Microsoft Word - Bylaws of First Baptist Bossier - Amended Final Version.5.20.15.docx

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BOSSIER

A Louisiana Nonprofit Religious Corporation

PREAMBLE

For the more certain preservation and security of the principles of our faith,

and to the end that this body may be subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and

governed in an orderly democratic process under the direction and leadership of

the Senior Pastor (hereinafter referred to as “Pastor”) with the accepted tenets of

the Southern Baptist Churches, and for the purpose of preserving the liberties

inherent in each individual member of the Church and the freedom of action of

this body with respect to its relation to the churches of the same faith and order,

we do declare and establish this our Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE I

Name and Principal Office

The name of the Corporation is the “FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF

BOSSIER.” This Corporation will be further referred to in the Bylaws as the

“Church” or “Corporation.” The Church maintains its principal office at 2810 East

Texas Street, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111. The Leadership Team of the

Church shall have full power and authority to change the principal office from one

location to another. Any change of this location shall be recorded by the

Secretary on these Bylaws opposite this section, or this section may be amended

by the Leadership Team to state the new location.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The Mission or purpose of the Church is to be a Biblically based community

of believers dedicated to impact our world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

We are committed to seeing the five purposes of worship, fellowship,

discipleship, service, and evangelism accomplished through this body both

individually and collectively.

ARTICLE III

Statement of Faith

We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God and as the only basis

of our beliefs. This Church accepts “The Baptist Faith and Message” as

amended, as an affirmation of basic Christian beliefs, and a general statement of

our faith as follows:

1. The Scriptures

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation

of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its

author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.

Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by

which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world,

the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human

conduct, creeds, and religious

opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the

focus of divine revelation.

See Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10;

119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-

18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11;

Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2

Peter 1:19-21.

2. God

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual,

and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the

universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful

and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present,

and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe

the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals

Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but

without division of nature, essence, or being.

a. God the Father

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His

creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes

of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father

in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is

fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2;

Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8;

Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24;

5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians

4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1

Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7.

b. God the Son

Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was

conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed

and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and

necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He

honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary

death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He

was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as

the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven

and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully

God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and

man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His

redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present

Lord.

Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17;

8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35;

4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11;

16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20;

Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-

8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-

10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1

Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14;Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-

28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9;

Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.

c. God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old

to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth.

He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He

calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of

regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates

Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which

they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final

redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the

believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers

the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.

Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel

2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35;

4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8;

2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans

8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6;

Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2

Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation

1:10; 22:17.

3. Man

Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created

them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is

thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent

of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice

man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the

temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his

original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment

inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they

become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can

bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose

of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man

in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of

every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.

Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5;

Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23;

5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22;

Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.

4. Salvation

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to

all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained

eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes

regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation

apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.

a. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby

believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought

by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in

repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith

are inseparable experiences of grace.

Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of

Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior.

b. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His

righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings

the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.

c. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the

believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral

and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling

in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life.

d. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and

abiding state of the redeemed.

Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6;

Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16;

17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4;

3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians

1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25;

6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22;

3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3;

5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1- 12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11;

Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.

5. God's Purpose of Grace

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He

regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the

free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end.

It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy,

and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in

Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace,

but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and

temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and

bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves;

yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah

31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32;

19:41-44; 24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29; 15:16;

17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39; 10:12- 15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1

Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-

14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews 11:39–12:2;

James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.

6. The Church

A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local

congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and

fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His

laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word,

and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation

operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a

congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its

scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. While both men and women are

gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified

by Scripture.

The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which

includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and

tongue, and people, and nation.

Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27;

15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14;

12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians

1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4;

Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3.

7. Baptism and the Lord's Supper

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the

believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin,

the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ

Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a

church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to

the Lord's Supper.

The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the

church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the

death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.

Matthew 3:13- 17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22;

22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1

Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.

8. The Lord's Day

The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for

regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead

and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and

private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's

conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-

36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2;

Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.

9. The Kingdom

The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the

universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as

King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by

trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to

labor that the Kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The full

consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of

this age.

Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew 3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28;

13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark 1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32;

17:20-21; 23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans 5:17; 8:19; 1

Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10;

4:13; Revelation 1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.

10. Last Things

God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its

appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally

and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all

men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of

everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies

will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.

Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64;

Mark 8:38; 9:43- 48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3;

Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2

Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-

18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13;

Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14;

Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1- 22:13.

