Constitution
of the
Midtown Baptist Church
Memphis, TN
Preamble
Since, as we believe, it pleased Almighty God, by His Holy Spirit, to unite certain of His servants here under the name Midtown Baptist Church, for the worship of God and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we, the members of Midtown Baptist Church, do hereby organize ourselves and adopt this Constitution as our articles of governance. This constitution is to be interpreted at all times to reflect the character of, and to bring glory to, Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible and as articulated in the Statement of Faith and Covenant of this church.
Article 1 – Name
The name of this church is: Midtown Baptist Church.
Article 2 – Purpose
Midtown Baptist Church exists by God’s grace and for his glory, which shall be the ultimate purpose in all of its activities. Its proximate purposes are the Worship of God, the evangelization of the lost unto the ends of the earth, and the discipleship of its members through the preaching of God’s Word, the administration of the ordinances, and the practice of formative and corrective discipline.
Article 3 – Membership
Section 1. Qualifications
Clause 1. Members of this church shall be believers in Jesus Christ
Clause 2. Who give evidence of regeneration;
Clause 3. Who have been baptized as believers in obedience to Christ;
Clause 4. Who hold without mental reservation the doctrines of our church as expressed in the Statement of Faith; and
Clause 5. Who promise to keep the commitments expressed in the Church Covenant.
Section 2. Admission
Clause 1. An Applicant shall be received as a Member of the church upon the recommendation of the Elders—after having completed all sessions of the Membership class and after having been interviewed by an elder—and the subsequent agreement of at least three-quarters of the Members present and voting on the question at any duly called Members’ Meeting.
Clause 2. No Member of this church shall retain membership in any other church.
Section 3. Duties and Privileges
Clause 1. Members shall be expected to participate actively in the life of the church By regularly attending its Lord’s Day meetings;
Clause 2. By faithfully observing its ordinances, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper;
Clause 3. By submitting to its discipline and instruction;
Clause 4. By attending its Members’ Meetings; and
Clause 5. By voting on the election of officers, on decisions regarding membership, and on all other matters submitted to the congregation’s vote.
Section 4. Termination and Discipline
Clause 1. The church shall recognize the termination of a Person's Membership following his or her death, and may do so following his or her voluntary resignation or joining with another gospel-preaching church.
Clause 2. Any member consistently neglectful of his or her duties or guilty of unrepentant conduct contrary to the principles of Scripture, and so opposing the welfare of the church, may be subject to the admonition of the elders and the discipline of the church, according to the instructions of our Lord in Matthew 18:15–17, 1 Corinthians 5, and other Scriptures.
Clause 3. Church discipline, then, should ordinarily be contemplated after individual private admonition has failed.
Clause 4. Church discipline can include admonition by the elders or congregation, removal from office, and excommunication (see Matthew 18:15–17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15; 1 Timothy 5:19– 20; 1 Corinthians 5:4–5).
Clause 5. The purpose of such discipline should be for:
the repentance, reconciliation, and spiritual growth of the person disciplined (see Proverbs 15:5; 29:15; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:4–5; Hebrews 12:1–11; Psalm 119:115; 141:5; Proverbs 17:10; 25:12; 27:5; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Matthew 7:26–27; 18:15–17; Luke 17:3; Acts 2:40; 1 Corinthians 5:5; Galatians 6:1–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15; 1 Timothy 1:20; Titus 1:13–14; James 1:22);
the instruction in righteousness and good of other Christians, as an example to them (see Proverbs 13:20; Romans 15:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 15:33; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 [note this is written to the whole church, not just to leaders]; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:11; Hebrews 10:24–25);
the purity of the church as a whole (see 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Ephesians 5:27; 2 John 10; Jude 24; Revelation 21:2);
the church’s corporate witness to non-Christians (see Proverbs 28:7; Matthew 5:13–16; John 13:35; Acts 5:1–14; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Peter 2:2; 1 John 3:10); and,
supremely, for the glory of God by reflecting his holy character (see Deuteronomy 5:11; 1 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 9:2; Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 36:20; Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; Romans 2:24; 15:5–6; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; 1 Peter 2:12).
