Bylaws for Franklin Chapel
Article I: Name and Location
Section 1.1 Name
The name of the church shall be “Franklin Chapel.”
Section 1.2 Location
The principal location of the church is in Franklin, KY.
Article II: Purpose
Section 2.1 Mission Statement
As God moves we respond and are transformed by his Spirit to seek Him further.
Article III: Affiliation
Section 3.1 Affiliation
Franklin Chapel is an independent entity and is not affiliated with any denomination or larger church body.
Article IV: Governance and Leadership
Section 4.1 Governing Body
The church shall be governed by a Board of Directors (hereafter referred to as “the Church Council”).
Section 4.2 Composition of the Church Council
The Church Council shall consist of:
The Lead Pastor
Chair
Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
8 additional members from the church membership
The chairs of each standing committee should be members of the Church Council
Section 4.3 Responsibilities of the Church Council
General Responsibilities
The Church Council is responsible for the overall governance, and oversight of the church’s operations, including financial management, policy formulation, asset management, hiring and firing of staff. They have the express requirement to carry out those responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with the stated mission of the church and the Statement of Faith.
Attendance
All members of the Church Council are required to attend at least 75% of the monthly church council meetings per year. All members of the Church Council are also required to attend an annual Church Council Orientation and Training that shall provide a minimum of training on nonprofit governance and compliance with legal requirements.
Section 4.4 Leadership Roles, Officers and Duties
Lead Pastor:
Role and Responsibilities: The Lead Pastor serves as the primary spiritual leader of the church, responsible for guiding the spiritual growth of the congregation, leading worship services, and providing pastoral care. Additionally, the Lead Pastor acts as the chief executive officer of the church, overseeing day-to-day operations, staff management, and strategic planning.
Voting Rights: The Lead Pastor has full voting rights on the Church Council, ensuring their input is considered in governance decisions.
Conflict of Interest: The Lead Pastor must recuse themselves from voting on matters where a conflict of interest may arise, particularly those involving personal benefit or direct involvement in the decision-making process. Specific conflicts of interest that require recusal include but are not limited to: compensation, terms of, including but not limited to the continuation of, employment, benefits, and any other topics that may create an appearance of self-dealing.
Accountability: The Lead Pastor is accountable to the Church Council for their executive duties and is subject to an annual performance review conducted by the Church Council.
Chair of the Board
Presides over Church Council meetings, ensures effective governance, and coordinates Church Council activities.
Vice-Chair of the Board
Assists the Chair and assumes the Chair’s responsibilities in their absence. The de facto chair of the Governance Committee.
Treasurer
Manages church finances, prepares financial reports monthly for board review, and oversees budget planning.
Secretary
Maintains records of Church Council meetings, manages church documentation, and ensures communication within the church.
Section 4.5 Selection and Tenure
Church Council Members
Church Council members are nominated by the Nominations Committee and then approved by church membership by a majority vote during the annual meeting. Each member serves a three-year term and may serve a second consecutive term. After serving two terms, a member must wait 1 year before being nominated to the Church Council. The Lead Pastor is an Ex Officio member of the Church Council and shall not be subject to term limits.
Officers
Officers of the Church Council are elected each year by the Church Council at the first Council meeting of the fiscal year and cannot serve in an officer role for more than three consecutive years.
Vacancies
In the event of mid-term vacancies for Church Council members, the role shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining Church Council. This Church Council member or Officer term shall last until the next meeting of the Membership, at which point the position will be nominated by the Nominations Committee and approved by the membership in accordance with normal procedures outlined in the section above. The partial term completed due to filling a vacant role shall not count against term limits for Church Council Members or Officers.
For example, a board member who steps into a vacant role for 1 year, who is then duly nominated and approved to a seat on the Church Council may serve 3 more years as their first term and if re-nominated and re-approved may serve a second 3 year term.
Removal from the Board
In the event that a Church Council Member is unable to uphold the responsibilities outlined in section 4.3, removal of that member from the Church Council shall be necessary. A Church Council member may be removed from the Church Council by a 2/3 vote of the full Church Council.
Section 4.6 Meetings
Meeting Frequency
The Church Council shall hold monthly meetings to discuss and manage church affairs. Special meetings may be called by the Lead Pastor, Chair, or any six members of the Church Council. Notice of special meetings must be provided to all church council members at least one week in advance.
Quorum
Quorum of the Board shall be met by a meeting of at least 8 Church Council Members.
Record-Keeping:
Minutes of the Church Council meetings and any special meetings must be recorded and maintained for a minimum of five years. These records should include details of attendance, decisions made, and votes cast to ensure compliance with state non-profit regulations and to provide transparency. These records shall be kept in the Franklin Chapel office and if that does not exist then these records shall be kept with the Church Council Secretary.
