WEST DISTRICT

WEST DISTRICT
OF THE MICHIGAN REGION OF THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
BYLAWS
2025 January
Source: 2020 – 2021 Edition, Michigan Region Manual
[Reference: Article XVI – DISTRICT CONFERENCES within the Constitution]
[Note: These Bylaws were adopted May 3, 2011, by the Michigan District Conference and went into effect July 1, 2011.]
Michigan Regional Resource Center 148 N. Almont Ave., Imlay City, MI 48444 Office: 810-742-7462 E-mail: [email protected] www.mcmichigan.org
OVERVIEW OF THE WEST DISTRICT
Vision, Mission, and Driving Passion
Our Vision
"Every church mobilizing believers to intentionally lead people to Christ and make disciple-makers."
Our Mission
"To help plant and strengthen churches and groups of churches that reproduce and multiply devoted followers of Jesus Christ."
Our Driving Passion
"The Missionary Church is a family of churches under the authority of Jesus Christ, committed to the Bible and the Great Commission."
We pursue relationship with God as our top priority.
We depend on the Holy Spirit through prayer.
We introduce people to the gospel and multiply disciples everywhere.
We value, strengthen, and multiply churches.
We develop Spirit-led leaders to advance God's mission in the world.
[FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES]
OVERVIEW OF THE MICHIGAN REGION
Vision, Mission, and Driving Passion
Our Vision
"Every church mobilizing believers to intentionally lead people to Christ and make disciple-makers."
Our Mission
"To strengthen churches and groups of churches that reproduce and multiply devoted followers of Jesus Christ."
Our Driving Passion
"The Missionary Church is a family of churches under the authority of Jesus Christ, committed to the Bible and the Great Commission."
We pursue relationship with God as our top priority.
We depend on the Holy Spirit through prayer.
We introduce people to the gospel and multiply disciples everywhere.
We value, strengthen, and multiply churches.
We develop Spirit-led leaders to advance God's mission in the world.
BYLAWS OF THE WEST DISTRICT OF THE MICHIGAN REGION OF THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
ARTICLE 1
DISTRICT IDENTIFICATION
A. WEST DISTRICT
The name of this corporation will be the WEST DISTRICT of the Michigan Region of the Missionary Church.
B. LOCATION
The location of the corporation is the city of LOWELL, in the county of KENT, State of Michigan. The address of the corporate registered office in Michigan is: 12125 ALDEN NASH MEADOWS DR. NE., LOWELL, MI 49331. This location will be known as the WEST DISTRICT.
C. RELATIONSHIP
The WEST DISTRICT is a subsidiary of the Michigan Region of the Missionary Church, Incorporated with offices at 3811 Vanguard Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46809-3304. It is responsible for the promotion of the vision, mission, and priorities of the Missionary Church within the boundaries established for it by the parent organization. The Constitution of the Missionary Church will govern the WEST DISTRICT in all matters concerning doctrine, policy, and practice.
D. GOVERNMENT
The WEST DISTRICT will be governed by the WEST District Conference that will function according to the Constitution of the Missionary Church, Inc., the Michigan Regional Conference, and the General Conference of the Missionary Church, Inc.
E. INCORPORATION
The corporation - formed on the basis of a merger-agreement between the members of the Michigan Conference of the United Missionary Church, a Michigan Ecclesiastical Corporation, and the Missionary Church Association, Great Lakes District, an Ohio Non-Profit Corporation, and called the Michigan District of the Missionary Church at the time of the merger - will be known in law as the WEST DISTRICT of the Michigan Region of the Missionary Church, a Michigan Ecclesiastical Corporation. The corporation will be organized on a non-stock basis.
ARTICLE 2
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
A. COMPOSITION
The District Conference will consist of all credentialed ministers of the Missionary Church, Inc. resident in the District, the District Oversight Council, the District Nominating Committee, and one lay delegate from each full-member church within the District. Delegates will be elected by and from the members of each church or appointed by the church or elder board. Any change of delegate must be certified by a letter from either the Church Board or the Pastor to the WEST DISTRICT office before seating the delegate in the District Conference bar. Affiliate Churches and unorganized Church Multiplication projects may send non-voting delegates to District Conference. Those holding Lay Ministry Licenses in the Region are not members of District Conference unless he or she is sent as a delegate of a full-member church or is serving as the senior pastor of a full-member church or church multiplication project recognized by the Region or one of its districts.
