Bylaws: Full Text
Bylaws major revision 6/26/2025
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Preamble
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These bylaws will be the primary governing authority of Redeemer Christian Church (RCC or “the church”). The RCC Council may create additional policies and procedures, as needed, in accordance with these bylaws. Any policies or procedures adopted by RCC must not contradict the provisions contained in these bylaws.
Redeemer Christian Church Mission Statement - Redeemer Christian Church’s mission is to save the lost and together become disciples of Christ.
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Article I: Doctrinal Statement​
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The members of this church will take the following beliefs as the church’s doctrinal statement for the unity of our faith:
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Scripture - We believe the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and the authority for all Christian faith and life.
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God - We believe in one God, creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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Jesus Christ - We believe that Jesus Christ is both truly God and truly man. Having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, He died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. By His death, He revealed God’s love and upheld God’s justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, He rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven where, at God’s right hand, He intercedes for His people and rules as Lord over all.
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Holy Spirit - We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Through the proclamation of the gospel, He persuades us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. He also indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers us for godly living and sacrifice.
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Man - We believe that man was created in the image of God. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Being estranged from his maker, he became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and apart from grace, incapable of returning to God. Fallen and lost, therefore, only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
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Salvation - We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification for salvation for all who believe, and only those who receive Jesus Christ are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God.
We believe that salvation is provided solely by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and trusting in Christ and His substitutionary death is born from above into eternal life by the Holy Spirit and declared to be righteous as a gift. Through Christ’s great redemptive act, an individual is reconciled to God as Father and becomes his child. The believer’s sins are forgiven, and he/she is liberated from the law of sin and death into the freedom of God’s spirit.
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Sanctification - We believe that the Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and He seeks to produce His fruit in us as we are conformed to the image of Christ. As we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping His commandments and endeavoring to live in the world so that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven.
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Ordinances - We believe that the water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation.
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Church - We believe that the true Church is comprised of all persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ. All members of the Church are to be a vital and committed part of a local church. In this context, they are called to live under the new covenant as the people of God and demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of the church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
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Consummation - We believe that the consummation of all things includes the visible, personal, glorious, and imminent resurrection of the dead, the rapture of the church, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ’s Kingdom in the new Heavens and the new earth. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God who makes all things new.
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Article II: Membership
Eligibility
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In order to become a member of RCC, the following criteria must be met:
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A confession of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior
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Agreement with RCC’s doctrine statement
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Baptism in a Christian Church or commitment to be baptized at RCC
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Completion of an RCC authorized membership class
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Minimum age of 18 years old
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Termination from Membership
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RCC members may be removed from the official membership list for any of the following reasons:
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Member requests to be removed from membership
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Member transfers membership to a different church
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No attendance or contact for 1 year. The church must make a reasonable effort to contact the member before removal
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RCC Council may revoke membership due to matters related to unrepentant sin and violation of the membership covenant
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A person whose membership was removed for any reason may be reinstated to membership by the approval of the RCC Council
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Congregation Meetings
In addition to what is defined in the bylaws, the following decisions require a two-thirds (2/3) congregational vote:
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Approval of the annual budget
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Sale, purchase, or lease of real property
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Other significant matters as determined by the RCC Council
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Scheduling
The congregation shall meet at least once a year to elect church leaders, receive an annual report from the RCC Council (including information about the church's programs and activities), and conduct any other business necessary to accomplish the church's purposes.
RCC members shall be given notice of the meeting’s date, time, and location at least two (2) Sundays prior to the regular or special meeting.
Additional meetings may be convened as deemed necessary by the RCC Council.
Quorum
25% of RCC members shall constitute a quorum to make decisions at congregation meetings.
Voting
Only RCC members are allowed to vote in congregation meetings.
All decisions shall be made by ballot.
At least two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present (excluding blank ballots and abstaining votes) at a meeting shall determine all issues
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Article III: Leadership
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RCC Council
The church shall be governed by the RCC Council. The RCC Council is the highest administrative body of the church, comprising the RCC senior pastor, ordained elders, and ordained deacons. The RCC Council must consist of no fewer than three (3) and no more than eleven (11) members. The maximum number may be adjusted in the future with the Council's approval, as the church's needs evolve and change.
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Eligibility
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​Council members must be an ordained pastor, elder, or deacon of RCC
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RCC’s senior pastor is automatically a member of the RCC Council
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Additional pastors serving at RCC may be appointed to the RCC Council, subject to the Council’s approval
Meetings
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The RCC Council shall meet monthly. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the RCC Council.
Term
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RCC Council members (excluding RCC pastors) shall serve on the RCC Council in accordance with their terms as office bearers. The terms for elders will be four (4) years, and for deacons, three (3) years. After each term is completed, elders and deacons must take a sabbatical of one (1) year before they are eligible to be renominated to the Council again.
Voting
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Each RCC Council member shall have one (1) vote regarding any business conducted. 