11. Evangelism and Missions

It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of

the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth

of man's spirit by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary

effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life,

and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord

Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the

duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal

witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony

with the gospel of Christ.

Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-

30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14; 28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-

12; 15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48; 13:2-3; Romans

10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3;

11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.

12. Education

Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ

abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore,

a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and

creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom

of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence,

and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An

adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual

program for Christ's people.

In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic

freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of

human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a

Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus

Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose

for which the school exists.

Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah 8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms

19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.; 4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19;

Matthew 5:2; 7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Ephesians

4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9; 1 Timothy 1:3- 7; 2 Timothy 2:15;

3:14-17; Hebrews 5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.

13. Stewardship

God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have

and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world,

a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions.

They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and

material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use

for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures,

Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically,

proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on

earth.

Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew

6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47;

5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20;

12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

14. Cooperation

Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations

and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the

Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over

the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit,

combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner.

Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in

carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the

extension of Christ's Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is

spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups

of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian

denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such

cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ

and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.

Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4;

8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16; 22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts

1:13-14; 2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:5-15; 12; 2

Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.

15. The Christian and the Social Order

All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ

supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the

improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can

be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of

the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ,

Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and

all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and

pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the

abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the

unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural

death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as

a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly

love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all

men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of

love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.

Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12; 27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah

6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew 5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34;

2:3ff.; 10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27- 37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15; Romans 12–14;

1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24; 10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians

6:5-9; Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James 1:27; 2:8.

16. Peace and War

It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of

righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should

do all in their power to put an end to war.

The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme

need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and

nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people

throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke 22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19;

13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews 12:14; James 4:1-2.

17. Religious Liberty

God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the

doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not

contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every

church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing

for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by

the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty

of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the

revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on

its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit

of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of

any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of

religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the

right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to

form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the

civil power.

Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21; John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20;

Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians 5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2;

James 4:12; 1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.

18. The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human

society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or

adoption.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a

lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church

and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate

companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards,

and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are

created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to

His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the

God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is

to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the

church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God

as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to

respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and

nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from

the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage.

Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them,

through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based

on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua

24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26- 28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs

1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3;

29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14- 16; Matthew 5:31-32;

18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians

5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-

5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

19. Statement on Marriage and Sexuality

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is

marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single,

exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. We believe that God intends sexual

intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each

other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be

engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication,

homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to

change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and

offensive to God.

We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the Church

as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Church

members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the

Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree

to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves

accordingly.

We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess

and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness,

respect, and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward

any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the

doctrines of the Church.

Because we believe in the biblical teaching that marriage is between one

man and one woman, marriages outside those parameters will not be performed

by church ministers or on church property.

Additionally, the Bible (Scripture) is the authority for all matters of faith and

practice in the Church, and the Church shall operate in accordance with

Scriptural principles specifically relating to marriage, the family and sexual

morality. We believe the Church’s Statement on Marriage and Sexuality is based

upon God’s will for human life as conveyed to us through the Holy Scriptures,

upon which this Church has been founded and anchored, and this Policy shall

not be subject to change through popular vote; referendum; prevailing opinion of

members or the general public; influence of or interpretation by any government

authority, agency, or official action; or legal developments on the local, state or

federal level.

Therefore, if it reasonably appears to the Church that the general welfare of

the Church, its members or employees, are jeopardized by the conduct of any

person inconsistent with the mission or principles of the Church, including, but

not limited to, those principles described herein including the exercise of sexual

expression outside the biblical definition of marriage in any manner, the Church

may take those actions it deems appropriate and necessary in accordance with

Scripture and the Bylaws, including, but not limited to, disallowing the person

from accessing or entering the facilities and/or property belonging to the Church.

It is the policy of the Church that all of the Church’s assets and property

shall be used to glorify God in fulfillment of the mission of the Church.

Accordingly, the Church may disallow any use of its property, formal or informal,

by those affiliated with the Church or otherwise, inconsistent with the mission or

principles of the Church, including, but not limited to, those principles described

herein.

ARTICLE IV

Affiliation

The government of this Church is vested in the body of believers (members)

who compose it. This Church will be, and is always to be a sovereign,

autonomous Baptist church, self-governing on all matters by a majority of the

body of members who compose it. This Church is autonomous and maintains the

right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denominational control.