Clause 6. The church shall have authority to refuse a Member’s voluntary resignation or transfer of membership to another church, either for the purpose of proceeding with a process of church discipline, or for any other reason the church deems necessary or prudent.
Clause 7. A Member shall be removed from Membership as a matter of church discipline upon the recommendation of the Elders and the subsequent agreement of at least three-quarters of the Members present and voting on the question at any Members’ Meeting.
Clause 8. If a member departs from Midtown Baptist Church while under church discipline and thereafter attends another church, the elders may inform that church of the pending discipline along with the grounds for that action, seeking to encourage the brother or sister to repent and be restored to the Lord and to any people he or she have offended. The elders may also warn the other church to be on guard against the individual’s conduct or beliefs and any risk of harm that he or she might present to the other church.
Article 4 – Meetings
Section 1. Worship Services
Clause 1. The church shall meet together for public worship each Lord’s Day morning, and at other times throughout the week as the church may determine.
Section 2. Members Meetings
Clause 1. The church shall hold a regular members’ meeting at least every other month, without displacing the regular gathering of the church on the Lord’s Day.
Clause 2. The elders, whenever they deem it necessary, or within thirty days of receiving a written request signed by ten percent of the membership, shall call a special members’ meeting.
Clause 3. No members’ meeting shall be held unless the date, time, and place of the meeting has been announced at every public meeting of the church for at least a week immediately before the members’ meeting in question.
Clause 4. An elder designated by the board of elders shall preside as moderator at all members’ meetings.
Clause 5. Members’ meetings shall proceed in reasonable order, and the members present shall constitute a quorum to do business. Motions shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members present and voting on the question, except on matters otherwise provided for in this constitution.
Article 5 – Government
Section 1. Summary
Clause 1. The biblical offices in the church shall be Elders and Deacons, but final earthly authority is vested in the assembled congregation.
Clause 2. The biblical terms “elder,” “pastor,” and “overseer” are understood to refer to the same biblical office. All pastors-elders-overseers possess the authority and gifts of pastors, whether or not they are paid by the church.
Section 2. Elders
Clause 1. Oversight of the ministry, resources, and facilities of the church shall be vested in a Board of Elders, which shall be comprised of not fewer than two men who satisfy the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
Clause 2. Elders shall be selected as follows: The Board of Elders shall at any regular Members’ Meeting present to the church a list of nominees to the office of Elder. For a period of at least one month, the church shall consider whether such nominees are qualified for the office. If any Member believes one or more of the nominees to be unqualified, that Member shall express such concern to the Elders, who may on the basis of that advice remove names from the list of nominees. No name shall be added to the list of nominees which was not included on the initial list. When a period of one month has elapsed, the Elders shall at the next regular Members’ Meeting present a final list of nominees to the church, who shall vote Yea or Nay on each of the nominees in turn. The Moderator or his delegates shall count the votes, and any nominee having the approval of at least three-quarters of the Members present and voting on his nomination shall be an Elder, which men the church shall in due haste publicly recognize and set apart as such.
Clause 3. In accordance with 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 Timothy 3:2, women shall not serve as Elders.
Clause 4. An elder’s term of office may end by resignation, expiration of term, or by dismissal.
Clause 5. With the exceptions of staff Elders, Elders shall be reaffirmed by vote of the church triennially, and having served two consecutive three-year terms, shall not be eligible for re-election for one year. Staff elders shall not be subject to a reaffirmation vote, nor to any term limit.
Clause 6. Any two members with reason to believe that an elder should be dismissed should express such concern to the elders and, if need be, to the congregation. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of our Lord in Matthew 18:15–17 and I Timothy 5:17–21. Any of the elders may be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the members at any members’ meeting of the church.
Clause 7. No Elder shall hold the office of Deacon during his tenure.
Clause 8. The Board of Elders shall choose their Chairman and other Officers. In compliance with the nonprofit corporation laws of Tennessee, the Board of Elders shall serve as the Board of Directors of the Corporation, and the elders shall designate an elder to serve as the president of the corporation.
