BYLAWS

1. Membership

We believe the local church is the visible representation of God’s Kingdom on earth. As such, Summit Church Petal has the authority and responsibility to affirm who represents God’s Kingdom through our church. 

1-1 Expectations

Members of Summit Church Petal commit to pursue personal holiness, worship together regularly, live in biblical fellowship with one another, use their resources to support the work of the church, and serve in the church and our community. 

1-2 Admission

A person desiring membership in Summit Church must profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, be baptized by immersion, submit to the church’s statement of faith, successfully complete the membership process, and be affirmed by a two-thirds vote of the Members present at a Members’ Meeting. The elders shall provide a list of membership candidates at least two weeks prior to the Members’ Meeting to allow current members to ask questions or provide concerns about membership candidates.   

1-3 Responsibilities

• Membership is required for anyone who serves in the church unless otherwise approved by the Elders. 

• Every member of Summit Church Petal is entitled to vote in all elections and on all questions submitted to a Members Meeting, provided the member is present or previous provision has been made for absentee balloting. 

1-4 Dismissal

Dismissal of membership shall be any one of the following event:

• Written notice from a Member requesting dismissal

• Transfer of membership to another church

• Disciplinary exclusion by a two-thirds vote of membership of Summit Church Petal following the process as summarized in section on Discipline elsewhere in these bylaws

• Death of the Member

2. Discipline

A Member of Summit Church Petal who has not followed the expectations of membership outlined in Section 1 of these bylaws will be approached according to the biblical principles outlined in passages including, but not limited to, Galatians 6:1 and Matthew 18:15-17. All proceedings should be done in the spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance. Summit Church Petal may restore membership of any person previously excluded upon evidence of his or her repentance and reformation, the recommendation of the Elders, and a ⅔ vote of the Members.

Recommendations for dismissal and restoration shall be made by the Elders. A recommendation for dismissal shall only be made to the congregation after a unanimous vote of the Elders. Recommendations for dismissal or restoration shall be given at least two weeks before a scheduled vote at a Members’ Meeting to allow time for questions and prayerful consideration.

3. Elders

We believe Scripture teaches that God has invested the authority and responsibility of church leadership to men who are called by God, qualified for church leadership, and affirmed by the local congregation they lead. Though there may be circumstances in which Summit Church Petal is led by only one elder, the goal for that elder and the congregation should be a movement toward a plurality of elders. Though we believe Scripture teaches that pastor, elder, and overseer are interchangeable terms for this role, Summit Church Petal shall refer to non-staff elders as “Elders” and staff elders as “Pastors” for clarity.

3-1 Qualifications

• An Elder shall be a church member

• An Elder must be a biological male

• An Elder must meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9

• An Elder must agree with the church’s Statement of Faith as outlined in the church’s Constitution

• An Elder must show evidence of consistent church involvement, sacrificial service, and generous contribution of resources prior to nomination.

• If an Elder will serve as a Pastor, he must meet the expectations and qualifications outlined in their job description

3-2 Responsibilities

• The Elders shall prioritize the ministry of the Word of God and prayer.

• The Elders shall be accountable for all teaching and doctrine in the church. They shall approve all teaching positions and curriculum to ensure it aligns with the church’s Statement of Faith as outlined in the church’s Constitution.

• The Elders shall be accountable for the spiritual condition of the Members. They shall seek to meet the spiritual needs of the congregation, equip the members for the work of ministry, and take the lead in correcting members as outlined in the section on Discipline found elsewhere in these bylaws.

• The Elders shall be accountable for the oversight of the church. All responsibilities not assigned to other parties in these bylaws shall be the responsibility of the Elders to perform or delegate.

3-3 Lead Pastor

The Lead Pastor of Summit Church Petal shall be an elder and shall meet all the qualifications of an elder as described in the above sections. In the exercise of pastoral plurality within the Church, the Lead Pastor shall be a first among equals - one man among the many whose gifted influence may exercise a greater leadership role than that of the others. He shall be responsible to lead the Church Staff in ministering the Word of God. He shall be an equal among his fellow elders in the exercise of authority, but shall have a distinct role in that he serves as the leader of his fellow elders.

