Constitution of The Cross Church Pensacola, FL
Adopted by the membership on September 9, 2021.
Last edited and updated by congregational vote on November 5, 2023.
Preamble
In what started as a small gathering of believers, who gathered weekly to pray for the advancement of the gospel and growth of healthy churches in Pensacola, it pleased Christ, by His Holy Spirit, to call these Christians to begin gathering as a church in 2008.
Whereas Jesus has sustained and prospered this church for over ten years, we, the members of the Cross Church, as the Spirit has illuminated the Scriptures regarding Christ’s will for his church, have recognized the need to reconstitute ourselves to conform more closely to his revealed will for the local body.
Now therefore we, the members of the Cross Church, adopt this Constitution as our articles of governance, to be interpreted at all times to reflect the character of and bring glory to Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Holy Bible and articulated in the standards set forth in the church’s Statement of Faith and Church Covenant, (original 2009, revised, 2016) and most recently revised and adopted by the church in 2020.
Article 1 – Name
The legal name of this church is: The Cross Pensacola Inc. This church is commonly referred to as The Cross Church.
Article 2 – Purpose
The Cross Church exists for the purpose of making disciples who enjoy Jesus together. This church glorifies God by loving Him and obeying His commands through the following: worshipping Him individually and corporately; proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, personal evangelism, and any other means consistent with the teachings of Holy Scripture; equipping the saints for ministry through Bible instruction and study; encouraging, supporting, and participating in the Great Commission of Christ both locally and globally; administering the ordinances of baptism and communion; encouraging Biblical fellowship among believers; serving other individuals, families, and churches by providing for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, in the name of Jesus Christ; equipping men and women to fulfill their God-ordained roles in marriage, family, singleness; helping believers grow in holiness and obedience to the Lord; training up future pastors, missionaries, and leaders; praying toward these stated ends together and alone for God’s glory & the churches good.
Article 3 – Articles of Faith
The New Hampshire Confession of Faith of 1833, with additional articles as noted in the church’s Statement of Faith/Doctrinal Statement, shall be our primary statement. Teachers must teach in accordance with and not contrary to the New Hampshire Confession of Faith of 1833. All members sincerely agree to learn from everything taught in this confession, not to teach against it, and not to cause any division over anything in it. Ordained Pastors/elders must teach in accordance with and not contrary to the London Baptist Confession of Faith (LBC) 1689 (not deviating from the doctrinal intent of the confession).
Article 4 – Membership
Section 1 – Qualifications
To qualify for membership in this church, a person must be a professing believer in Jesus Christ who gives evidence of regeneration and has a biblical testimony of conversion, who has been baptized by immersion, in obedience to Christ, following his or her regeneration, and who wholeheartedly believes in the Christian faith as revealed in the Bible. Each member must agree to submit to the teaching of Scripture as expressed in the Statement of Faith and must promise to keep the commitments expressed in the Church Covenant. The elders shall be responsible for determining each person’s qualification for membership. In making this determination, they may rely on a person’s profession of faith, or such other evidence, as the elders deem appropriate, but always according to Scripture.
Regarding the membership of adolescents, those who are age 15 and younger who give a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ shall enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of membership with these exceptions: (1) They shall not have voting privileges in business meetings; and (2) They shall not contribute to quorum. Those responsibilities shall be assumed when the candidate reaches age 16. Only adults (age 18 and over) shall be eligible for formal positions of leadership.
Section 2 – Admission of Members
To be admitted into church membership, applicants shall be ordinarily, but not necessarily, recommended by the elders for admission and must be accepted by vote of 80 percent of the members at any regular or special meeting of the members, and shall at that point relinquish their membership in other churches.
