Article I Council of Elders
Section 1 • Membership
The Council of Elders shall be comprised of an indefinite number of men of the membership of the church who meet the requirements of Elders as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9 and I Peter 5:1-3.
The Council of Elders shall select additional elders only in that they agree with the Holy Spirit that He has made this man an elder in accord with the Scriptures cited above. There will be an opportunity provided on an annual basis for members of the congregation to recommend additional members to the Council of Elders for consideration, discipling, and mentoring.
It is hereby specified that annual compensation provided by the church to any staff person is only for ministerial duties rendered to the church and is not for duties associated with serving on the ruling board, the Elder Council. Staff elders are without compensation for volunteer services on the Council in the same manner as any other Elder Council member.
Lay elders who are nearing the completion of their term are encouraged to take a three month sabbatical prior to the end of their current term to reflect upon their calling to serve. Voluntary leaves may be taken when granted as requested by individual Elders and approved by the Full Council of Elders.
Section 2 • Term of Office
An elder shall be instated to the Council of Elders for a term of (up to) three years. Upon the completion of this term, he shall undergo a process to determine if there is a renewal of call. An elder may continue to serve so long as he is called to be an elder, and his life conforms to the profile of eldering.
An elder shall cease being a member of the Council of Elders immediately upon submitting a letter of resignation, upon adopting another church home, or by action of the remainder of the Council of Elders when an elder has proven himself deficient in character, overseeing, or shepherding.
Section 3 • Congregational Review
The congregation shall be given opportunity to provide feedback in the following circumstances:
- The congregation will be given opportunity, on an annual basis, to recommend additional members for consideration to be added to the council of Elders.
- Both new candidates and current Elders fulfilling a renewal of call shall be presented to the congregation for a period of review prior to their initial commissioning, or continuation of service.
- The congregation may enter into a spiritual exercise in which they review the eldership (I Timothy 5:19), and upon indicating deficiency in the individual(s), with their signature attached, recommend new candidate(s) for the office of elder.
The Council of Elders shall then examine the recommendations, feedback, or reviews effecting whatever persons, information and/or judgments are indicated, following scriptural principles (Matthew 18: 15-20 and I Timothy 5:9-21). Only the Council of Elders may discipline elders.
Section 4 • Elder-Staff Relations
Elders will be assigned by the Council of Elders to shepherd pastoral staff members and be involved in the associated ministry or ministries.
Section 5 • Elder Emeritus
An elder who retires from the Council of Elders as an elder in good standing, and who has not been disqualified for reasons of character, or who has not adopted another church home, shall be designated an Elder Emeritus and recommended to the church as a reservoir of wisdom and godly counsel. Though viewed as one who shepherds in this church, he will no longer serve as part of the Council of Elders.
Article II Standing Committees
Section 1 • Executive Committee of The Council of Elders
Section (a) Function
(i) The Executive Committee may act on behalf of the Council of Elders for all matters of business of Cole Community Church and its related ministries with the exceptions listed in section (iii).
(ii) The Executive Committee shall act as or oversee the Finance Committee of Cole Community Church.
(iii) The Executive Committee may, as appropriate, recommend actions in the following areas to the full Council of Elders, but action on these items is reserved for the full Council of Elders:
a. Any changes to the Constitution and bylaws of Cole Community Church, including the Statement of Faith.
b. Any instrument of indebtedness on behalf of Cole Community Church.
c. Any transaction which would sell, encumber or otherwise limit the use of Cole Community Church’s real property.
d. Any action to hire, terminate or discipline pastoral staff of Cole Community Church and/or the executive directors and members of the governing board of any auxiliary organization.
e. Any decision to bring a matter of personal discipline before the church as provided in Matthew 18:17.
f. Selection of additional elders to the Council of Elders.
g. Acceptance of those seeking membership in Cole Community Church.
Section (b) Personnel
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of an indefinite number of men including:
(i) Chairman of the Council who shall serve as chairman of the committee.
(ii) Vice chairman of the Council who shall serve as vice chairman of the committee.
(iii) The Secretary of the Council who shall serve as secretary of the committee.
(iv) The Treasurer of the Council
(v) At least 2 men selected at large from other non-staff members of the Council of Elders.
(vi) Any other member of the Council of Elders may attend any meeting of the Executive Committee as a voting member.
