Current Constitution

Constitution - Community Covenant Church Santa Cruz, California

Preamble
The Evangelical Covenant Church is a communion of congregations gathered by God, united in Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey the great commandment and the great commission. It affirms its companionship in faith with other church bodies and all those who fear God and keep God’s commandments.
The Covenant Church adheres to the affirmation of the Protestant Reformation regarding the Bible. It confesses that the Holy Scripture, the Old and the New Testament, is the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and conduct. It affirms the historic confessions of the Christian Church, particularly the Apostles’ Creed, while emphasizing the sovereignty of the Word of God over all creedal interpretations.
In continuity with the renewal movements of historic Pietism, the Evangelical Covenant Church especially cherishes the dual emphasis on new birth and new life in Christ, believing that personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the foundation for our mission of evangelism and Christian nurture. Our common experience of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ continues to sustain the Evangelical Covenant Church as an interdependent body of believers that recognizes but transcends our theological differences.
The Evangelical Covenant Church celebrates two divinely ordained sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Recognizing the reality of freedom in Christ, and in conscious dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit, we practice both the baptism of infants and believer baptism. The Evangelical Covenant Church embraces this freedom in Christ as a gift that preserves personal conviction, yet guards against an individualism that disregards the centrality of the word of God and the mutual responsibilities and disciplines of the spiritual community.
The Evangelical Covenant Church has its roots in historical Christianity, the Protestant Reformation, the biblical instruction of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, and the great spiritual awakenings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These influences, together with more recent North American renewal movements, continue to shape its development and distinctive spirit. The Evangelical Covenant Church is committed to reaching across boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, and status in the cultivation of communities of life and service.

This document, which is in harmony with the above preamble, is the Constitution and Bylaws of the Community Covenant Church of Santa Cruz, California.

Constitution
Article I Name
The name of this church shall be the Community Covenant Church of the Valley, Inc., located in Santa Cruz, California.

Article II Affiliation
The church is affiliated with The Evangelical Covenant Church and its Pacific Southwest Conference. It is pledged to work in harmony with the denomination and its decisions and to support its programs, policies, and institutions.

Article III Confession of Faith
The church believes in the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, as the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct.

Article IV Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the church will be to cultivate a community of worship committed to prayer, preaching and study of the Word of God, the celebration of the sacraments, and fellowship across the boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, and status. In so doing, we covenant to equip loving, giving, growing Christians to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ-- evangelizing the lost, ministering to those in need, and seeking justice for the oppressed.

Article V Membership
Membership in the church shall be granted on application to those who through faith in God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, have been born anew to living hope, desire to live a Christian life, and promise to support the total ministry of the church and to share its fellowship and obligations.

Article VI Governance
The authority of the government of this church is vested in its membership acting through duly called congregational meetings. The management, administration and oversight of business and spiritual affairs are delegated by the congregation to appropriate leadership as delineated in the Bylaws. All elected leadership specified in the Bylaws shall be members of the church.

Article VII Officers
The officers of the church shall be a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary, and a financial officer. All officers shall be members of the Leadership Team.

Article VIII The Leadership Team
Section 1 The general administration of the church shall be vested in a body known as the Leadership Team. In circumstances or where law requires action(s) by “Trustees” the Leadership Team shall be known as “the Board of Trustees” and the members of it as “trustees.”

Section 2 The Leadership Team shall consist of the officers of the church and other congregational members as specified in the bylaws. The members of the full-time pastoral staff shall be ex-officio members of the Leadership Team.

Section 3 The Leadership Team shall organize itself in a manner specified in the bylaws.

Article IX Congregational Business Meetings
Section 1 An Annual Meeting shall be held as near the first of the fiscal year as is feasible. At the Annual Meeting, written progress reports shall be submitted by the pastor(s), ministry staff, officers, and ministry teams. Reports on an independent review of financial records shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church and each of its organizations. Election for offices shall be held. The church budget shall be submitted for action. Additional congregational meetings shall be held not less than semiannually. Items as required by the Constitution and By-laws shall be submitted for congregational action.

Section 2 Notice of congregational business meetings shall be given to members not less than two weeks prior to the meeting and shall include the date and time of the meeting.

Article X Assets of the Church
Section 1 The congregation shall hold title to its own assets.

Section 2 In the event of schism within the church, in which there are competing claims to the assets by various factions of the membership, the title of all church property, real or personal, shall remain with the group which abides by the constitution and bylaws, as determined by the executive board of the Pacific Southwest Conference.

