CONSTITUTION OF
THE LEBANON VIRGINIA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION AND ALLIED BODIES
Adopted June 23, 2012
We, the officers and members of the Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association, The South James River Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Convention and The Women’s Missionary and Educational Circle, in order to form a more unified thrust in our Christian life decided to merge and become one organization in 1991. The Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association had existed for
one hundred and eight years, The South James River Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Convention had existed one hundred and three years and the Women’s Missionary and Educational Circle has existed for seventy years.
Realizing that the Christian Front should be united in love and brotherhood to promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of God to ourselves, and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association and Allied Bodies.
ARTICLE I
Name
This body shall be known as The Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association and Allied Bodies.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section I:
This association shall be composed of Baptist Churches which are approved by the Association, Sunday School Unions, Ministries, Laymen and Life Members who are Baptists and remain Baptist and pay the required sums of monies as required by the Association.
a) Churches, Sunday School Unions, Ministers and Laymen who are Baptist may become members by request and acceptance of the Association and by paying the required fees and paying the minimum sum of money for appropriations. Fees and appropriations may be changed from time to time by the Association while in session.
b) In order to serve as an officer of the Association, an individual must be a member in good standing of one of the Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association and Allied Bodies churches.
c) Every church in the Association shall be entitled to representation in the Association; five (5) delegates and the Pastor shall be admitted from each Church for voting purposes.
d) Each church shall sent a list of no more than five (5) delegates (the list shall be signed by the pastor or the church’s designated representative, in the absence of the pastor). Form is included in the Annual Journal forms section. Churches shall assign one person to pick up their church’s journals.
Section II
The Association shall have five (5) Divisions whose general duties will be to bring forth programs, seminars or workshops for both adults and youths. These programs, tec., will be presented or facilitated at the sessions of the association by the persons knowledgeable in the field or topic(s) being presented. Duties of each division shall also be as needed or requested by the Moderator.
The Division of Clergy – Duties to be added
The Division of Christian Education
Duties: To support the LVBA in carrying out its objectives, to provide training which shall enhance Christian growth, to promote support to churches of the LVBA in their Christian Education development, and to perform any duties specified by the Moderator.
The Division of Missions
Duties: To provide leadership to the Missions’ body, to keep members abreast of all activities of the Association pertaining to missions, beneficial in making the Missions’ Division more effective, to attend meetings as necessary, to perform any other duties specified by the Moderator.
The Division of Laymen
Duties: To exalt the Savior, equip the saints, evangelize the sinner. The laity is the mighty army in every church, capable of reaching people in church, capable of reaching people in their own church and area for Christ. Lay people and pastors work together. The church is built up and the mighty work of God is accomplished.
The Division of Youth
Duties: To promote friendship and collaboration with other youth ministries within LVBA, to provide educational experiences that will enhance the growth and development of our youth through program development, workshops, seminars, activities, and field trips that will lead to Christian maturity.
Section III
All churches and/or organizations who wish to leave the Association to join another body are requested to notify the Association in writing.
Section IV
The association and its Allied Bodies shall reserve the right to withdraw the Hand of Fellowship from Churches and Organizations who shall cherish principles contrary to the Gospel of Christ.
ARTICLE III
Objectives
Section I
The Objectives of the Association and its Allied Bodies shall be:
(a) to spread the Redeemer’s Kingdom (Jesus Christ) upon the earth by doing all in their power to support the Chartered Foster Homes and Foreign Missions and Lott Cary Foreign Mission;
(b) to support certain educational institutions and colleges; Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and the United Negro College Fund;
(c) to support the Children’s Home of Virginia Baptist, Inc.,
(d) to provide scholarships through the Bolden Bradby Memorial Scholarship Fund for worthy students from member churches. Satisfaction of the approved criteria shall determine the scholarship recipients;
(e) to provide training which shall enhance the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and
(f) To provide a Relief Fund for Ministers and Deacons.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section I
The Officers of the Association shall be Moderator, First Vice-Moderator, Second-Vice Moderator, Recording Secretary, Assistant Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Executive Secretary and five Division Presidents.
(a) The Moderator shall serve one term (two years) and may succeed himself one term (total of four years) If for any reason the offices of Moderator, 1st Vice-Moderator, or 2nd Vice-Moderator becomes vacant, the 1st Vice-Moderator, or 2nd Vice-Moderator will move forward to the uppermost office. The Moderator or Executive Council will have the discretion of filling the vacant position for that particular term. This will not affect the term that is already in session.
(b) Officers shall be elected biannually and shall remain in office until others are elected in their place.
(c) The duties of the Officers shall be such as are common to such offices.
(d) The treasurer shall be bonded for such amounts as the Association may deem necessary.
(e) The Lebanon Virginia Baptist Association and Allied Bodies “Committee Training Manual –Revised” shall guide the Committee in their duties. The duties of the Committees may be changed from time to time to meet the needs of the Association.
(f) The Committees shall be: Budget and Finance, Condolence, Hospitality, New Bodies, Registration, Bolden Bradby Scholarship, Nominating, History, Music, Time and Place, Ministers’ and Deacons’ Relief.
(g) The Moderator may appoint committees as needed to further the work of the Association.
Section II
There shall be an Executive Council. The Executive Council shall be composed of the Moderator, First Vice-Moderator, Second Vice-Moderator, Executive Secretary and the Presidents of the Five Divisions, a total of nine (9) members.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
Section I
The Association shall meet the following dates:
(a) The Annual Session shall be held on the week following the second Lord’s Day in July, beginning on Tuesday and ending on Friday.
(b) The Fall Session shall be held on the Saturday following the second Lord’s Day in October.
(c) The Winter Session shall be held on the Saturday following the first Lord’s Day in January.
(d) The Spring Session shall be held on the Saturday following the first Lord’s Day in April.
ARTICLE VI
Any entity of the Lebanon Baptist Association and Allied Bodies that requires a membership fee or amount change for membership shall have approval of the Moderator and Executive Council in order to become effective. (Example: Deacons and
Ministers Relief Fee increase).
ARTICLE VII
Dean
The honor of “Dean” shall be bestowed upon a member. The title of Dean shall be appointed by the Moderator when it becomes vacant.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
The Constitution may be amended or addendums added at a meeting of the Moderator’s choosing prior to any session, provided that proper notice is given to each eligible member church. Notifications will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the meeting.