CONSTITUTION OF  QUIDNESSETT BAPTIST CHURCH

PREAMBLE

Since it pleased Almighty God, by His Holy Spirit, to call certain of His servants to unite here under the name Quidnessett Baptist Church of North Kingstown, RI, for the worship of God and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we, the members of Quidnessett Baptist Church do hereby organize ourselves and adopt this Constitution as our articles of governance, to be interpreted at all times to reflect the character of and bring glory to Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Holy Bible and articulated in the Statement of Faith and practice of the Covenant of this church.

We hereby revoke all previous constitutions and by-laws. This document was revised by a vote of membership of Quidnessett Baptist Church on December 3, 2023.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this church is: Quidnessett Baptist Church.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of Quidnessett Baptist Church is to glorify God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The mission of Quidnessett Baptist Church is to accomplish this purpose in two primary ways:

Pleasing God through lives committed to growing in holiness.

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ through a gospel-centered church inwardly focused to mature God’s people in Christ and outwardly focused to reach the lost for Christ.

ARTICLE III: STATEMENT OF FAITH

We the congregation of Quidnessett Baptist Church present the following articles as a statement of those basic truths taught in the Bible which are common to our Christian faith and practice:

God. We believe that there is only one living and true God; possessed of all possible perfections, and of each in an infinite degree; and that he has revealed himself in the Holy Scriptures to his people under the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same in essence and equal in every divine perfection. (Ex.20:1-3; Isa.46:9; Mk.12:29; Jn. 10:30; 14:9; 16:7-15; Matt. 28:19)

Jesus Christ. We believe that the Son, who is the Word of the father, the very and eternal God, took man’s nature of the Virgin Mary, so that two whole and perfect natures in one person, that is to say, the son, who is Christ, very God and very Man; who truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried, to reconcile us to the Father, and to be a sacrifice not only for original guilt, but also for the actual sins of man. (Phil. 2:6-8; Jn. 1:1, 14; Isa. 53:4,5; Matt. 20:28; Rom. 5:18-21; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18; Heb.1:8; Eph. 2:16)

Bodily Resurrection. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of God, where he ever lives to make intercession for the redeemed. (1 Cor.15:20; 1 Pet. 1:3; Heb. 1:3, 7:25; 1 Jn. 2:1)

Holy Spirit. We believe that the Holy Spirit was sent by the Son to lead believers into all truth, and to convict the world in respect of sin, of righteousness, and of Judgment. (John .16:7, 8, 13, 15; Acts 2:33)

Scriptures. We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as verbally inspired by God, as inerrant in the original writings, and as the supreme and final authority in faith and life. II Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 19:7; Isaiah 8:20; II Peter 1:21.

Man. We believe that man was created in a holy and happy state; but by his disobedience to the laws of his Creator, he not only exposed himself to personal misery, but involved his whole posterity in the temporal and eternal consequences of sin; and as an effect of his apostasy, the whole human race possess a depraved nature, by which they are disinclined to things morally good, and prone to choose and delight in evil. (Gen. 1:27, 31; Ecc. 7:29; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12; Jn. 3:6; Ps. 51:5; Rom. 8:7, 6:23; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom.1:32; 3:10-18; Jer. 13:23; Matt. 25:46)

Salvation. We believe that the only way of salvation from this state of guilt and condemnation is through the righteousness and atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is now exalted to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins, so that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Isaiah 53:4-8; John 10:9, 10, 11, 15; Acts 4:11, 12; 5:31; Romans 5:6, 8-11, 21; 6:23; 3:21-26; Jn. 3:16,36)

Assurance. We believe that Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification; and that we have the fullest assurance that those who die in the Lord shall rise again to a glorious immortality. It is the duty of all believers to give all diligence to make their calling and election sure, by sincere and loving obedience to the commands and teachings of his Word. (Romans 4:25, 5:18; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 52, 53; 2 Peter 1:10)