Recognizing, however, the benefits of cooperation with other churches in world

missions, this Church voluntarily affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention

and the Louisiana Baptist Convention in their international, national, state and

local expressions.

ARTICLE V

Membership

Section I: General

Membership in this Church shall consist of all persons who have met the

qualifications for membership and are listed on the membership roll.

Section II: Qualifications for Membership

1. A personal commitment of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation;

2. Baptism by immersion as a testimony of salvation;

3. Transfer of membership from another Southern Baptist Church or church

of like faith and order.

Nothing in the Article V shall be construed as limiting the right of the Church

to refer to persons associated with it as “members.” The Church may confer, by

amendment of these Bylaws, some or all of the rights of a member as set forth in

the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law upon any such person or persons.

Reference in the Bylaws to “members” is not references to such associate

persons.

In an effort to properly reflect the membership of the Church, two rolls will

be maintained. These rolls shall be updated periodically.

1. Active Members: All members who are currently active in the Church.

2. Inactive Members:

a. members who have become inactive as a result of moving

out of the Church’s ministry area and have not joined another

church; and/or

b. have not attended in six (6) months or not communicated in

any form with the Pastor and/or a ministerial pastor;

c. prior to moving a member to the inactive list every effort will

be made by the Pastor and/or ministerial pastors to determine

member status.

Section III: New Member Orientation

Each new member shall attend a New Member Orientation Class, which will

be provided for all age groups.

Section IV: Expectations

A member is expected to demonstrate his/her love for and commitment to

the Lord Jesus Christ and to this Church in the following ways:

1. Should seek to develop a vital devotional life, including daily Bible

reading and prayer (Acts 2:42-47; 2 Timothy 2:15-16);

2. Should seek to attend regular church meetings such as worship

services (Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening),

Bible Study (i.e. Sunday School), revival meetings and other special

services as scheduled by the church, unless providentially hindered

(Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:42-47);

3. Should practice “storehouse tithing”, which means to give 10% of

one’s income to the budget of this church in an undesignated fashion

as a minimum of his/her expression of financial stewardship (Malachi

3:8-12);

4. Should seek to live a Christlike, holy life (1 John 2:3-6; 1 Peter

1:13-17; Matthew 22:37-39);

5. Should seek to verbally share the gospel of Jesus Christ with lost

people for the purpose of persuading them to be converted to Him in

salvation (Matthew 28:18-20);

6. Should positively submit to and follow the leadership of the Pastor,

ministerial pastors and lay leadership of the church. Should preserve

the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace within the fellowship by

striving to be a peacemaker rather than a troublemaker (Hebrews

13:17; Philippians 2:1-4);

7. Should strive to love one another and show an attitude of

forgiveness and unity toward each other as an example to the world

of Christ’s love for His Church (John 13:34-35; Matthew 22:37-39; 1

John 3:16).

Section V: Voting Right of Membership

Only active members shall have the right to vote on the following matters:

any amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the annual budget

of the Church, the election of the Leadership Team, the disposition of all or

substantially all of the assets of the Church, the merger or dissolution of the

Church and the calling or removing of the Pastor. There shall be no proxy voting.

Unless otherwise provided for in the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the

members shall approve matters by a majority vote of the members present and

voting at a meeting called and held for such purpose by giving notice to the

members in accordance with Section IV of Article VII below (Notice

Requirements).

Section VI: Discipline

Every reasonable measure will be taken to minister to any troubled

member. The Pastor, ministerial pastors, deacons and members will seek

redemption rather than punishment.

Should a serious problem arise regarding the conduct or activities of a

member which would cause that member to become a liability to the welfare and

interest of the church, the Pastor, ministerial pastors and/or their delegate will

seek to resolve the problem according to Matthew 18:15-20.

Section VII: Termination of Membership

Members shall be removed from the church roll for the following reasons:

1. Death;

2. Transfer of membership to another church;

3. By personal request of the member or upon their membership in a

church of another denomination;

4. Dismissal by the Pastor or his delegate according to the following

conditions:

a. The member’s life and conduct is lived in such a way that the

member hinders the ministry influence of the Church in the community;

b. Procedures for dismissal of the member shall be according to

Matthew 18:15-17.

Section VIII: Restoration of Membership

Members dismissed by the Pastor or his delegate may be restored to

membership by the Pastor or his delegate upon evidence of his/her repentance

and reformation according to the spirit of 2 Corinthians 2:7-8.