Section 4.7 Standing Committees
Committee Structure:
The church will establish the following standing committees which shall meet as needed:
Discipleship
Children & Youth
Finance
Governance
Facilities
Nominations
Membership and Terms:
Each committee shall have a minimum of 3 members.
Committee members serve voluntarily for a minimum term of one year. After serving 6 consecutive terms on a committee, a member must wait for at least 1 year before serving on that committee again.
Each standing committee should have a minimum of one board member serving on it. Board members are required to serve on at least one standing committee.
Committee Chairs:
The chairs of the standing committees shall be members on the Church Council.
The Vice-Chair of the Board is the de facto chair of the Governance Committee.
Ex Officio Members:
When present on staff, the Discipleship Pastor/Director, Youth/Children’s Pastor/Director, and Facilities Director (or equivalent titles) are de facto permanent members and chairs/(co-chairs) of their associated committees, count against the membership quota, and are not subject to term limits for service on those committees.
Committee Reporting:
Upon request, committee chairs or their designee shall report to the Church of Council the current state of work of their respective committee.
Minutes of the committee meetings and any special meetings must be recorded and maintained for a minimum of five years. These records should include details of attendance, decisions made, and votes cast to ensure compliance with state non-profit regulations and to provide transparency. Minutes shall be turned into Franklin Chapel office or to the Church Council Secretary.
Committee Descriptions:
Discipleship Committee: Focuses on fostering spiritual growth and development within the church community. This includes organizing and overseeing Bible studies, small groups, adult education programs, and other discipleship activities that encourage members to grow in their faith and relationship with Christ.
Children & Youth Committee: Dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and spiritually enriching environment for children and youth. This committee plans and oversees educational programs, events, and activities for children and youth, ensuring they are integrated into the life of the church and grow in their faith.
Finance Committee: This committee oversees the financial health and management of the church. Responsibilities include budget preparation, financial reporting, stewardship campaigns, and ensuring that all financial practices comply with church policies and legal requirements.
Governance Committee: Chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Board, this committee is responsible for overseeing the governance structure and practices of the church. Duties include developing and reviewing church policies, ensuring compliance with bylaws, and coordinating the election process for board members and officers.
Facilities Committee: Responsible for maintaining and overseeing the church’s physical property and infrastructure. This includes managing building maintenance, coordinating with contractors for repairs and improvements, and ensuring that the church facilities are safe and welcoming for all activities.
Nominations Committee: Chaired by the Lead Pastor, this committee is responsible for nominating members to serve on the Church Council and other standing committees. The nominations are then approved by the membership at the annual meeting.
Ad Hoc Committees
Ad Hoc Committees may be formed by the Church Council for the purpose of achieving a specific goal or meeting a specific need. These committees are not required to uphold the Membership and Terms requirements of the standing committees. An Ad Hoc committee shall be dissolved after its stated goal or need has been met.
Section 4.8 Executive Oversight and Conflict of Interest
Oversight Mechanisms
The Church Council shall monitor the activities and performance of the Lead Pastor and other staff, ensuring that their actions align with the church’s mission and policies. This oversight shall include an annual performance review.
Conflict of Interest Policy
Any church council member, including the Lead Pastor, must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and abstain from voting on related matters. The Governance Committee will review and address conflicts of interest to maintain integrity and transparency.
Article V: Membership
Section 5.1 Eligibility
Membership is open to individuals who have attended one initial membership class and made a profession of faith before the church body as outlined in Article VI. Continued membership requires attendance to at least one membership class per fiscal year. Failure to attend an annual membership class will result in the suspension of voting privileges for that respective year’s annual meeting.
Section 5.2 Rights of Members
Members have the right to:
Vote in the election of the Church Council members and those who serve on the standing committees.
Attend the annual meeting of members and vote on any business matters presented.
Section 5.3 Membership Meetings
An annual meeting of the members shall be held to:
Elect members to the Church Council.
Approve members serving on standing committees.
Review the yearly budget.
Address any other significant church business.
Notification:
The annual meeting of members must be announced to the membership at least 1 month in advance. Notification must be provided through multiple means, including email and announcements during regular services, to ensure all members are informed.
Record-Keeping:
Minutes of the annual meeting and any special meetings must be recorded and maintained for a minimum of five years. These records should include details of attendance, decisions made, and votes cast to ensure compliance with state non-profit regulations and to provide transparency.
Section 5.4 Membership Classes
Membership classes are held monthly and are designed to educate prospective and current members about the church’s mission, beliefs, and expectations for membership. The classes include the following components:
Introduction to Franklin Chapel: Overview of the church’s history, mission, and vision.
Statement of Faith: Detailed explanation of the church’s core beliefs as outlined in Article VI.
Membership Expectations: Discussion of the responsibilities and benefits of church membership.
Q&A Session: Opportunity for attendees to ask questions and receive clarifications about the church and its activities.
