BYLAWS

of the

EAGLE RIDGE CHURCH OF GOD

"Bringing our Community to Christ"

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the Eagle Ridge Church of God, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, live to Glorify God and share His Truth in Love.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this Corporation is the Eagle Ridge Church of God, located at 2808 Waldo Avenue, Midland, Michigan 48642.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND IDENTIFICATION

Section 1. Purpose

The purpose of this Corporation, represented by the congregation of the Eagle Ridge Church of God, is to promote preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in order that people may be saved from sin and instructed in the Christian way of life and to perform any other activities consistent with the work of a church.

Section 2. Identification

To accomplish our purpose, this congregation is voluntarily associated with and thus a constituent part of, a larger group of similar churches known as the Church of God, whose doctrines, customs, and practices are in harmony with the standard of God’s Word as held by the General Assembly of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, 46018-0269, USA

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP, VOTING PRIVILEGE AND ROSTER

Section 1. Membership

All people, regardless of age, gender, race, or color who profess a personal salvation through Jesus Christ and have worshipped regularly (at least 26 Sunday morning worship services per year) with this congregation are considered as members of this corporation.

Section 2. Voting Privilege

In all business meetings of this congregation, the voting privilege is extended to all members who have reached the age of 18 years and have worshipped regularly (at least 26 Sunday morning worship services per year) with this congregation for a period of at least six months and have supported this congregation in its worship, service and finances. Any person not meeting the six months part of the qualification for voting may be given the right to vote by the Corporation. The right of any person to vote may be challenged by any other member. In such cases, the right of voting membership will be determined by a majority vote of the members present.

Section 3. Roster

All voting members will sign a roster provided before casting their ballots. The roster will be kept by the Corporation Clerk and be preserved as a part of the minutes of the meeting.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION

Section 1. Officers of the Corporation

All Officers of this Corporation will be elected at the Annual Business Meeting of the church. The term of office shall begin on January 1 and continue for a period of two years for a maximum of two consecutive terms, with the exception of the Treasurer and Financial Secretary, who are ratified yearly for indefinite terms.

Section 2. Corporation Chairperson

The Corporation Chairperson will be elected to preside at all Business Meetings of the church. Any member is eligible to hold this office, except the Pastoral staff or other Corporation officers. The Corporation Chairperson may remain an ex-officio member of Council for one year following his/her term of office.

Section 3. Assistant Corporation Chairperson

The Assistant Corporation Chairperson is elected to act in place of the Corporation Chairperson at his/her direction. Any member is eligible to hold this office except the Pastoral staff or other Corporation officers.

Section 4. Clerk

The elected Clerk’s duty is to make an accurate record of all the business meetings of the church and of the Council.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer will disburse the Corporation’s money in accordance with the budget adopted by the members of the Corporation for all general fund and special fund accounts and maintain a permanent record of these expenditures and supply periodic treasury reports to the Corporation, Council and the Site Management Committee as requested. The Treasurer may not be involved in the counting and/or banking of the church funds except as directed by the Site Management Committee.

Section 6. Financial Secretary

The Financial Secretary will maintain a detailed record of the contributions to the church and will supply each contributor with a statement of his/her contributions for the calendar year. The Financial Secretary may not be involved in the counting and/or banking of the church funds except as directed by the Site Management Committee.

Section 7. Vacancy of Corporation Office

The Church Council, now referred to as Council, is responsible for making nominations for vacancies occurring in the ranks of the Corporation Officers. These appointments will be ratified at a Special Business Meeting of the Corporation. Those appointed to fill a vacant office will serve the remainder of the uncompleted term and will be considered to have not held elected office for purposes of future election.

ARTICLE V. PASTORAL STAFF

Section 1. The Senior Pastor

The Senior Pastor, now referred to as the Pastor, will be chosen by the membership of the church for an indefinite period and will perform all those duties detailed in his job description, including being an ex-officio member of all Standing or Special Committees organized by Council, without obligation to sit in on each meeting.

