By Laws

Crossroads shall be an independent body of baptized believers who exercise their right to conduct its own affairs. The government of Crossroads shall be vested in its assembled membership, through its duly elected or appointed officers and pastoral staff, and shall never be subject to the control of any other ecclesiastical body. No denomination or associational representatives shall ever sit in judgment over its affairs. Crossroads may fellowship and cooperate with other churches or other organizations when such shall be wholly in accordance with the Scriptures and the purposes stated in ARTICLE II.

A.Scriptural giving is an expression of love for the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, the church shall be sustained by voluntary and free-will offerings, uninfluenced by any consideration of worldly or other material reward. The members are responsible to bring their offerings into the general treasury of the church (1 Corinthians 16:2) (2 Cor 9:6-8.).

B. Christian missions supported by the church shall be through the annual budget process and/or through periodic special offerings.

C. The centrality of offerings for financial support shall not preclude the elders from deriving income for the church from interest on monies deposited in savings accounts, fees for use, or other prudent short-term investments, as may be deemed appropriate.

D. The elders are responsible for the administration of the annual budget. In matters of emergency or ministry related needs, they may exceed the budget. They shall report such expenditures to the congregation at the earliest opportunity.

E. In connection with Crossroads ability to conduct its own affairs, it shall have the right to borrow money for such real estate and/or property as may be necessary to properly carry out the mission and objectives of Crossroads. This will be the responsibility of the Board of Elders (Article VIII Section 4). Realizing that carrying undue debt can be a hindrance to carrying out the mission of Crossroads, and that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15), and that love for “things” over God is evidence of idolatry, the Board of Elders will exercise discipline and caution in considering and managing the debt of Crossroads.

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS AND/OR STAFF OF CROSSROADS

SECTION

1. ORDINATION AND CREDENTIALING OF PASTORS:
It shall be within the power of this church to ordain in to Christian ministry those men or women whom God has called and equipped. Crossroads shall have authority to issue proper credentials by unanimous vote of the Board of Elders or of the official membership of the church.SECTION

2. THE SENIOR PASTOR
The pastor is a spiritual leader of Crossroads, and as such, is entrusted primarily with the spiritual welfare of this church (Eph 4:7-13).

A. SCRIPTURAL RECOGNITION OF THE PASTORAL POSITION – It is the obligation of Crossroads to recognize the position of the pastor as an undershepherd of Christ (1 Pet 5:2) and to acknowledge the importance of spiritual ministry (1 Thess 5:12; 1 Tim 5:17). The church will recognize the pastor as one who gives himself/herself “to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word” (Acts 6:2, 4). The senior pastor shall be recognized as the principal teaching elder.

B. DUTIES – It is the duty of the pastor to preach and teach the Word so as to bring the saints to maturity (Eph 4:11-13). Additionally, the pastor shall provide watchcare over the flock (Acts 20:28; Heb 13:17).

C. THE PASTOR AS AN EXAMPLE – The pastor shall be an example to the “flock of God” in carrying out the purposes of ARTICLE II of these bylaws (1 Pet 5:2-3).

D. RELATIONSHIP TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES – The senior pastor is an elder of Crossroads and shall meet all the qualifications of that office. The pastor shall also have the right at any time to interact and vote on any and all committees of the church when necessary.

E. CALLING OF A PASTOR – Whenever the office of senior pastor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, or dismissal, the Board of Elders shall, without delay, begin the following procedure for securing a new senior pastor:

1. A search committee shall be formed by the elders, composed of no less than five and no more than seven members, at least three being elders. One of the elders shall serve as chairman.

2. The search committee shall, in a Spirit-led and prayerful manner, conduct a search for God’s person to fill the position of senior pastor.

3. After the search, the search committee shall make a recommendation of one person to the Board of Elders, who shall then be interviewed. Upon approval, the Board of Elders shall arrange for that person to preach as many times as it feels necessary. The Board of Elders, upon unanimous agreement, shall then make a recommendation to the congregation for the calling of this candidate as senior pastor or continue the search process.

