Our Bylaws

AMENDED BYLAWS OF  

ISLAND FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, INC. 

(Amended as of May 2nd, 2023) 

PREAMBLE  

For the purpose of preserving and making secure the principles of our faith and to the end that this  church may be governed in an orderly manner, we do declare and establish these Bylaws of Island  Fellowship Church, Inc. in accordance with Section 495, Chapter 3, Title 13, Virgin Islands Code.  

ARTICLE I – NAME  

a. Name: This nonprofit corporation and church shall be known and incorporated as “Island  Fellowship Church, Inc.” (“Church”).  

b. Principal Office: The principal office is located at 6200 Estate Frydenhoj, Third Floor, St. Thomas,  U.S. Virgin Islands 00802. The Church may have such other offices, either within or without the  U.S. Virgin Islands, as the Congregational Board may determine from time-to- time.  

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES  

This Church, believing in the Bible as the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God and as the sole  authority for faith and practice, and acknowledging its adherence to the teaching of Jesus Christ,  declares its purpose is to glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Therefore, our objectives are:  

1. To glorify the one true and living God who has revealed himself to us through his Word;  2. To know and worship God;  

3. To enable one another to care and grow;  

4. To train and involve believers in ministry;  

5. To speak and live out the gospel;  

6. To recruit and send laborers into this world; and  

7. To regularly assemble with other believers to worship our Lord and Savior.

  ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP  

a. Membership in the Church shall be open to all who give evidence of their faith in the Lord Jesus  Christ and who voluntarily hold to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. When a person  chooses to be a part of the Church and involves themselves, they are eligible to be a member of the  Church (Ephesians 4:16).  

b. All prospective members, before being added to the membership role of the Church, shall meet with  the Congregational Board at a time convenient for both the prospective member and the  Congregational Board, to share their testimony, affirm their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and  Savior and state that they ascribe to the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.  

c. Upon completion of the requirements of paragraph (b) of this Article, the new member will be added  to the membership role of the Church. 

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS  

a. Annual Meeting: An annual meeting of the members shall be held at the principal office of the  Church on the second Sunday in the month of January in each year, beginning with the year 2022,  immediately following worship service for the purpose of electing Congregational Board members  and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the election of  Congregational Board members is not held on the day designated in these Bylaws for any annual  meeting, or at any adjournment of the same, the Congregational Board shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the members as soon as is convenient. The President shall chair all  annual meetings of the members.  

b. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, a majority of  the Congregational Board, or not less than seventy-five percent of the members, at a place  designated by the Congregational Board. If no designation is made, the place of meeting shall be  the principal office of the Church. The President shall chair all special meetings of the members.  

c. Notice of Meetings: The Congregational Board shall cause notices of the time and place of all  meetings of the Church to be publicly read at the regular gatherings of the Church for worship on  the two (2) successive Sundays immediately preceding such meeting. Notices of special meetings  shall state the business to be transacted thereat. Notices of annual meetings for the election of  Congregational Board members shall contain the names of Congregational Board members whose  successors are to be elected.  

d. Quorum: The presence of at least fifty percent (50%) of the members of the Church shall constitute  a quorum at such a meeting. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of members, a majority of the  members present may adjourn the meeting from time-to-time without further notice.  

e. Unanimous Consent. Any action required or permitted by the members of the Church, whether at an annual meeting, a special meeting, or otherwise, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the members of the Church.  

ARTICLE V – CONGREGATIONAL BOARD  

a. General Powers: The affairs of the Church shall be managed by its Congregational Board.  

b. Number: There shall be at least five (5) but no more than seven (7) members of the Congregational  Board.  

c. Eligibility: All male members of the Church having attained the age of twenty-one (21) years shall  be eligible to serve on the Congregational Board.  

d. Tenure: All Congregational Board members shall hold office for a term of three (3) years. For  Congregational Board members elected in 2021, the President, Vice-President and Secretary shall 

serve a term of three (3) years, the Treasurer shall serve a term of two (2) years and the members  at large shall stand for election at the January 2023 meeting of members.  

