Our Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE LAUDIUM BAPTIST CHURCH

Name

The name of the Church shall be "Laudium Baptist Church".  Hereinafter referred to as "The Church".

Baptist Union of Southern Africa

   2.1 The Church shall seek and maintain membership with the Baptist Union of S.A., but shall be independent of any control by it save as hereinafter provided.

Church Government and Objects

3.1 The Church recognises Jesus Christ as its Supreme Head and undertakes to manage its affairs according to the New Testament teaching, believing that as the Body of Christ it is equipped by His Spirit to act, decide and direct as set out in Article 8.1.

3.2 The objects of the church shall be:

                   3.2.1 To glorify the Lord Jesus, The Head of the Church.

3.2.2 To proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures and to encourage and support the proclamation of that Gospel - in accordance with Matthew 28:18-20 to the ends of the earth.

3.2.3 To provide instruction and fellowship for believers, seeking to build them up in the measure and stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

Statement of Belief - The Church Believes:

4.1  The Church accepts the following STATEMENT OF BELIEF:

(1) We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament in their original writing as fully inspired of God and accept them as the supreme and final authority for faith and life.

(2) We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

(3) We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.

(4) We believe that God created man in His own image; that man sinned and thereby incurred the penalty of death, physical and spiritual, that all human beings inherit a sinful nature which issues (in the case of those who reach moral responsibility) in actual transgression involving personal guilt.

(5) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice, according to the Scriptures and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood.

(6) We believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus, His ascension into heaven and His present life as our High Priest and Advocate.

(7) We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(8) We believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

(9) We believe in the resurrection both of the just and the unjust, the eternal blessedness of the redeemed and the eternal banishment of those who have rejected the offer of salvation.

(10) We believe that the one true Church is the whole company of those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit; that the local Church on earth should take its character from this conception of the Church spiritual and therefore that the new birth and personal confession of Christ are essentials of Church membership.

(11) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ appointed two ordinances - Baptism and the Lord's Supper - to be observed as acts of obedience and as perpetual witnesses to the cardinal facts of the Christian faith; that Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water as a confession of identification with Christ in burial and resurrection and that the Lord's Supper is the partaking of bread and wine as symbolical of the Saviour's broken body and shed blood, in remembrance of His sacrificial death till He comes.

4.2 Statement of Baptist Principles

       The Church further believes in the following distinctive Baptist emphases:

4.2.1 The CHURCH as the whole company of those who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The local Church, being a manifestation of the universal Church, is a community of believers in a particular place where the Word of God is preached and the ordinances of Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are observed. It is fully autonomous, except insofar as it binds itself through voluntary association.

4.2.2 BELIEVER’S BAPTISM as an act of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ and a sign of personal repentance, faith and regeneration; it consists of the immersion into water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

4.2.3 The principle of CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH GOVERNMENT, namely, that a constituted church meeting is, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the highest court of authority for the local Church; and that each individual member has the inalienable right and responsibility to participate fully in the life and government of the Church, including the appointment of its leaders.

4.2.4 The PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS, by which we understand that each Christian has direct access to God through Christ our High Priest, and shares with Him in His work of reconciliation. This involves intercession, worship, faithful service and bearing witness to Jesus Christ, even to the end of the earth.

4.2.5 The principle of RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, namely, that no individual should be coerced either by the State or by any secular, ecclesiastical or religious group in matters of faith. The right of private conscience is to be respected. For each believer this means the right to interpret the Scriptures responsibly and to act in the light of his conscience.

4.2.6 The principle of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE in that, in the providence of God, the two differ in their respective natures and functions. The Church is not to be identified with the State nor is it, in its faith or practice, to be directed or controlled by the State. The State is responsible for administering justice, ensuring an orderly community, and promoting the welfare of its citizens. The Church is responsible for preaching the Gospel and for demonstrating and making known God’s will and care for all mankind.

4.3  Any change within the Church structure or organisation which is in conflict directly or indirectly with one or more of the stated Baptist Principles will be invalid unless approved by at least 90% of the members present and entitled to vote at a duly constituted Special Church Meeting of which at least three month’s notice has been given.

Membership

The Membership shall consist of:

5.1 Those who covenant together to form the foundation members of the Church accepting the terms of this constitution.

5.2  Those who have given evidence of their personal salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, have confessed that faith in Believer’s Baptism by immersion, have accepted this Constitution and who have been admitted to membership in terms of Article 6.2 

5.3  Those who have been accepted by transfer to this Church from some other Bible believing evangelical church (having been baptised as believers by immersion, having accepted this constitution) in terms of Article 6.3.

