Triennial manual Kenwood Evangelical Church, Chicago, 1885-1888, Part 2

Author: Kenwood Evangelical Church (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: [Chicago, Ill. : The Church]
Number of Pages: 132

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Triennial manual Kenwood Evangelical Church, Chicago, 1885-1888 > Part 2

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ARTICLE IV .- DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

SECTION I. THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE shall have charge of the spiritual concerns and interests of the Church. They shall maintain its government and discipline, receive and dismiss members, administer the sacraments, and, subject to the direction of the Church, shall have control of its public worship and beneficence.

They shall study to promote its spiritual life, shall sup- port the weak, and in general take loving and watchful heed over the flock. Five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, two of whom, in the absence of the Pastor, must be elders. An appeal may be taken to the Church from any action of the committee, but after the statement of the case to the Church, at least one week must elapse before the final decision be made.

SEC. 2. THE PASTOR shall be a member of this Church, and its recognized leader and teacher in relig- ious things. As such, he shall faithfully discharge those duties which properly appertain to his sacred office. He is also the executive officer of the Church, and shall mod- erate its meetings and those of its permanent boards and committees.

When a Pastor is to be chosen, the Prudential Com- mittee shall call a joint meeting of the Church and So- ciety for that purpose. Notice of the hour and object of the meeting shall be given from the pulpit the two Sundays preceding. All members of the Church and members of the Society of legal age shall be entitled to vote. In the induction of a Pastor into office, the coun- sel and co-operation of neighboring Churches shall be invited.

SEC. 3. THE ELDERS are particularly charged, in connection with the minister, with pastoral oversight. In his absence they shall see that pastoral duties are prop- erly discharged. When the office is vacant, they shall nominate another Pastor to the Prudential Committee,

who, if they approve the choice, shall call a joint meeting of the Church and Society to take action in the matter.

SEC. 4. THE DEACONS shall provide for the sacra- mental services; and are especially charged with the relief of the poor and needy in our Church and com- munity.

SEC. 5. THE CLERK shall make a correct record of the proceedings of all business meetings of the Church and the Prudential Committee, and shall have the custody of all official books and papers belonging to them, sub- ject to call. He shall keep a Church Register. contain- ing names and residences of members, a record of bap- tisms, marriages, deaths, dismissals, etc., with dates. As Treasurer he shall hold the benevolent funds of the Church, subject to the instructions of the committee. under whose direction he shall perform all the duties usual to the offices he holds. At the annual meeting he shall submit to the Church written statistical reports, both as Clerk and as Treasurer.

ARTICLE V .- INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS.

Officers, before entering upon their duties, shall be publicly installed with prayer. Superintendents of Sun- day-schools and the Clerk shall qualify as Deacons. Pastors, Elders and Deacons shall answer affirmatively to the following

INSTALLATION QUESTIONS.

I. Do you heartily accept as your own the confes-

sion known as the Apostles' Creed, and do you hold to that form of faith commonly called Evangelical ?

2. In discharging the duties of the office to which you have been called in this Church, do you engage to - abide by its Articles of Government, and to study its peace, purity and advancement; do you promise faith- fully to maintain the truths of God's Word, and diligently to perform the duties of your office; endeavoring to adorn your profession of the Gospel by the purity and exemplary piety of your personal life ?

At the Installation of a Pastor the following question shall be put to the congregation :

Do you, the people of this congregation, promise to give this man whom you have chosen as your Pastor, that encouragement and honor which are due him as a Minister of Jesus Christ; will you receive the word of truth from his lips in meekness and love; and will you continue to him such worldly maintenance as should be sufficient for his comfort?

When Elders or Deacons are installed, the following question shall be put to the members of the Church : 1

Do you, the members of this Church, receive as office- bearers in God's house, these men whom you have chosen ; do you promise to uphold them and their asso- ciates in the discharge of their duties, submit to them in the due exercise of discipline, and encourage them in the godly service to which they are appointed ?

ARTICLE VI. - MEMBERS.

The essential requirements of membership in this Church shall be a personal faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, and an outward walk accordant with that profession. Persons desiring to unite with this Church, either by letter or on profession of faith, will . make their desire known to any member of the Pruden- tial Committee, who are charged with the duty of inquir- ing into their Christian history and present religious experience. When received, their names and residences (and if they came from a sister Church, the name of that Church) shall be duly announced to the congregation. At the earliest communion service possible after they are received, they shall publicly enter into covenant with the Church, in the manner prescribed in the following

FORM FOR THE RECOGNITION OF MEMBERS.

