HALLELUJAH COMMUNITY CHURCH
These Constitution and Bylaws govern the affairs of Hallelujah Community Church, Inc. (The Church), a Florida religious not-for-profit corporation organized under the Florida Not-for-Profit Organization Act and conformed to Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code for not-for-profit organizations.
PREAMBLE
The Church was founded on June 7, 2017, in Lee County, Southwest Florida by Pastor Eunique Castor to serve the people in the community by implementing religious educational programs structured for the social and economic development of all the members. These bylaws are established longing to uphold, promote, and illuminate the fundamental principles of our faith, and to protect equally the rights and privileges of the individual church member, as well as the freedom of action of this body in its relation to other churches and organizations.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE
This organization is a Church incorporated under the name of: HALLELUJAH COMMUNITY CHURCH, INC. The principal office of the Church in the State of FLORIDA shall be located in FORT MYERS, FLORIDA. The membership of the Church shall have full power and autho be inate or have multiple campuses as it sees fit. Unless it is restrictive to religious freedoms protected by the Constitution of the United States or violates Biblical mandates, the Church shall comply with the requirements of the Code and maintain a Registered Office and Registered Agent in FLORIDA. The registered office may be, but need not be, identical with the Church's principal office in FLORIDA. The membership may change the registered office and the registered agent as provided in the bylaws.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Under the Laws of the State of FLORIDA the Church is formed for any lawful purpose or purposes not expressly prohibited under Title 1, Chapter 2, or Title 2, Chapter 22 of the Code, including any purpose described by Section 2.002 of the FLORIDA Business Organizations Code The Church is organized and shall be operated exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended unless it is restrictive to religious freedoms protected by the Constitution of the United States or violates Biblical mandates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Church purposes also include the limited participation of the Church in any other activities, including taxable activities, but only to the extent the activities would be permitted by a tax-exempt organization. More particularly, but without limitation, the purposes of this Church are:
HALLELUJAH COMMUNITY CHURCH, INC.
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
(a) To promote the Christian religion by any appropriate form of expression, within any available medium, and in any location, through the Church’s combined or separate formation, of a church, ministry, charity, school, or eleemosynary institution, without limitation.
(b) To engage in religious worship and to promote the spiritual development and well-being of individuals.
(c) To maintain the public worship of God and the observance of the Church’s ordinances.
(d) The study of Christian doctrines and principles and the practice of the Christian life as revealed and taught in the Bible.
(e) The salvation of the lost at home and abroad.
(f) The promotion and advancement of God’s kingdom in all the earth, through missions at home and abroad and in other work to accomplish this purpose.
(g) To license, ordain, employ and discharge ministers of the Gospel, and others, to conduct and carry-on divine services at the place of worship of the Church, and elsewhere.
(h) To collect and disburse all necessary funds for the maintenance of said Church and the accomplishment of its purpose.
(i) To make distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended unless it is restrictive to religious freedoms protected by the Constitution of the United States or violates Biblical mandates.
(j) This Church is also organized to promote, encourage, and foster any other similar religious, charitable and educational activities; to accept, hold, invest, reinvest and administer any gifts, legacies, bequests, devises, funds, and property of any sort or nature, and to use, expend, or donate the income or principal thereof for, and to devote the same to, the foregoing purposes of the Church; and to do any and all lawful acts and things which may be necessary, useful, suitable, or proper for the furtherance of accomplishment of the purposes of this Church. Provided, however, no act may be performed which would violate Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended unless it is restrictive to religious freedoms protected by the Constitution of the United States or violates Biblical mandates.
ARTICLE III
STATEMENTS OF FAITH
The Church recognizes and adheres to the Holy Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of God, and as the sole authority for our faith and practice. All scripture is a testimony to Christ who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
The Church is established in the belief that there is one God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God led us to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; therefore, we solemnly and joyfully enter into these shared expectations of Christian behaviors and fellowship with one another as one body in Christ.
We believe that we should establish and maintain family and personal devotions; to educate our children with a Christian worldview; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, exemplary in our language, conversation and self-control; to avoid the sinful acts described in Galatians 5:19-21, and to develop the fruits of the Spirit in our Christian walk, as described in Galatians 5:22-23, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of God.