e. Election: Congregational Board members shall be elected at the annual meeting of members. Each  member may cast up to the number of votes as are Congregational Board member seats expiring  and being elected but may not cast more than one (1) vote for any one candidate.  

f. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Congregational Board shall be held without any other  notice than this bylaw immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of members.  The Congregational Board may provide, by resolution, the time and place for holding additional  regular meetings without other notice than such resolution. Additional regular meetings shall be  held at the principal office of the Church in the absence of any designation in the resolution. The  President shall chair all regular meetings of the Congregational Board.  

g. Special Meeting. Special meetings of the Congregational Board may be called by or at the request  of the President or a majority of Congregational Board members and shall be held at the principal  office of the Church or at such other place as the Congregational Board may determine. The  President shall chair all special meetings of the Congregational Board.  

h. Notice. Notice of any special meeting of the Congregational Board shall be given at least five (5)  days prior to the meeting by written notice delivered personally or sent by mail, electronic mail, text message or facsimile, to each Congregational Board member at his address as shown by the records of the Church. The business to be transacted at the meeting need not be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by law or by these Bylaws.  

i. Quorum. A majority of the Congregational Board members shall constitute a quorum for the  transaction of business at any meeting of the Congregational Board, but if less than a majority of  the Congregational Board members are present at any meeting, a majority of the Congregational  Board members present may adjourn the meeting from time-to-time without further notice.  

j. Board Decisions. The act of a majority of the Congregational Board members present at a meeting  at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Congregational Board, unless the act of a greater  number is required by law or by these bylaws.  

k. Unanimous Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Congregational Board,  whether at a regular meeting, a special meeting, or otherwise, may be taken without a meeting if a  consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the Congregational  Board members.  

l. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Congregational Board shall be filled by the Congregational  Board members. A Congregational Board member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the  unexpired term of his predecessor in office.  

m. Compensation. The Congregational Board members as such shall not receive any financial compensation for their services. Nothing in these bylaws contained shall be construed to preclude any Congregational Board member from serving the Church in any other capacity and receiving  compensation for such service. 

n. Removal. A member of the Congregational Board may only be removed if a majority of the   Congregational Board votes, at a regular or specially called meeting of the Congregational Board,  to remove that member and the grounds for removal are presented to the members of the  Congregation at the Annual Meeting or a specially called meeting of the Members of the Church  and a majority of the Members present at the meeting votes to remove the member of the  Congregational Board.  

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS  

a. Officers. The officers of the Church shall be the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the  Treasurer. The same person may not serve as both President and Secretary. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of president and secretary.  

b. Powers and Duties of Officers.  

• President: (1) Preside over all meetings of the Congregational Board; (2) Preside over all  meetings of the Members of the Church; (3) Call special meetings of the Congregational  Board as necessary; (4) Prepare agenda for all meetings of the Congregational Board and  meetings of the Members of the Church.  

• Vice President: Fulfill the powers and duties of the President of the Congregational Board  in the absence of the President.  

• Secretary: Record minutes of all meetings of the Congregational Board or the Members of  the Church and maintain such minutes in a minutes book, whether in physical or electronic  format.  

• Treasurer: (1) Maintain adequate records of all church funds received and disbursed,  reconciling bank statements and correct ledgers as needed; (2) Record individual  contributions to the church and provide annual reports; (3) Sign checks in accordance  with church policies and procedures and examining supporting data for all check  requests and issue checks for co-signature; (4) Supervise or assist in the supervision  of an accounting system that provides adequate internal controls to protect all funds;  (5) Ensure that funds and gifts are used according to instruction from the congregation or as directed by the contributor.  

c. Eligibility: All officers shall be Congregational Board members.  

d. Election and Term of the Officers. The officers of the Church shall be elected annually by the  Congregational Board at the regular annual meeting of the Congregational Board. If the election of  officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon as is convenient. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been duly elected and qualifies.  

e. Removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Congregational Board may be removed by a  majority vote of the Congregational Board whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Church would be served by such removal.  

f. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or  otherwise, may be filled by the Congregational Board for the unexpired portion of the term, but only from a then current member of the Congregational Board.  

