Articles:
(A Historical Statement from the Preamble of the Constitution and Bylaws ofThe Evangelical Covenant Churchas of 1988)
The Evangelical Covenant Churchhas its roots in historical Christianity as it emerged in the Protestant Reformation, in the biblical instruction of the Lutheran State Church of Sweden, and in the great spiritual awakenings of the nineteenth century.These three influences have in large measure shaped its development and are to be borne in mind in seeking to understand its distinctive spirit.The Covenant Church adheres to the affirmations of the Protestant Reformation regarding the Holy Scriptures, the Old and New Testament, as the Word of God and the only perfect rule for faith, doctrine and conduct.It has traditionally valued the historic confessions of the Christian church, particularly the Apostles' Creed, while at the same time it has emphasized the sovereignty of the Word over all creedal interpretations.It has especially cherished the pietistic restatement of the doctrine of justification by faith as basic to its dual task of evangelism and Christian nurture, the New Testament emphasis upon personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the reality of a fellowship of believers which recognizes but transcends theological differences, and the belief in baptism and the Lord's Supper as divinely ordained sacraments of the church....The principle of personal freedom, so highly esteemed by the Covenant, is to be distinguished from the individualism that disregards the centrality of the Word of God and mutual responsibilities and disciplines of the spiritual community.
This document, which is in harmony with the above preamble,is the constitution and bylaws of the Berkeley Covenant Church of Berkeley, California.
The name of this church shall be the Berkeley Covenant Church of Berkeley, California, Inc.
This church is affiliated withThe Evangelical CovenantChurchand its Pacific Southwest Conference and is pledged to work inharmony with the denomination and its decisions and to supportits program, policies, and institutions.
This churchbelieves that the Bible, the sacred writings of the Old and NewTestaments, is the inspired Word of God and the only perfectauthority and guide for Christian faith, doctrine, and life.
The purpose of this church is to unite Christians infellowship for spiritual development, for the winning ofpersons to Christ, and for the propagation of the gospel ofJesus Christ through Christian education, home and worldmission, and the institutions conducted by The EvangelicalCovenant Church and its local regional conferences. In orderto achieve this purpose, this church, in the unity of theSpirit, shall use the gifts that God has given it and the meansof grace which God has placed at its disposal: the Word ofGod, Baptism, and Holy Communion.
Membership in the church is granted on application to thosewho through faith in God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, havebeen born anew to a living hope, have been baptized accordingto the Holy Scriptures, desire to live a Christian life, andpromise to support the total ministry of the church and toshare its fellowship and obligations.
The officers of the church shall be a chairman, avice-chairman, a secretary and a treasurer.
Section 1.The general administration of the church shall be vested in abody known as the Board of Elders. If circumstances of lawrequires action(s) by "trustees," the Board of Elders shall beknown as "the Board of Trustees" and the members of it as"trustees." The Board of Elders shall also serve as adiaconate to supervise the spiritual life of the church.
Section 2.The Board of Elders shall consist of the officers of the church(chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer, and secretary), six (6) ormore other members as specified in thebylaws, and thepresident of Covenant Women. The pastor shall be an ex-officiomember of the Board of Elders.
Section 3.The Board of Elders shall organize itself in a manner specifiedin the bylaws.
Section 1. (old version)Congregational business meetings shall be held quarterly eachcalendar year. The first quarterly business meeting will serveas the Annual Business Meeting and shall be held as near thefirst of the year as feasible. At the Annual Meeting, writtenprogress reports shall be submitted by the pastor and by eachadministrative task force of the church. Audited financialreports shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church andeach of its organizations. Election to positions on the Boardof Elders for the ensuing year shall be conducted by secretballot. The church budget shall also be submitted.
Section 1. (proposed changes) Congregational business meetings shall be held quarterly eachcalendar year. The business year shall be from July 1 through June 30.The first last quarterly business meeting will serveas the Annual Business Meeting and shall be held as near thefirst end of the year as feasible. At the Annual Meeting, progress reports shall be submitted by the pastor and by eachadministrative task force of the church. Audited financialreports shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church andeach of its organizationselection to positions on the Boardof Elders for the ensuing year shall be conducted by secretballot. The church budget shall also be submitted at this meeting.
At the following meeting, the first congregational business meeting of the year, written progress reports shall be submitted by the pastor and by eachadministrative task force of the church. Audited financialreports shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church andeach of its organizations at this time.
Section 1. (new version)Congregational business meetings shall be held quarterly. The business year shall be from July 1 through June 30.The last quarterly business meeting will serveas the Annual Business Meeting and shall be held as near theend of the year as feasible. At the Annual Meeting, election to positions on the Boardof Elders for the ensuing year shall be conducted by secretballot. The church budget shall also be submitted at this meeting.
At the following meeting, the first congregational business meeting of the year, written progress reports shall be submitted by the pastor and by eachadministrative task force of the church. Audited financialreports shall be submitted by the treasurer for the church andeach of its organizations at this time.
Section 2.Notice of all business meetings shall be publicized on not lessthan two consecutive Sunday mornings prior to the meeting.
In the event of schism within the church, from which weearnestly pray God to spare us, the title of all churchproperty, real or personal, shall remain with the group thatabides by this constitution, as determined by the executiveboard of the Pacific Southwest Conference. In the event ofdissolution, the property and all assets of the church shallbecome and be the property of The Evangelical Covenant Churchand the Pacific Southwest Conference.
Amendments in harmony with this constitution and not inconflict with Covenant principles and policies may be adoptedand by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting in anannual meeting of the church, providing the proposed amendmentwas presented in written form at the preceding quarterlycongregational business meeting. When this church receivesappropriation aid from the regional conference and/or thedenomination through subsidy or loans, proposed amendments mustalso be approved by the regional conference board and theexecutive secretary of the Covenant Home Missions.