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CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS

“SONRISE COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH”

An Arizona Nonprofit Corporation 501 (c) (3)

ARTICLE I

Name and Principal Office

The name of the Corporation as on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission is SONRISE COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH. This Corporation is also referred to as SONRISE “A COMMUNITY CHURCH” and SONRISE BIBLE CHURCH and SONRISE CHURCH and SONRISE COMMUNITY CHURCH, and may be referred to as such in this Constitution and Bylaws. This Corporation will also be further referred to in the Constitution & Bylaws as the “Church” or “Church/Corporation” or “church.” The Church maintains its principal office at 29505 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85266. The Board of Elders or their offical designee(s) shall have full power and authority to change the principal office from one location to another. Any change of this location shall be amended in Article I.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by being a God-glorifying, Christ-exalting, Holy Spirit-led Church, believing in the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible, and striving to fulfill the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The purpose of the Church includes full acceptance of the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and as the only basis for our beliefs. The Church accepts the Bible as the final authority on all matters. For purposes of this Church/Corporation’s beliefs, faith, doctrine, practice, policy and discipline, the Board of Elders is SonRise Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.

The purpose of the church includes glorifying God (Ephesians 3:21) by building itself up in the faith (Ephesians 4:13-16), by instruction of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:2, 15; 3:16-17), by fellowship (Acts 2:47; 1 John 1:3), by keeping the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42) and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8; 2:42). The Church partners with the Southern Baptist Convention. Furthermore, the Church strives to be involved in:

EVANGELISM/MISSIONS – “To preach, teach and share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people.” (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; II Peter 3:9)
DISCIPLESHIP – “To help Christians develop toward full Christian maturity and train them for effective ministry, and promote personal, spiritual growth and discipleship through Bible teaching.” (Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 18:20; II Timothy 2:2)
WORSHIP – “To participate in worship services together and to maintain personal devotions.” (John 4:24)
MINISTRY/SERVICE – “To serve unselfishly, in Jesus’ name, meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those in our Church, community and in the world.” (I Peter 4:10-11; Matthew 25:34-40; I Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 5:13)
FELLOWSHIP – “To encourage, support and pray for each other as Christians in the family of God.” (1 John 1:7; Acts 2:44-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; Romans 15:5-7; John 13:34-35)

ARTICLE III

SECTION I: Statement of Faith

See page “Statement of Doctrine”

ARTICLE III

SECTION 2: Membership

The members of the church constitute a non-voting membership. Any Church action only requires approval by the Board of Elders.

The members of this Church shall be composed of individuals who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and affirm the tenets of the Church Constituion and Bylaws and who offer evidence, by their confession and conduct, as evaluated by the Board of Elders that they are living in accord with their affirmations in this Constituion and Bylaws, and are activiely pursuing and continuing in a vital fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church receives as members those people who meet these qualifications:

Called of God to salvation by His grace and having expressed saving faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Baptized (unless physically unable) by immersion in water as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ as a testimony of salvation (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 3:21; Acts 22:16).

In agreement with the Church Constitution & By-Laws which include the Church Statement of Faith.

Exercise their spiritual gifts for the mutual benefit of the church and submit to the authority of the Elders.

Complete a membership seminar, if required.

The Board of Elders approves those people who have met the qualifications to become members and publicly receives such people as members into the Church.

Members of this Church shall consist of all persons who have met and continue to meet the qualifications. Any member(s) not abiding by the qualifications may be removed as member(s). Such removal is determined by the Board of Elders.

ARTICLE IV

SECTION I: Congregational Polity and Governance

We believe that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18) and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, practice and worship are all appointed through His sovereignty as found in the Scriptures. The biblically designated primary Church officers serving under Christ and having authority over the Church are male elders (in the Bible elders are also called bishops, pastors, and pastor/teachers; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11). In the Church, elders may also be referred to as “Board of Elders” or “elders” or “eldership” or “Elders.”

The business and affairs of the Church shall be conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction and authority of the Board of Elders or the Elder’s official designee(s).

The secondary officers serving in the Church are male deacons, referred to in the church as “deacons.” Elders and deacons are to meet biblical qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5).

The Board of Elders lead or rule as servants of Christ (1 Timothy 5:17-22) and have Christ’s authority in directing the Church. The congregation is to submit to their leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17). The deacons serve in ministry roles deemed appropriate and assigned by the Elders and under the authority of the Elders.

Decision-making pertaining to the Church resides in the Elders. The Senior Pastor is also an Elder and is Chairman of the Board of Elders unless he defers the position of Chairman to another Elder. The Senior Pastor shall be the President of the Church/Corporation unless he defers the positon of President to another person as selected by the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders shall apppoint the necessary officers to fill positions as required for the Annual Arizona Corportation Commission filing. The Board of Elders may appoint any officers to fill positions in the Church. The Board of Elders may remove and/or replace any officers.

