MONTANA AVENUE
BAPTIST CHURCH

3120 S. MONTANA AVENUE
CALDWELL, IDAHO 83605
208-459-2137

ARTICLE I

NAME

1. The name of the Church shall be:

Montana Avenue Baptist Church, Caldwell, Idaho

ARTICLE II
DEFINITION
1. This corporation is a non-profit organization and is formed for religious, charitable and benevolent purposes and especially the following:
a. To provide facilities for religious education, evangelism, worship, fellowship and recreation
as provided in the Scriptures.
b. To purchase or otherwise acquire and to hold, own, and exercise all rights of ownership and
to sell, transfer, and mortgage real and personal property, to erect buildings and other struc-
tures necessary or proper for the carrying out of the purposes herein mentioned.
c. To enter in to all contracts necessary or proper in conducting its affairs and to render such
benevolent aid and comfort to its members as may be necessary and to receive donations and
to receive , manage, take and hold real and personal property by gift, grant, deed, or bequest.


ARTICLE III
OBJECTIVE
1. The objective of this church is to function as a New Testament local assembly glorifying God in the salvation of souls, the edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word, the world-wide proclamation of God’s saving grace, the promotion of Godly worship, the defense of the faith "once for all delivered," and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.
To this end, we will seek by God’s grace to obey the Holy Spirit’s command to "...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness..." (Ephesians 5:11) We believe that this requires separation from any organization whose teaching and/or practices are contrary to the direct and clear teaching of the Word of God. Therefore, we will refrain from participation in programs which involve a working relationship with any group whose doctrinal position and testimony is at variance with our Doctrinal Statement, or which would tend to compromise our convictions as to the teaching of the Word of God.

