King Hill Christian Church
CONSTITUTION
Preamble
We, the members of King Hill Christian Church, a congregationally governed and incorporated body,
in order to promote the work of the church in the Name of Jesus Christ and to advance his Kingdom,
do hereby adopt this constitution on August 31, 2014
Article I: NAME and MISSION
I.
NAME
The name of this organization, a congregationally governed and incorporated body, shall be
King Hill Christian Church of St. Joseph, Missouri.
II.
MISSION
The mission of the King Hill Christian Church is to love our God, make disciples of Jesus Christ,
and live by faith.
Article II: MEMBERSHIP
I.
MEMBERSHIP IN KING HILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
A. Those who are current members
B. Those who join by a profession of faith and baptism (normatively by immersion) and affirm
King Hill Christian Church’s Mission Statement.
C. Those who join by transfer of membership from another like-minded church by statement or by
letter and affirm King Hill Christian Church’s Mission Statement.
II.
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP IN KING HILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
A. Death
B. Receipt by the church of a notice of transfer of membership to another church congregation.
C. Receipt by the church of a written notice from the member requesting termination of
membership.
D. Action to terminate membership by a majority of the Elders of King Hill Christian Church.
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Article III: KING HILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH OFFICERS
I.
II.
OFFICERS
A. Officers of the church include: Elders, Deacons and Deaconesses, Junior Deacons and Junior
Deaconesses, and Trustees.
B. Election of Officers: Officers of the church shall be elected by the church membership at an annual
business meeting for a term as designated in this constitution, or until such time as a successor can be
appointed and elected and assume the office.
C. Elders: Elders shall meet the biblical qualifications for such office as understood by the Nominating
Committee when appointed. Elders shall be elected to serve for a term of three (3) years, one-third
(1/3) of whom shall elected each year. Elders must be able, willing, and committed to fulfilling the
responsibilities of the office.
D. Deacons and Deaconesses: Deacons and Deaconesses shall meet the biblical qualifications for such
office as understood by the Nominating Committee when appointed. Deacons and Deaconesses shall
be elected each year to serve for a term of one (3) years, one-third (1/3) of whom shall be elected
each year. Deacons and Deaconesses must be able, willing, and committed to fulfilling the
responsibilities of the office.
E. Trustees: Trustees are not to exceed three (3) in number. Trustees shall be elected to serve for a
term of six (6) years, one-third (1/3) of the trustees shall be elected every two years. Trustees must
be able, willing, and committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of the office.
F. Honorary Officers: Honorary Officers are members of the church who because of infirmities or
advanced age and whose service and dedication to the church merit the honor, will be known
respectfully as Elder/Deacon/Deaconess Emeritus; the acknowledgment awarded by the Elders and
members of the General Board. Emeritus officers are considered retired from active responsibility as
Elders/Deacons/Deaconesses, are not voting members and will not affect quorum of groups within
the church, and will hold their title until their death, resignation, or their removal from the church
membership.
ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICERS
A. A Nominating Committee composed of five (5) active members of the church shall be appointed by
the Chairman of the Elders, approved of by the Elders, and announced to the congregation.
B. The Nominating Committee shall function under the guidelines set forth in the church By-Laws and
report its nominations for approval to the Elders. After approval, the nominations shall be presented
to the church congregation at the annual business meeting. No nominations may be made from the
floor of that meeting.
C. Election of officers requires of a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the church membership present at the
annual business meeting.
D. Vacancies in any church office may be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a
nomination by the Chairman of the Elders, approval by the Elders, and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
church congregation at a special business meeting for such a purpose.
E. Termination of officers may occur in the following cases:
i. Death
ii. A termination of church membership in the King Hill Christian Church, or a transfer of
membership from King Hill Christian Church
iii. A written request by the officer to be removed from the office
iv. An action to terminate by a majority of the Elders of King Hill Christian Church in
accordance with the instructions in Matthew 18 and 1 Timothy 5:20.
