Bylaws

Our bylaws define how we operate together under a biblical model of church government. Members, admitted by a profession of faith, vote to ordain officers to serve in the Presbytery and the Diaconate. Adopted March 2026.

I: Name

The name of this church shall be Lane’s Chapel Evangelical Church.

II: Standards

1: Faith

The Holy Scriptures shall be the supreme standard for this church. The ancient creeds (Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian) and the Twenty-Five Articles of Religion shall be adopted as subordinate standards of faith.

2: Order

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the church in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

III: Membership

1: Admission

Applicants to membership must be baptized, born-again Christians. Applicants shall be admitted by public profession of faith at a Members' Meeting, upon recommendation of the Elders and a two-thirds vote of the members.

2: Expectations

Members are expected to actively participate in the church’s life through regular attendance at worship, contribution of offerings, observance of the sacraments, submission to church discipline, and participation in Members' Meetings.

3: Dispute Resolution

In any dispute arising between church members, the parties shall endeavor to resolve the conflict according to the form of Matthew 18:15-17. Lawsuits between believers are discouraged.

4: Discipline and Termination

Removal from membership for disciplinary reasons requires a two-thirds vote at any Members' Meeting and, except in the case of an Elder, the recommendation of the Presbytery. 

Membership is terminated upon a member's death, voluntary resignation, or for extended absence without cause.

IV: The Congregation

1: Worship

The church shall meet for public worship each Lord’s Day morning and on any other days as determined by the Presbytery.

2: Meetings

Regular Members' Meetings shall be held at least annually. Special Members' Meetings may be called by the Presbytery, or by written request of ten percent of the voting membership. Notice for all meetings shall be given one week prior. A quorum shall consist of twenty percent of the voting members. The Presbytery may authorize meetings to be held by electronic means as circumstances require, provided all members have the opportunity to participate.

3: Responsibilities

At Members' Meetings, the congregation shall approve the annual budget and conduct other church business.

4: Major Decisions

The purchase, sale, or mortgaging of church real estate, or any single unbudgeted expenditure over ten thousand dollars, shall require a two-thirds vote.

V: Church Officers

1: General

This church shall observe the ordinary New Testament offices of Pastor, Teacher, Ruling Elder and Deacon. In the absence of officers sufficient to meet church needs, the responsibility falls to the entire membership. Candidates for office shall be nominated by the Presbytery, and the congregation shall be given one month's notice before an election.

2: Qualification

All officers must be men who satisfy the scriptural qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

3: Lay Service

Lay members, including women, are encouraged to serve in any way whatsoever that does not encroach upon the New Testament offices.

4: Election

Election of any officer requires a two-thirds vote at a Members’ Meeting.

5: Removal

A vote for the removal of an officer shall require the same one month's notice as a vote for election. Upon recommendation of the Presbytery, an officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote.

6: Conflict of Interest

An officer shall disclose to the Diaconate any personal or financial interest in a matter before the church and shall recuse themselves from discussion and voting on that matter.

7: Indemnification

The church shall indemnify its officers against all expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any legal action to which they may be made a party by reason of their service, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Such indemnification shall be in accordance with applicable state law.

8: Corporate Officers

As an accommodation to legal relationships outside the church, the moderator shall serve as president of the corporation; the pastor shall serve as vice president of the corporation; the church secretary shall serve as secretary of the corporation; and the deacons shall serve as trustees of the corporation.

VI: The Presbytery

1: Composition 

The Presbytery shall consist of all installed Pastors, Teachers, and Ruling Elders.

2: Meetings

The Elders shall meet regularly. Their meetings shall be moderated by the same Elder elected to moderate the Members' Meetings.

3: Membership Roll

The Presbytery shall be responsible for maintaining the membership roll.

4: Moderator

One elder shall be elected annually to serve as Moderator during Presbytery and Members’ Meetings.

VII: The Diaconate

1: Composition 

The Diaconate shall consist of all installed Deacons.

2: Meetings

The Deacons shall meet regularly. Their meetings shall be moderated by one Chairman elected annually among themselves.

3: Church Records

The Diaconate shall oversee the recording of minutes of Members' Meetings. Members in good standing may inspect approved minutes and financial reports upon request.

4: Finances

The Diaconate shall present an annual budget for congregational approval, oversee church finances, and provide regular financial reports to the congregation.

5: Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the church shall be from January 1 to December 31.

6: Financial Review

The Diaconate shall arrange for an annual review of the church's financial records by a committee of church members who are not staff or deacons, or by an external accountant.

7: Non-Ministerial Staff

The hiring, firing, and supervision of non-ministerial staff shall be under the authority of the Deacons, who will endeavor to represent the will of the whole church.

8: Policy on Donations

All designated gifts shall be used for the specified purpose, unless the purpose has been fulfilled or cannot be carried out, in which case the gift will be used where needed most. All undesignated gifts shall be used where needed most. The Diaconate retains the final authority to direct all funds in support of the church's ministry.

VIII: Pastoral Vacancy

1: Interim Governance

In the event of a pastoral vacancy, all pastoral duties shall be assumed by the Presbytery.

2: Search Process

The Presbytery shall oversee the formation of a Pastoral Search Committee to consist of active church members. The Committee is responsible for seeking and evaluating candidates and shall recommend one candidate to the Presbytery. After examining the candidate, the Presbytery may then present him to the church for a call. Upon the installation of a new pastor, the committee shall be dissolved.

IX: Statement on Marriage and Sexuality

1: Marriage

We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman as delineated in Scripture.

2: Sexuality

We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that any form of sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God.

3: Sex and Gender

We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, two distinct and complementary genders.

4: Facility Use

The facilities of this church shall only host events that are consistent with the church's beliefs on marriage.

X: Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a three-quarters vote at any Members' Meeting.

XI: Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the church, all debts and liabilities shall be paid. Any remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more non-profit organizations of like faith as determined by a two-thirds vote.