ARTICLE IV
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1. We believe that the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, as originally written was verbally inspired ("breathed out") by God and the product of Spirit-controlled men and, therefore, has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe the Bible establishes the criteria for Christian unity and is the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried. 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
2. We believe there is one and only one living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption. Exodus 20:2,3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 5:7
3. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, with God the Father, and God the Son, and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil One until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel; that He is the agent in the new birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, sanctifies, and helps the believer. Genesis 1:1-3; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 24:49; John 1:33; 3:5,6; 14:16,17,26; 16:8-11; Acts 5:30-32; 11:16; Romans 8:14-16, 26, 27; Ephesians 1:13,14; Hebrews 9:14
4. We believe in the personality of Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, and the author of all the powers of darkness, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. Matthew 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 20:10
5. We believe the Genesis account of creation - six literal, twenty-four hour days - and that man came by direct creation of God. Genesis 1 and John 1:3; Colossians 1:16,17
6. We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not only by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without excuse or defense. Genesis 3:1-6, 24; Romans 1:18,32; 5:10-19
7. We believe that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Spirit in a miraculous manner, born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of a woman, and that He is therefore wholly God and wholly man and the only qualified mediator between God and man. Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John 1:4; 1 Timothy 2:5
8. We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious payment for our sins by a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the just dying for the unjust bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and is in every way qualified to be a suitable, compassionate, and all-sufficient Savior. Isaiah 53:4-7; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24,25;
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1 Corinthians 15:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 4:10
9. We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth results in a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life as a free gift from God; that the new creation is brought about solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the Gospel; that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3,6-8; Acts 16:30-33; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17,19; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:1
10. We believe that justification is an act of God whereby He declares to be righteous the one who believes in Christ, thereby establishing his eternal, righteous position before God; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done but solely through faith in the finished work of Christ and that upon the basis of such faith God’s righteousness is imputed to the believer. Isaiah 53:11; Acts 13:39; 2 Corinthians 5:21
11. We believe that sanctification (to be "set apart") involves an initial act, a process, and a final state. Initially, the believer is positionally set apart unto God at the moment of salvation as God reckons to him the holiness of Christ. Then, a progressive work is continued in the believer’s experience by the Holy Spirit in connection with Bible study, obedience, self-examination, the confession of personal sin, watchfulness, and prayer. Finally, sanctification of every believer will be completed and ultimately realized when he is absent from the body and present with the Lord. Every born again believer possesses two natures: spiritual and carnal, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the confession of personal sin and the resultant control and power of the indwelling Holy Spirit; and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. Romans 6:13; 7:14-25; 8:12,13; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 5:16-25; Philippians 3:20,21; 2 Peter 3:18; 1 John 1:8-10; 3:2
12. We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5
13. We believe that a local church is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by like faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; that the true mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity and the edification of the saints. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only head is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is Scriptural for true churches to cooperate in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41,42; 15:13-18; 20:17-28; 1 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:23,24; Colossians 1:18
14. We believe that Biblical baptism is the immersion of a believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful picture our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is an outward, physical symbol of an inward, spiritual transaction which took place at the moment of our salvation when God the Holy Spirit baptized us into the Body of Christ. We believe that it is a pre-requisite to the privileges of membership in this local church. Acts 8:26-39; Romans 6:1-5; Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13
15. We believe that Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper to commemorate His death until He comes, that participation should be preceded always by solemn self-examination, and that all believers are invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper observance in such a manner. 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
16. We believe that all who are truly born again are kept by God the Father for Jesus Christ. John 10:28,29; Romans 8:35-39; Philippians 1:6; Jude 1
17. We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only those who through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem, while all who continue in impenitence and unbelief in His sight are wicked and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting, conscious suffering of the lost. Genesis 18:23; Proverbs 14:32; Malachi 3:18; Matthew 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; John 8:21; Romans 6:17,18,23
18. We believe that civil government is of divine appointment and for the interests and good order of human society; that all those in authority are to be prayed for, conscientiously honored and obeyed, except in things opposed to the will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Daniel 3:17,18; Matthew 22:21; Acts 4:19,20; Romans 13:1-7
19. We believe in the bodily resurrection, ascension, and high priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 28:6,7; Mark 16:6,19; Luke 24: 2-6, 39,51; John 20:27; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 5:9,10; 8:6; 12:2; 1 John 2:1; Revelation 3:21
20. We believe in the resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous dead. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 20:6; 11-15
21. We believe that the personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ to catch up His people to meet Him in the air is imminent, i.e., that the rapture of all believers will precede the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy, commonly referred to as the tribulation; that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to the earth to set up His millennial kingdom following the tribulation. Matthew 24:30, 37-44; 25:1-13; Luke 21:27; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:13-18; 5:9; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44,52; 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 1 John 3:1,2; Revelation 1:7,19; 22:12,20; Psalm 89:3,4,19-37; Isaiah 9:6,7; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Daniel 2:34,44; Zechariah 14:4
22. We believe that the miraculous sign gifts as well as the offices of prophet and apostle were not intended to be perpetual but were for the purpose of founding the New Testament Church and confirming its message. 1 Corinthians 13:8; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 2:20; Heb. 2:3,4
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ARTICLE V
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
1. This church acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as its only Head and the Scriptures as its sole authority in matters of faith and practice.
2. The government of this church shall be vested in its active membership. Having a congregational form of government, the majority shall rule. All officers and other positions and committees are answerable to the congregation.
3. This church, while independent of every other ecclesiastical body, recognizes the principle of Christian fellowship and may cooperate with other fundamental churches in activities which are in accordance with the Doctrinal Statement.
4. OFFICERS AND OTHER POSITIONS: The officers of this church shall be Pastor and Deacons. The other positions of this church shall be Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Clerk, and Sunday School Superintendent. All officers and other positions shall be active members of the church in good standing.