4. General meetings between the candidate and members of the congregation shall be arranged prior to voting by the membership. These meetings shall be conducted in a question and answer format with the search committee chairman moderating. The active voting membership of the church shall be notified two weeks in advance from the pulpit of a called business meeting to vote for the pastoral candidate. Approval of 75% of the active voting members present shall be necessary for calling a senior pastor. The voting shall be by secret ballot.

5. If the senior pastor has not been previously ordained, the vote of calling shall, when accepted, constitute approval for licensing and acceptance into church membership for the pastor and their spouse (if applicable).

6. The senior pastor shall serve for an indeterminate length of time.

F. SUSPENSION/TERMINATION OF A PASTOR

1. Should the senior pastor cease to meet the scriptural qualifications as outlined in ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 4, A, or their relations with the Board of Elders or congregation becomes strained to the point that remaining would cause harm and discord in the body, the Board of Elders, with 75% of the board in agreement, shall ask him/her to resign.

2. Should the senior pastor refuse to resign, the Board of Elders shall immediately suspend him/her with pay and arrange for a business meeting. The meeting shall be held no later than fourteen days after commencement of the suspension. All active voting members shall be notified in writing and by a church announcement of the meeting. In the meeting, the board chairman shall present the board’s statement regarding the reasons for dismissal. The senior pastor shall be afforded an equitable opportunity to respond. A 75% vote of the active voting members present shall be sufficient to approve the dismissal. If a 75% vote for dismissal is not reached, then the senior pastor shall have the suspension lifted and he may immediately resume service.

a. A suspended pastor may not preach from the pulpit or teach any type of class. The suspended pastor shall also refrain from contacting members of the church in a manner that creates friction or generates support for his position.

b. The elders shall also refrain from communicating with members of the church in a manner that creates friction or generates support for their position.

c. Should the situation warrant, the board may request another respected pastor or spiritual leader to assist in counsel and mediation; however, all decisions in the matter shall be handled by the members of Crossroads.

SECTION 3. ASSOCIATE PASTORAL STAFF

A. The Board of Elders may hire or terminate associate pastors on behalf of Crossroads. Such decisions shall be consistent with biblical requirements, current congregational needs, and agreement of God’s leading.

B. An associate pastor shall be an example to the “flock of God” in carrying out the purposes of ARTICLE II of these bylaws (1 Pet 5:2-3).

C. At the time of employment, the associate pastor shall be licensed as a minister of the gospel and, after one year, may also request to be ordained.

SECTION 4. INTERIM PASTOR

During a period in which there is no senior pastor, the Board of Elders may appoint an interim pastor to carry the load of preaching, counseling and other ecclesiastical duties. The interim pastor may attend all meetings but cannot vote. The day-to-day functions and operations of the church shall normally be supplied by the existing staff or a qualified elder.

SECTION 5. ELDERS

As churches were established in faith, elders were appointed. The elder was given the responsibility for oversight of the spiritual growth of a particular church body. At Crossroads, the position of elder is a spiritual office of great commitment and responsibility.

A. QUALIFICATIONS – The qualifications for elders are found in 1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Pet 5:1-3.

1.Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task.

2.Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:1-7) 5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer[b] is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:5-9)1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Pet 5:1-3)

B. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF ELDERS – At the first regular elder board meeting following the annual meeting, the elders shall elect from their members the officers: a vice-chairman; a church secretary; and a church treasurer. The senior pastor shall assume the position as chairman of the board. In the event that the position of senior pastor is vacant, the vice chairman shall assume the interim role as chairman.

1. The chairman or a designated board member shall moderate at all board and church business meetings. The vice-chairman shall assume the responsibilities of the chairman in his absence. The church secretary shall be responsible to insure that minutes of the Board of Elders meetings, church business meetings and all official correspondence are recorded and kept on file. Such records shall be produced upon request of the moderator at the meetings of the board or a business meeting. The church secretary shall maintain a register of the membership and shall be responsible to give proper notice to the congregation of all church business meetings. The church treasurer shall manage all financial matters at the direction of the elder board and shall make monthly financial reports. In addition, the treasurer shall prepare a financial report for the annual business meetings. Proper records and books providing the timely financial maintenance of all assets, liabilities and equities shall be available for auditing or inspection at any reasonable time by active voting church members or other persons approved by the Board of Elders. An annual financial audit will be performed by an independent auditor in coordination with the church treasurer. Deacons will assist in handling the weekly offerings- counting, recording, and bank deposit. Treasurer shall not assist in the direct handling of the weekly offerings.