Section 3 – Duties and Privileges of Membership
In accord with the duties enumerated in the Church Covenant, each member shall be privileged and expected to participate in and contribute to the ministry and life of the church, consistent with God’s leading and with the gifts, time, and material resources each has received from God. Only covenant members are entitled to serve or lead in the ministries of the church in an official capacity; however, non-members may serve in some measure with the approval of the elders. Notwithstanding, non-members may serve the church for purposes of administration and professional consultation. Under Christ this congregation is governed by its members. Therefore, it is the privilege and responsibility of members to attend members’ meetings and vote on the election of officers, matters concerning membership, major budget and financial decisions, and on such other matters as are submitted to a vote.
Section 4 – Children and Youth Ministries and Nursery Policies
The church’s official ministry to children and youth, including but not limited to nursery, catechism, and off-campus events, shall be carried out in accordance with The Cross Church Child Care Policies and Procedures and The Cross Church Child Abuse and Prevention Policy. These polices shall contain detailed protocols for how children’s ministries must function. These policies must be approved by the elders and be accessible to all members of the church. Any member shall at any time be able to view these policies. The Nursery Ministry Director, or elder-approved assistants, are responsible for distributing these policies to families who use the church’s children’s ministries.
Section 5 – On Church Discipline
Any member consistently neglectful of his or her duties or living in unrepentant sin, and as a result is hindering the church’s health and testimony and/or is rendering doubtful a true knowledge of Christ, shall be subject to the admonition of the elders and the discipline of the church, according to the instructions of our Lord in Matthew 18: 15–17 and the example of Scripture. Church discipline, then, should be ordinarily administered after private, individual, and small-group admonition has failed. Any member who has not attended an official meeting of the church for six months or more, and has not communicated with the elders, even after private attempts at communication have taken place, shall be eligible for removal from membership in accordance with Matthew 18:15-17.
Church discipline can include private and public admonition by the elders or congregation, removal from office, and excommunication (see Matthew 18: 15–17; 1 Timothy 5: 19–20; 1 Corinthians 5: 4–5). The purposes of such discipline are the following:
for the repentance, reconciliation, and spiritual growth of the individual disciplined (see Proverbs 15:5; 29:15; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Timothy 3:4–5; Hebrews 12:1–11; Psalm 119:115; 141:5; Proverbs 17:10; 25:12; 27:5; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Matthew 7:26–27; 18:15–17; Luke 17:3; Acts 2:40; 1 Corinthians 5:5; Galatians 6:1–5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14–15; I Timothy 1:20; Titus 1:13–14; James 1:22);
for the instruction in righteousness and good of other Christians, as an example to them (see Proverbs 13:20; Romans 15:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 15:33; Colossians 3:16; 2 Thessalonians 5:14 [note this is written to the whole church, not just to leaders]; 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:11; Hebrews 10: 24–25);
for the purity of the church as a whole (see 1 Corinthians 5:6–7; 2 Corinthians 13:10; Ephesians 5:27; 2 John 10; Jude 24; Revelation 21:2);
for the good of our corporate witness to non–Christians (see Proverbs 28:7; Matthew 5: 13–16; John 13:35; Acts 5:1–14; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Peter 2:2; 1 John 3: 10);
for the glory of God, supremely, by reflecting His holy character (see Deuteronomy 5:11; 1 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Ezra 6:21; Nehemiah 9:2; Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 36: 20; Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; 18:17, 25; Romans 2:24; 15: 5–6; 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1; Ephesians 1:4; 5:27; 1 Peter 2:12).
Section 6 – Termination of Membership
The church shall recognize the termination of a person’s membership for the following reasons:
following his or her death,
following his or her self-professed apostasy or infidelity, as confirmed by congregational vote,
after he or she has, in good-standing, voluntarily resigned or joined with another church,
following the full process of church discipline (ordinarily, but not necessarily, at the recommendation of the elders) upon the vote of at least two-thirds of the members present at any regular or special meeting of the members.
The church shall have authority to refuse a member’s voluntary resignation or transfer of membership to another church, either for the purpose of proceeding with a process of church discipline, or for any other biblical reason. Any member in good standing who wishes to leave the church for reasons other than relocation must notify the pastors once he or she has joined a new church. If the church finds that the resigned member(s) has not committed to another church within six months since resigning from membership, the church discipline process as stated in Article 3 Section 4 shall be carried out on the resigned member.