ARTICLE VII – BOARD OF ELDERS 

a. Appointment of Board of Elders. The Congregational Board may, but is not required to, appoint a  committee to select candidates for the Board of Elders. When the Congregational Board deems it  appropriate to create a Board of Elders, it shall convene a committee to select candidates to be  presented to the Congregational Board for approval.  

b. Elder Search Committee. In order to be eligible to be selected as a member of the Elder Search  Committee, such member must be a Member of the Church in good standing and be at least twenty one (21) years of age. Within ninety (90) days of appointment by the Congregational Board, the  Elder Search Committee shall present the names of the Elder candidates they recommend to fill the office of Elder to the Congregational Board.  The candidate will be approved with a ⅔ vote.

c. Composition of the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders shall consist of at least two (2) but not  more than five (5) Elders.  

d. Qualifications to serve as Elder. Any male member of the Church may serve as an Elder of the Church. Additionally, any Elder must meet the biblical  requirements of an Overseer found in 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and Titus 1:6-9 

1. By way of clarification, the scriptural requirement to be the husband of one wife means that an  Elder cannot be divorced unless such divorce was the result of adultery or abandonment by an  unbelieving spouse.  

2. Furthermore, the biblical requirement that an Elder must manage his own household well means  that the Elder’s adult children must be living a Christian life and profess Jesus Christ as their  Lord and Savior.  

e. Congregational Board Members as Elders. Any Congregational Board member who also meets the  qualifications set forth in paragraph (d) of this Article may serve as an Elder and a member of the  Congregational Board simultaneously.  

f. Election by the Members at Annual Meeting. Names of Elder candidates shall be presented to the  membership during the Annual Meeting or at a special meeting. The Elder candidates shall be  present at the meeting and shall be available for inquiry by any member. Each candidate must be  elected by a majority of members present at the meeting in order to fill the office of Elder of the  Church.  

g. Term of Office. An Elder shall serve a term of three (3) years from the date of his election by the  Members of the Church. At the expiration of his three (3) year term, the Elder may be reelected by  the membership for a second term of three (3) years. Following a second consecutive term on the 

Board of Elders, the Elder must take one (1) year off and then may be reappointed thereafter.  The Congregational Board may waive the mandatory one year off.  

h. Role of the Elder. It is the role of the Elder to shepherd, oversee, lead, and care for the local church.  More specifically, the Elders of the Church shall:  

1. Lead the spiritual life of the Church [1 Tim 5:17; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:1–2]; 

2. Teach and preach the Word [1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9];  

3. Protect the church from false teachers [Acts 20:17, 28–31];  

4. Exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine [1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:13–17; Titus  1:9];  

5. Visit the sick and pray [James 5:14; Acts 6:4]; and  

6. Judge doctrinal issues [Acts 15:6].  

i. Compensation of Elders. An Elder shall serve without compensation from the Church. This does  not mean, however, that the Church may not reimburse the Elder for expenses incurred by the Elder  provided that the expenses to be reimbursed were approved in advance by the Congregational Board.  

j. Removal of Elder. The Congregational Board may recommend the removal of an Elder to the  Membership of the Church by a majority vote of the Congregational Board. Upon the vote of the  Congregational Board to remove an Elder, this decision shall be communicated to the Members of  the Congregation at a Special Meeting. The Elder shall be removed upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of  the Members of the Congregation present at the special meeting. 

k. Status of Elder. Upon recommendation of removal of an Elder by the Congregational Board, the  Elder shall be suspended and shall not function as an Elder of the Church pending a vote by the  Members of the Congregation.  