Admission of Members

6.1  Every application shall be decided on at a General meeting

6.2  Application for church membership under Article 5.2 shall be made in the first instance to the Pastor or Secretary. The Executive shall make careful enquiry regarding the applicant’s spiritual experience, and submit their recommendation to a General Meeting. 

6.3  Application for church membership under Article 5.3 shall be made in the first instance to the Pastor or Secretary. The Executive shall satisfy itself concerning the applicant’s spiritual experience with a view to applying for a letter of transfer for submission to a General Meeting.

TRANSFER OF MEMBERS

7.1  Any member in good standing who desires to join another Baptist Church shall be given a letter of Transfer upon application from the church concerned.

7.2  Any member in good standing who desires to join a Protestant Church other than Baptist shall be given a letter of commendation upon application of the church concerned.

7.3  A General Meeting shall be advised of any transfers.

Privileges and Obligations of church Membership

8.1  Under the Divine Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the final authority and responsibility in all matters touching the life and service of the Church rests with the membership. Each individual member has the responsibility and right to participate fully in the life and government, including the appointment of its leadership.

8.2  Every member shall be entitled and expected to attend General Meetings, unless prevented by some reasonable cause, and to exercise his/her vote for the welfare of the whole church in a spirit of prayer and love.

     8.3  Members shall be expected to support the ministry and maintain the fellowship of the Church-

            by prayer

            by attendance at the services whenever possible

            by engaging in some specific service

            by conscientious giving as God's provision enables. 

            By being a witness to unbelievers

Church Discipline

9.1       If any member is absent from services of the church and/or neglects to comply with any of the privileges and obligations of membership for a prolonged period without apparent good reason, the Executive shall make enquiry. Should no satisfactory response result, the Executive may submit a recommendation to a General Meeting.

9.2       In the unhappy event of any allegation of unworthy conduct or erroneous belief against any member, the Executive shall, if careful enquiry makes such a course necessary, report to a General Meeting for appropriate action.

9.3       The suspension or expulsion of any member shall be resorted to only if all efforts at restoration prove unsuccessful.

9.4       In purely personal matters, members shall be expected to act in accordance with the Lord’s injunction in Matthew 18: 15 – 17

The Ordinances

10.1     BAPTISM

In addition to those desiring to join the Church in accordance with Article 5.2 upon recommendation of the Executive, the Pastor shall be free to baptise by immersion any believer who desires thus to confess the Lord Jesus

10.2         THE LORD”S SUPPER

The Lord’s Supper shall be observed – as far as possible – on the first and third Sundays of the month – or at such times as the Church shall decide. Attendance shall be open to all who love the Lord Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

General Meetings:

11.1            ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

11.1.1       The Church business year shall end on December 31 and the Annual General Meeting shall be held as soon thereafter as possible, but not later than February 15.

11.1.2       Reports and audited financial statements shall be submitted by the Secretary and Treasurer respectively. 

11.1.3  Reports shall be submitted by all departments of the Church.

11.1.4       The Annual elections of Deacons and Deaconesses shall take place.

11.1.5       The Agenda shall be made available to all members prior to the meeting.       

            11.2            ORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS

                   11.2.1       Ordinary General Meetings shall be held in April, July and October.

                   11.2.2       The Agenda shall be made available to members prior to the meeting.                

            11.3           SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

                   11.3.1  Special General Meeting shall be convened –

                               11.3.1.1        As required in this Constitution

                               11.3.1.2        On the initiative of the Executive

  11.3.1.3   Upon written request of at least 10 members, (stating the purpose), and within one month of such request.

                               11.3.2                                          Notice of a Special General Meeting shall be made available to all members prior to the meeting, clearly specifying the important matters to be submitted for consideration.

            11.4              Quorum

11.4.1       15% of the total membership present when a meeting proceeds to business, shall constitute a Quorum.

11.4.2       If a General Meeting fails to procure a Quorum, it shall automatically reconvene at the same time and take place seven days later, and the members then present shall constitute a Quorum.    

            11.5            Notice of meetings

                   11.5.1       Notice of all General Meetings shall be given at both services on two Sundays preceding the date of the meeting and as required by (11.1.5) (11.3.2).

                   11.5.2       The non-receipt of the notice as required by 11.1.5 and 11.3.2 shall not invalidate the proceedings at the meeting.                                  

            11.6            Voting

                   11.6.1       Only members who have attained the age of 18 years shall be entitled to vote.

                   11.6.2       After the first six months following the inception of the Laudium Baptist Church only members in membership for not less than six months at the time of the meeting shall be entitled to vote.

                   11.6.3 Unless otherwise requires elsewhere in this Constitution, all matters shall be decided by the majority vote of those present.