Section 3 No action for the sale or transfer of assets may be taken when the closure of the
church is under consideration without the prior approval of the Pacific Southwest Conference executive board. In the event the congregation votes to cease, the property and all assets of the church shall become and be the property of the ECC and the Pacific Southwest Conference, shared equally for the furtherance of the mission of both in that region, primarily through church planting.

Article XI Amendments
Amendments in harmony with this constitution, the model constitutions for local ECC churches, non-profit laws of the state of California, and not in conflict with ECC principles and policies may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting in an annual meeting of the congregation, providing the proposed amendment was presented in written form at a preceding congregational business meeting. Articles IX and X may be amended only with the approval of the Pacific Southwest Conference executive board.

Bylaws
Article I Membership

Section 1 Purpose
The purpose of membership is to join with other followers of Christ in building a community of worship committed to prayer, preaching and study of the Word of God, the celebration of the sacraments, and fellowship across the boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age, and status. In so doing, the membership covenants together to equip loving, giving, growing Christians to reach out with the good news of Jesus Christ – evangelizing the lost, ministering to those in need, and seeking justice for the oppressed.

Section 2 Responsibilities
The members of this church do covenant together by God’s grace to live lives in a manner consistent with the standards of biblical teaching, including the support of this congregation in attendance, prayer, service, and giving, to live lives in word and deed that are an encouragement to others to know and be like Jesus Christ, to reflect in all our relationships the servant love of our Lord, and to support the broader mission of Christ through the ECC and the Pacific Southwest Conference.

Section 3 Procedure for Admission into Membership
a. Membership in the church is granted to those who through faith in God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, have been born anew to a living hope through the Holy Spirit, have been baptized according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to live a Christian life, promise to faithfully support the mission, ministries, and policies of the church, and to share in its fellowship and obligations.
b. Upon completion of a membership class, persons desiring to apply for membership shall submit their application to the Leadership Team. Applicants shall meet with a committee appointed by the Leadership Team to give testimony to personal faith in Jesus Christ. Upon completion of such, the committee shall submit its recommendations on the applications to the Leadership Team who shall notify members of the church of the recommendations. Any member objecting to or having concerns over the granting of membership to an applicant shall communicate in writing such objection or concern to the Leadership Team within 10 days after notification by the Leadership Team.
c. Final action on applications for membership shall be taken by the Leadership Team within sixty (60) days of receiving the recommendations of the interview committee. Such action may be appealed by a member at the next congregational meeting where the action of the Leadership Team may be overturned by a majority vote of members present and voting.
d. Applicants who are received into membership of the church shall be welcomed at a service and make public confession of their Christian faith, as outlined in The Covenant Book of Worship.

Section 4 Children
Children of members and friends of the church shall be nurtured under its spiritual care. When they have reached an appropriate age, they may enroll in a Confirmation course and receive special instruction by the pastoral staff and designated lay leaders in the Word of God, Christian doctrine, and church history, normally using the confirmation/discipleship material of the ECC.. Upon being confirmed, they may make application for membership, as outlined under Section 3, paragraph a) of this article. Voting privileges shall be granted at age 16.

Section 5 Associate membership.
Associate membership shall be available to applicants who desire to retain membership in another Christian church while residing in the local community, for reasons acceptable to the congregation. Associate membership shall also be available to members entering full-time Christian service, and wishing to maintain an affiliation with their home church. In addition, associate membership shall also be available to members who, by reason of health, geographical location or other reasons acceptable to the congregation, are unable to participate actively in the life of the church, but wish to have an affiliation with the Covenant through this church. Applicants shall qualify for membership under Article V of the constitution, and Article I, Sections 1 and 3 of these bylaws. Associate members shall not have voting privileges.

Section 6 Discipline
a. Discipline of members
The Leadership Team shall be responsible for admonishing members who willfully neglect their responsibilities to the church or who err in doctrine or conduct.
a. Erring members
Any member known to err in doctrine or conduct shall be counseled according to the procedure outlined in Matthew 18:15-18 and Galatians 6:1. Any member having knowledge of such error shall, in the spirit of Christian love, seek to restore the erring member. If he or she does not heed this counsel, the matter shall be brought to the attention of the Leadership Team in writing, which shall in meekness and gentleness seek to restore the member.
c. Dismissal
After the above process has been completed, dismissal of a member remaining in gross error in doctrine or conduct may result by a two-thirds vote of all current Leadership Team members. Such action may be appealed by the member to the congregation for consideration at the next congregational meeting.

