Constitution

I. Name – Atlantic Independent Baptist Fellowship [the Fellowship or AIBF]

II. Purpose

A. To labor together in starting Independent Fundamental Baptist churches, especially in the Mid-Atlantic area.

B. To promote evangelism and world missions.

C. To promote fellowship among Independent Fundamental Baptist pastors who desire to maintain an ecclesiastically separatist Baptist position.

III. Fellowship Meetings

A. Fellowship meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month.

B. Fellowship business meetings shall be held monthly at each Fellowship meeting.

IV. Membership

A. The AIBF is a fellowship of pastors; there is no official membership. Like-minded pastors are welcome to attend and host Fellowship meetings. The AIBF has no authority over any local church or pastor.

B. Within the AIBF there is a group of participating pastors. A participating pastor is one who:

1. Attends Fellowship meetings.

2. Pastors a church that contributes regularly to the New Church Fund.

3. Subscribes to this constitution.

V. Fellowship Officers

A. Elected Officers and Their Responsibilities

1. President

a. He shall follow and enforce this constitution.

b. He shall preside over business meetings.

c. He shall receive all requests from pastors who desire to host a Fellowship meeting.

d. He shall schedule monthly meetings with host pastors.

e. He shall work with host pastors in selecting speakers.

f. He shall notify all pastors by first-class mail of the scheduled Fellowship meetings.

2. Vice President

a. He shall preside over all business meetings in the president’s absence.

b. He shall preside over the New Church Fund Council.

c. He shall be the liaison for the AIBF with applying pastors, sponsoring pastors, and supported pastors.

3. Secretary

a. He shall keep minutes of all business meetings.

b. He shall provide copies of minutes for elected officers.

c. He shall keep the official copy of the AIBF constitution and all amendments.

d. He shall assist the president in making sure this constitution is followed.

e. He shall pass all Fellowship records along to any newly-elected secretary.

4. Treasurer

a. He shall keep an accurate record of all finances of the Fellowship.

b. He shall present a financial report at each Fellowship meeting, providing copies for all pastors in attendance.

c. He shall deposit all contributions into the Fellowship account.

d. He shall disburse funds under the direction of the Fellowship.

e. He shall ensure that the Fellowship meets federal and state law requirements with regard to finances.

f. He shall pass all financial records along to any newly-elected treasurer.

5. Councilmen (3) These three men along with the other elected officers make up the New Church Fund Council.

B. Qualifications

1. All officers shall be participating pastors.

2. All officers shall accept and agree to this constitution.

C. Length of Term of Office

1. Officers are elected annually, with the exception of councilmen who are in the second and third year of their term.

2. Both president and vice president can be elected for two consecutive one-year terms. After two consecutive one-year terms in the same office, they may be elected to another office, or they must wait one year before serving again in that same office.

3. The secretary and treasurer may be the same person.

4. The treasurer can be re-elected to unlimited succeeding terms.

5. The councilmen shall be elected for three-year terms. One councilman shall be replaced each year.

D. Elections

1. All elected officers shall serve as the nominating committee and make the official nominations to the Fellowship.

2. The election of officers shall be held during the April Fellowship business meeting.

3. The majority vote of participating pastors received before or during the April business meeting shall decide the election.

VI. Unexpired Terms of Office

1. If an officer is unable to fulfill his time in office, his unexpired time shall be filled by another participating pastor.

2. Appointment to the vacated office shall be made by the remaining officers and ratified by the participating pastors in a business meeting.

VII. New Church Fund Council

A. Members

1. The officers and councilmen make up the New Church Fund Council.

2. The vice president is chairman of this council.

B. Definitions

1. Applying Pastor – A pastor who is seeking financial support from the Fellowship.

2. Sponsoring Pastor – A participating pastor who recommends an applying pastor to the Fellowship for financial support. The sponsoring pastor must subscribe to this constitution.

3. Supported Pastor – A pastor who has been approved by the Fellowship and is receiving financial support.

C. Responsibility

1. To receive and review applications from applying pastors.

2. To establish guidelines and procedures for the applying pastor, supported pastor, and sponsoring pastor.

3. To investigate all applicants on behalf of the Fellowship. As a minimum, they shall verify the following concerning an applying pastor:

a. He meets the Biblical qualifications for an ordained minister.

b. He has his personal finances in good order and has had a good financial testimony in the past.

c. He has demonstrated a consistent walk with the Lord.

d. He has been recommended by his sponsoring pastor without reservation.

e. He subscribes to this constitution.

4. To recommend to the Fellowship eligible applying pastors who are:

a. Establishing new Independent Fundamental Baptist churches.

b. Pastoring established Independent Fundamental Baptist churches which need temporary financial assistance for restarting or getting through a difficult or unique short-term circumstance.

D. Recommendations - All recommendations for financial support to be presented to the Fellowship must be approved by a majority vote of the New Church Fund Council.

VIII. Voting Rights

A. Only participating pastors have voting rights.

B. One vote permitted per participating pastor per church.

C. If a participating pastor is unable to attend a business meeting in which a vote will be taken, he may submit an absentee vote. Eligible absentee votes must be in writing and received by the secretary before the business meeting.

IX. Doctrinal Statement - Articles of Faith as generally accepted by Independent Fundamental Baptist Churches.

X. Amendment - This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the participating pastors present at any business meeting, provided that the proposed change has been fully discussed in a previous business meeting, and provided that all pastors have been notified by mail at least two weeks before the vote on the proposed change.