Our Constitution

CONSTITUTION FOR Buxton Community Church (BCC)

 
The name of this new independent Christian church is to be Buxton Community Church (herein referred to as “BCC”)
 

PREAMBLE

BCC began with a calling of the Lord upon Ian Rockwell & Jake Peacock in Aug 08. The 1st service was held in Dec 08 at the old Methodist church in Buxton.
 
BCC is deliberately a non-denominational church claiming affilliation to Christianity alone. All its endeavours are to be exercised for the glory of Jesus.
 

PURPOSE/VISION

BCC was called into existence by God through Ian Rockwell and Jake Peacock with the purpose of reaching the community of Buxton NSW with the good news of the living Jesus Christ. BCC desires to see lives changed and Jesus welcomed at Buxton.
 
BCC deliberately intends to provide a place of worship and Bible study for local Christians.
 
BCC conducts weekly church services @ 9:30am with the vision for life being where ‘relationship replaces ritual.’
 

BELIEFS

Essential to the formulation of the core beliefs is the acceptance of the Canonical scriptures in authority, inerrancy and sufficiency for salvation and good living. The Bible not only contains the word of God but is the word of God. The New Testament is the proper outworking of the Old Testament and they are completely complementary.
 
Matters of theology and sacraments not covered in core beliefs are always at the discretion of the Leadership Committee.
 
The 10 foundational beliefs of BCC are listed below.
 
  • God hears and will respond to the prayers of the distressed. (Psalm 102:17) He wants, indeed invites us, to give all our problems to Him. (Matthew 11:28-30) God will deliberately and often speak to me, to encourage me through the eternal, infallible and irreplaceable words from His Spirit and His Bible.

 

  • There is ONLY one triune God in heaven. He has deliberately acted to be known and wants to be known by all on Earth. God is not hiding; He wants ALL to find Him. (John 1:18.)

  • His creation and the Bible witnesses to Him (Psalm 19, Romans 1:20) but this only God in Heaven is personally known ONLY through His eternal son Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, Acts 4:12).

  • God's good commitment to His children on Earth is demonstrated through His giving of His only son, Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for our forgiveness (Matthew 26:28) and rose again on the third day, and forty days later ascending to heaven. Jesus will return at the appointed time and will judge this Earth. (Acts 1:10-11, Acts 10:42)

  • The God of heaven is perfectly good and kind. His Bible perfectly reveals this to us. Both He and His creation have been 'robbed' of this truth across the Earth. (John 10:10a) The Lord is good to all. (Psalms 145:9a)

  • I can know His goodness through Jesus alone, when I ask for His forgiveness of my sins. He then gives me His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, my counsellor. (John 16:7)

  • As with any father He is not happy when His children suffer. God wants to give His children good things. (Luke 11:11-13, Lam 3:33) God delights in His servants well being. (Psalms 35:27b)

  • The Bible is clear that satan and his demons are active across this Earth.(Luke10:18, Revelation 12:7-9). They seek to deceive and harm all. They seek to be worshiped thus robbing God of worship, and us of the blessing of worship. Satan robs us of God's goodness. (John 10:10a) Satan especially attacks believers in Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)

  • God wants us to know His goodness grace and generosity now. He wants us to have an abundant life on earth. (John 10:10b) God wants to heal and restore those who have been robbed. (Jer 30:17, 33:6 & Mark 1:41)

 

  • God is not far away. He wants us all to reach out to Him in truth (Ps 145:18), because He is close, not remote. (Acts 17:27)

 

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP (herein called “LC”)

Membership is available to all who would agree that in Jesus "there is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved.” Acts 4:12

Ian Rockwell, Sydney Lee, Jake Peacock and Geoff Taylor are the foundation Leadership Committee members.

The chairman is to be appointed by consensus after Incorporation has been granted. The chairman is appointed annually before the AGM and is to be announced at the AGM.

There will be no less than 3 (a quorum) or a maximum of 7 on the Leadership Committee.

Leadership Committee membership is by invitation only from the majority of the Leadership committee.

Any committee membership can be withdrawn immediately by the remainder of the committee for items of:

  • a critical, argumentative or divisive spirit,
  • heresy,
  • bankruptcy
  • immorality of any kind,
  • non-attendance at 2 committee meetings without reason or consistent non-attendance a church
  • any other behaviour that contravenes the New Testament elders' guidelines from the Epistles.

The committee is to determine the definition of the above points in a separate document as required.

 

CONGREGATION MEMBERSHIP OF BCC

Any person who claims Jesus as Lord and has a life that supports the claim is welcome the join the congregation of BCC. Visitors and seekers are always welcome at BCC. Members of BCC consider BCC to be their church and will demonstrate this in their co-operation and commitment.

Membership of BCC guarantees Leadership Committee consideration for any approved activity that the member may wish to enter into in the name of BCC.

 

CHURCH PRACTICE

BCC only recognizes the 2 sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism.

Baptism is for believers who are church members. Any baptism in the church building is to be conducted by a member of the LC, according to the BCC outline of service.

Holy Communion is also to be conducted by a member of the LCC according to BCC practice.

