The pastor is responsible for the overall direction of the church, for the training and discipling of leaders, for setting the tone and approach of the public services, and for preaching the word of God faithfully and consistently. The pastor supervises all the paid and volunteer staff and reserves the right to dismiss either paid or volunteer staff with due and documented cause in conference with the elders.

In the event of his decision to leave his position, he should give the Governing Board written notice of at least 90 days. A Search Committee should be formed to begin the process of finding a new pastor. The Search Committee should represent the church demographically, and be made up of 3 Governing Board members, an elder, and 2 members-at-large. The Governing Board will supply the Search Committee with a clear range of salary and benefit options, as well as any essential qualifications for a potential candidate, so that the Search Committee has all the information they need to make contacts. Their role is to interview prospective candidates until they can recommend a candidate to the Governing Board and the congregation. If the Governing Board concurs, the candidate will be presented to the membership for approval on a written ballot. If the candidate receives at least 75% approval, the candidate is formally called as pastor.

The pastor can be removed from office if at least 5 of the 6 Governing Board members concur, along with a majority of the elders (see Section 5). The senior pastor should attend the meeting where his dismissal is under discussion. Such a meeting can be called if at least 4 of the 6 board members request it, however, all members of the board and all the elders should attend.

Elders are men who fit the qualifications of eldership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and who have earned the respect of the congregation over time. Because of this, an elder’s role is perpetual, not limited to a specific term. Elders provide counsel to the pastor in shaping the vision and ministries of the church, and to the board regarding fiscal management. In areas where a specific church position is needed on an issue not covered here, the elders will craft that position after careful consultation of Scripture. Other specific duties include conflict resolution, church discipline, public teaching, and administration of church ordinances.

If an elder is married, his wife also should be considered a vital resource for wisdom in church matters. What he brings the church should be a product of their joint discussion and shared ministry.

New elders are appointed by the pastor with the agreement of the existing elders. His service is ongoing unless he relocates, requires church discipline, or moves to inactive status. An inactive elder is one who, because of life circumstances, has requested to be relieved of active responsibilities.

The Governing Board is made up of 7 members: 6 from the membership, plus the senior pastor. The Governing Board is comprised of both men and women and should represent the church body demographically. Each year one of the members is requested by the senior pastor to serve as the secretary to take and distribute notes of each meeting. In the event the secretary is not at a given meeting, another member will fill that role. While the Governing Board is the fiscal decision-making body for the church, Board members also take the lead on special projects related to property, finance, and ministry areas in which they have special giftedness, interest or willingness.

After Governing Board members have been nominated by the church membership, the current Governing board reviews those nominations to recommend new board members. Recommendations should take into consideration not only the number of times a person was nominated, but also character, experience, and a balance of gender, vocation, and geography to represent the whole church. Two members of the same immediate family cannot serve at the same time. Church employees are not eligible for nomination, although the senior pastor is a standing member.

Nominations are solicited for at least 2 weeks in October, and nominees for ratification are announced in the bulletin 2 weeks prior to ratification. Ratification should occur by the end of each calendar year in a short members’ meeting after Sunday worship. Ratification is accomplished by a printed ballot with each nominee listed along with a “yes” and “no” option for each nominee. Nominees who are affirmed by at least 85% of the ballots are ratified. In the event a nominee is not ratified, a new nominee is presented for ratification on a new ballot the following week.

Board members serve for 3 years, with at least 2 of the 6 rotating off each year. Members can request to be relieved earlier if personal circumstances require it. In such a case, the Board will nominate a replacement member who is ratified in a special members meeting called for that purpose.

Board members who undergo church discipline will be relieved of responsibility when the discipline process begins, and their replacement nominated and ratified. Even if restoration is accomplished and the member stays in membership of the larger church, the member will not return to leadership on the Governing Board for a minimum of 2 years.

When voting on an issue, each member gets one vote, with the majority deciding the issue. There should be at least 5 members present before a vote is taken. Charitable disagreement is encouraged until a decision is made. Once a decision is reached, all board members should support the decision both publicly and personally.

The senior pastor sets the agenda for Governing Board meetings, but any member of the Governing Board can request an item be added to the agenda. If the senior pastor is unable to lead the Governing Board for an extended period of time, the board members should elect their own acting chairperson to serve until the pastor can return, or in the case of a change in pastors, until the new pastor arrives.

Any person aged 16 or over that completes the church membership class and signs the membership agreement is listed as a member. Members understand and affirm the doctrinal statement of the church, as well as its philosophy of ministry. Membership is required of all teachers, Elders, Governing Board members, youth leaders and leaders of various ministries. People seeking those roles, if not members, should take the next available membership course. Only members can nominate and ratify new Governing Board members, vote on the acquisition of land or buildings, and vote on the approval of the senior pastor (both requiring 85% approval). Members who stop attending for more than one year will be automatically dropped from the membership list unless special circumstances dictate otherwise. Members who are known to disregard biblical standards of behavior will undergo a process of church discipline summarized in Matthew 18 and geared toward restoration (Galatians 6). Members who do not respond to private confrontations with the elders, may ultimately be removed from membership.

The church is funded by the offerings of its members and regular attenders. All giving is logged by an outside bookkeeper so that gifts remain anonymous (Matthew 6:1-4). Giving is a commitment taken on voluntarily by members as an act of worship and should be offered generously without being regulated by any certain percentage (2 Corinthians 9:6-12).

The budget crafted and approved by the Governing Board is the primary tool for fiscal management. Expenditures should be:

a) Covered by a budget line item

b) No more than $250 (unless approved by the Governing Board)

If a purchase is made with a church debit card, receipts should be saved and turned into the Treasurer with the budget line delineated for each expense. The Treasurer is either someone on the Governing Board, or appointed by the Governing Board, to handle the weekly disbursement of funds and monthly budgetary reporting. While this is an annually renewable appointment, it is healthy to pass the responsibility on every 2-3 years.

Accounts Receivable (incoming gifts) and Accounts Payable (outgoing funds) should be managed by two different people. The Governing board has access to view all payments. They can adjust the budget throughout the year to match rising or falling giving levels.

Any decision involving the purchase of land and/or buildings for church use should be ratified by members in a special meeting after Sunday morning church. Should The Chapel at Tinkers Creek be dissolved as a legal entity, all assets should be transferred to Riverwood Community Chapel in Kent. The decision to dissolve requires Governing Board approval of at least 6 members and the consent of a majority of the elders.

This Constitution can be amended with the approval of 6 members of the Governing Board and a majority of the elders. Current copies of this Constitution should be maintained at the church office and posted on the church website.