The precise nature of the role of the Lead Pastor in the church may vary depending on the maturity of the eldership, the range of gifts on the team, the level of specialization on the team, and various other factors. Generally, the Lead Pastor of the church shall be expected to provide doctrinal leadership through a prominent teaching role, ensure the development of the eldership into a cohesive leadership team, facilitate decision-making by serving as Chairman of the Board of elders, and act as the normal spokesman for the elders. For purposes of wise leadership and compliance with the nonprofit corporation laws of Mississippi, the Lead Pastor shall serve as the president of the corporation.

In the case of the church having only one elder, that elder will, by default, serve the role of Lead Pastor. In this scenario, the Lead Pastor should begin actively working toward the training, ordination and election of other elders so that a plurality of elder leadership may be obtained.

Until a plurality of elders is obtained, the Lead Pastor shall consult the Ministry Action Team (MAT, addressed in Section 4 these bylaws) on matters that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Elders. 

3-3-1 Interim Lead Pastor

Upon death, incapacitation, resignation or dismissal of the Lead Pastor, the Elders will elect one from their number to serve as Interim Lead Pastor. If there are no other elders, the MAT will provide temporary leadership until a new Lead Pastor is called and approved by a vote of the congregation. In the absence of any elders, the MAT will be responsible for securing qualified preachers to fill the pulpit. In this scenario,the MAT will have the option to present a candidate to the church to serve as Interim Pastor until a Lead Pastor is called by the church. The vote will be held at a Members’ Meeting called for that purpose with at least 1 week notice. The Interim Pastor must receive ⅔ affirmation of members present at a Members’ Meeting to serve. 

3-3-2 Pastor Search Team

In the absence of a Lead Pastor, the Elders will act as a Pastor Search Team to secure and recommend a new Lead Pastor to the Church for approval. The Elders must be unanimous in their recommendation of a Lead Pastor. In the absence of any Elders, the MAT will assemble a Pastor Search Team who will consist of the MAT Chair and 4 additional members currently serving on the MAT selected by the congregation. Once a candidate has been selected, he will first be presented to the MAT. If the candidate receives a ¾ affirmation from the MAT, he will then be presented to the church for approval. The election will take place in a Members’ Meeting for this purpose with at least 1 week notice. The candidate must receive ¾ affirmation of members present at a Members’ Meeting to serve. 

3-4 Election

No limitations or requirements will be set in regard to the size of the elder board since this will largely depend upon the availability and aspiration of qualified men within the church in relation to the amount of members that God brings into the church.

Potential elders must both meet all of the qualifications and be recognized by the congregation as someone whose leadership should be followed. Potential elders will first be considered and prayed about by the elders. Upon significant consideration and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that man will be approached and his interest in serving such a position will be inquired of. If the man aspires to serve the local body of believers in this position, and after an interview process set by the elders, the elders must unanimously agree upon him as a potential candidate. Upon agreement of the elders, the candidate will be recommended to the MAT as a potential elder. The MAT must vote to approve the potential elder with a ¾ affirmation. Upon affirmation of the MAT, the candidate will be recommended to the church.

The church will then have a period of at least four weeks to examine the man’s life and provide any concerns to the current elders in regard to his qualification for the position. The man will deliver a corporate teaching of the Word at some point during this four week period so that a final check of his doctrinal integrity and his ability to teach may be considered. After the completion of four weeks, the congregation will vote at a Members’ Meeting whether the man should be ordained and affirmed as one of the church’s elders.

3-5 Term

No term limit or requirement can be found in Scripture for the office of Elder, but for the purpose of wise leadership and accountability, non-staff elders of Summit Church Petal will serve 3-year terms at the end of which they may choose to step down from the office or be reaffirmed by congregational vote at a Members’ Meeting. After serving two consecutive 3-year terms, non-staff elders shall take a 1-year sabbatical before reaffirmation.

