The By-Laws

Of The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Of Sedalia, Missouri

Article I

Congregational Meetings

The congregation of The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Sedalia, Missouri should meet annually the first Sunday in December to vote on the slate of nominees for the Board of Directors, the annual budget and other items of business.  The President of the Board of Directors as necessary may call a special congregational meeting.  A quorum for the transaction of business shall be the members present at the congregational meeting.  A majority vote is necessary for action. 

Article II

Function of the Board

The Board of Directors shall manage and conduct the business of the congregation subject to the approval of the congregation.

Article III

Board Members

The Board of Directors members shall consist of the following:  President of the Board of Directors, Vice-President of the Board of Directors, the Secretary of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Elders, Diaconate and Communion Stewards, the Chairperson or designate of the following Departments:  Christian Education, Evangelism, Membership, Outreach, Property, Stewardship, Worship, Department of Men, Department of Women, Health and Wellness and Fellowship.   

All board members, as well as those with Emeritus and Lifetime status, are voting members and are entitled to one vote.

Ex-officio members without vote shall include the Senior Minister, Associate Minister, Youth Minister and Associate Diaconate.

At the beginning of the church year the Secretary of the Board shall determine the number of voting members.  If a member holds more than one office or chairpersonship, they are entitled to only one vote.

Article IV

Officers of the Board of Directors

At the November Board meeting, the board shall elect the officers of the Board of Directors for the ensuing year as prescribed in the Procedural Manual III.  The officers so elected shall serve from January 1st through December 31st.

The officers of the Board of Directors shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. 

Article V

Board Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet each month and at such times as the President may call a special meeting.   All board and committee meetings with the exception of the Personnel Committee are open to members of the Church. 

Article VI

Quorum and Voting

A quorum for the transaction of business at any Board of Directors meeting shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided in Articles XII, XIII and XIV.  A quorum for the transaction of business at any special board meeting shall be at least 51% of the total voting board membership.  At the beginning of each board meeting the Secretary of the Board shall confirm the precise number for a quorum.

Article VII

Duties of Board of Directors / Officers

Section A--President

The President shall exercise general executive supervision over and direct the affairs and activities of the Board of Directors.  [See Procedural Manual, IV]

Among President specific duties shall be:

• Preside at Board of Directors meetings
• Serve as an advisory member to all Departments and committees
• Appoint a Parliamentarian to act at Board of Directors meetings
• Confirm or if necessary, appoint Chairperson for each Department
• Create and appoint the Chairperson and members of any committee or department not provided for herein which he/her deems desirable for the proper functioning of the Board of Directors
• Appoint the Personnel committee

• Appoint a Church historian.
• Appoint a Nominating committee

• Appoint an Abiding Memorial committee
• Appoint Pastoral Relations committee
• Appoint Kokendoffer Educational Memorial Gift Committee

Section B--Vice President

The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President or in the event of the inability of the President to perform his/her duties. Among Vice-President specific duties shall be:

1.   Serves as Chairperson of Personnel.

Section C – Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Church’s money.  The Treasurer, President of the Board of Directors and the Chairperson of the Stewardship Department and Vice-President may sign checks on behalf of the church.  The Treasurer will be a member of the Stewardship Department and ex-officio of the Kokendoffer Educational Memorial Gift Committee.

Section D--Secretary

The Secretary’s specific duties shall be:

• Record the minutes and votes of all Board and congregational meetings.
• Have custody of the records of the Board of Directors.
• Conduct Board correspondence as directed by President.
• Provide a copy of official board and congregational minutes to the Church secretary for archives.

Article VIII

Departments and Standing Committees of the Board

Departments and standing committees of the Board are formed and can be dissolved as provided in Article XII of these By-Laws.

Section A – Departments of the Board shall be:

              Worship

              Christian Education

              Stewardship

              Fellowship

              Membership

              Outreach

              Property

              Evangelism

              Disciple Women

              Disciple Men

              Health and Wellness

     Other Departments as the Board of Directors from time to time create and appoint.

