Constitution
and Bylaws
Proposed Revision of Constitution
Blanco
Baptist Association
& By-Laws 10/16/1999 3901 Charco Rd - Beeville
Blanco Baptist Association
We establish this constitution to
guide the association so that it may do its work in an orderly manner.
The name of this organization shall be Blanco Baptist Association. Herein this corporation shall be referred to as the Blanco Baptist Association or BBA or Blanco Association or the association.
The churches aligned with the association are located in the Texas counties of Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, Refugio, San Patricio and portions of other counties as churches desire partnership with BBA.
1.
Provide a means for Baptist churches to
cooperatively serve together in the missionary, educational and benevolent work commanded
by our Lord.
2.
Promote fellowship among the churches.
3. The
association shall exercise no ecclesiastical power over the churches, but shall cooperate
with the churches within the guidelines of Scripture and Baptist polity.
4. The
autonomy of the local church is recognized and honored.
1. To promote
the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. To assist
churches in developing a mission statement and accomplishing their goals in serving Christ
in their communities and throughout the world.
3. To
encourage pastors and church leadership by providing resources and opportunities for
training and developing believers.
This
constitution may be amended by a three-fourths majority vote of the messengers present and
voting at two consecutive annual meetings of the Association. The proposed amendment shall be read at the first
session of each annual meeting and voted on at a later session. The amendment shall be filed in writing with the
clerk.
By-Laws
By-Laws of
the
Blanco Baptist Association
1. The
Association shall meet annually at such time and place as the body may direct. The
Executive Board shall have the power to change the time and place of the meeting or to
call extra sessions of the body whenever deemed necessary.
2. The officers of
the Association, in cooperation with the Director of Missions, shall plan the program for
the Annual Meeting.
1. Any Baptist
Church may cooperate with this Association by petition granted by a three-fourths majority
vote of the messengers present and voting when the matter is presented. The petition must
be submitted by the church to the Credentials Committee ninety days prior to the annual
meeting to allow adequate investigation.
2. The Association
shall be comprised of messengers from cooperating churches and they must be members of the
churches from which they come. The pastor of any church cooperating with the Association
may be named as a messenger.
3. Each cooperating
church shall be entitled to three messengers and an additional messenger for each forty
members or fraction thereof, above sixty members in the church, provided that no church
shall have more than eight messengers.
4. Each church
shall submit to the Association an annual report containing such facts and statistics as
may be requested. This report should be submitted to the associational office 30 days
prior to the annual meeting.
5. Each church
shall contribute financially to the work of the Association.
6. The faith and
practice of the churches of this Association shall be in basic harmony with historic
Baptist beliefs.
7. The churches of
this Association shall maintain a spirit of cooperation with the Association.
8. In full and
hearty recognition of the independence of the local church and of the fact that this
Association is the creation of the cooperating churches, this body reserves the right to
deny recognition and representation to any church. Before considering such action the
Association shall, through its Credentials Committee, make personal contact with the
pastor and other church leaders for the purpose of seeking to solve any problems with
reference to the relationship of the church to the Association. If no reconciliation can
be achieved, the committee, after notifying the church, shall report at the Annual Meeting
on conditions revealed by these investigations and shall make recommendation accordingly.
Denial of recognition and representation shall require a three-fourths majority vote of
the messengers present at the time the matter is presented.
9. A church may be
removed from associational membership by:
1) requesting removal
2) moving support to another association
3) lack of participation in activities and contribution and/or failure to return the
Annual Church Profile to the association for two consecutive years.
1. An Executive
Board shall represent the Association in the interim between its Annual Meetings, and
shall report to the Association in its Annual Meeting.
2. The Executive
Board shall be comprised of all officers of the Association, a representative of the
Blanco Baptist Men, Blanco Hispanic Fellowship, and Blanco Woman's Missionary Union (to be
selected by the organization), one lay member from each cooperating church and mission,
and pastors of cooperating churches and missions within the Association.
3. No member of the
Executive Board shall be eligible to vote in any manner touching the assistance of the
church of which he or she is a member.
4. The Executive
Board shall have the power to constitute its own internal regulation, to transact business
in a body through subcommittees it may elect, and shall make a complete report to the
Association.