The Minister, after any introductory words he may deem expedient, shall first address

THOSE RECEIVED BY PROFESSION OF FAITH. Be- loved: In now presenting yourselves to unite with this Church, you signify your agreement with us in the fol- lowing articles of faith; You believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, as Son of God and the Saviour of men through repentance and faith ; in the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Sanctifier and Guide; and in the Sacred Scriptures as the revealed will of God to men, the rule of our faith and practice.

Believing it to be your duty to make public confes- sion of your faith, you solemnly acknowledge the Lord God Omnipotent as your God and Father. You receive as your personal Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness. You accept the Holy Spirit as your Guide and Sancti- fier. Humbly renouncing your sins and yielding your- self unto God, you declare it to be your purpose by His help to regulate your conduct by the law of Christ, and to carry your religion into all the relations of life, thus adorning the doctrine of God, our Saviour, in all things.

The Minister will here administer baptism to those who have not received it. Then shall he say

TO THOSE RECEIVED BY LETTER. Beloved: You have heretofore made public profession of your love for the Lord Jesus, and your dependence upon His atoning grace for the pardon of sins and the life eternal. You do now solemnly renew your consecration to Him, and accept afresh the sweet obligations of His name and service.

TO BOTH CLASSES. In uniting with this Church you engage to submit to its government so long as you are members of it; to walk with your fellow disciples in charity, to attend the ordinances as you have opportu- nity, to contribute to the support and extension of the Gospel as God may prosper you, and in every suitable way, as members of this Church, to promote the ad-

vancement of His cause and kingdom. Do you thus consent and covenant ?

COVENANT OF THE CHURCH. ( All the members ris- ing.) We, then, the members of this Church, welcome you to our fellowship in the blessings of the Gospel, and to our joy in the service of our divine Redeemer. We covenant to love and watch over each other with Chris- tian fidelity, and to seek each other's advancement in the life and likeness of Him whose name we bear.

And now, dearly beloved, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His counte- nance upon you and give you peace.

Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Sav- iour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever .- AMEN.

. ARTICLE VII .- SACRAMENTS.

SECTION I. The mode of baptism shall be accord- ing to the preference of the candidate. Infant baptism may be administered in connection with the communion service.

SEC. 2. The Lord's Supper will be celebrated the first Lord's Day of February, April, June, August, Oc- tober and December. A preparatory service will be held on the Wednesday evening previous. The invitation to

the Lord's Table shall include all who love the Lord Jesus Christ and desire to commune with us.

ARTICLE VIII .- DISCIPLINE.

All discipline shall be exercised in love, with con- stant regard to the highest good of the individual and the purity of the Church. The rule of procedure shall be that recorded in Matt. xviii, 15-17. If charges are pre- ferred against any member of the Church, they shall be made in writing to the Prudential Committee, together with the names of witnesses; and a copy shall be fur- nished the accused. He shall have at least a week's notice after citation before trial, and shall be fully heard by the Committee. At least a week shall intervene be- tween the hearing and the final action.

ARTICLE IX .- BUSINESS MEETINGS.

SECTION I. The annual meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday evening after the first Sunday in December, at which time the annual reports shall be submitted, and the election of officers be held.

SEC. 2. Business meetings may be called by the Prudential Committee, or at the written request of five members of the Church. At such meetings business shall be confined to the subjects named in the call. Notice of all business meetings must be given from the pulpit at the morning service of the previous Lord's

Day. Notice of a proposed change of these Articles, or of an election of officers, or of the annual meeting shall be given on the two Sundays next preceding the day of the proposed meeting.

ARTICLE X .- AMENDMENTS.

These Articles, or any of them, may be altered or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members pres- ent, at any meeting regularly called for that purpose.

Constitution of the DEcclesiastical Society

ARTICLE I .- NAME AND MEMBERSHIP.

The name of this Society shall be THE KENWOOD EVANGELICAL CHURCH SOCIETY. All persons of legal age contributing to its support, and all persons of legal age members of the Church to be organized in connec- tion with this Society, shall be entitled to vote at all its meetings.

ARTICLE II .- TRUSTEES AND THEIR DUTIES.

SECTION I. The property of this Society shall be held in trust for the Society by a Board of seven Trus- tees, who shall also manage its pecuniary affairs accord- ing to the laws of the State. They shall be subject at all times to the directing vote of the Society, and shall have no power to buy, sell, mortgage or transfer real property without the specific authority of the Society therefor. No act of the Trustees shall be valid except when passed in open board at a meeting regularly called. The Board shall make an annual written report of its doings to the Society.

