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CONSTITUTION

OF

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, INCORPORATED,

GREELEY, COLORADO

We, the members of The First Christian Church, a religious corporation of Greeley, Colorado, a congregationally governed body, do hereby adopt this constitution in order to govern ourselves more effectively and to promote the work of the Church more adequately, in the Spirit of Jesus the Christ.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this Organization shall be “The First Christian Church of Greeley,” hereafter called the Church. It shall be affiliated with the denomination known as The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Church shall be for mission and worship as revealed in the New Testament; to win people to faith in Jesus Christ and to commit them actively to the Church; to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ that increasingly they may know and do His will; to work for the unity of all Christians and with them engage in the common task of building the Reign of God.















ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section I.The membership of the Church shall consist of those who are identified with the congregation who have united with it by confession of faith and baptism or by transfer of membership from another church by letter or statement. The officiating minister or elder may receive persons into the congregation.
Section II.University or college students may have the privilege of associate membership while in school without removing membership from their home churches. This membership shall have all advantages of full membership.
Section III.Voting privileges shall be accorded to all participating members, as defined by the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV. GOVERNING AUTHORITY

Section I. General Board
  1. The General Board shall be the administrative body of the Church.
  2. The membership of the General Board shall be revolving with a minimum of twenty (20) members with eighteen (18) voting positions.
  3. Officers of the General Board to be elected by ballot by the congregation:
    1. Chair (not a voting member)
    2. Vice-Chair
    3. Secretary (not a voting member)
    4. Financial Overseer
    5. Financial Secretary
    6. Church Clerk
    7. Trustee

The Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary are also officers of the congregation. Other Members of the General Board are listed in the Bylaws.
  1. Senior Minister Ex-officio
  2. The General Board shall meet in regular session at least bimonthly. A majority of the members of the General Board shall constitute a quorum.
  3. It shall be the duty of the General Board to:
    1. Consider and recommend general policy to the congregation.
    2. Transact routine business.
    3. Develop, in close harmony with the staff, the program of the Church and to administer that program.
    4. Create, as the need arises, additional church staff positions, to engage personnel for such positions and to authorize payment of salaries.
    5. Recommend the budget and/or any special outlay of money to the congregation.
    6. Fill any elected office vacated between annual meetings.
Section II. Meetings of the Congregation
  1. The annual meeting of the Church shall be held during the last quarter of the business year on a date specified by the General Board. The order of business shall include the following:
    1. Presentation of budget recommendations.
    2. Report of the Nominating Committee.
    3. Additional nominations, if desired, from the floor.
    4. Old business.
    5. New business.
  2. In a contest of two nominees for the same office, a plurality shall be necessary for election, but where there are more than two nominees, the one receiving the highest vote shall be declared elected.
  3. No member of the Trustees, Elders, or Diaconate shall succeed himself/herself until one year has elapsed after his/her term has ended without the approval of the General Board.
  4. Except the officers of the General Board, no person shall be elected to serve in more than one capacity in the Church.
  5. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the Chair of the General Board or a quorum of the General Board for a specifically stated purpose to be printed in some publication of general distribution to the congregation by newsletter or independent mailing at least ten (10) days before the meeting. No other business may be acted upon at the meeting.
  6. All business meetings of the congregation shall be held in the Church building or any other place designated by the General Board.
  7. A quorum for congregational meetings consists of those who attend the meeting provided that it is a scheduled meeting or one that has been properly called.

ARTICLE V. LEGAL TRANSACTIONS

Section I.All properties shall be held in the name of “The First Christian Church of Greeley Incorporated” as long as the congregation is a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. In any other instance the property shall revert in trust to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Central Rocky Mountain Region, except in the event of a merger with another denomination in which case a release from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Central Rocky Mountain Region, would be required.
Section II.The Trustees shall act as the legal agents of the congregation in all business matters under the direction of the General Board and the congregation. The Trustees shall have supervision over all endowments and trust funds of the Church. Upon official action by the General Board and congregation upon instrument of lien or encumbrance, or for the borrowing of money, the Trustees and the Chair of the General Board shall be authorized to jointly execute and deliver all necessary documents to fully carry out the purpose and intent of the General Board and the congregation, according to the laws of the State of Colorado.

ARTICLE VI. THE CHURCH YEAR

The Church year shall begin January 1 and end December 31.

ARTICLE VII. THE SENIOR MINISTER

The Senior Minister is the spiritual leader of the congregation. His/her selection process is outlined in the Bylaws along with the duties and responsibilities.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENT

This Constitution may be amended at any business meeting of the congregation by a two-thirds vote of the participating members present and voting on the amendment provided that such amendment has been publicized to the congregation at least ten (10) days before the meeting.

ARTICLE IX. RULES

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used as the parliamentary authority for business procedure, except when in conflict with the Constitution.

Revised and approved by the Congregation November 12, 2006

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Updated 2/27/08