Section B – The responsibilities and duties of the above named Departments shall

                      be designated by the President of the Board of Directors but in any

                      event, shall include the following respectively:

              1.     The Worship Department shall be responsible for:

• The public worship
• The ordinance of baptism and the Lord’s Supper
• The music
• The pulpit supply
• Greeters and ushers
• Decorations of sanctuary
• Acolytes
• Chairperson of Worship shall serve as Chairperson of Abiding Memorial Committee
• Encouragement of devotional life among individual  members and in the homes of Church members
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget.            
•  Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting
• The Chairperson of the Worship Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.
• The Chairperson of Elders, Chairperson of Diaconate and Chairperson of Communion Stewards shall be members of the Worship Department.

              2.     The Christian Education Department shall be responsible for:

• Formulating, promoting and coordinating the total educational program of the Church.
• Developing the staff and curriculum for the Church’s school, Youth Programs, Vacation Bible School, small study groups, retreats and any other settings that may be hereafter adopted for implementation by the Department.
• Formulating and administering a program of leadership development and training for educational workers; promoting the use of the curriculum material and maintaining the church and youth libraries and church nurseries. 
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget.
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.  
•  The Chairperson of the Christian Education Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

       3. The Stewardship Department will develop within the membership of the Congregation an understanding of the full meaning of Christian Stewardship as it relates to time, talent and financial resources. 

• It shall cooperate with the Education Department in a stewardship education program. 
• It shall encourage endowments for future development in the church and it shall plan and promote such programs that will provide spiritual enrichment and character development, so that the congregation can be brought to the full realization of its total Stewardship potential. 
• The department shall plan, develop and promote an annual financial campaign for underwriting the needs of the congregation. 
• It shall further be responsible for the maintenance and general supervision of the church’s financial records, assisting departments in preparation of budget requests and consolidating such requests in final form for presentation to the Board of Directors, adjusting the operating budget to conform to funds available as may at times be required, supervising conformance of departments with the budget, informing the Board of Directors of the financial condition of the church, monitoring and reviewing the preparation of financial statements, procuring independent audits as deemed necessary and overseeing and directing the investment of all church funds deposited in checking, savings and other similar type accounts.     
• Plan, direct and manage it responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget. 
• Provide a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.  
• The Chairperson of the Stewardship Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              4.     The Fellowship Department shall be responsible for:

• The overall nurturing of the congregation.
• Providing and supervising an adequate program of social life for  the Church.
• Publicizing Church life and activities.
• Nurturing new members in cooperation with the Evangelism Department.
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and programming an adequate budget.
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.
• The Chairperson of the Fellowship Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

                5.The Membership Department shall be responsible for:

• Keeping up-to-date membership records, including baptism, transfers of membership, weddings, births, deaths.
• Collecting and preserving of records, reports, pictures and other items that would help to maintain a comprehensive history of our Church.
• Encouraging an educational program regarding the history of our Church in such a way as to instill pride and interest in our Church and so that our past history may be helpful to our congregation as we plan for the future. 
• Coordinating its efforts with the Disciples Historical Society at Nashville, Tennessee.
• Identifying and nurturing inactive members
• Producing an annual membership directory and periodic pictorial membership directory and history of the Church
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and programming an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.  
• The Chairperson of the Membership Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              6.     The Outreach Department shall be responsible for:

• Formulating throughout every Department of the Church a definite program of education in outreach and brotherhood causes and cooperative projects and enlisting support thereof

• Sponsoring interdenominational activities                                  
• Promoting attendance at brotherhood conventions, conferences, and retreats.
• Recruiting and supporting for life work in Christian ministry.
• Keeping records of all outreach giving and activities
• Promoting our local Benevolence programs in the support of those ministries
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and programming an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.  
• The Chairperson of the Outreach Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              7.     The Property Department shall be responsible for:

