Taipei International Church

Constitution...
PART I — CONSTITUTION

Preamble

Believing it to be the will of God that the followers of Jesus Christ associate themselves in fellowship for mutual encouragement, for public worship, and for active ministry and evangelism, the Taipei International Church will give the adherents of any denomination from all parts of the world a Christian church in which they may worship God. We also believe that an international community of believers should fulfill its discipleship through cooperative service with other Christian ministries in Taiwan. Therefore, we hereby declare the following to be the plan and constitution upon which this church is organized.

Article 1 - Name

This church shall be known as the Taipei International Church.

Article 2 - Statement of Faith

This church accepts the Bible as the revealed Word of God, and the Apostles’ Creed as its statement of faith. We confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and seek to fulfill our common calling to glorify the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

Article 3 - Membership

Section 1. The Taipei International Church is a part of the Church Universal which is one body in Christ. Therefore, all persons without regard to race, color, national origin or economic condition shall be eligible to attend its worship services, to participate in its programs, and, when they take the appropriate vows, be admitted into its membership.

Section 2. Membership in Taipei International Church need not affect primary membership in a congregation elsewhere. Membership shall automatically cease on permanent departure from the Taipei area, or after non-attendance of one year.

Section 3. Prospective members shall be helped to understand the privileges and responsibilities of membership, and after being duly baptized in this church or elsewhere shall be introduced to the congregation, at which time they shall be received into membership, being asked to accept these privileges and responsibilities, including an affirmative answer to the question, “Do you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and will you be loyal to this church and uphold this congregation by your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service?”

Article 4- The Church Council

Section 1. The governing body of the church shall be known as the council. It shall consist of church members, including:

7 to 9 Elected Elders

Chairpersons of Ministry Teams

Pastoral Staff

Treasurer

All members except the Pastoral Staff will serve one-year terms beginning January 1.

Section 2. The church council will elect at its organizational meeting in December the following officers, chosen from the elected elders:

President

Vice-president

Secretary

The chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the ministry teams will be approved by the congregation at the annual congregational meeting in November.

Section 3. In the absence of a ministry team chairperson, the respective vice-chairperson shall have the right to vote.

Section 4. The pastoral staff are elders by virtue of their role and office. In addition to them, elders shall be elected from the congregation on the basis of their spiritual maturity and Biblical qualifications (Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-7). These elected elders shall represent the interests of the congregation as a whole to the council, and shall be responsible for the care of the pastoral staff.

Section 5. The church council will appoint a church treasurer.

Section 6. The church council has the authority to appoint members from the congregation to fill unexpired terms until the next congregational meeting.

Section 7. It is the responsibility of the church council to approve all congregational programs of all ministry teams.

Section 8. Council shall approve the recommendations of the finance committee for major purchases and rental contracts. 

Section 9. Whenever necessary, council shall appoint a pastoral search committee to find, investigate, and present a pastor to the council and congregation for their approval.

Section 10. A quorum of the church council shall be one third of voting members.

Article 5 - Fiscal Year

The church’s fiscal year shall be January 1 - December 31.

Article 6 - Ministry Teams

Section 1.  There shall be the following ministry teams:

          1. Christian Education

          2. Gateway Women’s Ministry

          3. Hospitality and Fellowship

          4. Membership and Evangelism

          5. Missions

          6. Stephen Ministry

          7. Stewardship &Finance

          8. Tagalog Fellowship

          9. Worship

10. Youth

Section 2. Membership of the ministry teams shall be drawn from the constituency of the church, but the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of each ministry team shall be members of the church. The elected ministry team leaders are encouraged to recruit additional team members as needed.

Section 3.  Other ministry teams may be appointed by the church council as necessary.

Article 7 - The Pastoral Staff

Section 1. The pastoral staff shall help us relate the truth of the scriptures to our daily lives and will challenge us to reach others for Christ; they will be open to experimental and imaginative types of ministry and outreach; they will be able to challenge laypersons to share their faith in word and deed; they will be able to reconcile a variety of theological viewpoints. The senior pastor will direct the ministries of the church and any other pastors and staff.