5. The Executive
Board shall elect a Director of Missions and such assistants as may be necessary, shall
fix salaries, make financial arrangements and have such other powers and authority as may
be necessary to carry on the work of the Association.
6. Ten members
shall constitute a quorum.
1. The officers of
the Association shall be a Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer.
2. The Moderator shall perform the usual duties of a
presiding officer, and shall be Chairman of the Executive Board. He shall serve as a Trustee of the Association. He shall not serve more than two years in
succession.
3. The Vice-Moderator shall preside or officiate in the
absence, removal or disability of the Moderator.
He shall serve as a Trustee of the Association. He shall not serve more than two years in
succession.
4. The Clerk shall be the recording officer of the body
and shall represent the Association and its Executive Board in matters of correspondence.
5. The Treasurer shall receive and care for the funds of
the Association, and shall disburse them under the direction of the body of its Executive
Board. The Treasurer shall serve as a Trustee of the Association.
6. All officers
shall be elected annually and their term shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting.
1. The Moderator,
Vice-Moderator, and Treasurer shall serve as Trustees of the Association.
2. The Trustees
shall serve as legal representatives of the Association.
3. The Trustees
shall serve as the Insurance Committee relating to any property owned or held by the
Association.
Article
VI – Councils of the Association
2.
Chairman of the Leadership Team/ Associational Council shall be
the Director of Missions.
3.
The Leadership Team/ Associational Council shall elect its
Secretary.
4.
The Council shall be charged with the following
responsibilities:
(1)
To
formulate and recommend associational goals and objectives.
(2)
To
develop and recommend plans for reaching the goals.
(3)
To
propose a calendar of associational activities.
(4)
To
review and coordinate the work of the associational organizations and committees and to
provide adequate communication among the leaders of the work, but not to violate the
direct reporting relationship of the various organizations and committees to the
Association.
(5)
To
evaluate program achievements and report the findings to the Association.
The Mission Development Council of
Blanco Association shall consist of a Director, a Survey Director, and representatives
from the missions-oriented programs within the association. The Director of Missions will
serve as an ex-officio member. The MDC
Director shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee of the Association and elected by
the Executive Board of the Association. Other members will be enlisted as representatives
of particular ministry groups. The MDC Director shall serve on the Associational Council/
Leadership Team.
1.
Work with the churches in surveying and
securing locations for new work and assist the church in securing resources needed for
this ministry.
2.
Review requests for pastor supplements and
make recommendations for such requests to the source of financial assistance being
considered.
3.
Promote mission work throughout the
association.
4.
Keep an updated map of area and location of
possible mission points.
5.
Plan and promote the annual events of the
association, emphasizing missions (Missions Banquet, etc.) and special projects relating
to organizations within the association.
6.
Assist in the securing of churches to
participate in “World Mission Conferences” within the association and promote
statewide and national emphasis.
7.
Work closely with the Director of Missions and
report to the Executive Board.
8.
Give prayer support to the mission activities
of the association.
The
association shall form such committees, boards and programs as necessary to carry out the
purpose and work of the association.
1. The committees of the Association are: 1) Resolutions
Committee; 2) Time, Place and Preacher Committee; 3) Nominating Committee; 4) Credentials
Committee; 5) Budget and Finance Committee; 6) Baptist Student Ministry Committee; 7)
Youth Committee; and 8) Properties Committee.
2. Special Committees may be elected by the
Association or its Executive Board or appointed by the Moderator to serve specified
periods of time to perform specific duties that cannot be performed by existing
committees.
3. Program Directors:
The Program Directors of
the Association shall be elected annually upon nomination by the Nominating Committee.
4. Resolutions Committee:
(1)
The Moderator shall appoint the Resolutions Committee.
(2)
The Committee shall receive all resolutions presented from the floor and shall report to
the Association such resolutions as it deems proper, whether submitted to or prepared by
the committee.
5. Time, Place and Preacher Committee:
(1) The Moderator
shall appoint the committee.
(2) The committee
shall recommend the meeting place, date, and Annual Sermon preacher for the next Annual
Meeting.
6. Nominating Committee:
(1) The Moderator
shall appoint the Nominating Committee at the first regular Executive Board Meeting of the
Associational Year. The Committee shall
function until the appointment of a new committee.
(2) The committee
shall nominate officers to fill vacancies as they occur during the year.