                   11.6.4  Voting shall be by show of hands unless –

                               11.6.4.1      otherwise required elsewhere in this Constitution

                               11.6.4.2      one member requests a ballot

                   11.6.5  There shall be no postal or proxy voting.

12.       CHAIRMAN

            12.1            The Pastor, or in the event of there being more than one – the Senior Pastor shall be ex-officio Chairman of all General and Executive Meetings – except when his own position is under consideration or when he may elect to vacate the Chair.

            12.2            When 12.1 does not apply the meeting shall elect a Chairman for that particular meeting.

            12.3            If one third of the members present and entitled to vote object to any matter brought up without proper prior notice, the Chairman shall rule that it be referred to a future General Meeting.

13              THE EXECUTIVE

            13.1     The Pastor or Pastors together with Deacons and Deaconesses and Elders (if any) shall constitute the Executive. The Church may also elect members of supportive Baptist Churches whose membership of the Executive shall be reviewed by the Church annually.

            13.2     The Executive shall act as generally or specifically directed by the Church in General Meetings assembled, and shall be accountable to the Church for the tasks delegated to it, and for the proper administration of all Church funds.

            13.3     The Executive shall meet at least once monthly if possible.

            13.4     50% of the Executive shall constitute a Quorum.

            13.5     At its first meeting after the Annual General Meeting, the Executive shall appoint from its own number a Secretary and Treasurer, these appointments to be confirmed at the next General Meeting.

14              Deacons AND DEACONESSES

14.1         The Church may from its membership elect deacons and deaconesses who, at the time of election:

14.1.1           are over 21 years of age

14.1.2           have been in membership not less than six months.

14.2         The number of Deacons and Deaconesses shall not be less than four.

14.3         A Deacon/Deaconess shall hold office for two consecutive years but shall be eligible for nomination for re-election for further two year consecutive periods.

14.4         Nomination for the office of Deacon/Deaconess shall be submitted in writing to the Church Secretary duly signed by the nominee, proposer and seconder not later than eight days prior to the date of the meeting when the election shall take place.

14.5         The names of all nominees shall be made known at both services on the Sunday prior to the date of the meeting at which the election shall take place.

14.6         In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Deacon/Deaconess such vacancy may be filled in the aforesaid manner at a General Meeting, but only for the unexpired period of the previous incumbent’s term of office.

14.7         Voting shall be by ballot.

14.8         Only nominees receiving more than half the votes of members present shall be declared elected to fill any vacancy.

15              Elders

15.1         The Church may, from time to time, see fit to appoint to the office of Elder such persons/persons recognised as gifted by the Holy Spirit for this office, and who satisfy the requirements as detailed in Timothy and Titus.

15.2         After having also considered any suggestions from Church members the Executive shall recommend to a General Meeting such person/persons from its membership of maturity, good standing in faith, and in the secular world, as it considers suitable for appointment to this office. The name/s of the person/s to be recommended shall be made known at the time the notice of the meeting is given, the nominee’s prior consent having been obtained.

15.3         The initial appointments of each recommended candidate shall be on the favourable ballot vote of two thirds of the members present.

15.4         Each Elder shall hold office for two consecutive years, and continuance in office for further periods of two years shall be on the favourable vote of two thirds of the members present at a General Meeting.

15.5         Elders shall be members of the Executive.

15.6         The number of Elders deemed desirable shall be decided from time to time at a General Meeting on the recommendation of the Executive.

15.7         The Elders shall consult with and assist the Pastor/s in the caring ministry and spiritual oversight of the Church.

16              The pastorate

16.1         The choice and appointment of a Pastor/Pastors is vested in the membership of the Church.

16.2         When an appointment becomes necessary, the procedure shall be as follows:

16.2.1           A General Meeting shall appoint not less than four members to serve with the Executive as a Call Committee.

16.2.2           The Committee shall recommend only one name to any  Special General Meeting.

16.2.3           The invitation shall be contingent upon the following:

16.2.3.1     At least two thirds of members present shall vote in favour by ballot.

16.2.3.2    The prospective Pastor shall have been baptised as a believer by immersion and shall accept in writing this Constitution.

16.2.3.3    The Pastor shall become a member of the Church upon assuming the pastorate.

16.2.3.4    Any engagement between the Church and the Pastor shall be terminable by three months notice on either side, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon.

