THE BYLAWS OF THE GATHERING PLACE

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ARTICLE I – NAME
This church shall be known as “The Gathering Place” of Piqua, Ohio.

ARTICLE II – AFFILIATION
This church is a member of the Missionary Church, Inc., a denomination with headquarters at 3811 Vanguard Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46809, and as such shares the privileges, benefits and responsibilities of that affiliation.

ARTICLE III – STATEMENT OF FAITH
A complete statement of faith including other important matters related to the doctrine and practice may be found in the Constitution of the Missionary Church.

ARTICLE IV – OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this church shall be to maintain the public worship of Almighty God; to edify and build up one another through Christian fellowship and Bible teaching; to carry on an aggressive program of local evangelization; to propagate the Gospel throughout the world in keeping with the Great Commission and the doctrines and practices of the Missionary Church.
Purpose Statement
The Gathering Place exists to give every man, woman, and child in the city of Piqua and in the regions of our church plants the repeated opportunity to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

ARTICLE V – COVENANTAL MEMBERSHIP
A. Application
Those interested in pursuing membership in this church must be born again believers in Jesus Christ who are exhibiting genuine evidences of their salvation and who have been baptized upon their confession of faith. Candidates who have not been baptized may be admitted into membership if they are willing to be baptized.
B. Membership
A covenant of membership and a position paper on the Biblical basis for
C. Covenant
Church membership is found in the Job Description and Policy Manual.
D. Discipline
The Word of God teaches self-discipline. In case of variance between believers (Matt. 18:15-17), private reconciliation should be sought. When any person fails to walk faithfully, or refuses to be reconciled in case of variance or offense, the individual shall be approached privately by one individual. If the erring one does not respond, then two or three persons shall talk to him so the facts may be confirmed by witnesses. If he still does not respond, the matter shall be brought to the Elder Board and, as appropriate, before the church. If the problem continues to be unreconciled, disciplinary actions would be taken which would include removal from membership. The purpose of church discipline is to bring about repentance, restitution, and reconciliation to the person taken in sin, not to sit in judgment of the individual. Members in this church must submit themselves to this outlined process of discipline.
E. Transfer
Members in good standing, moving from one locality to another where there is a Missionary Church, shall, at their written request, be given letters of transfer to that church. In case of a Pastor moving from one Missionary Church to another, the membership of the Pastor and such members of his family as accompany him and are members in good standing in the Missionary Church from which they move, shall automatically transfer to the new church of which he becomes a member. Persons moving to a locality where there is no Missionary Church may, at their request, be given letters of recommendation to a church of their choice.
F. Termination
Any member desiring to terminate membership may do so by written request to the Elders.

ARTICLE VI – FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall extend from January 1 to December 31 unless a specific regulation is established by the District Conference of which the church is a member.

ARTICLE VII – BUSINESS MEETINGS
A. Voting Membership
Members of the church who are 16 years of age or older and are in good standing shall be eligible to vote in church business meetings. Non-members may be surveyed.
B. Annual Business Meetings
A business meeting shall be held annually during the first quarter to hear annual reports and transact any necessary business.
C. Additional Business Meetings
Additional business meetings may be called by the Elder Board.
D. Meeting Announcements
A public announcement of all business meetings shall be made at least fourteen days in advance. If necessary, the date and hour of all business meetings may be changed by the Elder Board provided ample advance notice is made.
E. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of all eligible voting members present at anybusiness meeting. No provision shall be made for proxy voting

