Though the true Church is a living organism, the visible working church needs to be well organized. Organizations and government are not to be despised because God’s Word says, Let all things be done decently and in order. (Mk. 13:34; Acts 6:3-4; Ro. 12:3-8; I Cor. 12:28, 14:33, 40; Eph. 4:11, 12; I Peter 2:9-10)

The pursuit of this purpose compels us to be engaged in His work of redeeming souls (Mt. 28:19; Jn. 3:16; Ro. 3:22-26; Eph 1:7), transforming the culture (Gen. 1:26, 28; Mt. 28:19-20; Rom. 8:21; Col. 1:15-20), sanctifying believers in Christ (Jn. 17:17; Acts 20:32; I Cor. 1:2, 6:11, 7:14; Eph. 5:26; I Thes. 5:23), and meeting the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of individuals. (I Cor. 12:20-26; Phil. 4:14; Heb. 4:16; I Jn. 3:17-18) Essential ministries to achieve this purpose include ministry of the Word, worship, fellowship, prayer and giving. (Acts 2:41-47) Primary measures of our devotion to this purpose include obedience to His will and making and sending disciples, who in turn make disciples who seek to glorify God in all that they do. (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; Col. 1:16-18)

1. The Officers of Trinity Church shall consist of Elders and Deacons.

a. Elders

i. Elders shall be responsible as servant leaders to act on behalf of Christ, the true head of the church in advancing the well-being of all individuals in the congregation. (Mt. 16:18; Acts 11:30,14:23, 20:17; Eph. 4:15, 5:23; Phil. 1:1; Col. 2:10; I Thes.5:12; I Tim. 3:1-7,5:17-25; Titus1:5-9; Heb. 13:17; Ja. 5:14-12; I Pet. 5:1-5) Among the responsibilities of the Elders are teaching the Word of God (Acts 6:4; I Tim. 3:2, 4:13, 5:17; II Tim. 2:2; Titus 1:9), interceding in prayer (Deu. 4:7; Ps. 34:15-17, 145:18; Jer. 33:3; Acts 6:2,4; Eph. 3:14-21; I Tim 2: 1,8), leading the congregation toward righteous living (Dan. 12:3; Mt. 6:33, 13:43; Acts 2:42-47, 20:28; Ro. 1:17; I Tim. 6:11; I Pet. 4:18), applying biblical discipline (Mt. 18:15-17), providing care to meet spiritual, emotional, and physical needs (Jn. 10:12-18; Acts 20:28-35; I Cor. 13; II Cor. 2:4; Heb. 13:17; Ja. 5:14; I Pet. 5:1-3), providing protection against false doctrine (Acts 15:6; 20:28-35; I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9), and overseeing the ministries of the church. (II Sam. 5:2; I Tim. 5:17; I Pet.5:1-5) The Elders shall utilize the members of the church staff to help fulfill these responsibilities (I Tim. 5:17; I Pet. 5:1-5), and shall appoint Deacons to help meet needs within the congregation and the community. (Acts 6:1-6) The Elders shall organize themselves as a Council of Elders, and in such other forms as they determine. A chairman and secretary of the Council of Elders shall be elected by the Elders in June of each year.

ii. Elders shall be appointed by the Council of Elders. (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5) The congregation shall have opportunity to nominate individuals to be appointed as Elders. An individual shall be appointed to serve as an Elder upon affirmative vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose. Such a vote shall be taken only after a person has 1) acknowledged a desire and willingness (Acts 20:28) to serve as an Elder, 2) the Council of Elders has confirmed that the person has met biblical criteria (I Tim, 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Pet. 5:1-4) and such additional criteria established as operational policy by the board of Governing Elders and 3) the congregation has been given opportunity for not less than twenty one days following public announcement of an individual’s consideration for appointment to submit to the Council of Elders formal written objections regarding the person’s biblical qualifications to serve (I Tim. 3:10), and the Council of Elders has given full consideration to such objections. The number of Elders is not limited. An Elder shall be appointed to serve a four year term, and may be appointed to serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms. Members of the pastoral staff ordained by Trinity Church, or by an organization utilizing equivalent criteria, shall be appointed elders. An Elder may resign or be removed from office prior to expiration of the term to which appointed. The Council of Elders may remove an Elder who no longer meets the biblical or established additional criteria by a vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose.