The Board of Elders are to manage, direct, and oversee all things pertaining to the church, including the financial affairs of the Lord’s church. There are no business meetings and no voting associated with the church, except for votes taken within the Board of Elders, as deemed appropriate by the Board of Elders. The Elders are the men that God has given the role and function of managing, with authority, all the matters related to the church. Elders may delegate responsibilities. The Board of Elders select, approve and appoint the men who will become Elders and deacons. The Board of Elders has authority to remove an Elder(s) from the eldership and remove a deacon(s) from the deacons.

The government of this Church is vested in the Board of Elders. In respect to the Church and all its affairs and every possible matter, the Church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs. The Church voluntarily partners with the Southern Baptist Convention, but the Church is independent of any denominational control and subject to the control of no ecclesiastical body, including the Southern Baptist Convention.

SECTION II: Incorporation

The Church is incorporated as an Arizona Non-profit Corporation.

SECTION III: Doctrine

The Doctrine of the Church is identical to the Statement of Faith under Article III, Section I.

SECTION IV: Cooperative Affiliation

This Church recognizes there is mutual helpfulness in the association of churches that maintain the same beliefs. Therefore, recognizing the benefits of cooperation with other similar churches in world missions, this Church voluntarily affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention in its national, state and local expressions.

SECTION V: Church Discipline

Discipline of members or attendees shall be conducted under the Board of Elders.

Should a member or attendee become an offense to the church by reason of immoral or unchristian conduct, or by violating the Bible, or non-support of the church, or unacceptable lack of attendence to church functions, or by not believing and accepting the Church Constitution & By-Laws (inculding the Church Statement of Faith) or by any other conduct deemed unacceptable by the Board of Elders, his/her membership may be terminated by the Board of Elders, and may require the person not to be present at church functions nor to come on church property. The same may be required of the person who is not a member but is an attendee (Matthew 18:15-18).

Such a person may be restored to membership and permission to attend church functions if the Board of Elders is satisfied the person has repented. If such a person repents before termination of membership or before they are not permitted to attend church functions, or before they are not permitted to come on church property, and if the Board of Elders is satisfied the person has repented, then the process of discipline and termination may end at the discretion of the Board of Elders.

The members of this church and all other attendees agree that there shall be no appeal to any court because of the process of discipline, or actual dismissal, or because of statements made pertaining to church discipline or dismissal. Members who are under discipline by the church, forfeit and waive the right to resign from this church. Resignations from membership are possible only by members who are not in the process of church discipline.

Subject to the discretion and approval of the Board of Elders a member or atendee, or any other person, may be notified that he/she is not to be present at church functions nor upon church property for such a period of time as is deemed necessary. Such required absence may, but need not, be concurrent with church discipline.

The purpose of church discipline is to glorify God by maintaining obedience to the Bible, biblical truth, biblical love, biblical obedience and biblical purity in the church (1 Corinthians 5), to edify believers by deterring sin (1 Timothy 5:20), and to promote the spiritual welfare of the offending person by calling him/her to return to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct through repentance (Galatians 6:1).

SECTION VI: Termination of Membership

1. Members shall be removed from the Church Membership in the following ways:

by death of the member;
by personal request of the member (if not in the process of church discipline)
by approval of the Board of Elders.

ARTICLE VII

Elders

The business and affairs of the Church shall be conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction and authroity of the Board of Elders.

All the activities and affairs of the Church shall be exercised by and be under the direction and authority of the Board of Elders, who are responsible for shepherding and having oversight of the Church. It is hereby expressly declared that the Board of Elders shall have the following powers in addition to the other powers enumerated by this Constitution & Bylaws:

(a) To select and remove all the officers, agents, pastors, staff, and employees of the Church; prescribe such duties for them consistent with the Scriptures, with law, with the Articles of Incorporation, and within this Constitution & Bylaws; and fix the terms of their offices and their compensation.

(b) To make investments and placement of funds and disbursements from the funds and properties of the Church as are required to fulfill the purposes of the Church, and to conduct, manage, and control the activities and affairs of the Church and to make such rules and regulations consistent with the Scriptures, with law, and with this Constitution & Bylaws, as they (Board of Elders) may deem best.

(d) To establish policies and practices for the church consistent with the purposes of the church

(e) To assist the Senior Pastor (also an elder)

(f) To borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the Church and to cause to be executed and delivered, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, pledges, hypothecations, or other evidences of debt and securities.

(g) To carry on a business and apply any such profit that results from the business activity in which it may legally engage.

(h) The Senior Pastor shall be the Chairman of the Board of Elders

(i) The number of elder(s) of the Church shall be one or more.

(j) The Church is vested in the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders select, approve and appoint the men who will become elders and deacons. The Board of Elders has authority to remove an elder(s) from the Board of Elders and remove a deacon(s) from the deacons, and to appoint or remove any person from any role associated with the church.

(k) Every Elder shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, documents of every kind, and the physical properties of the Church, and also of its subsidiary organizations, if any.

