Members
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Rules

These rules (from the archives) are still currently in force but subject to review in the near future when the Governing Document will replace them (this is a requirement of the Charities' Commission).

1.    Name of church

The Church shall be known as TEMPLE HILL BAPTIST CHURCH, St Edmund's Road, Dartford. It shall be affiliated with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and the London Baptist association, and shall consist of those individuals who have become members in the manner hereinafter set forth.

2.    Membership

(a)    The membership shall be open to all who profess repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and whose lives bear evidence of their Christian profession.

(b)    Members are usually received into membership after baptism by immersion, but the Church welcomes into full membership all who conscientiously follow our Lord Jesus Christ.

(c)    Those who desire to join the Church shall apply to the Pastor or Deacons; their names shall be proposed at a regular Church Meeting and after visitation and a satisfactory report by the Pastor and/or two members of the Church, shall be voted on at the following Church Meeting and, if elected, receive the right hand of fellowship at the Lord's Table on the first convenient Communion Sunday.

(d)    Members may be received from other Christian Churches by letter of transfer, such applications shall be voted upon, as set forth in the foregoing rule.

(e)    Members are expected to attend loyally the Church services, to contribute towards its support as God has prospered them, to take part in Church activities, and, with God's help to lead lives regulated by the teaching, and inspired by the Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

3.    Ordinances

(a) The Ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall normally be observed on the 1st Sunday evening of each month and the 3rd Sunday morning to which ordinance all Christian people are invited.

(b) Members shall do their utmost to be present at the Communion Service, and names of those absent for six consecutive months, without reasonable excuse, may, after due notice, be removed from the Roll of Membership, or placed on the 'Supplementary Roll' - (Inactive Roll) for a period of time, enabling efforts to continue towards reinstatement of Full Membership or to link up with another Church. The 'Supplementary Roll' shall be reviewed at least annually.

(c) The Ordinance of Believers' Baptism shall be administered as required. All believers in The Lord Jesus Christ are admitted to this ordinance whether or not such candidates desire Church Membership.

4.    Church Officers

(a) The Minister - shall be one holding the Deity of The Lord Jesus Christ and the sole authority of The Holy Scriptures and that interpretation of them usually called Evangelical and having been immersed on confession of Faith in The Lord Jesus Christ and maintaining and practicing the doctrine and rite of the immersion of Believers and no other Baptism.

(b) Upon the Pastorate becoming vacant, the Deacons shall recommend suitable Ministers to the Church. The election of a minister shall be by ballot at a special Church Meeting called for that purpose, and duly announced from the pulpit on the two Sundays preceding (see under Special Church Meetings). To secure an election it shall be necessary that the person nominated shall receive at least three-quarters of the votes of those present and eligible to vote. No two candidates shall be before the Church at the same time.

(c) Deacons

(i) No person shall be eligible to become a Deacon of the Church who is not at the time of his or her appointment a baptised member of the Church.

(ii) The number of Deacons shall not exceed eight.

(iii) The Deacons shall be elected for a period of three years.

(iv) All members of the Church who have reached the age of twenty-one years, who have been members for at least six months and attended communion at least six times in the year prior to nomination shall be eligible for diaconate.

(v) Nominations shall be handed in to the Church Secretary not later than the last Sunday in January. They must be signed by TWO members nominating, who must first obtained the consent of the nominee.

(vi) Deacons shall be elected by ballot at the A.G.M. of the Church in February. Appointments will be by majority vote and each successful nominee must receive at least half of the votes of those present and eligible to vote. Names of Deacons eligible for election will be exhibited.

(d) Officers

(i) A Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected annually from the diaconate at the A.G.M. in February, by ballot or otherwise as the Church may determine.

(ii) Auditors - All Church and Auxiliary accounts shall be audited.

5.    Church Meetings

(a) The Church shall meet for Christian Fellowship and for the transaction of business at least once every two months. Twenty-five percent of the Roll shall form a quorum at all Church Meetings. Notice of such meetings shall be given publicly at both services on the preceding Sunday.