ARTICLE VI

Church Ordinances

1. Baptism: The Church will receive for baptism those who have received Jesus

Christ as Savior, have professed Him publicly at a worship service or at other

evangelistic opportunities provided by the church, and indicate a commitment to

follow Christ as Lord. See Article III (7) for beliefs.

a. Baptism shall be by immersion in water, in the name of the Father, Son

and Holy Spirit, as a symbol of the person’s salvation;

b. The Pastor or whomever he shall authorize shall administer baptism.

2. The Lord’s Supper: The Church shall observe the Lord’s Supper no less than

one time per quarter. The Pastor, ministerial pastors and deacons shall

administer the Lord’s Supper. See Article III (7) for beliefs.

ARTICLE VII

Church Organization and Membership Meetings

The Church is both a spiritual body and a non-profit corporation under the

laws of the State of Louisiana. The Church is subject to the authority of Scripture

in all matters and subject to the rules of duly constituted public authority (Romans

13:1-7). The church organization is to provide the mechanism for the orderly

activity of the church body.

Section I: Place

Meetings of the members shall be held at First Baptist Church of Bossier or

at such other place or places within or outside Louisiana as may be designated

from time to time by the Pastor.

Section II: General Meetings

This general meeting shall be the annual membership meeting. The

purpose of this meeting shall be to adopt an annual budget. Subject to Section IV

of this Article (Notice Requirements), any other proper business may be

conducted at this meeting. A general meeting of the members shall be held on

the first Sunday in November of each year or such a time as determined by the

Pastor.

Section III: Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called at any time by the Pastor or by a

recommendation from the majority of the Leadership Team for any purpose by

giving notice to the members in accordance with Section IV of this Article (Notice

Requirements).

Section IV: Notice Requirements for Membership Meetings

1. General Requirements. Whenever members are required or permitted to

take any action at a meeting affecting the general business of the Church, notice

shall be given to members no less than one (1) week prior to a meeting.

Notification of membership meeting shall be given in any of the following

manners, which shall be deemed to be a reasonable method of calling a

membership meeting:

a. Distribution of written material to the congregation in

attendance at a Sunday Service;

b. Announcement of the meeting in the Church newsletter;

c. Oral announcement to the congregation at a Sunday Service

by the Pastor; or

d. Delivery by United States mail to each member identified on

the active membership roll.

2. Oral announcements shall not be sufficient in regard to calling or

removing the Pastor.

3. No item approved at a meeting shall be valid unless the notice

requirements of this section are fully and completely satisfied and complied

with in all terms.

Section V: Quorum

Those members present and voting at a meeting duly noticed and called

shall constitute a quorum of the membership for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VIII

Leadership Team

Section I: Purpose

This team is empowered by the church body to assist the Pastoral

leadership in accomplishing the practical business of the church. This team is not

formed for the spiritual oversight of the church.

Section II: Qualities and Qualifications

This team will consist of members completely loyal to the church, Pastor

and ministerial pastors and committed to the principles and priorities of the Word

of God.

Section III: Numbers and Term

The number of persons to serve on the Leadership Team is hereby set at

eight (8) in accordance with the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law, which shall

include the Pastor as Chairman. Each member of the Leadership Team may

serve successive terms and shall hold office until a successor has been

designated and qualified or until earlier resignation or removal. The term of each

member of the Leadership Team (except the Pastor) shall be two (2) years from

the date the member is appointed.

Section IV: Selection

The initial Leadership Team shall be appointed by the Pastor. Thereafter, all

subsequent new members of the Leadership Team will be recommended by the

Pastor and serving members of the Leadership Team for approval by the

members of the Church, by majority vote.

Section V: Removal

A member of the Leadership Team duly elected may be removed by:

a. recommendation by the Pastor and by majority vote of the

membership; or

b. recommendation by the Pastor and by majority vote of the

Leadership Team.

Section VI: Authority

1. General Corporate Authority: Subject to the provisions and limitations of

the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law, and any limitations in the Articles of

Incorporation and these Bylaws, the activities, business and affairs of the Church

shall be conducted and all corporate authority shall be exercised by or under the

direction of the Leadership Team with the guidance and leadership of the Pastor,

who shall serve as the Chairman of the Team.

