Constitution & Bylaws
ARTICLE I—NAME
The name of the Association of churches shall be the Baptist Missionary
Association of Texas, Inc.
ARTICLE II—LEGAL IDENTITY
The Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, Inc. is a registered corporation
in the state of Texas, hereafter known as "the Association,” and is a non-profit
organization in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Service Code.
ARTICLE III—MISSION
Section 1. The Association shall endeavor to unify the work of the
churches as they fulfill the Great Commission in their local communities,
the state of Texas, and ultimately, the world.
Section 2. To accomplish this, we will plant new churches and provide
resources to assist cooperating churches in developing their ministries of
family and child care, evangelism, discipleship, and Christian education.
Through these ministries we anticipate God’s blessings in the salvation of
the lost, the strengthening of the family, and the spiritual, numerical, and
financial growth of the churches.
ARTICLE IV—MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The members of the Association shall be Baptist churches that
choose to unite with the Association by means of messengers to carry out
the mission expressed in Article III of this Constitution.
Section 2. Each church seeking fellowship in the Association shall present
a petitionary letter stating that, in regular conference, she has approved the
Constitution and Doctrinal Statement of the Baptist Missionary Association of
Texas. The messengers of the petitioning church will be seated when approved
by two-thirds (2/3) of the messengers present and voting in that session.
Section 3. Each church may elect three (3) messengers from her
membership as representatives to the annual meeting, and shall certify those
messengers in writing.
Section 4. Should it become necessary to challenge a church for her right
to sit in the Association, the procedure shall be as follows:
A. A church shall present in writing the constitutional and/or doctrinal
reason for the challenge.
B. The president shall appoint a committee of three to investigate the
charges and report its findings to the assembled messengers.
C. The messengers of the challenged church will be seated if approved
by two-thirds (2/3) of the messengers present and voting.
Section 5. Membership in the Association can be terminated in the
following manner:
A. By a church notifying the president of the Baptist Missionary Association
of Texas in writing, stating that they have voted to terminate membership in
a regular conference.
B. By the Association withdrawing fellowship from any church which
may be found to be out of harmony with the Constitution and By-Laws of
the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, Inc. and/or Doctrinal Statement.
The procedure shall be as follows:
1. A church shall present in writing the reason for the challenge.
2. The president shall appoint a committee of three (3) to investigate
the charges and report its finding to the assembled messengers at a
subsequent session.
3. Should the committee recommend withdrawal, a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote shall be required for approval.
ARTICLE V—PRINCIPLES
Section 1. The Association shall be governed by divine truth as set forth
in Holy Scripture in all matters of doctrine and practice.
Section 2. The Association shall recognize freedom of speech as the
right of each messenger and shall follow commonly accepted rules of order
in all her discussions.
Section 3. The Association shall respect the autonomy of each individual
church.
ARTICLE VI—OFFICERS
Section 1. General Guidelines
A. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a first vice-president,
a second vice-president, and two recording clerks.
B. The Association shall elect all officers at each annual meeting. Nominees
for all offices must be a member of a church affiliated with the Baptist
Missionary Association of Texas.
C. Newly-elected officers shall assume their duties at the end of the annual
meeting in which they are elected.
D. A majority vote of the messengers shall decide all elections.
Section 2. Presiding Officers
A. Presiding officers shall hold their office no more than two consecutive
years.
B. Duties of the president: The president shall preside over the deliberations
of the Association, chair the Executive Committee, chair the Administrative
Committee, plan the agenda, and make arrangements for and provide advance
publicity for the annual meeting.
C. The first vice-president shall succeed to the office of president if the
president leaves office before another is elected. The second vice-president
shall succeed to the office of first vice-president if the first vice-president
leaves office before another is elected. The vice-presidents shall assist the
president in the duties of his office as requested by the president.
Section 3. Clerks
A. The recording clerks shall record the proceedings of each session, and
shall print and distribute to the churches the minutes of each meeting.
B. The recording clerks shall appoint annually the Registration Committee.
ARTICLE VII—DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS
Section 1. Department directors are as follows:
A. The Association shall elect annually a director of missions, a business
manager of the Loan Association, an editor of the Baptist Progress, and a
president of the Texas Baptist Home for Children.
B. Since Jacksonville College is accredited by the Commission on
Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities, the board
of trustees elected by the Association has the responsibility of electing the
officers of the college.
Section 2. Executive Director
The director of missions shall serve as the executive director of the
Association. His duties shall be the following:
A. To coordinate quarterly meetings of the directors for the purpose of
developing a unified vision, planning and promotion of all departments, with
the goal of building the work of the churches of the Association.