Clause 9. The Elders shall, in keeping with the principles set forth in the Scriptures, especially Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 5:17; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14; and 1 Peter 5:1-4, undertake the responsibility of shepherding God’s flock by devoting themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. They shall have particular authority to:
Clause 10. Plan and oversee worship services;
Clause 11. To oversee the ordinances, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper;
Clause 12. To examine and instruct prospective members;
Clause 13. To oversee the process of church discipline;
Clause 14. To examine and recommend candidates for all offices and positions;
Clause 15. To oversee the work of the Deacons/Deaconesses and all other agents of the church; and
Clause 16. To hire, oversee, evaluate the performance of, and when necessary terminate paid church staff; and
Clause 17. To take any other action which shall be necessary and proper for faithfully overseeing and shepherding the church.
Clause 18. An Elder shall be removed from office upon the vote of two-thirds of the Members present and voting on the question at any Members’ Meeting. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 and those of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:17-21.
Section 3. Lead Pastor(s)
Clause 1. Primary responsibility for preaching and teaching the Scriptures in public meetings of the church will be vested in the lead pastor(s).
Clause 2. The position of Lead Pastor may, though need not necessarily, be filled by as many as, but no more than, two pastors at the discretion of the elders.
Clause 3. If the lead pastor(s) is/are absent or incapacitated, the elders shall assume responsibility for his duties, any of which may be delegated to someone biblically qualified to perform such duties.
Clause 4. The lead pastor(s) shall be selected as follows: The elders shall present the name of one nominee to the position of lead pastor at a regular members meeting. For at least a month, the church shall consider the nominee’s gifts in preaching and teaching, his commitment to minister personally to the members of this church, and his wholehearted assent to the statement of faith and church covenant. Any member intending to vote against a nominee should express his or her objection to at least one elder as early as possible before the vote. Once at least a month has passed, the elders may move the nomination to a vote at a regular members’ meeting. The moderator or his delegates shall count the votes, and if the nominee receives the approval of at least three-quarters of the members present and voting on his nomination, he shall immediately be the lead pastor (and, if he is not yet an elder and member, also an elder and member). In a reasonable time after the vote, the church shall publicly recognize and set apart the lead pastor.
Clause 5. The lead pastor(s) shall meet all the qualifications and hold all the rights and responsibilities of a church member. He shall meet all the qualifications and hold all the duties and responsibilities of an elder. In terms of formal authority, there shall be no distinction between an elder and a lead elder.
Clause 6. The lead pastor(s) shall not be subject to any term limit.
Clause 7. The lead pastor(s) shall be removed from office upon the vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting on the question at any members’ meeting. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Timothy 5:17-21.
Section 4. Associate Pastors
Clause 1. Other particular pastoral responsibilities may be vested in one or more staff Elders, otherwise known as Associate Pastors, whose relationship to the Lead Pastor(s) is that of an associate.
Clause 2. An associate pastor shall be selected as follows: The Elders shall at any regular Members’ Meeting present to the church the name of one nominee to the position of staff Elder. For a period of at least two weeks, the church shall consider the nominee’s gifts in the particular area of service to which he is being called, and his commitment to minister personally to the members of this church. If any Member believes the nominee to be unqualified, that Member shall express such concern to the Elders. When a period of two weeks has elapsed, the Elders shall at the next Members’ Meeting present the nominee for staff Elder to the church, who shall vote Yea or Nay on his selection as such. The Moderator or his delegates shall count the votes, and if the nominee receives the approval of at least three-quarters of the Members present and voting on the question, he shall be a Member of the church, an Elder, and a staff Elder, whom the church shall in due haste publicly recognize as such.
Clause 3. An associate pastor shall meet all the qualifications and hold all the rights and responsibilities of a Member of the church. He shall satisfy all the qualifications and hold all the duties and responsibilities of an Elder. In terms of formal authority, there shall be no distinction between an Elder and a staff Elder.
Clause 4. A staff Elder shall not be subject to a reaffirmation vote, nor to any term limit.
Clause 5. A staff Elder shall be removed from office upon the vote of two-thirds of the Members present and voting on the question at any Members’ Meeting. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17 and those of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5:17-21.