16.2.3.5    The prospective Pastor’s name shall preferably be one of the Ministerial lists of the Baptist Union of S.A.

17              Departments

17.1      The appointed leaders of all departments shall be members of the Church or of a supportive Baptist Church

17.2      The leader appointed by each department shall be approved by the Executive and ratified at a General Meeting.

17.3      Each department shall appoint its own committee.

17.4      The Family Bible Hour/Sunday School shall appoint its own staff.

18              Finance

18.1      The Church shall be supported by tithes and offerings of its members.

18.2      The methods of voluntary giving shall be decided upon by the Executive.

18.3      Proper books of accounts shall be maintained.

18.4      The members shall appoint annually a competent person or persons who shall examine the Church securities, audit the Accounts and Financial Records of the Church and furnish a report thereof to the members in writing, not less than 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting (see11.1.2). Such report shall refer to the existence of the securities and the adequacy of the records maintained and shall express an opinion on the accuracy of the Accounts presented. 

19              Financial Transactions

19.1     The Church shall have power to buy, sell, donate, let or hire, exchange, transfer, receive by way of donation or otherwise, movable and immovable property and to invest its funds in Government or Municipal stock, mortgage bonds, or on fixed deposit or otherwise, in Banks, Post Offices, Building Societies or approved organisations and shall further have power to borrow money with or without security in such manner as the Church shall think fit, negotiate loans from Bankers or others by overdraft or otherwise and by passing mortgage and notarial bonds for registration with the proper authorities, and to open and operate upon banking accounts, and to make, draw, accept, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills of exchange and other negotiable and transferable instruments to guarantee the performance of contracts by any person or duly constituted Church having objectives wholly or partly similar to the objectives of this Church and to enter into guarantee or suretyships of every description.

20              Immovable Property

                 20.1          All immovable property acquired by the Church in any manner shall be registered in the name of the Trustees of the Church.

            20.2     The trustees for the time being of the Baptist Union of S.A. shall be the Trustees of the Church. They shall act as required by resolution of a General Meeting.

            20.3     All acquisitions of immovable property in any manner shall require the approval of a General Meeting, due notice having been given of the proposed transaction.

            20.4     Any proposal to sell, donate, exchange, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise alienate or encumber any immovable property shall have the prior approval of a Special General Meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present.

21              Sale of Property

The proceeds derived from the sale or other disposal of any property of the Church shall be used in such manner as the Church may deem best fitted to secure the furtherance of its objects.

22              Indemnity

The Trustees and all Officers of the Church shall be fully indemnified against all actions, cost, charges, losses, damages and expenses which they or any of them shall or may incur in the execution of their duties, except such as they shall incur by their own wrongful action done intentionally or with gross negligence.

23              Dissolution

            23.1  The dissolution of the Church may be effected by the three fourths majority vote of members present at a Special General Meeting.

            23.2   In the event of 23.1 such meeting shall thereupon authorise the Executive to take the necessary steps to wind up the affairs of the Church, and in particular to transfer the immovable property in due and proper form to the Baptist Union – (see23.4).

            23.3   Should the number of Deacons and Deaconesses be less than required by clause 14.2 the meeting shall appoint and authorise any other person or persons to comply with the requirements.

            23.4   In the event of the Church at any time ceasing to exist, all acquired property or rights to property at such time shall ipso facto vest in and become the property of the Baptist Union which shall hold, administer or deal with it in such manner as the said Union through its Executive Committee may deem best fitted to secure the objects in Clause 3.

            23.5   The Church shall be deemed to have ceased to exist -

23.5.1     When dissolution shall have been resolved in accordance with 23.1.

23.5.2     When public worship shall have been discontinued for a consecutive period of six calendar months.

23.5.3  When the number of members whose names and full addresses are known, has dropped to below 5.

24              Modification of the Constitution

            24.1  Any proposal to change to this Constitution may be submitted by way of a Notice of Motion to any General Meeting.

            24.2   Such Notice of Motion shall be circulated to all members for consideration at a Special General Meeting convened not less than three months after the General Meeting referred to in 24.1.

            24.3   Proposed changes shall require the approval of three fourths of the members present at the meeting with the reservation that the number so present shall not be less than ten regardless of the number of members on the membership roll.

            24.4   This Constitution was approved at a Special General Meeting held on 21 January 1990.

            24.5   In that approval of this Constitution by the Executive of the Baptist Union of S.A., is a pre-requisite to membership of such Union, any amendment of this Constitution or any replacement thereof, shall likewise be subject to the approval of such Executive as a condition of continuing membership.

            24.6   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary hereinbefore contained, no modification of this Constitution may be made which has the effect directly or indirectly of modifying the principle outlined in Clause 3.1 (the nature of the Church) and Clause 8.1 (final authority resting with membership). “The statement on Baptist Principles contained in Clause 4.2 is an entrenched provision and may not be revoked or amended save on a 90% majority vote of members present and entitled to vote at a constituted Special Church Meeting of which at least three months’ notice has been given”.

            24.7   It shall be understood that Clause 3.1 and 24.6 are entrenched, and may not be revoked, amended or amplified.