iii. The ministry of the Elders shall be directed through policies established by a Board of Governing Elders consisting of not less than nine and not more than eleven Elders. The person who is approved by the regular members of the church to be the lead teaching pastor and the person who is approved by the regular members of the church to be the lead organizational pastor (as provided in Article IV.A.1.a.iv.) shall be Governing Elders and the only church employees serving on the Board of Governing Elders. Those Governing Elders who are not employees of the church shall be chosen by affirmative vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose. A quorum of at least seventy-five percent of the Elders shall be required at a meeting for the purpose of voting for Governing Elders. The Elders shall elect as many Governing Elders as necessary to fill vacancies on the Board of Governing Elders. The term of a Governing Elder shall begin June 1, and up to three Governing Elders shall begin their term each June. However, the term of a Governing Elder elected to fulfill the unexpired term of a Governing Elder who resigned or was removed from office shall begin upon election and shall end at the conclusion of such unexpired term. Governing Elders who are not employees of the church shall be elected to serve a term of three years. A Governing Elder may be elected to serve a second, consecutive three year term. A Governing Elder elected to fulfill an unexpired term may be considered for two consecutive three year terms following the conclusion of such unexpired term. After completion of his elected three year term if not re-elected to a second consecutive term, or after completion of two consecutive three year terms, a person is not eligible for election again (or selection to fulfill an unexpired term) for one year. A chairman of the Board of Governing Elders shall be elected by the full board of Governing Elders in June of each year, and shall be a Governing Elder other than the lead teaching pastor or the lead organizational pastor. A secretary of the Board of Governing Elders shall be elected by the Board of Governing Elders in June of each year, and shall be a Governing Elder. The secretary shall have the responsibility to document adopted policies and other actions of the Governing Elders. The Board of Governing Elders or its designated agent is authorized to act on behalf of Trinity Church in all matters for which legal authority is required; except as legal authority is granted to others in matters concerning selection of, and dissolution of the employment relationship with, the lead teaching pastor or lead organizational pastor, as provided in Article IV.A.1.a.iv. The Board of Governing Elders shall not be allowed to consummate any transaction, or series of related transactions, involving more than 10% of the immediately preceding year’s income of the church, without prior authorization by the regular members of the church.

iv. The lead teaching pastor and the lead organizational pastor shall, by virtue of their offices, be Elders and Governing Elders during the term of their employment in such offices. The responsibilities of the lead teaching pastor and the lead organizational pastor shall be those assigned by the Board of Governing Elders. The Governing Elders shall periodically evaluate how the lead teaching pastor and the lead organizational pastor are fulfilling such responsibilities.

The process for selecting a new lead teaching pastor shall begin with the Board of Governing Elders appointing a search committee. The committee shall consist of a minimum of four Elders and the spouse of each married Elder so appointed, and the lead organizational pastor and his spouse. The spouse of an appointed committee member may choose not to serve on the search committee. The search committee shall secure a suitable candidate and submit his name to the Council of Elders for consideration. The Council of Elders shall interview the candidate and determine whether to recommend him to be voted upon by the regular membership. The recommendation of a candidate by the Council of Elders shall be mailed to each member and regular attenders at least two weeks before the date voting is to begin. Before the vote, the recommended candidate shall meet with members and attenders in various forums, and shall preach at one or more church services as determined by the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders shall also solicit written comments from members and regular attenders regarding the candidate, to be received prior to the conclusion of voting. A lead teaching pastor shall be called following an affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the regular members voting.

The process for selecting a new lead organizational pastor shall begin with the Board of Governing Elders appointing a search committee. The committee shall consist of a minimum of four Elders and the spouse of each married Elder so appointed, and the lead teaching pastor and his spouse. The spouse of an appointed committee member may choose not to serve on the search committee. The search committee shall secure a suitable candidate and submit his name to the Council of Elders for consideration. The Council of Elders shall interview the candidate and determine whether to recommend him to be voted upon by the regular membership. The recommendation of a candidate by the Council of Elders shall be mailed to each member and regular attenders at least two weeks before the date voting is to begin. Before the vote, the recommended candidate shall meet with members and attenders in various forums as determined by the Council of Elders. The Council of Elders shall also solicit written comments from members and regular attenders regarding the candidate, to be received prior to the conclusion of voting. A lead organizational pastor shall be called following an affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the regular members voting.

The lead teaching pastor and the lead organizational pastor may be the same person.

The lead teaching pastor and the lead organizational pastor shall each serve until such person's employment relationship is dissolved upon at least thirty days notice by either the employee or the Council of Elders, or otherwise by mutual consent. A decision by the Council of Elders to dissolve the employment relationship with either the lead teaching pastor or the lead organizational pastor shall require an affirmative vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose. Voting by absentee ballot shall not be permitted. A quorum of at least seventy-five percent of the Elders shall be required at such meeting.

b. Deacons

i. Deacons shall be appointed to serve by the Council of Elders (Acts 6:1-6) on affirmative vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose. Such a vote shall be taken only after a person has 1) acknowledged a desire and willingness to serve as a Deacon, 2) the Council of Elders has confirmed that the individual has met biblical criteria (Acts 6:3; I Tim. 3:8-13) and such additional criteria established as operational policy by the board of Governing Elders and 3) the congregation has been given opportunity for not less than twenty-one days following public announcement of a nominee’s consideration for appointment to submit formal written objections regarding the individual’s biblical qualifications to serve (I Tim. 3:10), and the Council of Elders has given full consideration to such objections.

