Constitution

Preamble

 We declare and establish this constitution to preserve and protect the principles of our faith, and to govern the body in an orderly manner.  This constitution will preserve the liberties of each individual member in his relationship to God and the freedom of action of this body in its relationship to other churches.

Article I: Name

This body will be known as Gulf Beach Baptist Church of Panama City Beach, Florida.

Article II: Objectives

To be a dynamic autonomous body anchored in the promises of God, secured in our faith in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ our Lord and Savior with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world;

To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing his persons, and responding in obedience to leadership;

To experience an increasingly meaningful fellowship with God and fellow Believers;  To help people experience a growing knowledge of God, man and the relationship with God and man;

To be a church that is sensitive to needs and ministers unselfishly with grace and generosity to the church members and to persons in the community and the world in Jesus' name;

To be a church whose purpose is Christ like in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment of life, personality, time, talents, and possessions to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Article III: Statement of Faith

The Holy Bible is the inspired infallible word of God and the basis for any statement of faith.  The church subscribes to the doctrinal statement of the “Baptist Faith and Message” as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention1963 (Appendix II).  We band ourselves together as a body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ personally committed to sharing the good news of salvation to a lost mankind.  The ordinances of the church are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Article IV: Relationships

The governance of Gulf Beach Baptist Church is vested in the body of believers who compose it.  It is subject to control of no other ecclesiastical body, but recognizes and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation which are among Baptist Churches.  Insofar as it is practical, the church will cooperate with and support the association and state convention affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.

Article V: Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and by the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel throughout all nations.  We also pledge to maintain family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; 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, and exemplary in our conduct; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to use our influence to combat the abuse of drugs, the spread of pornography and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.  We further engage to 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 direction of our Savior to secure it without delay.  And, when we move from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry on the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's word.

By-Laws

Section One:               Membership

Any person is qualified for membership in Gulf Beach Baptist Church upon their profession of faith in Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior, their subsequent statement of desire to be identified with the church, and upon completion of a new member's class which outlines the purpose, philosophy, and ministry of the Church.  The members of the Church will be composed of persons who have given evidence of regeneration, who have been baptized by immersion, and who have been received by vote of the church.  Membership is removed upon request of the member by a church of like faith, by death, or by means set forth in Scripture, specifically, Matthew 18.  The Senior Pastor and Deacons will administer matters of church discipline.

Section Two:               Church Governance

The Church will be directed by the Holy Spirit and Scripture through a series of Ministry Teams and led by the Senior Pastor.    The purpose of the Ministry teams is to assist, counsel, and advise the Pastor and Ministers on all matters that affect the mission of the church.  A coordinator for each Ministry Team will be chosen annually by the Senior Pastor and approved by the church. The coordinator will chair each Ministry Team meeting. The church may establish special and select teams to assist the ministry teams as it is deemed necessary.  No person or their spouse may serve on the Personnel Ministry Team and the Stewardship Ministry team at the same time.  Each Ministry Team will establish its own set of Policies and Procedures to govern its operation.  The Policies and Procedures will be submitted in writing to the Senior Pastor for approval and kept in the Church's Policy and Procedures Manual.  Minutes of each meeting of the Ministry Teams will be kept for three years by the Senior Pastor or his designee.

Section Three:             Church Staff

Gulf Beach Baptist Church will call or employ such staff members as the church deems necessary.

Hiring Procedures:  A position description will be developed in writing when a need for a staff member has been determined.  The position description of Ministers must then be approved by the Senior Pastor and the Personnel Ministry team and funds must be budgeted by the Stewardship Ministry team with approval by the Church.  Support staff positions must be approved by the Senior Pastor and be budgeted by the Stewardship Ministry Team.

Supervision of staff:  Support staff will be hired, supervised, appraised, evaluated, and terminated at the discretion of the Senior Pastor or his designee.  Ministers, with the exception of the Senior Pastor, will be supervised, receive annual reviews and possible recommendation of termination by the Senior Pastor or his designee.  Request for termination will then be made to the Personnel Ministry Team, which upon agreement will recommend dismissal to the Church body.  Termination of a Pastor or Minister must have a two thirds vote of the church members that are present at a specially called Ministry Meeting.

The Senior Pastor is called by the membership to serve the Church.  The Senior Pastor is accountable to a Special team within the Administrative Ministry Team.  The team is to be comprised of the Deacon coordinator, The Stewardship Ministry team coordinator and the coordinator of the Personnel Ministry Team.

