Big Creek Association

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I — NAME

The name of the association shall be the Big Creek Baptist Association.

ARTICLE II — PURPOSE

The purpose of this association shall be to promote Christian fellowship and cooperation among the churches affiliated with the association; to uphold the doctrines and principles of The Baptist Faith and Message as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention; to encourage the churches to be loyal to and practice these doctrines and principles; to promote the preaching and teaching of God’s word; to enlist and train Christians for service; to promote missions, benevolence, stewardship, Christian education, and the sharing of Christ with all people to the ends of the earth; and to cooperate with the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention in a world missions program.

ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. This association shall be composed of messengers elected by the cooperating churches.

Section 2. Each church shall be entitled to five messengers for the first 50 members (or fractional part thereof) and one additional messenger for 50 members above the first 50 (or fractional part thereof). The total number of messengers shall not exceed ten.

Section 3. Each church is encouraged to report its progress of ministry and missions each year. The form of this report shall be the Annual Church Profile report for Southern Baptist Convention churches and missions. The report is to be completed by each church and sent to the associational Clerk.

Section 4. The associational Clerk shall bring to the attention of the Moderator (in writing) any church that has not sent messengers and provided an Annual Church Profile report for a period of two consecutive years. The Moderator, in consultation with the General Officers of the association, shall contact said church to determine its desire to remain affiliated with the association in consideration of the provisions of this Constitution. The Moderator will then present a recommendation from the General Officers as to appropriate action to be taken at the next Executive Board meeting.

Section 5. Any church desiring affiliation with the association shall present a written application to the Moderator of the association at least 90 days before the Fall Meeting. This application shall show evidence of doctrinal soundness, spiritual unity, and the intent of the church to be in accord and cooperate with the affiliated churches constituting the association. The Moderator shall appoint a five-person committee to study the matter and present their recommendation at the Fall Meeting, at which time the association will act upon the recommendation.

Section 6. The Articles of Faith for this association, which shall be the basis of fellowship and cooperation, is The Baptist Faith and Message, in its most current form, adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention.

ARTICLE IV — AUTHORITY

Section 1. Under no circumstances shall this association attempt to assume ecclesiastical authority over the churches. The complete independence and autonomy of each church shall always be fully recognized.

Section 2. The association recognizes its responsibility to seat messengers only from churches which are in conformity with the provisions of Articles II and III of this Constitution.

Section 3. Each church which sends messengers to the association shall, by the election of these messengers, recognize its responsibility to support the association with attendance, personnel, and funds.

ARTICLE V — GENERAL OFFICERS

The General Officers of this association shall be a Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer. The General Officers shall be elected by majority vote of messengers present at the Spring Meeting and shall assume their duties at the close of the Fall Meeting.

ARTICLE VI — EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Executive Board of the association shall be composed of the association’s General Officers, Ministry Directors, and the pastor and one other duly elected member from each church.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall act for the association when the messengers are not in session, but is not empowered to act contrary to established associational policy or this Constitution.

Section 3. It shall be the task of the Executive board to carry out the instructions of the association and promote the work of the association throughout the year, fill vacancies that may occur among the association’s General Officers and Ministry Directors, and to regulate the compensation and direct the work of its employees. It shall be the duty of each member of the board to attend all meetings upon written notice.

ARTICLE VII — COMMITTEES

Section 1. The General Officers of the association shall function as the sole standing committee of the association. The Director of Missions shall be an ex-officio member of this committee.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall elect a Nominating Committee composed of five members during its January meeting. This committee will make nominations for the General Officer and Ministry Director positions for the upcoming church year and present them at the Spring Meeting of the association. Upon successful completion of assigned duties, the committee will cease to function.

Section 3. The Moderator shall be at liberty to appoint any special committee that he may deem necessary to facilitate the work of the association, with such committees operating under his own direction without definite tenure of office. The work of such committees will always be under the authority of the association or of the Executive Board. Upon successful completion of assigned duties, the committee will cease to function.

ARTICLE VIII — MINISTRY DIRECTORS

Ministry Directors, provided for in the By-Laws, shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and presented for consideration at the Spring Meeting. They will be elected by a majority vote of the messengers present. The Ministry Directors shall begin their duties at the close of the Fall Meeting.

ARTICLE IX — MEETINGS

Section 1. The association shall meet once per year in the Fall.

Section 2. Special meetings of the association may be called by the Moderator upon the request of the Executive Board with a fifteen day written notice to the churches. In case of such called meetings, the association’s membership shall consist of the messengers to the last Fall Meeting, unless new messengers are elected and certified by the churches. Those present shall constitute a quorum.

Section 3. In its deliberations, the association, the Executive Board, General Officers, and any committees shall be governed by the most recent revision of Roberts’ Rules of Order.

ARTICLE X — FINANCE

The association shall expect all churches of the association to provide sufficient funds to support necessary operating expenses. All monies shall be turned over to the Treasurer to be dispersed as authorized by the association or the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XI — AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended by a written motion at an Executive Meeting, sent to every church in Brig Creek Association, voted on at the Annual Meeting.
BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I — MEETINGS

The association shall hold one meeting ear year during the third week of September each year.

ARTICLE II — GENERAL OFFICERS

The General Officers of the association and their duties shall be as follows:

Section 1. MODERATOR. The Moderator shall preside over the meetings of the association, discharge such duties as are generally incumbent upon such officers of deliberative bodies, and shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees. In addition, he will serve as the association’s representative to the Baptist Student Union Advisory Board, preside over meetings of the association’s General Officers, be the Chairman of the Executive Board of the association, and act as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. His tenure in office shall not exceed two consecutive years.