5. PASTOR: The Pastor shall have the general supervision of the entire work of the church with primary concern for the spiritual welfare of the congregation. To that end, he shall faithfully give himself to prayer and to the ministry of the Word of God. He shall be the moderator of the church and an ex-officio member of all committees. The qualifications of pastors shall be as set forth in the New Testament. Acts 6:4; Ephesians 4:11,12: 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9 Upon recommendation of the Pulpit Committee, notice of the proposed choice of Pastor shall be given from the pulpit at least two consecutive Sundays prior to the election and all active members shall have been notified by mail. A three-fourths vote in favor shall be required to extend a call to the candidate to come as Pastor. He shall be elected for an indeterminate term.
The Pastor shall give the church a notice in writing not to exceed sixty (60) days and not less than thirty (30) days of his intention to discontinue as Pastor. A Pastor may be dismissed by a three-fourths vote of the active members present and voting at a Constitutionally called business meeting after all active members have been notified by mail.
6. DEACONS: The deacons shall minister to the church by (1) visiting the sick and sorrowing of the membership; (2) preparing and assisting at the observances of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper; (3) hearing the testimonies of all candidates for membership in the church; (4)acting as a standing pulpit committee together with one active member selected by the congregation and making provision for pulpit supply when the church is without a pastor; (5) acting as the nominating committee of the church; (6) filling any unexpired term on the Board of Deacons or other office, except Pastor; (7) appointing and overseeing ushers; (8) appointing such subsidiary positions and committees as may be deemed necessary for the operation of the ministries of the church; (9) having their Chairman or another deacon designated by them to act as moderator in the Pastor’s absence; (10) investigating delinquents and endeavoring to remedy any spiritual weakness in the lives of the members; (11) supporting by faithful attendance the regular and special meetings of the church; (12) serving as the Board of Trustees of the corporation, transacting its business and seeing to it that the property is maintained; (13) and appointing a committee annually to examine the financial records of the church which are kept by the treasurer.
The qualifications of deacons shall be as set forth in the New Testament. Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:8-13 -5-
Deacons shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the church. The number of deacons shall, whenever possible, be five, or one for every twenty (20) active members, whichever is greater. The number may also depend upon the number of men Scripturally qualified to fill this office. The term of office shall be three (3) years and no deacons shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms. He may serve again after being out of office for one (1) year. A three-fourths majority is required to elect a deacon.
At their first meeting after the Annual Meeting, the deacons shall organize themselves by
electing from their number a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sunday School Superintendent.
The Chairman shall be the moderator of the deacons’ meetings and shall serve as President of the corporation. In his absence the Pastor shall moderate. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all deacons’ meetings and report of the deacons’ activities to the congregation at the quarterly and annual meetings.
The deacons are authorized to spend up to $750.00 for emergencies or for items of importance without calling a special business meeting of the church to obtain approval.
7. TREASURER: The treasurer shall pay from the church account all liabilities of the church and keep a true and fair record of accounts and make a full report available to the deacons monthly and to the congregation quarterly and annually.
8. FINANCIAL SECRETARY: The financial secretary shall receive all offerings, gifts, and other monies, and shall deposit the same in a banking institution designated by the Board of Deacons. The financial secretary with one other person approved by the deacons shall count the offerings together. If either one or both are not present, someone else shall be temporarily appointed by the deacons to fill these responsibilities. The financial secretary shall give a duplicate deposit slip to the treasurer. Those who count the offerings received shall recognize their responsibility to maintain confidentiality with regard to the giving of the Lord’s people toward His work.
A record shall also be kept of all individual giving by check or envelope and shall at each year’s end give a signed voucher to each giver of the amount given during the year.
The financial secretary shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting of the church.
9. CLERK: The clerk shall keep a complete and fair record of church business meetings, keep a register of all members of the church, and write letters of dismissal as authorized by the church. The clerk shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting of the church.
10. SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: The Sunday School Superintendent shall oversee the program and personnel of the Sunday School working in close cooperation with and in subordination to the Pastor and Board of Deacons. He shall utilize as Sunday School teachers only active members of the church.
11. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND OTHER POSITIONS: A Nominating Committee consisting of the Pastor and deacons shall present at least one eligible nominee whose consent has been previously secured for each office and other position to be filled. A list of these nominees shall be posted for a minimum of three Sundays before the Annual Meeting. Nominations from the congregation may be made at any time during the first two weeks of this three week period, provided that those being nominated have indicated a willingness to fill the office or other position and have been approved by the Nominating Committee. All nominees shall be members of the church in good and regular standing.
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12. VACANCIES: Should a vacancy occur in any elected office or other position the Pastor and Board of Deacons shall appoint a member of the church in good and regular standing to serve until the next Annual Meeting.
13. DOCTRINAL AGREEMENT: All officers, Sunday School Teachers, and other positions shall be required to confirm their agreement with Article IV, "Doctrinal Statement," of this Constitution. Upon refusal to do so, his or her position shall be automatically declared vacant.
14. MEETINGS: Meetings for teaching, preaching, worship, and evangelism shall be held regularly under the supervision of the Pastor, aided by the Deacons. The Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly throughout the year at times to be determined by the Pastor and Board of Deacons. Baptism shall be observed as soon after candidates are approved as practically possible.
The Annual Business Meeting shall be held on the third Sunday of January each year.
Quarterly Business Meetings shall be held on the third Sunday of April, July, and October.
Special Business Meetings may be called by the Pastor, deacons, or by written request signed by a minimum of fifteen (15) percent of voting members of the church provided that notice shall be given from the pulpit at a Sunday or Midweek service of the church at least three (3) days preceding the meeting.
15. QUORUMS: Twenty (20) percent of the active, voting members shall be required to be present for the transaction of business at any business meeting. When a quorum is not present at a called meeting, the meeting shall be postponed a minimum of seven (7) days, at which time those present will constitute a quorum. Members who are shut in or who are away for missionary service, military service, schooling, or who have not attended any regular service for three months shall not be counted when computing a quorum. If present at the business meeting, however, they shall be counted in computing the quorum and shall have full voting privileges.
All business shall be decided by a majority vote of the quorum present, except where otherwise noted. Voting at all business meetings shall be a public vote, except where the moderator deems it wise or as a member requests a secret ballot. All active members eighteen (18) and over will be eligible to vote.
16. CONDUCT: In case of parliamentary procedures not otherwise provided for in this Constitution, the church shall be governed by the Word of God and Roberts Rules of Order, with the Word of God in all cases having the preeminence.
All meetings are to be conducted in an orderly way (1 Corinthians 14:40) in a spirit of Christian harmony and love with all in attendance demonstrating Christ-likeness in their attitudes and actions. (Ephesians 4:25-32; Philippians 2:1-8) A meeting that falls short of this standard may be suspended by the moderator for up to two weeks to allow time for prayer and self-examination for all. (Matthew 7:1-5)