B. To regularly communicate the vision, purposes, and plans of the
departments with the churches through the Baptist Progress, personal visits,
and other means.
C. To assist the officers of the Association in planning the annual meetings
of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
D. To administer the Association Expense Fund and give an annual account
of the income and disbursements.
E. Should the director of missions become unable to perform the duties of
the executive director, the president of the Baptist Missionary Association of
Texas shall fill this position until the director of missions is able to resume
these responsibilities or a successor is elected.
ARTICLE VIII—FUNDS
Section 1. The BMA of Texas Departments are funded by voluntary
contributions according to the needs and appeal of the departments. Funds
from property income by sale of property or donation will be dispersed by
the association or its designated department trustees.
Section 2. The Association or its Executive Committee shall authorize
all distribution of funds according to the expressed preference of the donor,
provided such preference does not violate this Constitution. Undesignated
contributions shall be divided to each department according to the percent
of need from the churches.
Section 3. The Association will receive annually a United Thanksgiving
Offering to be divided among the departments as directed by the Administrative
Committee.
Section 4. An Association Expense Fund shall provide for any expense
not directly related to a specific department. This fund shall also provide for
the following:
A. The expenses of the Nominating Committee, the Administrative
Committee, and other committees that shall be appointed or elected by the
Association for specific purposes.
B. The cost of printing the minutes of the Association and the salaries
for the clerks.
C. The liability of the Association for the cost of facilities to be used in an
annual meeting and shall not exceed a total of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).
D. Any other expense that may accrue to the Baptist Missionary Association
of Texas.
E. The Administrative Committee shall present a budget for the Association
Expense Fund. Revenue for this budget shall be derived through designated
offerings.
F. In the event the Association Expense Fund is insufficient to meet the
expenses incurred, the balance needed shall be paid by equally assessing
each department of the Association.
ARTICLE IX—BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Association shall establish any other boards or committees
that are necessary to carrying out its objectives
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall carry out the objectives of
the Association between annual meetings.
A. Each church may choose one member to represent her on the Executive
Committee. If the representative of a church ceases to qualify during the year,
the church may certify another representative to the Executive Committee.
B. The officers of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas shall be
members and officers of the Executive Committee.
C. The Executive Committee shall (1) approve or disapprove the
recommendation of a trustee body concerning the filling of a department
director vacancy; (2) approve or disapprove any major changes in the budget
of a department; (3) fill vacancies on any trustee board; (4) care for other
associational business that occurs between annual meetings and create any
committees necessary to accomplish its objectives.
D. The directors of the five departments of the Association shall serve
as trustees to act in behalf of the Executive Committee. Any three of the
department directors may sign necessary legal documents in the name of the
Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
E. The Executive Committee shall meet subject to the call of the chair.
F. The Executive Committee shall report to the churches by means of the
Baptist Progress, and its report shall be printed with the minutes of the Association.
Section 3. Administrative Committee.
A. A standing committee composed of the president, first vice-president,
and second vice-president of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas,
nine members elected from the floor, the director of each department, and one
trustee from each department shall serve as an Administrative Committee.
Administrative Committee members elected from the floor may not be a
member of any other standing committee.
B. Members elected from the floor will serve for a three (3) year term with
the elections staggered so the terms of three (3) members expire each year.
These members may be re-elected once, not to exceed six consecutive years.
C. This committee shall (1) serve in an advisory capacity to the department
directors; (2) coordinate the work of the department directors in areas of
dual responsibility and endeavor; (3) plan and participate in the program of
the regular and special sessions of the Association; (4) plan, promote, and
publicize the goals and ministries of the Association; (5) present annually
recommendations of salary and benefits for the Association elected directors
of each department; (6) present nominees to the association to serve on the
Nominating Committee. The director of each department of the Association
shall receive a salary longevity raise of $100.00 per year for each year of
service, counting from the first year and paid after the third year of service.
The recommendations for salary and benefits shall be presented to the various
trustee boards no later than six (6) weeks before the Association convenes.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee recommends personnel to serve
on boards and standing committees designated by the Association.
A. The Nominating Committee is a standing committee of five (5) members
nominated by the Administrative Committee with additional nominations being
allowed from the floor. Each member will serve a three (3) year term elected
on a staggered basis. Members serve a maximum of two terms in succession.
B. The Nominating Committee shall meet at least twice during the year.
The first meeting will be called by the president of the Association no later
than March 1 to organize the committee and to collect and process names,
including those suggested by the department directors and the churches. A
list of prospective nominees shall be sent to the directors of the appropriate
departments for review by May 1.
C. The department directors shall have until July 1 to respond to the
nominating committee. The completed list of nominees shall be sent to the
editor of Baptist Progress no later than September 1.
