ARTICLE IX – CHURCH OFFICERS AND DUTIES

General

The Scriptural officers of a New Testament church are pastor(s) and deacons. However, for brevity and simplicity, other helpers will be included under this heading. Any officer or helper who fails to carry out the duties of the office as defined by the church may be asked to resign. Because of their place of leadership and example to others, each person nominated to the position of pastor, deacon, clerk, treasurer, assistant treasurer, Sunday school superintendent, teacher, or other roles of spiritual leadership shall be contacted by the nominating committee prior to election and give testimony that his or her life is separated from such things as tobacco, illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, ungodly movies, dancing, and other such worldly amusements and lifestyles that are in contradiction to God’s Word and its principles (Ps. 101:2; Phil. 4:8). Election of all officers, except pastor, shall be by majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting.

A. Pastor

1. Call

A man shall be called to fill the pulpit upon whose qualifications and witness conform to I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and the standards set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws. A pastor should be an experienced person, called by God and willing to serve the church. The church will have only one pastor as the senior pastor and his associate pastor who act on his behave in his absence or when the need arise. The associate pastor should have the same qualification as set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and in the church’s constitution and bylaws.

2. Duties

The pastor shall be in charge of the welfare and oversight of the church. He shall be exofficio

member of all organizations, departments, and committees; he may call a special

meeting of the deacons or committee according to procedures which may be set forth in the

Bylaws; he shall conduct religious services on stated and special occasions, administer

ordinances, and minister to members of the church. He shall perform other duties that

usually pertain to that office. He shall have charge of the pulpit ministry of the church. The

pastor shall preside at all meetings of the church except as otherwise provided in the

Bylaws. He shall be the administrative head of the church.

B. Deacons

1. There shall be as many deacons as the needs of the church may require.

2. In the event the pastor notifies the church or the board of deacons of his intent to vacate the

pulpit, or upon his death or permanent incapacity, the associate pastor automatically assumes the position as the senior pastor of the church.

3. It shall be the duties of the deacons to engage actively in all the spiritual work of the church; to seek out such members as need assistance and shall, along with the pastor, administer and disburse the Benevolence Fund as the need arises; and to aid the pastor in all matters relating to the spiritual interests of the church.

4. The deacons shall be elected from among the members of the church with the qualifications as

laid down in I Timothy 3. Deacons shall be elected for a period of three years with approximately one-third of the total being chosen each year at the annual meeting. A vacancy may be filled during the interim by electing a person to fill out the unexpired term of a deacon.

C. Trustees

1. There shall be no less than three nor more than seven trustees.

2. The trustees shall represent the church, wherever required, in strict accordance with directives

from the church. They shall exercise the following specific duties as mandated by vote of the

church membership:

a. Purchase, hold, lease, or otherwise acquire real property on behalf of the church, and

take real and personal property by will, gift, or bequest on behalf of the church.

b. Sell, convey, alienate, transfer, lease, assign, exchange, or otherwise dispose of real

property of the church.

c. Exercise all powers necessary for the dissolution of the church if such action is mandated by a vote of the church membership.

3. The trustees shall be elected for a period of three years with approximately one-third of the total number being elected each year at the annual meeting. A vacancy may be filled during the interim by electing a person to fill the unexpired term of a trustee at a regular business meeting of the church. Trustees shall serve until their successor is elected.

D. Administrator

Purpose of Position

The purpose of the Church Administrator is to organize information, manage team logistics, communicate information relating to the church calendar and building usage, and work toward keeping the day-to-day operations at Faithway organized and clear.

Office Responsibilities

1. Manage the church office.
2. To offer a knowledgeable presence during office hours.
3. To facilitate church communication networks: bulletins, phones, etc.
4. To manage office policy enforcement: building use, bulletin boards, mailboxes, flyers, etc.
5. Manage the flow of supplies.
6. To facilitate and schedule building usage in conjunction with staff.
7. To maintain and communicate the master church calendar.

Staff Responsibilities

1. The Church Administrator works to alert staff as to what’s needed and when in order for the organization to run smoothly.
2. Manage office resources to support staff projects.
3. Manage communications between staff and Operation’s representative regarding repairs, scheduling maintenance, usage, etc.
4. Available for direct administrative support for the Senior and Executive Pastors.
5. Oversee the church database and its use.
6. The Church Administrator plays a vital role in weekly staff meetings and helps communicate information pertaining to the church calendar, building usage, and other relevant information.
7. The Church Administrator is responsible to oversee all paid office staff and volunteers. This should include scheduling individual time to help develop and coach the individual’s leadership and ministry development.
8. The Church Administrator will work with the Worship Pastor to coordinate the necessary resources for Sunday worship.
9. The Church Administrator is responsible to hold his/her staff accountable in their budget spending, time usage, and personal and professional relationships.