• Supervising and maintaining the real and personal properties of the Church.
• Planning and recommending expansions and improvements.
• Insurance programs for the facilities.
• Policies for the use of the Church grounds and facilities, i.e. weddings, funerals, kitchen
• Developing and overseeing safety policies, i.e. OSHA, ADA, fire, tornado
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.  
• The Chairperson of the Property Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              8.     Evangelism Department shall be responsible for:

• Leadership in creating an evangelistic spirit in the Church and sponsoring a year-round program of evangelism through all of its activities, reaching into every age level of the Church.
• Training the members of the congregation to take personal responsibility for evangelism
• Creating a list of prospective members for follow-up.
• Directing evangelistic programs and cooperating with the Fellowship Department in the orientation of new members.
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.
• The Chairperson of the Evangelism Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              9.     The Department of Women shall be responsible for:

• Coordinating and promoting programs that will enable women to participate fully in carrying out the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ
• Developing a program for its members
• Coordinating with all departments for programs of mutual concern 
• Overseeing bereavement dinners, Lenten luncheons, and use of kitchen equipment and silver service
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.
• The Chairperson of the Department of Women should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              10.   The Department of Men shall be responsible for: 

• Coordinating and promoting programs that will enable men to participate fully in carrying out the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ
• Developing a program for its members
• Coordinating with all departments for programs of mutual concern
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget.
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.
• The Chairperson of the Department of Men should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

              11. The Health and Wellness Department shall be responsible for:

• Promoting the overall health and wellness of the members of the congregation and the community at large.
• Offering health related screenings and educational opportunities
• Acting as a resource to the congregation
• Planning, directing and managing its responsibilities effectively and program an adequate budget. 
• Providing a list of its members to the Secretary of the Board of Directors no later than the February meeting.
• The Chairperson of the Health and Wellness Department should serve a term of one (1) year and not more than two (2) consecutive terms.

Section C--Standing Committees of the Board

              1.     The Personnel Committee shall consist of the following seven members:  The Vice-President of the Board shall serve as Chairperson; four (4) members at-large of the congregation appointed by the President of the Board of Directors, and the Chairpersons of Property, Stewardship and Worship.  The ex-officio members of the Personnel Committee shall be the President of the Board of Directors and the Senior Minister.  The committee is responsible:

• Developing job descriptions, conducting salary and benefit surveys, maintaining personnel records, developing personnel policies, annual evaluations of all employees.
• Preparing administrative budget recommendations, to be presented to the Stewardship Department. 
• Consulting with the Senior Minister for the hiring, evaluation and dismissal of non-exempt employees. 
• Making recommendations relating to personnel management to the President of the Board of Directors, to the Board of Directors and to the ministers.
• Following Policies and Procedures for the dismissal of exempt employees.

         2.  The Abiding Memorial Committee shall consist of the Chairperson of the following departments:  Worship, Property, Membership, Stewardship, the President of the Board of Directors, the Senior Minister and two members at-large of the congregation appointed by the President of the Board of Directors.  The Abiding Memorial Chairperson will be the Chairperson of Worship.  The committee will be responsible for the following:

• Developing and publicizing a plan of “Abiding Memorials” and educating our people to its use. 
• Taking care of the Memorial Books and cards and seeing that proper entries are made therein.
• The Stewardship Department shall administrate all funds received into the Abiding Memorial Fund.
• All Abiding Memorial Funds shall be kept in a separate restricted interest bearing account.

              3.     The Pastoral Relations Committee shall be composed of one (1) Elder, one (1)Diaconate, one (1) Communion Steward and one (1) at-large member.  The committee will be responsible for the following

• Cultivating and developing a fruitful relationship between the Ministers and the people.
• Acting in a consultative role with the Board of Directors, the Ministers and the congregation.
• Acting as mediating group for conflict resolution between the congregation and ministers.
• Making recommendations to the Board of Directors. 

