Draft Three Complete

Check out draft three of the Constitution here:

http://bit.ly/iiyA08

Two More Focus Groups Scheduled

We currently have two focus group meetings scheduled to review Draft Two of the Constitution. These are open to anyone wishing to attend. Both meetings will be open for discussion of any portion of the Constitution. After these two meetings, the ReNew team will meet to discuss the next step in this process.  Please take the time to read Draft Two of the Consititution before these meetings.  Thank you!

Meeting One:  6:00pm on May 1 in the Church Cafe

Meeting Two: 6:00pm on May 15 in the Church Cafe

DRAFT TWO COMPLETE!

After several focus group meetings, our team has taken some time to consider the many good suggestions and ideas that were given to us. We've completed draft two of the potential constitution, and you can read it by clicking on the link below:

Draft Two of Calvary's New Constitution

Summary of the First Round of Focus Groups

Below is a list of the ideas, questions, and suggestions that were discussed throughout the first round of the Focus Groups. These are the issues that the Renew Team will be addressing in our re-writing meetings.
If you are aware of other things that are missing here (or if you have more ideas), please email Pastor Dave and let him know.  Thanks!

ARTICLE FIVE:

• Add "expanded" into title to read "Expanded Doctrinal Statement"

ARTICLE SEVEN:

• In section 2, add word "initially" to indicate the membership process only happens once
• Add statement that those who don't re-commit annually are dropped from membership
• Add Bible passages as parenthetical to "Biblical principles" in paragraph about discipline
• Add statement about re-joining the church after discipline or lapsed membership

ARTICLE EIGHT:

• Define what "affirmation" means. Give specific vote percentage required for positive affirmation.
• Should there be a "ratio" which defines how many elders should serve?
• Section 2, Letter B). change the word "shall" to something different
• Add a statement about qualifications for deacons and deaconnesses
• Does the elder chairman need to be a paid employee of the church?
• Section Three: Letter C) Does the congregation affirm the teams as a whole or each individual on the team?
• Does the School Board need to be included?
• Section 3, Letter E) change wording regarding staff manual from "will be approved" to "must meet approval of Elders" or something more clear
• In Section Four, 7th bullet point, clarify this statement. "the man must be approved by the Elder Board without objection to be introduced to the church members as an official Elder Candidate"
• Provide clear definitions of the process as it moves from Elder Trainee to Elder Candidate to Elder.
• Should there be a minimum number of elders? 4? Does the word "normally" work as a guide in this area?
• Does Section 5, Letter E) provide enough congregational input in the removal of elders?
• Does the Congregation need to vote in order to remove elders?
• Should the congregation be given the opportunity for an annual vote of confidence on each elder?

ARTICLE NINE:

• Should the last sentence say "revised" or "reviewed"?
• Should it say, "reviewed every five years"?

ARTICLE TEN:

• Does the first paragraph need to identify Sunday as the primary meeting time?
• Do we need to have a prescribed number of congregational meetings each year (including an annual meeting)?
• Change paranthetical statement in third paragraph from "excluding immediate family" to "household"
• Should all meetings be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order? or at least have a mandatory time for items from the floor?

Paul's Instructions About Elders

Draft One Now Complete!

Click the link below to view or download a pdf file of draft one of the new church constitution:



Remember the first focus group to discuss this draft will be held on January 9 at 6pm at the church.
In that meeting we'll be discussing articles 1-6 and 9-13.

Properties

This information is essentially the same as the previous constitution:

No real or personal property of the church valued over $5,000 may be encumbered, sold or otherwise disposed of without approval by the elder team. Any sale, encumbrance, or disposition of church property valued over $10,000 must be approved by the congregation.

Calvary Christian Schools

We've included a short statement about the school. This is essentially the same information as was in the previous constitution, however we've significantly reduced it:

As a ministry of Calvary Church, Calvary Christian Schools are under the authority of the elder team. The School Administrator shall regularly report to the elder team.

Another Section Completed: Meetings

Here is the text for the section on meetings:

The church will gather no less than weekly for the purpose of worshiping God, proclaiming the Gospel, and caring for and edifying one another.

The Congregation will vote to affirm the selection of elders, to approve the annual church budgets, to approve the incurring of indebtedness, the acquisition of assets, the construction of new buildings, and other matters required by the constitution or as requested by the elders. All members who are sixteen years of age or older are eligible to vote. A quorum will consist of ten percent of the voting age membership according to the current membership rolls.

Congregational gatherings for the purpose of voting or decision making may be called by the elders or by written request to the Church Clerk by fifty or more (excluding immediate family) members of the church. All such meetings will be announced to the congregation no less than two weeks in advance. The presiding chair for all such meetings will be determined by the elders.