B. DUTIES
The District Conference, in collaboration with the Regional Leadership, will have the authority to exercise care and discipline over the churches and ministers within its boundaries in order to maintain integrity in doctrine, policy, and practice according to the Constitution of the Missionary Church, Inc.
It will elect or appoint its own officers, boards, and committees including the District Director, members of the District Oversight Council, and others as needed.
It will recommend to the Michigan Regional Oversight Council, the approval of new churches for membership in the Denomination.
It will license, commission, and ordain ministers in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution of the Missionary Church, with the support of the Regional Oversight Council, the Regional Credentialing Committee, who will certify them to the Missionary Church President who will issue the credentials.
It will conduct conferences and ministries in the district as needed. It will implement and promote the ministries of the Region and Denomination.
It will receive the reports of the District Director and other officers, pastors, workers, boards, etc. as may be required. It will submit required reports to the Regional Conference.
It will be the prerogative of the District Conference to make recommendations to the Michigan Regional Conference.
It will receive and act on resolutions from the local district, churches, boards, and committees, etc. All resolutions must arrive at the district office at least thirty days prior to the District Conference in order to be considered. All resolutions, other than procedural motions, which are presented at District Conference will be referred to a study committee for recommendation.
C. MEETINGS
Annual District Conference: It will meet annually. The District Oversight Council will select the date, time, and location of the Annual District Conference and provide an advance notice of at least 90 days. Proposed bylaw amendments will be published with the notice of the meeting.
Quorum: A quorum will consist of those members present at a duly called meeting.
Special District Conference: The District Oversight Council may call a Special District Conference. The District Oversight Council will select the date, time, and location of the Special District Conference and provide an advance notice of at least 30 days. Its membership will consist of all those eligible to participate in the previous Annual District Conference.
ARTICLE 3
DISTRICT OFFICERS
The offices of the WEST DISTRICT will be the District Director, the Vice-Chair of the District Oversight Council, the District Secretary, and the District Treasurer.
A. DISTRICT DIRECTOR
1. SELECTION
a. The District Director will be a male ordained minister in the Missionary Church nominated by a Special Nominating Committee of four, two lay members and two ordained ministers, appointed by the District Oversight Council. The committee will solicit input for possible nominees. All nominees for District Director must be selected in consultation with the Michigan Regional Director and must be ratified by the Regional Oversight Council of the Missionary Church.
b. The District Director will be elected by the voting members of the WEST DISTRICT for a term of four years and must operate within the authority of God's Word, the Constitution of the Missionary Church, and the Bylaws of the WEST DISTRICT.
c. The District Director must receive a 60% majority to be elected for his first two terms. After two consecutive terms in office, he must receive a 75% majority vote to continue in office for each additional term.
d. The newly elected District Director will assume office on July 1 in the year of the election and will be an advisory member of all boards and committees until he assumes office.
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
a. The District Director will be accountable to the WEST DISTRICT Conference and the District Oversight Council, providing both with appropriate reports regarding his ministry.
b. The District Director will also be accountable to the office of the Regional Director and represent the WEST DISTRICT of the Missionary Church. He will submit to the Regional Conference a full report of the work of the District region, including a summarized statistical report.
3. DUTIES
a. The District Director will seek to fulfill the vision, mission, and priorities of the WEST DISTRICT and be responsible to uphold the Word of God, the Constitution of the Missionary Church, and the WEST DISTRICT Bylaws.
b. He will recruit, develop, and equip leaders, mission district directors, and district directors within the region and assist them in developing strategies to fulfill the vision, mission, and priorities of the district and region.
c. He will help churches with strategies for growth and multiplication and the implementation of those strategies.
d. He will supervise all churches and ministers in the WEST DISTRICT and have authority, in consultation with the District Oversight Council, to visit and address local church boards or congregations to safeguard the district's churches and members.
e. He will oversee the work of the district staff, the district office, and the various ministries of the district.
f. He will chair the District Conference, the District Oversight Council, and other District Committees as he chooses.
g. He will be an ex-officio member of all councils, boards, committees, task forces, ministry teams within the district.
