My Website

That we, the members of Western Hills Baptist Church, may give first place to the work of God; and that all things may be done decently and in
order, this constitution and these bylaws are adopted to govern our work as the Lord may lead.

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the church shall be "Western Hills Baptist Church, Inc." This corporation is organized in accordance with the applicable provisions of
the Georgia non-profit corporation code. The period of duration, which shall be perpetual unless otherwise limited.

ARTICLE II
SECTION 1- OBJECTIVE
Its object shall be to glorify God by the maintenance of the teachings of the Word of God, the administration of the ordinances of the New
Testament (baptism and the Lord's Supper), the Spiritual improvement and education of its members and the salvation of the lost at home and
abroad.
SECTION 2 - POLICY:
Its government is vested in the body of believers who compose it. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body and shall endeavor to
be in fellowship with all churches which acknowledge the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and Jesus Christ as the only begotten, virgin born
Son of God and all sufficient Redeemer, Lord and King to come. Its mission program shall be personal and direct at home and abroad, endeavoring
to be governed only by the will of the Lord.
It shall never be a member of any association or convention or any of the associations thereof that are not premillennial and fundamental in their
teaching, recognizing the Word of God as the only rule of faith and practice.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1 - NATURE:
The membership of this church shall consist of those persons who have publicly confessed Christ as personal Saviour and declared His Lordship
over their lives in baptism by immersion.
SECTION 2 - REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP:
To be a member of this church, one must publicly confess faith in Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour and be baptized by immersion. Persons shall
be received into the membership of this church by baptism, by letter from another Baptist Church of like faith and practice, or on a statement of
Christian experience, having previously been baptized by one not regarding baptism as necessary for salvation.
SECTION 3 - PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP:
All eligible members shall constitute the voting body of the church.
SECTION 4 - DISMISSION OR TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP:
Under a written request from a church of like faith and practice a member may have a church letter granted to the requesting church.
SECTION 5 - EXCLUSION:
Members who have committed gross immorality and who refuse to right themselves or such a one who has been inactive in attendance or giving
for a period of six (6) months or one who refuses to accept the doctrinal statement of our church may be excluded from membership.
SECTION 6 - MEMBERSHIP:
A. ACTIVE MEMBER: Any person who regularly attends and supports the church shall be considered an Active Member.
B. INACTIVE MEMBER: When a person does not attend one of the public services of the church or does not support the church financially as
recorded by a stewardship envelope for a period of six (6) months, he shall be considered an Inactive Member. Inactive Members do not have the
privilege of voting in church business meetings.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
SECTION 1
The work of the church will be carried on by and under the supervision of the pastor and deacons (or trustees in event of inactive deacons).