Section 2. Each member of the pastoral staff shall be called upon the recommendation of the church council and a majority vote of at least two-thirds of the members present at a duly announced congregational meeting for that purpose. 

Section 3. The service and remuneration of the pastoral and other staff shall be reviewed annually in a joint meeting of the personnel committee (see Part II, Article 2 Section 2) and the stewardship& finance ministry team. They shall recommend continuing leadership and remuneration arrangements for council action in February each year, to be effective April 1.

Section 4. In the event of the resignation of the senior pastor, the council shall appoint a pastoral search committee whose responsibility shall be to find and recommend a pastoral candidate to the council and congregation.

Section 5. Any serious criticism of any member of the pastoral staff shall be brought first to the elected elders with the pastoral staff member being given opportunity to respond to the criticism. Only if a satisfactory resolution is not possible shall the matter be taken to the council. A two-thirds majority vote in a secret ballot of the members present at a duly announced congregational meeting shall be required to continue the services of the staff member under conditions of serious criticism and controversy.

Section 6. The senior pastor shall be responsible for the day to day use of the church facilities.

Article 8 - Congregational Meetings

Section 1. There shall be at least one congregational meeting annually: to be held by December 1 to approve members of council and the annual budget.

Section 2. The names of proposed council members and the proposed budget shall be submitted to the congregation at least two weeks in advance of the November congregational meeting.

Section 3. Other meetings, as necessary, may be called by the church council or on written request of ten percent or more members of the church.  Such meetings must be announced in writing at least two weeks prior to being convened; the announcement must include the agenda.

Section 4. Any participant of the congregation may attend a congregational meeting but only members of the church who are least 18 years old may vote or be elected to an office.

Section 5. The president and secretary of the church council shall be the president and secretary of all congregational meetings.

Article 9 - Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nominees for all elective offices shall be made by the nominating committee and approved by council before being presented for congregational vote. 

Section 2. The nominating committee shall consist of the senior pastor, the president of the council, and two men and two women who need not be council members. The committee shall be selected by the council president and confirmed by the church council. The senior pastor will serve as chairperson.

Section 3. Elections shall be held at the November congregational meeting, with the list of nominations presented to the congregation at least two weeks in advance. 

Article 10 - Amendments

Section 1.  Amendments shall be made upon a two-thirds majority vote of members present at a congregational meeting.

Section 2.  In addition to announcement in the church bulletin and/or newsletter two weeks prior to the meeting, copies of all amendments and agenda shall be mailed to all members at their latest address as shown in the church directory at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered.

Section 3. Amendments may originate in church groups or organizations or may be proposed by individuals. They shall be presented to the church council for study prior to presentation at a congregational meeting.

PART II — BYLAWS

Article 1 - Duties of Church Officers

Section 1. President: The president will preside at all meetings of the church council and will act as spokesperson for the council.

Section 2. Vice President: The vice president will serve as president during the absence of the president.

Section 3.  Secretary: The secretary will arrange for the recording and distribution of minutes of all council and congregational meetings and keep such records of council and congregational decisions and actions as necessary.

Article 2 - Duties of Elders

Section 1. The elders, including the pastoral staff, shall function as leaders and shepherds of the church. Meetings of the elders will be chaired by the senior pastor, or by the president of the council in the absence of the senior pastor.

Section 2. The elected elders and the treasurer will provide support and accountability for the pastoral staff. They will serve as the personnel committee for the church. In this capacity, they will be responsible, in conjunction with the finance and stewardship ministry team, for an annual performance evaluation of all paid staff and recommendations to the council with regard to continuing service and remuneration.

Article 3 - Duties of Treasurer

The treasurer will perform all normal functions attendant to the office including reporting financial condition of the church to the council and be a member of the Stewardship and Finance Ministry Team.