(3) The committee
shall present to the Executive Board nominations as needed.
The committee shall complete its annual nomination report by September.
(4) The nominations by
the committee are subject to final approval at the Annual Meeting. After the report of this committee has been made,
nominations may be from the floor for any or all officers and committee members.
(5) The committee
shall present recommendations for Zephyr Baptist Encampment Trustees and members of
standing committees.
(6) The committee
shall recommend a chairman for each standing committee.
(7)
A member of the Nominating Committee may serve one year and is not eligible for
reappointment until one year has elapsed.
7. Credentials Committee:
(1) The Credentials
Committee shall be a standing committee with its members being nominated by the Nominating
Committee. The committee shall have three
members, one of whom shall be elected each year to serve for a three-year term and is not
eligible for re-appointment until one year has elapsed.
(2) Members of the
committee shall acquaint themselves with the facts concerning petitioning churches and be
prepared to present the petitionary letters to the Association.
(3) The committee, at
the request of the Association or its Executive Board, shall seek to solve any problems
with reference to the relationship of the churches with the Association, as explained in
Article II, Section 8 relating to membership,
and report to the body.
8. Budget and Finance Committee:
(1) The Budget and
Finance Committee shall be a standing committee with its members being nominated by the
Nominating Committee. The committee shall
have six members, two of whom shall be elected each year to serve for three-year terms. In addition to these six members, the Director of
Missions, the Moderator and the Treasurer shall serve as ex-officio members of the
committee. A member shall serve one
three-year term and is not eligible for re-election until one year has elapsed.
(2) The committee
shall present a proposed annual budget to the Executive Board for approval the month
preceding the Annual Meeting and to the Annual Meeting of the Association for final
approval.
(3) The committee
shall serve as a budget-control committee and if necessary shall make recommendations to
the Executive Board concerning amendments to the budget.
(4) The committee
shall promote Association Missions giving among the churches.
9. Baptist Student Ministry Committee:
(1) The Baptist
Student Ministry Committee shall be a standing committee with its members being nominated
by the Nominating Committee. The committee
shall have six members, two of whom shall be elected each year to serve for a three-year
term. A member may serve one three-year term
and is not eligible for re-election until one year has elapsed. Of the six members, at least three shall be
residents of the Beeville area.
(2) The committee
shall have a regular schedule of meetings.
(3) The committee
shall serve in an advisory capacity with the director to develop the program.
(4) The committee
shall consider student director personnel as recommended by the Division of Student
Ministry, and shall make recommendations to the Executive Board.
(5) The committee
shall submit annual budget proposals to the Association Budget and Finance Committee.
(6) The committee
shall report to the Executive Board on activities and expenditure of funds.
(1) The Youth
Committee shall be a standing committee with its members being nominated by the Nominating
Committee. There shall be five members: Youth Committee Chairman, two members at large,
Youth Camp Director, and a representative of the Blanco Hispanic Fellowship.
(2) The committee
members shall assist the Youth Committee Chairman in coordinating association youth
activities and programs.
11.
Properties Committee:
(1)
The Properties Committee shall be a standing committee.
(2)
The members shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee.
The committee shall have three elected members, one of who shall be
elected each year to serve for a three-year term and two ex-officio members: The Director
of Missions and the BSM Director.
(3) The members of the committee shall be selected from individuals living in close proximity to the Associational property.
(4)
The committee shall be responsible for:
a.
Regular maintenance of all property, including cleaning and repair of buildings, and care
of the grounds.
b.
Recommendations for improvements to property.
c.
Recommendations of annual budget needs to the Budget and Finance Committee.
d.
Periodic survey of all property in order to provide preventative maintenance.
(5)
Any expenditure other than regular maintenance must be approved by the Executive Board of
the Association. Emergency funds for major
repairs may be approved by a majority of the trustees of the Association.
(6)
The committee shall submit an annual written report to the Association.
1. The Blanco
Baptist Association shall have six representatives on the Zephyr Baptist Encampment Board
of Trustees, two of whom shall be elected each year to serve three-year terms. A member may serve two three-year
terms and is not eligible for re-election until one year has elapsed.
1. Robert’s
Rules of Order, the latest, revised edition shall govern the body.
Web page last updated Thursday, December 21, 2006
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