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Constitution and Bylaws
OF THE WESTSHORE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 


CONSTITUTION 

PREAMBLE

We, the members of this congregation of the Evangelical Free Church of America, do hereby commit and voluntarily submit ourselves to the following articles.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this church shall be “The West Shore Evangelical Free Church.”

ARTICLE II - STATEMENT OF FAITH

  1. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and practice. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21)
  2. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16; 2:9)
  3. We believe in God the Father, the sovereign authority who rules over all things, who authored the divine decrees, who gave His Son for our redemption and His Holy Spirit for our sanctification (set apart for God) in order to glorify Himself. (Deuteronomy 10:14; Daniel 2:20-22; John 17:1-6; 15:26)
  4. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Intercessor. We also believe in the personal and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ before the millennium and that this “Blessed Hope” has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (I Corinthians 15:3-4; I John 2:1; Luke 1:35; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:14-16; I John 3:1-3)
  5. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord, to convict men, regenerate the repentant sinner, baptize them into the church, the Body of Christ, indwell them permanently, seal them unto the day of redemption, bestow spiritual gifts upon each one, and fill those yielded to Him. (John 16:7-14; II Corinthians 7:9-10; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18; I Corinthians 12)
  6. We believe there exists a personal devil, the archenemy of God and man. We further believe Satan to be the author of sin and the cause of the Fall, and that he has already been judged and will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Matthew 4:2-11; John 16:11; Revelation 20:10).
  7. We believe that man was created by God in innocence, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless state. Consequently, all men are sinners, incapable of pleasing God and are, therefore, under just condemnation, bound to hell, the place of eternal punishment. Only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation be obtained. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:22-23; 5:12; Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:3)
  8. We believe that salvation is wholly “by grace through faith,” free to all who believe and receive the blood atonement of Jesus Christ who died and rose again in our place in order that we might be declared righteous and adopted into the family of God. (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1:7; John 1:2-13; Hebrews 9:22; Galatians 4:5-7)
  9. We believe that the Lord’s Supper and Water Baptism by immersion (when possible) are ordinances to be observed by the Church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. (I Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 28:19-20)
  10. We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated and are baptized by the Holy Spirit upon conversion into the body of Christ of which He is the head. (I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:4-6; Titus 3:5; Colossians 1:18)
  11. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church. (Acts 2:47)
  12. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs. (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18)
  13. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
    (I Thessalonians 4:14-16; II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:15; II Thessalonians 1:7-9)

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE

The purpose of this congregation is to:

  • provide fellowship for the worship of God, and the edification and encouragement of the believers in the unity of love and faith;
  • pursue a strong evangelistic effort in order to bring others, both at home and abroad, to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior; and
  • provide training in the Scriptures for the fulfillment of every believer’s responsibility to do his/her part of the work of the ministry of reconciliation.

ARTICLE IV - AFFILIATION

The congregation is affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, Incorporated for the purpose of pursuing mutual objectives with the said Evangelical Free Church of America. This affiliation in no way affects the complete autonomy of this congregation.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP

This church shall receive into its membership only individuals who give testimony of having accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior, who being thus born again give evidence in life of true faith in God, and manifest the fruits of Christian experience in the conduct of Christian life and faith in accordance with Article II.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

The officers of this corporation shall be: president (chairman of the Board of Elders), vice president, treasurer, and secretary, as elected by the Board of Elders from among the lay elders from time to time.