All decisions shall be made by oral vote unless a written ballot is requested by an RCC Council member or required by a vote of the RCC Council. 

A majority of the votes cast shall determine any issue, unless an RCC Council member explicitly requests a higher vote requirement.
Quorum

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Two-thirds (2/3) of the RCC Council members shall constitute a quorum for doing business and making decisions.
Duties of the RCC Council members
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Serve as liaisons between the RCC Council and the church members 

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Meet monthly to conduct the business of the church 

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Present an annual report and budget to the church members 

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Serve on committees or any other duties, as determined necessary by the RCC Council
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Article IV: Church Officials
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Pastors
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Meaning of a pastor
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A pastor is a shepherd who looks after the church of Christ (1 Peter 5:2-4)
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A pastor is a servant and messenger who serves Christ (2 Cor 5:20, Eph 6:20)
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A pastor is an elder who governs the church, showing the example for all the saints (1 Pet 5:1-3)
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A pastor is a teacher who teaches the Word of God to the members (Titus 1:9, 2 Tim 1:11)
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Duties of a Senior Pastor
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Minister to the congregation and build strong relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and love
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Lead the RCC Council in their spiritual walk
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Preach effectively to the congregation
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Teach biblical courses
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Hire, mentor, and dismiss paid church staff
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Hiring the RCC Senior Pastor
To hire for the office of RCC Senior Pastor, a search committee shall be formed. The search committee shall review applicants and facilitate a candidacy process. The search committee shall recommend a candidate for hire. The candidate may be male or female.
The RCC Senior Pastor shall be hired with the unanimous approval of the RCC Council and a two-thirds (2/3) congregation vote.
Dismissing the RCC Senior Pastor
The Senior Pastor may be removed from office upon a recommendation by the Council and a two-thirds (2/3) congregation vote, for reasons including, but not limited to, doctrinal error, moral failure, or inability to carry out the duties of the office.
Duties of Associate Pastors
Under the direction of the Senior Pastor, associate pastors shall carry out ministry responsibilities that may include the duties outlined above for the Senior Pastor.
Hiring and Dismissing Associate Pastors
The Senior Pastor shall have the authority to recommend the hiring or dismissal of other pastors and church staff, subject to the two-thirds (2/3) vote of the RCC Council.
Resignation and Retirement of Pastors
A pastor’s retirement age is the year he/she turns 65. If he/she should resign for reasons other than retirement before reaching the retirement age, he/she must provide at least three months' notice to the RCC Council.
Elder
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Eligibility
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Must have been an RCC member for at least 3 years
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Evidence of mature, Christ-like character (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
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Good reputation among RCC members
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Familiarity with RCC’s culture, members, and operation
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A candidate for Elder may be male or female
Election and ordination
The RCC Council may recommend a qualified member of RCC after careful consideration. He/she will be an elected elder by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) at the Congregation Meeting. Upon election, the new elder will be ordained.
Term
The term of an elder is four (4) years; afterward, they must rest from service for a minimum of one (1) year, after which, they are eligible to be appointed again through renomination.
Duties of an Elder
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An elder is assigned to a pastor serving at RCC.
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The elder works alongside his/her assigned pastor to care for the members (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
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The elder holds his/her pastor accountable to the duties described in his/her job description
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Meets regularly with their assigned pastor to pray and discuss the health and needs of the ministry and its members (James 5:14)
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Assists the pastor in matters relating to disciplining and correcting members in life or doctrine (Titus 1:5-9)
