The International Churches of Nice and Saint Paul de Vence
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE CHURCH of SAINT PAUL DE VENCE
CONSTITUTION
Registered : April 10, 2006
At : Grasse Sous-Prefecture
N° 0061022204
PREAMBLE
The International Bible Church of Saint Paul de Vence subscribes to the Confession of Faith and Ecclesiastical Principles of the CNEF (Conseil National des Évangéliques de France). To comply with the December 9, 1905 law it is constituted as a Cultural Association whose functioning is defined by the following Constitution.
ARTICLE 1
CONSTITUTION- OBJECT
The Cultural Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul de Vence constituted in compliance with the legislative and regulatory provisions, in particular the December 9, 1905 and July 1st, 1901 laws and the March 16, 1906 and August 16, 1901 decrees, has for object the practice of public evangelical worship services and to provide for all needs and expenses related to worship services and other legally linked activities. (1 Tim. 4:13: 2 Tim. 4:2–5; Heb. 10:23–25; Acts 2:42)
Its place of activity and other associated activities applies to the Alpes Maritimes and Var French departments. It can be moved elsewhere upon decision of the Church Council.
The Association is constituted of at least 15 members. Its duration is unlimited.
ARTICLE 2
MEMBERS
The Association members are the people who asked to be registered as such in the Church. They are also ones who comply with the present Constitution and Confession of Faith. They have been baptized, after confessing their personal faith, or, have given adequate testimony to conversion after a childhood baptism, and they are joining from another evangelical church. (Rom. 6:3–4, 10:9–13; Mt. 28:18–20; 1 Timothy 6:12)
They are registered on the Members list of the Association at the Annual General Assembly Meeting upon proposal by the Church Council.
They have a vote at the General Assembly Meetings.
Members can be removed from the Association at their request, or upon death, or on exclusion upon the Council’s proposal. At the excluded person’s request, the Church Council can decide to invite the person concerned to present their remarks in a regular Council meeting or other congregational meeting if seen as beneficial by vote of the Council. (Matt. 18:15–20; 1 Timothy 5:1–2, 19–20; 2 Timothy 2:24–26)
Members are encouraged to participate in community worship and instruction and other fellowship events (Rom. 12:4–5; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:23–25). They are to pray for one another (Col. 4:2; 1 Tim. 2:1). They affirm submission to the statement of faith of the church and of the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16–17). All members are expected to give sacrificially of their time, finances and God given talents and spiritual gifts to the people and ministry of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul as able and led by the Spirit. (Matt. 25:38–40; Acts 2:42, 1 Cor.12, Heb.13:16)
The list of current members will be updated when new members are joining or current members are departing. This list is to include each qualifying member’s surname, first name, date of birth, address and date of registration on the list, as confirmed by the Church Council.
ARTICLE 3
CHURCH COUNCIL
The Church Council is made of the Pastor and 4 to 6 members of the Church, proposed by the majority of the Council at the General Assembly Meeting and then approved in a majority vote of the members present or proxy. (Heb 13:7,17)
Any Church member, current and qualified over the age of 18 years old, may be asked to become a Council member by the council majority.
The Pastor is a member by right in the Church Council. The Church Council meets regularly, and when necessary Council members may attend via video conference.
Council membership is proposed and agreed upon first by the residing Council. The Council is elected for 2 years, half of its members are renewed by vote every two years, the retiring members are eligible for re-election. The Council then proposes its membership at the General Assembly Meeting. The Council is acknowledged/affirmed by the General Assembly Meeting. An annual confirmation is required by the Council. This annual confirmation serves as an opportunity to approve continuing participation of each Council member for the remainder of their term in case of change or lack of participation under whatever circumstances. A Council member can be released of duty at any time by majority vote of the existing Council.
If a Council member is vacating their position before the end of their term they may be replaced by the Council on majority agreement and confirmed at the following General Assembly Meeting, ordinary or extraordinary.
ARTICLE 4
THE PASTOR
The Pastor is appointed by a General Assembly Meeting after being chosen by the Church Council. He is by right President or Vice President of the Church Council and General Assembly Meeting. The means of this appointment is decided upon by the present Church Council. (Titus 1:5–9; Acts 14:23; 2 Tim. 2:2)
The General Assembly Meeting may also appoint one or more Assistant Pastors recommended by the Pastor and confirmed by the Church Council.
A Pastor may be relieved of responsibility upon his request or after being requested to step down by a supermajority Council vote. If he refuses, outside counsel from ICC or CNEF (or an agreed upon body) will be brought in to consider the situation, make recommendations, and then a prayerful determination and revote will take place. If the supermajority still exists, the Pastor will be dismissed. (Matt. 18:15–20)
ARTICLE 5
THE BOARD OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL
After renewal of the Church Council, a Board must be voted on by the Council. The Board is made of a President, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The board is elected for two years.
If at some times a post in the Board becomes vacant, the Church Council must find a replacement.
The termination of the new member’s mandate will be the same as for the member he is replacing.
ARTICLE 6
POWERS AND POSSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL
Management and finances
The Church Council is the body granted the widest delegation of authority to manage the affairs of the Church and to represent it before third parties. However the Council needs a vote of approval by the General Assembly Meeting for the following : to ask for a loan, to mortgage a building which is property of the Association, to proceed to the buying, exchange, alienation, of any building, inasmuch as for any approach of administrative authorization to accept any donation or legacy including buildings or comprising a charge.