Article 4 - Meetings
Section 1 – Worship Meetings
Worship services shall be held each Lord's Day, and may be held throughout the week as the church determines.
Section 2 – Members’ Meetings
In every meeting together, members shall act in that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration which is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. There shall be a regular members’ meeting at the discretion of the elders. An elder designated by the elders shall preside as moderator at all members’ meetings of the church. Provided all constitutional provisions for notification have been met, a quorum shall be understood to be met by those members present. In order for any vote to be counted legitimate, a minimum of 50 percent of the membership must be present.
All votes shall be counted based on the number of votes cast by members present (votes from persons who will be absent from the meeting but have contacted the elders prior to the meeting shall be counted). A budget shall be approved by the membership at a members’ meeting not more than three months after the start of the fiscal year. Congregational approval shall proceed, without amendment, as a single vote on the budget in its entirety. Prior to this approval and subject to the elders’ discretion, expenditures may continue at the prior year’s level. At any regular or special members’ meeting, officers may be elected and positions filled as needed, so long as all relevant constitutional requirements have been met. Special members’ meetings may be called as required by the elders, or at the written request, submitted to the elders, of five percent of the voting membership. The date, time, and purpose of any special meeting shall be announced at all public services of the church one week preceding the meeting.
Section 3 – Elders
The elders shall be comprised of not less than two men, as long as circumstances allow, who satisfy the qualifications for the office of elder set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9. No elder shall hold the office of deacon during his tenure. Subject to the will of the congregation, the elders shall oversee the ministry and resources of the church. In keeping with the principles set forth in Acts 6:1–6 and 1 Peter 5:1–4, the elders shall devote their time to prayer, the ministry of the Word (by teaching and encouraging sound doctrine), and shepherding God’s flock. The church shall recognize men gifted and willing to serve in this calling, in accordance with the constitutional provisions on elections. These men shall be received as gifts of Christ to His church and set apart as elders, publicly, through the laying on of hands. An elder's term of office may be terminated by resignation or by dismissal.
Any two members with reason to believe that an elder should be dismissed should express such concern to the elders and, if need be, to the congregation. Because scenarios may differ so drastically, the congregation shall exercise prudence and wisdom, and seek for what preserves unity in the church regarding how to best handle such a situation. For example, one scenario may require immediate legal action be taken against an elder, while another scenario, such as that an elder’s children are insubordinate and, therefore, deeming him no longer qualified, would require a slower, less urgent, and different response from the congregation. Any such action shall be done in accordance with the instructions of our Lord in Matthew 18: 15–17 and 1 Timothy 5:17–21. Any of the elders may be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the members at any members’ meeting of the church. If Elders are addressed regarding disqualifying sin, but disagree with accusations, matters can be brought to City Group leaders for a two-thirds approval vote to 1) confront Elders, and or 2) call a special business meeting to address accusations.
If all elders become deceased, incapacitated, or apostatized, a process for appointing new elders shall be initiated by City Group leaders. The church may also seek the help of other trusted churches or leaders to ensure that elders are removed or set in office according to Scripture and the spirit of this constitution.
