Constitution & Bylaws

We declare and establish this constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith, and to govern the body in an orderly manner. This constitution shall preserve the liberties of each individual church member and the freedom of action of this body in its relation to other churches.
 
We confirm our belief in and adopt as our Statement of Faith, The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. We also believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. Further, we believe the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2:18-25).

The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Calvary Baptist Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Pastor, in consultation with our Deacon Elder Ministry Team, is Calvary's final interpretive authority on the Bible's application.

This body shall be known as the Calvary Baptist Church of Brenham, Texas. The address of the principal office of this Church shall be 1100 Niebuhr St., Brenham, Texas. This Church is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Brazos Valley Baptist Network, and either or both of the Texas State Conventions (the Baptist General Convention of Texas and/or the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention) 

Any action to dissolve Calvary Baptist Church must be approved by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting at business meeting called for that purpose. Should said action be taken, the Church’s assets shall be distributed to Brazos Valley Baptist Network, provided it qualifies at such time for exemption as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In the event that Brazos Valley Baptist Network does not qualify or is no longer in existence, the assets of Calvary Baptist Church shall be distributed to another church or religious organization whose faith aligns with Calvary Baptist Church’s Statement of Faith. 

Any person shall qualify for membership who

• has had a personal experience of faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior,
• has made a such confession public,
• agrees to the Faith Statements of Calvary Baptist Church,
• and lives a life consistent therewith.

Persons shall be accepted to membership in the Church, upon majority vote of the congregation present, in the following manner:

• Upon profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and followed by baptism by immersion.
• Upon receipt of the usual letter of transfer from another Church of like faith and order.
• By personal statement as to the former membership in a Church of like faith and order and baptism by immersion.
• Upon such other conditions as the Church may deem proper. 

May be 

• By death of the member
• By letter of transfer to another Church of like faith and order
• By withdrawal of fellowship for any cause the Church may deem proper
• By written request of the member
• By satisfactorily establishing and confirming that the member has joined another Church of whatever denomination or faith

Except in case of death, all terminations of membership shall be by a majority vote of the Church assembled at a regular or specially called business meeting. 

Every active member of the Church is entitled to vote at all elections and on all questions submitted to the Church in conference, provided the member is present. 

It shall be the basic purpose of the Calvary Baptist Church to emphasize to its members that every reasonable measure shall be taken to assist any troubled member. The pastor, other members of the Church staff, and Deacons and Elders are available for counsel and guidance. Restoration rather than punishment should be the guideline which governs the attitude of one member toward another, in accordance with the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 18:15-17. 

The Pastor shall lead the Church as an effective witness for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and provide spiritual guidance for members of the Church and for the community. He shall be responsible for filling the pulpit of the Church: shall foster and promote a program of visitation of the sick, shut-ins, lost, and unchurched; shall take the lead in administering the ordinances; shall conduct funerals and comfort the bereaved; and shall designate the duties of other staff members which are not otherwise stipulated herein. The Pastor shall be an ex-officio member of each standing committee of the Church. his is where the description goes.

When the pulpit is vacant, the Church shall be called into a business meeting by the Moderator, who shall be appointed by the Deacon Elder Ministry Team, which shall appoint two of its members to serve on a Pulpit Committee. The Moderator shall call for nominations of at least 5 additional members. In order of the number of votes received by each nominee by secret ballot, 3 shall serve as active members of the Pulpit Committee, and 2 shall serve as alternates. The Pulpit Committee shall elect its own Chair, then prayerfully seek a suitable candidate for Pastor, seeking resumes and recommendations as they see fit. When the Pulpit Committee is ready to make its recommendation of a prospective pastor, the Church shall be notified at a Sunday Worship Service that on the following Sunday Morning the Pulpit Committee shall recommend to the Church that a selected candidate be called as Pastor of the Church. On the designated Sunday, at the close of the Morning Worship Service, the recommendation of the Pulpit Committee shall be presented, together with the reasons for its recommendation, making a motion that the candidate be called as Pastor. After full discussion, a vote shall be taken by secret ballot. If the members of the Church present and voting shall cast three-fourths of their votes in favor of calling the recommended candidate, a call to the candidate shall be extended by the Church, otherwise, the Pulpit Committee shall continue their search. If the person called by the Church declines the call, the Pulpit Committee shall repeat the process until a Pastor has been called by the Church. The Church shall allow the called person three weeks to accept or decline the extended call. Any candidate contacted by the Pulpit Committee shall be apprised of the Church’s decision. 

The Pastor shall serve at the pleasure of the Church, with the privilege of resigning at any time. 

It is essential that Associate Pastors of Calvary are evangelical in theology and operate in harmony with Scripture and the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. The theology of ministry shall be compatible with that of the Senior Pastor and church leadership. 

Shall be a committed Christian who has undergone believer’s baptism. Shall be of good character: a passion for God with integrity in the world, and grace toward all people (1 Timothy 3:7; Titus 2:11-12). Must have a commitment to lead by example and serve others. Membership: The candidate shall be a member in good standing at their present church, and willing to transfer their membership to Calvary Baptist of Brenham. 

The office of Deacon was established in the New Testament by the Apostles for the purpose of assisting the pastor in meeting the needs of the church in Acts 6:1-7. 