ARTICLE VIII – BOARD OF DEACONS  

a. Appointment of Board of Deacons. The Congregational Board may, but is not required to, appoint  a committee to select candidates for the Board of Deacons. When the Congregational Board deems  it appropriate to create a Board of Deacons, it shall convene a committee to select candidates to be  presented to the Congregation for approval. If the Congregational Board convenes a committee to  nominate candidates for the Board of Elders, that same committee may also be empowered by the  Congregational Board to select candidates for the Board of Deacons.  

b. Deacon Search Committee. The qualifications to serve on the Deacon Search Committee shall be  the same as for the Elder Search Committee.  

c. Composition of the Board of Deacons. The Board of Deacons shall consist of at least one (1) but  not more than five (5) Deacons.  

d. Qualifications to serve as Deacon. Any member of the Church may serve as a Deacon(es) of the Church. Additionally, any Deacon must meet the biblical requirements of a Deacon found in 1 Timothy 3:8–13. 

e. Congregational Board Members as Deacons. Any Congregational Board member who also meets  the qualifications set forth in paragraph (d) of this Article may serve as a Deacon and a member of  the Congregational Board simultaneously.  

f. Election by the Members at Annual Meeting. Names of Deacon candidates shall be presented to  the membership during the Annual Meeting or at a special meeting. The Deacon candidates shall  be present at the meeting and shall be available for inquiry by any member. Each candidate must  be elected by a majority of members present at the meeting in order to fill the office of Deacon of the  Church.  

g. Term of Office. A Deacon shall serve a term of three (3) years from the date of his election by the  Members of the Church. At the expiration of his three (3) year term, the Deacon may be reelected  by the membership for a second term of three (3) years. Following a second consecutive term on  the Board of Deacons, the Deacon must take one (1) year off and then may be reappointed thereafter.  The Congregational Board may waive the mandatory one year off.  

h. Role of the Deacon. The Deacons shall have the care of the physical properties and finances of  the church, and shall hold themselves in readiness to assist in guiding the spiritual life of the  church, ministering its ordinances and perform any necessary calling.  

i. Compensation of Deacons. A Deacon shall serve without compensation from the Church. This  does not mean, however, that the Church may not reimburse the Deacon for expenses incurred by  the Deacon provided that the expenses to be reimbursed were approved in advance by the  Congregational Board.  

j. Removal of Deacon. The Congregational Board may recommend the removal of a Deacon to the  Membership of the Church by a majority vote of the Congregational Board. Upon the vote of the  Congregational Board to remove a Deacon, this decision shall be communicated to the Members  of the Congregation at a Special Meeting. The Deaconshall be removed upon a two-thirds (2/3)  vote of the Members of the Congregation present at the special meeting.  

k. Status of Deacon. Upon recommendation of removal of a Deacon by the Congregational Board, the Deacon shall be suspended and shall not function as a Deacon of the Church pending a vote by the Members of the Congregation.  

ARTICLE IX – PASTOR  

a. Pastor. The Pastor is leader of all pastoral ministries of the Church to: (a) lead the Church in the  achievement of its purposes, (b) proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (c) care of  the Church’s members and other persons in the community. He shall serve as the head of the Board  of Elders, ex officio member of the Congregational Board and all committees of the Church. The  Pastor shall be responsible for the supervision of Ministerial staff, if any. 

b. Formation of Committee to Appoint a Pastor. The Congregational Board shall, within 6 months of  the adoption of these amended bylaws by the Membership, form a search committee to identify a  pastoral candidate.  

c. Appointment of Committee. Committee shall be formed to search for, select and bring a pastoral  candidate before the Congregational Board for consent. Upon the consent of the Congregational  Board of the pastoral candidate, the candidate shall be presented to the members of the Church at  the Annual or Special Meeting for inquiry and election by a majority of the Members.  

d. Appointment. The Pastor shall be called to serve for an indefinite period.  

e. Qualifications to Serve as Pastor. The Pastor shall be male and shall meet all the qualifications of  an Elder as set forth in Article VII, Paragraph d. 

f. Compensation. As an exception to Article VI, paragraph (g), the Pastor shall be entitled to be  compensated for his work as Pastor. The Pastor shall be supported according to his needs and the  needs of his family either by free-will offerings or by stated allowance as shall be decided by the  Congregational Board. The Pastor may have other employment outside the Church, but such other  employment must be approved by the Congregational Board and may not materially interfere with  the Pastor’s duties toward the Church.  

g. Resignation. The Pastor may relinquish the office by giving at least two-weeks notice to the  President at the time of resignation. The Congregational Board may remove the Pastor and then  declare the office of Pastor vacant through action at a regular or special meeting of the  Congregational Board.  

h. Removal. The Pastor may be removed by the Congregational Board upon the vote of a majority of  the Congregational Board. If a tie shall occur, the Board shall cast lots to break the tie.  

i. Post-Removal Provisions. Upon the resignation or removal of the Pastor, the Pastor shall receive  two additional weeks of salary. If the Pastor shall be removed for adultery or other egregious sin,  the Church shall not be obligated to provide an additional two weeks of salary.  