The elders shall take particular responsibility in the following matters:
to examine and instruct prospective members,
to examine and recommend all prospective candidates for offices and positions,
to oversee the work of the deacons and appointed church agents and committees,
to plan and lead worship services,
to administer the ordinances of baptism and communion,
to equip the membership for the work of the ministry,
to teach and encourage sound doctrine and practice,
to admonish and correct error,
to oversee the process of church discipline, coordinate, oversee,
to promote the ministries of the church,
to mobilize the church for world missions
to establish and put into place policies and guidelines for various ministries
Further, the elders should seek to ensure that all who minister the Word to the congregation in any form of public teaching, including outside speakers, affirm our fundamental gospel convictions and do not teach the church anything contrary to the Statement of Faith. The elders may establish ministry positions or committees to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities and to ensure health and obedience to the Lord Jesus. The elders may also propose funding for new paid staff positions. In addition, the elders, with necessary consultation from the treasurer and/or finance committee, and, if necessary, the deacons, shall determine the hours and wages for non-pastoral staff positions. The membership shall approve all candidates to fill the positions of senior and associate pastor and any ordained pastor. The scope and approval of job descriptions for any staff position shall reside in the hands of those with hiring authority for that position. At least twice per year, the elders, after consultation with the deacons and the membership, shall present to the church an itemized budget. This budget shall be presented for discussion at a regular or specially-called budget meeting and called up for a vote at the following members’ meeting. No money shall be solicited by or on behalf of the church or any of its ministries without the approval of the elders.
Section 4 – The Senior Pastor
The senior pastor shall be an elder. He shall perform the duties of an elder described in Section 2, above, and shall be recognized by the church as particularly gifted and called to the full-time ministry of preaching and teaching. His call shall be defined as per Article 6, Section 3. He shall, generally, preach on the Lord's Day, administer the ordinances of baptism and communion, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to that office, or as set forth in the constitution. The senior pastor shall have primary responsibility for the supervision and evaluation of staff members. This responsibility may, on a case-by-case basis, be delegated to another staff member. In the absence or incapacity of the senior pastor the elders shall assume responsibility for his duties, any of which can be delegated.
Section 5 – Associate Pastors
The church may call additional pastors whose relationship to the senior pastor is that of associate. An associate pastor shall be an elder. He shall perform the duties of an elder described in Section 2, above, and shall be recognized by the church as particularly gifted and called to the ministry of preaching and teaching. His call shall be defined as per Article 6, Section 4. He shall assist the senior pastor in the performance of his regular duties and shall perform any other duties as usually pertain to the office of pastor, or as set forth in the constitution, or which may be specifically assigned to him by the congregation. In the absence or incapacity of the senior pastor for defined periods of time (such as sabbatical or illness), the associate pastor(s) shall assume the responsibility for his duties under the oversight of the elders.
Section 6 – Assistant or Lay Pastor
The church may call additional pastors whose relationship to the senior pastor and associate pastor is that of assistant. An assistant or lay pastor shall be an elder. He shall perform, when necessary, the duties of an elder described in Section 2, above, and shall be recognized by the church as qualified and gifted in teaching. His call shall be defined as per Article 6, Section 5. He shall assist the senior pastor and associate pastor in the performance of their regular duties and shall perform any other duties as usually pertain to the office of pastor, or as set forth in the constitution, or which may be specifically assigned to him by the congregation. In the absence or incapacity of the senior pastor or associate pastor for defined periods of time (such as sabbatical or illness), the assistant or lay pastor(s) shall assume the responsibility for their duties under the oversight of the elders.
Section 6 – Deacons
The office of deacon is described in I Timothy 3:8–13. The church shall recognize, in accordance with the constitutional provisions on elections, men who are exemplary in their character and service to the church, and who possess particular gifts of service. In keeping with the principles set forth in Acts 6:1-6, these men shall be received as gifts of Christ to His church and set apart as deacons through the laying on of the elders’ hands. Deacons shall care for the temporal needs of members, attend to the accommodations for public worship, and encourage and support those able to help others and those with gifts of administration, while not assuming any spiritual or teaching authority over the congregation. The elders, with assistance from the deacons shall receive, hold, and disburse a fund for benevolence, reporting on its use to the elders at their request, and reporting to the church its total receipts and total disbursements only. The deacons, with the agreement of the elders, may delegate areas of ministry to members to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities in the church. Beyond delegating normal tasks to church members for the completion of normal ministries, deacons may establish a team of assistants who are male or female. Assistants do not possess the office of deacon, nor need they be especially recognized by the church. They are to assist the deacon(s) in the completion of various ministries.
