I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
John 14:6

Our Core Belief can be summarized in the Apostle’s Creed:

I believe in God, the Father All Mighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From hence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Core Values:

As members of Beaver Island Christian Church, each of us enters into a covenant with the Lord and with one another to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to walk in the way of the Lord as He has revealed Himself in His Word.

Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe on the Son shall not see life.” (John 3:36)

Therefore, we pledge our endeavor to fulfill Christ’s law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. and the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The church recognizes the brotherhood
of all who are under the Lord’s providence,
so we welcome all people to our services.

BY-LAWS OF THE BEAVER ISLAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Article One:  Organization

The church shall be called the Beaver Island Christian Church (non-denominational) and will maintain its place of worship in St. James Township, Beaver Island, Charlevoix County, Michigan.

Article Two:  Covenant

As members of the Beaver Island Christian Church, each of us enters into a covenant with the Lord and with one another to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to walk in the way of the Lord as He has revealed Himself in His Word.  Jesus says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17). “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe on the Son shall not see life.”  (John 3:36). Therefore, we pledge our endeavor to fulfill Christ’s law:  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Article Three:  Policy

This church recognizes the community of all who are under the Lord’s providence, so it welcomes all people to its service. The church shall be governed by its membership and shall maintain its non-denominational status.

Article Four:  Membership

Church membership shall consist of those who profess their belief that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior and have accepted the Covenant and Policy (Articles 2 and 3) of the Beaver Island Christian Church.  Confirmation of membership will consist of signing the membership roll, subsequently being welcomed into the fellowship of this church in a Sunday morning worship service. Membership in an off-Island congregation does not disqualify a person from membership in the Beaver Island Christian Church.

Members who have reached the age of 18 shall be qualified to vote on matters brought before the membership,

Article Five:  Administration

  1. Nominating Committee:  Each year the Administrative Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee which shall consist of at least one Board Member and two Members of the Church who are not Board Members.  The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates for election to the Board at least five weeks before the annual meeting. At least three weeks before the annual meeting, the slate of candidates shall be presented to the Church Membership.  Additional nominations may be made in writing to the Nominating Committee within a specified time to be announced. Not later than two weeks prior to the annual meeting, the full slate will be presented to the Church Membership. The Board election shall be held at the annual meeting.
  2. Administrative Board:  The government of this church shall be administered on behalf of the membership by an Administrative Board who are members of the church and are duly elected by the membership at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called for this purpose.  A seventh member shall be appointed annually by the membership of the Women’s Circle. Members of the same family household are permitted to serve as voting members of the Board. The pastor shall be an ex-officio non-voting member. The business manager shall be an ex-officio non-voting member.
  3. Administrative Board Officers:  The Church Administrative Board shall elect one member of the Administrative Board to be moderator, one to be corresponding secretary, and one to be treasurer.  The Administrative Board shall appoint a recording secretary and business manager who need not be members of the Board.
  4. Terms of Office: The term of office on the Administrative Board shall be three years.  The terms of office shall be staggered so that two of the six elected terms expire each year.  If a term of office is left vacant due to illness, death, or other reasons, the Administrative Board shall appoint a person to serve until the next annual meeting.
  5. The Administrative Board shall implement the secular and ecclesiastical policies of the Church Membership, but always under the direction and control of the Church Membership.  The Administrative Board shall be empowered by the Members to:
    1. Disburse Church funds
    2. Provide all necessary personnel and facilities for regular worship services and Church meetings
    3. Create committees and approve appointments to committees
    4. Contract for services
    5. Maintain bank accounts
    6. Employ personnel
    7. License or lease the Gregg Fellowship Center and set the terms for use
    8. Determine the missionary and benevolent ministries of the Church
    9. Execute all documents necessary to carry out the mission of the Church
    10. Appoint the Recording Secretary and Business Manager
  6. Meetings of the Administrative Board shall be held pursuant to a schedule determined by the Board.  A minimum of six meetings shall be held annually. A quorum at any Administrative Board meeting shall consist of a simple majority of members of the Administrative Board.
  7. Powers retained by the Members:  A vote of the Members shall be required to
    1. Elect the members of the Administrative Board
    2. Select or dismiss the Pastor
    3. Approve the annual budget
    4. Adopt and amend the by-laws
    5. Sell, mortgage, or dispose of Church property (other than disposable items used in the ordinary course of business or non-functional items)

Article Six:  Duties of Officers, Business Manager, and Recording Secretary

The officers of the Church shall consist of the Moderator, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.  The primary duty of officers shall be to supervise the functions with which they are charged. They may delegate work, or with Board approval, hire work done.