Section 5. The Boards of Trustees
The boards of trustees shall direct the work of each department of the
Association according to the will of the churches. The Association, in annual
meeting, shall elect members to the boards of trustees and committees
according to the individual constitutions and by-laws.
Section 6. Regulations of Boards and Committees
A. A person may be a member of only one standing committee or board
at a time. A person may be elected on a staggered basis for one four year
term, with re-election for one four year term, not to exceed a total of eight
consecutive years with the exclusion of the Administrative Committee, (See
Section 3, Letter B), and the Nominating Committee (See Section 4, Letter A).
B. The clerk of each committee or board shall furnish to the recording
clerks within thirty days of the close of each annual associational meeting
the name, address, phone number, and status (layperson or pastor) of each
member of their committee. The chairman and clerk of each committee shall
be identified. The recording clerks shall include this information in each
annual minute book.
C. Any member of a board or committee who misses two consecutive
meetings of that board or committee, without a valid reason, will be replaced
at the next meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
ARTICLE X—MEETINGS
Section 1. The Association shall meet annually in the area of Dallas,
Tyler, Waco, and Lufkin, in that rotating order.
Section 2. The Executive Committee may call a special meeting of the
Association when necessary.
Section 3. The officers of the Association seek the cooperation of the
pastors of the local association(s) where the meeting is held.
ARTICLE XI—REPORTS AND AUDITS
Section 1. Each department, committee, and organization of the
Association shall make an annual report in written form and provide copies
for the messengers at each annual meeting.
Section 2. A certified public accountant shall audit annually the
records of each department. This audit shall be printed in the minutes of the
Association.
Section 3. Committees and organizations of the Association that handle
funds shall submit a financial statement in standard accounting form to be
printed in the minutes.
ARTICLE XII—SUPERSESSION
This Constitution shall supersede the constitution or by-laws of any
department, agency, or organization in the Association, except where charter
requirements intervene.
ARTICLE XIII—AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be presented
in printed form to the messenger body. The proposed amendment will be
discussed at that time and voted on without discussion in the subsequent
session. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required for the amendment to
pass.
Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Doctrinal Statement must be
presented in printed form to the messenger body. The proposed amendment
will be discussed at that time and voted on without discussion in the subsequent
session. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required for the amendment to
pass.
The name of the Association of churches shall be the Baptist Missionary
Association of Texas, Inc.
ARTICLE II—LEGAL IDENTITY
The Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, Inc. is a registered corporation
in the state of Texas, hereafter known as "the Association,” and is a non-profit
organization in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue
Service Code.
ARTICLE III—MISSION
Section 1. The Association shall endeavor to unify the work of the
churches as they fulfill the Great Commission in their local communities,
the state of Texas, and ultimately, the world.
Section 2. To accomplish this, we will plant new churches and provide
resources to assist cooperating churches in developing their ministries of
family and child care, evangelism, discipleship, and Christian education.
Through these ministries we anticipate God’s blessings in the salvation of
the lost, the strengthening of the family, and the spiritual, numerical, and
financial growth of the churches.
ARTICLE IV—MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The members of the Association shall be Baptist churches that
choose to unite with the Association by means of messengers to carry out
the mission expressed in Article III of this Constitution.
Section 2. Each church seeking fellowship in the Association shall present
a petitionary letter stating that, in regular conference, she has approved the
Constitution and Doctrinal Statement of the Baptist Missionary Association of
Texas. The messengers of the petitioning church will be seated when approved
by two-thirds (2/3) of the messengers present and voting in that session.
Section 3. Each church may elect three (3) messengers from her
membership as representatives to the annual meeting, and shall certify those
messengers in writing.
Section 4. Should it become necessary to challenge a church for her right
to sit in the Association, the procedure shall be as follows:
A. A church shall present in writing the constitutional and/or doctrinal
reason for the challenge.
B. The president shall appoint a committee of three to investigate the
charges and report its findings to the assembled messengers.
C. The messengers of the challenged church will be seated if approved
by two-thirds (2/3) of the messengers present and voting.
Section 5. Membership in the Association can be terminated in the
following manner:
A. By a church notifying the president of the Baptist Missionary Association
of Texas in writing, stating that they have voted to terminate membership in
a regular conference.
B. By the Association withdrawing fellowship from any church which
may be found to be out of harmony with the Constitution and By-Laws of
the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas, Inc. and/or Doctrinal Statement.
The procedure shall be as follows:
1. A church shall present in writing the reason for the challenge.
2. The president shall appoint a committee of three (3) to investigate
the charges and report its finding to the assembled messengers at a
subsequent session.