We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus-Christ, and that Jesus-Christ is God becoming man. In addition, we believe that Jesus-Christ was dead and was resurrected in the third day after His death, and He ascended into heaven where He is preparing a place for The Church.
We believe that we should, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, walk together in Christian love; strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and unity; promote its prosperity and spirituality; sustain its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the gospel through all nations.
We believe that Baptism shall be by immersion in water as an outward expression of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This Church shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who professes Him publicly and who indicates a commitment to follow Jesus as Lord.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning and that is marriage sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.
We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other.
We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with scripture nor the doctrines of the Church.
We believe that we should watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the teachings of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We believe that Christians are prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes since the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members.
We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32) We believe that when we remove from this place we will as soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
ARTICLE IV
MISSION
The mission of the Church is to expand the Lord’s kingdom and to help believers to become disciple of Christ by devoting themselves to study of the Bible and the apostles' teaching, by worshipping God continuously, and by spreading the word and love of God throughout the whole world.
ARTICLE V
EARNINGS
No part of the net earnings of the church shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article IV hereof.
ARTICLE VI
ACTIVITIES
No substantial part of the activities of the church shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the church shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the church shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:
(a) By a Church exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
(b) By a Church contribution to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the church shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this Church.
ARTICLE VII
DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of the Church, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the Church is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE VIII
STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH
The church is administered by a pastor or group of several pastors with the Lead Pastor as President Administrator. A board of Deacons assists the Pastor(s) in managing the spiritual affairs of the Church. An executive board composed of the head of each department assist the pastor in the general administration of the Church. A committee of officers may be appointed in order to manage the affairs of the Church; the committee can be comprised of a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and advisor(s).
Scripturally, the Pastors and Deacons are the leaders of the church. However, the church may elect other organizational leaders, such as Committee Members and Church Council, as needed to carry out the work of the church; as so, the executive board members and the appointed officers are leaders of the Church.
(a) Removal of Leaders. Leaders, other than the Lead Pastor, may be removed, with or without cause, by a majority vote of the members at a duly called meeting.
(b) Resignation of Leaders. Any Leader may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Church. Any such resignation shall take effect on the date of the receipt of such notice, or at any later time agreed to by the Leader and Personnel Committee, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
(c) Vacancies. A vacancy in any Leadership position shall be filled only in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for regular appointment or election to that office.
A – PASTOR(S)
The Pastor must be an ordain minister above reproach, faithful to their spouse, temperate, self- controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
(a) Duties of Lead Pastor. The Lead Pastor may be assisted by other Pastors, and he reports directly to the Church. He is responsible for establishing the vision and general direction of the Church. He oversees the teaching of the Word of God and is charged to preserve the Articles of Faith of the Church. He oversees the general ministry of the Church, protects the overall welfare of the Church, and is responsible for leading the Church. The Lead Pastor oversees the work of the Professional Staff. He is to work in coordination with and seek the counsel of the Deacons and Committees in a manner consistent with the purpose of the Church. The Lead Pastor shall serve as President of the Corporation.
(b) Removal of Lead Pastor. Subject to the terms under any contract of employment with the Church the Lead Pastor shall only be removed, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership of the Church present in person at a special meeting for this purpose, duly noticed pursuant to Florida laws. The Lead Pastor shall only be removed from office, for one or more of the following reasons: (1) Falling into sinful and worldly practices without repentance, (2) Engaging in conduct that could hinder the purpose of the Church, (3) Teaching doctrines inconsistent with The Holy Bible, (4) Gross neglect of duties, (5) Resignation, (6) Death or disability.
(c) Appointment. In case of vacancy of a pastor, the executive board members shall appoint a new Pastor, and the appointment of the Pastor must be confirmed by vote of two-third of the members.
B – DEACON OR DEACONESS
The deacons or deaconess are the motor of the Church. A deacon must be above reproach, faithful to their spouse, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He or She must manage his or her own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. He or She must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
Deacons (Deacons) report directly to the Pastor(s). They are to assist the Lead Pastor in meeting the pastoral care needs of the Church. They are to strive to maintain the unity of the Church and protect the overall welfare of the Church. They are to help preserve the basic Biblical doctrines of the Church and make decisions in accordance with the purpose of the Church. Deacons are to work in coordination with and seek the counsel of the Pastors and Committees in a manner consistent with the purpose of the Church.