2. Specific Authority: Without prejudice to the general authority set forth

above, and subject to the same limitations, the Leadership Team shall have the

authority to:

a. Change the principal executive office or the principal

business office of the Church in the State of Louisiana from one

location to another, and designate any place within or outside

the State of Louisiana for the holding of any meeting or meeting

of the Leadership Team;

b. Adopt, make and use a corporate seal and alter form of seal;

c. Borrow money and incur indebtedness, purchase and sell

real estate on behalf of the Church, and cause to be executed

and delivered for the Church’s purposes and in the Church’s

name, promissory notes and other evidences of debt and

securities;

d. In accordance with La. R.S. 12:207(D), and in the event the

Leadership Team decides to execute its authority as set forth in

Article VIII, Section VI, Subsection 2(c) above, such action shall

be authorized by the signatures of two (2) of the members of

the Leadership Team only after the Leadership Team has

approved such action by a vote of six (6) of the Leadership

Team members present at a meeting held in accordance with

Article IX below. In addition to the foregoing, any purchase or

transaction exceeding two (2) million dollars or more shall also

be approved by a majority vote of the membership present at a

meeting held in accordance with Article VII, Section IV above

(Notice Requirements);

e. Exercise all other powers conferred by the Louisiana

Nonprofit Corporation Law or other applicable laws;

f. Ratify any prior acts taken on behalf of the Church;

g. Set the Budget in consultation with the Pastor and ministerial

pastors; and

h. Appoint other temporary teams as deemed necessary by the

Pastor and ministerial pastors and Leadership Team to

accomplish any specific church business requested.

ARTICLE IX

Meetings of the Leadership Team

Section I: Place of Meetings

Regular or special meetings of the Leadership Team may be held at any

place within or outside the State of Louisiana that has been designated from time

to time by resolution of the Leadership Team. In the absence of such

designation, meetings shall be held at the principal office of the Church.

Notwithstanding the above provisions of this Section, a regular or special

meeting of the Leadership Team may be held at any place consented to in

writing by all of the Leadership Team, either before or after the meeting. If such

consents are given, they shall be filed with minutes of the meeting. Any meeting,

regular or special, may be held by conference telephone or similar

communication equipment, as long as all Leadership Team members

participating in the meeting can hear one another. All such Leadership Team

members shall be deemed to be present in person at such meeting. The Pastor

shall be in attendance at all Leadership Team meetings except in the event the

position of Pastor is vacant.

Section II: Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Leadership Team may be held without notice if the

time and place of such meetings are fixed by resolution of the Leadership Team.

Section III: Special Meetings

1. Authority to Call: Special meetings of the Leadership Team may be called

for any purpose and at any time by the Pastor.

2. Notice:

a. Manner of Giving. Notice of the time and place of special

meetings shall be given to each Leadership Team member by

one of the following methods: (1) by personal delivery of written

notice; (2) by first class mail, postage prepaid; (3) by telephone

communication, either directly to the team member or to person

at the team member’s office or home who the person giving

notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate the

notice to the team member; (4) by facsimile to the team

member’s home or office, or (5) by e-mail to the team member’s

home or office.

b. Time Requirements. Notice sent by first class mail shall be

deposited in the United States mail at least five (5) days before

the time set for the meeting. Notices given by personal delivery,

telephone, telecopier, or e-mail shall be delivered, telephoned,

faxed, or e-mailed to the Leadership Team member at least

twenty-four (24) hours before the time set for the meeting.

c. Notice Contents. The notice shall state the time and place for

the meeting. However the notice does not need to specify the

place of the meeting if the special meeting is to be held at the

Church’s principal office. The notice does not need to specify

the purpose of the meeting.

Section IV: Quorum

Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws,

a majority of the Leadership Team shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for

the transaction of business, and the acts (or votes) of a majority of the

Leadership Team present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the

acts of the Leadership Team. If a quorum is present when the meeting is

convened, the Leadership Team present may continue to do business, taking

action by vote of a majority of a quorum as fixed above, until adjournment,

notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Team members to leave less than a

quorum as fixed above, or the refusal of any Team member present to vote.

Section V: Waiver of Notice

The transactions of any meeting of the Leadership Team, however called

and noticed of wherever held, shall be as valid as though taken at a meeting duly

held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present, and either before or after

the meeting, each of the Leadership Team members not present signs a written

waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or approves the minutes. The

waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting. All

waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or

made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given

to any team member who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its

commencement about the lack of notice.

Section VI: Action Without Meeting

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Leadership Team may

be taken without a meeting if all of the team members, individually or collectively,

consent in writing to the action. Such action by written consent shall have the

same force and effect as the unanimous vote of the Leadership Team. Such

written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceeding of

the Leadership Team.

ARTICLE X

Officers

Section I: Officers

The Pastor shall serve as the President of the Church and shall act as the

Moderator of the Church. The Executive Pastor shall serve as the Vice President

of the church and shall act as the Moderator in the absence of the Pastor.

Section II: Election of Officers

The Pastor of the Church shall be called by the members at a membership

meeting, see Article X, Section VI (3). The Vice President and Secretary /

Treasurer of the Church shall be appointed by the Pastor in consultation with the

Leadership Team and ministerial pastors. The positions of Secretary and

Treasurer are combined into a single office of Secretary / Treasurer. The

Secretary / Treasurer shall act as Moderator in the absence of both the Pastor

and the Vice President.

Section III: Removal of Officers

Removal of Officers: The Vice President, and Secretary / Treasurer may be

removed, with or without cause, by the Pastor in consultation with the Leadership

Team and ministerial pastors at any regular or special meeting of the Leadership

Team.

Section IV: Vacancies in Office

A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,

disqualification or any other cause shall be filled only in the manner prescribed in

these Bylaws for regular appointments to that office. Such vacancies shall be

filled as they occur.

Section V: Duties of Officers

1. President: The President shall be the Chairman of the Leadership Team

and shall conduct their meetings. He shall act as President of the Corporation

whenever necessary.

2. Vice President: In the temporary absence or inability of the President to

exercise his office, the Vice-President shall become acting President of the

organization, with all the rights, privileges and powers as if he had been the duly

elected President.

3. Secretary / Treasurer: The Secretary / Treasurer shall keep an accurate

record of the minutes of all official meetings and shall arrange for copies to be

sent to all members of the Leadership Team. The Secretary / Treasurer shall be

the custodian of the corporate seal and all corporate records. It shall further be

the duty of the Secretary / Treasurer to file any certificate required by any statute,

federal or state. The Secretary / Treasurer shall give and serve all notice to

members of this organization. The Secretary / Treasurer shall present to the

membership at any meetings any communication addressed to him as Secretary

/ Treasurer of the organization, and shall submit to the Leadership Team any

communications which shall be addressed to the Secretary of the organization

and exercise all duties incident to the office of the Secretary. The Secretary /

Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping an accurate, itemized account of all

receipts and disbursements of the corporation. The Secretary / Treasurer shall

see that an independent audit or an internal audit/review by qualified church

members is done on an annual basis. The Secretary / Treasurer shall be

responsible for the deposit of all receipts in the bank authorized by the

Leadership Team. The Secretary / Treasurer shall have the care and custody of

all monies or securities of the organization. He shall render, at stated periods as

the Leadership Team shall determine, a written account of finances of the

organization and such report shall be physically affixed to the minutes of the

Leadership Team of such meeting. He shall exercise all duties incident to the

office of Secretary / Treasurer.

Section VI: Pastor

In the New Testament Church, God raised up and qualified, by the work of

the Holy Spirit, men who were appointed to exercise oversight over and

spiritually care for the church. These men are called elders, bishops, and pastors

(Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:7-9; 1 Peter 2:25; Hebrews 12:15). The

three (3) terms are interchangeable and are all used to describe the one office.

While there is the opportunity for multiple pastors providing spiritual oversight for

the church, there is need for a senior leader. Therefore, the Pastor, acting under

the headship of Jesus Christ, is God’s primary leader for the local church. His

main duties include prayer, preparation and delivery of biblical sermons, and

giving leadership to the overall church program. Pursuant to the Bylaws, he shall

be the Moderator of all business meetings. He is the President of the Church, the

supervisor of the ministerial pastors and staff, and is an ex-officio member of any

and all appointed teams.

1. Qualifications. The Pastor must be above reproach, that is, blameless,

having unimpeachable integrity, no grounds for accusation of improper Christian

behavior (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). He must be the husband of one wife, that is,

he has only one woman in his life and is to be faithful to her; he is a one-woman

kind of man (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). The pastor needs to be temperate, not in

bondage to himself or the desires of the flesh, self-controlled, calm, sober,

collected in spirit (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). He must be prudent, sensible, wise,

balanced in judgment, not given to quick superficial decisions based on immature

thinking (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). He must be respectable, demonstrating good

behavior and an orderly life (1 Timothy 3:2). He needs to be hospitable,

generous, a “stranger lover,” willing to share what he has with others (1 Timothy

3:2; Titus 1:8).

