Bylaws of Saskatoon Chinese Alliance Church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada
PREAMBLE
These Bylaws, the Local Church Constitution and the Manual of the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada constitute the governing documents of the Church.
DEFINITIONS
In these Bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Board” means Governing Board of the Church under Article III;
“Bylaws” means the Bylaws of the Church;
“Constitution” means the Local Church Constitution contained in the Manual of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada;
“Church” means Saskatoon Chinese Alliance Church of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP
The Board shall be responsible for all matters related to membership.
There shall be three categories of membership:
Active Member – An Active Member is a member in good standing who has been officially confirmed as having met the qualifications for membership outlined in the Constitution and these Bylaws, and who regularly attends and actively supports the church in ways outlined in the membership covenant. Active Members shall be eligible (i) to vote, (ii) to give primary leadership to Church ministries, and (iii) unless otherwise restricted in these Bylaws, to hold office.
Associate Member – An Associate Member is a former Active Member who is non-resident, or has two (2) consecutive absences from the Meetings of the Membership without providing written notices to the Board, and for reasons acceptable to the Board, desires to retain membership in the Church. Associate Members may not vote at meetings of members, nor hold office in the Church. An Associate Member may be returned to Active Member status at the discretion of the Board.
Member Not in Good Standing – A Member Not in Good Standing is one who (i) has not continued to meet the obligations of membership outlined in the membership covenant to remain a member of good standing even after reasonable attempts to rectify it, or (ii) has been placed under discipline within the procedures identified in the membership covenant. This status is maintained until Active Member status is restored by action of the Board. A Member in this category may not retain, nor be elected or appointed to positions of leadership or ministry in the church and may not vote in meetings of members.
To become an Active Member of the Church, an individual will need to participate in the application and orientation process approved by the Board.
Applicants for membership will be required to sign a membership covenant that will identify the commitments being made.
An applicant for membership becomes a Member when officially confirmed by the Board.
Applicants for membership transferring from another church will be required to meet the qualifications for becoming an Active Member in the Constitution and Bylaws.
A person may be removed from membership by a majority vote of the Board for anyone of the following reasons:
the written request for withdrawal from membership by the member;
the death of the member;
the unwillingness of a member to address a breach of a commitment in the membership covenant to the satisfaction of the Board;
absence from regular services of the Church for at least six months, without sufficient reason, may result in either removal from membership or in a change to Associate Member status, after a reasonable attempt to contact them has been made by a Board-designated person;
failure to confirm membership commitments in periodic reviews of the membership list conducted by the Board.
ARTICLE II - GOVERNMENT
Two Meetings of the Membership shall be held each year.
The First Meeting of the Membership shall be held within the first three (3) months of the calendar year on a date set by the Board. At this meeting, the financial reports for the preceding fiscal year shall be presented, and reports from the Senior Pastor and Board shall be received. Other business may also be conducted as identified in the proposed agenda.
The Second Meeting of the Membership shall be held within the last three (3) months of the calendar year on a date set by the Board. At this meeting, the Board members shall be elected. Other business may also be conducted as identified in the proposed agenda.
The proposed agendas and written reports for both Meetings of Membership shall be available on or before the Sunday prior to the respective meetings.
A Special Business Meeting may be called by the Board.
Notice shall be given by oral and/or bulletin announcement at least two (2) consecutive Sundays prior to any Meetings of the Membership. Such notice shall indicate the purpose of the meeting.
The quorum for a duly-called meeting of members shall be no less than one-third (1/3) of the Active Members. If a meeting is adjourned for lack of a quorum, the Active Members present at the next duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Each member is entitled to one vote and voting by proxy is not allowed.
Robert’s Rules of Order will be the definitive resource on procedures at meetings of the members.
ARTICLE III - GOVERNING BOARD
The Board shall annually inform the Nominating Committee (described under Article VI) of the number of Board members desired for the next term.
The length of term shall be two (2) years with a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms (4 consecutive years) and shall be eligible for re-election after a break of one (1) year.
The term of office will begin from January 1st, immediately following the election, and conclude December 31st at the end of the term.
The quorum for meetings of the Board shall be a simple majority.
The Board shall elect its Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer from among its membership. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person, in which case the position will be identified as Secretary/Treasurer.
The Board shall set, and be the final interpreter of, Church policies.
The Board shall regularly review the Senior Pastor’s ministry, and as part of the annual budget process, review staff salaries and benefits.
If a Board member is absent for three (3) consecutive meetings without sufficient reason, the remaining members may declare the position vacant and fill it in accordance with the Constitution.
Persons who are not Board members may be present at a Board meeting or portion thereof only at the invitation of the Board.