Five Essential Characteristics of an Elder Led Church

We’ll talk more about these things in the coming days, but begin thinking about these essential characteristics:

1. The people must trust their elders.

2. The elders must have freedom to lead.

3. The elders must submit to one another and to Christ.

4. The elders must equip the people to carry out ministry.

5. The Bible must be the source of all authority at all times.

Our Next Steps Together

2010 has been an exciting year at Calvary. After a long few years of working through planning, teams, and committees we finally reached the point of really taking this step toward elder leadership. How wonderful it will be for the future of our church when we can say that we have finished aligning ourselves with the principles from Titus 1 by placing Godly men into positions of influence! As the year wraps up, we plan to also wrap up our work on the first draft or our church’s new constitution.

2011 will be even more important than 2010! The year will begin with several congregational focus groups. We’ll be inviting everyone who is a part of our church to come together to discuss the constitutional draft. These will be times for questions, comments, suggestions, and ideas relating to different sections of the constitution. Each meeting will be specifically focused on a different part of the document. At the conclusion of these focus groups, the Renew Team will take time to modify the constitutional draft to reflect the discussions.

Early in the Spring of 2011 we hope that the new constitution will be ready for affirmation by a congregational vote. At the same time we will likely vote to also affirm a constitutional transition plan. (this plan has not been created, and will likely be written by a team of people and then presented for discussion well in advance of the vote)

Below are the initial dates for the focus group meetings. Additional dates may be added later:

· January 9. 6pm (focusing on Section One)

· January 23. 6pm (focusing on Membership portions)

· February 2. 6:30pm (open forum) (this is a Wednesday night)

· February 6. 6pm (focusing on Part 1 of Leadership portions)

· February 20. 6pm (focusing on Part 2 of Leadership portions)

If you have specific questions you would like to address, please contact Pastor David or submit your question via email or at using the "Feedback" link to the right.

Prayer Requests for The Renew Process

Pray for unity in our church as we seek to lay a foundation which allows us to reach our community with unprecedented success in the coming years.

Pray that the team would have great wisdom as they finalize the first draft of the constitution. Pray that they would know what to write, and how to write it.

Pray that our congregational focus groups in the new year would be beneficial, and that they would lead to a document that is honoring to God and useful for the church.

Pray that team will work well together and have the needed energy to complete this task.

A Short Statement About the Need for Elders

One of our team members found this paragraph on the internet and we thought it was worth posting here:

There is no greater need in the church today than the need for qualified and consecrated elders to rule and oversee the congregation. Each congregation should be willing to submit to the the leadership of its elders. The church is not a democracy; rather it is God's heritage and is to be supervised by qualified men. No church can reach its spiritual zenith without qualified men to serve as elders.

source: What Do The Scriptures Say?

Ammendments

We've completed the draft of another portion of the constitution. This is simply the section that deals with how and when the Constitution can be modified. We've kept most of the language the same as the previous constitution, except that we've added an important sentence at the end:

Calvary Church and all its ministries will submit to this Constitution (all previous Constitutions and Bylaws are hereby rescinded). This Constitution may be amended or revised by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a duly called business meeting of the church, providing that public notice of the proposed changes and business meeting time are announced weekly in Sunday services and posted for one month prior to the meeting. This Constitution shall be amended or revised by Calvary Church no later than September 2016.

Licensing and Ordination

This is another section of the constitution that will remain largely unchanged. The language for our first draft looks like this:

By majority vote of the congregation a member of the church who meets the qualifications of elder as described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 may be licensed or ordained to the pastoral ministry. Licenses for Christian ministry other than pastoral ministry may be similarly granted by the congregation to members whose testimony and gifts evidently qualify them for such.

If at any time the licensed or ordained person leaves the ministry or no longer subscribes to our essential beliefs, he must relinquish the license or ordination.

Purpose and Values of Calvary Church

Purpose:
Calvary Church exists to connect people to God and each other.

Values:
We value being a commmunity that is:

• Christ-Centered
• Truth-Oriented
• Life-Changing
• Externally-Focused
• Relationally-Driven
• Grace-Filled

Updated Draft of Our Membership Process

Since you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, been baptized by immersion as a sign of your faith, and are willing to annually commit to our member covenant, you are invited to join our community as a member of Calvary Church. The membership process shall be overseen by the Elders of Calvary Church. The following process must be completed:

• Attendance at a membership class overseen by the Elders
• Submission of a membership application
• Completion of a consultation with the Elders or their appointees
• Annual re-commitment to the membership covenant

Matters of church discipline will be addressed according to Biblical principles and will be overseen by the Elders of Calvary Church. The end goal of discipline is always spiritual growth and restoration. However, in cases of continued sin and lack of repentance, a member may be excluded from church membership and fellowship by recommendation of the Elders and a majority vote of the congregation at a duly called business meeting.