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III.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
A. Responsibilities of the ELDERS:
i. Cooperate with the Pastor and all ministry teams
ii. Promote the growth and welfare of the church membership
iii. Give spiritual oversight and instruction to members
iv. Encourage regular attendance and participation in church services
v. Pray for and visit the sick or ailing
vi. Demonstrate concern for the morally delinquent and spiritually indifferent
vii. Adhere to policies of the church so as to enable the church to fulfill its mission
viii. Encourage by example and word the missionary, evangelistic, education, and stewardship
responsibilities of the church
ix. Teach by example and word the meaning and responsibility of following the Lord’s example
in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper/Communion
x. Attend Elder meetings and General Board meetings
xi. Participate in church activities
xii. Give the Pastor accountability and prepare an annual written review of the Pastor’s job
performance during the month of March
xiii. Review General Board members on a periodic basis to assure that they are fulfilling their
respective duties. In the event that the Elders find any member of the General Board not
fulfilling their respective duties, it will be the Elders’ responsibility to meet with the member
to discover and, when possible, resolve any problems preventing the member from fulfilling
their duties. If it becomes necessary to recommend the termination of a Board member, the
Elders will make that recommendation to the General Board.
B. Responsibilities of the TRUSTEES:
i. Act as legal agents of the church in all business matters, under the direction of the General
Board and subject to the approval of the church membership
ii. Hold legal title to all property and handle all business transactions relating thereto
iii. Have supervision over all endowment and trust funds, and scholarship monies, subject to
approval by the General Board
- Receive applications for Scholarship Fund monies
- Review the progress of scholarship recipients
- Recognize donors to the Scholarship Fund
iv. Perform duties as required by and in accordance with the laws of the United States and State
of Missouri
v. Attend General Board meetings
C. Responsibilities of the DEACONS and DEACONESSES:
i. Cooperate with the Pastor and all ministry teams
ii. Cooperate with the Elders in promoting the growth and welfare of the church
iii. Assist in greeting and ushering for church services
iv. Prepare, distribute, and clean up elements of the Lord’s Supper/Communion as assigned
v. Prepare and take up the offering as assigned
vi. Assist in visitation projects
vii. Assist in the preparation of candidates for baptism (Deacons for male candidates,
Deaconesses for female candidates)
viii. Give counsel and service to business affairs and program activities of the church
ix. Minster to people in need
x. Minister to families in times of sickness and bereavement by supplying needs of family
members
xi. Train new/younger deacons and deaconesses in their duties as they grow into their spiritual
and physical roles in the church (Junior Deacons and Deaconesses in training will not hold
positions on the General Board)
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IV.
xii. Attend General Board meetings
xiii. Participate in church activities
xiv. Perform other duties as assigned by the Elders
D. Responsibilities of JUNIOR DEACONS and JUNIOR DEACONESSES
i. Assist in greeting and ushering for church services
ii. Prepare, distribute, and clean up elements of the Lord’s Supper/Communion as assigned
iii. Assist in the preparation of younger candidates for baptism (Jr. Deacons for male candidates,
Jr. Deaconesses for female candidates)
iv. Learn the duties of DEACON and DEACONESS in order to grow into the spiritual and
physical roles of DEACON and DEACONESS within the church
v. Perform other duties as assigned by the Elders
The GENERAL BOARD
A. The General Board membership shall consist of:
i. The elected officers of the church: Elders, Trustees, Deacons, and Deaconesses
ii. The Chairpersons of all Area Ministries of the church
iii. The Pastor as an ex-officio1 member
iv. Elected officers of the General Board, including:
1. Board Chairman
2. Vice-Chairman
3. Secretary (and Assistant Secretary)
4. Church Clerk (and Assistant Church Clerk)
5. Financial Recording Secretary (and Assistant Financial Recording Secretary)
6. Treasurer (and Assistant Treasurer)
7. Church Historian
B. Responsibilities of the Board and its membership are found in the King Hill Christian Church
By-Laws
Article IV: PASTOR
I. Selection of Pastor
A. A representative committee of five (5) church members, composed of three (3) members of the
General Board and two (2) members of the congregation who are not members of the Board,
nominated by the Elders and approved by the General Board, shall serve as the Pastoral Search
Committee and be responsible for recommending a prospective Pastor to the Elders and General
Board and helping a new minister become acquainted with the church’s members and his duties.