2. Elders shall be selected from men or women within the membership who have been faithful in their membership to the church (ARTICLE IX, SECTION 3) for at least one year (except for the senior pastor). The Board of Elders may make exception for the one year stipulation in unique situations (i.e.- Crossroads first election following the establishment of it’s first members).

3. The Board of Elders shall consist of a minimum of three members. If a time comes when there are less than three elders, the church members shall meet within six months to consider options for the future of Crossroads. These options should include, but not be limited to:a. Examination of the assembly for qualified elders who are not currently servingb. Allowing elders from an assembly which is like-minded in matters of doctrine and practice to serve temporarily at Crossroadsc. Merger with another assembly which is like-minded in matters of doctrine and practiced. Dissolution (ARTICLE XIV)

C. DUTIES

1. Elders are called by God to serve as shepherds of the local church (Acts 20:28). They are to be devoted primarily to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God (Acts 6:4). Thus, the duties of an elder include: teaching Biblical truth to the church (1 Tim 5:17), protecting it from the error of false doctrine (Tit 1:9), leading and managing it with the attitude of a servant (1 Pet 5:1-3), and tending to the needs of its members (James 5:14).

2. Other servants entrusted with work in support of the services and spiritual life of Crossroads will be appointed, hired or terminated by the Board of Elders as needed. These individuals may receive financial remuneration for services rendered. The senior pastor shall be responsible for oversight of all paid staff

D. SELECTION OF ELDERS

1. The existing elders shall appoint a nominating team consisting of two to three elders and two members of the congregation at large. Each year, the number of elders will be determined by the Board of Elders. The Senior Pastor shall be the chairman of the nominating team and shall serve in addition to those appointed.

2. Church members will be informed of the selection process and provided teaching regarding the biblical qualifications for elders and their scriptural role. With these in mind, members of the congregation will be asked to prayerfully submit names of Crossroads members to the nominating team for consideration as elders.

3. Persons whose names are submitted shall be informed and urged to engage in a personal, self-appraisal of their qualifications as compared to the scriptural requirements. Any person may withdraw their name at that point if they do not aspire to the position or do not believe they are qualified.

4. The nominating committee shall review the names of nominees and conduct interviews with each. Interviews should engage in tremendous honesty and depth of dialogue and questioning in both directions between the nominee and the nominating team. The nominating committee shall make final recommendations to the Board of Elders. Nominees will be recommended based upon their spiritual qualifications as well as their gifts and experiences that may assist in specific roles. Those nominees who have not withdrawn themselves from consideration and who have not been recommended shall be informed by the nominating committee.

5. Those prospective elders that have been recommended for appointment will be presented to the members of the church. The members will have 30 days to show cause why any prospective elder would not be qualified to serve. Any member with cause for concern related to a prospective elder must first express his concern directly with the prospective elder. If the concern is not resolved, it should then be brought to the Board of Elders for consideration.

6. Following the 30 day period, prospective elders will be presented to the members of the church for election and a time of dedication. Election will consist of a 75% vote of active voting members present either “affirm” or “not affirm” those recommended by the nominating committee.

7. The elder selection process is to occur annually, and allow enough time for the process to be carried out prayerfully with integrity, allowing elders to be confirmed prior to the beginning of each church fiscal year (January 1- December 31)

E. RESIGNATION OF AN ELDER
An elder who feels that he can no longer fulfill his responsibilities may at any time resign from his office after giving written notice to the senior pastor and board chairman.

F. TERM OF OFFICE OF AN ELECTED ELDER
The term of office shall be three years on a rotating basis in order that the terms of approximately one third shall expire each year. If an elder desires to serve for another three years, they must be approved by the nominating committee and the Board of Elders and be reelected.