DISTRICT OFFICERS (CONTINUED)
B. VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE DISTRICT OVERSIGHT COUNCIL
1. SELECTION
a. The Vice Chairman will be selected from the membership of the District Oversight Council.
b. The Vice Chairman will serve for a four-year term, staggered with the term of the District Director. The Vice Chairman's term will begin July 1.
2. DUTIES
a. The Vice Chairman will chair the District Nominating Committee.
b. The Vice Chairman will chair the District Oversight Council and the District Conference at the request of or in the absence of the District Director.
c. The Vice Chairman will fulfill other duties delegated by the District Director and/or the District Oversight Council.
C. SECRETARY
1. SELECTION
a. The Secretary will be appointed by the District Oversight Council.
b. The Secretary will serve for a four-year term staggered with the term of the District Treasurer. The Secretary's term will begin July 1.
2. DUTIES
a. The Secretary will record and keep the minutes of the District Conference and the District Oversight Council.
b. The Secretary will present a report to the District Conference summarizing the work of the District Oversight Council.
c. The Secretary will oversee the publication of the minutes and reports of the District Conference.
d. The Secretary will fulfill other duties delegated by the District Director, the District Oversight Council, or the District Conference.
D. TREASURER
1. SELECTION
a. The Treasurer will be appointed by the District Oversight Council.
b. The Treasurer will serve for a four-year term staggered with the term of the District Secretary. The Treasurer term will begin July 1.
2. DUTIES
a. The Treasurer will receive, hold, and disburse monies as the district decides in keeping with its policies, directives, and budgets.
b. The Treasurer will submit financial reports as requested by the Regional Director, the Regional Oversight Council, or the Regional Conference.
c. The Treasurer will work with the Regional Treasurer to ensure that the calculated ministry shares for each church are according to the formula established by the Regional Conference and the requirements of the approved regional budget and communicate that amount to each church.
ARTICLE 4
DISTRICT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
A. DISTRICT OVERSIGHT COUNCIL
1. COMPOSITION
a. The District Oversight Council will have seven voting members and will be composed of the Director, District Secretary, District Treasurer, and four other members, elected for staggered four-year terms by the District Conference. Two of the four are to be credentialed ministers in the district and the other two are laypersons.
b. The District Director will serve as chair of the Council.
c. The District Secretary and District Treasurer will be appointed for staggered four-year terms.
d. The Council will select from its membership a Vice Chair who will also serve as Vice Chair of the District Conference.
2. DUTIES
a. The District Oversight Council will seek to fulfill the vision, mission, and priorities of the WEST DISTRICT and give oversight to all churches within the district. It will be the trustee of the district and serve as its Board of Directors. It will meet regularly with a minimum of four meetings per year.
b. It will employ ministry and support staff within the confines of the district budget and establish appropriate job descriptions for those employed.
c. It will represent the interests of the District Conference and have full authority to transact business that may arise between the Annual District Conferences. It will make plans for the District Conference, ratify all nominees for election by the District Conference, and appoint and oversee the work of all necessary boards, committees, ministry teams and task forces.
d. It will approve all credentialing matters and will annually certify to the region a list of all ordained and licensed ministers under the jurisdiction of the district.
e. It will approve new churches for membership in the Missionary Church and will certify such to the region.
f. It will ratify all board, committee, and task force decisions regarding ministry policies, strategies, and organizational structures.
g. It will assume all fiduciary responsibilities for the district, including such duties as the district budget preparations, matters of stewardship, and general economic oversight. It will be authorized to:
-Receive and to hold in trust monies, gifts, and legacies
-Acquire, loan, or borrow money
-Purchase, sell, improve, convey, or exchange real estate held by the Region or other property such as stocks, bonds, mortgages, and other securities
-Serve as the trustees for estates and gifts in conformity with the laws of the State
-Approve all special financial appeals to the churches
h. It will have full authority to handle all emergency matters related to all churches and ministers within the district. By a two-thirds vote, it will have authority to take appropriate steps to address the problem(s) and, if necessary, exercise discipline over churches or ministers in order to maintain the integrity of the Missionary Church and preserve the unity and testimony of the churches and ministers within the district. It will represent the district as the arbitrator in all appeals related to due process as outlined in the Missionary Church Constitution.
i. It will assume the supervision and governance of a local church if its membership falls below 15 baptized adult members (16 years or older). This arrangement will continue as long as the District Oversight Council deems necessary.
j. It will conduct an annual review of the District Director. If the District Director can no longer serve, resigns, or is removed for disciplinary reasons, it is empowered to appoint an interim director until the next District Conference.
DISTRICT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES (CONTINUED)
B. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
1. COMPOSITION
a. The Nominating Committee will be composed of the Vice Chair of the District Oversight Council and four members, two lay members and two credentialed ministers, appointed by the District Oversight Council.
b. The Vice Chair of the District Oversight Council will chair the committee.
2. DUTIES
a. The Nominating Committee will prepare the District Conference ballot for the election of members to the District Oversight Council.
b. The Nominating Committee will send their nominee(s) for District Director to the Regional Oversight Council, for approval.
c. It will also prepare any additional ballots for other boards and committees as determined by the District Conference or District Oversight Council.
C. OTHER MINISTRY TEAMS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
The District Conference and the District Oversight Council may add other boards, committees, ministry teams and task forces to fulfill the vision, mission, and priorities of the district. The District Oversight Council will determine composition, selection process (appointment or election), and duties for such groups.
ARTICLES 5 & 6
ARTICLE 5
DISTRICT FINANCES
A. The WEST DISTRICT will be self-supporting in its operation to the District Conference and the District Oversight Council. Its fiscal year will be January 1- December 31.
B. The District Oversight Council will prepare and present an annual budget for the approval of the Annual District Conference.
C. The District Oversight Council, in consultation with the Regional Oversight Council, will approve financial guidelines for churches in mission districts.
D. Churches in full districts will give their ministry shares to the Regional Oversight Council of the Region with a calculated percentage provided back to the district.
E. When a church requests signatures from the District Oversight Council as security for borrowing money, that church will make satisfactory arrangements to pay past ministry shares (for the current and preceding year) and agree to pay future ministry shares on time.
ARTICLE 6
DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution, the assets of the WEST District will be distributed to the Michigan Region of the Missionary Church, Inc.
ARTICLES 7 & 8
ARTICLE 7
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised will govern the District Conference in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the District Conference may adopt. In the same manner, each local church, and all other entities of the WEST DISTRICT will be governed by Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.
ARTICLE 8
AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended by the District Conference by a two-thirds vote of the District Conference members, providing that these amendments do not conflict with the Constitution of the Missionary Church.
RULES OF ORDER
Adopted April 30, 2019
The District Director or his appointee will serve as Chairman at District Conference.
The Chair will nominate any Conference committees not covered by the Bylaws.
The Conference body will elect all committees.
Each member will be permitted to speak for five minutes on each motion, amendment, or subject on the floor that allows debate. Each member desiring to speak will respectfully address the chair and be recognized by the chair before speaking in debate. A member may not speak the second time on the same question until all others who wish to speak the first time have had an opportunity to speak. Exceptions may be granted by the Conference body by 2/3 vote, who also may by 2/3-vote limit debate to less than five minutes.
In order to stop debate and bring a question to a vote, a member will rise, be recognized by the chair and state, "Mr. Chairman, I call for the Question." A second, and a 2/3 vote is required to immediately end debate and vote on the question. Calls of "question" from the body, without proper recognition by the chair will be ignored.
The times of meetings during the District Conference Session will be established when the "Agenda" is adopted. Any deviation from the stated times will require a 2/3 vote to "Suspend the Rules".
All nominations from the floor will require a second to be approved.
The Chair will announce vote results according to Robert's Rules of Order unless the body decides to keep the numbers secret by majority vote. When there is no election for nominees for an office on a first ballot, the tally of votes will be announced, and a second ballot will be taken, containing all the names that appeared on the first ballot. If there is still no election after the second ballot, the name having the least number of votes will be dropped. After each successive ballot, one additional name of the nominees having the least number of votes will be dropped from the ballot until an election is valid.
The District Conference will establish the bar.
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