First Draft of Our Membership Process

Since you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, been baptized as a sign of your faith, and willing to annually commit to our member covenant, you are invited to join our community as a member of Calvary Church. The membership process shall be overseen by the Elders of Calvary Church. The following process must be completed:

• Attendance at a membership class overseen by the Elders
• Submission of a membership application
• Completion of a consultation with the Elders or their appointees
• Annual re-commitment to the membership covenant

Matters of church discipline will be addressed according to Biblical principles and will be overseen by the Elders of Calvary Church. The end goal of discipline is always spiritual growth and restoration. However, in cases of continued sin and lack of repentance, a member may be excluded from church membership and fellowship by recommendation of the Elders and a majority vote of the congregation at a duly called business meeting.

Renew Report for November

Click here to read this month's "Renew Report"

A Membership Covenant

Part of our team's desire is to call our church's members to a higher standard of commitment to God and His church. Out of that desire, we have created the following draft of a membership covenant:

By God’s grace I have, by faith, been made new in Jesus Christ. Having been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I now commit myself to join with others as members of Calvary Church.

Together we will strive to bring glory to God by submitting our wills and lives to the authority of Jesus, as revealed to us in God’ s Word.

I will be devoted to love for the Body, partnering with other members to be discipled and to disciple one another. I will regularly pray for and with others. I will pursue peace and unity with others by speaking encouraging, uplifting words and shunning gossip and divisive speech.

In essential beliefs, we will be united:

• The Bible is God’ s trustworthy message for ALL people.

• Jesus is the ONLY way of salvation.

• Everyone in the world needs to hear God’ s story.

• We pledge to be supportive of one another and not to divide over the teaching of our expanded doctrinal statement.

Together with other members, I will serve others joyfully; sacrificing the resources God has blessed me with, in meeting their spiritual and material needs.

I will live above reproach in the world, pursuing a life of integrity, purity and demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in my life.

I will seek every opportunity to impact the world with the Gospel by boldly inviting people into a relationship with Christ and by generously meeting the needs of those around me.

BAPTISM OPEN FORUM!

A special “open forum” has been scheduled for Sunday, November 7 at 6pm to discuss the issue of baptism and membership. This forum is open to all who consider Calvary their home. Primarily, we will be discussing whether membership should be reserved only for those who have been baptized by immersion.

The Renew Team is firmly committed to our existing doctrinal statement AND to the belief that the biblical teaching regarding baptism strongly supports baptism by immersion after conversion. We have no intention of changing this belief.

However, we believe it is an appropriate time to have a discussion regarding whether or not those who have not been baptized by immersion should be able to be members of the church. Our desire is to provide an opportunity for all who desire to share their thoughts on this matter in a safe, loving environment. All are welcome to share their viewpoints, as we will model the kind of courteous dialogue which should characterize those who follow Christ.

This meeting is simply a time to discuss the issue. No decisions will be made (that will happen later in official congregational meetings), however we hope to gain some clarity from the congregation regarding their beliefs on this important topic.

October Renew Report

Click the picture to read the entire report.

Legalities

Part of a church constitution must deal with some of the legalities of being a large organization. After receiving the "ok" from our business manager regarding this section, we agreed to leave our legal provisions as they are currently written. You can read them below if you really want to.

LEGAL PROVISIONS:

A. This church will have the right to own, buy, or sell tangible properties both real and personal in its own name.

B. No profit shall ever accrue to the benefit of any individuals from the assets, holdings, or other transactions in which this church shall be involved. This does not preclude the payment of employees or contractors to accomplish appropriate services to the church.

C. No volunteer director shall be personally liable to this corporation or its members for monetary damages for a breach of the director's fiduciary duty except for any of the following:

(1) a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its members;

(2) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

(3) a violation of Section 551(I) of the Michigan Non-Profit Corporation Act;

(4) a transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit;

(5) an act or omission occurring before the date of filing;

(6) an act or omission that is grossly negligent

Calvary Church of Fruitport assumes all liability to any person other than this church or its members for any acts or omissions of a volunteer director occurring on or after the date of filing.

