Pastors are to lead the church in preaching, teaching, publicly reading Scripture, prayer, doctrinal matters, vision, and stewardship (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 4:13; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:9; Titus 1:5; Acts 4:32-37). While additional responsibilities may be given to pastors at various times, their primary ministry must be in prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). Scripture clearly lays out the expectation that pastors will devote themselves to training and equipping the church to carry out the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). The pastors are responsible for leading all committees or designating someone to lead them on their behalf.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, Parkside Bible Church is legally required to have a governing board (also known as trustees). Three lay pastors will fulfill this role and will be selected to serve as trustees on an annual basis. In the event that Parkside Bible Church does not have three lay pastors, deacons will be selected by the pastors to fulfill this role.
While there may be a difference between pastors in areas of giftedness, training, experience, or Bible knowledge, all pastors are co-equals. Various pastoral positions may be created, removed, or modified on the basis of the needs of the church and abilities of the pastoral team. The pastoral team will nominate a lead pastor who will be responsible to oversee the regular preaching on Sundays and leadership of the pastors, deacons, and Bethesda Christian Schools. The lead pastor may choose to fulfill those duties himself or delegate them to other pastors. Final affirmation of the lead pastor will be through a congregational vote, as detailed in Article 5, Section 3.
The pastoral team will practice unanimity in decision making. If unanimity is not achieved, decisions will be dropped, postponed, reevaluated, or modified. Unanimity will be defined as, “total agreement by the pastors to support a decision.” This means that at times there may not be total agreement on a decision but a willingness on the part of all the pastors who disagree to submit to and support the decision of the pastoral team. When all pastors are willing to support a decision, unanimity will be achieved.
Lay pastors will work in conjunction with the finance committee to oversee the determination of all employee salaries and benefits. Lay pastors will also appoint a church clerk/treasurer who will be responsible to record the proceedings of the church and keep record of the members of the church. Additionally, this person will work in conjunction with the finance committee to verify offering deposits in the bank, to see that the giving records of individuals are recorded, and to see that a confidential copy is sent to the individual for their use. This position will be appointed on an annual basis.
The statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and inerrant Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of Parkside Bible Church’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, the pastoral team is Parkside Bible Church’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
All pastors will undergo a formal review and assessment from the other pastors on an annual basis.
Section 4: Pastoral Term
Once installed, pastors will serve until retirement, removal, or resignation. The reasons for removal could be failure to meet the qualifications as laid out in Scripture, change in doctrinal position that results in disagreement with the Doctrinal Beliefs, ministry fatigue, or relocation (this list is not exhaustive, but illustrative). Members who have concern about a pastor that may or may not warrant removal should humbly approach that pastor with their concerns. If the pastor does not listen to them, the members should then proceed to the rest of the pastoral team with their concerns that have been observed by numerous members (1 Timothy 5:19; Matthew 18:15-20). A pastor may be removed temporarily or permanently by the unanimous decision of the rest of the pastoral team.
Section 5: Deacon Qualifications
Scripture clearly defines the qualifications for the office of deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Since a deacon’s role is to lead the church in serving, faithful demonstration of active service in the church is a prerequisite for filling that office. Deacons should be a model of Christ who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).
Section 6: Deacon Installation
Deacon nominee(s) will be presented to the church each calendar year, pending the needs of the church. If a pressing need arises, the pastoral team may present a deacon nomineeto the church at any time during the year. The members will then have at least four weeks to pray over and consider whether the deacon(s) being presented meet the Biblical requirements. If a member believes any of the prospective deacon(s) to be unqualified, that member is expected to bring such concern to the pastors, who may on the basis of that concern remove the prospective deacon from consideration. If a member believes the prospective deacon to be qualified, they should also bring such affirmation to the pastors. If the pastoral team remains convinced that God has called the new deacon(s) to ministry at Parkside Bible Church, they will be put before the church for affirmation and installation during a Sunday service.
Section 7: Deacon Duties
The primary role of deacons is to lead the church in serving. Each deacon will be assigned a specific area of service from which they are to lead. They will rally the church to serve for the mission of Jesus Christ within the philosophy and vision of our local church (Acts 6:1-6).
Section 8: Deacon Term
Once installed, deacons will serve a three-year term. Deacons may serve consecutive terms. Deacons may be removed temporarily or permanently by consensus of the pastoral team. The reasons for removal could be failure to meet the qualifications as laid out in Scripture, change in doctrinal position that results in disagreement with the Doctrinal Beliefs, change of ministry needs within the church, ministry fatigue, or relocation (this list is not exhaustive, but illustrative).
Article 7: Committees
As stated in the pastoral duties section, it is the responsibility of the pastors to lead all committees or to designate someone to lead on their behalf. Committee members will be appointed by the pastoral team on an annual basis and announced to the church at the annual meeting, as delineated in Article 7, Section 2.
Section 1: Missions Committee
The missions committee will meet on a regular basis and consist of three or more members as well as one of the pastors (or someone appointed by them) and one of the deacons. Each member will be in complete agreement with the Basic Beliefs, Doctrinal Beliefs, and Parkside Bible Church Distinctives. They are expected to view themselves as a caring and working committee as opposed to an oversight committee. Their primary roles include:
- Building and caring for partnerships with our supported missionaries
- Enhancing congregational awareness of global missions and the needs of our supported missionaries
- Mobilizing the congregation to spread the gospel locally, domestically, and internationally
- Overseeing the stewardship of resources allocated toward missions in conjunction with the pastoral team
Section 2: Finance Committee
The finance committee will meet on a regular basis and consist of three or more members in addition to one of the pastors (or someone appointed by them) and one of the deacons. They are expected to assist the pastors in planning and overseeing the resources entrusted to Parkside Bible Church. Their primary roles include:
- Developing the annual budget
- Managing church investments
- Negotiating insurance policies and rates
- Overseeing benevolence funds and distribution
- Giving input on the sale and/or purchase of property
- Any other duties relating to church finances that may arise
The annual budget will be presented to the members at least four weeks prior to the start of the fiscal year. This must be affirmed by the members through a congregational vote, as detailed in Article 5, Section 3. The meeting in which the budget is presented will serve as the church’s annual meeting. Updates will be provided on a quarterly basis at a meeting of the church.
The potential incurment of debt must also be presented to the members at least four weeks prior to the member affirmation. This affirmation will take place through a congregational vote, as detailed in Article 5, Section 3.
Section 3: Bethesda Christian Schools School Board
The BCS School Board (Board) will oversee the policy and operation of the school. It will be governed by the by-laws of the Board and will maintain a size of 7 to 11 members consisting of at least 1 Pastor of Parkside Bible Church (PBC) or a designee, the Head of Schools of BCS, and 5 to 9 at-large members. The PBC Pastoral team will appoint the Pastor or designee. The Board nominating committee will identify and appoint individuals for at-large vacancies and Board officers to be presented to the Board for approval. The Chairman and a majority of Board members will be members of PBC. The Head of Schools is responsible to the Board for his/her direction, supervision, and evaluation. The Head of Schools is expected to work in close collaboration with the Board and school staff.
Section 4: Additional Committees
As other needs present themselves, the pastoral team may assemble and/or disassemble additional committees as they deem appropriate.
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