G. REMOVAL OF AN ELECTED ELDER
An elder, (1) who no longer meets the scriptural and personal qualifications for the office, or (2) whose relationship with the congregation or the board makes his effective functioning impossible or hampers the work of Christ in the church, shall be asked to resign with a 75% vote of the remainder of the board. Should that member refuse to resign, the matter shall be taken to the congregation in the same manner as described for the senior pastor in ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1, F, 2.H. RELATIONSHIP TO STAFF- Staff members may be requested to serve on the Board of Elders at the discretion of the Board of Elders. Being staff does not confer automatic membership on this Board.

SECTION 6. DEACONS

A deacon is someone appointed to a special ministry of service by the Board of Elders. The congregation is encouraged to provide input. These deacons shall provide spiritual and/or physical help to the church as necessary. Only active voting members of Crossroads may serve in this capacity. The term of office of a deacon shall be three years.

A. QUALIFICATIONS – The qualifications for deacons and are given in 1 Tim 3:8-13. 8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11In the same way, their wives[a] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

B. INSTALLATION – The deacons are installed at a public meeting of the church. This installation ceremony needs to express the severity of the biblical responsibility of the acceptance of this position.

C. RESIGNATION OF A DEACON – A Deacon who feels that he can no longer fulfill his responsibilities may at any time resign from his office after giving written notice to the senior pastor and board chairman.D. REMOVAL – If necessary, a deacon may resign from the position with written notice to the Board of Elders. A Deacon, (1) who no longer meets the scriptural and personal qualifications for the office, or (2) whose relationship with the congregation or the board makes his effective functioning impossible or hampers the work of Christ in the church, shall be asked to resign with a 75% vote of the of the Board of Elders. Should that member refuse to resign, the matter shall be taken to the congregation in the same manner as described for the senior pastor in ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 1, F, 2.

ARTICLE IX: CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

SECTION

1. REQUIREMENTS -A prospective member shall:

A. Declare faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior. (See ARTICLE IV, Statement of Faith, Section 6- Salvation)

B. Be baptized after becoming a Christian (Acts 8:35-38)

C. Declare agreement with Crossroads Statement of Purpose, Statement of Values and Statement of Faith (Articles II, III and IV)

D. There shall be no specific age requirement for membership. Each prospective member will be considered based upon their spiritual maturity.

E. Be committed to serve at Crossroads using his or her spiritual gifts, natural abilities and financial resources (1 Pet 4:10-11; 2 Cor 9:7-8)

F. Be accountable to other believers and the Board of Elders (Eph 5:21; Heb 10:24-25, 13:17)

G. Declare support for the “Church Universal” through whatever means possible.

H. Agree to operate within by the bylaws and practices of Crossroads.

SECTION 2. PROCESS Anyone desiring to become a member shall:

A. Receive written membership information produced by the Board of Elders for personal review.

B. Complete membership curriculum as determined by the Board of Elders

C. Meet with representative(s) of the Board of Elders to review membership information, ask and answer questions.

D. Receive approving unanimous vote for membership by the Board of Elders.

Board of Elders shall:

A. Maintain a list of members for review, prayer, reflection, and approval. Review of members list shall occur at least annually.B. Maintain membership curriculum/information.

B. Appoint representatives to hold membership classes or meet individually with candidates for interview.

C. Vote on prospective membership candidates.

E. Welcomed new members into the fellowship at the earliest opportune worship service.

SECTION 3. CONDUCT

Members are to:

A. Pursue and attain unity/connectedness/oneness with God and other believers (ARTICLE II)

B. Use their spiritual gift(s) for the common good of the congregation (1 Cor 12:7)

C. Give voluntarily and proportionately of their financial resources, recognizing the tithe as the minimum biblical standard of giving (Malachi 3:10, Deut. 12:6, 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Cor 9:6-9)

.D. Strive to live a life consistent with Scripture (Eph 4:1)

SECTION 4. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Categories of membership are:

A. Active: One whose “conduct” is consistent with ARTICLE IX, SECTION 3. The privilege of voting is given to active members.