Deacons may, under the leadership of the elders, be assigned to specific areas of ministry and may also function as a collective unit or board. The primary responsibility of the deacons is to assist the elders in caring for the church’s needs that fall outside the realm of the ministry of Word, prayer, and oversight (Acts 6:2-4). The deacons may meet periodically in congruence with the elders or with the elders upon request.
Deacons may serve no more than six consecutive years before taking a minimum of a one-year sabbatical. During this sabbatical, the man will still be considered an ordained deacon but must not function in the capacity of an official officer for the duration of the year.
Section 8 – Treasurer
The treasurer, who shall not be an active elder, but shall under normal circumstances be a deacon, shall be a member in good standing. The treasurer shall support the elders in providing oversight of the financial and accounting activities of the church, shall not have custody of church funds, and shall ensure that all funds and securities of the church are properly secured in such banks, financial institutions, or depositories as appropriate. The treasurer shall also be responsible for presenting regular reports of the account balances, revenues and expenses of the church at designated members’ meeting. This responsibility may be delegated with the approval of the elders. The treasurer shall also see that full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements are kept in books belonging to the church, and that adequate controls are implemented to ensure that all funds belonging to the church are appropriately handled by any officer, employee, or agent of the church. If necessary, these responsibilities may be delegated, with the approval of the elders, to a bookkeeper, who shall report directly to the elders and deacons and shall not make financial decisions on behalf of the church.
The treasurer shall render to the elders, whenever they may require it, an account of all activities as treasurer and of the financial condition of the church. The treasurer shall be nominated by the elders and elected by the congregation. The treasurer, with the agreement of the elders, may establish a team of assistants to assist him in fulfilling his responsibilities as stated above.
A financial committee, established by the elders, may serve in place of or alongside the treasurer in fulfilling all the duties listed above.
Article 6 – Elections
Section 1 – Principles
The process for church elections shall be interpreted and carried out to fulfill the following principles:
substantial prayer, both individually and corporately, should be an integral part of the election process;
nominations should proceed with the support of the elders;
all candidates for church office should be treated with the grace, kindness, and honesty appropriate in evaluating fellow members;
the election process shall express that spirit of mutual trust, openness, and loving consideration that is appropriate within the body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Section 2 – Selection of Officers
The election of officers shall be held at a members’ meeting of the church. Names of nominees to serve as elders, deacons, or financial advisors shall be presented by the elders publicly at least two weeks in advance of voting. The elders should seek recommendations and involvement from the general membership in the nomination process. Any member with reason to believe that a nominated candidate is unqualified for an office should express such concern to the elders privately. Members intending to speak in opposition to a candidate should express their objection to the elders as far in advance as possible before the relevant church members’ meeting. The moderator (elder leading meeting) shall declare elected all men receiving a two-thirds majority of all votes cast for the office of elder at a regularly-scheduled members meeting. For all other offices, the moderator shall declare elected all persons receiving a simple majority of all votes cast; abstentions will not be considered as votes cast. The persons elected shall assume their respective offices upon election, unless another date has been specifically designated.
Section 3 – Calling of the Senior Pastor
In the calling of any man to this position, the same basic process of calling an elder must be followed. In addition, however, the church must be given adequate opportunity to assess the preaching gifts and character (thorough background check as needed of life and prior ministry experience) of any potential senior pastor and, before being asked to express its judgment, must receive assurance from the elders that, having interviewed the man concerned, they are in no doubt as to his wholehearted assent to the LBC 1689 and Church Covenant as expressed in Article 3. Notice of the nomination of a man to be elected to membership and called as senior pastor (which shall include, if necessary, election to membership of his wife if he is married) must be given at two Sunday morning services following the nomination, prior to the vote at a members’ meeting.
