SAN FRANCISCO KACHIN BAPTIST CHURCH CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Church shall be called the “San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church.”
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church was founded in the January of 2011 to meet the need and desire of the San Francisco bay area Kachins to worship God in our own Kachin language and Baptist tradition; to have genuine Christian fellowship among the members; to share and witness the Gospel with the larger community of faith around the world; and to preserve and promote our heritage (Kachin language, literature, and culture) through many expressions and functions of the Church.
ARTICLE III
STATEMENT OF FAITH AND MISSION
We, members of the San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church, believe in God the Creator of the Universe, Jesus Christ the Redeemer of the World, and the Holy Spirit the Comforter of Humanity. We believe that the Holy Bible is inspired by God and thus, uphold it for ministries of preaching, teaching, and training in righteousness. By humbly adhering to the teachings of the Bible, we continually strive to do justice, to love our neighbors, and to walk with God as a community of faith.
ARTICLE IV
DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION & POLITY
The church declares itself a member of the American Baptist Churches, USA, and shall adhere to the covenants of the organization. The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body outside of itself, or any committee, board, or group within itself.
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ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Admission
Membership in this church may be acquired in the following manner:
A. By Baptism. Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and adopting the view of faith and practice held by the church may, upon Baptism by immersion, be received into its membership.
B. By letter. Members of other Baptist or other Christian churches may be received by virtue of their letter duly granted by said church.
C. By experience. Persons who have no letter but who have been members of another Christian church may be received upon a statement of their experience and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
D. By restoration. Any member of the church or other Christian churches who have been removed from his or her membership status for any reason may be restored to active membership. Recommendation for the restoration shall be made by the Department of Worship and Congregational Care and voted by the Church Council.
Section 2. Acceptance to Membership
Having met one of the conditions A, B, or C above, membership follows:
A. Completion of an application for membership
B. Vote of acceptance by the Church Council.
Section 3. Active members
A. Responsibilities. Active members are expected to be faithful in all duties essential to the church, to attend regularly the worship service, to support the ministry of the church with services and offerings.
B. Rights. Active members are duly vested with the rights and privileges of as members of the body of Christ in accordance with the Bible, and Church policies and bylaws. Thus, he or she may hold any office or position as qualified, and enjoy equal voting (except in corporate matters for which members must be at least eighteen (18) years of age).
Section 4. Inactive Members
A. If any member of this church does not participate (when able to do so) for a period of one year shall be classified as inactive Members and thus shall
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not be counted as members and shall have no right of Active Membership. The Church Council shall make a reasonable effort to contact them and to re-establish them into the fellowship.
Section 5. Disaffiliation of Membership
Membership may be terminated by one of the following
A. By death
B. By transfer. Any member in good standing shall, on request, be granted a letter-of-transfer, by vote of the board to any church of like faith and practice.
C. By Exclusion. In cases involving clear evidence of gross immorality such as reflects on the Christian character, and if worthy efforts of reclaiming without success have been made, the member shall be excluded by vote of the church upon recommendation of the Council. Such action shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members present to pass.
D. By Request. Any member may have his/her membership terminated upon his/her request.
ARTICLE V
CHURCH COUNCIL & OFFICERS
Section 1. General Requirements
All officers and board members of Church Council shall be members of San Francisco Kachin Baptist Church.
Section 2. Church Council: authority, duties, and responsibility
A. The Church Council is composed of a pastor, deacons, the president, vice presidents, secretary, vice secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer, all the directors of the Departments and Committees, and advisers elected at large in front the congregation. They shall serve a two-year term.
B. The Church Council is hereby constituted by the church to assume responsibility for the management of all activities of the church and shall have the oversight of the Church. Except provided in this Constitution, the Church Council has authority to determine policy and procedure in all matters concerning the church.
C. The Church Council is charged with the responsibility for oversight and approval or rejection of the work of the Departments and Committees of the Church.
D. The Church Council shall have authority to administer any church discipline and shall adjudicate any grievances within the church family requiring official action
E. The Church Council shall serve also as a nominating committee to elect
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officers of the church.
F. The Church Council shall be held quarterly, or special meeting of the church council may be called as deemed necessary or advisable by the president, or by the pastor.
Section 3. Pastor
A. The pastor shall have responsibility for the daily mission and activities of the church performing duties ordinarily expected of a pastor.
B. The pastor shall he responsible for the general spiritual oversight of the church, including, but not limited to the supervision of any and all assistant pastors and all administrative staff.
C. He or she shall be an ex-officio member of all Departments and Committees. He or she shall be responsible for church worship services.
D. The pastor shall be elected and called by the Church. The election shall be announced two successive Sundays prior to the election. An affirmative vote of three-fourths of the ballots cast shall be necessary to elect or remove the senior pastor.
E. The pastor’s oversight of the assistant pastors includes the authority to appoint any of them as ex- officio members of any committee or board in his or her stead as he or she may deem appropriate.
F. Termination of the office may be ended upon sixty (60) days notice on the part of the Pastor or the church. Shorter notice may be given where both parties are fully agreed.
G. Following the resignation of the senior pastor. a pastoral search committee shall be elected at large from congregation.
Section 4. Deacons
A. In accordance with the meaning of the work and the practice of the New Testament, deacons are to be servants of the Church.