B. Non-active: The Board of Elders may transfer active members to non-active status (and vice versa) as needed. Examples of non-active members: Those physically unable to attend worship services for three months or individuals out of town due to education, military or job related obligations.

SECTION 5. TERMINATION

Grounds for termination shall be:

A. Death

B. Unrepentant sin, i.e., church discipline (ARTICLE XI)

C. Consistent neglect of one’s church relationship

D. Joining another church body

E. Written request A non-attending member shall be contacted by an Elder. Based on the elder’s recommendation the Board of Elders may terminated the individuals’ membership.

ARTICLE X: CHURCH BUSINESS
SECTION

1. ORDER OF BUSINESS MEETINGS:
The Bible shall govern the conduct and decisions of all business meetings. These Bylaws shall also be followed. Robert’s Rules of Order, as last revised, may be consulted to assist the flow of meetings. All meetings are to be conducted in an orderly way (1 Cor 14:40) with all participants demonstrating Christ-likeness in their attitudes and actions (Eph 4:25-32; Phil 2:1-8). A meeting that falls short of these standards may be suspended for up to two weeks by the moderator to allow all participants time for prayer and self-examination (Gal 5:13-15).

A. THE MODERATOR – The moderator for all business meetings is the chairman of the Board of Elders or a designated board member.

B. MOTIONS FROM THE FLOOR - A member of Crossroads may make a “motion from the floor” if it is related to an item that is on the meeting’s agenda. Upon a second, the motion shall be discussed and voted upon by the active voting membership present. Nothing in this article precludes consideration of new business in its proper order.

C. QUORUM – A quorum for the transaction of business meetings shall consist of the collective number of those in attendance at any business meeting whereby the congregation has been duly notified in advance (announcement two Sundays prior to the day of the meeting).

D. MAJORITY – Unless otherwise noted, a majority vote for a single office or for a proposition is 75% of the active voting members present.

SECTION 2. THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

The church membership shall have an annual business meeting on a date set by the Board of Elders. The annual meeting shall be held no later than the first full week of November. The church operational budget and term of officers shall be from January 1st through December 31th.

SECTION 3. A CALLED BUSINESS MEETING

A business meeting may be called at any time at the request of the Board of Elders. The specific matters to be considered shall be announced on two Sundays prior to the day of the meeting. In case of emergency, the two-Sunday notice may be waived with the unanimous approval of the Board of Elders.B. Any ten voting members may petition the Board of Elders to request a called business meeting of the church. The Board of Elders must then do so within twenty days upon receiving the petition to address the issues raised. The agenda of such a meeting shall be conducted as all other business meetings with the board chairman or other designated board member moderating.

SECTION 4. ELDER BOARD MEETINGS

The board shall meet on a regularly scheduled basis and upon the call of any board member. The Board of Elders should strive for unity and seriously consider setting aside any decision which is not unanimous.

SECTION 5. CHURCH PROPERTIES

A. The Board of Elders holds in trust all church properties. It is responsible for negotiating loans, drawing up contracts, and arranging financial transactions in the name of Crossroads. Its duties are to oversee all financial and temporal affairs.

B. The Board of Elders shall ensure that the church buildings and grounds are maintained, being careful to delegate as much of this responsibility to the deacons as possible.

C. Sale or encumbrance of church properties:

1. With the exception of item 2 immediately below, the Board of Elders shall not sell, mortgage, or otherwise encumber the real estate of this church without the consent of a 75% majority of the active voting members of Crossroads present at a called business meeting. Two weeks’ notice, stating the business transactions under consideration, shall be given prior to such a meeting.

2. Additional pieces of real or capital property, not part of the ongoing ministry of the church, such as gifts to the church of stocks, bonds or real property, may be sold at the discretion of the board.D. With the approval of the Board of Elders, the church may make its facilities available to other churches, ministries, individuals or organizations. Rent or fees for such usage may be charged or waived at the discretion of the Board of Elders.