Section 2. Termination of Pastoral Leadership

In either event described in Section 2a or 2b below, the party ending the relationship will be responsible to the other party for at least 60 days unless the Council and the Pastor mutually agree upon other arrangements.

a. Council-initiated Termination. Council will bring concerns to the Pastor and give adequate opportunity for him/her to respond and be heard. If concerns are not mutually resolved and Pastor does not agree that he/she should resign, then Council will call a special meeting date with the Corporation and present the issues. Should there be a two-thirds ballot vote of a legally called and represented business meeting calling for termination of pastoral leadership, the pastoral leadership will be terminated.

b. Pastor-initiated Termination. Should the Pastor resign leadership, the Pastor will present a written resignation to Council. At the discretion of Council and at an appropriate date, the Pastor may read this letter to the congregation during a regularly scheduled worship service. Unless Council and the Pastor mutually agree upon other arrangements, he/she is responsible to provide leadership for at least 60 days from date of acceptance of the resignation by the Council.

Section 3. Vacancy in Pastorate

When a vacancy occurs in the pastorate, Council will select a Pulpit Committee of at least seven people, one of whom the Pulpit Committee will designate as Chairperson. The congregation must ratify the Pulpit Committee. The purpose of this committee is to propose the selection of a pastor and arrange pulpit supply as required by the Corporation. At the time the congregation is notified of the candidate’s planned visit, the committee will announce the date, time and place and, within seven days after the visit, the congregation will vote on the candidate. There must be a minimum of three‑fourths (3/4) affirmative vote to approve a candidate and issue a call. Within 24 hours after the vote, the committee will notify the candidate of the outcome. Only one candidate will be voted upon at a time until the pastorate is filled. It will be the joint responsibility of the Pulpit Committee and the new Pastor to arrange the program of the Installation Service.

Section 4. Associate Pastor(s)

The Associate Pastor(s) will work in association with, and under the direction of, the Pastor.

a. A special committee appointed by Council, will work with the Pastor in the examination of individuals to be hired, develop its presentation to Council, and develop a job description. The job description will be kept by Council and may change from time to time due to the specific needs viewed by the Pastor, Council, and/or committees.

b. Upon Council approval, the prospective individual will be presented to the congregation for final ratification; a three‑fourths (3/4) affirmative vote is required for his/her approval.

c. At any resignation or termination, the party ending the relationship is responsible to the other party for at least 60 days, which may be shortened by mutual agreement.

Section 5. Status of the Associate Pastor(s) upon Termination or Resignation of the Senior Pastor

Council will decide that:

a. The Associate(s) will stay through a six-month transition period

b. The Associate(s) will leave with the out‑going Pastor.

Section 6. Status of the Associate Pastor(s) upon Installation of a new Senior Pastor

All present paid staff will be subject to review with the Senior Pastor within the first six months. The Senior Pastor may change a staff member’s job description, title or suggest that he/she seek alternative employment.

ARTICLE VI. NON-PASTORAL STAFF

The employment and termination of non‑pastoral staff is the responsibility of the Site Management Committee based upon the recommendation of the Senior Pastor.

ARTICLE VII. DIVISION OR DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION

Section 1. Division

In case of division of this Corporation, its property, real and personal, shall belong to that part, regardless of size, which remains faithful to these Bylaws, and which adheres to the doctrines and teachings of the Church of God whose central offices and publishing headquarters are located in Anderson, Indiana, 46018-2069, USA

Section 2. Dissolution

Should there be a dissolution of this Corporation from any cause whatsoever, the lands, tenements, and other estates, real and personal belongings will be administered by the Board of Church Extension Home Missions of the Church of God, the legal corporation acting on behalf of the General Assembly of the Church of God with offices at Anderson, Indiana, 46018-2069, USA

ARTICLE VIII. CHURCH COUNCIL

Section 1. Council Membership and Duties

The Council is composed of the Pastoral Staff, Corporation officers, Chairpeople of all Standing Committees, Lay Representative(s) of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Michigan, and Chairpeople of Special Committees which Council appoints. Council will determine the general policies and programs of the Corporation. It is empowered to appoint the Lay Representative(s) to the International General Assemblies of the Church of God. No major changes of policy or program can be undertaken by any individual or group in the Corporation without the knowledge and consent of Council. Council will seek to correlate and unify the total program. It will meet at least six times a year and is subject to the call of the Corporation Chairperson or the Pastor. The Corporation Chairperson will act as chair of the Council. In order for Council to conduct official business, at least two thirds (2/3) of the voting council members must be present.

Section 2. Church Council Liability and Indemnification

All voting members of Council as specified in “Council Membership and Duties” are considered to be “volunteer director(s)”. A volunteer director of the Eagle Ridge Church of God is not liable personally to the Corporation or its shareholders or members for monetary damages for a breach of the director’s fiduciary duty.