Section 7 Withdrawal and Removal of Membership
a. Inactive members
A member who has not participated actively in the life of the congregation for a period of one year may be dismissed from membership by a two-thirds vote of all current Leadership Team members.
b. Transfer or withdrawal
Any member desiring to transfer or withdraw from membership shall make such request in writing to the Pastor or Leadership Team. Letters of transfer shall be issued by the Pastor if so requested, and the member is in good standing. The Leadership Team shall annually review the membership roster to determine inactivity. Those determined to have neglected their responsibilities may be approached under the process outlined in Section 5 of this article.
c. Forfeiture of rights
A member who has been properly dismissed from the church or has withdrawn from membership, has forfeited all rights and privileges of membership in the church.

Section 9 Nonmember friends.
Nonmember friends shall be enrolled by the church as a part of its total constituency. The church and its pastoral staff shall serve them in all their spiritual needs, and they shall be encouraged to consider this as their church home. They shall be kept informed of the activities of the church.

Section 10 Recording
The names of those joining and terminating membership shall be duly recorded and reported to the congregational meeting following such actions.

Article II The Leadership Team
Section 1 Purpose
The Leadership Team shall be responsible for building, maintaining and overseeing the spiritual welfare of the congregation and for directing and overseeing all ministries and business affairs of the church.

Section 2 Composition
The Leadership Team shall be comprised of not less than 5 nor more than 9 Leadership Team members. The team will be comprised of the officers of the church and members of the congregation at large, as elected by the congregation at the annual business meeting. Members of the full-time pastoral staff will be ex-officio members of the team.

Section 3 Qualifications
Any member of the church meeting the biblical standards of character and giftedness for church leaders may be nominated and elected to the Leadership Team.

Section 4 Election
Leadership Team members shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by a two-thirds vote of those members voting at a meeting of the congregation called for that purpose.

Section 5 Term of Office
Leadership Team members shall be elected for a term of 3 years in such a manner that the terms of approximately one-third of the members shall expire each year and shall not be elected for more than two consecutive terms. After at least one year off, a person may be eligible for subsequent service, subject again to the terms stated in this article.

Section 6 Vacancies and Removal
A Leadership Team member may resign. A Leadership Team member may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of congregational members voting at a meeting called for that purpose. Vacancies created by resignation or removal may be filled by appointment through the 2/3 vote of the Leadership Team. A Leadership Team member appointed to serve an unexpired term of less than half the remaining term shall not be precluded from being elected thereafter to two full consecutive terms.

Section 7 Notification of Meetings
All Leadership Team members shall receive a minimum 3-day advance notification of any meeting, including time and place of the meeting. In emergency situations, the 3-day notice may be waived by the 2/3 vote of the entire Leadership Team.

Section 8 Quorum
A majority of Leadership Team members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 9 Decisions
The Leadership Team shall strive for unanimity. Matters shall be determined by a majority vote of a Leadership Team quorum, unless on a matter in which the Constitution and Bylaws require a different percentage.

Section 10 Organization
The Leadership Team shall elect from among themselves a chair, a vice chair, a secretary and a financial officer.
a. Chair. The chair shall preside at all business meetings of the church and of the Leadership Team. The chair shall confer with the senior pastor in preparing the agenda for such meetings, and shall utilize the counsel that the senior pastor can give by virtue of training, experience, and calling.
b. Vice-chair. The vice-chair shall assume the duties of the chair in the chair’s absence, assist in the Chair’s duties, and chair the pastoral relations committee.
c. Secretary. The secretary shall keep and preserve the minutes of all business meetings of the church and of the Leadership Team, conduct and preserve all official correspondence as shall be delegated, and be responsible for the official seal and documents of the church.
d. Financial Officer. The financial officer shall ensure proper policies, processes, reporting, and reviewing of all matters related to the finances of the church, including the submission of monthly financial reports to the Leadership Team.