Section 2. VICE-MODERATOR. The Vice-Moderator shall render assistance to the Moderator as seems proper and necessary, and shall preside over meetings of the association at the request of the Moderator or in the absence of the Moderator. Should the Moderator leave office for any cause, the Vice-Moderator shall be elected by the Executive Board to serve through the next Fall Meeting. He shall be Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board and act as Vice-Chairman of the Corporation.

Section 3. CLERK. The Clerk shall keep accurate records of all the proceedings of the association and the Executive Board, receive the Annual Church Profile reports from the churches, superintend the printing and distribution of the association’s Annual, and oversee the Book of Reports as prepared by the Baptist Mission Center for the Fall Meeting. The Clerk shall act as the Recording Secretary of the Corporation.

Section 4. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall receive, preserve, and disburse all monies received at the direction of the association or Executive Board. He/she shall present a financial report to the churches and the association quarterly. He/she shall act as Treasurer of the Corporation.

ARTICLE III — EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall meet regularly at least once each quarter. The members, representing at least five churches, at any meeting, regular or called, shall constitute a quorum. Special meetings may be called by the Moderator provided all members of the Executive Board shall have been notified in writing at least one week prior to the time of the proposed meeting.

ARTICLE IV — COMMITTEES

Section 1. STANDING COMMITTEE. The General Officers of the association shall serve as the sole standing committee of the association. They shall set their own schedule of meeting times and be responsible for:

(1) planning, publicizing, and conducting the meetings of the association, to include publishing and sending a complete Order of Business to the churches at least seven days in advance of meetings;

(2) assisting the association in securing, administering, and reporting of its finances, to include developing and recommending an associational budget in consultation with the Executive Board and conducting studies and making recommendations concerning proposed expenditures not included in the budget;

Section 2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Nominating Committee will be composed of five members. Its duties shall be to make nominations for the General Officer and Ministry Director positions for the upcoming church year and present them for consideration at the Spring Meeting of the association. Upon successful completion of assigned duties, the committee will cease to function.

ARTICLE V — MINISTRY DIRECTORS

Each Ministry Director shall enlist and train persons to assist in carrying out the function and program tasks as specified in convention literature or as he/she deems necessary. All enlisted persons shall be subject to approval by the association or Executive Board.

Section 1. SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR. The principal functions are to assist and challenge churches to improve and enlarge all areas of their Bible study program through planning and training activities. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) reach people for Bible study, (2) teach the Bible, (3) witness to people concerning Christ and lead them to church membership, (4) minister to Sunday School members and nonmembers, (5) lead member to worship, and (6) interpret and undergird the work of the church and denomination.

Section 2. DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING DIRECTOR. The principal function is to assist churches in starting, improving, and expanding Christian discipleship through their church training programs. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) equip church members for discipleship and personal ministry, (2) teach Christian theology and Baptist doctrine, Christian ethics, Christian history, and church polity and organization, (3) equip church leaders for service, and (4) interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination.

Section 3. WOMAN’S MISSIONARY UNION DIRECTOR. The principal function is to assist churches in promoting missions and in establishing, enlarging and strengthening WMU work. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) teach missions, (2) engage in mission action and personal witnessing, (3) support missions, and (4) interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination.

Section 4. EVANGELISM DIRECTOR. The principal function is to lead the churches to address the priority of evangelism in their area. Specific tasks are: (1) church evangelism committee development, (2) evangelism strategy development, (3) mass evangelism, (4) personal evangelism, (5) rural and small church evangelism, (6) specialized evangelism, (7) renewal evangelism, and (8) evangelism prospect discovery.

Section 5. MISSIONS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. The principal function is to lead the association to address the priority missions frontiers in their areas. Specific tasks are: (1) church missions committee development, (2) missions survey and analysis, (3) church extension, (4) language missions, (5) Christian social ministries, (6) chaplain ministries, (7) inter-faith witness, (8) black church relations, and (9) special mission ministries.

Section 6. PASTORAL MINISTRIES DIRECTOR. The principal functions are (1) to assist churches in the development of pastoral and deacon ministries, (2) to conduct special projects and activities which enable churches to fulfill their mission, and (3) to minister to the distinctive needs of pastors, deacons, and church staff persons. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) proclaim the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (2) interpret and undergird the work of the church and the denomination.

Section 7. YOUTH DIRECTOR. The principal function is to strengthen youth ministry in the churches through awareness, training, and special events for youth and youth leaders. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) plan a balanced slate of special events such as rallies, (2) provide youth leader training events in cooperation with the association and state convention, and (3) build a support team of youth ministry persons.

Section 8. MUSIC DIRECTOR. The principal function is to promote the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ in the association through the medium of music. Specific tasks are: (1) plan a balanced slate of special music events on an association-wide scale, (2) provide music ministry training events in cooperation with the association and state convention.

Section 9. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL DIRECTOR. The principal functions are to assist and challenge churches to improve and enlarge all areas of their Vacation Bible Schools through planning and training activities. Specific tasks are to help churches: (1) reach persons for Vacation Bible School, (2) teach the Bible, and (3) witness to people concerning Christ and lead them to church membership.

ARTICLE VI — FINANCE

The association shall urge each church to contribute liberally to the work of the association. An amount equal to no less than one percent (1%) of the church’s undesignated gifts is recommended. See Proposed Financial Policies listed on page 22 in the 1991 Association Annual and voted on at the 120th Annual Meeting, October 14, 1991.

ARTICLE VII — AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the association by a majority vote of the messengers present.