Constitution and By-Laws
The name of this Association
shall be Heidelberg Reformation
Association.
This
name represents the Reformed heritage of many churches that held to the
doctrines contained in the Heidelberg Catechism.
Article 2:
Purposes of this Association
The
purpose of this Association is to assist Reformed churches of the Heidelberg
tradition to rediscover, preserve and celebrate their Reformed convictions and
heritage through mutual fellowship, worship, prayer, work, counsel, and
teaching.
Article 3: The
Standards of the Association
A. The Scriptures (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) are the only ultimate and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. All other confessions and doctrinal statements are subordinate, fallible when deviating from scripture, and amendable.
B. Doctrinal Standards: Members of this Association shall be in
agreement with the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort.
C. It is the intention of this Association to
honor male headship in the church and home among our other goals and aims, but
we acknowledge that in reclaiming the Reformed faith we are all a work in
progress.
Article 4: Members
A.
Member churches are those churches which have been approved by a vote at a
regular meeting of the Association. They
must annually state their agreement with and support of the standards and
purposes of this Association. Each member church may send their pastor and two other
delegates to the meetings of the Association.
Voting privileges are only granted once a meeting has been
attended. Membership in this Association
does not preclude membership in other associations or denominations. Membership is voluntary and can be withdrawn
at the request of the church.
B.
Member ministers are those men who have been called to the ministry of the
gospel who have been approved by a vote at a regular meeting of the
Association. They must annually state
their agreement with and support of the standards and purposes of this
Association. Voting privileges are only granted once a meeting has
been attended. Member ministers are not
required to be pastors of a member church.
They are also seated as delegates at meetings. Membership in this Association does not
preclude membership in other associations or denominations, nor does it provide
such men with ministerial credentials. Membership
is voluntary and can be withdrawn at the request of the minister.
C.
Individual Members are those individuals who have been approved by a vote at a
regular meeting of the Association. They
must annually state their agreement with and support of the standards and
purposes of this Association. Voting privileges are only granted
once a meeting has been attended.
Individual members are also seated as delegates at meetings. Membership in this Association does not
preclude membership in other associations or denominations. Membership is voluntary and can be withdrawn
at the request of the member.
D.
Those churches, ministers, or individuals who are in agreement with and support
the standards and purposes of this Association but are not able to attend a
stated meeting may become subscribing members by having a member in full
standing sponsor them. Such membership
will be voted on those seated delegates at the next stated meeting. Subscribing members have all of the rights
and responsibilities of membership but are without voting privileges and can
not hold office until they have attended a stated meeting of the
Association. Subscribing members must
also annually restate their commitment to the Association’s purposes and
standards.
E.
Member churches or ministers no longer in agreement with the doctrinal
standards of this Association may be removed from membership by a vote at any
stated meeting.
F. The Association recognizes that churches are in various
states of reformation. Therefore, those churches and individuals who are not in
full agreement with the Standards of this Association as stated in Article 3,
but are interested in reformation in their churches are invited to regular
participation in our meetings and events but without the rights of a voting
delegate.
Article 5: Meetings
A. This Association will hold at least one
meeting annually for the purposes of worship and business.
B. New members can be received at any
constituted meeting by a vote of the seated delegates. Those churches and members must be in
compliance with the standards set forth in Article 4.
C.
Meetings will consist of prayer, corporate worship, and discussion of business
during which will take place the reception of new members.
D. This Association may meet more than once
during the course of the year for the purposes of business or worship.
Article 6: The Mission of
this Association
A.
The mission of this Association is the retention and reclamation of Reformed
theology in churches of Heidelberg tradition.
These aims shall be accomplished through mutual fellowship, worship,
prayer, work, counsel, and teaching.
B.
Mutual Fellowship
1.
Gathering together for fellowship with other churches to encourage and
celebrate as the occasion arises.
2.
Promoting fellowship with other Reformed churches and pastors in our geographic
proximity.
C. Worship
1.
Gathering together for worship as a body.
2.
Participating in each others’ regular worship services as time and occasion
permit.
D.
Prayer
1.
Circulating prayer requests via newsletters, phone calls, e-mail, and internet
posts.
2.
Holding times of prayer at meetings of this Association.
E.
Work
1.
Planning of events, trips, seminars, and other opportunities.
2.
Assisting in the planting and reclaiming churches.
F.
Counsel
1. Offering of advice and counsel to those
churches seeking to regain their Reformed heritage
2. Offering of advice and counsel to those
churches who are undergoing struggles, disunity, strife, or dispute.
3.
Offering of advice and counsel to churches seeking a new pastor.
4.
Acting as a source of men for ordination counsels.
G.
Teaching
1.
Offering seminars and workshops to those churches who were once Reformed in doctrine and are now interested in reclaiming
their heritage.
2.
Offering and promoting of seminars, workshops, lectures and conferences that
will assist in the retention and promotion of Reformed theology.
3.
Providing opportunities and resources for the education of pastors, church
officers, and men studying for the ministry.
4.
Creating and gathering of publications and other media that can be used for the
furtherance of the objects of this Association.
Article 7: Revisions and
Amendments
A.
The constitution may be amended, including any by-laws, by a two-thirds
majority vote of those delegates present at a stated meeting of the
Association. However, votes maybe taken
on an amendment or revision by other means at the discretion of the Executive
Committee provided that those means have been made clear at the time of
circulation of the amendment. If a vote is
held at a stated meeting, none may vote by any other means or by proxy.
B.
Proposed amendments must be circulated to the membership one month before the
vote will take place. Proposed amendments must be advanced for consideration to
the Executive Committee by a member church, or by a minimum of three eligible
members of the association in order to be considered by the Association. The Executive Committee is responsible for
circulating the proposed amendments that have been properly advanced. The Executive Committee itself may also
advance an amendment for consideration.
BY LAWS OF THE HEIDELBERG REFORMATION ASSOCIATION
Article 1: Meetings
A. The Annual Meeting and Conference shall be held yearly at a
date and location agreed upon at the previous annual meeting. The host church/pastor is responsible for all
of the physical arrangements including meals and accommodations.
B.
At the Annual Meeting, a moderator and recording secretary shall be chosen to
preside.
C.
Any officer elections will be held at the Annual Meeting.
D.
Other meetings for the purpose of business or fellowship may be held at the
call of the Executive Committee with one (1) months advance notice.
E. The Treasurer shall report on the budget for the
previous year at each annual meeting.
Article
2. Officers
A. The Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee shall consist of three (3) men in good standing with the Association
voted on at an Annual Meeting. The term
of office shall be three (3) years. The
Executive Committee is responsible for planning of meetings, oversight of
projects, and the approval of expenditures.
B. Coordinating
Secretary. The Coordinating
Secretary shall be a member of the Executive Committee. He oversees the day to day operations of the
Association. This includes maintaining
communications including website, newsletter content, and inquiries; as well as
making sure that timetables are met. The
Coordinating Secretary is voted on by the membership of the Association. The term of office shall be three (3) years.
C. Treasurer. The treasurer is not a member of the
Executive Committee but is reports to the Executive Committee. The term of office is three (3) years. The treasurer may be any member of the
Association or any member of a member church in good standing.
D. Nominations. Nominations shall be solicited from the
membership at three (3) months prior to the Annual Meeting, and shall be made
public upon review for standing. Serious
consideration shall be given to the personal qualifications and spiritual
perception of all whose names are submitted for nomination for office.