D. The Corporation assumes all liability for all acts or omissions of a non director volunteer, provided that:

(1) The volunteer was acting or reasonably believed he or she was acting within the scope of his or her authority;

(2) The volunteer was acting in good faith;

(3) The volunteer's conduct did not amount to gross negligence or willful and wanton misconduct;

(4) The volunteer's conduct was not an intentional tort; and

(5) The volunteer's conduct was not a tort arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle for which tort liability may be imposed as provided in Section 3135 of the Insurance Code of 1956.

[Note: a “tort” is a civil wrong such as the law requires compensation for in damages]

E. The Corporation shall indemnify its directors, officers, employees, agents and non director volunteers, as that term is defined in the Michigan nonprofit Corporation Act (the “Act”), to the full extent authorized or permitted to corporations by the Act or any future amendments to the Act or by any successor provisions of Michigan law.

F. In the event of dissolution of this corporation, all of the debts will be fully satisfied, and none of its assets or holdings will inure to the the benefit of any member or other individual. Rather, prior to dissolution, by congregational vote, all assets will be distributed to other non-profit evangelical Christian organizations with priority consideration for organizations currently supported by the missionary budget.

With Whom Are We Associated?

Calvary Church is a non-denominational church. This means we are not governed by an external organization or person. We are free as a body to organize ourselves. The statement below is very similar to the statement in our current constitution. The only change is that we have removed the examples which were given in the previous version. Several of the examples were out of date (some of the organizations no longer exist), and we agreed that examples are not necessary to communicate the essence of this statement.

ASSOCIATIONS:

Calvary Church is not affiliated with any denominations. Recognizing God's kingdom is much larger than Calvary Church, we will seek to promote unity in the body of Christ by various kinds of relationships and partnerships with other evangelical churches and organizations.

Our Statement of Faith

After a brief discussion, our team unanimously agreed there was no reason for us to make any changes to our statement of faith. We all believe this is the most important part of the document, and the one element of the document that should be more timeless than the others. Therefore, our hope is that the congregation will affirm the same statement of faith we currently hold.

Statement of Faith (cited verses available in formal version)

THE BIBLE

We believe the Holy Bible, the entire sixty-six Books of the Old and New Testaments, to be the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, and preserved by God's care as the complete revelation of God's will for our faith and practice . The Bible is to be interpreted literally according to the customary rules of grammar.

GOD

We believe in the one true God1, infinitely perfect2 in every way, Creator3 and Sustainer4 of all things, eternally existing5 in three equal Persons6: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He is perfect in holiness7 and justice8, truth9 and grace10, wisdom11 and power12, mercy13 and love14.

A. THE FATHER: We believe that the Father is the First Person1 of the Trinity. The Son and the Spirit are equal2 with the Father, but voluntarily submit3 to His will. The Father is an invisible spirit4 who is present everywhere5 at all times.

B. THE SON: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, is both fully God1 and fully man2, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit3 and born of the virgin Mary4. He grew and developed as a man5, without sin6. He died by crucifixion to pay the penalty for mankind's sin7, was buried8, rose bodily from the grave on the third day9, and ascended to Heaven10 where, at the Father's right hand,11 He prays12 for and defends13 His children. He will return14 and ultimately establish His kingdom on the earth.15

C. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person1 of the Trinity who convicts the world of sin2, and who regenerates3, baptizes4, indwells5, seals6, and gives spiritual gifts7 for service to believers at the moment of their salvation. Some miraculous gifts of the Spirit served as temporary confirming signs8 during the formative years of the church,9 and gradually passed out of use10 as the New Testament revelation was completed.11 He further sanctifies12, comforts13, leads14, empowers15, teaches16, and produces Christ-like character17 in believers who surrender to His control.18

ANGELS

We believe that angels are spirit beings1, made by God2 before the creation of the world3. They are personal4, powerful5, and highly organized6. The good angels perform God's will7 including providing special care for believers8. Satan was created holy9 but fell through pride and evil ambition10. Those angels who followed Satan's rebellion11 became his agents for evil12 in the world in opposition to God, His work, and His people13. Believers are warned against the great subtlety14 and danger of Satan's continual efforts to destroy them15. Satan and his demons, though very powerful16, are under the authority of God17, may be resisted and overcome by Christians18, and will ultimately be judged and condemned eternally by God19.

MANKIND

We believe that man, the culmination of the six day creation of all things1, was made directly by God2 in His own image3. As a result of the sin of Adam4, all men are sinners by nature5 and by choice6, and are therefore separated7 from the favor and fellowship of God, spiritually lost and justly condemned to eternal punishment in hell8.