ARTICLE VII - PROPERTY

  1. This corporation shall have the power to receive, either by gift or purchase, and to hold such real, personal or mixed property as is authorized by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as is deemed necessary for the business of the corporation, and shall have the power to dispose of such property by mortgage, deed or otherwise. All such property shall be held in the name of the corporation. The Board of Elders shall have the power to receive, purchase, sell, lease, convey, mortgage, deed or otherwise transfer property of the corporation; provided, however, that the prior approval of the members at a duly convened congregational meeting shall be required for any transaction or series of transactions involving (i) the purchase, lease, sale or other disposition of fixed assets valued in excess of 5% of the annual budget, (ii) any new agreement, loan or other obligation that would obligate the corporation to expend or borrow in excess of 5% of the annual budget, or (iii) any increase in the principal amount of any existing loan or other obligation in excess of 5% of the annual budget. Announcements of the proposed matter requiring approval shall be provided at least two weeks before the meeting. All contracts, notes, mortgages, conveyances, assignments, leases, releases, and other papers and documents in behalf of the corporation shall be executed by the president, secretary and treasurer or as otherwise may be designated by the Board of Elders.
  2. In event of a division, those persons who differ with the Statement of Faith in Article II or any other provisions of this Constitution shall withdraw from membership. They shall have no right or claim to the property or assets of this corporation.
  3. In the event that the members vote to dissolve the church corporation, distribution of all assets and property of the corporation shall be made in accordance with Article III, last paragraph, of this organization’s Articles of Incorporation. Preference shall be given to the following organizations, in the sequence shown, if they qualify under the then existing laws and are in agreement with Article II of this Constitution at that time (organizational addresses may be revised upon notification of change or relocation).
    • The Eastern District Association of the Evangelical Free Church of America, P O Box 220, Orefield, PA 18069
      Location: 2782 State Route 309, Orefield, PA 18069. (IRS # 41-0721672N)
    • The Evangelical Free Church of America, 901 E. 78th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300 , (IRS # 41-0721672N).
    • Another religious organization meeting the above criteria.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any meeting of the congregation by a three-fourths (3/4) majority of votes cast, provided said proposed amendments have been presented in writing and discussed at a general business meeting of the congregation at least three (3) months prior to the time of the meeting. Article II of this Constitution can only be amended, substituted or its content changed by a nine-tenths (9/10) majority of votes cast.

BYLAWS
Article I - Membership

A. The following procedure shall govern the application and acceptance into membership:
  1. Application shall be made to the Board of Elders. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. The application shall include a Membership Covenant stating the expectations for every member. Members shall indicate by signing the Membership Covenant that they will support and abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of WSEFC. Their signature further indicates that they will submit to the discipline of this church body as it seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. Applicants shall receive instruction on church doctrine and practice to be taught by qualified members acceptable to the Board of Elders. Members agree to support and abide by the doctrinal statement of the church.
  3. The Board of Elders shall arrange a meeting with the applicants who shall give an oral testimony of conversion and personal faith, whereupon one or more elders shall have the liberty of questioning the applicant(s) relative to doctrine and Christian experience. The Board of Elders shall vote in the absence of the applicant(s). Upon the Board of Elders’ approval, a written list of membership applicants shall be provided to the congregation at least one week before the names are presented for congregational approval.
  4. Should a church member object to an applicant for membership, said member shall state the reason to an elder who shall report it to the Board of Elders, who shall investigate the objection, and if appropriate, the applicant will be reconsidered by the Board of Elders.
  5. The applicants’ names shall be presented at a congregational business meeting for a vote of acceptance.
  6. The accepted applicant(s) shall be publicly received into membership during a congregational meeting.

B. It is the expected duty of every member to loyally and faithfully attend the services of the church and seek to faithfully fulfill his/her reasonable Christian obligations in the community in order that Article III of the Constitution may be realized. Each member, according to his/her ability, shall support the congregation in its ministry through prayer, service and financial contributions.

C. If a member wishes to unite with another congregation, he/she may upon written request, receive a letter of recommendation from this church. This letter of recommendation shall be given upon request to any member who leaves the church in good standing.

D. All members of the ministerial staff (as defined in Article VI, section F) and their spouses shall become members of this congregation upon assuming their positions, and shall be released from membership upon ceasing to be active members.

E. Members may dissolve their membership relationship with the church by written request. However, the dissolution of membership of a member under active discipline shall not be effective until that process is complete.