ARTICLE IV - FINANCES
The Treasurer and those appointed by the Board shall be the signing officers for the Church bank accounts. The Treasurer shall be one of the signing officers of all Church-related accounts.
The fiscal year of the Church shall be from January 1st to December 31st .
ARTICLE V - CHURCH MINISTRIES
The Board shall ensure that there is an effective organizational structure for the church and its ministries.
The Board shall approve all ministries and primary ministry leaders to fulfill the mission and ministry vision of the Church. The Board shall ensure that policies and procedures are established for the affirmation, appointment and possible removal of leaders in all church ministries.
Each ministry leader or committee shall function with a ministry description that describes both responsibilities and accountability. The group or individual that appoints the person or committee shall be responsible to ensure the ministry description is in place.
ARTICLE VI - ELECTIONS
A Nominating Committee shall consist of the Senior Pastor, two (2) members appointed by the Board and two (2) members elected by the Active Members at a duly called meeting.
The Nominating Committee shall establish its process for considering potential nominees.
Any Active Member in good standing with proven spiritual maturity may be considered for nomination to the Board.
Additional nominations may be made by any two (2) Active Members by following procedure:
Ensuring that a process leading up to the nomination parallels the care used by the Nominating Committee, including an interview to determine that the individual is willing to support the constituted purpose and structure of the Church, willing to support the pastor, and meets other qualifications required of Board members. Such interview will include at least one (1) existing Board member;
Secure the approval of the person whose name will be place in nomination;
Submit the name in writing to the Senior Pastor, as Chair of the Nominating Committee, for posting two (2) weeks prior to the Meeting of the Membership, describing the care taken prior to placing the name in nomination.
If the Nominating Committee wishes to consider one of its members for nomination, that person will withdraw from the Committee while the decision is being made regarding the nomination.
Board members shall be elected by ballots. In order to be elected, a Board member must be confirmed by a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast at the Second Meeting of the Membership or a duly called meeting for such purpose.
ARTICLE VII - GENERAL
No offering may be solicited without the approval of the Board.
If a copy of these Bylaws is translated into Chinese, the English version shall be the official set of Bylaws.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
