BY-LAWS OF THE NEW HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST
BYLAWS
OF
NEW HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST, INC.
(an Oklahoma Non-Profit Corporation)
___________________________________________________
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.1 Name. The name of this organization is New Hope Church of Christ, Inc. (herein referred to as “the Church”).
Section 1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Church shall be to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, make disciples for him, and aid those in need. The Church is organized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma exclusively for religious, educational, or charitable purposes as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 1.3 Principal Office. The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Church in Oklahoma is hereby fixed and located at:
700 W. 2nd St
Edmond, Oklahoma 73003
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 2.1 Membership. A member of the Church is an individual whose name appears on the membership list maintained by the Church.
Section 2.2 Voting. All members of the Church shall have the right to vote whenever a vote of the Church is taken.
Section 2.3 Corporate Meetings. There will be at least an annual corporate meeting of the members of the Church. A chairperson designated by the Elders will conduct the meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Elders or by a petition of a majority of the Church members. In the absence of elders, members of the Church, subject to Section 2.2, will vote on all corporate matters of the Church. A quorum of members, defined as at least thirty percent of the Church members, must be present to conduct official business. If there are no elders, the Planning Committee will function in place of the Elders for the purposes of this section.
Section 2.4 Notice of Meetings. Members of the Church shall be notified of all corporate meetings by announcements at the two regular Sunday worship services before the meeting at least two weeks before but not more than sixty days before the meeting.
ARTICLE III
ELDERS
Section 3.1 Authority. Authority to govern the Church, as stated in 1 Peter 5, is delegated to the elders of the Church (herein referred to as “the Elders”) in submission to Jesus Christ. The Elders are responsible for the spiritual welfare and governance of the Church. The Elders serve as the Board of Directors of the Church.
Section 3.2 Powers. Subject to any limitations of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, and the laws of the State of Oklahoma, the Elders shall have all powers of a Board of Directors under the laws of the State of Oklahoma. Without prejudice to such general power, but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the Elders shall have the following powers:
(a) To select, appoint and remove all officers, agents, and employees of the Church, fix any compensation, and prescribe for them such powers and duties as are consistent with law, the Certificate of Incorporation, and these Bylaws.
(b) To select, appoint and dismiss ad-hoc and standing committees, and the members of these committees, to organize, oversee and perform areas of ministry and responsibility as needed.
(c) To designate any place within or without the State of Oklahoma for the holding of any meeting or meetings.
(d) To authorize the receipt of contributions as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
(e) To borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the Church, and to cause to be executed and delivered therefore, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations or other evidences of debt and securities therefore.
(f) To purchase real and personal property for the use of the Church.
(g) To authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of the Church any contract or other instrument, and such authority may be general or may be confined to specific instances.
(h) To establish and change the principal office of the Church.
Section 3.3 Meetings. The Elders shall determine the frequency of their meeting but shall meet at least once a month. Elder meetings are intended to be open to the Church members, unless the meetings are in executive session. Members of the Church are encouraged to speak of their ideas and concerns at the Elders meetings, but are not allowed to make motions or to vote.
Section 3.4 Minutes. Minutes of all meeting of the Elders shall be kept and maintained and shall include the time and date of the meeting, the names of those present, and the proceedings thereof, including any votes taken, authorizations or appointments made, and committees established or dismissed.
Section 3.5 Quorum. A majority of the Elders shall constitute a quorum. However, all votes, other than minor procedural votes such as the approval of minutes, require the approval of a majority of all the Elders, not just a majority of those present.
Section 3.6 Term of Office. The eldership shall consist of at least 3 members. The elders will be nominated and selected by the members of the Church. An elder may serve with the understanding that:
1. He has the qualities as those enumerated in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
2, As required, the church will have the opportunity to nominate new/additional elders and affirm each existing elder that desires to continue to serve.
3. He continues to serve in good faith and in the best interest of the church
Section 3.7 Selection. The selection and ordination of elders is to be determined by the members of the Church. The selection can be held during the annual meeting or a special meeting of the Church. A selection of elders may be called for by the Elders or by a majority of the members of the Church.
Section 3.8 Qualifications. The qualifications of an elder are those enumerated in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
Section 3.9 Vacancies. The position of an elder vacated by resignation, permanent incapacity, death, removal, or for any other reason shall not be filled until the next elder selection.
Section 3.10 Removal. An elder may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a two-thirds vote of all the Elders at any meeting of the Elders, provided the elder subject to the removal vote has been duly notified that the removal vote is on the agenda.
Section 3.11 Lack of Minimum Number. If there are fewer than three elders any remaining elders are automatically removed as elders.
ARTICLE IV
PLANNING COMMITTEE
Section 4.1 Planning Committee. If there are no elders, the Church shall select a Planning Committee consisting of at least nine members of the Church. This committee shall function until the Church has selected and ordained three or more elders. Decisions of this committee, other than church maintenance and upkeep decisions, shall be subject to the approval of the Church. All Planning Committee meetings shall be open to any and all members of the Church.
ARTICLE V
FINANCIAL RECORDS
Section 5.1 Financial Records. Financial records shall be maintained that document the financial activities of the Church. Periodic financial statements shall also be produced. These financial records and statements, other than individual salary information, shall be open for reasonable inspection by members of the Church.
ARTICLE VI
LIABILITY
Section 6.1 Liability. No elder or member of a committee shall be personally liable, as such, for monetary damages for any action taken unless:
(a) the elder or member has breached or failed to perform his or her duties in good faith, in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the Church, and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, skill and diligence, as a person of ordinary prudence would use under similar circumstances; and
(b) the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.
ARTICLE VII
DISSOLUTION
Section 7.1 Dissolution. In the event the Church is dissolved and liquidated, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the Church, the Elders, or the members of the Church in the absence of elders, shall distribute or dispose of any remaining property and assets to such organization or organizations established and operated for religious, educational or charitable purposes as, in their judgement, have purposes which are similar to those of the Church.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 8.1 Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, changed, or replaced by a two-thirds approval vote of a quorum of the members of the Church, at an annual or special corporate meeting of the Church, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.4. Notice of the proposed amendment, alteration, change or replacement must be contained in the notice of the meeting. Suggested amendments to these bylaws should be presented to the elders for their review.
CERTIFICATION OF ELDERS
We, the undersigned, do hereby certify:
1. That we are the duly selected and ordained Elders of the New Hope Church of Christ, Inc., an Oklahoma non-profit corporation; and
2. That the foregoing Bylaws, after having been read by each elder, were adopted by the Elders as the Bylaws of the Church at the Elders meeting held the 4th of December 2022, and confirmed by a vote of the members of the Church the 4th of December 2022.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto subscribed our names effective the date set forth above.
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Herb Gilkey John W. Humphreys
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Robert W Peterson James F. Clark
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Robert M. Ford Keith Davis
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
David Knight Eric Newberg
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Ken Johnson Gregory L. Poland
December 5, 2022