SEC. 2. Trustees shall be elected at the annual meet- ing of the Society for the term of three years. They shall

be divided into three classes, one of which shall go out of office each year. A majority of the Trustees shall be members of the Kenwood Evangelical Church, and no person shall be eligible to the office of Trustee whose election would invert that proportion.

ARTICLE III .- TREASURER AND HIS DUTIES.

There shall be a Treasurer elected by the Board of Trustees at their annual meeting, and in case of a va- cancy from any cause, the Trustees shall elect his successor at a special meeting of the Board called for that purpose. He shall receive all moneys belonging to the Society, and pay out the same only on the written order of the chairman of the Board of Trustees; and he shall make an annual report to the Society of his receipts and disbursements, duly audited, at the annual meetings.

ARTICLE IV .- CLERK.

There shall be a Clerk elected at the annual meet- ing of the Society, to keep a record of its proceedings.

ARTICLE . V .- ANNUAL MEETING.

The first regular annual meeting of the Society, for the election of officers and transaction of appropriate business. shall be held the third Monday of December. 1886, at 7.30 P. M., and annually thereafter .

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ARTICLE VI .- SPECIAL MEETINGS.

Notice of all meetings of the Society shall be given from the pulpit on the Sunday preceding the appointed time. Special meetings may be called by the Trustees, or by any ten members, such call being in writing, with not less than three days' notice.

ARTICLE VII .- QUORUM AND RULE AS TO DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY.

SECTION I. Twenty members shall constitute a quorum, but no sale, mortgage, or transfer of property shall be made except at a meeting which has been noti- fied on two preceding Sabbaths.

SEC. 2. But no action of the Society may alienate the property of the Society from the use and purposes of the Society, nor may the name be changed, except upon affirmative vote of not less than three-fourths (3/1) of all the adult members of the Church and Society at the time of such action.

SEC. 3. Section two (2) of this article shall not be repealed except by an affirmative vote of three-fourths (31) of all the adult members of the Church and Society at the time of such action.

ARTICLE VIII .- AMENDMENTS.

Any proposed alteration of these rules must be stated in the public notice of the meeting appointed for that purpose, but no amendment inconsistent with Sections 2 and 3 of Article VII shall be entertained.

Constitution of the Sunday School

ARTICLE I .-- NAME.

- The name of this school shall be the SUNDAY-SCHOOL OF THE KENWOOD EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

ARTICLE II .- OFFICERS.

The officers shall consist of a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Li- brarian, and such others as may be determined by vote of the teachers.

ARTICLE III .- ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

All officers shall be elected by ballot, a majority of votes cast being necessary to a choice. The term of office shall be for one year from the first Sunday in Jan- uary, and until their successors are elected.

ARTICLE IV .- DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

SECTION I. The Superintendent shall be the exec- utive officer of the school. He shall direct its manage- ment, conduct its exercises, appoint its teachers, and in general shall study its welfare and efficiency.

If any teacher is absent, without sufficient excuse, for more than three consecutive Sundays, it shall be his duty to provide another teacher for the class.

SEC. 2. The Assistant Superintendent shall aid the Superintendent in the discharge of his duties, and in his absence assume the management of the school.

SEC. 3. The Secretary shall keep a statistical regis- ter of the school and present a summary report of the same in writing, weekly and quarterly. He shall also keep a correct record of the minutes of all teacher's meetings, and have the custody of papers and records belonging to the school.

SEC. 4. The Treasurer shall hold all moneys belong- ing to the school and disburse the same in accordance with the vote of the teachers.

SEC. 5. The Librarian shall have general oversight of the library, and attend to the proper distribution and care of the books.

SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian to present written reports for the year at the annual meeting. All officers shall be subject to the directing vote of the teachers.

ARTICLE V .- MEETINGS. -

SECTION I. Meetings for the study of the lesson may be held from time to time, as determined by the vote of the teachers.

SEC. 2. Business meetings of the teachers shall be called by the Superindendent quarterly. He may call

special meetings at any time, and shall call suche meeting at the request of any five teachers.

Notice of all business meetings shall be given during a regular session of the school. At these meetings the officers and teachers of the school shall be entitled to voice and vote.

SEC. 3. The annual meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of business shall take place the week preceding the annual meeting of the Church. at the call of the Superintendent.

ARTICLE VI .- QUORUM.

