Our Bylaws

Church of Our Savior, MCC

Preamble

In order to build a community of worshippers in the Christian tradition, and to make
God’s will dominant in the lives of all people—both in our community and in the lives
of those with whom we may share the Good News of God’s love—we come to labor
and to laugh, to worship and to work, to share both joys and sorrows, tribulation and
triumph, as a family of faith and as individual faithful.

Who We Are

We are the Church of Our Savior Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), registered
as a non-profit corporation in the State of Florida, and affiliated with the Universal
Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

What We Believe

Our faith is based upon the principles of Jesus Christ outlined in the historic
Apostles and Nicene Creeds, and the Statement of Faith of the UFMCC (UFMCC By-
Laws, Article III, Section A).

We embrace two holy Sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (UFMCC By-
Laws, Article III, Section B). Other sacramental actions, performed by the Pastor or
by an authorized representative of the pastor, are called Rites of the Church:
Ordination, Membership, Holy Union, Holy Matrimony, Funerals, Memorial Services,
Laying on of Hands, and Blessings. (UFMCC By-Laws, Article III, Section C).

How We Minister
Our Shared Ministry

We affirm the universal priesthood of all believers. We are all called by God to a
ministry of the Gospel of Christ in the Church and in the world. We recognize the
giftedness of each individual, and urge each member of this community to seek
those appropriate gifts, using them for the benefit and blessing of the entire Body.

Our Pastor

We recognize the rights of the UFMCC to authorize and legally recognize clergy to
serve among the people as professional ministers of the Word and Sacraments. Our
Pastor shall be a recognized clergyperson of the UFMCC, elected by this local
congregation to be responsible for the duties of teacher, preacher, and spiritual
leader.

Other pastoral personnel may be appointed by the Pastor subject to the approval of
the Board of Directors. The Pastor shall act as personnel director of the local church
staff, shall have the authority to delegate such responsibilities and duties as seem
wise, and shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, determine compensation,
vacation periods, and titles of office staff.

Any termination of the Pastor shall be in compliance with Article V, Section 2 (b) of
the By-Laws of the UFMCC.

Our Deacons

After meeting all the educational and experimental requirements established by the
Pastor, the Pastor may appoint deacons, subject to the approval of the Board of
Directors. Faculties shall be granted for three years, and after evaluation, may be
granted for additional three-year periods without restriction.

Discipline, suspension, or removal shall be in compliance with Article IV, Section A2
(e) of the By-Laws of the UFMCC.

At the option of a newly elected Pastor the term of office of a deacon expires when
the newly elected Pastor assumes, in person, the pastorate of the church.

Our Candidates For Professional Ministry (Clergy Candidates)

As part of the process for ordination in the UFMCC, the Pastor may designate a
qualified individual "in formation," to allow such person the opportunity to begin the
process of becoming ordained clergy in the UFMCC. Such appointment is subject to
the approval of the Board of Directors. The term of appointment shall be valid for one
year, and may be reappointed for no more than a total of five years.

After the completion of all academic standards and local church experiential
activities, the individual "in formation" may apply to be a "candidate" at a teaching
church in accordance with Article IV, Section B (1) (c) of the UFMCC By-Laws.

The appointment of individuals "in formation" or as a "candidate" for ordination are
subject to Article IV, Section (1) of the UFMCC By-Laws, the policies of the Steering
Committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry, and the policies of the Board of
Ordained Ministry of the Southeast District of the UFMCC.

How We Govern Ourselves

Our Congregation

The government of this Church is vested in its members who exert the right to control
all of its affairs, subject to the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of this church and
of the UFMCC.

This church shall hold its annual congregation meeting in November of each year for
the purpose of electing conference delegates and new or re-elected members to the
Board of Directors, presenting reports, and conducting other business as may
reasonably be presented at that time. The exact date of the meeting shall be set by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors. Special congregational meetings may be
called by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Meetings shall be called and conducted in compliance with Article IX, Section C of
the By-Laws of the UFMCC.

Robert’s Rules of Order (USA) are used as a guideline for the conducting of
business.

Our Nominations

Nominations for Conference Delegates and members of the Board of Directors shall
only be made by nominating petition, which shall be signed by three members in
good standing and the person being nominated. These petitions shall be presented
to the Church Clerk at least four weeks prior to the annual congregational meeting.

Nominees to the Board of Directors or Conference Delegates shall have been a
member in good standing of this church for at least 12 months.

Our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of this church shall consist of six (5) members of the church
who are in good standing, in addition to the Pastor. The Board of Directors shall
have charge of all matters pertaining to the Articles of Incorporation, church property,
and physical and financial affairs of this church. The Board of Directors shall have
the responsibility for collecting and disbursing funds, keeping adequate church
records, and making reports to the congregation and through the Southeast District
to the UFMCC.

The Board of Directors shall serve as the Pastoral Search Committee upon the event
of a pastoral vacancy. For the purpose of its function as a pastoral search
committee, additional voting members may be elected or appointed as appropriate.

The Board of Directors generally meet monthly. These regularly scheduled meetings
are open to Members and Friends of the church, and interested congregants. The
Board may from time to time meet in “closed executive session”, especially when
considering personnel matters, but will report the outcome at the next scheduled
Board meeting.

Each Director shall hold office for a term of three years with the exception of the
Pastor who shall hold office concurrently with the term of the pastorate of this church.
The term of one-third of the members of the Board shall expire each year, with
elections held to fill the vacancies thus created. In the event of the resignation or
death or removal of a Director, the remaining members of the Board shall appoint an
Interim Director to serve until the next congregational meeting when an open
election shall be held for a replacement for the remainder of the original term. One
person per household may serve on the Board of Directors concurrently. No
member of the Board of Directors may vote on a personnel issue involving his or her
spouse.

No Director shall be elected to serve on this Board for more than two consecutive
full terms. That person may seek election to the Board of Directors one year after
completing the second term.

Discipline, suspension, or removal of a Director shall be in compliance with Article V,
Section B (3) (c) of the B

Our Conference Delegates

Our voting representatives to General and District Conferences shall be elected at
the first congregational meeting following each General Conference, and shall serve
for a term of two years.

In the event of the resignation or death or removal of a Lay Delegate, the Board of
Directors shall appoint an Interim Lay Delegate to serve until the next
congregational meeting when an open election shall be held for a replacement for
the remainder of the original term.

Our Membership

Persons who have expressed a desire to join this church may attain membership by
confession of faith or letter of transfer from another Christian body. Candidates for
membership shall complete a course of instruction provided by the Pastor or an
appointed pastoral representative.

In order to maintain membership in good standing, each member shall have
registered attendance at church services, identified financial support, definite service
contribution, and expressed interest and loyalty.

Discipline or removal (for cause) of a Member shall be in compliance with Article VII,
Section C of the By-Laws of the UFMCC.

Our Stewardship

This church teaches tithing as the scripturally affirmed means of supporting the
church and its ministries, and as the expression of good stewardship of time, skills
and money by individuals.

All church financial accounts shall have a minimum of two signatories, who are
chosen by the Board of Directors.

Our Property

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches shall be the
successor 501 (C) (3) corporation in the event of the dissolution or abandonment of
the Church of Our Savior MCC.

Our Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended at any congregational business meeting.
Amendment (s) to these By-Laws shall be proposed either by majority vote of the
Board of Directors, or by petition signed by 15% of the church members in good
standing. The proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted in writing to the voting
members of the congregation at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Any
amendment(s) shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting
members present at the meeting.