Section 4 – Calling of Associate Pastor
In the calling of any man to the position of associate pastor, the same basic process of calling an elder must be followed. In addition, however, the church must be given adequate opportunity to assess the preaching gifts and character (thorough background check as needed of life and prior ministry experience) of any potential associate pastor and, before being asked to express its judgment, must receive assurance from the elders that, having interviewed the man concerned, they are in no doubt as to his wholehearted assent to the LBC 1689 and Church Covenant as expressed in Article 3. Notice of the nomination of a man to be called as associate pastor (which shall include, if necessary, election to membership of him and his wife if he is married) must be given at two Sunday morning services following the nomination, prior to the vote at a members’ meeting.
Section 5 – Calling of Assistant or Lay Pastor
In the calling of any man to the position of assistant or lay pastor, the same basic process of calling an elder must be followed. In addition, however, the church must be given adequate opportunity to assess the man’s ability to teach, though not necessarily in the form of pulpit preaching, and his character (thorough background check as needed of life and prior ministry experience) of any potential assistant or lay pastor and, before being asked to express its judgment, must receive assurance from the elders that, having interviewed the man concerned, they are in no doubt as to his wholehearted assent to the LBC 1689 and Church Covenant as expressed in Article 3. Notice of the nomination of a man to be called as assistant or lay pastor (which shall include, if necessary, election to membership of him and his wife if he is married) must be given at two Sunday morning services following the nomination, prior to the vote at a members’ meeting.
Article 7 – Indemnification
Section 1 – Mandatory Indemnification
If a legal claim or criminal allegation is made against a person because he or she is or was an officer, employee, or agent of the church, the church shall provide indemnification against liability and costs incurred in defending against the claim if the elders determine that the person acted (a) in good faith, (b) with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances, and (c) in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the church, and the person had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 2 – Permissive Indemnification
At the discretion of the elders, the church also may indemnify any person who acted in good faith and reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in the church’s best interest and not unlawful.
Section 3 – Procedure
If a quorum of the elders is not available for an indemnification determination because of the number of elders seeking indemnification, the requisite determination may be made by the membership or by special legal counsel appointed by the membership.
Article 8 – Dispute Resolution
Believing that the Bible commands Christians to make every effort to live at peace and to resolve disputes with each other in private or within the Christian Church (see, e.g., Matthew 18: 15–20, I Corinthians 6: 1–8), the church shall require its members to resolve ordinary civil disputes among themselves according to biblically based principles, without reliance on the secular courts. In the case of criminal activity within the congregation, the State has a God-given responsibility to protect the peace and security of its citizens that should be supported and encouraged. Consistent with its call to peacemaking, the church shall encourage the use of biblically-based principles to resolve disputes between itself and those outside the church, whether Christian or pagan and whether individuals or corporate entities.
Article 9 – Deviations of Practice
If a church member believes the church to be out of accord with this constitution, he or she should inform an elder. When the elders determine that the church is out of accord with this constitution, they must provide an update at each members’ meeting until the situation is remedied.
Article 10 – Amendments
The Statement of Faith and Church Covenant may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a members’ meeting, announced by the elders prior to a vote, the same process holds for amending this constitution.
Article 11 – Dissolution
In the event that the elders of the church determine that there is reasonable cause to dissolve The Cross Church as a corporate entity, the elders shall recommend dissolution to the membership. The elders shall call a special members’ meeting as set out in Article 4, Section 2. Notice of the meeting shall be announced publicly at all formal church gatherings at least four weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. The notice shall state that the purpose of the meeting is to consider dissolution of the corporation and how the assets of the corporation will be distributed after all creditors have been paid. At least two-thirds of the members present at the meeting must vote in the affirmative to approve the proposal of dissolution.
After approval of dissolution by the members, all the corporation’s debts shall be fully satisfied. None of its assets or holdings shall be divided among the members or other individuals, but shall be irrevocably designated, as approved by a simple majority of the members present at a members’ meeting, to one or more religious organizations which meet the qualifications described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which agree with the letter and spirit of the Statement of Faith. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of exclusively for such exempt purposes by a court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the corporation is then located.