Besides its administrative and representative role, the Church Council is in charge of preparing and coordinating all of the Church activities.
In all these areas the Church Council is the General Assembly Meeting’s executive body. It’s the only body granted authority in decision making.
The Association’s budget is decided on by the Church Council and approved by the General Assembly Meeting. On a proposal from the Treasurer, the Council closes the financial exercise of the year and presents the accounts for approval by the General Assembly Meeting. The termination of the financial year is December 31.
Representation of the Church and Signature authority.
The President or any other member of the Board mandated by the Church Council may represent the Association before public authorities, incur expenditures, append signature upon official documents, and fulfill the administrative formalities required under laws and regulations. After special appointment of Board members by the Council, the same procedure applies to representation or action in front of a court of law, appeals included, as much as for the signature of notarial acts.
The Treasurer, using the sole signature of his personal name, collects revenues, pays expenditures and makes all payments, transfers and withdrawals on the Associations’ accounts. One or more other Council members may be appointed by the Church Council to make the same financial transactions with their own signature.
The President and the Secretary are responsible for the proper maintenance and conservation of the Association’s archives.
ARTICLE 7
THE ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
The Annual General Assembly Meeting of the Association members must take place at least once a year, during the first trimester, and is convened by the Church Council which decides on its agenda. Individual notifications bearing the date and agenda for the General Assembly Meeting must be mailed, or electronically distributed, to every Association member at least ten days prior to the Meeting.
The General Assembly Meeting Board is the same as the Council Board. Voting by proxy is accepted. Only a member of the Association may represent an absent member. Besides his own vote he cannot be granted more than one proxy. Voting through mandate or by mail is not accepted. Attending the General Assembly Meeting by video conference is permitted, and votes by virtual attendees may be counted by indicating their vote in the chat feature.
An official report on the Association activities during the past year is given to the General Assembly Meeting, as much as a report from one or more financial auditors. The report on decisions related to provisional budget, management, and measures regarding the buying or selling of properties, must be approved. The General Assembly Meeting votes the budget of the current financial year, and debates the points on the agenda.
The auditors are elected by the General Assembly Meeting on a proposal from the Church Council, with mention of the duration of their mandate. They are responsible for the audit of entries and income statements and must submit an end of year report at the Annual General Assembly Meeting.
All the votes, except for the dissolution of the Association, are taken at the absolute majority of the members present or represented at the AGM. They are valid regardless of their number.
An Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting must be convened by the Church Council if a quarter of the Association members ask for it. Their request must make clear the motives on which the General Assembly Meeting will have to make a decision. The Council may add other points to this agenda. However, if the request of an Extraordinary Meeting is made less than three month before the time set for the Ordinary Annual General Assembly Meeting, the Church Council may decide to wait for that date.
ARTICLE 8
CONFLICTS
The conflicts which may arise in the midst of the Association should be amicably settled by the Pastor and the Church Council.
Upon a decision of the General Assembly Meeting regarding a conflict, the Association may ask for outside help from an agreed upon source or organization. (1 Corinthians 6:1–8)
ARTICLE 9
UNION OF RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
The Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul accepts and demonstrates its affiliation with both the CNEF and ICC. The International Bible Church of Saint Paul has member status in the FEEBF (Federation of the Evangelical Baptists churches of France).
ARTICLE 10
DISASSOCIATION FROM UNION OF RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
The Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul may at any time withdraw from the FEEBF or any religious association. The decision can only be made in agreement with what is stipulated in Article 12 of the present Constitution.
If the Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul departs from any religious association, or if the Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul is excluded from it, its Constitution must be modified accordingly.
ARTICLE 11
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul’s document of Rules and Regulations must be established by the Church Council in collaboration with the General Assembly Meeting. It has to be submitted to the approval of the General Assembly Meeting before being applied. This document is meant for the regulation of the diverse points not specified in the Constitution.
ARTICLE 12
MODIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
To be considered valid any modification to the present Constitution must be approved by the General Assembly Meeting. The vote is made at the absolute majority of the members present or represented. The absolute majority is defined as half plus one.
For a second convocation on the same matter of a change in the Constitution, the vote can be made at a majority of the two thirds of the members present or represented.
The General Assembly Meeting can validly debate on that matter only if the modification of the Constitution is listed on the agenda and if the text of the modification has been sent to all the Association members, as required in Article 7.
ARTICLE 13
DISSOLUTION
The voluntary dissolution of the Association of the International Bible Church of Saint Paul may be pronounced only by an Extraordinary General Assembly Meeting convened at least 20 days prior to the date set for it and in accord with the proceedings specified in Article 7 about how to send the convocation.
The dissolution must be voted on at the absolute majority of registered members and at three quarters at least of members present or represented.
For a second convocation sent also 20 days before, the dissolution must be voted on by one third of registered members and three quarters at least of members present or represented.
In case of dissolution the General Assembly Meeting will appoint one or more auditors who will proceed to the liquidation of the Association whose assets will be attributed to an association of choosing, according to the General Assembly Meeting decision.
Such dissolution may be pronounced on the suspensive condition of the administrative authorizations necessary for the devolution of assets.
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Signatures : James Arnold President
Catherine Melchio Secretary
David Stevenson Treasurer