ARTICLE VI
FINANCIAL POLICY
1. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
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2. No monies shall be raised by the church or any auxiliary organization except by free-will offering. (Definition may be given by the Pastor and Board of Deacons.)
ARTICLE VII
AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
There may be such other organizations and committees as the most efficient prosecution of our objectives shall demand. All such organizations and committees shall be by the consent and under the oversight of the Pastor and Board of Deacons. All officers of auxiliary organizations and committees shall be members of the church in good and regular standing.

ARTICLE VIII
MISSIONS
It shall be the policy of this church to support only missionaries and mission agencies known to be in agreement with our Doctrinal Statement. Such shall be subject to the recommendation of the Pastor and Board of Deacons.

ARTICLE IX
MEMBERSHIP
1. QUALIFICATIONS: Any person desiring to unite with this church who has accepted Christ as personal Savior, who has received water baptism by immersion, who has given assurance of his willingness to abide by this Constitution and is in agreement with the Doctrinal Statement of this church given in Article IV, shall be eligible for membership.
2. PROCEDURE: Those desiring church membership shall be interviewed by the Board of Deacons as to their testimony of faith in Christ as personal Savior and water baptism by immersion. Upon recommendation of the Board of Deacons, each candidate for membership shall be voted upon by the church at any regular service, regular business meeting or called business meeting of the church, a majority vote being required for acceptance into the membership of the church. New members shall be publicly welcomed at a regular Sunday service of the church by the members and given the right hand of Christian fellowship by the Pastor.
3. RESPONSIBILITIES: Every member should attend the services of the church; should so walk and conduct himself in daily life as to give evidence of being possessed of the Spirit of Christ and in agreement with the Doctrinal Statement (Article IV); should participate regularly in the giving of their means as the Lord may prosper them, in harmony with the system used by this church; should always desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that they might be used of Him in the accomplishing of His will in the salvation of the lost and the edification of other believers in the Body of Christ.
4. DISCIPLINE: The discipline of the church shall be entrusted to the Pastor and Board of Deacons and shall be exercised according to the Word of God. (Matthew 18; 1 Corinthians 5) a. Persistent absence: Any member absent from the services of the church for a continuous period of one year shall be removed from the active church membership roll and placed on the roll of inactive church members, unless satisfactory explanation has been given to and accepted by the Pastor and Board of Deacons. Members on the inactive roll shall not have  the privilege of voting at any meeting of the church. Names will be carried on the inactive roll for a period to be set at the discretion of the Board of Deacons. At the end of this period, any member not willing to be restored to the active fellowship of the church shall be deleted from the
membership of the church, not requiring any action of the church. The deleted member and the church body will then be informed of this removal.
b. Disorderly conduct: In all cases of disorderly conduct as defined in the New Testament epistles, or heretical doctrine so opposed to this church’s life and faith (as embodied in Article IV) as to destroy the possibility of fellowship, the suspected person(s) shall first be interviewed by the Pastor and one deacon. If this does not lead to repentance and restoration of fellowship, which is the supremely desired result, the suspected person(s) shall be notified to meet with the Board of Deacons to answer the charges. Failure on the part of the accused to appear for such a hearing shall not prevent the Board of Deacons from examining the case and taking action on the membership status of the accused. The church body shall be informed if such action results in removal from membership.
5. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP: Termination of membership in this church shall be:
a. By death.
b. By discipline. (See Section 4 above.)
c. By letter. Members who are faithful in their responsibilities as set forth in Section 3 above shall be recognized as in good and regular standing. Any such member who desires to transfer to another church of like precious faith shall, upon request, be granted a letter of recommendation.
d. By uniting with another church without first terminating membership in this church.
e. By request. Such request shall be submitted in writing to the Pastor and/or deacons.
In all five cases listed above, the congregation shall be notified.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
The Constitution may be amended at any regular or called meeting of the church when two weeks’ notice has been given of such intention. A two-thirds majority of the quorum shall be required to amend.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION CLAUSE
No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any donor, member, director, or officer of the corporation or any private individual; and no donor, member, director, or officer of the corporation, or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporation assets. Upon dissolution, any assets of the corporation must be distributed to one or more corporations determined by a majority vote of a quorum of the active membership and recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as one organized for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. All such corporations shall hold to a doctrinal position and testimony which is in conformity with the Doctrinal Statement of this church.