SALVATION

We believe that God the Son shed His blood to pay for man's sin1 and was raised from the dead to provide perfect righteousness2 for those who believe3. Salvation is a free gift4 of God's love5, mercy6, and grace7, which cannot be earned by any virtue or work of man8, but may only be received by personal faith9 in Jesus Christ. All those who repent10 of their sin and believe in and receive11 Christ as Savior are completely forgiven12, born into the family of God13, and receive eternal life14. All those who are genuinely saved are kept eternally secure15 by God, and should demonstrate their salvation by living in obedience to God16.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS

We believe that God has made every believer a priest1 with direct access by prayer into His presence2 through Jesus Christ alone3. With the help of the Holy Spirit, every believer has the privilege and responsibility to personally study4, understand5, and obey6 the Scriptures.

THE CHURCH

A. THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH: We believe that the Universal Church1is made up of all true believers in Jesus Christ from the beginning of the church on the day of Pentecost2 until the completion of the church at the Rapture3.

B. THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that local churches are to be made up of baptized believers1, with Biblical offices2 (pastors3 and deacons4). The purpose of the local church is: (1) to meet together5 for worship6, fellowship7, teaching8, and edification9; (2) to spread the Gospel throughout the world10 through local evangelism and global missionary outreach; and (3) to practice the Biblical ordinances11 (baptism12 and the Lord's Supper13). Under the authority of Christ, who is the Head of the Church14, the local church is to be governed by the congregation15, independent of any external religious authority16. Pastors are given to the church by Christ to provide leadership17, pray18, teach the Word of God19, and train believers for service20. The church and civil government21 are both established by God with distinct and separate spheres of responsibility.

THE ORDINANCES

We believe that Christ gave the church two ordinances as memorials of important Biblical truths:

A. BAPTISM is by the immersion1 in water of confessing believers2. It pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and consequently, the Christian's death to sin and new life of righteousness3.

B. The LORD'S SUPPER pictures the death of Christ through the elements portraying His broken body and shed blood1. Following self-examination2 and confession of sin, believers partake of Communion in remembrance of His death until He returns3.

THE FUTURE

We believe that the Bible, literally interpreted, predicts the following sequence of future end-time events:

A. The RAPTURE: at any moment1, Christ will come in the clouds for His Church -- resurrecting church-age dead believers2 and translating living believers3 to meet Him in the air and return to Heaven with Him4.

B. The JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST: the works1, words2, thoughts, and motives3 of believers will be examined4 in Heaven resulting in gain or loss of reward based on their service for Christ5.

C. The TRIBULATION1: during these seven years2 after the Rapture, God's judgments will be poured out on earth3 to punish men's sins and to bring the nation of Israel back to God4. The Antichrist will rise to world power5 until his armies are defeated by Christ at the Battle of Armageddon6.

D. The REVELATION: Christ will return to earth1 with the armies of Heaven2 to defeat His enemies3, resurrect the pre-church and Tribulation believers4, and establish His kingdom of peace on earth for a thousand years (the MILLENNIUM)5.

E. The GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: 1the works of all the unsaved of all time will be examined to determine the degree of their eternal punishment in Hell (the Lake of Fire).

F. The ETERNAL STATE: 1God's people will live in the new Heaven and new earth in which they will worship and serve Him forever in perfect fellowship, joy, and fulfillment.

The Name of Our Church

Here is the first completed section of our constitutional draft. It really isn't any change from the current constitution.

NAME OF CHURCH:

This church will be known as Calvary Church of Fruitport, Michigan.

There will be more to come.

Here We Go!

As we work toward creating a draft of a new church Constitution, we will be paying attention to the following thirteen sections. Some sections will be completed much more easily and quickly than others. As we formulate a draft of each section, we'll be making it available for everyone to look at. We anticipate completing the first draft by January so that we can spend several weeks as a church family discussing and editing the draft before we adapt it as our official constitution. Here are the thirteen sections:

1. Name of the Church

2. Purpose and Mission of the Church

3. Core Values of the Church

4. Association

5. Statement of Faith

6. Membership

7. Member Covenant

8. Officers and Staff

9. Meetings

10. Licensing, Ordination, and Commissioning

11. Legal Provisions

12. Amendments

13. 5 Year Re-Evaluation

Five Ways You Can Participate in the Process

Pray
Spend time every day praying that the renew team will be led by the Spirit and committed to the Word. Pray that our church family would be marked by UNITY in this important time.

Follow
You can follow the process and the progress of the renew team by checking out the renew blog at RenewCalvary.com. Regular updates will be posted.

Contribute
Right now, we’re taking names for potential members of the renew team. If you have a name you’d like to contribute, please contact Pastor David.

Encourage
Once the renew team has been selected and announced, find ways to regularly encourage these people as they give a great gift to our church.

Pray
Did we already say this? Yeah, it’s that important!