The number of Deacons is not limited. A Deacon shall be appointed to serve a four year term, and may be appointed to serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms. A Deacon may resign or may be removed from office prior to expiration of the term to which appointed. The Council of Elders may remove a Deacon who no longer meets the biblical or established additional criteria by a vote of at least ninety percent of the Elders voting at a meeting called for such purpose.

ii. Appointment of Deacons shall be for such purposes as designated by the Council of Elders in accordance with policies established by the Board of Governing Elders. The primary ministry of Deacons shall be compassionate care of those in need. (Mt. 25:44-45; Acts 6:1, 11:29; Ro. 15:25-26; II Cor. 8:2-5, 9:1-5)

1. Congregational meetings

a. The annual meeting of the congregation shall be held the first Sunday in October. The meeting shall begin with reading the Articles of Faith. The Governing Elders shall report to the congregation concerning the status of the ministries of the church; the work of the Governing Elders, the Council of Elders, and the Deacons; church finances; and the budget for the next fiscal year.

b. The Board of Governing Elders may call other meetings of the congregation upon at least fifteen days notice by public announcement.

2. Voting methods

a. The voting privilege is given to regular members of the church eighteen years of age and over. Absentee ballots may be requested by members in good standing for all congregational votes. Except as provided in Article IV.A.1.a.iv and Article V.B., a simple majority of those voting shall be required to adopt any motion or take any action by the congregation.

b. The Governing Elders shall implement a process for voting designed to offer a reasonable opportunity for all qualified persons to cast ballots on matters presented for vote.

The Details of Belief and Practice may be revised from time to time by the Council of Elders, but must always be consistent with the Articles of Faith.

B. The Constitution shall not be revised in such a way as to render the prosecution of its original declared purpose ineffective. To revise the Constitution, the congregation must ratify the change by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the regular membership present at an annual meeting or other meeting called by the Governing Elders for such purpose. Proposed changes shall be recommended by the Board of Governing Elders and presented to each regular member in writing mailed to the member’s last known address, or presented by electronic transmission to an address provided by the member, at least one month before the scheduled ratification vote.

We hold that membership in a localchurch involves definite responsibilities. It is expected that he or she:

1. Commit to conduct himself/herself in daily living so as to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ according to the pattern of spiritual life demonstrated and taught by Christ Jesus in the New Testament. (Eph. 4:1-3, 5:8-17; I Pet. 1:15, 16; Mt. 22:36-40)

2. Respond to God with cheerful service in the various ministries of the church, as He leads and gives ability. (Gal. 5:16-18; Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:23-24; Rom. 8:4-9)

3. Give high priority to participation in church functions, especially those held for worship, preaching and teaching of the Word, fellowship and prayer. (Acts 2:41-47; Heb 10:25)

4. Diligently and faithfully give of his/her financial means to support the efforts of this church to proclaim the gospel at home and abroad. (Ex. 25:2; Mal. 3:7-12; I Cor. 16:2; II Cor. 9:6-7)

In addition to the regular membership of the church, there shall be recognized an associate membership. This is available for students and other persons whose residence in the area is temporary, who meet every other requirement for church membership, and who wish to retain previously established membership elsewhere. Associate members shall not have voting privileges or be appointed to any church office. Associate membership is dissolved at the time the individual’s temporary residence in this community terminates.

The individual seeking membership in Trinity Church shall:

1. Study the church's Articles of Faith and Constitution

2. Attend the approved membership instruction class or its equivalent. (This requirement maybe waived by the Council of Elders.)

3. Sign a statement indicating complete agreement with the Articles of Faith, and a willingness to abide by the Constitution.

4. Appear before designated Elders to give personal testimony to a saving faith in the Person of Jesus Christ, and to declare the intention of walking in obedience to His commands.
5. Request membership in Trinity Church.

The Council of Elders shall consider the request for membership from every individual who has fulfilled these requirements. An individual shall be voted into membership by an affirmative vote of ninety percent of the Council of Elders.

Charter members are those who were accepted into membership in this local church within six months of the first Sunday worship service, held on September 7, 1952.

Faithfulness in the work (as outlined in Article VI, Section A) shall be required to keep a member in good standing in the church. Loss of good standing shall be determined in each case by the Council of Elders.

Any member upon his or her request may be released from membership. The Council of Elders, at its discretion, shall issue a letter of recommendation to another church if such is requested.

However, in order to fulfill all possible legal requirements, it is the expressed wish and desire of this corporation, if Trinity Church should bring its work to a conclusion and dissolve its corporation, that none of its assets remaining after meeting all responsibilities and payment of all just obligations shall insure to the benefit of any individual member of the corporation, Elder, missionary, employee, or other private individual. Any such assets shall, in the event of its dissolution, be turned over by decision at an annual meeting or a special meeting of the members of this corporation to an organization or organizations, which is or are in harmony with the objectives as stated in the Articles of Faith of Trinity Church. Such an organization or organizations must also be recognized by the United States Treasury Department as entitled to income tax exemption.

Reviewed and approved by the Council of Elders: April 28, 2009.