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Church Constitution

The Haydenville Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

Incorporated 1952
As Amended February 21, 2021

Article I. Name

The name of this church shall be The Haydenville Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, hence referred to as “The Church” or “Corporation.

Article II. Purpose and Mission Statement

The purpose of this church shall be to bind together the followers of Jesus Christ in the worship of God and in making God’s will dominant in the lives of people, especially as that will is set forth in the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Haydenville Congregational Church – United Church of Christ is a dynamic, growing, diverse and welcoming faith community. We are on a journey together to experience who God and Jesus are for us and our World. We are deeply committed to love, service, justice, peace, and care of the earth.

Article III. Covenant

We Covenant with the Lord and with one another, and do bind ourselves in the presence of God to walk together in God’s holy ways. We will strive to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, to be firm in faith, quickened in hope, and constant in charity, and we will hold our time, talent, substance and influence as trusts from God to be devoted to God’s service. Amen.

Article IV. Membership

Section 1​: Covenant Members: The Covenant members of this church shall be those persons who worship with and/or contribute regularly to the support of the Church and have been received by affirmation of members present at a New Member Installation Service and have given public assent to its Confession of Faith and Covenant, or by presentation of satisfactory letters of transfer from other churches, or if letters are not available, on re-affirmation of faith. In all cases they shall be received only upon recommendation of the Diaconate.

Section 2​: Associate Members: The Associate Members of this Church shall be those persons who worship with and/or contribute regularly to the support of the Church and also share membership with another religious denomination or church and have been received by affirmation of the members present at a New Member Installation Service.

Associate Members of the Church have the privilege of attending all meetings and voting upon all questions except questions relating to the sale or acquisition of property and the increase or reduction of a minister’s salary.

Section 3​: Members Under Legal Age: Members under legal age are prohibited by State Law (Gen. Laws of Mass. Ch. 67, Sec 52) from voting in meetings of the Corporation; but all such members shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Church, and to speak on all questions under consideration.

Section 4​: Absent Members: Absent members are expected to communicate with the Bookkeeper/Secretary of the Church at least once a year. Upon their failure to do so for two (2) years, the Bookkeeper/Secretary of the Church will recommend to the Diaconate the transfer of their names to the Inactive Roll. After making due effort to ascertain the cause of their neglect, such member may be restored to the Active Roll of the Church by action of the Diaconate.

Article V. Governance

Section 1​: All officers of the Church shall be Covenant members. The officers of the Church shall be Minister, the Diaconate, Clerk, Treasurer, Trustees and Moderator.

Section 2​: All elected committee members shall be Covenant members. The committees of the Church shall be Music, Stewardship, Youth and Family Ministries, Peace & Justice, Hospitality, Pastor Parish Relations, and Worship.

Section 3​: All members of the Church Council shall be Covenant members. The Council shall be comprised of the Minister, Moderator, Vice Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer of the Church and the chairs of all boards and committees.

Article VI. Amendments

This Constitution and these Bylaws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2⁄3) of the Covenant members present at any regular or special meeting of the Church, provided that notice of the proposed bylaw changes that are to be acted upon are stated in a warrant of the Church Meeting. The language of the proposed Constitution and/or Bylaw changes must be available for the Church to review at least three (3) weeks prior to such meeting, and must be approved by a 2⁄3 majority of the Church Council.

Article VII. Dissolution

Should this church dissolve, its assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.