Section 11 Responsibilities of the Leadership Team
In being responsible to the congregation for building, maintaining and overseeing the spiritual welfare of the church and for directing and overseeing all ministries and business affairs of the church, the Leadership team shall:
a. present annual mission and ministry objectives to the congregation;
b. determine Ministry Teams needed to carry out the church's mission and ministry, and
appoint appropriate leadership for the Ministry Teams;
c. approve church policies;
d. be responsible for representing the congregation in certain staff relationships including:
1. hiring and dismissal of staff subject to the provisions of these Bylaws. Action
shall be by 2/3 vote;
2. annual appraisal of the senior pastor and of the ministry staff, and providing
godly counsel or discipline as required;
3. annual review and approval of staff compensation and compensation for new
staff; and other personnel expenses for any staff member or activity;
4. establishment of personnel policies;
5. approval of changes in staff job descriptions and approval of job descriptions
for new staff positions; and
6. maintenance of current job descriptions for all staff members;
e. be responsible for overseeing the preparation and submission of a proposed budget for
each fiscal year to the membership for approval. Upon approval of the budget by the
membership, the Leadership Team shall be responsible for seeing that the budget is
carried out as approved. The Leadership Team shall have the authority to appropriately
adjust budget items and amounts where ministry objectives necessitate but in no event
shall total expenditures exceed the total authorized budget without prior notification of
the membership. The Leadership Team shall appoint a member of the church as
financial secretary (not necessarily a Leadership Team member) who shall be authorized
to receive monies on behalf of the church and shall appoint a treasurer (not necessarily a
Leadership Team member) to disburse funds for church purposes in accordance with
standard accounting procedures for non-profit organizations. The Leadership Team shall
annually appoint an independent review of the financial records of the church and report
such findings to the congregation. Neither the treasurer nor financial secretary shall
serve more than four consecutive years.
f. hear and respond appropriately to concerns of members;
g. be responsible for church discipline as outlined in Article I, Section 5 of these Bylaws;
h. act as the trustees of the church for the advancement and protection of its assets. The
Leadership Team shall designate those Leadership Team members and any other
members of the church who shall be authorized to sign legal documents on behalf of the
church;
i. be responsible for action on applications for membership as outlined in the Bylaws.

Section 12 Unity
Action by the Leadership Team shall be taken in such manner as to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Article III Ministry Teams
Section 1. Purpose
Ministry Teams shall be formed as required to implement the varied ministries of the church.

Section 2. Establishment
Ministry Teams shall be established by the Leadership Team to implement specific ministries. The configuration of Ministry Teams shall be reviewed regularly by the Leadership Team, upon recommendation of the church staff, in accord with the church's purpose, strategies, and objectives for mission and ministry.

Section 3. Duties
The duties of Ministry Teams shall be to:
a. Meet as required to plan and execute specific mission and ministry objectives.
b. Recruit and train ministry personnel.
c. Define and provide the necessary materials required for ministry.
d. Submit annually to the Leadership Team proposed budgets and objectives for the forthcoming year and manage consistent with approved budgets.
e. Report as requested to the Leadership Team.

Section 4. Leadership.
a. The leader of a Ministry Team shall be approved by the Leadership Team in consultation with the pastor(s). The team leader will serve as liaison to the Leadership Team to provide reports and information when requested, and to forward requests to the Leadership Team when necessary.
b. Ministry Team members may be selected by the Ministry Team leader. The Leadership Team may remove a Ministry Team member.
c. Each Ministry Team shall organize itself as required to perform its ministry.
d. The Leadership Team may appoint one of its members to be an ex officio member of any Ministry Team, who may also serve as that Ministry Team’s leader.

Article IV The Pastor
Section 1. Qualifications.
The pastor of the church shall meet the New Testament requirements of the pastoral office (1 Timothy 3:2-7) and shall be a member in good standing in the Covenant Ministerium, or express, in writing, a willingness to make application for membership in the Covenant Ministerium, and to complete the requirements within a reasonable time. The pastor and the spouse of the pastor, shall by virtue of the pastoral call, be members of the church.

Section 2. Duties.
The pastor shall be devoted to the service of the church, preaching and teaching the Word of God, administering the sacraments, and faithfully fulfilling the tasks of pastoral work and administration. In addition, the pastor shall provide the church with accurate records of all pastoral acts and present a written report to the annual business meeting. The pastor shall be an ex-officio member of the Leadership Team and of all groups and organizations within the church.

Section 3. Cooperation.
The pastor shall, both in word and precept, work in harmony with the Covenant, the conference, the Covenant ministerium, and the lay leadership of the church.