(l) Any meeting (whether regular, special, or adjourned) of the Board of Elders of the Church may be held at any place within or outside the State of Arizona.

Section I

Elder Qualifications

Elders must be adult males who are members of the church. An Elder must be exemplary in life and doctrine, exhibiting the following characteristics (see I Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9; Proverbs 22:3) as evalauated by the Board of Elders.

(a) Blameless as a steward of God; above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6-7)

(b) If married, the husband of one wife; a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6)

(d) Sober-minded, prudent (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)

(e) Of good behavior; orderly, respectable (1 Timothy 3:2)

(f) Given to hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)

(g) Apt to teach; able to teach; he can exhort believers and refute false teaching (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9)

(h) Not given to wine (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)

(i) Not violent; not pugnacious (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)

(j) Patient, moderate, forbearing, gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)

(k) Not a brawler; uncontentious; not soon angry or quick-tempered (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)

(l) Not covetous; not a lover of money; not greedy of base gain (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)

(m) Rules well his own house; his children are faithful, not accused of rebellion to God (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:7)

(n) Not a novice; not a new convert (1 Timothy 3:6)

(o) Has a good report or reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)

(p) Not self-willed (Titus 1:7)

(q) Loves what is good (Titus 1:8)

(r) Just, fair (Titus 1:8)

(s) Holy, devout (Titus 1:8)

(t) Self-controlled (Titus 1:8)

Article VIII

Deacons

The Deacons shall consist of adult male members of the Church possessing the qualifications described in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, as evaluated by the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders shall delegate ministry duties, as deemed appropriate, to the deacons. The deacons serve under the authority of the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders select, approve and appoint the men who will become deacons. The Board of Elders has authority to remove a deacon(s). The number of deacons in the Church may be zero, one or more.

ARTICLE IX

Senior Pastor

The Senior Pastor shall be selected by unanimous approval of the Board of Elders. The Senior Pastor is also an elder in the Church, is Chairman of the Board of Elders, is President of the Church, is Secretary of the Church, and shall remain in office an indefinite period of time, or until such a time the Senior Pastor resigns.

The Senior Pastor shall be responsible for overseeing the Church including the spiritual health of the church, preaching and teaching Scripture, for guiding the church to achieve its “Purpose” as described in Article II herein, and for being the lead-elder of the Elder Board. To be such an overseer, the Senior Pastor shall collaborate with the other Elders.

SECTION I

Qualifications

The Senior Pastor must be an adult male who agrees with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Church/Corportation.

He must be exemplary in life and doctrine, exhibiting the following characteristics (see I Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9; Proverbs 22:3):

(a) Blameless as a steward of God; above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6-7)

(b) If married, the husband of one wife; a one-woman man (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6)

(d) Sober-minded, prudent (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)

(e) Of good behavior; orderly, respectable (1 Timothy 3:2)

(f) Given to hospitality (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8)

(g) Apt to teach; able to teach; he can exhort believers and refute false teaching (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9)

(h) Not given to wine (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)

(i) Not violent; not pugnacious (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)

(j) Patient, moderate, forbearing, gentle (1 Timothy 3:3)

(k) Not a brawler; uncontentious; not soon angry or quick-tempered (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7)

(l) Not covetous; not a lover of money; not greedy of base gain (1 Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7)

(m) Rules well his own house; his children are faithful, not accused of rebellion to God (1 Timothy 3:4; Titus 1:7)

(n) Not a novice; not a new convert (1 Timothy 3:6)

(o) Has a good report or reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7)

(p) Not self-willed (Titus 1:7)

(q) Loves what is good (Titus 1:8)

(r) Just, fair (Titus 1:8)

(s) Holy, devout (Titus 1:8)

(t) Self-controlled (Titus 1:8)

ARTICLE IV

Officers

The Senior Pastor shall be the President of the Church unless he defers the positon of President to another person as selected by the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders shall apppoint the necessary officers to fill positions as required for the Annual Arizona Corportation Commission filing. The Board of Elders may appoint any officers to fill positions in the Church. The Board of Elders may remove and/or replace any officers.

The Board of Elders may empower the President to appoint other officers, each of whom shall hold office for such a period, have such authority, and perform such duties as determined by the Board of Elders, and be under the direction and authority of the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders may remove or replace any officer.

ARTICLE X

Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws

This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended and new and additional Constitution and Bylaws may be made from time to time, and at any time, by the Board of Elders in the exercise of the power granted in these Constitution and Bylaws, subject to the provision of Section 10-11002 of the Arizona Revised Statutes.

CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

I, the undersigned, certify that I am presently the acting Secretary of the Church, and that this Constitution & Bylaws, consisting of twenty-seven (27) pages, is the Constitution and Bylaws of the Church as adopted by a vote of the members of the Church on

________________________.

Executed at Scottsdale, Arizona this ___________ day of ___________________ 2019.

_________________________________________________

Secretary