4.
By Restoration.
If there is satisfactory evidence of repentance and reformation, any person who has
lost membership in this Church may be restored by vote of the Church upon the
recommendation of the Pastor and/or Board of Deacons.
5.
By Regular Attendance.
Any inactive member desiring active membership status shall show, by their
attendance for a three month period, a desire to be a part of this fellowship and be
recommended by the Pastor and/or the Board of Deacons and a majority vote cast during a
regular business meeting.
SECTION
4. Dismission
From This Church Shall Be:
1.
By death.
2.
By letter. Any member in good and regular standing who desires a letter of
dismission and recommendation to any other church is entitled to receive it upon his
request. The name of the church to which membership is to be transferred must be indicated
in the request, and the letter shall be sent to the pastor or clerk of that church. This
letter shall be valid as a recommendation for six months only from its date, unless
renewed, and this restriction shall be stated in the letter.
3. By
absenteeism. The names of members willfully absenting themselves or having removed
themselves from the knowledge of the Church, and not reporting to the Church for a period
of six months, shall be removed from the active membership roll (only active members shall
have full rights and privileges of the Church, including voting rights) to the inactive
roll by vote of the Church, following recommendation to this effect by the Pastor and the
Board of Deacons.
4. By
exclusion. In all cases involving gross immorality, and in case of delinquency through
failure to comply with covenant obligations, members may be excluded but only after due
notice and opportunity of hearing is given. If a member is to be excluded, this must be
recommended by the majority of Deacons and approved by two-thirds of the voting members of
the Church who are present at a duly called business meeting.
5. The
Pastor shall be subject to immediate suspension from service of this Church for gross
moral sin, provided that he is first given due notice and a hearing before the Board of
Deacons with evidence presented as to his guilt or innocence. If upon the examination by
the Board, the majority of the Deacons shall determine that the Pastor is unfit for
further service to this Church, he shall be suspended without pay. A special business
meeting of the Church shall be called by the Board of Deacons at which time it will make
recommendation to the Church for the Pastor’s dismissal. The members of the Church
shall (by majority vote at the special business meeting) vote to dismiss or retain the
services of the Pastor. If the Pastor is dismissed under these conditions, it will be
considered a breech of contract and no further pay will be accorded the dismissed Pastor.