Article II - Confidentiality

A. The Bible teaches that Christians should carefully guard any personal and private information that others reveal to them. Protecting confidences is a sign of Christian love and respect. It also discourages harmful gossip, invites confession, and encourages people to seek counseling. In particular, pastors and elders shall carefully protect all information they receive through pastoral counseling, subject to the following guidelines.

B. Although confidentiality is to be duly respected, there are times when it is appropriate to reveal certain information to others. In particular, when the pastors and elders of this church believe it is biblically necessary, they may disclose confidential information to appropriate people in the following circumstances:

  1. When a person or elder is uncertain of how to counsel a person about a particular issue and needs to seek advice from other pastors or elders in this church or, if the person attends another church, from the pastors of that church;
  2. When the person who disclosed the information or any other person is in imminent danger of serious harm unless others intervene;
  3. When a member refuses to repent of sin and it becomes necessary to institute disciplinary proceedings or seek the assistance of individuals or agencies outside this church;
  4. If, during the disciplinary process or while a censure is still in effect, a member under church discipline leaves the church to attend another, the Board of Elders may inform the other church’s leadership that the person is currently under church discipline and may ask said pastor to encourage the member to repent and submit to the discipline; or
  5. When required by law.

C. The pastors and elders may, but need not, provide counselees with written notice of these confidentiality provisions; however, these provisions shall be in effect regardless of whether such notice is given.

D. This article does not apply to the professional counselors who serve in the counseling ministry of the church and who operate under the ethical and legal mandates for their profession.

Article III - Conflict Resolution

A. The church is committed to resolving in a Biblical manner all conflicts that may arise in our congregation. This commitment is based on God's command that Christians should strive earnestly to live at peace with one another (Matt 5:9; John 17:20‑23; Rom 12:18; Eph 4:1‑3) and that when conflicts arise, Christians should resolve them according to the principles set forth in Scripture (Prov. 19:11; Mt. 5:23‑25, 18:15‑22; 1 Cor. 6:1‑8; Gal. 6:1). We believe these commands and principles are required of all Christians and essential for the well‑being and work of the church.

B. If a conflict arises between a member and the church, or between a group of members and the church, and cannot be resolved through the internal procedures described above, it shall be resolved through Christian conciliation which may include individual counseling, mediation and ultimately arbitration.

Article IV - Discipline

A. Should a pastor or any member by a sinful and ungodly life, or by heresy, bring dishonor upon, or be an offense to, Christ and the church, such membership may be terminated by the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders may communicate such action publicly within the church to the community of believers with which the former member was connected. However, he/she shall first be dealt with in a loving and Christian spirit according to Matthew 18:15-18; Galatians 6:1, 2; Titus 3:10, 11 and I Timothy 5:19-22, so that he/she may be restored to the will of God.

B. A member whose membership was so terminated because of a sinful life may be readmitted upon approval of the Board of Elders, when satisfactory evidence is presented to the Board of Elders that he/she has been restored and is living in fellowship with God.

C. If a member under church discipline leaves the church during the disciplinary process or while a censure is still in effect, and if the Board of Elders learns that the member is attending another church, the Board may inform the other church’s leadership that the person is currently under church discipline and may ask the other church to encourage that person to repent and to submit to the discipline.

D. Members who absent themselves from the church services and fail to support the congregation’s program may be classified inactive by the Board of Elders. Should this inactive status continue for one year, after inquiry the Board of Elders shall have the prerogative to remove such members from the church membership list.

Article V - Leaders: Their Qualifications

A. The senior pastor must be a man who has experienced the saving grace of God and is of established and irreproachable Christian character. He must have the ability to proclaim and expound the Word of God and execute the duties of a pastor in every way.
B. All corporate officers, elders, and ministerial staff of the church shall be members of the congregation, with established good character and reputation as indicated by 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9.

