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ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

OF TREXLERTOWN, PA

"...where God's Family Grows"

FOUNDED 1784


Church Office Phone 395-4571



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS














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PROVISIONAL

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS OF

ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, TREXLERTOWN, PA


CONSTITUTION


Article I Name


The name of this church shall be Saint Paul's United Church of Christ located in Trexlertown, Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.



Article II Purpose


l. The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward humankind and to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace.



Article III Polity


l. This church shall be a part of the United Church of Christ and it shall sustain that relationship to the United Church of Christ described in those portions of the Constitution and By Laws of the United Church of Christ adopted July 4, l96l relating to local churches.


2. The government of this church is vested in its members, who exercise the right of control in all its affairs, subject, however, to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania relating to non profit corporations.








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Article IV Faith and Covenant


l. Faith   This church acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of humankind. It acknowledges as brothers and sisters in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. One expression of this faith is the Statement of Faith as approved by the Second General Synod of the United Church of Christ, July 5 9, 1959. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two Sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. It also recognizes Confirmation, Ordination, Marriage, and Burial as Rites of the Church.


2. Covenant   We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and the will of God. We purpose to walk together in the ways of the Lord, made known and to be made known to us. We hold it to be the mission of the Church to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world, while worshiping God and striving for truth, justice, and peace. As did our fathers and mothers before us, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us. We pray for the coming of the kingdom of God, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.


Article V Membership


1. Membership in this church shall be open to any person who has been baptized and confirmed, or has been baptized and made other public confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In accordance with the gospel covenant which binds into a unity "faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races," membership is open to all without regard to race or color.


2. Members covenant with one another to attend services of worship regularly and to partake in the celebration of the Lord's Supper: to live the Christian life; to share in the life and the work of the church; to contribute to its support and



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benevolences; and to seek diligently the spiritual welfare of the membership and the community.

3. Any member, on request, may be granted a letter of transfer.


4. Inactive members who have permanently changed their residences shall be urged by the Pastor and Council to obtain letters of transfer and, as soon as possible, to unite with another congregation.


5. If a member breaches the covenant, the Spiritual Council may censure, or suspend, or terminate membership of that individual, after due notice and an opportunity to respond has been given to the member, as provided for in the By laws.


Article VI Governing Body


1. The governing body of this church shall be the congregation, assembled in meeting duly and legally called as provided for in the By laws.


2. Communicant members of the congregation shall have the right to voice and vote and also to represent the congregation on the church Council, or as an officer of any other organization of the church, subject to the Constitution and By laws of the congregation.


3. A quorum shall consist of 10% of the communicant members, or 50 people, whichever is less.


4. The vote of a majority of communicant members present at a meeting shall be the action of the church.



Article VII Council


1. The Council shall be the executive body of this church. It shall be composed of the Pastor(s), Elders and Deacons. The Elders and Deacons shall be as defined in the By laws.



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2. The Council shall organize itself in January of each year, electing a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, and a Financial Secretary.


a. The office of Financial Secretary may be held by any communicant member who may not necessarily be a member of Church Council.


3. The Council shall form committees as will serve to further the purpose of the church. Standing committees shall include: Christian Education, Evangelism, Fellowship, Finance, Property, Social Action, Spiritual Council, Stewardship, and Worship.


4. Four (4) Elders and Twelve (12) Deacons shall be elected by a majority vote cast at a congregational meeting, as provided for in the By laws. They shall be elected for terms of four years.


5. Nominations shall be made for the offices of Elder and Deacon by a Nominating Committee elected each year by the congregation at a previous annual February meeting as provided for in the By laws.


