First Parish Church

CONSTITUTION AND STANDING RULES

FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

(Last Updated: November 10, 2004)

I Mission Statement

The purpose of First Parish Congregational Church

is expressed in our mission statement:

The mission of our church is to create a fellowship

that celebrates and reflects the presence of Christ.

Through worship and spiritual growth,

we will equip ourselves

and go forth to share God’s love in word and deed,

within our community and throughout the world.

II Church Meetings

1. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Church for the election of officers, and for a review of the activities in the Church, in February. The date to be set by Diaconate with at least two weeks notice to the Congregation. At the Annual Meeting, reports shall be made by the Deacons, clerks, treasurer and all chairpersons of committees showing all funds in their hands; the amount, where and how they are invested, and how the income has been disbursed.

2. A Special Meeting may be called at any time by the Senior Pastor or the Diaconate or at the request of fifteen (15) members of the Church by giving notice of the same at least seven (7) days before said meeting.

3. The Moderator of the Annual Meeting or any special meeting may be the Pastor(s) or any lay member of the Church.

4. All members of the Church are entitled to vote at all meetings of the Church, and fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum.

5. Elections shall be determined by a majority of the members present and voting.

III Committees

1. The Committees of the Church shall be: Auditing Committee, Christian Education Committee, Church Delegates, Flower Committee, Investment Committee, Memorial Gifts Committee, Mission Committee, Nominating Committee, Pastoral Relations Committee, and any other committees that may be deemed necessary.

2. With the exception of the Flower Committee and the Investment Committee, all terms for committee members shall be for three (3) years. As each term of office expires a person shall not be eligible for re-election for one (1) year unless the Nominating Committee is unable to present a new candidate for the position. Flower Committee members shall serve without specific terms. Investment Committee members shall be appointed by the Assessors for one (1) year terms, which are renewable by the Assessors.

IV Officers

1. The Officers of this Church shall be the Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor(s), twenty Deacons, (ten men and ten women), a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Deputy Clerk, a Deputy Treasurer, a Church School Superintendent, also the Standing Committee.

2. All Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for a term of one (1) year, with the exception of the Pastor(s) and the Deacons. Five Deacons shall be elected each year, serving a three (3) year term.

3. It shall be the duty of the Deacons to assist in the administration of the Lord’s Supper; to distribute the alms of the Church to the poor; and to aid the Pastor(s) generally in the spiritual guidance of the membership, visit the sick and needy, and show Christian fellowship to strangers attending our services. The Diaconate shall be empowered to act for the Church overseeing the committees of the church in receiving new members, in dismissal of members or granting of letters of transfer to another Church, overseeing the committees of the church and in all ways contributing to the good of the Church.

4. Vacancies in any of the offices may be filled by the Diaconate until the next congregational meeting; except for Senior and Associate Pastor positions.

5. It shall be the duty of the Clerk, assisted by the Deputy Clerk, to keep a concise and accurate record of all the business meetings of the Church. He or she shall also keep an accurate list of active and inactive members with the dates of their admission, dismission, death or other termination of membership; also an accurate list of the children presented for Baptism, recording the name of the child, its parents (or godparents) and the date of this birth and Baptism.

6. The Treasurer shall receive all benevolent monies collected and shall disburse them for their respective purposes, and at the Annual Meeting shall render a written account of receipts and expenditures which shall be recorded in a Treasurer’s book.

7. The Standing Committee shall consist of the Pastor(s), the Deacons, the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Church Delegates, and the Chairpersons of all the Committees of the Church. The Standing Committee shall meet at the call of the Senior Pastor or any three (3) members of the Standing Committee. A quorum at any meeting shall consist of ten (10) members. The Standing Committee shall in all ways contribute to the good of the Church.

V Ordinances

1. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly throughout the year. The schedule is set by the Pastors and the Diaconate.

2. The Baptism of children shall take place at such times as are mutually convenient to the Pastor and the parents.

VI Membership

1. Letters of dismission and recommendation to other churches shall be granted on request and by a vote of the Diaconate.

2. When an individual shall desire the termination of membership, or shall join another church without a letter of dismission and recommendation from this Church, his or her name may be taken from the roll by a vote of the Diaconate.

3. If no satisfactory information is received or is obtainable concerning absent members for a period of two years, the Church shall withdraw their names from the active list and they shall be placed on an inactive list.

4. Persons desiring to unite with this Church shall become active members by receiving the right hand of fellowship in accordance with the Church Covenant. All who freely affirm their faith in God as hopeful followers of Jesus Christ and who freely and gladly desire to share in the fellowship and communion of this Church shall by virtue of their affirmation be received into the membership of this Church.

5. All active Church members are automatically active members in the Parish.

VII Benevolence

Benevolent contributions for the kingdom of Christ at home and abroad shall be made at stated times under the direction of the Diaconate and in conjunction with the Mission Committee.

VIII Amendments

Any of the foregoing Rules may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the Annual Meeting or at a special Church meeting called for that purpose.