Article VI: Doctrine and Practices
Section 6.1 Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith for Franklin Chapel is as follows:
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;*
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Articles of Religion (Adapted from John Welsey’s adaptation for Methodists)
Article I – Of Faith in the Holy Trinity
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Article II – OF THE WORD, OR SON OF GOD, WHO WAS MADE VERY MAN
The Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and Manhood, were joined together in one person, never to be divided; whereof is one Christ, very God and very Man, who truly suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original guilt, but also for actual sins of men.
Article III – OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day.
Article IV – OF THE HOLY GHOST
The Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.
Article V – OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FOR SALVATION
The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical books of the Old and New Testament of whose authority was never any doubt in the church. The names of the canonical books are:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, The First Book of Samuel, The Second Book of Samuel, The First Book of Kings, The Second Book of Kings, The First Book of Chronicles, The Second Book of Chronicles, The Book of Ezra, The Book of Nehemiah, The Book of Esther, The Book of Job, The Psalms, The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Cantica or Songs of Solomon, Four Prophets the Greater, Twelve Prophets the Less.
All the books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive and account canonical.
Article VI – OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.
Article VII – OF ORIGINAL OR BIRTH SIN
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually.
Article VIII – OF FREE WILL
The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will.
Article IX – OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF MAN
We are accounted righteous before God only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by faith, only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort.
Article X – OF GOOD WORKS
Although good works, which are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring out of a true and lively faith, insomuch that by them a lively faith may be as evidently known as a tree is discerned by its fruit.
Article XI – OF SIN AFTER JUSTIFICATION
Not every sin willingly committed after justification is the sin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore, the grant of repentance is not to be denied to such as fall into sin after justification. After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin, and, by the grace of God, rise again and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned who say they can no more sin as long as they live here; or deny the place of forgiveness to such as truly repent.
Article XII – OF THE CHURCH
The visible church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.
Article XIII – OF THE SACRAMENTS
Sacraments ordained of Christ are not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they are certain signs of grace, and God's good will toward us, by which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm, our faith in him.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord.
The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about; but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation; but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves condemnation, as St. Paul saith.
Article XIV – OF BAPTISM
Baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christians are distinguished from others that are not baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration or the new birth. The Baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church.
Article XV – OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ's death; insomuch that, to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith receive the same, the bread which we break is a partaking of the body of Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a partaking of the blood of Christ.
The body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, only after a heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper is faith.
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped.
Article XVI – OF BOTH KINDS
The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in the which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.
Article XVII – OF THE RITES AND CEREMONIES OF CHURCHES
It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely doth openly break the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the Word of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.
Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.
Article XVIII – OF SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification is that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost, received through faith in Jesus Christ, whose blood of atonement cleanseth from all sin; whereby we are not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but are washed from its pollution, saved from its power, and are enabled, through grace, to love God with all our hearts and to walk in his holy commandments blameless.
Members are required to agree to and make a profession of faith in line with these beliefs before the church body which is summarized as follows: “Jesus is Lord. I believe in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. I believe in the core essentials of historic Christianity and I will support Franklin Chapel to the best of my ability through my witness, my service, and my giving.”
Article VII: Finances
Section 7.1 Funding
The church shall be funded through contributions from its membership and any other lawful sources.
Section 7.2 Fiscal Year
The fiscal year for the church shall run from February 1st to January 31st.
Section 7.3 Asset Management
The Church Council shall manage all assets and property of the church in accordance with church policies and applicable laws.
Article VIII: Conflict Resolution
Section 8.1 Dispute Resolution
Process:
Any disputes within the church shall be resolved through a process of mediation and reconciliation, guided by principles consistent with the church’s beliefs and mission. The initial step is to bring the dispute to the church leadership. If unresolved, a mediation session with an impartial mediator will be arranged. Should internal resolution be inadequate, external mediation may be sought from a neutral party agreed upon by both disputing parties.
Compliance:
The dispute resolution process shall comply with state and federal laws to ensure fairness and legality. The Governance Committee will oversee the process to maintain integrity and transparency.
Article IX: Discipline
Section 9.1 Discipline Policy
The church reserves the right to administer discipline to members in accordance with biblical principles and the church’s guidelines. This may include counseling, corrective measures, and, if necessary, termination or suspension of membership in severe cases of misconduct that threaten the church’s mission or unity.
Article X: Amendments
Section 10.1 Bylaw Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the full Church Council or by a two-thirds majority vote of the membership present at the annual meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given to the membership at least 30 days in advance. Proposed amendments must be presented in writing and distributed to all members for review prior to the vote.
Article XI: Legal Status and Dissolution
Section 11.1 Non-Profit Status
The church shall operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and comply with all federal and state regulations governing such entities.
Section 11.2 Dissolution
In the event of dissolution, the church may only be dissolved by a four-fifths majority vote of the voting membership. Upon dissolution, the church’s assets shall be used to create an endowment that will annually support a charitable organization dedicated to serving the impoverished, orphaned, or widowed.