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About GMBA Constitution and By-laws Page Last Modified: December 12, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREAMBLEARTICLE I - Name ARTICLE II - Purpose ARTICLE III – Core Values ARTICLE IV - Membership ARTICLE V - Cooperation ARTICLE VI -Sessions ARTICLE VII - Organization ARTICLE VIII - Authority ARTICLE IX - Staff ARTICLE X - Amendment BY-LAWS PREAMBLE:
Recognizing our unity under the lordship of Christ and our common mission received from Him, we, members of Baptist churches in the general area of Vermont, hereby establish and maintain an Association in conformity to the following plan:Top of Page ARTICLE I - Name
The name of this body shall be the Green Mountain Baptist Association.Top of Page ARTICLE II – Purpose
Section 1 – VisionThe Green Mountain Baptist Association exists as a group of cooperating Baptist churches that seek to glorify God by following the leading of the Holy Spirit in helping each other fulfill Christ’s mission. Section 2 – Mission The mission of the Green Mountain Baptist Association is to pray for and encourage each other, equip leaders for ministry, promote mission involvement, and hold our churches accountable to Biblical standards. Top of Page ARTICLE III – Core Values
Section 1 - Biblical presuppositionsEverything we do will be based on scripture and scriptural truths. The Bible is our sole basis for faith and practice. This is non-negotiable. Section 2 - Prayerful obedience Our desire is to be obedient to Christ in every action that we take as an Association, and we come to that obedience through prayer. We will bathe every decision we make in prayer, and will not consider an action, whether it is to schedule an event or start a church, without "effectual, fervent prayer." (see James 5:16) Section 3 - Missionary zeal We look at the example of Paul, the first missionary of the church, and seek to emulate his attitudes and actions. This means we will have a passion for evangelism and ministry as Paul exhibited in his letters. We will find where God is at work and join Him, as Paul did in going to Macedonia. We will seek to plant healthy churches and continue to strengthen existing churches, as Paul did on his missionary journeys. We will do this with excitement and energy and faith, expecting God to do great things. Section 4 - Cooperative servanthood We will have a servant heart in our interactions with each other. Philippians 2:3-4 will be our guideline: "do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." We will actively seek ways to cooperate in order to accomplish the ministry goals of our Association. Even though we are independent, autonomous churches, we will choose to see ourselves as partners so that our collective gifts and strengths can be used in the service of Christ in ministry to the general area of Vermont. Section 5 - Innovative excellence Whatever we do, we will do with excellence. We will constantly be reminded of the sacrificial effort required by many just to come to an event, and we will make the extra effort to plan, present and implement to the best of our ability. We will be innovative in our thinking and in our methodology while never compromising the central message of Scripture. We will constantly look for ways to do things better and more efficiently, being good stewards of our resources. Top of Page ARTICLE IV - Membership
Section 1 - AffiliationA church desiring to affiliate with this Association shall present a petition to the Association Operations Team. When satisfied that the church is of like faith and order, this leadership team shall recommend to the Association that the church be received under watchcare. After the first year, the Association Operations Team may recommend that the church continue under watchcare for a second year, or be received into membership. If after the second year, the Association Operations Team does not recommend membership for a church, that church’s petition for membership shall be automatically withdrawn. Churches shall be received under watchcare and into membership by two-thirds majority vote in annual meeting. Section 2 - Messengers Messengers from the affiliated churches shall constitute the meeting of the Association. Messengers shall be elected by the churches they represent. Each affiliated church shall be entitled to at least five messengers for each fifty members or fraction thereof. Additionally, each church-type mission shall be entitled up to two messengers. However, no church shall be entitled to more than fifteen messengers. Section 3 - Doctrine/Statement of Faith While no document shall supersede the authority of the Bible as our authority in matters of faith and practice, the Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention shall be considered the guide for determining whether a church desiring affiliation is of like faith and practice. Section 4 - Dismissal The Association may withdraw membership from any church which has become irregular in faith or practice, or which fails to be cooperative in spirit, upon a two-thirds majority vote by the Association in annual or semi-annual session, following recommendation by the Administrative Council to the Executive Committee. Top of Page ARTICLE V - Cooperation
In so far as it is consistent with our purposes, this Association shall cooperate with and encourage the ministries of our sister Associations, the Baptist Convention of New England and agencies which are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and such other Christian endeavors which are recommended to and approved by this body.Top of Page ARTICLE VI -Sessions