ARTICLE X – ADVISORY COMMITTEES  

The Congregational Board, by resolution, may designate one or more committees, each of which shall  consist of two (2) or more Church members eligible to hold office, which committees, to the extent  provided in such resolution, shall have advisory authority only and shall make recommendations to the  Congregational Board in the management of the Church. Such advisory committees may include, but  not be limited to committees on membership, budget, facilities, community outreach, pastoral search,  and pastoral staff.  

ARTICLE XI – CHURCH ORDINANCES 

a. Baptism. This Church shall receive for baptism any person who has received 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. Baptism shall be conducted as prescribed by the Pastor, the  President, or the Congregational Board.  

b. The Lord’s Supper. The Church shall observe the Lord’s Supper at such times as may be prescribed  by the Pastor, the President, or the Congregational Board.  

ARTICLE XII – CHURCH SERVICES  

a. Sunday Worship. The Church shall have worship services each Sunday and such other times as may  be prescribed by the Pastor, the President, or the Congregational Board.  

b. Other. Sunday School, youth group, discipleship training, prayer meetings and other meetings  essential to the advancement of the Church’s objectives shall be placed on the Church calendar by  the Pastor, the President, or the Congregational Board.  

c. Cancelation of Church Services. Any Church Service may be canceled by the Pastor or the President  if, after consultation with the Congregational Board, it is determined that attendance at such Church  Service could cause risk of injury or death due to severe weather, a natural disaster or other event.  

ARTICLE XIII – CHURCH DISCIPLINE 

a. Purpose of Church Discipline. The purpose of church discipline is to glorify God by: (1)  Maintaining purity in the local church (1 Corinthians 5:6); (2) to edify the congregation by  deterring sin (1 Timothy 5:20), and (3) to promote the spiritual welfare of the offending person  by calling him or her to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct so as to be reconciled to God, others and to be restored to the fellowship of the church (Galatians 6:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:14- 15).  

b. Reasons for Church Discipline. Any Member of this church shall be subject to church discipline,  including dismissal according to Matthew 18:15-18 under the following conditions:  

1. Doctrinal error: When a person promotes serious doctrinal error (Galatians 1:9; 1 Timothy  1:3-4; 6:3-5; 2 John 1:10).  

2. Misconduct: When a person engages in flagrant sin or serious misconduct that violates  Scripture (1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15).  

3. Disruption of Fellowship: When a person’s conduct causes division and discord within  the fellowship of the church body or threatens the testimony of the church (Romans 16:17;  Titus 3:10-11).  

4. Failure to regularly attend Sunday worship services: When a Member fails to regularly  attend Sunday worship services at the Church without explanation (Hebrews 10:25, Luke  4:16).  

c. The Elders (if there are no Elders, then no less than three members of the Congregational Board)  shall investigate any individual who is not a member of the church but who participates in the  activities of, and/ or attends the services of, the church and engages in these aforementioned 

actions. If it is determined by unanimous agreement of the Elders that such actions are damaging  to the unity, purity, edification, and testimony of the church, then such individuals will be asked  to absent themselves from the church and refrain from any further participation in its activities  and services unless or until they have demonstrated repentance.  

d. Process of Church Discipline. The process outlined in Matthew 18:15-18 shall guide stages of  church discipline. The process shall occur with the utmost concern to maintain godly interaction.  Gossip shall be avoided at all costs and all parties involved in warning erring members shall be careful to look to themselves so as to have pure and godly motives during any interaction in the matter. Thus, all church members who warn other erring members throughout each stage of discipline should exhibit spiritual maturity (Galatians 6:1) as demonstrated by humility, love and  respect. If necessary, the initial warning of members should defer to one with more spiritual maturity and also consult with the Elders (if there are no Elders, the Congregational Board) of the church and receive counsel before proceeding. The stages of discipline derived from Matthew  18:15-18 are as follows:  

1. Stage 1. It shall be the duty of any member of this church who has knowledge of the erring member’s false doctrine or misconduct to warn and correct them in private, seeking  repentance and restoration.  

