Constitution of The West Central Baptist Association
Article I - NAME
The name of this body is the West Central Baptist Association of Indiana, Inc.
P.O. Box 11375 Terre Haute, Indiana 47801
Article II - PURPOSE
The purpose of this association is to help the Churches understand and become all
that God wants them to be; to cooperate with the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana and the Southern Baptist Convention; to advance Christ's kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel; to encourage mission education and evangelism; and to promote fellowship and cooperation among the Churches.
Article III – DOCTRINE
The West Central Baptist Association adopts as its own expression of faith The
Baptist Faith and Message, as adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000.
Article IV - MEMBERSHIP & REPRESENTATION
Section I: The membership of the Association shall be the messengers chosen by the Churches and Missions to represent them.
Section II: Pastors of Churches and Missions of our Association shall be messengers.
Section III: In addition to the pastors, each Church is to be represented by an annual letter and is allowed four (4) messengers for the first fifty (50) members; and for each additional fifty (50) members is allowed one additional messenger. No Church shall have more than ten (10) messengers.
Section IV: In addition to the pastor, each Mission shall be allowed two (2) messengers. Messengers of a Mission (church plant) shall be recognized even when the sponsoring SBC church is not a West Central Baptist Association Church.
Section V: Each member Church and Mission shall present an Annual Church Profile (ACP) prior to the Annual Associational Meeting.
Article V – MEETINGS
Section I: Annual Meetings: This Association shall meet annually at such time and place as agreed upon by the Association.
Section II: Quarterly Meetings: The Association shall meet on a quarterly basis to report and celebrate the ministry of the West Central Baptist Association.
Section III: Emergency meetings shall be referred to the Administrative Team.
Article VI: - AUTHORITY
This Association shall recognize the autonomy of the Churches and shall not in any
way exercise jurisdiction over them, yet may refuse recognition of messengers from Churches it does not consider in friendly cooperation or sympathetic with the purpose and work of the Association.
Article VII: - NEW CHURCHES
Section I: A Church may be submitted to the Administrative Team by the Credentials Committee for provisional acceptance at any time during the year pending final approval at the Annual Associational Meeting. Request must be presented in writing to the Credentials
Committee not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Associational Meeting.
Section II: In the case of any Church who wishes to affiliate with this Association, care should be taken that the petitioning Church's constitution affirms the items on our application form including the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
Section III: Churches may withdraw from fellowship with the Association by giving written notice.
Section IV: In the rare case where a church does not abide by the same standards for a new church applying for membership, the Credentials Committee may recommend to the Association that said church will be removed from the membership of the cooperating churches.
Article VIII: - ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Section I: The Administrative Team shall consist of the Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Discipleship Coordinator, Missions Coordinator, Chair of Trustees, Chair of
Credentials. This Team shall also serve as the Finance Team.
Section II: The Administrative Team is to consider, investigate, and act upon ministry and business needs entrusted to it by the West Central Baptist Association between quarterly and annual meetings. The Administrative Team led by the Moderator will present ministry reports and recommendations to the Association quarterly and annual meetings.
Article IX: - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to the Constitution may be made at any Annual Associational Meeting
provided the amendment has been presented to the Administrative Team in writing no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Associational Meeting. All amendments are to be mailed to all Churches and Missions prior to the Annual Associational Meeting. Amendments to the Constitution shall be presented in writing at the first session and voted on in the second session of the Annual Associational Meeting. A two thirds (2/3) majority vote is required for approval of any amendment at the Annual Associational Meeting.
Approved 11/1/2020 Tom Savage, Chair David Bright Scott Kallem, Moderator