The Association shall hold sessions semi-annually at such time or times as it may set. Special sessions may be held upon call of the Executive Committee. Churches shall be given two weeks notice of special sessions.Top of Page ARTICLE VII - Organization
Section 1 - OfficersThe Association shall have the following officers: Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer. The officers shall function as the trustees of the corporation. Section 2 - Leadership Teams The Association shall have the following Leadership Teams: Mission Advancement, Church Health, and Association Operations. The Leadership Teams will function in the following areas: 2.1 The Mission Advancement Leadership Team shall coordinate the work of the Association in the areas of evangelism, church planting, church and community ministries, and partnerships. Program leaders may be elected in these areas and when elected, become a part of this Leadership Team. 2.2 The Church Health Leadership Team shall coordinate the work of the Association in the areas of Sunday School, discipleship, men’s and women’s ministries, student ministries, Christian life issues, and leadership training. Program leaders may be elected in these areas and when elected, become a part of this Leadership Team. 2.3 The Association Operations Team shall coordinate the Association’s work as it relates to the annual and semi-annual meetings. They shall present a nominations report at the semi-annual meeting. They shall present a credentials report and a memorials report at the annual meeting. They shall oversee the enrollment of messengers and shall present a time, place and preacher report at both the annual and semi-annual meetings. They may present resolutions received at the annual meeting or the semi-annual meeting as they deem appropriate. Section 3 - Administrative Council The Association shall have Administrative Council composed of the following leaders: the Moderator, the Vice-Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Leadership Team Chairpersons, and the Associational Missionary. The Administrative Council will function in the following areas: budget and finance, calendar, personnel, property and prayer strategy. The Administrative Council will also coordinate the work of the Leadership Teams. Section 4 - Executive Committee The Association shall have an Executive Committee, which shall act as the Association ad interim, except as limited by the Constitution and By-Laws. Membership of the committee shall be composed of the officers, Leadership Team chairpersons, any elected program leaders, two members from each affiliated church and one member from a church-type mission. Section 5 - Program Organization The Association may elect such necessary program organization as is beneficial for the proper conduct of its work and the local churches’ needs. Section 6 - Elections Officers shall be elected from the floor at the annual meeting. Leadership teams and any program leaders deemed appropriate shall be elected at the semi-annual meeting upon nomination by the Association Operations Team. Terms of office shall be for one year following the annual meeting unless otherwise provided for by the Association. The moderator and vice-moderator shall not be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms. Lay participation shall be sought and encouraged for the above responsibilities. Section 7 - Duties The duties shall be those usually incumbent upon the officers and elected leadership, e.g., faithful attendance and participation in assigned duties. Section 8 - Incorporation The Association shall be incorporated as a non-profit organization according to the laws of the state of Vermont. The officers of the association shall function as the trustees of the corporation. Top of Page ARTICLE VIII - Authority
The Association is an autonomous body and therefore reserves the right to determine its own policies and direct its own business. It may refuse to seat messengers whose churches are not in fellowship or doctrinal agreement with the body. However, this body shall never exercise any authority over any church affiliated with it. The Association will stand ready to lend any assistance or counsel to any church.Top of Page ARTICLE IX - Staff
The Association may employ such staff as it deems necessary. Unless otherwise provided by the Association, the staff shall be elected upon nomination by the officers of the Association. The staff shall be given a description of positions and responsibilities as approved by the Executive Committee.Top of Page ARTICLE X - Amendment
This constitution may be amended upon two-thirds majority vote of the Association, following recommendation by the Administrative Council. Such recommendations shall be submitted to the Executive Committee at least three months prior to the presentation at the following annual or semi-annual meeting. Churches must receive copies of any proposed changes at least two months prior to the time of the vote. The quorum shall be considered those messengers duly seated by the Association at the time the vote shall be taken.Top of Page BY-LAWS
Adoption of the Constitution
This Constitution and By-Laws was adopted at the first annual meeting of the Green Mountain Baptist Association on October 16, 1982, at Springfield, Vermont. This Constitution and By-Laws was revised at the annual meeting of the Green Mountain Baptist Association on October 21, 1995, at East Peacham Baptist Church, East Peacham, Vermont, and revised again at the annual meeting on October 16, 1999, at Washington Baptist Church, Washington, Vermont.
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