Section 5. Deacons and Deaconesses
Clause 1. Particular service to the church shall be provided by Deacons/Deaconesses, the number of which shall vary as the church has need, and who shall satisfy the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Clause 2. The Deacons/Deaconesses shall not meet together regularly as a body. Each diaconate position shall serve a particular need of the church and shall be created or dissolved upon the recommendation of the Elders and the subsequent agreement of a majority of the Members present and voting on the question at any Members’ Meeting.
Clause 3. Deacons/Deaconesses shall be selected as follows: The Elders shall at any regular Members’ Meeting present to the church a list of nominees to the office of deacon/deaconess. For a period of at least one month, the church shall consider whether such nominees are qualified for the office. If any Member believes one or more of the nominees to be unqualified, that Member shall express such concern to the Elders, who may on the basis of that advice remove names from the list of nominees. No name shall be added to the list of nominees which was not included on the initial list. When a period of one month has elapsed, the Elders shall at the next regular Members’ Meeting present a final list of nominees to the church, who shall vote Yea or Nay on each of the nominees in turn. The Moderator or his delegates shall count the votes, and any nominee having the approval of two-thirds of the Members present and voting on his nomination shall be a Deacon/Deaconess, which men or women the church shall in due haste publicly recognize and set apart as such.
Clause 4. A deacon’s term of office may end by resignation, dismissal, or end of term. A deacon shall hold office for a term of three years. A deacon’s term may be reaffirmed by the congregation after the third year by a majority vote. If the church fails to reaffirm its recognition of a deacon, such deacon’s term of office shall terminate as of the third anniversary of his election as a deacon. After a deacon has served six consecutive years, he or she must take a sabbatical of at least one year before he or she is eligible to be reelected to the office of deacon.
Clause 5. In keeping with the principles set forth in Acts 6:1-6, Deacons/Deaconesses shall not exercise a ministry of spiritual authority, but shall support the Elders’ ministry of the Word, work to maintain the unity of the church, and care for the physical needs of the church.
Clause 6. The church may recognize Deacons/Deaconesses to take responsibility:
Clause 7. For seeing that the sick, the sorrowing, the aged, and the infirm receive spiritual and physical comfort;
Clause 8. For leading the hospitality ministries of the church;
Clause 9. For attending to the normal care and maintenance of church properties;
Clause 10. For receiving, holding, and disbursing a fund for benevolence, and for reporting from time to time on the use of such funds to both the Elders and the church;
Clause 11. For attending to the accommodations for public worship;
Clause 12. For assisting in distributing the elements during the Lord’s Supper; and
Clause 13. For serving in other specific capacities as the church has need.
Clause 14. No person or group shall solicit money on behalf of the church or any of its ministries without the approval of the Elders and the Deacon/Deaconess of Finance.
Clause 15. A Deacon/Deaconess may be removed from office by a decision of the Elders, or upon the recommendation of the Elders and the subsequent agreement of a majority of the Members present and voting on the question at any Members’ Meeting.
Clause 16. In the event a diaconate position becomes vacant, the Elders may appoint a person to fill that position and assume its responsibilities, until such time as some person can be duly recognized by the church as a Deacon/Deaconess.
Article 6 – Administration
Section 1. Clerk
Clause 1. The clerk shall record the minutes of all regular and special members’ meetings of the church. In compliance with the nonprofit corporation laws of Tennessee, the clerk shall serve as the secretary of the corporation.
Clause 2. The clerk shall be a member of the church. The clerk shall not be an elder.
Clause 3. The clerk shall be selected to a renewable term of one year upon the recommendation of the elders and the later agreement of a majority of the members present and voting on the question at any members’ meeting.
Clause 4. The clerk may be removed from office by a majority vote of the members present and voting on the question at any members’ meeting.
Section 2. Treasurer
Clause 1. The treasurer shall ensure that all funds and securities of the church are properly secured in the banks, financial institutions, or depositories held by the church. The treasurer shall also ensure that full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements are kept in books belonging to the church, and that adequate controls are implemented to guarantee that all funds belonging to the church are appropriately handled by any officer, employee, or agent of the church. The treasurer shall provide to the elders at least once a year, or whenever the elders may require it, an account of all financial transactions since the last complete account and of the financial condition of the church. The treasurer shall also present reports of the account balances, revenues, and expenses of the church at regular members’ meetings.