6. When elected, the Elders and Deacons shall be publicly ordained to or installed in their respective offices.


7. Vacancies on the Council shall be filled by the Council for any unexpired terms.


8. The Council shall be the policy making body and shall transact the business of the church, make provisions for the determining and raising of the current expense budget as well as for Our Church's Wider Mission and benevolences and provide for the auditing of financial accounts and for the adequate support of the professional staff. It shall keep a complete and accurate record of its proceedings, be the custodian of all church records, and report to the congregation at its regular and special meetings. All acts and deliberations of the Council are subject to the will of and revision by the governing body.


a. Council shall employ an Administrative Secretary whose responsibilities shall include those duties traditionally

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performed by the church secretary and the church treasurer. The Administrative Secretary shall be accountable in all financial matters to the Vice President of Church Council. The Administrative Secretary shall have the right of voice but no vote on Church Council Action.


9. The Council may authorize any non-budgeted expense, not to exceed 5% of the annual operating budget, unless an extraordinary emergency arises which necessitates immediate action.


10. The Council shall meet at least once every month for the transaction of such business as may properly come before it. Special meetings are subject to the President's call. One half of its members shall constitute a quorum.


11. The Pastor(s) shall have the right of voice but no vote on church Council action.


12. The Council shall appoint representatives to the St. Paul's Cemetery Association, Inc., in accordance with the constitution of that organization.



Article VIII Pastor


1. It shall be the responsibility of a Pastoral Search Committee, appointed by the Council, to seek a candidate for a vacancy in the office of Pastor(s).


2. The Pastoral Search Committee shall seek the counsel of the Conference Minister and shall follow the policies and procedures of the Penn Northeast Conference.


3. The Pastoral Search Committee shall present to the Council and to the congregation the name of the candidate it recommends to fill the vacancy. A vote of the congregation concerning the candidate shall be taken by closed ballot and according to the policies and procedures of the Penn Northeast Conference. A vote of 80% or greater of the members voting constitutes a call.




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4. In the call, the terms of the relationship shall be stated according to the form prescribed by the United Church of Christ. The pastor, the church, and the Conference Minister each shall receive a copy of the call.


5. When the call has been accepted, the church and the pastor shall join in requesting the Penn Northeast Conference to arrange for a service of installation.


6. The Pastor shall be elected for an indefinite period. In order to terminate this relationship, three months notice shall be given by either party, unless this provision is waived by mutual consent. The procedure shall be in accordance with the Constitution and By laws of the United Church of Christ.


7. Termination of the relationship shall be by action of the church Council and notice of such termination shall be sent by the President of the Council to the Conference Minister for appropriate action.


8. Discipline of the Pastor shall be in conformity with the Manual on Ministry of the United Church of Christ and the Penn Northeast Conference.



Article IX Congregational Meetings


1. Annual meetings of the congregation shall be held in the months of March and November as provided for in the By Laws.


2. Special congregational meetings may be called by the Council or by a petition to the Council signed by not less than five percent of the members, as provided for in the By Laws.



Article X Property


1. The church may in its corporate name sue or be sued, acquire by purchase, gift devise, bequest or otherwise and own, hold, invest, reinvest or dispose of


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property both real and personal for such work as the church may undertake and may purchase, own, receive, hold, manage, care for and transfer, rent, lease, mortgage or otherwise encumber, sell, assign, transfer and convey such property for the general purposes of the church; it may receive and hold in trust both real and personal property and invest and reinvest the same and make any contracts for promoting the objects and purposes of the church.


2. Upon dissolution of the church, its assets and all property and interests of which it shall then be possessed including any devise, bequest, gift or grant contained in any will or other instrument, in trust or otherwise, made before or after such dissolution shall be transferred to Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ.



Article XI Rules of Order


1. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by this Constitution and By Laws.



Article XII Amendments


1. Amendments to this Constitution and By laws may be made at any duly called congregational meeting by a two thirds affirmative vote of the communicant members present.


2. Public announcements of the text of the proposed amendment(s) shall be made from the pulpit and through the mail at least two weeks prior to the meeting.











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BY LAWS


Article I Congregational Meetings


1. The Annual Meeting in the month of February shall be called for the following purposes.


(a) Annual financial statement and audit report of the previous year.