SECTION 2 - QUALIFICATIONS:
To hold an office in this church, a member must be in good standings, i.e., annually subscribing to the standards for teachers and officers which
are:
1. Be saved, know he is saved and know he is saved forever.
2. Subscribe to the Articles of Faith of Western Hills Baptist Church.
3. Be loyal to the pastor and the program of the church.
4. Be absolutely faithful in attendance at Sunday School, morning services, evening services, teachers' meetings, prayer meetings, and visitation
service or organized visitation program (except for sickness, required work hours, and vacation time).
5. Be separated from the world - - attendance at dances, alcohol in any form, tobacco in any form, immodesty in dress, gambling, and movies.
6. Tither.
SECTION 3 - ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE:
1. Nomination: A nominating committee shall consist of the pastor and deacons, and annually they will present to the church at a called business
meeting nominations for church officers for the coming year. The initial board of directors shall consist at a minimum the following three officers;
President, Treasurer and Secretary.
2. The Pastor: Call and term of service upon recommendation by the majority of the deacons and by three-fourths majority vote of the
congregation present in a special called business meeting, the pastor shall be called for an indefinite term. His term of service shall be until his
resignation or by the vote of three-fourths majority of the congregation present for a special called business meeting.
3. Other Officers: All other offices shall be selected for a term of one year at an annual called business meeting.
4. Vacancies: Vacancies caused by resignation, death, or exclusion shall be filled by vote of the church at any business meeting during the year.
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1 - THE PASTOR:
The pastor shall perform all of the Scriptural and necessary duties of his office and shall be virtue of his office be a member of all boards and
committees. He, or a person appointed by him, shall preside at all church meetings.
SECTION 2 - DEACONS:
Deacons shall assist the pastor in the general and spiritual oversight of the church in seeking to carry out the Great Commission. They shall assist in
or with the Lord's Supper Service and baptism. They shall be ready at all times to work with the pastor in carrying out Scriptural duties of their
office.
SECTION 3- TRUSTEES:
The trustees shall be a council of up to eight (8) men elected by the church, who shall acquaint themselves with the laws of the state, the
ordinances of the county and the city that pertain to the church, seeing that such laws are obeyed so long as they do not conflict with religious
freedom.
SECTION 4- TREASURER:
The treasurer shall receive all funds and keep an accurate record of all receipts and disbursements in consultation with the church's bookkeeper.
There shall be two signatures on all checks written, consisting of the treasurer's and one other person's whom the deacons shall appoint.
SECTION 5- THE CHURCH STAFF:
All church staff members shall be under the direct supervision of the pastor. All procurement or release of staff members shall be handled solely
by the pastor.
SECTION 6- CORPORATE BUSINESS:
The pastor shall be president of the corporation. The secretary of the corporation shall be elected by the corporate officers. All property shall be
in the name of the corporation; i.e. Western Hills Baptist Church, Inc. All indebtedness on said property shall be sighed for by the president of the
corporation and attested to by the secretary of the corporation or the trustees.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
SECTION 1- REGULAR SERVICES:
For regular services:
1. The church shall meet on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and one night during the week.
2. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be commemorated as often as the pastor and deacons may determine advisable.
SECTION 2- BUSINESS MEETINGS:
Minor business meetings may be called by the pastor or deacons with the concurrence of the majority of the church members present in any given
regular public service. Special business meetings may be called at other times but only when announced in a regularly scheduled service and
agreed to in a public service.
ARTICLE VII - ORGANIZATIONS
SECTION 1- EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS:
The church regards as integral parts of itself all organizations formed with the church which use the facilities of the church property. All
organizations are to be considered under the leadership of the pastor.
SECTION 2- NEW ORGANIZATIONS:
No organizations may be formed without the approval of the pastor and deacons and must conform to the spirit of policy and teachings of the
church.
ARTICLE VIII - DISCIPLINE
SECTION 1- GRIEVANCES:
Should any differences arise between members, the aggrieved shall follow in a tender spirit the rules given by our Lord as recorded in Matthew
18:15-17.
SECTION 2- MISCONDUCT:
Should any breach of gross conduct occur, the pastor and deacons shall endeavor to remove the offense. Should the proceedings fail to bring
about repentance, the church by vote shall declare such one no longer a member of the church.
ARTICLE IX - AMMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by recommendation of the pastor and three-fourths of the members voting. It shall be necessary to announce
the proposed changes in two regular church services prior to the vote being taken.
ARTICLE X
SECTION 1- REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT:
The address of the initial registered office of the corporation is: P.O. Box 6528, Marietta, GA 30065, Cobb County. The initial registered agent of
the corporation is M. Jack Baskin, P.O. Box 6528, Marietta, GA 30065, Cobb County.
ARTICLE XI - INCORPORATOR(S)
SECTION 1- NAME OF INCORPORATOR(S):
The Name and address of the incorporator(s) is: M. Jack Baskin P.O. Box 6528, Marietta, GA 30065, Cobb County; Robert L. Williamson, 1090
Taliwa Trail, Marietta, GA 30067, Cobb County; Brenda McLure, 2500 Mountain View Drive, Marietta, GA 30066, Cobb County.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned incorporator(s) has (have) executed these Articles of Incorporation this 1st day of July, 1985.