  1. Moderator.  The Moderator’s duties shall be as follows:
    1. To preside at all Administrative Board meetings and to set agendas for these meetings.
    2. To prepare the agenda and preside at the annual membership meeting.
    3. To make announcements at the Worship Service.
    4. To oversee the Church’s functions and delegate responsibilities to various committees.
    5. To appoint Committees and committee chairs, subject to the advice and consent of the Administrative Board.
    6. To report to the Administrative Board at each regular meeting on the state of church affairs.
    7. To initiate future planning.
    8. To make arrangements for visiting pastors.
    9. To acknowledge and prepare thank you notes for all major gifts.
  2. Corresponding Secretary.  The Corresponding Secretary’s duties shall be as follows:
    1. To keep a file of all church correspondence and oversee the answering of correspondence.
    2. To oversee the writing, printing, and distribution of newsletters at intervals set by the Board.
    3. To oversee the printing of the Sunday bulletin.
  3. Treasurer.  The Treasurer’s duties shall be as follows:
    1. To oversee the collection and disbursement of all church funds.
    2. To receive and review copies of all receipts and disbursements as prepared by the Business Manager.
    3. To count or arrange for the counting of the collection.
    4. To oversee and recommend fiscal policies to the Board.
    5. To arrange for an audit when the Board deems necessary.
  4. Business Manager.  The Business Manager shall be appointed by the Board and shall have the following duties:
    1. To deposit church funds in banks, accounts, or investments approved by the Board and make appropriate withdrawals.
    2. To pay the church’s bills.
    3. To file reports required by civil government.
    4. To prepare monthly financial reports for the Board.
    5. To attend board meetings.
    6. To prepare an annual budget and financial report to be reviewed by the Board and presented at the church’s annual meeting.
  5. Recording Secretary.  The Recording Secretary shall be appointed by the Board and shall have the following duty:
    1. To keep accurate minutes of all Board meetings and the annual meeting and promptly distribute copies to all Board members.

Article Seven:  Worship Services

A public worship service shall be conducted each Sunday throughout the year, except when extraordinary circumstances may make the Sunday worship service on a particular Sunday inadvisable.  The decision to cancel a Sunday morning worship service must be authorized by three members of the Administrative Board.

Other special Church services shall be determined by the Administrative Board.  The Lord’s Supper (Communion) shall be celebrated on such dates as the Administrative Board may arrange.

Article Eight:  Business Meetings of the Membership

There shall be an annual meeting during the first quarter of the new fiscal year. The business of this meeting shall include the annual reports of the Administrative Board (including the report of the Business Manager and Moderator), election of Administrative Board members, and other business that may be called for by the Board.

Notice of the annual meeting shall be posted conspicuously in the church and shall be read from the pulpit on three consecutive Sundays preceding the date of the meeting; not to include the day of the meeting.

Special meetings shall have the same advance notice and may be called by the Administrative Board.

Matters of dismissal, election of Administrative Board members, or amendments to the by-laws shall be by ballot.

Electronic participation will be offered to members who request a login and password no later than five (5) business days in advance of any meeting; those members will be provided with the proper credentials to completely participate.

The members present, either in person or virtually, shall constitute a quorum.

Article Nine: Amendments

Any change or amendment of the by-laws shall be submitted to the church membership in writing and read from the pulpit three consecutive Sundays immediately preceding the meeting when such amendment may be entertained.  All amendments to the Church by-laws require a two-thirds majority of the qualified voting members present, either in person or virtually, at a properly convened and constituted annual meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. 

Electronic participation will be offered to members who request a login and password no later than five (5) business days in advance of any meeting; those members will be provided with the proper credentials to completely participate.

The members present, either in person or virtually, shall constitute a quorum.

Article Ten:  Dissolution

In the event that the Church finds it difficult or impossible to continue ministry on Beaver Island due to lack of membership or a lack of finances, the following procedures will be applied:

  1. A special meeting of the Church membership will be called for the purpose of discussing and finding a suitable solution to these pending challenges.
  2. All current members will be notified in writing prior to such a meeting at the latest known address of each member.
  3. If the challenges facing the ministry cannot be corrected and a solution cannot be reached within two years of the special meeting, dissolution may be required. The Church membership may vote to discontinue the Church’s ministry on Beaver Island by a 2/3 vote of the Members.
  4. In the event of such Dissolution, the following actions would be taken:
    1. All debts of the Church will be paid to the extent funds are available.
    2. All remaining assets of the Church will be distributed to a qualifying not-for-profit corporation or corporations approved by a majority of the Membership at a special meeting called for this purpose.
  5. An attorney will be retained to assist in all legal actions that would be required.

These Amended and Restated By-laws of the Beaver Island Christian Church adopted August 26, 2018 by vote of the Members.

_____________________________                                                                            ______________________________
Judith K. Meister, Moderator                                                             Mary Ellen Dawson, Corr. Secretary


Beaver Island Christian Church
38215 Kenwabikise Lane | Beaver Island, MI 49782
Phone: 231-448-2599   Email: beaverislandchristianchurch@gmail.com