Second Coming. We believe that Christ will come a second time with power and great glory; that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust; that the just will be raised incorruptible, who, together with the righteous live, changed in a moment, shall be rewarded according to the deeds done in the body and received into Christ’s kingdom and glory, and so shall they ever be with the Lord; and that the unjust shall awake to shame and everlasting punishment. (Heb. 9:28; Titus 2:13; Col. 3:4; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:52; 2 Cor.5:10; 1 Thess. 4:16,17; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 22:11)

Lord’s Day. We believe that the first day of the week, called the Lord’s Day, ought to be kept holy; and that it is our duty to assemble on that day and worship God in a public manner, by offering up our prayers and thanksgiving, by attending to the preached Word and the ordinances of the Church. (1 Cor. 16:2; Heb. 10:23-25)

Ordinances. We believe that Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ, to be continued until his second coming; the ordinance of Baptism is normally administered by immersion. We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a commemoration of the Lord’s death until He comes. (Matt.28:19; Jn. 3:23; Acts 2:41, 42; 8:36-39; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Matt. 26:26-29; Mk.14:22-25; 1 Cor. 10:16)

The Church. We believe that the Church of Christ is a congregation of believers under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, associated by voluntary covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel, observing the ordinances of Christ, exercising the gifts and privileges of his Word, for mutual edification and the spread of the gospel throughout the world; that its officers are pastors (or bishops or elders) and deacons, whose qualifications and duties are clearly set forth in the letters of Paul. (Acts 2:41, 47; 11:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:1-13; 4:17; 14:23; 3 John 9; 2 Cor. 8:1-5; Matt. 28:20; Gal. 6:2; 1 Tim. 3)

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

This church shall consist of believers in Christ who have given evidence of repentance and regeneration of heart, having been baptized, and having adopted the Purpose & Mission statement, Statement of Faith, and the Covenant held by this church, stated in, Article II (Purpose & Mission), Article III (Statement of Faith)and Article IV (Covenant) respectively.

ARTICLE VI: GOVERNMENT

The final governmental authority of this church shall be vested in the body of believers who comprise its membership (I Peter 2:9). It shall be a locally autonomous body under the jurisdiction of no other ecclesiastical authority. It acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as its only Head and receives the Scriptures as its supreme guide in matters of faith, order, and discipline. The system of government and church officers shall be described in the bylaws.

ARTICLE VII: INDEMNIFICATION

Mandatory Indemnification

If a legal claim or criminal allegation is made against a person because he or she is or was an officer, employee, or agent of the church, the church shall provide indemnification against liability and costs incurred in defending against the claim if the elders determine that the person acted (a) in good faith, (b) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances, and (c) in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the church, and the person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Permissive Indemnification

At the discretion of the elders, the church also may indemnify any person who acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the church’s best interest and not unlawful.

Procedure

If a quorum of the elders is not available for an indemnification determination because of the number of elders seeking indemnification, the requisite determination may be made by the membership or by special legal counsel appointed by the membership.

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS

The Biblical offices in the church are elders and deacons.  In addition, our church recognizes the administrative positions under this constitution of administrator, clerk, and treasurer.  All officers must be members of this church prior to assuming their responsibilities.

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS

Worship Meetings

Worship services shall be held each Lord’s Day and may be held throughout the week as the church determines.

Members Meetings

In every meeting together, members shall act in that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration which is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There shall be a regular members’ meeting at least three times a year, at some time apart from the Sunday morning service, and at a time acceptable to the membership. The elders shall see that the stated meetings of the church are regularly held.

Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, a quorum shall be understood to be met by seventy percent of current membership in good standing. All votes shall be tallied based on the number of votes cast by members present, and any motion will be passed by a three-quarters majority vote.

There shall be an annual members’ meeting, at which normally officers are elected, positions filled, and a budget approved by the membership no less than two weeks prior to the start of the fiscal year. The fiscal year will commence on July 1.

Special members’ meetings may be called as required by the elders, or at the written request submitted to the elders of one third of members in good standing.  Ordinarily, a special meeting will be called with at least two-weeks’ notice. The location, date, time, and purpose of any special meeting shall be announced at all public services of the church and posted at all entrances to the church building within the two weeks preceding the meeting or for as much time as is available if a meeting must be called with fewer than two-weeks’ notice. In the event of a written request from the members, the elders shall call a special meeting to be held within one month of their receipt of the request.  In situations where the elders call a special members’ meeting with fewer than two-weeks’ notice, an email shall be sent to all church members with email addresses on file indicating the location, date, time, and purpose of the meeting. When an email address is not on file, a physical letter shall be sent.