ARTICLE VIII – ELDERS
A. Personnel
I. Number
The number of elders shall be growing at all times. Church growth and multiplication will happen naturally as elders continually seek to recognize others who are living out the qualifications and roles of an elder.
II. Qualifications.
1. He must be above reproach (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:6, 7), that is, blameless or of good report. There is to be no grounds for accusing him of improper Christian behavior.
2. If married, he must be faithful to his wife (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:6). He must be loyal to her and her alone.
3. He must be temperate (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:7, 8), that is moderate and self-restrained. He must not be given to quick and superficial decisions based on immature thinking.
4. He must be self-controlled (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8), that is, sensible, wise and balanced in judgment. He must not be a man who is in bondage to himself and the desires of the flesh.
5. He must be respectable (1 Tim 3:2), that is, he must have an orderly life. He must demonstrate good behavior.
6. He must be hospitable (1 Tim. 3:2, Titus 1:8), that is, he must be unselfish and willing to share his blessings with others. He must be friendly and approachable, not cold and aloof.
7. He must be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2, 2 Tim 2:24-26), that is, to communicate the truth of God in various situations and circumstances. He must encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it (Titus 1:9). He must believe and adhere to the doctrine statement of the Gathering Place. He must also exhibit a teachable spirit.
8. He must not be given to much wine (1 Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7). There must be no drunkenness (Eph. 5:18).
9. He must not be violent, but gentle (1 Tim. 3:3), that is he must not be a person given to physical violence or verbal abuse, but one who is characterized by forbearance and tenderness.
10. He must not be quarrelsome (1 Tim. 3:3), that is, not given to selfish argumentation. He must be cooperative and have readiness to listen.
11. He must not be a lover of money (1 Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7, 1 Peter 5:2), that is, he must be honest and upright in his financial dealings and balanced materially as demonstrated by generosity and stewardship.
12. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect (1 Tim. 3:4), that is, he must be a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient (Titus 1:6). If he does not know how to manage his own family, he must not be entrusted with the oversight of the church (1 Tim. 3:5).
13. He must not be a recent convert (1Tim. 3:6), that is, one who is a new Christian. He must be a mature believer and one who has been a Christian for a period of time – at least long enough to demonstrate the reality of his conversion and the depth of his spirituality.
14. He must have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Tim. 3:7), that is, those in his neighborhood and place of employment must also respect his character and integrity.
15. He must not be overbearing (Titus 1:7), that is, stubborn and one who tries to have his own way. He must not be an intensive person, forcing his own ideas and opinions other people.
16. He must not be quick tempered (Titus 1:7), that is one who is easily angered. He must be in control of his own spirit.
17. He must be one who loves what is good (Titus 1:8), that is, he must not follow after and desire those things which are evil and sinful. He must be the kind of person who desires to do the will of God in everything (1 Pet. 5:2).
18. He must be upright (Titus 1:8), that is, fair and impartial. He must be one who can make objective judgments based on principle.
19. He must be holy (Titus 1:8), that is devout and separated from sin.
20. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message (Titus 1:9), that is, he must be stable in his faith and obey the Word of God in all respects. He must not be hypocritical, teaching one thing and living another.
21. If he is married, his wife must be (1 Tim. 3:11).
a. Worthy of respect, that is, held in high esteem.
b. Not a malicious talker, that is, not sharp or loose of tongue.
c. Temperate, that is, sober-minded and well-balanced.
d. Trustworthy in everything, that is, absolutely reliable.
III. Length of Service.
Ongoing service of an elder will be at the discretion of the elders.
IV. Selection & Affirmation.
The elder team must continually seek to recognize and appoint men who are living out the qualifications and roles of an elder. The elders should at no time seek to appoint men so that they may become elders. The elder team should simply seek to recognize and appoint men who are already fulfilling the qualifications and roles of an elder without the title of an elder. Recommendations for eldership may be made by any believer.
V. Assessment & Affirmation Process.
Every year, beginning in January, each member of the elder team will undergo an assessment and affirmation process. This will include:
1. An Individual Assessment: A list of questions will be provided to each elder to prayerfully evaluate his own qualifications and performance. These questions are based on the qualifications for elders found in God’s Word.
2. An Elder Assessment & Affirmation: The same list of questions mentioned above in the individual assessment will be provided to the elders to assess each other. Again, adequate time will be given to prayerfully consider our responses.
3. A Congregational Assessment & Affirmation: Opportunity will be given to the church for them to assess and affirm all or any of the elders as they choose.
4. Upon completion of all assessments the elder team will meet, in an atmosphere of confession and accountability, to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24). Elders may be removed from eldership if there are unresolved issues that arise as a result the assessment and affirmation process.
B. Responsibilities
The duties of the Elders shall consist of the following:
I. Prayer (Acts 6:4, James 5:14-18). The first and foremost responsibility of the Elders shall be devotion to prayer. This includes prayer for God’s direction and wisdom in the ministry of the church and prayer for the needs within the church body.
II. Shepherding (1 Pet. 5:1-2, Acts 20:28, 1 Tim. 3:5, 5:17). Christ loves the Church and gave Himself up for her. Therefore, elders are to intentionally and gently shepherd the flock. This should be expressed through teaching, through words of encouragement and affirmation, personal greetings, hospital visitations, counsel, and general care for the needs of the body.
III. Leadership (1 Pet. 5:3, 5). Ultimately the elders are responsible and accountable to God for the spiritual welfare of this congregation. This sober responsibility should be carried out in word and deed. Elders are to possess exemplary moral character and a willingness to sacrifice of themselves “endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:3).
IV. Teaching (Acts 6:4; 15, 1 Tim. 3:2, 5:17, Titus 1:9). The ultimate responsibility for the teaching ministry in the church lies with the Elders. Therefore, elders “must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught so that he (they) can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9). In addition, elders must be able to “correctly handle the word of Truth” (2 Tim 2:15), and must be “reliable men who can in turn teach others” (2 Tim 2:2).
V. Refuting (Acts 15:1-6, Matt 18:17, 1 Tim. 5:19-20, Titus 1:9). It is the responsibility of the elders to guard against heresy, to mediate disputes, and to rule in matters of conflict. In the case of unrepentant sin, the elders shall take appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with Scripture with a goal toward restoration.
VI. Ordaining / Blessing (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5; 1 Tim. 4:14). As the elders appoint individuals to various areas of ministry responsibility, they shall also, in accordance with scripture, lay hands on them and ordain or bless them. This includes new members of the church, ministry directors, elders, pastors, church planters, and missionaries.
VII. Other Responsibilities.
a. Finances. The elders shall give oversight to all the church’s finances. The elders may choose to delegate day to day financial responsibilities to qualified people.
b. Legal Matters. The Elders shall handle all legal matters of the church. This includes but is not limited to the purchasing and selling of property.
c. Appoint Delegates. The elders are responsible to appoint all delegates to represent our fellowship at District Conference and General Conference.
d. Appoint an elder representative. Each year, the elders shall appoint one elder to represent the Gathering Place to the East Central District of the Missionary Church. This elder shall serve as a co-equal among the elders and shall have the responsibilities of representing the Gathering Place to the District, keeping the elders informed regarding all district events and happenings, and reporting statistics to the District.
VIII. Staff. All staff of the Gathering Place serves at the discretion of the elders. The elders shall oversee the selection of staff, determine the compensation of staff, and determine the job description of staff
C. Discipline
According to 1 Timothy 5:19, an accusation against an elder should not be entertained unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Should an elder depart from the standards of Scripture and engage in conduct which conflicts with Biblical principles of holiness, the steps of discipline outlined in Matt. 18;15-17, Rom 16:17, 1 Cor. 5:1-13, 2 Thess. 3:6, 14, 15, 1 Tim. 6:3-5, Titus 3:10, and elsewhere in Scripture shall be followed.
D. Quorum
A quorum shall be required in order for the Elder Board to conduct any official church business. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the elders present.