The role of Elder has existed throughout the Bible as far back as Genesis 50:7 and is emphasized as a role for teaching and leading in the New Testament Church in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. 

The Deacon Elder Ministry Team shall consist of duly elected and ordained members of Calvary Baptist Church, along with men who are selected as candidates for Deacon or Elder. 

The Deacon Elder Ministry Team may be composed of active and inactive deacons and elders. Their active term of office shall terminate if a deacon or elder transfers to another church, dies, resigns, fails to remain scripturally qualified, or for any other reason ceases to serve. 

The Deacon Elder Ministry Team shall elect a Deacon Chairman and Lead Elder, and other officers as they deem necessary. 

In 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9 Paul listed qualities he wanted Timothy and Titus to look for in men they were to call as local church leaders. Qualifications for elders are in both epistles, and qualifications for deacons are listed in 1 Timothy. 

As needed, the pastor, in cooperation with the Deacon Elder Ministry Team, shall request signed confidential nominations for Deacon or Elder candidates who have been members of Calvary for at least six months. The pastor and members of the Deacon Elder Ministry Team shall review each nominee. Nominees who have been tested and approved shall be submitted to the fellowship for approval by at least a three-fourths vote of those present and voting. Ordination of those men not previously ordained will be planned by the Pastor and Deacon Elder Ministry Team. 

The Church-elected Clerk shall keep in a suitable book a record of all the actions of the Church, except as otherwise herein provided. The Clerk is responsible for keeping a register of the names of members, with dates of admission, dismissal, or death, together with a record of baptisms. The Clerk shall issue letters of dismissal voted by the Church, preserve on file all communications and written official reports, and give legal notice of all meetings where such notice is necessary. All Church records are Church property. 

The Church shall elect a Church Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to pay out all money, or things of value paid or given to the Church, keeping at all times an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to render to the Church at each regular Church Business meeting an itemized report of the receipts and disbursements for the preceding month. The Treasurer’s report may be audited by request of the Church. 

All Church Committee members shall be recommended by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Church. The committee members shall be elected each year to correspond with the Associational year (October 1 - September 30). The Church can add additional committees as needed to do the work of the Church. 

All organizations of the Church shall be under Church control, all officers being elected by the Church and reporting regularly to the Church. 

There shall be a Sunday School conducted under the direction of the Sunday School Director for the study of God’s Word. The tasks of the Sunday School shall be to teach the biblical revelation; reach persons for Christ and Church membership; perform the functions of the Church within its constituency; provide and interpret information regarding the work of the Church. All Sunday School Teachers shall be members of Calvary Baptist Church. 

There shall be a Women’s Ministry with such officers and organization as they deem necessary. The tasks of the Women’s Ministry shall include coordinating our Missions Programs, recommending goals for our various Mission Offerings in coordination with our Missions Committee, and to providing ministry, fellowship and support for the Women and Girls of our Church. 

There shall be a Men’s Ministry with such officers and organization as they deem necessary. The tasks of the Men’s Ministry shall include coordinating our Mission Projects such as our Car Clinic, and to provide ministry, fellowship and support for the Men and Boys of our Church. 

There shall be a Church Music Program under the direction of the Music Director and the Church Music Committee. 

A person who receives Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who professes Him publicly at any worship service, and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord, shall be received for baptism.
Baptism shall be by immersion in water.
Baptism shall be administered by the Pastor or whoever the Church shall authorize.
The Baptismal Committee shall assist in the preparation for, and observance of, baptism.
Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service. 

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the Church, through partaking of the bread and fruit of the vine, commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and anticipate His Second Coming. The Lord’s Supper shall be observed at least quarterly in the morning or evening worship service. The Pastor and Deacons shall be responsible for the administration of the Lord’s Supper. 

The Church shall meet for worship regularly at times determined by the church body. These meetings shall be open to the entire membership of the Church and for all people and shall be conducted under the direction of the Pastor. 

Revival Services and other Church meetings which are essential in the promotion of the objectives of the Church, shall be placed on the Church calendar. 

Revival Services and other Church meetings which are essential in the promotion of the objectives of the Church, shall be placed on the Church calendar. 

A specially called business meeting may be held to consider special matters of significant nature. A oneweek notice of the subject, date, time, and location must be given for the specially called business meetings unless extreme urgency renders such notice impracticable. The quorum consists of those members present who attend the business meeting, provided it is a stated meeting or one that has been properly called, with no less than 10 members present. 

Robert’s Rules of Order Revised is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for all business meetings of the Church. 

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 in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by the church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and conduct themselves accordingly. Further, the Church building and facilities shall not be used by persons or groups not in accord with this Statement on Marriage. 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 all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Ps. 139.) 

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female. These two distinct, complementary sexes together reflect the image and nature of God (Gen. 1:26-27). Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person. 

Changes in this Constitution and By-Laws may be made at any regular Business Meeting of the Church, provided each amendment has been presented in writing at a previous Business Meeting, and copies of the proposed amendment furnished to each member present. Amendments to the Constitution shall be by two thirds vote of all members of the Church present and entitled to vote. Amendments to the By-Laws shall be by a twothirds vote of the Church members present and voting, with no less than 2 deacons or elders and 10 total members