Section (c) Term of Office
The term of office shall be one year with no restriction on succession.
Section (d) Nomination and Election
The retiring committee shall act as a nominating committee and present a slate of officers to the Full Council of Elders for election.
Section (e) Meetings
The committee shall meet at least monthly at the stated and scheduled time and at such other times as are deemed necessary to conduct business. Meetings may be called by the chairman, the vice chairman or any three members of the Executive Committee, due notice having been given to all committee members.
Section (f) Reports and Records
The committee shall bring regular reports and recommendations to the Council of Elders and submit complete minutes of actions taken on behalf of the Council.
Section (g) General
The Council of Elders and Executive Committee shall seek unanimity in decisions. Unanimity is not required, however, except for the specified exceptions in the constitution and bylaws.
Section 2 • Pastoral Search Committee
Section (a) Organization
Members shall be appointed by the Council of Elders, a minimum of two members being elders. Each member shall serve continuously until the pastoral position has been filled. Vacancies shall be filled by Executive Committee appointment.
Section (b) Function
The committee shall prayerfully and thoroughly explore the field for godly individuals meeting the requirements of the pastoral position as defined in a current job description and whose intent is:
(i) to continue the church as an independent New Testament body;
(ii) to continue to forward the goals of evangelism and discipleship;
(iii) to continue to support the doctrinal position of the church as stated in the constitution.
One candidate at a time shall be selected by unanimous vote of the committee which shall then present the name of the candidate and a detailed summary of his qualifications to the Council of Elders. Upon approval by the Council, the candidate shall be brought for a hearing before the Council of Elders. Travel and related costs for such a hearing or hearings shall be paid by the church.
Section (c) The Call
(i) A unanimous vote of the Council of Elders shall constitute a call.
(ii) The Executive Committee shall send a letter stating conditions of the call.
(iii) The call shall be considered accepted when the candidate shall have responded to the church affirmatively in writing.
Article III Membership
Section 1 • Qualifications
Qualifications for membership shall be as outlined in Article IV of the constitution.
Section 2 • Covenant of Fellowship
Individuals may be admitted to membership by signing the covenant of fellowship. Through this covenant an individual indicates a commitment:
(i) to walk with other members of this body in Christian love, caring for them, watching over them, praying for them, and bearing their burdens and sorrows (Galatians 6:2);
(ii) to be thoughtful, courteous, patient, kind to others, tenderhearted, forgiving others just as God has forgiven them (Ephesians 4:32);
(iii) to help guard the purity and integrity of this body by seeking to restore those who sin (Galatians 6:1 );
(iv) to contribute, as they have purposed in their heart, to the financial support of the church, the relief of the needy, and the evangelism of all people (2 Corinthians 9:7);
(v) to willingly submit to the Elders and others who lead them as those who watch over their souls (Hebrews 13: 17);
(vi) to endeavor by faith to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3: 18);
(vii) to use their spiritual gifts in a place of ministry within this body of believers (1 Peter 4:10);
(viii) and to seek to witness to their non-Christian friends of Christ’s love for them (Acts 1:8).
Section 3 • Termination
Membership may be terminated for any of the following reasons:
(i) Written request by member;
(ii) Due notice of death;
(iii) Written notice of another church that member has been received into their membership;
(iv) By vote of the Council of Elders (Romans 16: 17; I Corinthians 5:1 1; Matthew 18:15-20; Titus 3:10, 11).
Article IV Licensure, Ordination, Commission
Section 1 • Licensure
Any member, who in the judgment of the Council of Elders, gives evidence by their Christian life, zeal and aptness to teach, that they are called of God to the work of the Gospel ministry, after having served before the life of the church, may be licensed to perform all of the functions of a pastor. The license is subject to review.
Section 2 • Ordination
If the Executive Committee decides that a person possesses scriptural qualifications and training necessary for full ordination, it shall present this person to the Council of Elders for due examination. If satisfied with the candidate, the Council may grant ordination. This ordination shall be subject to review.
Section 3 • Commission
For specific ministries, the Council of Elders may commission any candidate after duly examining the candidate as to fitness for the assignment and designating the area of ministry for which the commission is bestowed. The Council shall specify the tenure of the commission and the commission shall be subject to review and renewal.
Section 4 • Suspension
Infractions of the conditions under which these grants were made shall be construed as sufficient reason to withdraw the grant after careful consideration.