The Eagle Ridge Church of God indemnifies all volunteer directors from action by or in the right by others or the Corporation that have faithfully carried out their responsibilities as defined in Section 1 and have not violated that trust.

ARTICLE IX. STANDING COMMITTEES

The Standing Committees of the Corporation are Worship, Christian Education, Missions, Church and Community Outreach, and Site Management. Each of these committees is responsible to the Council and the Corporation. In order for a Standing Committee to conduct official business, at least 50% of the voting committee members must be present. The duties, roles and tasks of each Standing Committee are set forth in the Eagle Ridge Church of God Policy Manual.

Each Standing Committee will have a minimum of three members appointed by the committee chairperson. Each Standing Committee will decide the number of members, in addition to the five minimum, needed to accomplish its tasks and the job description of each member. This will be communicated to the Nominating Committee. The Standing Committees will be chaired by people elected by the Congregation but will choose an Assistant Chairperson and a Recording Secretary from the other elected members.

The tenure of the Standing Committee members is three years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms. Committee members will be elected to the committee in a rotation so that all members do not change in any one year. Each committee will have a pastoral staff representative, appointed by the Senior Pastor, who is entitled to vote as a member of that committee.

The Treasurer and Financial Secretary will be voting members of the Site Management Committee.

ARTICLE X. SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Special committees may be chosen or appointed by the Corporation or the Council as deemed necessary.

Section 1. Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee will be composed of the Pastor, Corporation Chairperson, and Chairpeople of the Standing Committees. It will provide nominees for election at the Annual Business Meeting of the church for all standing committees and all subcommittees and officers of the corporation.

ARTICLE XI. CORPORATION MEETINGS

Section 1. The Fiscal Year

The Fiscal Year of the church is from January 1 through December 31 of each year. The Annual Budget Meeting and Election of Officers will be held annually by the second Sunday night in November. The Annual Reports Meeting will be held each year prior to March 1. Council will determine the exact dates for these meetings. Notice will be given on the two Sundays preceding these annual meetings.

Section 2. Special Business Meetings of the Corporation

The Senior Pastor or the Corporation Chairperson may call Special Business Meetings if requested in writing by any four members of Council or any twenty‑five members of the congregation. The request for a meeting will state the time and purpose for the meeting. Notice of Special Meetings must be given in all services on the Sunday preceding the meeting.

Section 3. Quorum

Seventy-five (75) voting members constitute a quorum at all regular and special business meetings of the church.

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be revised or amended at any regular or special meeting of the Corporation, provided that a copy of the revision and notice that action will be taken, is read to the church at least one full week preceding the voting meeting. The Clerk must provide typed copies of revised Bylaws to the congregation within 30 days after approval of changes.

ARTICLE XIII. ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Order of Business at all meetings shall be:

1. Prayer

2. Verification of qualifications of voting members

3. Reading of minutes of the preceding meeting

4. Reports

5. Old Business

6. Dismissals or Elections

7. New Business

8. Adjournment

By-laws accepted by the congregation of the Eagle Ridge Church of God, November 13, 1994.

CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS

Council set policy for interpretation of “worshipped regularly” [in Article III. Section 2. Voting Privilege] defined to be at least 50% (or 26 Sunday morning Worship Services) attendance. This is reflected in the October 24, 1995 Council minutes. Congregation approved at the November 5, 1995 Business Meeting.

Quorum in By-laws [Article XI. Section 3. Quorum] was changed to a count of 75 people and approved by congregation at the November 5, 1995 Business Meeting.

Change: Article IX, Paragraph 2 from “each Standing Committee will have a minimum of five members elected by the Corporation” to: “each Standing Committee will have a minimum of three members appointed by the committee chairperson. Congregation approved at April 14, 2002 Business Meeting.

Remove sentence in Article VIII. Section 1 “the Pastor will act as Assistant Chairperson of the Council” be eliminated. Congregaion approved at April 14, 2002 Business Meeting.

Name and Address Change of the Corporation: With the move from the East Ashman Church of God [1014 E. Ashman St. – Midland, MI 48642-5151] on December 8, 2003 this document was modified to refect the new name of the congregation at Eagle Ridge Church of God [2808 Waldo Avenue – Midland, MI 48642] on December 31, 2003.