3-6 Removal

An elder's term of office may be terminated by resignation or by dismissal. Any two members with reason to believe that an elder should be dismissed should express such concern to the elders. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of Matthew 18:15–17 and 1 Timothy 5:17–21. A recommendation for dismissal shall only be made to the congregation after a ¾ vote of the Elders. Recommendations for dismissal shall be given at least two weeks before a scheduled vote at a Members’ Meeting to allow time for questions and prayerful consideration.

4. Ministry Action Team (MAT/Deacons)

We believe Scripture teaches that Deacons are men and women appointed by the congregation to take responsibility for the tangible needs of the congregation. Based on the model in Acts chapter 6, this role is meant to ensure the Elders can prioritize the ministry of the Word of God and prayer without neglecting the needs of the congregation. The word deacon means “servant” or “minister.” Therefore, the Deacon team of Summit Church Petal will be referred to as the Ministry Action Team (MAT).

4-1 Qualifications

• Members of the MAT must have been church members for at least 1 year prior to nomination.

• Members of the MAT must meet the biblical qualifications represented in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-7.

• Members of the MAT must agree to defend and abide by the church’s Statement of Faith as outlined in the church’s Constitution with a clear conscience.

• Members of the MAT must show evidence of consistent church involvement, sacrificial service, and generous contribution of resources prior to nomination.

• Members of the MAT must have the availability to consistently attend meetings, participate in discussions, and meet needs as they arise.

4-2 Responsibilities

• The MAT is responsible for meeting the tangible needs of the congregation under the oversight of the Elders. The Elders may delegate responsibilities to the MAT that do not fall under the specific responsibilities outlined in Section 3-2 of these bylaws.

• The MAT shall seek to be aware of and address the tangible needs that arise in the congregation.

• The MAT shall seek to maintain unity in the church.

• The MAT shall assist the Ministry Team with the needs of the various ministries in the church.

• The MAT shall be responsible for the upkeep of the building and property.

• The MAT shall be responsible for the financial records of the church.

• The MAT shall provide oversight in the absence of elders as outlined in the section on Elders in these bylaws.

4-3 Composition

There will be no less than 9 and no more than 15 members of the MAT in any given year. The MAT shall elect a Chair to oversee MAT meetings and act as a liaison between the Elders and the MAT. The MAT shall elect a Secretary to record meeting minutes. The MAT shall elect 3 members to a standing Stewardship Team to oversee the financial records of the church. The Stewardship Team, in consultation with the Elders, will develop the annual Church Budget to be presented at a Members’ Meeting. The MAT shall form additional ad hoc teams as necessary to meet the needs of the church.

The MAT shall meet at least once each quarter. The MAT Chair may call additional meetings as needed during the course of the year. The Lead Pastor (or another elder of his designation) shall attend each MAT meeting as a non-voting member.

4-4 Election

A potential MAT Member must meet all of the qualifications and they must be recognized by the church as already being a model servant. The congregation shall have an opportunity to nominate members for the MAT at least 4 weeks prior to the last Members’ Meeting of the calendar year. The Elders will consider and pray over the nominations to determine if each nominee meets the qualifications outlined in Section 4-1 of these bylaws. All nominees who meet these qualifications will be contacted by an Elder to verify their interest and explain the expectations. Nominees who meet the qualifications and are willing to serve will be recommended to the church at least 2 weeks prior to the last Members’ Meeting of the calendar year. Church members should provide any concerns about a nominee’s fitness to serve to the Elders before the Members’ Meeting. Nominees must receive a ⅔ majority vote of the members present at the Members’ Meeting to serve. 

4-5 Term

No term limit or requirement can be found in Scripture for this office, but for the purpose of wise leadership and accountability, members of the MAT of Summit Church Petal will serve a 3-year term. A MAT member, after a term of service, must wait for a minimum of 1 year before another nomination.

4-6 Removal

A MAT Member's term of office may be terminated by resignation or by dismissal. Any two Members with reason to believe that a MAT Member should be dismissed should express such concern to the Elders. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of Matthew 18:15–17.A recommendation for dismissal shall only be made to the congregation after a ⅔ vote of the Elders. Recommendations for dismissal shall be given at least two weeks before a scheduled vote at a Members’ Meeting to allow time for questions and prayerful consideration.