3. Should the committee recommend withdrawal, a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote shall be required for approval.
ARTICLE V—PRINCIPLES
Section 1. The Association shall be governed by divine truth as set forth
in Holy Scripture in all matters of doctrine and practice.
Section 2. The Association shall recognize freedom of speech as the
right of each messenger and shall follow commonly accepted rules of order
in all her discussions.
Section 3. The Association shall respect the autonomy of each individual
church.
ARTICLE VI—OFFICERS
Section 1. General Guidelines
A. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a first vice-president,
a second vice-president, and two recording clerks.
B. The Association shall elect all officers at each annual meeting. Nominees
for all offices must be a member of a church affiliated with the Baptist
Missionary Association of Texas.
C. Newly-elected officers shall assume their duties at the end of the annual
meeting in which they are elected.
D. A majority vote of the messengers shall decide all elections.
Section 2. Presiding Officers
A. Presiding officers shall hold their office no more than two consecutive
years.
B. Duties of the president: The president shall preside over the deliberations
of the Association, chair the Executive Committee, chair the Administrative
Committee, plan the agenda, and make arrangements for and provide advance
publicity for the annual meeting.
C. The first vice-president shall succeed to the office of president if the
president leaves office before another is elected. The second vice-president
shall succeed to the office of first vice-president if the first vice-president
leaves office before another is elected. The vice-presidents shall assist the
president in the duties of his office as requested by the president.
Section 3. Clerks
A. The recording clerks shall record the proceedings of each session, and
shall print and distribute to the churches the minutes of each meeting.
B. The recording clerks shall appoint annually the Registration Committee.
ARTICLE VII—DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS
Section 1. Department directors are as follows:
A. The Association shall elect annually a director of missions, a business
manager of the Loan Association, an editor of the Baptist Progress, and a
president of the Texas Baptist Home for Children.
B. Since Jacksonville College is accredited by the Commission on
Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities, the board
of trustees elected by the Association has the responsibility of electing the
officers of the college.
Section 2. Executive Director
The director of missions shall serve as the executive director of the
Association. His duties shall be the following:
A. To coordinate quarterly meetings of the directors for the purpose of
developing a unified vision, planning and promotion of all departments, with
the goal of building the work of the churches of the Association.
B. To regularly communicate the vision, purposes, and plans of the
departments with the churches through the Baptist Progress, personal visits,
and other means.
C. To assist the officers of the Association in planning the annual meetings
of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
D. To administer the Association Expense Fund and give an annual account
of the income and disbursements.
E. Should the director of missions become unable to perform the duties of
the executive director, the president of the Baptist Missionary Association of
Texas shall fill this position until the director of missions is able to resume
these responsibilities or a successor is elected.
ARTICLE VIII—FUNDS
Section 1. The BMA of Texas Departments are funded by voluntary
contributions according to the needs and appeal of the departments. Funds
from property income by sale of property or donation will be dispersed by
the association or its designated department trustees.
Section 2. The Association or its Executive Committee shall authorize
all distribution of funds according to the expressed preference of the donor,
provided such preference does not violate this Constitution. Undesignated
contributions shall be divided to each department according to the percent
of need from the churches.
Section 3. The Association will receive annually a United Thanksgiving
Offering to be divided among the departments as directed by the Administrative
Committee.
Section 4. An Association Expense Fund shall provide for any expense
not directly related to a specific department. This fund shall also provide for
the following:
A. The expenses of the Nominating Committee, the Administrative
Committee, and other committees that shall be appointed or elected by the
Association for specific purposes.
B. The cost of printing the minutes of the Association and the salaries
for the clerks.
C. The liability of the Association for the cost of facilities to be used in an
annual meeting and shall not exceed a total of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00).
D. Any other expense that may accrue to the Baptist Missionary Association
of Texas.
E. The Administrative Committee shall present a budget for the Association
Expense Fund. Revenue for this budget shall be derived through designated
offerings.
F. In the event the Association Expense Fund is insufficient to meet the
expenses incurred, the balance needed shall be paid by equally assessing
each department of the Association.
ARTICLE IX—BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Association shall establish any other boards or committees
that are necessary to carrying out its objectives
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall carry out the objectives of
the Association between annual meetings.
A. Each church may choose one member to represent her on the Executive
Committee. If the representative of a church ceases to qualify during the year,
the church may certify another representative to the Executive Committee.
B. The officers of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas shall be
members and officers of the Executive Committee.
C. The Executive Committee shall (1) approve or disapprove the
recommendation of a trustee body concerning the filling of a department
director vacancy; (2) approve or disapprove any major changes in the budget
of a department; (3) fill vacancies on any trustee board; (4) care for other
associational business that occurs between annual meetings and create any
committees necessary to accomplish its objectives.