Article 4 - Duties of the Ministry Teams

Section 1. Duties of the ministry teams shall be as follows :

1. Christian Education: Develop and administer an effective and meaningful Sunday school program for all ages, including a nursery and children’s church program; maintain the availability of Christian resources to be purchased or loaned on Sunday mornings. Encourage the development of a variety of small groups in the congregation and provide leadership training for these groups as appropriate.

2. Gateway Women’s Ministry:Gateway Women’s Ministry of TIC exists to serve the personal and spiritual needs of the women of the church and the community. Through mentoring and encouragement women are empowered for service. These goals will be achieved through the following four ministry areas: Spiritual development and fellowship, outreach, caring and special events.

3. Hospitality and Fellowship: Furnish and serve refreshments for the post-worship fellowship periods and coordinate with other ministry teams when appropriate. Plan and coordinate one or more church retreats annually to encourage deeper fellowship and spiritual growth. Plan and arrange for other events such as Christmas dinner and Easter breakfast.

4. Membership and Evangelism: Invite people to attend TIC; coordinate the welcome and assimilation of newcomers into the congregation; encourage Christian attenders to become members of TIC; encourage seekers to become followers of Christ and baptized members of our fellowship; coordinate the signing and presentation of scrolls when people leave the congregation.

5. Missions: Coordinate congregational support, with council review and approval, of Christian workers and mission projects in Taiwan and internationally. Encourage communication between congregation and supported persons and projects. Arrange special offerings, with council approval, and encourage congregational involvement in local Christian service opportunities.

6. Stephen Ministry: A program that equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and circumstances, both in our congregation and in the community.

7. Stewardship &Finance:  a) Develop within the church an awareness of the full importance and meaning of Christian stewardship. With the assistance of the treasurer will prepare an annual budget and direct the enlistment of pledges of individuals to fulfill the budget objectives. In addition, responsible for monitoring expenses against budget; b) Arrange for an audit or church financial records at least yearly and whenever there is a change in church treasurer; and c) Acquire and maintain all furniture, furnishings, and movable property of the church, including maintaining an accurate inventory record of such properties and advise the church/s office manager where to file this information. Acquisition or rental of premises must be reviewed by this Ministry Team and presented to the council for final decision.

8. Tagalog Fellowship: A group of Tagalog-speaking Christians established as a part of Taipei International Church for the purpose of promoting Christian worship, education, evangelism, fellowship, stewardship, and discipleship among its membership, primarily in the Tagalog language. The Tagalog Fellowship is established by and under the direct financial and operational authority of Taipei International Church as vested in the TICCouncil. The purpose and objectives of the Tagalog Fellowship shall be specified in its by-laws and shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions and conditions of these by-laws.

9. Worship:  Assist the pastor in developing and leading the congregation in meaningful worship services, including special services such as Christmas Eve and Easter Sunrise. Arrange music, ushering, and set up and preparation for services, including communion. Coordinate the signing and presentation of scrolls when people leave the congregation.

10. Youth: A ministry to 6-12 grade English-speaking youth for the purpose of promoting Christian worship, evangelism, fellowship, stewardship and discipleship. These individuals will meet in their respective groups according to their needs.

Section 2. Each ministry team shall maintain a permanent notebook of the responsibilities, functions, and activities which shall be given to the new chairperson before the first council meeting in January.

Article 5 - Amendments

Section 1. The bylaws shall be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at a congregational meeting.  Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the chairman of council and reported on at the next meeting of the council.

Effective:   January 1, 1972

Amended:  July 1, 1972

Amended: November 24, 1974

Amended: December 11, 1983

Amended: March 27, 1994

Amended: March 28, 1999

Amended: December 5, 1999

Amended: November 26, 2000

Amended: April 1, 2001

Amended: December 2, 2001 

Amended: April 14, 2002

Amended: March 28, 2004

  
 

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Statement of Faith | Church Staff