The Pastor must be able to teach, that is, he can communicate the truth of

God to others and exhort them in sound doctrine (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9). He is

not addicted to wine, not a drunkard; not controlled by but free from alcohol (1

Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). The Pastor must not be pugnacious, not physically

violent, not a person who creates trouble and looks for fights (1 Timothy 3:3;

Titus 1:7). He needs to be uncontentious, not given to quarreling or selfish

argumentation (1 Timothy 3:3). He needs to be gentle, fair, equitable, not

insisting on his own rights (1 Timothy 3:3). The Pastor should not be fond of

sordid gain, free from the love of money (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7). He should

manage his own household well, keeping his children under control with all

dignity, which means that he has the respect of his family and is recognized as

the head/leader of his household (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:6). He is not a new

convert but is instead a mature believer, having been a Christian long enough to

demonstrate the reality of his conversion and the depth of his spirituality (1

Timothy 3:6).

The Pastor further must have a good reputation among the people outside

the church; unbelievers must respect his character and integrity (1 Timothy 3:7).

Also, he should be self- willed, but not stubborn, or insisting on his own way, and

not forcing his own ideas and opinions on others (Titus 1:7). He should not be

quick-tempered, not one who “flies off the handle” or gets angry quickly (Titus

1:7). He loves what is good, desires to do God’s will in everything (Titus 1:8). He

must be fair, impartial, able to make objective judgments based upon biblical

principles (Titus 1:8). He is spoken of by others as holding fast the faithful word,

committed to God’s Word as true and authoritative, obedient to God’s Word in all

matters, not hypocritical, but living in accordance with that which God’s Word

teaches (Titus 1:9).

2. Functions. The Pastor is given eight (8) functions in the New Testament.

First, he has the overall responsibility for the oversight and direction of the church

(Hebrews 13:17). Second, the Pastor is responsible to seek in all matters the

mind of Christ (who is the head of the church) through the guidance of the Holy

Spirit and the Word of God (Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 5:2). Third,

the Pastor must be apt to teach, able to exhort the church in sound doctrine and

be ready to refute those who contradict the truth (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Timothy 3:2,

Titus 1:9). Fourth, the Pastor shall provide instruction for the maintenance of

healthy relationships within the church (Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2

Thessalonians 3:14-15). Fifth, the Pastor shall exercise at least general oversight

of the financial matters of the church (Acts 11:30). Sixth, the Pastor should lead

(with appropriate congregational input) in the appointing of deacons as

necessary to accomplish the mission of the church (Acts 6:1-6). Seventh, the

Pastor is to lead by example (Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:2-3). Eighth, the Pastor is

to lead in the exercise of church discipline (Galatians 6:1) but not to the exclusion

of the entire body when warranted (Matthew 18; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians

2).

3. Calling. The Pastor of the Church shall be recommended by the Pastor

Search Team as defined in Section VI (4) and shall be called by a two-thirds (2/3)

vote of the active members of the church body at a meeting called in accordance

with Article VII, Section IV (Notice Requirements).

4. Pastor Search Team. Upon resignation or removal of the Pastor, the

Leadership Team members who are not employed by the First Baptist Church of

Bossier will become the Pastor Search Team, along with the addition of two (2)

“at-large” members of First Baptist Church of Bossier as appointed by the

Leadership Team. The chairman of this committee is to be appointed by the

Leadership Team.

5. Removal. Accusations or criticisms of the Pastor are to be received

according to the instructions laid down in 1 Timothy 5:19-21. If the Pastor is guilty

of an offense, he shall be counseled by other godly, spiritually mature men with a

view toward restoration (Galatians 6:1- 2). If the Pastor continues in sin, he shall

be removed from office and disciplined according to Matthew 18:15-17. If the

Pastor is not guilty of that which is illegal, immoral, unethical, or teachings

inconsistent with the Statement of Faith set forth herein in Article III, it is the

responsibility of the church to follow his leadership, as this is the will of God (1

Thessalonians 5:12-15; Hebrews 13:7, 17).

The Pastor may only be removed for good cause, such as that which is

illegal, immoral, unethical, or teachings inconsistent with the Statement of Faith

set forth herein in Article III. Such removal shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of

the active members at any regular or special meeting of the active members

called subject to the foregoing Notice Requirements in accordance with these

Bylaws.

6. Resignation. The Pastor may resign by submitting a written letter of

resignation stating that he is resigning and the effective date of such resignation.

