Eligibility for membership and procedures for new member applications is as set forth in Article VI of the Constitution of this church.
A. ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP
1.The desire for membership shall be communicated to the Pastor or a member of the leadership Board who shall provide them with a membership application form to be kept on file.
2.New member applicants shall avail themselves of the opportunity to attend a membership class which will be convened for regular sessions over a sufficient period of time to provide valuable information regarding the Doctrine, Covenant and organizational practices of the Evangelical Free Church of America and of the Paradise Evangelical Free Church.
3.The applicant who has taken the class will then be interviewed by two or more members of the board who shall inquire into his or her personal salvation and agreement with the doctrines and covenants of this church. (Applicants who are not able to attend the class may petition the Pastor and board to be exempted from this requirement. Reasons for petitioning for an exemption must be clearly stated in the written request. Applicants who do not attend the membership class will be interviewed by the Pastor, and afterward by two or more members of the board.) If the applicant is judged to be eligible for membership the interviewing members shall make recommendation to the Board for approval. If the Board approves, the names of the candidates shall be posted in the bulletin and or on the bulletin board for two successive weeks indicating the intent of receiving them into membership. A Congregational Meeting shall be held on the third Sunday to vote on their admission to membership. Successful candidates shall be received into membership in a public meeting on the following Sunday.
B. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP:
1.Regular Membership: Described in Article VI of the Constitution and incorporated herein by reference.
2.Pastoral Staff: The membership of all members of the Pastoral staff, and their wives, shall become effective upon their installation.
3. Underage Members: A member of the church shall be at least seventeen years of age to have voting privileges.
4. Non-resident Inactive Membership: If a member moves from this community and desires to maintain their membership in the Paradise Evangelical Free Church, they shall be placed on the inactive membership list and shall not have the privilege to vote nor be counted for statistical purposes.
C. REVIEW OF MEMBERSHIP: Any member who, for a period of three months
or more, has consistently been absent from services without cause, and has not
responded to contacts or attempted contacts by letter of inquiry shall be subject to
a review of their membership for appropriate action.
D. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP: The Leadership Board at its discretion,
remove names from membership for any of the following reasons:
1. Death
2. Resignation
3. Absent without cause as stated in Article 1-C.
4. Joining another church.
5. Conducting himself or herself in a manner set in harmony with scriptural principles, and for which he, or she, does not show evidence of repentance. The method prescribed in Matthew 18: 15-17, I Cor. 5:9-13, and Gal. 6:1 shall be used in dealing with a member.
6. A member wishing to withdraw from this church to unite with another Evangelical Free Church may be granted a letter of introduction authorized by the Leadership Board.
ARTICLE II – LEADERSHIP BOARD
There shall be a Leadership Board of the church with its composition, duties and responsibilities described in the following sections:
A. QUALIFICATIONS;
1. All candidates for official position in the church shall be expected to live in conformity to the standards set forth in Article IV of the Constitution (A Covenant on Conduct).
2. In conformity with paragraph one (1) of this Article it is required that all candidates for office be individuals of established Christian character and good reputation, well qualified for their official duties, and shall be members in good standing of this church.
B. COMPOSITION: The Leadership Board shall be composed of the elected members, the Pastor, Head Deaconess and a representative of the FCWM of the Paradise Evangelical Free Church. Regardless of the nature of their function, each member shall share equal responsibility when meeting as members of the Leadership Board.
ARTICLE II – LEADERSHIP BOARD (Continued)
C. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. The Leadership Board shall oversee the activities of the church for its benefit, and in so doing shall ensure that the responsibilities of its members are properly carried out.
2. Make appointments, including the Head Deaconess, members and leader of the Nominating Committee, and members of the Pastoral Search Committee.
3. Approve members for the Standing Committees as recommended by the committee leader.
4. Act upon recommendations of church committees.
5. Make recommendations to the membership at business meetings of the church.
6. Ensure that decisions made at church business meetings and actions decided by the Leadership Board are executed.
7. Consider and act upon routine and emergency matters that arise between congregational business meetings.
8. Require presentation and review of committee activity reports at meetings of the Leadership Board.
9. Encourage and counsel fellow Leadership Board members in the performance of their duties and in working on the Leadership Board as a whole.