B. The task of the deacon is to assist and counsel the pastor and pastoral staff in performing ministry tasks; proclaim the gospel to unbelievers; and care for church members and other persons in the community.
C. A deacon shall serve until his service is terminated by his death, resignation, or when he ceases to be a member of the church.
Section 5. President and Vice-Presidents of Church Council
A. The president shall be elected by the Church to serve a two-year term. The president shall preside at all business meetings of the church and serve as chairman of the Church Council. The president shall be ex-officio member of all Departments and Committees of the Church. The president shall oversee the implementation of the vision and mission of the Church.
B. The two Vice-Presidents shall also be elected by the Church to serve a two-
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year term. The vice presidents, as directed by the president, shall share the responsibilities of the presidency, and shall perform the duties of the president’s during the latter’s absence. As assigned by the Church Council, either one of the vice-presidents shall convene the Nominating Committee to elect a president.
Section 6. Secretary and Vice Secretary
A. The Church Secretary shall be elected for a two-year term. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the fellowship. The secretary keeps an accurate record of the membership of the Church, and maintains files of all important documents as directed by the Church Council. The secretary shall serve as secretary of the Church Council. The secretary shall be responsible for the weekly bulletins and organizing the church related activities. The secretary shall be responsible for the weekly announcements.
B. The vice secretary shall assist the secretary and shall take the role of the secretary in his/her absence.
Section 7. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer
A. The treasurer shall be elected for a two-year term. The treasurer shall keep accurate records of all pledges, receipts and disbursements. He or she shall deposit the offerings of the church in the designated accounts.
B. The treasurer shall prepare written cumulative annually reports for each fiscal year, and operate according to the approved budget and changes approved by the Church.
C. All books shall be audited annually or upon the resignation of the treasurer.
D. The assistant treasurer shall assist the treasurer and take the role of the treasurer in his/her absence.
ARTICLE VI
DEPARTMENTS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. Definition
The Church Council shall nominate the Departments and Committees, and their directors as the needs arise. The Congregation shall confirm the nominees.
A. Each Department or Committee shall have a director and an assistant director.
B. Each Department or Committee shall have up to six (5) members.
C. They shall serve two-year term.
D. A director of a Department or Committee shall also serve as a member of the Church Council.
E. A pastor and president of the Church Council will serve as ex-officio members in all the Committees and Departments.
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Section 2. Responsibilities
Committees and Departments are hereby constituted to plan and supervise the ministries of the church, to report their plans and work to the Church Council for its approval or direction, and to implement the decisions of the Church Council as assigned. Each Committee and Department will report at the Annual Meeting and at quarterly Church Council meetings if needed or desired.
Section 3. Title and Duties
Meetings of Departments and Committees shall be held at such time and place as each Department or Committee determines in order to accomplish its work. All Departments and Committee, however, shall meet in December to organize for the new fiscal year.
1. Department of Worship & Congregational Care Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. A pastor of the Church shall be a director of the Department. Responsibility: This Department shall have responsibility for activities related to the program of the worship service and activities related to the spiritual growth and nurture of the congregation, and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
2. Department of Mission and Evangelism Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. Responsibility: This Department shall have responsibility for mission and community outreach, and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
3. Music & Choir Committee Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for the accompaniment of Praise and Worship, and Church Choir during the worship services, and such other musical related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
4. Department of Christian Education Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for Christian education including the Sunday school, specific areas and programs of Christian education and such other Christian educational related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
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5. Budget Committee Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. The treasurer of the Church should also be an ex-officio member of the committee. This Department shall have responsibility for the supervision of all financial matters of the church; the securing of adequate insurance; receiving of regular reports from the Department and Committees; and such other Christian educational related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
6. Department of Fellowship & Social Concerns Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for relationships with other Christian communities and organization. It shall also have responsibility for social-service related activities and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
7. Hospitality Committee. Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility hosting church members, and church functions. It shall also has oversight of the kitchens, event planning and coordination, and the presentation of the church as a hospitable environment to its members and the wider community and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
8. Department of Youth Membership: This department shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for worship, fellowship, and outreach among and to the young adults within the church, and such other young adult related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
9. 2020 Vision Committee Membership: This committee shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for planning and fundraising activities specifically for the implementing of 2020 vision, and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
10. Media and Archive Committee Membership: This committee shall be composed of five (5) members. This Department shall have responsibility for recording (by means of
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photography and video recording) and archiving of Church’s programs and activities, and such other related activities as may be assigned to it by the Church Council.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCES
1. The fiscal year of the church shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31st of each year.
2. The annual church budget will be prepared by a budget committee and presented to the congregation.
3. The church finance is guided by the annual budget of the church.
4. The Church Council shall have the authority to amend and modify the annual budget.
5. Upon resolution of the church, all the liquid and non liquid assets of the church shall be transferred to the following religious non-profit entity in the order of precedence: The successor organization are American Baptist Churches – US, and Kachin Baptist Convention
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution or any of its provisions may be altered, amended, or repealed, and a new constitution may be adopted at any time with an affirmation of change, as reflected by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any special or regular Church Council meeting at which a quorum is present. It must be passed by a two-thirds majority vote of those casting ballots.