THE CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTHWEST
BAPTIST CONVENTION
For more effective coordination
of our efforts in promoting our Lord’s program for the salvation
and blessing of the world, we adopt the following as the Constitution,
Bylaws, and Statement of Faith of the Northwest Baptist Convention:
ARTICLE I. NAME
This body shall be called the
Northwest Baptist Convention, hereinafter referred to as the
Convention.
ARTICLE II. INCORPORATION
the Convention is incorporated
under the laws of the State of Oregon as a nonprofit organization
and operates under a charter from the State of Oregon.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE
The Convention is a body through
which autonomous Baptist churches cooperate in promoting the
activities which they deem necessary to carry out the Great Commission
of Christ.
ARTICLE IV. CONSTITUENCY
Section 1. All sessions of
the annual convention shall be composed of messengers elected
by New Testament churches of like faith who fellowship through
the Convention. The messengers shall be members of the church
which elects them.
Section 2. Churches may send
three (3) messengers for the first fifty (50) members or fraction
thereof, and one (1) messenger for each additional fifty (50)
members or major fraction thereof, provided no church shall have
more than 10 messengers.
Section 3. Messengers from
new churches may be seated at any annual convention by two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the messengers present and voting. Cooperation
is voluntary and any church may withdraw its cooperation at its
discretion. The request for fellowship by a new church shall
be accompanied by a recommendation from one of the following:
(a) a church already affiliated with the Convention; (b) a director
of associational missions related to the Convention; (c) an association
in cooperation with the Convention. A request for fellowship
by a new church must be submitted to the Credentials Committee
at least thirty (30) days preceding the annual convention.
Section 4. Messengers from
a church may be refused seating according to Article V at any
annual convention and that church shall not be considered in
fellowship with the Convention and shall not be invited to participate
in convention activities and programs until a new request for
fellowship is made.
ARTICLE V. JURISDICTION
This Convention has no jurisdiction
over any local churches and shall at no time nor in any way exercise
any authority over them, provided however, the Convention may
withdraw the hand of fellowship from any church or churches which
shall, in the judgment of the Convention, become corrupt in doctrine,
faith and/or practice.
ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS
The officers of the Convention
shall be: executive director-treasurer, president, first and
second vice presidents. A person may be elected as an officer
of the Convention even though they may be serving as a trustee,
director, or committee member of an incorporated institution
or agency fostered and/or operated by the Convention. Other officers
may be elected as deemed necessary by the Convention. Candidates
for president, first and second vice president shall be nominated
from the floor of the annual convention and elected annually.
ARTICLE VII. BOARDS, AGENCIES,
COMMITTEES, AND TRUSTEES
Section 1. The Convention shall
establish such agencies, boards, committees, and employ administrative
staff as deemed necessary for the attainment of its objectives.
Section 2. Executive Board.
The Convention shall elect an Executive Board of thirty-six (36)
members plus convention officers. At least 25% of the Executive
Board shall be other than ordained ministers, and at least one
half of this number shall be women. In electing members of the
Executive Board, due regard shall be given to geographical, cultural,
and numerical representation. The immediate past president of
the Convention, the president of the Northwest Baptist Foundation,
and the president of the Northwest Woman’s Missionary Union
shall serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall act
for the Convention between annual conventions. It shall not alter
any directive of the Convention. In matters assigned to agencies
of the Convention, the Executive Board shall act as the Convention
between annual conventions only upon request by the directors
or trustees of the agencies or as specifically directed by the
Convention.
Section 3. Northwest Baptist
Foundation. The Northwest Baptist Foundation, hereinafter referred
to as the Foundation, is an incorporated agency of the Convention,
and is responsible directly to the Convention. The Foundation
shall hold in trust all bequests and gifts of funds and property
for all agencies of the Convention and shall administer those
trusts by distribution of principals or income of such funds
or property to the best interests of the agency specified, except
when the provisions of the donor or donors otherwise prohibit.
The executive director of the Foundation shall report annually
to the Executive Board of the Convention and to the annual convention.
Any changes in the articles of incorporation of the Foundation
must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present
and voting at an annual convention.
Section 4. Trustees or Directors.
The trustees or directors of any incorporated institution or
agency of the Convention shall be elected by the Convention.
Section 5. No person, except
the elected officers of the Convention, the president of the
Foundation, and the president of Northwest Woman’s Missionary
Union, shall serve at the same time as a member of the Executive
Board and a trustee or official of any incorporated institution
or agency fostered and/or operated by the Convention.
Section 6. No person shall
be eligible to serve as an officer, trustee, or as a member of
any board, department or committee who is not a member in good
standing of one of the churches cooperating with the Convention.
Section 7. No person or their
spouse employed by the Convention or any of its agencies shall
be elected to serve on the Executive Board or as trustee or director
of any of the agencies of the Convention. In the event the Convention
or any of its agencies employs the spouse of any ex-officio Executive
Board member (see Article VII, Section 2) the Nominating Committee
will choose another person from that agency or organization to
serve on the Executive Board.