Bylaws may be amended by a minimum two-thirds majority of the Active Members present at a duly called meeting for such purpose.
Bylaw amendments shall be valid only after they have been approved by the District Executive Committee.
「沙城华人基督教宣道会」会章附则
(本会章附则以英文版本为准)
前言
本教会的治会章则是由本会会章附则、地方教会宪章及加拿大宣道会宪章手册联合组成。
定义
在本会的会章附则中，除文意另有所指外：
“执事会”指本教会的执事会；
“会章附则”是指本教会的会章附则；
“宪章”是指加拿大宣道会宪章手册中的地方教会宪章；
“本教会”是指隶属于加拿大宣道会的沙城华人基督教宣道会。
第一条 – 会籍
- 一切有关会籍事宜由执事会负责。
- 会籍分为三种类别：
- 会友：已获正式确认符合本会章附则及宪章中的要求，并按会友誓约所列积极参与本教会聚会及支持本教会事工的会友。会友享有以下权利：（i）投票；（ii）成为教会事工的主要领导人；（iii）除非本会章附则有所限制，可以担任公职。
- 联系会友：联系会友为已迁离本省的前会友，或未有正式书面通知执事会而连续两次缺席会友大会，并得执事会认同有可接受的理由，予以保留在本教会的会籍的会友。联系会友不得在会友大会中投票，也不得在本教会担任公职。执事会有酌情权，可恢复联系会友的会友身份。
- 会籍暂停会友：会籍暂停会友包括：（i）经过多次合理尝试仍未能纠正并履行会友誓约中会友应尽义务的要求；或（ii）按会友誓约的程序，已被置于纪律处分中。此会籍身份将保持至执事会恢复他们会友身份为止。凡会籍暂停会友均不能保留或被任命为事工领导人或事奉人员，并不得在会友大会中投票。
- 会籍申请者必须经过由执事会通过的申请及会见程序。
- 会籍申请者均须签署会友誓约以确认其承诺。
- 会籍申请者均须在执事会正式批准后，才能成为会友。
- 申请转会者均须符合会章附则及宪章内有关成为会友的条文要求。
- 执事会可以基于以下理由，以大多数投票通过，取消某会友会籍：
- 该会友以书面要求退出会籍；
- 该会友死亡；
- 该会友不愿意去纠正其违反会友誓约的行为，从而得到执事会的认同。
- 该会友在没有足够理由的情形下，已没有参与本教会聚会达六个月以上，执事会经过合理尝试，仍不能与该会友联络上。在这情况下，执事会有权将其会友身份从会友转到联系会友，又或取消其会籍。
- 执事会定期审核会友名单时，发觉该会友未能履行会友誓约中的承诺。
第二条 –治会
- 每年举行两次会友大会。
- 年初会友大会将在每年头三个月内举行，日期由执事会决定。在这年初会友大会中，须呈交上一财政年度的财务报告、接纳主任牧师和执事会的报告，同时亦可商议已列在议程上的其他事项。
- 年终会友大会将在每年最后三个月内举行，日期由执事会决定。在这年终会友大会中，将选出执事会成员，以及商议已列在议程上的其他事项。
- 年初及年终会友大会议程及书面报告需在会友大会举行日期前的星期日提供。
- 执事会可召开特别会友大会。
- 会友大会通告须在开会日期前连续两星期日，以口头公布或列印在崇拜程序表内通知会友。通告内容必须包括会议目的。
- 正式宣召的会友大会法定人数为不少于三分之一的会友。如果会友大会因缺乏法定人数而休会，出席于下次会友大会的会友，将构成该会的法定人数。
- 每一会友均享有一票投票权，会友不能将表决权委托他人代理。
- 有关会友大会会议的程序，将以罗伯特的规则（Robert‘s Rules of Order）为最终的参考范本。
第三条 –执事会
- 每年执事会应告知提名委员会，下一届所需的执事会成员人数。
- 执事会成员任期两年为一届，可连续事奉两届（即连续 4 年），并可在休息一年后再度被选。
- 执事会成员任期应从被选上后的 1 月 1 日起，直到任期内的最后一个12 月 31 日结束。
- 执事会的开会法定人数为执事会成员人数的一半以上。
- 执事会成员应在他们中间选出执事会副主席、司库及秘书。执事会司库及秘书可由同一成员兼任，在这情况下，该职位应称为司库/秘书。
- 执事会应制定本教会政策，并为本教会政策的最终解释者。
- 执事会应定期审核主任牧师的事奉，并在每年财政预算中，复审教牧同工的薪金和福利。
- 在没有充份理由下，如果某执事会成员连续三次缺席执事会会议，其他执事会成员可按照地方教会宪章，宣布该职位空置，并作出适当的填补。
- 只有在执事会邀请下，非执事会成员才可出席执事会会议，或会议其中的一部份。
第四条 –财政
- 本教会银行帐户签字职员，由司库及由执事会委任的人仕出任。司库必须为与本教会有关的账户其中的一名签字职员。
- 本教会财政年度应由 1 月 1 日至 12 月 31 日。
第五条 –本教会事工
- 执事会应保持一个有效的组织架构，以方便本教会和事工运作。
- 本教会所有事工及主要事工领导人均由执事会决定和委任，以履行和落实本教会的使命和异象。执事会应确保政策和设立程序，以致本教会所有事工领导人都能被肯定、任命和罢免。
- 每个事工部门的领导或委员会，应按该部门的事工简介来运作。负责委任事工部门领导或委员会的个人或组织，应确保该部门有一份事工简介，事工简介应详述该部门事工的责任和义务。
第六条 –选举
- 执事会提名委员会成员包括主任牧师，执事会委任的两位执事会成员以及在会友大会中由会友选出的两名会友代表。
- 审议提名候选人的程序应由提名委员会设立。
- 任何确认灵性成熟的会友，均可被考虑提名为执事会成员。
- 任何两名会友可按下列程序，提名其他候选人：
- 需确保在考虑提名人仕时，是有一个和提名委员会审议被提名人仕相约的程序，包括连同一名现任执事会成员与有机会被考虑为提名人会面，在会面过程中，确认被考虑为被提名人仕是愿意支持教会的建堂目的、教会架构和主任牧师，并符合成为执事会成员的其他资格要求。
- 确保获准被提名人仕的名字列在提名候选人名单中。
- 以书面将被提名人的名字交给作为提名委员会主席的主任牧师，以便将提名人的名字在会友大会举行两周前登出。呈交者应交代如何选出被提名者。
- 如果提名委员会要考虑提名其中一位委员会成员为执事会成员，该成员应在提名委员会考虑提其名时退出该提名委员会。
- 选举执事会成员应以选票方式进行。被提名者必须在年终会友大会或特别为选举执事会成员而召开的会友大会中，获至少三分之二选票确认，才能成为执事会成员。
第七条 –普通事项
- 在未经执事会批准下，不得征求任何奉献。
- 本会章附则以英文版为正式版本，中文翻译本只作参考之用。
第八条 –修改
- 会章附则可在特别为修改会章附则而召开的会友大会中，获至少三分之二会友的选票通过而作出修改。
- 会章附则修订必须在区会执行委员会批准之后方可生效。