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Legal Documents

HICKMAN COMMUNITY CHURCH CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES

ARTICLE I: NAME
The corporate name of this church is “Hickman Community Church” of Hickman, California.

ARTICLE II: STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Hickman Community Church exists to glorify God, through loving submission to Jesus Christ, preaching Holy Scripture, living lives dependant on prayer, and multiplying through evangelizing the lost.

ARTICLE III: AFFILIATION
This congregation is a Non-Denominational Community Church uniting with other conservative Evangelicals to further the Kingdom of God.

ARTICLE IV: LOCATION OF OFFICE
The registered office of the church shall be located within Hickman, California, at such address as the Elders of the church shall determine. The Board of Elders, with confirmation by a majority vote of the members, may change the address of the registered office from time to time, upon filing the appropriate statement with State officials.
ARTICLE V: STATEMENT OF FAITH
[See Doctrinal Statement tab]

ARTICLE VI: MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this church shall consist of those who:
1. Have publicly confessed Jesus Christ as their personal Savior from sin and is Lord of their life (Romans 10:9-11, Matthew 10:32-33).
2. The public confession shall be made before the membership of Hickman Community Church.
3. Have expressed full agreement with the Statement of Faith, Constitution and By-Laws of Hickman Community Church, and have read and signed the membership covenant thereby agreeing to support the policies and beliefs of this body.
4. Have been baptized (by full immersion) and have made a confession of faith (Acts 2:41, Matthew 28:19).
5. Have attended the “New Members” class of the Hickman Community Church and have met with the Elders of Hickman Community Church.
6. Will be 16 years of age or older to be considered for membership.
7. The Elders will publicly communicate to the members the names of those desiring to join Hickman Community Church. At least two weeks after this communication, individuals who have completed the membership process will be presented to the congregation for affirmation of membership at a regularly scheduled meeting in order to publicly affirm the membership covenant and to be welcomed into the body.
8. Hickman Community Church appreciates letters from other churches, but does not recognize these as substitutes for the membership process.

ARTICLE VII: CHURCH OFFICERS AND POSITIONS OF SERVICE
The offices of this church shall be identified as Elders and Deacons who will oversee the business of this congregation. The Elder’s primary role is spiritual oversight. The Deacon’s primary role will be the position of practical service, under the authority of the Elders, to assist in ministering to the saints. Elders and Deacons shall be certain men selected from among the body.
ARTICLE VIII: WORSHIP

SECTION 1: This church shall have regular Sunday meetings set aside for the purpose of teaching, preaching, prayer, Scripture reading, singing praises, communion and fellowship.

SECTION 2: This church will hold an annual church business meeting on the 2nd Sunday night of the month of December for the purpose of presenting the church budget to the membership. At such annual meeting, the members shall consider reports of the affairs of the Corporation, and transact such other business as the Elders determine shall be brought before the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: CHURCH PROPERTY
The members of this church who abide by the Constitution and the By-Laws of the Hickman Community Church have the right to ownership and control of the property of this church.

ARTICLE X: GOVERNMENT
We acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the head of this church, and the Holy Scriptures are the only infallible guide in matters of faith, church order, and discipline; The Spirit of God teaches and illumines the Holy Scripture for the direction and guidance of Hickman Community Church affairs.

Hickman Community Church holds to an Elder-led, congregational form of church government in which the church is free to administer its own affairs, under the guidance and direction of a qualified and acknowledged Elder Board. The government of this church is therefore vested in the active membership of this congregation who recognizes and supports the leadership provided by the Elder Board. The decisions of this church are implemented through its acknowledged elders who are accountable to God and the local assembly. All decisions are to be made with complete Board unanimity as the Elders strive to serve the Lord who is the head of the church.

ARTICLE XI: PASTOR
The church and its Elders shall engage a qualified man to teach and pastor the Lord’s work here in our communities and to engage associates, as required, who are also willing to support and abide by this Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to the Constitution or By-laws must be submitted to the Board of Elders at least four weeks prior to the Members’ Meeting at which time the Elders will present said changes for consideration and discussion by the members. All proposals shall be posted and mailed to the members at least two weeks prior to the meeting. The final vote of affirmation will take place at the next Members’ Meeting.

Amendments to the Constitution or By-laws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the voting members in attendance at any Members’ Meeting.

ARTICLE XIII: PREVIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
The adoption of this Constitution of Hickman Community Church makes null and void all previous constitutional provisions.