Ministry Strategy Responsibilities

1. The Church Administrator is an integral part of Faithway’s leadership team. She will work in conjunction with the staff team in the yearly review of church ministries and overall church strategy.
2. The Church Administrator is available as a resource to the volunteer leaders to help facilitate as able.
3. The Church Administrator is responsible to perform the reviews and evaluation of all paid staff members who report directly to the Church Administrator on an annual basis and present annual goals for the following year to the Executive Pastor.

Communication Responsibilities

1. The Church Administrator is responsible to provide weekly agreed upon staff summaries of the regular staff meeting to the Executive Pastor.
2. In partnership with the Executive Pastor, the Church Administrator is responsible to “ring the bell” on issues related to the annual finance calendar, annual meeting, nominating team, annual vision planning or others that may arise.

Business/Human Resource Responsibilities

1. The Church Administrator works with the church treasurer and church secretary to facilitate the day-to-day business of fiscal responsibility. This includes overseeing the payment of bills, reimbursements, and the issuing of checks.
2. Responsible to develop and oversee the office budget.
3. Keep current on policies that affect church finances and alert staff.
4. Insurance. The Church Administrator will work with the Executive Pastor to oversee, along with Faithway’s finance team, all insurance details for Health Insurance, Disability & Workers’ Comp, Property & Abuse, and Liability Insurance.
5. Laws & Taxes. The Church Administrator is responsible to oversee, along with Faithway’s finance team, Faithway’s compliance with State & Federal Laws and State & Federal taxes.
6. Staff Benefits. The Church Administrator is responsible to oversee proper records for staff vacation days, raises, and benefits.
7. The Church Administrator will work in conjunction with the Executive Pastor to create, manage, and maintain all church policy handbooks. These handbooks will contain all appropriate policies and guidelines and will be made easily available to all staff.

Expectations

1. The Church Administrator is to have a real relationship with Jesus Christ and is to be actively seeking a deeper relationship with Him. This belief should be lived out in such a way that it is obvious and real to those in the leadership of Trinity and the church family.
2. The Church Administrator is to be a team player of Faithway Baptist Church.
3. The Church Administrator will recognize that working with a team is essential to successful ministry. It is expected that he works closely with other staff members and develop a support team of volunteers made up of team players.
4. The Church Administrator will be disciplined and diligent with his/her time, keeping a balance between home and work. Obviously there are exceptions in a work week. However, one’s family should not be sacrificed for the sake of the ministry.
5. The Church Administrator is to spend time throughout the year developing his skills in ministry, developing his character, and sharpening her knowledge and understanding in ministering to people while fulfilling his role as Church Administrator.
6. Professional review and development should occur through honest and ongoing feedback. Deliberate and meaningful conversations are expected with the Executive Pastor on at least a monthly basis. An annual evaluation of the Church Administrator will occur with the Executive Pastor.
7. The Church Administrator will maintain his position for a period of two years and will continue his work at the discretion of the executive pastor. The Church Administrator’s position is a volunteer position but the church should honor the administrator.

E. Treasurer

The treasurer shall be selected or elected by the pastor. It shall be the duty of the treasurer or his designee to receive, keep in a bank, and disburse by check upon proper authority all money or things of value that are given to the church, and to keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, rendering regular account to the church to be preserved by the church administrator. The treasurer’s books shall be audited as directed by the church leadership. All books, records, and accounts kept by the treasurer shall be considered the property of the church. The treasurer shall, upon invitation, meet with the deacons.

F. Assistant Treasurer

The assistant treasurer shall be elected or selected by the pastor. It shall be the duty of the assistant treasurer to perform those duties assigned to him by the treasurer and perform the treasurer’s duties during the treasurer’s absence.

G. Sunday School Superintendent

The Sunday school superintendent shall be elected or selected from the church membership every three years during the church’s business meetings. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to assist in the guidance of the Sunday school organization. He shall work closely with the pastor in his endeavor to enlist the hearty cooperation of the whole church in Bible study, teaching responsibility and personal soul-winning.

H. Other Sunday School Officers and Teachers

All teachers and officers shall be able to give account of their conversion and bear testimony to the same through a close walk with the Lord. All persons elected or appointed to serve as teachers or officers shall be members of this church in agreement with the standards set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws.