We the churches of the Baltimore Baptist Association, committed to Christ and to one another, covenant together to build our fellowship on the foundation of the following shared values and commitments:
We commit ourselves to demonstrate allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ and to the Word of God
in our faith and practice.
We devote ourselves to mutual love, care, and support as a family of faith.
We embrace our richness of diversity in race, gender, cultural tradition, location, and style of
worship.
We determine to work together collectively preaching the gospel, calling souls to a saving relationship with God, and developing believers into faithful followers of Christ.
We will use our collective voice and resources to promote God's Kingdom work within this
greater metropolitan community.
Therefore, we promise to uphold and strengthen these values and commitments together through the Baltimore Baptist Association Constitution and Bylaws.
This association shall be known as The Baltimore Baptist Association, Inc.
The missionary purpose of the Baltimore Baptist Association is to glorify God by helping member congregations give collective expression to their common commitment to obey the Great Commandment and to fulfill the Great Commission.
Article III: Membership and Affiliation
active participation in the association by financial support, regular reporting, and attendance
in meetings,
a common commitment to affirm doctrinal beliefs based on the Word of God.
a common commitment to maintain a biblical standard of morality,
an expressed desire to work together and an openness to partner in joint ministry.
partnership between the church and the association is mutual nurturing and growth. By request of the church or action of the association either party may choose to discontinue fellowship. The process for each church desiring membership shall be guided by a Membership Committee appointed by the moderator.
Article IV: Organization
Section 1. The Association.
The decision making authority shall rest with the general body meeting in annual or called sessions. This body shall consist of messengers elected by the churches. Each church shall be entitled to two messengers for the first thirty (30) members plus one messenger for each additional thirty (30) members or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of twenty-five (25).
Section 2. The Executive Board.
The association's Executive Board shall constitute the decision making authority between annual
or called sessions of the association. This board shall consist of the senior pastor and two lay
members from each cooperating church or mission and the executive officers. The Association Director of Missions, the association’s ministry staff, and one designated representative of each affiliated ministry shall serve as ex-officio members of the Executive Board. Staff serving as pastors of cooperating churches shall be regular members of the board. A quorum shall be ten percent (10 %) of the total eligible board membership.
Section 3. Officers.
- The association's executive officers shall consist of the moderator, vice-moderator, clerk,
treasurer, and any other officers as needed.
b. Persons receiving a simple majority of votes cast in an association meeting shall be elected.
- The moderator, the vice-moderator, and the Association Director of Missions shall be ex-
officio members of the association boards, support teams, committees, and affiliated
ministries. Neither the moderator nor the vice-moderator shall serve as ex officio members of
the Nominating Committee.
- The moderator, vice-moderator, clerk, and treasurer shall be the corporate trustees of the Baltimore Baptist Association.
Section 4. Staff.
Association Director of Missions.
a. The association shall employ a missionary to coordinate the missions and ministries strategies
of the association. Also, this person shall serve as an at-large consultant to the churches in
helping them as needed to coordinate and plan their own missions and ministries strategies.
- The association may employ other ministry staff and support staff as needed. Ministry staff are those employees who are given leadership of specific areas of association ministry activity. Support staff are those employees who assist the director of missions and the ministry staff in ministry activity, administration, and other supportive functions.
- The Leadership Team will develop and maintain a policy manual for the staff and day-to-day
operations of the association. The Leadership Team will annually review the policy manual
and make necessary recommendations to change the manual as needed. The Executive Board
will approve the policy manual and any revisions necessary.
Article V: Meetings and Reports
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
The association shall meet in annual session in October of each year with other meetings of the association called as deemed appropriate. The purpose of the annual meeting shall be to review the association's program, act upon items of business, plan for the future of the association, and provide an opportunity for Christian worship and fellowship.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
In the event of an emergency, Special Meetings may be called by a two-thirds majority of the
Executive Board. Notice of any special meeting shall be provided to member churches at least
thirty days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Church reporting.
Cooperating churches will provide an annual report on forms provided by the association detailing
the previous year's ministry. Annual reports should be forwarded to the association at least two
weeks prior to the annual meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
Those messengers present representing at least fifteen percent (15%) of the member churches shall constitute a quorum. A minimum of thirty (30) days notice shall be given to the churches regarding the meeting.
Article VI: Amendments
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the messengers present and voting at the annual meeting of the Baltimore Baptist Association. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board prior to the annual session. All proposed amendments shall be published and distributed to the churches at least fifteen days before the annual meeting. If an amendment is brought to the annual session without approval by the Executive Board, such an amendment would require a two-thirds vote for approval in two consecutive annual meetings.
BYLAWS
Article I: Election, Term of Office and Duties of Officers
Section 1. Election.
The moderator, vice-moderator, clerk, and treasurer shall be nominated by the Nominating
Committee and elected at the Annual Meeting and take office at the close of the Annual Meeting.
All officers of the Baltimore Baptist Association shall be members of member churches.
Section 2. Term of Office.
The tenure of office of the moderator and vice-moderator shall be limited to a maximum of two
consecutive years or until successors are elected. The terms of office of the clerk and treasurer
are not so limited.
Section 3. Duties of Officers.
- The moderator shall preside over all meetings of the Baltimore Baptist Association and the
association's Executive Board and shall perform such other duties as are prescribed by the
parliamentary authority adopted by the association. The moderator shall give general
supervision and support to all activities of the association. The moderator shall be an ex-
officio member of all teams and committees.
- The vice-moderator shall assist the moderator in the performance of assigned duties. The vice-moderator shall preside over meetings in the absence of the moderator and if the moderator shall resign or move away shall serve as moderator until the association elects another moderator. The vice-moderator shall be an ex-officio member of all teams and committees.
- The clerk shall keep accurate records of the proceedings of the Baltimore Baptist Association
and in cooperation with the Association Director of Missions shall prepare and distribute the
Association Annual.
- The treasurer shall be responsible for receiving and disbursing all association funds in
accordance with the budget adopted by the association.
Amended BBA Bylaws by adding paragraph “e” at Fall Meeting 10/20/01:
- The moderator, vice-moderator, the clerk, and the treasurer shall act as legal officers of the Baltimore Baptist Association. They shall hold in trust the association’s real and personal property. With respect to association’s real property, upon specific vote of the Leadership Team and Executive Board or the association in annual or called session, they shall have the power to buy, sell, mortgage, lease or transfer any association property. When signatures are required, any two shall sign legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase or rental of property, or other legal documents related to association matters.
Article II: Leadership Team, Support Teams, and Nominating Committee.
Section 1. Election of Leadership Team and Support Teams.
Amended BBA Bylaws by adding associational Treasurer, associational Clerk at associational Fall Meeting 10/08/04:
- The Leadership Team shall be composed of the chairpersons of the Support Teams; the
moderator and vice-moderator of the association; three (3) at-large members from the
Executive Board church representatives, elected for three-year terms, one elected each year.
Ex-officio members include the Director of Missions, associational Treasurer, associational Clerk, and other ministry staff. The moderator shall serve as chairperson of the Leadership Team.
- Support teams will be elected by the Nominating Committee to three-year terms. One third of
each support team will be nominated each year. Support teams will be the Support Team for
Evangelism and Missions, the Congregation Support Team, and the Relationship Support
Team.
- The Support Team for Evangelism and Missions shall have nine (9) members plus ex-
officio members who represent each of the Affiliated Ministries. (See Bylaws, Article III.)
- The Congregation Support Team shall have six (6) members plus ex-officio members who
are the directors of the association's organizations and ministries. (See Bylaws, Article V.)
- The Relationship Support Team shall have six (6) members and the Director of Church and Community Ministries will serve as an ex-officio member.
Section 2. Responsibilities of the Leadership Team.
The Leadership Team responsibilities include:
a. Implement association policy between Executive Board meetings; coordinate the planning, development, and publishing of the association's calendar; and developing strategic plans.
b. Propose the annual budget to the Executive Board.
c. Recruit, hire, and terminate support staff; recommend the hiring or termination of
ministerial employees to the Executive Board; evaluate employee performance on a
systematic basis; and recommend personnel policies to the Executive Board.
d. Present to the annual meeting nominees to serve on the Nominating Committee.
Section 3. Responsibilities of the Support Teams.
a. Support Team for Evangelism and Missions.
The Support Team for Evangelism and Missions will provide consultation, training, and
resources to help churches pursue their mission and to reach the unchurched and
preevangelized. Responsibilities include:
1) Help churches develop evangelism strategies and equip for implementing those strategies.
2) Help churches launch new churches.
3) Help churches develop church ministries to the community.
4) Support special ministries of the association.
5) Promote missions education among churches of the association.
b. The Congregation Support Team.
The Congregation Support Team responsibilities include:
1) Consult with congregations to promote vitality of ministry and to customize teaching
and worship needs.
2) Help churches design solutions for worship, growth, and care.
3) Foster church awareness of resources for education, worship, music, office systems, family and age group ministries.
4) Schedule and promote area-wide training opportunities as needed.
5) Strengthen the team’s awareness of where local churches excel in different kinds of
ministry, freely networking as they see possibilities of churches serving and strengthening
one another.
c. The Relationship Support Team.
The Relationship Support Team responsibilities include:
- Promote fellowship among churches.
- Increase emphasis on and practice of prayer among churches.
- Encourage closer cooperation among churches, cultures, and other evangelical faiths with similar like-minded beliefs.
- Assist churches interested in affiliating with the association.
5) Encourage member churches to maintain their active status and involvement in the association.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall have six (6) members, one-third of which shall be elected
annually. Each support team shall appoint one representative, other than the chairperson, to serve
as an ex-officio member of the committee. It shall make recommendations to the annual meeting
or to the Executive Board between annual meetings. The committee shall nominate the officers
of the association, the members of the support teams, and the at-large members of the
Leadership Team, any other standing committees, directors of association programs and
organizations (see Article V), and association representatives of affiliated ministries. All
nominees shall be contacted prior to their presentation. The moderator and the vice-moderator
shall not be from the same church. They shall not recommend more than one person from any
given church to the Leadership Team, any one of the support teams, or any one committee.
When determining the directors of organizations, the Nominating Committee will seek diversity. No member of the Nominating Committee shall be a member of the Leadership Team.
Article III: Affiliated Ministries
Section 1. Definition.
An affiliated ministry is a ministry endorsed by the association and supported by the member
churches. Endorsement of a ministry shall be dependent upon demonstration of an affinity with
the mission and the aims of the association. Churches within the association are encouraged to
cooperate with and support affiliated ministries. While affiliation with the association shall not
guarantee financial support, only affiliated ministries shall be eligible for ministry grants from the
association.
Article IV: Appointed and Standing Committees
Section 1. Ad Hoc Committees.
The moderator shall appoint ad hoc committees as needed.
Section 2. Credentials Committee.
The moderator shall appoint a credentials committee at least thirty days in advance of the Annual
Meetings. The Credentials Committee is responsible for verifying the eligibility of messengers
to the association and for registering messengers to the association.
Article V: Ministries and Organizations
Section 1. Definitions.
The association shall have a director for and seek to provide training and support for the following
ministries and organizations:
a. Christian Education (such as Sunday School, Discipleship Training, and Bible Drill).
b. Church Music.
c. Women’s Ministries (such as WMU and Adults on Mission).
d. Men’s Ministries (such as Adults on Mission and Disaster Relief).
e. Youth Ministry.
Section 2. Additional Ministries and Organizations.
Ministries and organizations shall be added as needed by a vote of the association in annual session or called session.
Article VI: Rules of Order
Section 1. The Opening and Closing of Meetings.
Meetings of the Baltimore Baptist Association will be opened with worship and closed with
prayer.
Section 2. Governing Rules.
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall
govern the meetings of the Baltimore Baptist Association in all cases in which they are not
inconsistent with the Bible, these bylaws, and any special rules adopted by the association.
Section 3. Rules of Debate.
No person may speak more than twice on the same question or proposition until everyone wishing
to speak has had opportunity to speak. All speeches are limited to five minutes except by
unanimous consent.
Section 4. Motions.
All motions will be written and a copy given to the clerk by the one making the motion.
Article VII: Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the messengers present and voting at the Annual Meeting, provided that such proposed amendments have been submitted to the Executive Board prior to the Annual Meeting.
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