7. Interim. The Executive Pastor will be responsible for pulpit duties on

Sunday. The Leadership Team would recommend to the Church an interim

Pastor if deemed necessary.

8. Interim Operations. The Executive Pastor in conjunction with the

Leadership Team would be responsible for the daily operation of the church. In

the absence of the Pastor and Executive Pastor, the Leadership Team would

elect a person from the ministerial pastors as President to serve until such a time

as a Pastor is called.

Section VII: Ministerial Pastors

Every ministerial pastor is an extension of the Pastor’s ministry and will

share the responsibility for the spiritual oversight of the church. All ministerial

pastors will be supervised by and accountable to the Pastor. The Pastor has the

authority to assign, reassign, or dismiss ministerial pastors if necessary. The

Pastor in consultation with the Leadership Team, with affirmation by the church,

shall call additional ministerial pastors as needed.

1. Qualifications. As stated above ministerial pastors are gifts to the

Church from God (Ephesians 4:11), and are extensions of the Pastor’s

ministry and will share the responsibility for the spiritual oversight of

the Church. These men are to be evaluated for ministry by the same

criteria as the Pastor. Therefore, the Pastor shall evaluate each

prospective ministerial pastor according to the criteria in Article X,

Section VI (1).

Section VIII: Non-Ministerial Staff

The Pastor or his delegate will have the authority to employ or terminate the

services of non-ministerial staff. The Pastor will employ such staff according to

the guidelines set forth in the Church Budget.

Section IX: Deacons

In accordance with the meaning of the word “deacon” as practiced in the

New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the Church (Acts 6:4). The

function of the deacon is to serve the Church through assisting the Pastor and

ministerial pastors in performing the tasks of the Church: which are the five (5)

purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism.

The number of deacons shall be based on the needs of the Church and the

total membership of the Church. The needs of the Church in regard to the

number of deacons shall be determined by the Pastor and ministerial pastors.

The chairman of the deacons shall be determined by the Pastor, in consultation

with the Leadership Team.

The deacon body shall serve on a rotational basis. On the 1

day of

October of each year, the term of office for those rotating off shall expire and the

newly elected deacons shall begin service. After serving a term of three (3)

years, no deacon shall be eligible for re-election at the end of such term until a

lapse of at least two (2) years, unless otherwise determined by the Pastor. If the

needs of the church require deacons to be added during the year other than in

October, those men will serve until October 1

following their third year as a

deacon.

ARTICLE XI

Records and Reports

1. The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of

account.

2. All receipts of monies and expenditures shall be properly recorded

according to accepted accounting principles.

3. A record of the proceedings of the members’ meetings and Leadership

Team meetings shall be kept.

4. A record of the names and addresses of its members entitled to vote

shall be maintained at the principal office or place of business of the corporation.

5. All books and records may be inspected by any member for any proper

purpose at any reasonable time pursuant to the Louisiana Nonprofit

Corporation Law.

6. All such records shall be kept at the Church’s principal office.

ARTICLE XII

Dissolution

Any dissolution of the Corporation shall be in exact compliance and

consistent with the provisions of the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law in

regard to nonprofit corporations and the Internal Revenue Code regulations

under 501(c)(3). Nothing in the Bylaws shall be construed in such a manner as to

violate the Internal Revenue Code or the Louisiana statutory procedure in effect

at the time of dissolution, should same occur. Any provisions in these Bylaws

which might be so construed shall be severable and not enforceable from the

balance of the Bylaws and Articles.

The Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Act is incorporated by reference as if

fully set forth herein word for word, as are the provisions in the Articles of

Incorporation.

ARTICLE XIII

Construction and Definitions

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of

construction and definitions in the Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation Law shall

govern the construction of these Bylaws. If any provision of these Bylaws, or

application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity

shall not affect other provisions or applications of these Bylaws which can be

given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the

provisions contained herein are declared severable.

ARTICLE XIV

Amendments to the Bylaws

These Bylaws or any provision therein may be altered, amended or

repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the

membership present at a meeting held in accordance with Article VII, Section IV

above (Notice Requirements).

CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION

The foregoing Bylaws of the Corporation have been duly accepted as

amended this _____ day of ____________, 2015, by the membership of the First

Baptist Church of Bossier.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, witness the hand of the undersigned as

President of the Corporation on such date.

APPROVED:_______________________________

Dr. Brad Jurkovich

President and Senior Pastor