(b) Pastor(s) report of the preceding year.


(c) Annual report of all standing committees.


(d) Any other necessary items of business or congregational concerns.


2. The second Annual Meeting of the year in the month of November shall be called for the following purposes.


(a) Presentation and adoption of the proposed budget for the following year.


(b) Nomination and election of church council elders and deacons, if in order.


(c) Any other necessary items of business or congregational concerns.


3. Special congregational meetings, duly called by the Council or by petition signed by no less than five percent of the members, shall cover only that business indicated in the call.


4. Notification of meetings shall be as follows:








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(a) The congregational members must receive notification of all regular and special meetings in writing including the date and time and purpose, a minimum of two weeks prior to the date and time of the meeting.


(b) This information and notification shall also be announced from the pulpit two weeks prior to meeting date and time.


Article II Membership


1. A COMMUNICANT member is one who has been confirmed into the congregation of St. Paul’s U.C.C. or who has been confirmed into any Christian congregation at any time in the past and has united with the congregation of St. Paul’s U.C.C. by letter of transfer or by re affirmation of faith. An adult who has been baptized as an infant or child but who has not been confirmed may become a COMMUNICANT member by adult confirmation. An adult who has never been baptized may become a COMMUNICANT member by Adult Baptism.

2. A COMMUNICANT member communes and attends worship regularly, or contributes of time, talent, or treasures to the support of the church.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES of membership.


(a) ACTIVE Members are those who commune at least once per year and/or contribute to the support of the church.


  1. INACTIVE Members are those who have not fulfilled the obligations in Section 3(a) for a period of one year. INACTIVE members forfeit all privileges of membership. INACTIVE members may become ACTIVE members by attending, communing, and/or contributing to the mission of the church.


Article III Elders

  1. An elder shall be a communicant member of the church, a minimum of twenty one years of age, chosen by the congregation, ordained and installed into his or her office. An elder shall be an example unto others.

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2. An elder shall have served at least one full term as a deacon to be eligible for the office of elder.


3. The duties of an elder are to assist and support the pastor(s) in the spiritual affairs of the church, maintain order in the house of God, and minister according to his or her ability in a moral or religious way, to the comfort of all of the members and in accordance with Article VII paragraph number 8 of the Constitution.



Article IV Deacons


1. A deacon shall be a communicant member of the church, chosen by the congregation, ordained and installed to his or her office. A deacon shall be an example unto others.


2. Church Council shall appoint a Youth Deacon on an annual basis for a one year term. The Youth Deacon shall have voice but no vote on Council.


3. The duties of a deacon shall be in accordance with Article VII paragraph number 8 of the Constitution.



Article V Terms of Office of Council Members


1. In accordance with Article VII paragraph number 4 of the Constitution and in order to provide continuity, not more than one elder and three deacons shall be elected in any one year.


  1. Council members may serve no more than two consecutive terms of four years each. After a period of one year absence a former Council member may again be elected for a term of four years and a second term of four years.








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Article VI Nomination Procedures for Council


1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of one Council member and three communicant members at large from the congregation.


2. The nominating committee's report shall be presented at the annual November Congregational meeting.


3. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. The person or persons thus nominated must be present to accept or decline the nomination.



Article VII Elections


1. Elections for Council members shall be by secret ballot at the annual November congregational meeting.


2. When more than one elder is nominated for the office in any one year, the one with the most votes shall be declared elected.


3. When more than three deacons are nominated for the office in any one year, the three with the most votes shall be declared elected.



Article VIII Official Year


The official year of the congregation in all matters fiscal and otherwise shall be from January first to December thirty first inclusive.



The Constitution and these by laws were approved by Saint Paul's United Church of Christ Council on January 18, 1990 and the membership on February 11, 1990.


Amended March 13, 1994

Amended November 9, 1997

Amended November 14, 1999

Amended January 3, 2001

Amended November 18, 2007