ARTICLE IX – MINISTRY TEAMS
A. Personnel
Ministry Directors may or may not be paid staff of the church. The specific Ministry Director positions shall be established by the Elder Board. It is anticipated that these roles will change from time to time as the church grows and as ministry needs change. Some examples of Ministry Director roles are listed below. These are examples only and may or may not be established by the Elder board.
a. Ministry Director for Children.
b. Ministry Director for Women.
c. Ministry Director for Men.
d. Ministry Director for Music.
e. Ministry Director of Stewardship.
The term of any Elder or Lay Ministry Director shall be determined by the Elder Board. Staff members serving as ministry directors serve at the discretion of the Elder Board. All others shall serve a two-year term, subject to review by the Elder Board. There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms an individual may serve.
B. Meetings
The meetings of the individual ministry teams shall be called by the Director of that Team or at the request of three members of that Ministry Board and shall occur at least once per quarter. An accurate record of each meeting shall be kept by each board and an electronic copy given to the church office for retention.
C. Responsibilities
Ministry Team responsibilities and individual position descriptions are listed in the Job Description and Policy Manual.
D. Qualifications
Ministry Directors must be members of The Gathering Place and possess the following Biblical qualifications:
I. They must be a people worthy of respect (1 Tim. 3:8); that is, they must be characterized by determination, commitment, and stability.
II. They must be sincere (1 Tim. 3:8); that is, honest, genuine, and non-hypocritical.
III. They must not indulge in much wine (1 Tim. 3:8).
IV. They must not pursue dishonest gain (1 Tim. 3:8), that is, they must be honest and upright in their financial dealings and balanced materially as demonstrated by generosity and stewardship.
V. They must keep hold of the deep mysteries of the faith with a clear conscience (1 Tim. 3:9), that is, they must practice what they profess and even be sensitive to inconsistency.
VI. They must be first tested and proven beyond reproach (1 Tim. 3:10), that is, blameless and of good report. There is to be no grounds for accusing them of improper Christian behavior.
VII. If they are married, they must be loyal to their spouse alone (1 Tim. 3:12).
VIII. They must manage their children and their household well (1 Tim. 3:12), that is, they must be a people whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient (Titus 1:6). If they do not know how to manage their own family, they must not be entrusted with the oversight of the church (1 Tim. 3:5).
IX. If they are married, their spouse must be (1 Tim. 3:11):
a. worthy of respect, that is, held in high esteem.
b. not a malicious talker, that is, not sharp or loose of tongue.
c. temperate, that is, sober-minded and well-balanced.
d. trustworthy in everything, that is, absolutely reliable.

ARTICLE X – MISCELLANEOUS
A. Gender
The Elder Board shall be comprised of only males. Any non-elder position may be filled by either a male or female, as deemed appropriate by the Elder Board.
B. Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended or changed at any business meeting of the church body, providing announcement of the proposed revision is made when the meeting is called (see Article VII, Section 4). A two-thirds majority of all votes cast shall be required to make such revision.
C. Dissolution
In the event of the Dissolution of The Gathering Place, the assets of the church will become the property of the Missionary Church, Inc. a non-profit corporation.
D. Conflict
If any conflict or discrepancy exists between these By-Laws and any additional documents of the church, except the Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws shall govern. If any conflict or discrepancy exists between These By-Laws or any additional documents of the church and the Articles of Incorporation, the Articles of Incorporation shall govern.