SECTION 6. DETERMINATION OF SALARIES, JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND CONDUCT

The Board of Elders shall determine the salary to be paid for each employee. Employees of Crossroads who are board members will have opportunity to provided input regarding salary decisions, but are not permitted to participate in the voting process. When deemed appropriate the Board of Elders may choose to exclude the employee from a portion of the discussion or during the vote. The Board of Elders will determine the job descriptions for all church staff. All employees shall abide by the same standards of conduct as members of Crossroads

SECTION 7. BUSINESS REPORTS

At the annual business meeting, the Board of Elders shall present a written report summarizing the transactions of the year. This report shall be a condensed financial report, prepared with the assistance of the church treasurer. Copies of the report shall be given to individual members. The Board of Elders shall also make a report of its transactions when requested by the membership as described in ARTICLE VIII, SECTION 4, B, 1.

SECTION 8. CHURCH POLICIES

The Board of Elders shall formulate policies and establish practices as needed. Such policies and practices shall be consistent with scriptural principles. Anyone in a teaching, speaking or leadership position, including pulpit supply, must be a church member, unless authorized by the Board of Elders.

SECTION 9. COMMITTEES, MINISTRIES AND AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS

Committees, ministries and auxiliary organizations that are in keeping with the purpose statement of Crossroads may be formed with the consent of the Board of Elders. Such committees, ministries and auxiliary organizations will be responsible to the Board of Elders. (Examples could include: Soup Kitchens, Addiction Ministries, Support Groups, etc.)ARTICLE XI:

CHURCH DISCIPLINE

1. THE STEPS OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

Scripture indicates some latitude in how matters of church discipline are to be handled. Where possible the pattern taught by Jesus in Matt 18:15-17 shall be followed with the intent of restoring the sinning brother or sister. If there is no repentance, the elders may remove that individual from membership and/or ask the individual to temporarily remove themselves from the fellowship. 1 Cor 5; 2 Cor 2:6-8; Gal 6:1; 1 Tim 1:20; Rom 16:17; Gal 1:9

ARTICLE XII: THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH

SECTION 1. THE SACRAMENTS: BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

We believe that water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the sacraments of the church commanded by Christ. They are tokens of our profession of Christian faith and signs of God’s gracious ministry toward us. By them, He works within us to strengthen and confirm our faith.

We believe that water baptism is a sacrament of the church, commanded by our Lord and administered to believers. It is a symbol of the new covenant of grace and signifies acceptance of the benefits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. By means of this sacrament, believers declare their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

We believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ’s death and of our hope in His victorious return, as well as a sign of the love that Christians have for each other. Church membership will not be a requirement to participate in the Lord’s Supper at Crossroads. Participants are to first examine their hearts as scripture requires. It is open to all who believe in Jesus and receive it humbly, with a proper spirit and by faith as a means through which God communicates grace to the heart.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENT

SECTION 1. METHOD OF AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS

A. A proposed change must be provided to the members at least two weeks in advance.

B. Within two weeks, an open forum shall be held for the congregation to discuss the proposed amendments.

C. The changes will be voted on by the active voting members at a business meeting.

D. Amendments to these bylaws must be approved by 75% of the active voting members present.

SECTION 2. METHOD OF AMENDMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF FAITH

Amendments or changes to the Statement of Faith must be affirmed by 90% of the active voting members present at a business meeting. The simple addition or clarification of Scripture references or the correction of grammar or misspelling shall not constitute an actual change to the Statement of Faith. The Board of Elders must notify the members of any changes.

SECTION 3. METHOD OF SUSPENSION

Remembering the words of our Lord that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), it is likewise understood that these Bylaws were made to assist in conducting the affairs of Crossroads and not to hinder them. If found to be hindering, a portion of these Bylaws (except ARTICLE II), therefore, may be temporarily suspended for a business meeting by 50% plus one vote of the active voting members present. Any decisions made during a suspension of the rules must be reconfirmed by a majority vote no less than 14 days afterwards.

ARTICLE XIV: DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION:
The corporation may be dissolved by a vote of 75% of all active voting church members. Upon dissolution of the church corporation, the Board of Elders shall cause the assets of the church to be distributed by transfer of all assets to another not-for-profit corporation with a similar doctrinal statement and beliefs as Crossroads.