Article VI - Leaders: Board of Elders

A. The Board of Elders will consist of no less than six and no more than fifteen men total, with a minimum ratio of two lay elders for each staff elder. Lay elders will be elected at the annual meeting for a three-year term and will be eligible for election to one subsequent three-year term. The term of an elder is limited to six consecutive years. The elder must then take a minimum of one year off before becoming eligible to serve again. Approximately one-third of the terms will expire each year. The senior pastor will be an ex-officio member of the Board of Elders. The senior pastor and lay elders will be responsible for selecting any ministerial staff who may also serve as ex officio members of the Board of Elders.

B. A nominating committee of two current elders and three other spiritually mature, active members of the congregation shall be elected by the congregation at least three months prior to the annual meeting. The Board of Elders shall present a recommended slate of nominees for the nominating committee to the congregation at least two weeks prior to a congregational meeting. A vacancy on the nominating committee may be filled by the Board of Elders.

C. It is required that all nominations for the Board of Elders be selected from among active members by a nominating committee. The nominating committee for the Board of Elders will present all names of prospective elders to the current Board of Elders for their review and comments prior to approaching prospective elders regarding their willingness to serve. The Board of Elders shall present a list of all elder nominees to the congregation not less than two weeks prior to the annual meeting.

D. Should a vacancy on the Board of Elders occur at any time prior to the expiration of the departing elder’s term of office, the Board of Elders may appoint or may recommend to the congregation for election a qualified individual to fill the vacated position for the remainder of the term, should it deem such action appropriate. The individual so appointed or elected is then eligible to be elected by the congregation to fill one subsequent complete term, but must then take a minimum of one year off before becoming eligible to serve again.

E. The Board of Elders is responsible to oversee all spiritual and physical operations of the church. Corporate officers of the church will be chosen by the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders may appoint such subordinate boards and committees as it deems appropriate.

F. The Board of Elders serves as the ultimate search committee for all ministerial staff. Ministerial staff (i.e., those designated by the Board of Elders to serve on the ministerial staff team) are ultimately responsible to the congregation and shall only be hired following a three-fourths affirmative vote at a congregational meeting. They may only be relieved of their duties by the Board of Elders. All other paid employees may be hired and dismissed with the authorization of the Board of Elders. All ministerial staff terminations are subject to review at the employee’s request. The review shall be conducted by the superintendent of the Eastern District Association of the Evangelical Free Church of America and may lead to a mediated reconsideration of the decision.

G. It is the duty of the Board of Elders to provide servant leadership to the church in line with Mark 10:42-45. It is the duty of the congregation to recognize as Elders those who have the spiritual qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, and to serve with the Board of Elders as part of the Body of Christ, each individual in the congregation using his/her gifts to help others to grow to spiritual maturity.

Article VII - Congregational Meetings

A. Church business meetings shall be held annually and at such other times as determined by section C below. Voting shall be limited to members of the congregation.

B. A quorum consisting of ten percent of the active membership shall be necessary to conduct any business meeting. A two-thirds majority of votes cast shall be required for passage of any motion unless provided otherwise in these bylaws.

C. Special congregational meetings may be called:

a. By the chairman of the Board of Elders; or

b. when ten percent of the active membership so requests and submits a signed petition to the Board of Elders; or

c. Upon request of a majority of the Board of Elders.

D. All congregational meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of Order.

E. The election of members of the Board of Elders and vote on the annual general fund budget shall take place at the annual meeting to be held in June. Newly elected elders shall assume office July 1.

F. For all congregational business meetings, notice shall be provided through written church communication at least two weeks before such meetings. Where appropriate, informational materials relating to the agenda will be provided prior to the meeting.

Article VIII - Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws can only be made at a congregational meeting. The proposed Bylaws must have been properly presented at a previous congregational meeting and recorded in the minutes thereof at least twenty-one days before the vote to adopt. A three-fourths majority of votes cast is necessary to amend the Bylaws.

Presented for adoption
November 19, 1975
Amended
September 8, 1976
September 14, 1977
June 11, 1980
June 29, 1983
April 4, 1984
July 8, 1992
June 19, 1994
May 14, 2003