amended and approved by the congregation, November 2001.)The Elders
Council and Church
Council jointly assume the responsibilities of the programs of the Church. Members of both councils will be members of the
Church and will serve no more than two full consecutive terms in the same
position, with the exception of treasurers who will serve no more than three
full consecutive terms. Elders
Council and Church
Council will provide a Nomination/Selection Process by which church members
fill vacancies on both councils. A two-thirds affirmation vote of members
present is required for each candidate to be considered duly affirmed.
Section 2. Elders Council:
a. The Elders Council
will consist of the Pastor, Associate Pastor, and six members chosen by the Congregation
b. The Elders Council
will assume responsibility for the welfare of the total congregation, providing guidance to nurture and mission needs.
c. The Elders Council
will provide for the employment, care and accountability of the Pastor(s) and act as a liaison between the Pastor(s) and the
Congregation
d. The Elders Council will provide for the preaching ministry in the event
there is no permanent pastor.
e. In case of
pastoral vacancy the Elders
Council will be
responsible to act in behalf of the congregation and to make recommendations
concerning a Pastor. All final negotiations are subject to congregational
approval.
f. Members of
the Elders Council will serve terms of three years, with two selected
each year.
Section 3. Church Council:
a. Church Council will consist of the Church
Chairperson, Church Treasurer(s), and four at large members. The Pastor and Congregational
Administrator will serve as ex-officio members.
b. Church Council will be responsible for employment
and oversight of the Congregational Administrator.
c. Church Council will be responsible for the
coordination and implementation of congregational program, finances and
personnel, within the framework of established policies.
d. At large members of Church Council will serve terms
of two years. Two at large members will be elected each year. The Chairperson
and Treasurer(s) will be selected alternating years
Section 4 Committees and Groups:
a. The mission and program of the Church will be
carried out, in part, by committees and groups. Church Council and Elders Council will provide direction and oversight to these groups.
b. (Article
III, Section 4, No. 2 Bylaw approved by congregation, April 2, 2000)
Committee terms and oversight:
1)
Term length of
committee members will be three years with an option to withdraw after the
first year if one feels unsuited to the task or in the event of special
circumstances. Members may continue to serve an additional three-year term
(maximum) of six consecutive years). Terms begin July 1 and end June 30. Any member
is eligible to chair the committee after one year on the committee. Every
effort should be made to stagger the terms of committee members. Oversight for
committees will be provided by either the Elders or Church Councils, depending
on the committee (PMC’s Primary Organizational Chart). All new members, new
chairpersons, and extended terms must be reviewed and approved by the
overseeing group. Exceptions to these guidelines are possible only by the
consent of the overseeing group (Elders or Church Councils).
2)
Committee
membership will be evaluated and updated annually in June.
Section 5.Pastor(s):
1. The Pastor(s) will be called by recommendation of the Elders Council and approval of the Congregation.
2. The term of call
will be agreed upon between the Elders Council
and the Pastor. If during that term of office it is deemed necessary to have
the Pastor’s services discontinued for whatever reason, ninety days notice will
be given by the one taking the initiative for the action unless waived by mutual
consent or for gross misconduct.
3. The Pastor(s) will work closely with the Elders Council in determining their specific areas of responsibility.
4. The Pastor(s) will be active in the development of new programs and
the progress of continuing programs.
Article
IV Business Operations:
Section 1. The fiscal year will be from January 1 through December
31.
Section 2. Annual business meetings will be held for the purpose
of financial reporting and review, budget approval, progress evaluation, and
for transacting any other business as may be relevant. New Elders Council and Church Council members will be approved at an
annual meeting. These meetings will be initiated by Church Council and called
by the Church Chairperson.
Section 3. Newly selected Elders Council and Church Council personnel will begin their term of
office on the first day of January.
Section 4. (Article IV,
Section 4, new bylaw approved by the congregation, December 3,
2000)
Regarding decision-making at PortlandMennoniteChurch, most decisions are properly made by the Pastor(s), staff and committees in the course of their work.
However, any decisions that will significantly affect the life, ministries or
programs of the church, are to be made by the congregation. In each case, every
effort should be made to keep the congregation well informed.
Section 5. Special business meetings may be called at any time by
the Church Chairperson. All business meetings will be announced publicly and
the purpose of said meeting clearly stated at least seven days prior to such
meeting.
Section 6. Any business may be adopted either by consensus or a
two-thirds vote of congregational members present at a congregational business
meeting.
Section 7. (Article IV,
Section 7, new bylaw approved by the congregation, November 2001.)
A quorum shall consist of twenty percent (20%) of all
resident PMC members.