(b) A Special Church Meeting may be called at the discretion of the Pastor and the Deacons, or at the written request of ten Church Members. Public notices of such Meetings shall be given at each of the two services on the two preceding Sundays. Such notices shall state the purposes and purport of the business to be transacted. In an emergency, at the discretion of the Pastor and/or Deacons, a postal notice, not less than seven days prior to the Meeting, may be substituted for the public notice. No resolution shall be carried unless supported by at least two-thirds of those entitled to vote and voting.

(c) Only Members who have attended the Church Communion Service at least once during the preceding three months, and who have attained the age of sixteen years shall be entitled to vote at Church Meetings. Business at these meetings shall be conducted under such rules as ordinarily govern the conduct of public meetings. A ballot vote shall be taken if demanded by not less than three members present.

(d) No resolution passed at a meeting, whether general or special, shall be rescinded, unless notice of the intention to move a rescinded motion has been given at a previous General Meeting. No motion lost shall be re-introduced for discussion at any subsequent Church Meeting within twelve months following, unless by consent of the diaconate.

(e) That no major proposal be brought forward by any member or members at a Church Meeting unless due notice shall have been given in writing at least forty-eight hours previously to the Pastor or Church Secretary; nor any controversial matter to be discussed upon which the Officers of the Church have not previously held consultation.

(f) Members shall consider it both a privilege and a duty to attend Church Meetings, and the discussion of all subjects shall be made in the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord, and every matter without exception, so discussed, shall be regarded as strictly private and confidential for members only.

6.    Church Organisations

(a) The election of all Officers of Organisations in the Church, or using the name of the Church, shall be submitted to the Church Meeting for approval and confirmation. Nominees must be Church Members.

Note. - it is therefore essential that the election of Officers of the various organisations shall be held before the Church Meeting, in order that this Rule may be operative.

(b) All organisations professing to carry on any work in the name of the Church, or using the name of the Church, shall send a report of their work, together with a financial statement to the Secretary, as soon after the close of the year as possible, and shall submit to the Church's guidance and control. Audited accounts shall be made available for inspection at the A.G.M.

7.    Management

All Church appointments, with the exception of Caretaker, and as per Rule 4, are subject to annual election.

8.    General

(a) On the office of Minister of the Church becoming vacant, it shall be the right of the Church on recommendation of the Deacons, or of its own volition, to appoint a suitable person to act as Moderator or Advisor until another Minister is appointed.

(b) In cases of alleged misconduct, the Minister and Deacons have power (after acting in accordance with our Lord's teaching as recorded in St Matthew 18: 15-17) to deal with such cases as they deem wise and notify their action at the next Church Meeting. the matter shall not be discussed at the Church Meeting, but by a majority vote may be referred back to the Deacons, that the mover and seconder of the resolution may meet the Minister and Deacons and state the reason for their action.

(c) The Minister shall be ex-officio President of all Societies.

(d) Meetings and Services on the Church premises shall be held only with the permission of the Pastor and Deacons and upon such conditions as they may decide.

(e) The Officers shall consist of the Minister, the Secretary and the Treasurer and other Deacons duly elected.

(f) These Rules shall be printed and a copy given to every member of the Church. A copy shall also be duly attached to the Minute Book of the Church and signed in the Minute Book by the Officers for the time being. A copy of the Church Rules shall also be presented to every applicant for membership.

9.    Alteration of Church Rules

No alteration or addition to these Rules shall be made except by a two-thirds majority on the votes of the Church, notice having been given at a previous Church Meeting.

10.    Trust Deed

The Church Property, consisting Church premises and Manse shall form the subject of a Trust Deed, such Trust Deed, or Deeds, shall convey the Church Property to the London Baptist Property Board. The Trust Deed shall be that model trust as recommended by the London Baptist Property Board.