Section 8. Boards, departments,
trustees, directors, or committees of institutions or agencies
must operate within the Business and Financial Plan of the Convention.
ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS
Section 1. The Convention shall
meet annually at such time and place as may be designated by
the Convention. In an emergency affecting the Convention, the
Executive Board may change the time and/or place of the annual
convention. In special circumstances the president or the executive
director-treasurer and one-third (1/3) of the Executive Board
may call a special convention, each church listed in the minutes
of the last annual convention having been notified in writing
at least fifteen (15) days before the special convention. A printed
agenda shall accompany the notification.
Section 2. The Executive Board
of the Convention shall meet at least twice each year as the
full Executive Board. One meeting shall be in relation to the
annual convention. The president and the executive director-treasurer
of the convention shall set the agenda, time, and place of the
meetings; notifying all Board members well in advance of the
meeting. Special meetings may be called by the president or the
executive director-treasurer. Convention Executive Board committees
shall meet as needed to conduct responsibilities assigned to
them by their Executive Board.
Section 3. The Executive Board
of the Foundation shall meet at least twice each year. The president
and executive director of the Foundation shall set the agenda,
time, and place of the meetings; notifying all Board members
well in advance of the meeting. Special meetings may be called
by the president or executive director of the Foundation. Foundation
Executive Board committees shall meet as needed to conduct responsibilities
assigned to them by their Executive Board.
ARTICLE IX. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
The official publication for
the Convention is the NORTHWEST BAPTIST WITNESS and is under
the direction of the Executive Board. The editor shall be elected
by the Executive Board for an indefinite tenure of office. The
editor shall be responsible to the Executive Board through the
executive director-treasurer. Nothing in the Constitution and
Bylaws shall be construed as limiting the editorial freedom of
the editor.
ARTICLE X. STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Statement of Faith of the
Convention shall be the same as that adopted by the Southern
Baptist Convention in 1963, amended 1998, entitled THE BAPTIST
FAITH AND MESSAGE.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended
(except Article V, which shall not be amended) at any annual
convention. Notice of intention to propose such amendment, together
with a copy of the proposed amendment, shall be printed in the
NORTHWEST BAPTIST WITNESS not less than sixty (60) days before
the annual convention at which the proposed amendment is to be
offered. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the messengers present and
voting shall be required for adoption of such amendment.
BYLAWS
1. PROCEDURE
(1) Except as otherwise provided
for the Constitution and Bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order,
Latest Edition shall be the parliamentary guide to all matters
pertaining to the conduct of business sessions of the Convention.
(2) Persons invited to participate
in the annual convention may be granted the privilege of speaking,
but not voting. Only duly elected messengers shall vote.
(3) Messengers must deposit
with the Credentials Committee certification from their churches
that they are duly elected messengers before receiving ballots
for voting in the Convention business sessions.
(4) The Convention shall express
its official position only through its Constitution and Bylaws,
or by the majority vote of the messengers. The receiving, acceptance,
or adoption of a report shall not, in the absence of implementing
directives, be construed as authorizing action by convention
committees, employees, boards, or agencies.
2. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(1) The executive director-treasurer
shall plan, coordinate, and promote the activities of the Convention
through its boards, departments, committees, agencies and trustees.
He shall receive and disburse all funds coming under the direction
of the Convention and/or the Executive Board. He shall give complete
and accurate report of all funds received and disbursed at least
twice annually to the Executive Board and to the annual convention.
He shall receive and disburse designated funds as directed by
the donor and shall be bonded in sufficient amount as to insure
faithful handling of all funds. He shall submit to the Executive
Board an annual audit of all funds handled and disbursed.
The executive director-treasurer
shall be elected by the Convention for an indefinite tenure of
office after nomination by the Executive Board. When the position
of executive director-treasurer is vacated, a search committee
shall be nominated by the Convention officers and elected by
the Executive Board from members of churches in fellowship with
the Convention. This committee shall report regularly to the
Executive Board.
The executive director-treasurer
shall serve ex-officio as secretary of the Convention and its
Executive Board. He shall keep accurate and faithful minutes
of all convention meetings. He shall cause these to be published
in suitable form in the annual of the Convention, together with
the Constitution and Bylaws and such other information as the
Convention or its Executive Board deems necessary and proper.
He shall be an ex-officio member without voting privileges of
all boards and committees of the Convention. The executive director-treasurer
and president of the Convention shall sign all legal papers for
the Convention. In the absence of either, an associate executive
director and/or a vice president may sign.
(2) The president shall preside
over convention meetings and appoint such committees as the Convention
or Executive Board shall authorize. He is an ex-officio member
of all boards and committees of the Convention and he is chairman
of the Executive Board.
(3) It shall be the duties
of the first and second vice-presidents in the order of their
election to preside in the absence of the president or by request
of the president in any meetings of the convention or the Executive
Board. These officers shall be ex-officio members of the Executive
Board.