5. Church Staff

5-1 Appointment

The church shall appoint such staff members (employed or volunteer) as the church shall need. Ministerial staff members will be recommended by the Elders to the MAT for affirmation. After ¾ affirmation by the MAT, the ministerial candidate may begin service. Once affirmed by the MAT, the staff member shall serve until the relationship is terminated by the staff member or by action of the Elders. If the ministerial candidate will serve as a Pastor, the candidate shall be appointed according to section 3-4.

All ministerial staff and spouses (if married) will be required to be members of Summit. All ministerial and administrative staff are required to demonstrate godly character, effective work competence, and positive team chemistry.

5-2 Oversight

All church staff, both ministerial and administrative, are accountable to the Elders.  The Elders will designate the title for each position as well as the criteria required for holding each position. 

The Stewardship Team and non-staff Elders shall constitute a Personnel Team, on an as-needed basis, that is responsible for employee policies, recommending compensation and benefits for all church staff. 

5-3 Dismissal

If a staff member fails to meet the qualifications of his or her position, the matter will be brought before the Elders. The Elders will determine a course of action, which may include an improvement plan or dismissal. If applicable, the steps outlined in the section on Discipline in these bylaws will be followed.

6. Officers

6-1 Moderator

The Lead Pastor or his designee shall serve as Moderator of Members’ Meetings. In the absence of the Lead Pastor or his designee, an Elder will preside. 

6-2 Recording Secretary

The recording secretary, who is the secretary of the MAT/Deacons, shall keep a record of all the actions and minutes of each Members’ Meeting.  

6-3 Trustees

There shall be 3 trustees with 3 year terms. They shall serve from the membership (nominated by the Elders  and elected at annual church conference) on a rotating system with one selected each year. 

The trustees shall have no power to acquire, sell, pledge, borrow, or mortgage real property without a specific vote of the church authorizing each action. It shall be the function of at least two of the trustees to affix their signatures, if so duly authorized by church vote, to legal documents involving the acquiring, selling, pledging, borrowing or mortgaging real property of the church or other legal documents where the signature of a trustee is required. All other legal documents, for daily operations, within the approved church budget or approved by the Elders or MAT, except for those involving the acquiring, selling, pledging, borrowing or mortgaging real property of the church, may be executed by a designee of the Elders or MAT.  

7. Members’ Meeting

7-1 Calling a Members’ Meeting

A Members’ Meeting may be called by the Lead Pastor or another Elder. An announcement of an upcoming Members’ Meeting shall be made no less than two consecutive  Sundays prior to the meeting, unless an extreme urgency renders such notice impractical. 

7-2 Scheduled Members’ Meetings

A quarterly Members Meeting for the purpose of fellowship of Members and church business, as necessary, shall be convened. One of these meetings (the last meeting of each calendar year) shall be for approval of the budget for the coming calendar/fiscal year, MAT selections, and Trustee selections; this shall be called between the first week of November and the first week of December. 

7-3 Voting

The following matters will be presented at a Members’ Meeting and will be approved:

By at least ⅔ vote of all church members present and voting: 

• Annual Church Budget

• Acquiring, selling, pledging, borrowing, or mortgaging the property of the church

• Any matter the Elders or MAT/Deacons agree should be brought to the church

• Amendments to the Bylaws

• Affirming and dismissing Members and MAT members

By at least ¾ vote of all church members present and voting:

• Amendments to the Constitution

• Affirming and dismissing Elders

In lieu of floor discussions, question and answer forums may be made available to the church on any of the above matters prior to a Members Meeting. 

7-4 Agenda

Agenda items for Members Meeting must be: 

• Presented for consideration to the Lead Pastor or another Elder in writing at least 7 days prior to the date of the Members Meeting and approved by the MAT.

• Motions will be brought by the Lead Pastor or his designee, an Elder, or a member of the MAT/Deacons.

7-5 Organization

The quorum consists of those church members who attend the Members’ Meeting. 

Parliamentary rules of procedure, as set out by the Roberts Rules of Order, Revised will be the authority for procedures in Members Meetings unless parliamentary rule is in conflict with this constitution and bylaws. If there is such a conflict, this constitution and bylaws will control.