2. Stage 2. If the erring member does not heed the first warning, then the warning member  shall go to him or her a second time with one (1) or two (2) mature members (Galatians  6:1), seeking repentance and restoration again.  

3. Stage 3. If the erring member still refuses to heed the second warning, then the matter  shall be brought before the Elders (in the absence of Elders, then it shall be brought before  the Congregational Board) for resolution. If there is no resolution of the matter with the  Elders (or the Congregational Board), then they shall inform the active membership of the church, at a special meeting called for this purpose, to encourage a collective call to  repentance.  

4. Stage 4. If the erring member does not repent in response to the whole membership of the  church, then he or she shall be publicly dismissed from the fellowship and membership  of the church by unanimous agreement of the Elders (or, in the absence of Elders, the  Congregational Board). The active membership of the church shall be informed of this  action at a special meeting called for this purpose. The member under discipline shall  forfeit all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of fellowship and membership and  shall not attend services, events or activities of the church while under disciplinary action (1 Corinthians 5:2, 11). If the erring member demonstrates repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9- 11) after dismissal, he or she may be reinstated by unanimous agreement of the Elders (or, in the absence of Elders, the Congregational Board,) to fellowship and membership.  At this point the other members of the church shall make every effort to encourage reconciliation and restoration with a gracious reception of the individual and extend love  and forgiveness to him or her (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).  

e. Appeals. The Members of the Church, agree that there shall be no appeal to any secular court of the 

law due to dismissal or public statements made to the church congregation during the process of  church discipline.  

ARTICLE XIV – CHURCH POLICIES  

Policies and procedures beyond the scope of these by-laws are to be written and voted on by  the Congregational Board. Once approved by the Congregational Board, these policies shall  be officially recorded and made available to Church Members.  

ARTICLE XV – BOOKS AND RECORDS  

     The Church shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep  minutes of the proceedings of its members, Congregational Board, advisory committees, and shall  keep at the principal office a record giving the names, addresses, and voting eligibility of the  members. All books and records of the Church may be inspected by any member, or his or her agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time, with the exception of financial  contribution records. Individual financial contribution records will be stored securely, and can only  be accessed by the Treasurer, President, and Vice President, or by order of a court of law under  subpoena.  

ARTICLE XVI – FINANCES  

a. All funds needed for the maintenance of the Church shall be provided by voluntary  contributions, tithes, and offerings. Every member shall decide before God what he or she can  cheerfully give to the support of the Lord’s work at home and in the foreign field (Malachi  3:10, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Romans 12:8).  

b. All offerings shall be counted by at least two members of the Church.  

c. Deposits must be made by the Treasurer promptly in a local bank.  

d. A separate banking account has been established and shall be maintained for the Church. 

   e. Monthly and year-end financial reports will be furnished to the Congregational Board by the

         Treasurer and made available to the members of the Church.  

f. All checks drawn upon the Church’s banking account must be signed by two members of the  Congregational Board.  

g. The Congregational Board shall have a budget completed by December 1 of the preceding year  and made available to members for review and comment.  

ARTICLE XVII – FISCAL YEAR  

The fiscal year of the Church shall be the same as the calendar year.  

ARTICLE XVIII – NONPROFIT STATUS  

The Church is a nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and  scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that  qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the  corresponding section of any future federal tax code. No part of the net earnings of the Church shall 

inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, Congregational Board members, officers, or  other private persons, except that the Church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable  compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the  purposes set forth in the immediately-preceding sentence. 

No substantial part of the activities of the  Church shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Church shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the Church shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal  Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. 

Upon the dissolution of the Church, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal  Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the judicial district in which the principal office of the Church is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization  or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such  purposes.  

ARTICLE XIX – AMENDMENT  

These bylaws may be amended when authorized by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Congregational board members during a regular or special meeting.