CONSTITUTION OF DEEP RIVER COMMUNITY CHURCH

1. INTRODUCTION

The name of this organization shall be Deep River Community Church, hereinafter called "this church".

The purpose of this church is to bring together Christians from the community to worship and serve God. As this church, we are a Christian family of faith, committed in love to God and one another and uniting in worship, prayer and sacraments. We seek to grow through study, sharing and fellowship, to be a caring, forgiving and welcoming community, to share the gifts that God has given us, to be good stewards of God's creation and to minister as God's light to the larger community.

This church shall be self-governing with members, associate members and supporting adherents having the final authority at properly constituted congregational meetings.

2. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this church shall be open to all those who have publicly professed their belief in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, as Saviour and Lord, and in the Holy Spirit, God present with us for guidance, for comfort and for strength and who promise to serve and support this church with a portion of their time, talents and income. New members may be received by profession of faith, by transfer from other Christian churches or otherwise as approved by Council. Associate membership may be granted to those whose denominations do not grant letters of transfer outside their communion or to persons wishing to maintain membership in the denomination of their faith origin. Associate members have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as members. Each person joining shall be present at the church service at which new members are to be received and shall be welcomed into membership by the right hand of fellowship, unless excused by Council.

All persons joining by profession of faith shall show that they understand the essentials of the Christian faith as set out in Appendix A. Council shall ensure that membership classes are provided periodically for the benefit of those considering joining by profession of faith. The classes shall be conducted by the minister and those planning to join this church normally meet with representatives of Council.

Supporting adherents are non-members who support this church with a portion of their time, talents and income. They are encouraged to become members or associate members and they have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as members.

Hereinafter members, associate members and supporting adherents are collectively referred to as "members".

3. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIAN BODIES

3.1. Affiliations and Support

While remaining autonomous, this church shall promote friendly relations with all denominations, and shall foster a special relationship with the United Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec.

These three bodies shall each be granted:

-- a contribution to their local association (Renfrew Presbytery of the United Church of Canada, the Lanark and Renfrew Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Canada Central Association of the Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec).

-- seven percent of the total mission offering, except for an offering designated as a special mission by the congregation.

Assistance for ministerial training is recognized as a continuing responsibility of this church.

This church shall have a mission program that reflects concern for the physical and spiritual needs of others. The mission program and budget shall be approved by the congregation.

3.2 Ministry

Ministers of this church shall be ordained clergy of member churches of the World or Canadian Council of Churches and they shall remain under the local judicatory of their church in matters of faith and doctrine. The ministry of this church shall be denominationally varied. Ministers shall be called at congregational meetings by a two-thirds affirmative vote. A pulpit committee elected by the congregation shall present one minister or ministerial team for the call.

4. CHURCH GOVERNMENT

4.1 Congregational Meetings

The annual congregational meeting shall be held on the first Sunday in February, unless Council directs otherwise. Special congregational meetings may be called by Council or at the written request of twenty-five members. Normally the time and place for a congregational meeting shall be announced at all worship services held by this church in the two-week period immediately before the meeting. Where quick action is imperative, the chair of Council and three committee chairs may jointly call a special congregational meeting, with or without the normal notice procedure. The chair or vice-chair of Council shall conduct congregational meetings.

A quorum shall consist of thirty-five members.

4.2 Council.

Council acts on behalf of the congregation between congregational meetings. Council shall consist of the chair and vice-chair of Council and of the program committees, the treasurer and assistant treasurer, Council secretary, Circle representative and the minister(s). Council shall meet at least four times each year. Prime responsibility for calling meetings and preparing agenda rests with the chair of Council. A quorum shall consist of nine Council members. Council's regular work shall be performed by the Finance committee and six program committees -- Christian Education, Membership, Missions, Property, Stewardship and Worship.

Council is responsible for providing support to the minister(s), coordinating committees, appointing people to positions when necessary, forming special committees, presenting budgets to the congregation and doing long-range planning.

Council members are normally elected for a two-year term. At the annual congregational meeting, the chairs usually retire, vice-chairs become chairs and new vice-chairs are elected for Council and the six program committees. Also the treasurer usually retires, the assistant treasurer becomes the new treasurer and a new assistant treasurer is elected. If a vice-chair or assistant treasurer is not available to assume the position of chair or treasurer, a new chair or treasurer may be elected for a one-year term to fill the position. If vacancies exist at any time, appointments may be made by Council.