The Pastoral Search Committee’s term shall continue for one (1) year after the Pastor begins his
service.
B. The Elders and General Board shall consider the recommendation of the Pastoral Search Committee
and, if approved, recommend the prospective Pastor to the church. The church shall consider only
one prospective Pastor at a time.
C. The recommendation of the Elders and General Board must be accepted by at least two-thirds vote
of the congregation who are considered active members with voting privileges present, voting in a
regular or special business meeting of the church before an offer (call) is extended.
D. The term of the Pastor shall be for an indefinite period and may be terminated by either party upon
sixty (60) days notice. A written contract setting forth the salary to be paid and other considerations
of the call shall be made in duplicate, one copy for the Pastor and one copy for the church.
E. The acceptance of an offer (call) to the office of Pastor requires membership immediately be made in
the King Hill Christian Church.
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An ex-officio member is a member by virtue of an office held, rather than by election. An ex-officio member has the same rights and privileges as
every other member, including the right to vote. An ex-officio member, however, is not counted in determining the number required for a quorum.
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II. Duties of Pastor
A. The Pastor of the church shall perform the duties which usually pertain to that office:
i. Prayer (Acts 6:4, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, James 5:14-16)
ii. Preaching-Teaching (Acts 6:2-4, Ephesians 4:11-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Timothy
4:13, 5:17, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Titus 2:1-10)
iii. Be an Example in Word and Deed (1 Timothy 3:2-7, 4:7, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Titus 1:8-9, 1
John 3:18)
iv. Watch-Care/Shepherding (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2)
v. Discipling/Counseling (2 Timothy 2:1-2, 3:16)
vi. Evangelism (2 Timothy 4:5)
B. The Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of all organized groups, auxiliaries, committees, and
ministry teams. The Pastor shall also be an ex-officio member of the General Board.
C. The Pastor shall serve as supervisor to the church staff, regardless of number or position.
D. The Pastor shall not serve as an elected officer of the General Board of the church.
E. The Pastor shall be considered an Elder, and is accountable and responsible to the Elders and the
congregation of the church for fulfilling his duties.
Article V: CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
I.
Regular Meetings
A. Regular meetings of the congregation shall take place each Sunday morning, in accordance with
the day Jesus rose from the dead (Mark 16:2-9) and the tradition of the church (Acts 20:7,
Revelation 1:10).
B. An annual business meeting of the church shall be held at the conclusion of the Sunday morning
service, following the June board meeting. A one-week-minimum notification to the
congregation must be given before such meeting. All members are encouraged to participate and
only active members of the church may vote.
II. Special Meetings
A. Special meetings of the church membership may be called by the Board Chairman/Vice
Chairman on behalf of the General Board, the Elders, or a written petition of five (5) or more
members of the church. A one-week minimum notification to the congregation must be given
before such meeting.
B. Board Chairman, Board Vice-Chairman, the Elders, or by a written petition of five (5) or more
members of the church. A one-week-minimum notification to the congregation must be given
before such meeting.
C. Voting privileges shall be accorded all members of the church who have shown active interest
through a recent continuity of attendance, service, and giving (in the prior year).
III. All business meetings of the church and the General Board shall be governed by
Robert’s Rules of Order.
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Article VI: AMENDMENTS and MODIFICATIONS
I. Amendments: This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the General Board
present and voting in a regular or special business meeting provided that the proposed amendment has
been submitted in writing to the General Board at least one month prior to the vote thereon, and a twothirds (2/3) vote by the church membership present at a regular or special church business meeting
provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the church membership at least
one week prior to the vote thereon.
II. Effective Date: Unless otherwise specified, all Amendments and Constitutional revisions become
effective upon adoption and shall replace all prior versions of the Constitution.
III. Future Updates: A Constitution and By-Laws Committee that consists of the Pastor, the Board
Chairman, at least one (1) other Elder, and at least one (1) other active member of the church
congregation whom shall be appointed by the Board Chairman, shall scrutinize and, if necessary, update
this Constitution every three (3) years, or more often if deemed necessary.
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