Selecting Deacons. The Church shall, in a regular or called business meeting, by at least a two- thirds (2/3) vote, establish (or amend) the process for the following:
(1) The qualifications for the office of Deacon provided they do not contradict scriptural qualifications as articulated in Acts 6:3, I Timothy 3:8-12 and Titus 1:6-9),
(2) The procedures for identifying potential Deacon candidates,
(3) The procedures for screening, nominating, electing, and removing Deacons,
(4) Special categories of deacons (deacon emeritus, associate deacon, etc.) and the determination of voting rights within the Deacon body,
(5) The duties, authority, and privileges pertaining to the office of Deacon not otherwise defined by these bylaws.
Returning and new Deacons shall be elected by the Church by at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote taken by secret ballot. Deacons shall be elected for a three (3) year term. A Deacon may be re-elected immediately following a completed term.
C – THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board (EB) members oversees to the administration of the church. The Pastor(s) is the President of the Executive Board. The EB members are the decision makers of the Church, they shall make decisions in accordance with the purpose of the Church in a way to foresee to the success and to the development of the Church. The manner of which that the board adopt a ruling is always by the vote of most of the members when a quorum is present. The EB members are elected by their respective department for a period not to exceed three (3) years. In the case of vacancy due to incapacity of a Board member, the board shall nominate a substitute to the head of the particular department who will also act as Board member per interim until the election of a new Department’s Head.
All correspondence from the church must be done in the church’s stationary with the church’s letterhead and logo. Any correspondence shall be signed by at least one (1) Board member and bear the seal of the church. Any disbursement of fund shall be authorized by the board members and shall be signed by at least two (2) Board members.
Characteristics of the EB member
1. The Board member must be baptized and be a member of the church for at least 1 year
2. The Board member must have great people skills, a favorable record in dealing with the public.
3. The Board member must have great management skills.
4. The Board member is elected by the members of his or her department to oversee the good
administration of the particular department’s affair, and to represent it at the Church EB.
D – MEMBERSHIP
The church is open to anyone who wishes to volunteer its services, or who seeks to get to know and build a relationship with God, if this person abides by the guideline of the Church bylaws. To become a member, a candidate can join by baptism, or affiliation. The candidate must be baptized, must attend the required membership class, and must take an oath to serve the church, and the community. The members support the church financially by paying tithes and offerings regularly, and they devote their time, skills and knowledge to the success of the Church. The members are privileged, and they have the rights to benefit from all offered services of the church. The member must attend at least fifty percent of the membership meetings for a calendar year. The member is entitled to vote at all elections, and on all questions submitted to the Church in a business meeting, provided the member is present. No proxy or absentee voting will be allowed. A member of the age of maturity, 18 years of age or older, is eligible for consideration as a candidate for committee membership and elective positions in the Church.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS
This Constitution and Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new bylaws adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present and eligible to vote; as long as a quorum of 80% of the total membership is present at the meeting. Changes in the Constitution and Bylaws may be made at any business meeting of the Church, provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous business meeting, and copies of the proposed amendment shall have been furnished to each member present at the earlier meeting, which must have been held at least two (2) weeks previously.
ARTICLE X
LEGALITY OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, with all Federal Laws, and the Constitution of the United States of America. If any Bylaw provision is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision, and the Bylaws shall be construed as if the invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had not been included in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XI
ENFORCEMENT
All are to abide by these bylaws. A violation of one of the articles of these bylaws is a violation of the entire body. If someone regardless of position violates these bylaws; he or she will be reprimanded; and additional violations could lead to the dismissal of this person. If an officer violates these bylaws, he or she will be deprived of all responsibilities and will be considered as a regular member.
ARTICLE XII
CONCLUSION
These articles constitute the bylaws of the Church. These bylaws are effective on the date that the document is signed by all pastors and Committee members. These bylaws are final, and they are not to be changed. However, there could be circumstances that an amendment to these bylaws could be done if agreed by two third of the Committee members.
OATH
By signing these bylaws, the Committee members promise to respect and abide by these bylaws and promise to oversee that all respect and abide by these bylaws. These Bylaws become effective by the date that all the Committee members signed and sealed the document.
Click to download your document