(4) The first and second vice-presidents
of the Convention shall succeed to the office of president in
the order of their election in the event that the office of president
is vacated between annual conventions. The Executive Board is
authorized to elect a president to serve until a successor is
elected in an annual convention in the event of the vacating
of office or inability to serve on the part of all three of the
executive officers.
(5) With the exception of the
executive director-treasurer, election of officers shall be by
ballot and require a majority vote for election, except when
there is only one nomination for an office and no other person
desires to nominate, in which case, the president may take the
vote by acclamation. These officers shall begin serving at the
close of the annual convention in which they are elected. No
one is eligible for election as president for more than two (2)
consecutive terms.
(6) Election of the executive
director-treasurer shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
messengers present and voting. This election can take place at
the annual convention or at a special convention called for this
purpose.
3. EXECUTIVE BOARD
(1) The members of the Executive
Board shall be nominated for election for four (4) consecutive
years, all being elected annually by the Convention. The term
of office shall begin January 1 following the election at the
annual convention. Existing vacancies shall also be filled by
election at the annual convention. No person having served a
four (4) year term, or three (3) years of an unexpired term shall
be eligible for reelection to the Executive Board until one (1)
year has passed. A majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum. A member who misses two (2) consecutive meetings shall
be recognized as having resigned from the Executive Board unless
a written excuse is received and approved by the Executive Board.
If between annual conventions the number of Executive Board members
shall fall below twenty-seven (27), the Executive Board shall
have the authority to fill vacancies to maintain a minimum of
twenty-seven (27) members. Members thus elected shall serve until
the next annual convention.
(2) The Executive Board shall
organize itself into committees as necessary for accomplishing
the tasks assigned to it by the Convention. These committees
shall include Finance, Administrative, and Program Committees
and others as needed. The committees and their chairmen shall
be assigned by the Convention president in consultation with
the executive director-treasurer and the vice presidents.
(3) The Executive Board shall
propose to the annual convention for convention approval a budget
for the following year. All proposed changes in the budget shall
be referred, by majority vote of the Convention, to the Finance
Committee of the Executive Board for study and recommendation
to the Convention before final action shall be taken on the budget.
The Finance Committee of the Executive Board shall act as a budget
control committee in the interval between annual conventions
and shall recommend budget adjustments to the Executive Board.
(4) The Executive Board shall
act for the Convention between the annual meetings in accepting
resignations of elected officers of the Convention and its agencies.
4. AGENCY REPORTS
The directors or trustees of
incorporated agencies of the Convention shall be responsible
for developing budgets and disbursing funds for their respective
agencies. Any request for convention funds shall be made to the
Finance Committee of the Executive Board accompanied by proposed
annual budgets. The current budget and the current financial
statement of each agency shall be included in the book of reports.
They shall also provide to the Executive Board annual audits
of all funds received and disbursed.
5. COMMITTEES
(1) Standing Convention Committees:
The president and the first and second vice presidents shall
serve as a Committee on Committees and shall appoint the following
committees after the annual convention in which these officers
were elected and prior to January 1 of the following year. No
person may serve more than four (4) consecutive years on any
committee. No person may serve on two (2)committees at the same
time. No Executive Board member shall serve on a standing convention
committee.
(a) A Nominating Committee,
composed of seven (7) members, shall nominate to the Convention
all members of boards, trustees of institutions and agencies,
and other nominations which the Convention may assign to it.
(b) An Order of Business Committee,
composed of seven (7) members, shall present to the opening session
of the annual convention a recommended schedule and program for
the annual convention. It shall, through its chairman, closely
monitor the schedule adopted by the Convention.
(c) A Resolutions Committee
composed of seven (7) members, shall receive and review all resolutions
committed to it and shall formulate whatever other resolutions
it may consider proper and report them to the Convention.
(d) A Credentials Committee
composed of seven (7) members, shall examine the credentials
of messengers of new churches applying for convention fellowship
(see Article IV) and recommend convention action regarding them.
This committee is also responsible to monitor messenger registration.
(e) A Constitution Committee
composed of seven (7) members, shall receive and review proposed
amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws committed to it and
shall formulate whatever other amendments it may consider proper
and report them to the Convention in the manner prescribed in
the Constitution and Bylaws.
(f) An Ethics and Religious
Liberty Committee composed of seven (7) members, shall identify,
develop awareness, and channel appropriate action on a wide range
of social and moral issues that are important to the church and
to the larger community of faith.
(2) Special committees shall
be governed by the resolutions creating such committees. They
shall serve only until the next annual convention, but may be
extended by the Convention if more time is needed to complete
their purpose.
6. REMUNERATION
Members of boards and committees
shall serve without remuneration. The Convention shall provide
cost of travel, meals and lodging as funds permit, for members
of boards and committees when fulfilling their duties as directed
by the Convention.
7. AMENDMENTS
Bylaws may be added or amended
during any session of the annual convention providing the proposed
Bylaw change is introduced in a preceding session. A two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the messengers present and voting shall be required
for adoption of any Bylaw change.
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