              4.  Kokendoffer Memorial Education Fund Committee will consist of three (3)

members appointed by the President of the Board of Directors to serve three (3) year term with a new member each year to replace a retiring member.  Members may serve two (2) consecutive terms.  The Kokendoffer Memorial Education Fund includes the Colie and Georgia Ervin Trust Fund interest income.  The Christian Church Foundation has determination over the corpus of the Ervin Trust.  Interest from this Trust is to be paid to the First Christian Church of Sedalia, Mo. each July 1st.  All Kokendoffer Memorial Education Funds shall be kept in a separate restricted interest bearing account.

                The purpose of the Kokendoffer Memorial Education Fund shall be:

• To provide a fitting memorial to the long years of Christian service by the Reverend and Mrs. W. A. Kokendoffer and all the subsequent contributors.
• To provide assistance for full-time study based upon the following priorities:

                      Priority 1:     To provide assistance to an active member

                      or members of First Christian Church of Sedalia MO.,

                      wishing to pursue a post-secondary education at an

                      accredited college or seminary to pursue a religious

                      vocation. 

                      Priority 2:     To provide assistance to an active member

                      or members of First Christian Church of Sedalia, Mo.,

                      wishing to pursue a post-secondary education at an

                      accredited institution of higher learning.

                      Priority 3:  To provide assistance to an active member

                      or members of First Christian Church of Sedalia, Mo.,wishing

                      to pursue an advanced degree at an accredited college or seminary

                      to pursue a religious vocation.

• The Kokendoffer Memorial Education Fund Committee on an annual basis shall determine recipient(s) and the amount of assistance. 

Article IX

                                             Official Publication

  The official publication of the congregation shall be a newspaper, newsletter or            bulletin regularly distributed to the members of the congregation.

Article X

   Expenditures

  No expenditures of funds for purposes or items not specified in a budget approved by the congregation shall be made unless the Board of Directors shall have duly voted the expenditure.  No motion for the expenditure of any funds for items or purposes (except as above provided) not specified in a budget approved by the congregation shall be entertained by the board unless the movant shall have, prior to presenting any such motion, conferred with the respective chairperson and the Stewardship Department and states to the board, prior to his motion, the attitude of such department toward the expenditure to be moved.

All expenditures shall be subject to the approval of the proper department Chairperson.

From time to time, expenditures may need to be adjusted to conform to available funds.

Article XI

Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall be followed in the event of dispute as to procedure at board meetings.

Article XII

Constitution and/or By-Laws Amendment

The congregation may amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws, provided that 2/3 of the Board of Directors recommends the amendment and 2/3 of the congregation in attendance votes to accept the recommendation of the Board of Directors.  Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the board in writing at a regular board meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting upon which such proposed amendment is to be voted.  The congregation will receive in writing the proposed amendments 30 days prior to the congregational meeting.

Article XIII

Procedural Manual Amendment

The procedural manual may be amended by the Board of Directors provided the proposed amendment does not conflict with the Constitution and By-Laws.  A quorum for the purpose of amending the procedural manual shall not be less than 2/3 of the total voting board membership.  Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the board in writing at a regular board meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting upon which such proposed amendment is to be voted on.

Article XIV

Superseded

These by-laws may be superseded by new by-laws.  A quorum for the purpose of enacting superseding by-laws shall be 2/3 of the total voting board membership.  Any proposed superseding by-laws shall be submitted to the board in writing at a regular board meeting at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which such superseding by-laws are to be voted on.

Schedule:

Supersession of prior by-laws

       All existing by-laws and amendments thereto are superseded by these by-laws

       except as hereinafter provided.

Effects on existing terms of office

       The terms of all persons holding office to which they have been elected at the time

       this constitution and by-laws shall take effect shall not be vacated.

Effect of prior official acts

       Any prior actions heretofore taken by The Board of Directors are hereby

        confirmed, ratified and approved.