Sunridge Community Church

By-Laws

BYLAWS OF
SUNRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH
(A California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation)

ARTICLE I
NAME

  1. 01 The name of the organization is Sunridge Community Church (a registered dba for the California corporation Sunridge Community Church of Temecula, California) (hereinafter the “Corporation” or the “Church”).

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

  1. 01 The purposes of the Corporation shall be those set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE III
MISSION & VISION

  1. 01 Misson. Helping People Find and Follow Jesus—that is, to fulfill the mission of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10) by making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
  1. 02 Vision. Deepen faith. Bring hope. Live love.

ARTICLE IV
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

  1. 01 We believe the Bible is inspired by God and is both trustworthy and authoritative. We believe it is our responsibility to study the entire Bible and submit to all its teachings. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  1. 02 We believe in one eternal, infinite and unchanging God who reveals Himself to us in three Persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19)
  1. 03 We believe Jesus Christ is both 100% God and 100% human. We believe He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross for the sins of all people, rose from the dead physically and ascended into heaven. We believe that one day He will return to earth and reign over it. (Matthew 1:23; John 8:58; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 3:18; Revelation 11:15)
  1. 04 We believe all people were created in the image of God but have a sinful nature, resulting in disobedience to God’s commands and guidelines. We believe all of us deserve eternal separation from God and none of us is able to save ourselves from this fate through our own efforts. (Genesis 1:27; Romans 3:10-12, 23,6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 8-9)
  1. 05 We believe we can be rescued from death and given the gift of an eternal relationship with God only by believing in Jesus Christ-that is, by trusting in His death as full payment for all our sins and in His resurrection as proof that He is the Lord of all. Eternal life is a free and irrevocable gift. (John 3:16; Romans 8:29-30; 10:9; Ephesians 2:1-3,8-9)
  1. 06 We believe all Christians are baptized and indwelt with the Holy Spirit at the moment they believe in Christ, and that they are empowered, guided and instructed by the Spirit as they yield their lives to Him. (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18)
  1. 07 We believe Jesus instituted baptism as the means of publicly professing faith in Him, and that, although baptism has no power to save, it is the first step of obedience expected of all believers in Christ. We believe Jesus instituted the practice of communion (or the Lord’s Supper) to help us vividly remember His death for us, and the Church should participate in this memorial regularly. (Matthew 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; 16:30-33; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
  1. 08 We believe that followers of Jesus are called to a life of Spirit-empowered obedience, and when we disobey, we will experience God’s loving discipline (which may be carried out through the Church). We also believe that God gives all Christians spiritual gifts as He wills, which are to be used to help others in the Church grow as well as to be able to reach the world through evangelism and discipleship. (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11, 18; Galatians 5:16-25; Hebrews 12:7-11)
  1. 09 We believe the Church is Christ’s “body” in today’s world and it is composed of all true Christians. Each local church is to be shepherded by Jesus Himself through a group of spiritually qualified Elders. We believe every Christian is called to become involved in a local church. (John 10:11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 5:4)
  1. 10 We believe both heaven and hell are real, and every person will spend eternity either in joyful fellowship with God or separation from Him, based on their response to Christ. (Luke 12:5; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 3:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; 1 Peter 1:4)