Section 4. Call.
The pastor shall be called at a regular or special congregational business meeting, the purpose of which shall be announced in advance. The pastor shall be nominated by a pastoral search committee. This committee shall be elected at a congregational business meeting. It shall be representative of the church, have five to nine members, and shall work closely with the regional conference superintendent. The pastor shall be chosen by ballot at a business meeting where a quorum of the membership is present, with a two-thirds vote of approval required for a call. The call shall be for an indefinite period of time with a minimum of six weeks notice required by the church or pastor for the termination of pastoral duties, with the exception of situations involving pastoral misconduct.

Section 5. Study leave.
After five years of service in the church, and each third year thereafter, the pastor, upon application to the Leadership Team, shall be eligible for a period of study leave not to exceed three months, with all benefits maintained. The length of time granted shall be determined by the type of study requested in the application.

Section 6. Charges against the pastor.
Charges against the pastor regarding indiscretion, immorality, doctrinal error, unethical behavior or disloyalty to the Covenant (Matthew 18:15-18) shall be submitted in writing to the Pastoral Relations Committee. If, in the judgment of the Leadership Team of the church, there is substance to the charges, the case shall be referred to the regional conference superintendent. The superintendent shall confer with the Covenant executive secretary of the ministry. These two officers shall confer and determine the order of responsibility in pursuing the matter according to the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Ministry of the Covenant regarding discipline, prior to further action by the church.

Article V Committees
Section 1. Executive committee.
The Executive Committee, consisting of the church Chair, the Vice-chair, the Secretary, and the Financial Officer shall have no legislative power, but shall function in an advisory capacity to the Leadership Team on matters deemed appropriate by the Leadership Team.

Section 2. Nominating committee.
The nominating committee shall consist of not less than three (3) members who shall be elected at a business meeting at least three (3) months prior to the annual meeting. The senior pastor shall be an ex officio member of the committee. After being convened by the church Chair, committee members shall elect their own chair and secretary. The responsibility of the committee shall include the following:
a) prepare a ballot for the annual meeting of the congregation listing one qualified candidate for each office of to be filled.
b) confirm the willingness of each candidate to serve before listing their name on the ballot.
c) present a complete ballot to the annual meeting of the congregation. This shall constitute completion of the committee’s assignment, unless given specific responsibilities at said annual meeting.

Section 3. Pastoral Relations Committee.
The Pastoral Relations Committee shall consist of the members of the executive committee and two members from the congregation at large, and shall meet at least semiannually in the performance of its duties.

Section 4. Special committees and task forces.
Special committees or task forces for specific purposes may be appointed by any duly constituted business meeting of the congregation or by the Leadership Team according to need, but shall be automatically terminated at the next annual meeting unless specifically extended by said annual meeting.

Article VI Meetings
Section 1. Public services.
Public services shall be conducted regularly on Sundays and specified special days for worship, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and prayer.

Section 2. Conducting sacraments.
The sacrament of Holy Communion shall be conducted regularly as determined by vote of the church. The sacrament of baptism shall be conducted in keeping with Covenant principles and according to the needs of the constituency.

Section 3. Business meetings.
Congregation business meetings shall be held regularly as stipulated in Article VII of the constitution. Special business meetings may be called by the Chair of the church in consultation with the pastoral staff or by the Leadership Team.

Section 4. The Leadership Team and administrative committee meetings. Regular meetings of the Leadership Team shall be held not less than monthly. Administrative committees, special committees, and task forces shall meet not less than at a frequency specified by the Leadership Team. Special meetings of the Leadership Team, the executive committee, the ministry teams, and other committees or task forces may be called by the Leadership Team.

Section 5. Organizational meetings.
Meetings and activities of the organizations of the church shall be planned and conducted regularly under the direction and supervision of the Leadership Team.

Article VII General Provisions
Section 1. Quorum.
a) Twenty percent (20%) of the church’s membership present at a congregational business meeting, properly called, shall constitute a quorum.
b) The quorum for the Leadership Team, committee, and task force meetings shall be a majority of their respective memberships.

Section 2 Auditors.
Auditors, not currently members of the church council, shall be appointed to audit the financial records of the church, and of the organizations of the church, at the end of each fiscal year.

Section 3 Rules of order.
All congregational business meetings and meetings of the boards, committees and organizations of the church shall be conducted according to scriptural principles and portions of Robert’s Rules of Order as agreed upon by the congregation.

Article VIII Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws not in conflict with the constitution may be adopted at any regular congregational business meeting, or at a special business meeting called for that purpose, by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, provided that such amendments have been presented in writing to the church council and at a preceding regular business meeting.