4.3 Program Committees

Each program committee has a chair and a vice-chair, the chair or vice-chair of Council, the minister and members of the congregation. Each committee is responsible for allocating expenditures within its budget, proposing its program and budget for the following year to Council and submitting an annual report to the congregation. Members of the congregation are encouraged to attend committee meetings and participate in the work of the committees.

Christian Education

This committee

-- plans and administers a Christian education program for people of all ages

-- sets policy regarding use of Christian education facilities

-- assumes responsibility for audio-visual equipment and the library.

Members of this committee include the Sunday School superintendent(s) and the librarian.

Membership

This committee

-- uses a variety of methods to communicate with all people in the congregation and offers assistance to those with special needs

-- assists with baptisms and reception of members

-- keeps records of church membership and updates congregational lists quarterly.

Missions

This committee

-- plans and administers mission education and outreach programs

-- recommends missions for support

-- seeks and publicizes information on how our donations are used

-- obtains guest speakers for missions and is responsible for looking after them.

Property

This committee

-- supervises the physical operation, maintenance and improvement of the buildings, grounds and furnishings.

Stewardship

This committee

-- organizes stewardship information and education programs

-- campaigns for money, time and talents at least once per year.

Worship

This committee

-- shares in planning and providing resources for worship services

-- organizes and trains ushering teams

-- assigns people for communion and welcoming duties

-- obtains and entertains anniversary speakers and arranges anniversary events

-- finds and assists pulpit supply when necessary.

Members of this committee include the music director and/or assistant and a representative from the sanctuary committee.

4.4 Other Committees

Finance

This committee has two sections.

• The treasurer and assistant treasurer

-- pay bills as directed by the various committees within their approved budgets. Signing officers are the treasurer, the assistant treasurer and the chair and vice-chair of Council, two signatures being required.

-- submit and interpret regular financial statements to Council, the program committees and the congregation

-- present an audited statement at the annual congregational meeting

-- appoint counting captains.

• The envelope secretary and assistant envelope secretary are appointed by Council. They

-- distribute offering envelopes

-- keep records of offerings and distribute quarterly statements to contributors

-- give the treasurer weekly summaries of amounts contributed to the various accounts

-- organize and train counting teams and draw up the counters' schedule.

Personnel

This committee shall

-- be concerned with relationship, responsibility, and authority of church staff members

-- negotiate and sign agreements with staff concerning salary, benefits, and working conditions

-- report annually to Council.

The chair shall be appointed by Council. The other members are the chair and vice-chair of Council, chairs of the property and worship committees and the treasurer.

Staff Selection

This committee shall be appointed by Council when necessary to hire non-ministerial staff.

Minister Support

This committee is a group of members appointed by the minister(s) and reporting confidentially to the minister(s) . It provides feedback on concerns expressed by members of the congregation.

Nominating Committee

This committee includes all elected councillors who are in their final year of office. The chair shall be elected by the congregation at its annual meeting. The committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each vacant position on Council, an auditor and a chair for the nominating committee. Names of the nominees shall be published at least one week before the annual congregational meeting and the chair shall call for additional nominations at that meeting.

4.5 Circle

All women who are members of this church are also members of The Deep River Community Church Circle, which has a separate constitution.

4.6 Trustees

The trustees are three members of this church, elected by the congregation. All property owned by this church is vested in their name and they shall act only as directed by the congregation. When a vacancy occurs, the remaining trustees may exercise all trustee functions until a new trustee is elected.

5. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

This constitution may be amended at a congregational meeting by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the eligible votes cast. It shall be clearly stated when the congregational meeting is called that the intent is to amend the constitution. Copies of the proposed amendments shall be made available one week before the meeting.

This constitution dated 1997 February 02 supersedes all previous constitutions and revisions of constitutions of Deep River Community Church.

APPENDIX A

Along with the historic and contemporary creeds and confessions of the Christian Church, the following Statement of Faith is commended as a basis for membership, study and growth in grace;

We believe in one God, a loving and merciful heavenly Father, Creator and Ruler of all things, Whose will is ever directed to His children's need.

We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, our crucified, risen and reigning Lord, Gift of the Father's unfailing grace, Saviour and Redeemer from sin and death.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God present with us, for guidance, for comfort and for strength.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins and in grace equal to every need.

We believe in the Word of God contained in the Old and New Testaments as the sure rule of faith and practice.

We believe in the observance of Baptism and the celebration of the Lord's Supper as effectual means of grace.

We believe in the Church, the body of Christ, as the fellowship for worship and for service, for all those who are united to the living Lord.

We believe in God's righteous judgment and in life eternal.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself in a life of love and prayer, in self-denial and in service to all mankind, as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the Kingdom of God may come upon earth.