ARTICLE V
BOARD OF ELDERS

  1. 01 General Powers. The affairs of the Corporation shall be exercised under the direction of the Sunridge Elder Board (the “Board”).
    1. Subject to applicable law and in accordance with the purposes and limitations set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and herein, the activities and affairs of the Corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board.
    2. The Board may delegate the management of the Corporation’s activities to any person or persons, management company, or committee however composed, provided that the activities and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board.
  1. 02 Composition & Role. The Board, consisting of Elders and a Lead Pastor, provide spiritual oversight, direction, and leadership for the Church. The Board entrusts the implementation of that direction to staff and ministry leaders, under the leadership of the Lead Pastor. The Lead Pastor is held accountable for fulfilling the Board’s direction. This system of organizational leadership allows the Elders to focus their gifts and time on their biblical mandate to lead and shepherd the Church, while allowing staff and ministry leaders the opportunity to maximize their gifts and talents as they lead their ministries and make practical decisions on how to implement and carry out the direction provided by the Board.
    1. The head of the Church is Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 2:19)
    2. The expressed will of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Bible; thus it is the Church’s final authority. (John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  1. 03 Meetings. The Board shall meet at least once annually at the principle office of the Corporation. Special Meetings may be called as needed.
  1. 04 Number. The Corporation shall have no less than four (4) nor more than six (6) Elders on the Board; provided that the minimum number or maximum number, or both, may be increased or decreased from time to time by resolution of the Board, but such action by the Board shall require a vote of a majority of the Board. No decrease shall shorten the term of any Elder then in office. The exact number of Elders shall be fixed, within the limits set forth in this Section, by resolution of the Board.
  1. 05 Quorum. A majority of the Elders of the Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board; if less than a quorum is present at said meeting, those Elders present shall not vote on any matter that requires a vote of the Board.
  1. 06 Qualifications of Elders (Including Lead Pastor).
    1. An Elder must meet, at a minimum, the biblical character qualifications for an Elder as found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
    2. An Elder must fully agree and support the Mission and Vision as set forth in Article III of these Bylaws and the Doctrinal Statement as set forth in Article IV of these Bylaws.
  1. 07 Selection of Elders.
    1. The Board shall solicit potential candidates from the Church body.
    2. Candidates will be reviewed by the Board and those selected shall enter into a process with the current Elders to affirm their qualifications. (Acts 6:2-3)
    3. Candidates that have successfully completed the qualification process will be presented to the Church for input prior to being appointed as an Elder.
    4. Elder candidates are to be approved and appointed by current Elders. (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5)
    5. Elders will be commissioned before the Church body at a time specified by the Board.
  1. 08 Term of Office. An Elder shall serve a term of six years. After a minimum one-year break in service from the board, the Elder may be called on to serve again. In special circumstances, an Elder may be retained beyond the six-year term as deemed necessary by the Board.
  1. 09 Responsibilities of Elders.
    1. The Elders are responsible to ensure the Church is shepherded.
    2. The Elders are responsible to uphold the doctrinal positions of the Church, as set forth in Article IV of these Bylaws.
    3. The Elders are responsible for the discipline of regular attendees of the Church, as defined in Article XI of these Bylaws.
  1. 10 Responsibilities of the Board.
    1. The Board shall oversee the Church using the Bible and Prayer to discern God’s will for the Church. The Board constitutes the highest human authority in the Church. (Acts 16:4; 1 Timothy 5:17; Titus 1:5; Hebrews 13:17)
    2. The Board is responsible for setting the direction of the Church, by encompassing the Vision, Values and Ministry Outcomes.
    3. The Board is responsible to oversee the finances, administration and ministries of the Church.
    4. The Board is responsible for oversight of the lead pastor and completing performance evaluations regularly, at a minimum annually.
    5. The Board holds the Lead Pastor responsible for all decisions concerning the hiring, compensation, and termination of Church employees as stipulated in Section 3 of the Sunridge Employee & Personnel Handbook.
  1. 11 Removal. Any Elder may be removed from the Board at any time with cause by a vote of the majority of the Board. For purposes of this Section 5.11, cause exists if the Elder has been declared of unsound mind by a final order of court, is convicted of a felony, is found by final order or judgment of any court to have breached a duty under Article 3 of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law governing standards of conduct, fails to attend three or more Board meetings during any calendar year (triggers Board review and discussion), or fails or ceases to meet any required qualification that was in effect at the beginning of that Elder’s current term of office (see Section 5.08).
    1. No reduction of the authorized number of Elders shall have the effect by itself of removing any Elder before the expiration of the Elder’s term of office.
  1. 12 Resignation. Any Elder may resign from the Board at any time by giving written notice to the Board. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect at the time of receipt by the Board. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
  1. 13 Compensation. The Corporation shall not pay compensation to Elders for services rendered to the Corporation as Elders, except that Elders may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the Corporation. An Elder may receive reasonable compensation for the performance of services provided to the Corporation in any capacity separate from the Elder’s responsibilities as an Elder when so authorized by a majority of the Elders then in office, and as long as no more than 49% of the Elders are interested persons within the meaning of Section 5227 of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law.

ARTICLE VI
MEMBERS

  1. 01 The Corporation shall have no members, and any act that would require the approval of members shall require only Board approval or authorization. Any and all rights that would vest in the members shall vest in the Board.

ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS

  1. 01 Officers. All officers shall be appointed by the Board from candidates eligible and willing to serve. One person may hold and perform the duties of more than one office, except that the same person may not concurrently hold the offices of President or Board Chair and Secretary, Treasurer, or Chief Financial Officer.
  1. 02 Removal. Any officer appointed by the Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by a vote of a majority of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.
  1. 03 Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving 30 days written notice to the Board. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect at the time of receipt by the Board. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
  1. 04 Compensation. The salaries of the Corporation’s officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board or by such committee to which the Board has delegated such authority. No officer shall be prohibited from receiving compensation because the officer is also an Elder of the Church, as long as such compensation is permitted under Section 5.13 of these Bylaws. The salaries of all officers shall be just and reasonable and given in return for services actually rendered for the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION

  1. 01 Right to Indemnity. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall indemnify each of its present or former Elders, Directors, and Officers against all expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any proceedings or any threatened proceedings arising by reason of the individual’s position with the Corporation; provided that the Board determines that such person was acting in good faith and in a manner she or he believed to be in the best interest of the Corporation. The foregoing does not apply to any proceeding specifically excluded by law, which includes actions brought by or in the right of the Corporation and certain actions alleging self-dealing or breach of any fiduciary duty.
  1. 02 Insurance. The Corporation shall have the right to purchase and maintain insurance to the full extent permitted by law on behalf of its Elders, Officers, Directors, employees, and other agents, against any liability asserted against or incurred by any such individual in such capacity or arising out of the individual’s status as such.