Clause 2. The treasurer shall be selected to a renewable term of one year upon the recommendation of the elders and the later agreement of a majority of the members present and voting on the question at any members’ meeting.
Clause 3. No person shall serve more than three consecutive terms as treasurer.
Clause 4. The treasurer shall be a member of the church. No elder or paid staff member of the church may serve as treasurer.
Clause 5. The treasurer shall be removed from office upon the recommendation of the elders and the later vote of a majority of the members present and voting on the question at any members’ meeting.
Article 7 – Indemnification
Section 1. Mandatory
If a legal claim or criminal allegation is made against a person because he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the church, the church shall provide indemnification against liability and costs incurred in defending against the claim if a majority of the elders determine that the person acted (a) in good faith, (b) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances, and (c) in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the church, and (d) the person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Permissive
With the unanimous decision of the elders, the church also may indemnify any person who acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the church’s best interest and not unlawful.
Section 3. Determinations
If a quorum of the elders is not available for an indemnification determination because of the number of elders seeking indemnification, the requisite determination may be made by the membership or by special legal counsel appointed by the membership.
Article 8 – Dispute Resolution
Clause 1. Believing that the Bible commands Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian church (see, e.g., Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 6:1-8), the church shall urge its members to resolve conflict among themselves according to biblically based principles, without resorting to the civil courts.
Clause 2. In the case of alleged criminal behavior, it may be appropriate to resolve conflict in the criminal courts, not least because such alleged criminal behavior may in some cases legally be required to be reported to the government authorities (see Romans 13:3-4).
Clause 3. Consistent with its call to peacemaking, the church shall encourage members to use biblical principles and avoid lawsuits to resolve disputes among themselves and with those outside the church—including believers and unbelievers, and individuals and corporations. The elders may adopt policies and procedures to encourage the church to live up to these aspirations.
Article 9 – Statement of Faith
Section 1. Statement of Faith
Midtown Baptist Church, as a church and a corporation, and each of its elders, directors, officers, and employees shall fully support and perpetually, as members of Midtown Baptist Church, subscribe to its Statement of Faith.
Section 2. Practices Consistent with Church’s Mission.
Clause 1. To be consistent with its religious mission, the Church shall: Not establish any public or private policies or positions that conflict with the Statement of Faith;
Clause 2. Not elect or appoint any elder or officer who does not subscribe to and affirm the Statement of Faith;
Clause 3. Not accept or recognize any person as a member who does not subscribe to and affirm the Statement of Faith;
Clause 4. Not hire or continue to employ any employee who, upon request, refuses to subscribe to the Statement of Faith, or who has acted in a manner inconsistent with the Statement of Faith or the religious mission of the Church, and has not fully and properly repented of such action.
Section 3. Weddings, Events, and Facility Usage
Clause 1. Facility use will not be permitted to persons or groups holding, advancing, or advocating beliefs or practices that are contrary to the Church’s Statement of Faith.
Clause 2. Church staff and elders shall not be permitted to hold membership in organizations or perform or participate in events that are contrary to the Church’s Statement of Faith.
Clause 3. The Church is happy to participate in instituting Marriages for believers in Jesus Christ. The purpose is of marriage is glorify God in reflecting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Therefore, the requirements for marriage at Midtown Baptist Church are as follows:
Both the man and the woman must meet the spiritual qualifications for church membership as outlined in Article 3 Section 1.
The man and/or the woman must members of the church or former members
The couple must participate in approved pre-marital counseling.
Their union must conform to the biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage.
Article 10 – Amendments
Clause 1. The statement of faith or church covenant shall be amended upon the recommendation of the elders and the agreement of three-quarters of the members voting on the question at any regular members’ meeting, provided the amendment was presented by the elders in writing at a previous regular members’ meeting, and was announced at every public meeting of the church during the two weeks immediately before the vote.
Clause 2. This constitution shall be amended upon the recommendation of the elders and the agreement of two-thirds of the members voting on the question at any regular members’ meeting, provided the amendment was presented by the elders in writing at a previous regular members’ meeting, and was announced at every public meeting of the church during the two weeks immediately before the vote.