D. The directors of the five departments of the Association shall serve
as trustees to act in behalf of the Executive Committee. Any three of the
department directors may sign necessary legal documents in the name of the
Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
E. The Executive Committee shall meet subject to the call of the chair.
F. The Executive Committee shall report to the churches by means of the
Baptist Progress, and its report shall be printed with the minutes of the Association.
Section 3. Administrative Committee.
A. A standing committee composed of the president, first vice-president,
and second vice-president of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas,
nine members elected from the floor, the director of each department, and one
trustee from each department shall serve as an Administrative Committee.
Administrative Committee members elected from the floor may not be a
member of any other standing committee.
B. Members elected from the floor will serve for a three (3) year term with
the elections staggered so the terms of three (3) members expire each year.
These members may be re-elected once, not to exceed six consecutive years.
C. This committee shall (1) serve in an advisory capacity to the department
directors; (2) coordinate the work of the department directors in areas of
dual responsibility and endeavor; (3) plan and participate in the program of
the regular and special sessions of the Association; (4) plan, promote, and
publicize the goals and ministries of the Association; (5) present annually
recommendations of salary and benefits for the Association elected directors
of each department; (6) present nominees to the association to serve on the
Nominating Committee. The director of each department of the Association
shall receive a salary longevity raise of $100.00 per year for each year of
service, counting from the first year and paid after the third year of service.
The recommendations for salary and benefits shall be presented to the various
trustee boards no later than six (6) weeks before the Association convenes.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee recommends personnel to serve
on boards and standing committees designated by the Association.
A. The Nominating Committee is a standing committee of five (5) members
nominated by the Administrative Committee with additional nominations being
allowed from the floor. Each member will serve a three (3) year term elected
on a staggered basis. Members serve a maximum of two terms in succession.
B. The Nominating Committee shall meet at least twice during the year.
The first meeting will be called by the president of the Association no later
than March 1 to organize the committee and to collect and process names,
including those suggested by the department directors and the churches. A
list of prospective nominees shall be sent to the directors of the appropriate
departments for review by May 1.
C. The department directors shall have until July 1 to respond to the
nominating committee. The completed list of nominees shall be sent to the
editor of Baptist Progress no later than September 1.
Section 5. The Boards of Trustees
The boards of trustees shall direct the work of each department of the
Association according to the will of the churches. The Association, in annual
meeting, shall elect members to the boards of trustees and committees
according to the individual constitutions and by-laws.
Section 6. Regulations of Boards and Committees
A. A person may be a member of only one standing committee or board
at a time. A person may be elected on a staggered basis for one four year
term, with re-election for one four year term, not to exceed a total of eight
consecutive years with the exclusion of the Administrative Committee, (See
Section 3, Letter B), and the Nominating Committee (See Section 4, Letter A).
B. The clerk of each committee or board shall furnish to the recording
clerks within thirty days of the close of each annual associational meeting
the name, address, phone number, and status (layperson or pastor) of each
member of their committee. The chairman and clerk of each committee shall
be identified. The recording clerks shall include this information in each
annual minute book.
C. Any member of a board or committee who misses two consecutive
meetings of that board or committee, without a valid reason, will be replaced
at the next meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.
ARTICLE X—MEETINGS
Section 1. The Association shall meet annually in the area of Dallas,
Tyler, Waco, and Lufkin, in that rotating order.
Section 2. The Executive Committee may call a special meeting of the
Association when necessary.
Section 3. The officers of the Association seek the cooperation of the
pastors of the local association(s) where the meeting is held.
ARTICLE XI—REPORTS AND AUDITS
Section 1. Each department, committee, and organization of the
Association shall make an annual report in written form and provide copies
for the messengers at each annual meeting.
Section 2. A certified public accountant shall audit annually the
records of each department. This audit shall be printed in the minutes of the
Association.
Section 3. Committees and organizations of the Association that handle
funds shall submit a financial statement in standard accounting form to be
printed in the minutes.
ARTICLE XII—SUPERSESSION
This Constitution shall supersede the constitution or by-laws of any
department, agency, or organization in the Association, except where charter
requirements intervene.
ARTICLE XIII—AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be presented
in printed form to the messenger body. The proposed amendment will be
discussed at that time and voted on without discussion in the subsequent
session. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required for the amendment to
pass.
Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Doctrinal Statement must be
presented in printed form to the messenger body. The proposed amendment
will be discussed at that time and voted on without discussion in the subsequent
session. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required for the amendment to
pass.