A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of at least ten officers and teachers.

ARTICLE VII .- AMENDMENTS.

This Constitution may be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at any business meeting, provided at least ten days' notice be given of the change proposed.

Constitution of the Ladies' Society

ARTICLE I .- NAME AND OBJECT.

This organization shall be called the LADIES' SOCI- ETY OF THE KENWOOD EVANGELICAL CHURCH; its object is the advancement of all those interests in the Church for which the ladies may properly have a care.

ARTICLE II .- OFFICERS,

The officers of this Society shall consist of a Presi- dent, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall be elected by ballot, perform the duties usually incumbent upon their respective offices, and serve until the election of their successors.

ARTICLE III .- MEMBERSHIP.

The payment of an initiation fee, and thereafter of an annual due of one dollar, shall constitute any lady a member of this Society ; and only members shall be al- lowed to vote.

ARTICLE IV .- COMMITTEES.

Any permanent department of the Society's work may be entrusted to a standing Committee, which shall

have charge of whatever the Society undertakes in that department, and may suggest such plans concerning its prosecution as seem wise. The directors of these commit- tees shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting; and with the officers of the Society shall constitute the Ex- ecutive Committee, who shall consult for the general in- · terests of the Society, and appoint the other members of the standing committees.

ARTICLE V .- MEETINGS.

From the third week in September until April, the Society shall hold meetings at such intervals as it may determine. All meetings shall be previously an- nounced from the pulpit. The first meeting after the summer recess shall be the annual meeting, when the retiring Secretary, Treasurer and Directors of Standing Committees shall make reports for the year, and the President shall give an annual address, all of which shall be in writing.

ARTICLE VI .- MONEYS.

Money raised by the Home or Foreign Missionary Committees may be forwarded by them directly to its proper destination, but full report of the same shall be made quarterly to the Treasurer, and be entered upon her books. All other moneys collected by the Society or any of its committees, shall be held by the Treasurer. and be disbursed only by vote of the Society.

ARTICLE VII .- STANDING ORDERS.

Any permanent arrangements other than those pre- scribed by the Constitution shall be kept by the Secre- tary upon a separate page of the record book, for easy reference.

ARTICLE VIII .- AMENDMENTS.

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting, provided notice of the amendment proposed be given at the next previous regular meeting of the Society.

STANDING ORDERS.

I. The following shall be the usual order of busi- ness :

(1) Call to order.

(2) Devotional Exercises.

(4) Report of the Treasurer.

(5) Reports of Committees.

(3) Reading of Minutes. (6) Unfinished Business. (7) Miscellaneous Business.

2. The following shall be the list of Standing Com- mittees : (I) On Foreign Missions. (2) On Home Missions. (3) On Benevolent Work. (4) Devotional Committee. (5) Social Committee.

3. The foreign and home mission Committees shall spread intelligence and awaken interest in that

cause, and solicit offerings in behalf of it. The Com- mittee on benevolent work shall have charge of all such work undertaken by the Society. The devotional Committee shall have oversight of devotional meetings other than those held in the especial interest of mis- sions; and the social Committee shall meet and introduce strangers, promote friendly intercourse in the Church, and arrange for such social gatherings as are deemed advisable.

Form of Infant Baptism.

Moved by a sense of parental responsibility and by the persuasions of God's holy Word, you bring this child to receive the ordinance of baptism. In this ordinance you consecrate him to God, and present him to receive the seal of his covenanted grace, which, inworking with your faith, is able to make your child regenerate and an heir to the heavenly kingdom.

You recognize parental government and influence as one of the chief instruments through which God will bless your offspring. You therefore pledge yourself to fidelity in the discharge of this sacred trust, and will look to Him for daily supplies of strength and wisdom. You engage to instruct your child in the truths of God's Word and the principles of our Christian faith; to exer- cise over him a wise and loving government, and, yourself to set him an example of holy living; so leading him in the paths of truth and godliness. In dependence upon God's grace, do you thus covenant? -

In your fidelity to this engagement our heavenly Father will not forget you nor yours. The covenant He made with the fathers, He will keep with the chil- dren. The seal of . that covenant your little one is now privileged to receive.

Triennial manual Kenwood Evangelical Church, Chicago, 1885-1888, Part 2

Author: Kenwood Evangelical Church (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: [Chicago, Ill. : The Church] Number of Pages: 132

Author: Kenwood Evangelical Church (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: [Chicago, Ill. : The Church]
Number of Pages: 132