ARTICLE X: ELECTIONS

Principles

The process for church elections shall be interpreted and carried out to fulfill the following principles:

Substantial prayer, both individually and corporately, should be an integral part of the election process.

Nominations should proceed with the support of the elders.

All candidates for church office should be treated with grace, kindness, and honesty appropriate in evaluating fellow members.

The election process shall express that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration that is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Selection of Officers

A slate of names of nominees to serve as elders and deacons shall be presented by the elders and made known to the church at least one month prior to voting. Any member with reason to believe that a nominated candidate is unqualified for an office should express such concern to the elders. Members intending to speak in opposition to a candidate should express their objection to the elders as far in advance as possible before the relevant church members’ meeting at which the church votes on the candidates.

The moderator, as determined by the elders shall declare as elected those persons receiving a seventy-five percent majority of the members present.

The persons elected shall assume their respective offices upon election unless another date has been specifically designated.

Calling of the Senior Pastor

In the calling of any man to this position, the same basic process of calling an elder must be followed.  In addition, however, the church must be given adequate opportunity to assess the preaching gifts of any potential senior pastor and, before being asked to express its judgment, must receive assurance from the elders that, having interviewed the man concerned, they are in no doubt as to his wholehearted assent to the Statement of Faith and Church Covenant.  Notice of the nomination of a man to be elected to membership and called as senior pastor (which shall include, if necessary, election to membership of his wife if he is married) must be given at two Sunday morning services following the nomination, prior to the vote at a members’ meeting.

Calling of Associate Pastor

In the calling of any man to the position of associate pastor, the same basic process of calling an elder must be followed. In addition, however, the church must be given adequate opportunity to assess the preaching gifts of any potential associate pastor and, before being asked to express its judgment, must receive assurance from the elders that, having interviewed the man concerned, they are in no doubt as to his wholehearted assent to the Statement of Faith and Church Covenant.  Notice of the nomination of a man to be called as associate pastor (which shall include, if necessary, election to membership of him and his wife if he is married) must be given at two Sunday morning services following the nomination, prior to the vote at a members’ meeting.

ARTICLE XI: BYLAWS

The Bylaws are adopted, ordained, and established for government, plan of worship, and service. In case of conflict, the Constitution takes precedence over a Bylaw. Bylaws shall be adopted and may be amended by three-fourths vote of at least seventy percent of the church membership.

ARTICLE XII: DISSOLUTION

Members of this church have no church property rights, and upon termination of membership, they shall be entitled to no personal interest in the church’s assets. In the event of the dissolution of the corporation, property of the church shall be distributed as follows: All property, real or personal, owned by this corporation shall be and hereby is irrevocably dedicated to Christian purposes and uses, and upon liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment of the corporation, shall not enure to the benefit of any private person, except a fund, foundation, or corporation organized and operated for evangelical Christian purposes consistent with the Statement of Faith in Article III of this Constitution.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1: This constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of at least seventy percent of the church membership.

SECTION 2: All proposed amendments to this constitution must be posted in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote at a regular or special business meeting.

SECTION 3: If there is a revision of, or an amendment to, the bylaws of this church, the revocation date of the Bylaws stated in the Preamble of the Constitution shall change accordingly.

SECTION 4: The Statement of Faith and Covenant in this constitution may not be altered or amended to weaken the Scriptural and evangelical standards.

SECTION 5: No part of this constitution shall conflict with the Articles of Incorporation of this organization.

As members of Quidnessett Baptist Church, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves:

• To walk together in Christian love (1 Cor. 13; Eph.5:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:22)
• To strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:7-14; Phil 1:9-10)
• To promote its biblical unity and spirituality (Eph. 2:18-22; 4:1-6)
• To sustain its worship, ordinances, disciplines, and doctrines (John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42