Constitution & ByLaws
Cowboy Church Network of Texas
CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS
CONSTITUTION
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ARTICLE I – Name
The name of this body shall be Cowboy Church Network of Texas.
ARTICLE II – Purpose
It is the purpose of this body 1) to awaken and stimulate among the Cowboy Churches the greatest possible activity in evangelism, missions, Christian education, and benevolences, 2) to cultivate closer cooperation among the churches, and 3) to promote harmony of feeling and concert of action in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ by reaching people through the Cowboy Culture.
ARTICLE III – Authority
While independent and sovereign in its own realm, this body recognizes the absolute sovereignty and independence of the churches affiliated with it. It shall in no wise attempt to exercise a single attribute of power or authority over any church.
ARTICLE IV – Membership
Section 1:
This body shall be composed of messengers from Cowboy Churches cooperating with the Network. Such cooperation shall include bona fide financial support of the work each year, and participation in network activities and efforts.
Section 2:
Each church shall be entitled to two messengers so that each church may be represented equally regardless of size.
Section 3:
This body reserves the right to refuse seats to messengers from any church that by teaching or by practicing depart from the historical faith and practice of Baptists as substantially set forth in the statement of The Baptist Faith and Message (1925, 1963, 1998, 2000) SBC, or any version thereof to be adopted or approved in the future by the Southern Baptist Convention, including amendments. From such refusal there shall be no appeal.
Section 3-A.
Acknowledging that The Baptist Faith and Message has, in each iteration since 1925, included Article XIV of that document, the Cowboy Church Network seeks to cooperate with New Testament churches in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.
Section 4:
Cowboy Church Network of Texas, when duly assembled in Annual Meeting, shall be the sole judge of the qualifications and fitness of its membership. In justice and propriety, it claims the power to withdraw fellowship and/or deny seats to messengers from member churches that are unsound in doctrine, disorderly in practice, uncooperative in spirit, or unchristian in character or leadership. This right shall be recognized as inherent and indispensable. This right shall not be construed as an attempt to exercise any authority over a member church, but shall only be exercised in determining membership of the Network itself.
Section 5:
Any church desiring to cooperate with the Network will notify the Network in writing. The Network Executive Board will acknowledge receipt of the letter. The written notice of a desire to cooperate should be received at least three months prior to the Annual Meeting. The letter of petition will be acknowledged at the annual meeting, and the association will take action on the request at that meeting. The petitioning church will use any waiting period to demonstrate its ability to cooperate in the mission of the Network.
Section 6:
Member churches are expected to be the primary suppliers of voluntary financial support for the association, although donations may be accepted or declined from any source. Except for using specific gifts as designated, the association incurs no other obligation to the contributing party.
ARTICLE V – Officers
Section 1:
The officers of this association shall be a moderator, vice-moderator, secretary, and treasurer.
Section 2:
Officers shall carry out the business of the association between executive board meetings. They shall report and be responsible to the Executive Board.
Section 3:
The officers shall be elected annually; they shall assume office at the close of the annual associational meeting in which they are elected and continue in office through the next annual associational meeting.
Section 4:
Election of officers shall be upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, when it is established, with opportunity given for nominations from the floor.
Section 5:
Officers may succeed themselves in office, with the exception of the moderator and vice-moderator, who may not serve more than two successive terms.
Section 6:
The elected officers shall serve as trustees of the association.
ARTICLE VI – Meetings
Section 1:
This body shall meet annually at such time and place as it may determine.
Section 2:
The moderator may call special meetings with the concurrence of the Executive Board.
Section 3:
The Executive Board may change the time and place of meetings, or reschedule a regular meeting, provided circumstances make such action necessary.
ARTICLE VII – Executive Board
Section 1:
Members of the Executive Board are as follows: 1) One layperson elected by each church; 2)Â One paid ministerial staff of all churches and missions; 3) Officers of the Network; 4) Network team leaders; and 5) Paid or elected staff of the Network.
Section 2:
The officers of the Executive Board shall be the duly elected officers of the Network as outlined in Article V.
Section 3:
The Executive Board shall hold its meetings as often as may be deemed necessary or as scheduled by the Board. All members of the Executive Board shall be advised of stated meetings and the schedule of meetings as arranged and approved by the Board.
ARTICLE VIII – Network Employees
Section 1:
The Executive Board shall be empowered to employ an executive director, who shall hold office so long as mutually agreeable. He shall maintain a Network office and shall, under the direction of the Executive Board and direct the work of the Network. He shall be a member of the Executive Board and an ex-officio member of all ministry teams.
Section 2:
The Executive Board shall be empowered to employ or dismiss additional associational employees.
ARTICLE IX – Program Organization
Section 1:
Prior to the annual meeting, the moderator shall appoint a Resolutions Committee and a Time, Place, Preacher Committee to function for the annual meeting.
Section 2:
The Nominating Committee, in consultations with the moderator, shall recommend next year’s Nominating Committee to the Executive Board for approval by September of each year. The newly selected Nominating Committee will take office following the Annual Meeting.
Section 3:
The Nominating Committee shall follow the schedule listed below to nominate leadership of the Association.
June – Officers, team and auxiliary leaders
July – Â All standing team members
September – Complete all nominations and prepare a report for the annual meeting
Section 4:
Standing committees shall include Nominating, Finance, Personnel, and Missions
Section 5:
The Finance Committee shall present a proposed budget to the Executive Committee at their August meeting, and present monthly financial reports in a format acceptable to the Executive Board.
ARTICLE X – Amendments
Section 1:
This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting of the association by a two-thirds vote of the messengers present, provided that such amendment(s) had been presented and approved at a prior Executive Board meeting.
BY-LAWS
- In all questions concerning the proceedings of the association, Robert’s Rules of Order, as revised, shall be the authority, unless the constitution or by-laws clearly cover such proceedings.
- The fiscal year Calendar Committee, led by the executive director and composed of Team leaders, shall present a calendar of activities to the annual meeting.
- The moderator and executive director shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, teams, and task forces.
- These by-laws may be amended by the same process as the Constitution.
- Upon discontinuance of the Cowboy Church Network of Texas by dissolution or otherwise, the assets of the organization are to be transferred to the churches, which at the time of dissolution, comprise the association which are charitable organizations under Section 501(c) (3), Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
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