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Serves as a check and balance to the pastor in major decisions relating to his/her respective ministry
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Serves as a member of the RCC Council
Deacon
Eligibility
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Must have been an RCC member for at least 1 year
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Evidence of mature, Christ-like character (1 Timothy 3:1-7)
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Good reputation among RCC members
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History of service and leadership in RCC’s ministries
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A candidate for Deacon may be male or female
Election and Ordination
The RCC Council may recommend a qualified member of RCC after careful consideration. He/she will be an elected deacon by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) at the Congregation Meeting. Upon election, the new deacon will be ordained.
Term
The term for a deacon is three (3) years; afterward, they must rest from service for a minimum of one (1) year, after which, they are eligible to be appointed again through renomination.
Duties of a Deacon
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Serve as the chairperson of a committee of the church. (See Article VI for Committees)
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Serve as a member of the RCC Council
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Article V: Officers
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The officers of the church shall be Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Financial Officer.
Qualifications
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The officers of the church shall consist of the officials of the RCC Council or staff. As such, all provisions of Article IV regarding qualifications, organization, nomination, ratification, term, removal, and vacancy shall apply to the officers of the church.
Chair
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The Chair shall moderate all meetings of the RCC Council and its members unless he/she chooses to defer that responsibility at any given meeting.
Vice-Chair
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The Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair in his or her absence and assist in the Chair’s duties.
Secretary
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The Secretary shall keep and preserve the minutes of all meetings of the RCC Council and the members, as well as all official correspondence and documents of the church.
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Financial Officer
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The Financial Officer shall present annual financial reports to the members. The Financial Officer shall ensure the proper implementation of policies, processes, and reporting procedures for all matters related to the church's finances, including the submission of quarterly financial reports to the RCC Council. There shall be separate processes and signatories to receive and disburse funds.
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Article VI: Committees
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Appointment
The RCC Council shall have the authority to appoint members to committees as needed and as circumstances require. It may designate and appoint standing and/or special committees, and determine the number of persons to serve on and the duties of any committee.
Authority
Committees are responsible for investigating issues, making recommendations, and carrying out RCC Council policies. They may not take action without RCC Council approval, except in emergencies—any such action must be reported promptly for ratification.
All committees must report their activities to the RCC Council and may not represent the Council or church on any issue without specific authorization, unless clearly allowed under their assigned responsibilities.
Committees remain active until their work is complete, a new committee is appointed, or the RCC Council formally disbands them.
Committee Structure
Committees will be organized according to the church's needs.
Ordained deacons shall lead committees when possible. In cases where this is not feasible, the RCC Council may appoint a mature, qualified member to lead a committee, subject to the Council's approval.
Article VII: Amendments
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Proposal
The RCC Council may propose amendments to these bylaws. It shall only be effective if submitted to and approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the congregation present at a congregational meeting after notice of the proposed amendments has been provided to the congregation.
Notice
Any notice regarding proposed changes in the bylaws shall be given to the congregation in writing at least two (2) Sundays prior to the regular or special meeting, at which the proposed change in the bylaws shall be considered.
Article VIII: Dissolution
The decision to dissolve RCC shall rest in the discretion of the RCC Council and be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) congregation vote. Should RCC dissolve, its property shall be distributed among the missionaries that RCC supports at the time of dissolution, if such missionaries exist. If no such missionaries exist, then RCC’s property shall be distributed to missionaries or Christian non-profit organizations at the discretion of the RCC Council.