ARTICLE IX
CONFLICT OF INTEREST

  1. 01 Duties. The Corporation expects its elders of the board, directors, officers, trustees, deacons, representatives, volunteers, or other agents acting on behalf of the Corporation (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Representatives”) to conduct business to ultimately achieve the highest ethical standards of conduct, to comply with all applicable laws, and to conform with Biblical principles. Representatives are expected to put the Corporation’s interests ahead of their own personal interests as they carry out their responsibilities on behalf of the Corporation, and they have a duty to recognize, disclose, and avoid conflicts of interest. Representatives are prohibited from using their position with the Corporation for any type of private gain or to obtain benefits for themselves or members of their family.
  1. 02 Conflict Creation. Potential conflict of interest occurs when a Representative’s outside interests (i.e. financial, business, personal, or relational interests) interfere with the Corporation’s interests or the Representative’s work-related duties. For example, a conflict of interest may occur when a Representative is in a position to influence a decision that may result in a personal gain for the Representative or the Representative’s family member as a result of the Corporation’s business dealings. Areas in which conflicts may arise between Representatives and the Corporation, may include, but arenot limited to, the following transactions with third parties:
    1. Transactions involving supplying goods and services to the Corporation;
    2. Transactions involving real estate or property leases to or with the Corporation;
    3. Transactions involving donors or others supporting the organization;
    4. Transactions that pay royalties or monetary awards to Representatives for products or services provided to the Corporation; or
    5. Transactions involving other organizations that affect the operations of the Corporation.
  1. 03 Disclosure. If a Representative becomes aware of any potential conflict of interest or ethical concern regarding the Representative’s position with the Corporation or another Representative’s position with the Corporation, the Representative must promptly disclose such information to the Board.

ARTICLE X
ORDINATION & LICENSING

  1. 01 Ordination. The Board shall have the authority to ordain qualified individuals to serve as Ordained Ministers of the gospel. Ordination shall be conferred by the Board upon the hiring of individuals to serve on staff in the role of pastor, and such ordination shall continue for the duration of the individual’s employment with the Church. Ordination shall be reserved for those serving on staff with the Church. Ordained Ministers shall be recognized as spiritual leaders of the Church and shall have authority to perform all duties and functions customarily associated with the pastoral office, subject to the oversight of the Board and in accordance with the Church’s governing documents and applicable law. Upon termination of the employment relationship, the individual’s ordination shall automatically expire.
  1. 02 Licensing. When local-church certification is required for ministry where ordination would be unnecessary or inappropriate, the Board shall have the authority to license qualified individuals as Licensed Ministers. Licensing may be conferred upon persons who are not employed by the Church, including those outside the membership of the Church, for the purpose of recognizing their calling to Christian ministry. Licensing shall not, in itself, constitute an employment relationship with the Church. Licensing continues as long as the opportunity to minister remains in effect and as long as the person maintains the qualifications for ministry.

ARTICLE XI
REGULAR ATTENDEES

  1. 01 Definition. Those in the Church who choose to put their faith in Jesus are taught to be baptized and share in the Lord’s Supper then encouraged to attend church services regularly.
  1. 02 Expectations. Beyond regular church attendance, attendees are encouraged to participate in Group Life, to exercise their spiritual gifts in the Church, and to share their faith with lost people.
  1. 03 Discipline. Regular attendees of the Church who persist in sinful behavior that is determined to be harmful and/or divisive to the Church are subject to Church discipline according to scripture. Actions may be taken to both protect the Church and restore the fallen member. Actions taken may be up to and/or include public disclosure of an unrepentant heart and removal from the church. All disciplinary actions taken are on a case-by-case basis.

ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION

  1. 01 Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or mor exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state government, for a public purpose.

ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

  1. 01 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin in October and end in September.
  1. 02 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal, if any, shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words “Corporate Seal, Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, California.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced. Failure to affix the seal to corporate instruments shall not affect the validity of such instruments.
  1. 03 Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep at their principal office correct and complete books and records of the activities and transactions of the Corporation, including the minute book, which shall contain a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, a copy of these Bylaws as amended to date, all resolutions of the Board, and all minutes of meetings of the Board and committees thereof.
  1. 04 Annual Returns. The Board shall review and approve the Corporation’s annual filing with the Internal Revenue Service before it is filed.
  1. 05 Electronic Signatures. Wherever a written instrument is required to be executed hereunder, an electronic signature, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall be deemed to be a written signature.

ARTICLE XIV
REFERENCE TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

  1. 01 References in these Bylaws to the Articles of Incorporation shall include all amendments thereto or changes thereof unless specifically expected by these bylaws. In the event of a conflict between the Articles of Incorporation and these bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation shall govern.

ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENTS

01 The Board may adopt, amend, or repeal these Bylaws by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Board.

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