BCC also recognizes that there are various convictions regarding the subject and modes of baptism. Parents who profess Jesus as Lord may present children for baptism. Persons who profess the faith may be baptized by either sprinkling, pouring or immersion as they wish.

If parents desire to dedicate a child or have a thanksgiving service rather than baptize a child, provision is also made.

BCC recognizes that there may be legitimate differences of opinion on this matter. However each member should follow Roms 12:18 & Hebs 12:14  which will yield the bond of peace. 

Neither sacrament is a salvation issue.

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Each year in July or August an AGM is to be held. The business of the AGM is to:

1.       Pray and thank the Lord for the preceding year’s blessings.

2.       Receive a report from the Leadership committee Chairman out lining the growth and initiatives already taken while sharing plans for the future.

3.        Announce the LC chairman/treasurer/auditor for the ensuing 12 months. 

4.      

a) Receive audited financial statements from the treasurer and answer any questions as may arise.    

b) These statements must be available 1 week prior to the AGM for the entire congregation.    

c) Appoint signatories to the bank accounts                                                                     

5.       Minutes are to be kept and tabled at the next Leadership committee meeting, as well as being available to the congregation on request.

6.       A quorum for the AGM will be the leadership committee with at least 2 congregation members also present.

 

FINANCES

All financial arrangements are subject to the Biblical principle of tithing which is to be honoured at BCC as first principles with the further New Testament guideline of being generous in giving.

Finances are to be maintained transparently in accordance with good practice as determined by legislation and Christian fidelity. Church members will have access to all books on appropriate request.

Employees are to be paid wages and allowances according to the committee’s discretion, as outlined prior to any appointments being made.

There is to be no fiduciary benefit conferred upon committee members or members of their immediate families from BCC accounts. (This is exclusive of a member earning a legitimate wage as an employee of BCC.)

The following points apply:

1.       The income and property of the church shall be applied in promotion of its objects, to tithing as the LC directs and to no other purpose.

2.       All funds shall be banked in the name of the church with the account having two co-signatories for the drawing of all cheques. All moneys are to be banked as soon as practicable after receipt thereof.

3.       All BCC expenses over $100 to be paid by cheque or direct deposit.

 

BCC STAFFING

The Leadership committee is empowered to make all appointments of staffing such as it believes is best/necessary for the growth of BCC and the extension of His kingdom particularly at Buxton but not limited to Buxton.

All staff appointments are directly responsible to the Leadership Committee. The Leadership Committee may review this at any time, such as the need arises.

All employees are to conduct all their duties in a God honouring manner as determined by the Bible. To not do so is to forfeit employment by BCC.

 

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES

Amendments, additions and any other changes to the constitution are all to be ratified by a majority of the Leadership Committee. Constitutional changes can only be made at meetings in June or December of each calendar year.

 

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE (LC) RESPONSIBILITIES

BCC LC is to ensure all necessary compliance with government legislation of NSW and Australia.

BCC LC is responsible for the good and faithful management of all church finances including the appointment of an auditor, treasurer and account signatories. The treasurer and auditor are to be appointed on an annual basis at the same time as the chairman.

BCC LC is to prayerfully and purposefully plan to extend the influence of this church across the community of Buxton and elsewhere as God may guide. The LC is to consistently operate in such a manner as to always take the church forward. Diligent record keeping is necessary for this to happen.

BCC LC will meet as required and agreed upon by the members as guided by the chairman. The BCC Leadership Committee cannot meet without written permission of the Chairman should he be absent. There are to be a minimum of four meetings per annum.

Any church member wishing to establish an initiative using the BCC name must 1st apply in writing for consideration and approval. Approval is also to be given in writing before the BCC name can be used.

Any leadership change for groups or within groups of BCC is first to be approved by the Leadership Committee.

BCC LC is able to establish, empower and oversee any sub-committee it may see helpful from time to time.

 

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Church discipline is moderated by the New Testament’s standards of church order as found in 1 Cor 5 -14.

The LC will determine if or when these standards need to be upheld within all the New Testament guidelines on conducting relationships.

 

BCC VOLUNTEERS

All volunteers are to be approved by the LC committee and comply with all relevant government legislation. Volunteers are to uphold all the same Christian standards that LC members must also maintain. Volunteers are those who are acting in the name of BCC on an agreed regular basis with approval of the LC. They will be a member of BCC.

It is appreciated that from time to time ‘helpers’ may assist in various initiatives as required for limited and specific durations. No LC approval is necessary for such circumstances.

 

CHURCH PROPERTY

The title to all real estate and personal property acquired by BCC whether by gift, deed, transfer or purchase will be held by the members of the BCC Leadership Committee then holding office on trust for the BCC.

 

BCC CLOSURE

Should God guide that BCC close all operations there is to be unanimous support from the committee.

Any assets are to be sold and all cash given to an organisation of similar Christian values such as the Leadership Committee determines.

Consideration of closure must first be discussed with a congregational meeting led by the the LC Chairman. Quorum will be 60% of those on the contemporary church roll/database. This meeting must have at least 51% support for the closure before the decision is taken by the LC. The LC may not act unilaterally on the decision of closure.