If the Senior Pastor should be incapacitated, The Administrative Ministry Team will designate a person(s) to fulfill the duties of the Senior Pastor until and interim Pastor is chosen, upon the vacancy of a Senior Pastor.  The Special team of the Administrative Ministry Team will nominate at least five (5) but no more than ten (10) members of the church to serve as a Senior Pastor Search Team.  The nominees will be presented to and elected by the church.

Section Four:            Duties and responsibilities of the Ministry Teams

Administrative Ministry Team

The Administrative Ministry Team will consist of the Senior Pastor, Ministers, the coordinators of each of the Ministry Teams, Coordinator of the Deacon Ministry Team, and others as deemed necessary by the Administrative Ministry Team..  New members may be chosen by a majority of the existing team members.  Names of prospective new team members are then to be brought to the Senior Pastor for approval.  The Administrative Ministry Team will be responsible for the coordination of the Ministry Teams and the operation of the Church activities.  All matters to go before the Church body will flow from this organization.

Personnel Ministry Team

The Personnel Ministry Team will consist of a minimum of five (5) members and a maximum of nine (9) members.  Members will have been members of Gulf Beach Baptist Church for at least one year and will be appointed to serve for a period of three consecutive years.

The Personnel Ministry Team will have the responsibility to recommend calling Ministers and enlisting new Support staff.  The Personnel Ministry Team will be responsible for the termination process of those Ministers so recommended by the Senior Pastor, and in presenting a no-confidence vote relating to a Minister or the Senior Pastor.  The Personnel Ministry Team is to respond to the merit raises recommended by the Senior Pastor.  The Personnel Ministry Team is also responsible for submitting a salary package on all employees of the Church.

Stewardship Ministry Team

The Stewardship Ministry Team will consist of a minimum of five (5) members and a maximum of nine (9) members.  Members will have been members of Gulf Beach Baptist Church for at least one year, and will serve three (3) consecutive, one year terms.

The Stewardship Ministry Team will review and give accountability of all monies received and expenses incurred by the church and its officers. The Stewardship Ministry Team will also plan, prepare, and propose to the Church, the annual ministry budget for its approval.  The Stewardship Ministry Team is also responsible for stewardship education.

Deacon Ministry Team

The Deacons will assist the Pastors in performing the caring ministries of the church.  Deacon's may be elected annually by the church for a term of three years and are eligible for reelection. In electing Deacons the church will be guided by 1Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-7.

The Pastors and Deacons will nominate candidates for Deacon whom they believe manifest the spiritual and personal qualities as described in the above listed scriptures.  A list of these nominees will be submitted to the church.  Church members may submit names of additional individuals whom they feel meet the same qualifications, to the Pastors and deacons.  Upon approval, these names will be added to the list of nominees.  Each nominee will be notified of the nomination, and given a list of the duties and responsibilities of service as a deacon.  The names of those accepting will be developed into a ballot, which will be submitted to the Church for a vote.  The Pastors, the coordinator of the Deacons and other selected Deacons will individually interview each candidate, reviewing with each of them the scriptural qualifications, duties and responsibilities of a deacon.  The Deacon candidate interviewed will then be given a reasonable amount of time to give their acceptance or refusal. The process will be followed in sequence until the positions of service are filled.

Those selected who have not been ordained will be ordained in a special service.  An ordination council will precede the ordination.  A commitment and dedication of the spouse of each married deacon will immediately precede the ordination as part of the ordination service.

Section Five:            Qualifications for Leadership

Those persons chosen to serve as church officers, or serve as coordinators of church programs should be recognized as projecting Christian values and other characteristics of Christian behavior.  Additionally, leaders should be committed to missions of the Church, practice good stewardship (including giving the tithe through the Church), support the ministries of the Church, agree to attend meetings and training and perform other responsibilities associated with serving in that area of ministry.

Section Six:            Directors

The Directors of this corporation will be the Church Trustees.  Three (3) trustees will hold in trust the church properties.  They will have no power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any property without the specific vote of the Church authorizing each action.  It will be the function of the trustees to affix their signatures to legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase and/or rental of property or any other legal documents where the signatures of trustees are required.  Trustees will serve for three (3) consecutive one (1) year terms.  The Church trustees are nominated by the Senior Pastor and approved by the Church.