Proposed governance changes
To the Membership of Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church:
We are presenting a complete revision of our church’s governing documents for your ratification. The most significant change is structural. The existing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are difficult to use because the governing rules are spread out throughout both documents.
We are presenting a complete revision of our church’s governing documents for your ratification. The most significant change is structural. The existing Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws are difficult to use because the governing rules are spread out throughout both documents.
- The New Approach: We have moved all governance rules into a single, well-organized document: the Constitution and Bylaws. We have also placed all of the other legally necessary provisions in the separate Articles of Incorporation in order to make the Constitution and Bylaws even easier to use.
- The Goal: Future leaders and members need only consult one document to understand how the church is run.
Below are links to the full versions of both the PROPOSED (new) and CURRENT (old) documents.
Proposed (New)
Articles of
IncorporATION
Proposed (New)
Constitution & Bylaws
Current (old)
Articles of IncorporATION
Current (old)
Bylaws
Below is a summary of the material changes (rules that are actually different)
and the tonal updates (how we say things).
Structure: Easier to Use
Governing rules spread across Articles & Bylaws.
PREVIOUS
Unified Document
Constitution & Bylaws: All governance rules.
NEW PROPOSED
Key Material Changes
Leadership & Council
- Executive Committee: Formally established (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) to handle day-to-day issues.
- Role Clarity: Responsibilities clearly defined for Treasurer, Lead Pastor, Audit Committee, and Secretary.
- Treasurer: Must meet Elder requirements and is a voting member.
- Size: Fixed at 11 members (10 Elders + Lead Pastor).
Membership
Complex categories (Active, Associate, Inactive) have been eliminated. You are now simply a:
"Member"
Financial Protections
"Unusual Gifts": New requirement that "unusual or complicated gifts" (like real estate or restricted funds) must be reviewed and approved by the Council before acceptance.
Unified Voting Standards
Significant votes standardized to a consistent 75% threshold:
- Amendments: 75% of votes cast.
- Removing Elder/Member: 75% of Council.
- Calling Pastor: 75% of votes cast.
Budget Management
Safety Valve: Old rules forced immediate cuts. New rules allow Council to use savings to manage crises.
Old: Restriction New: Management
Conflict Resolution
Mandatory Mediation: Old rules focused on property rights. New rules focus on non-binding mediation with the ECC to resolve division.
Modernization
Gender Neutral
Previous documents often used gendered titles like "Chairman." New documents use gender-neutral language (e.g., "Chair").
Plain English
Removed dense legalese like "indemnification" and "hereinafter" wherever possible.
At a Glance Comparison
Topic
Old Documents
New Proposal
Document Structure
Old: Split (Articles + Bylaws)
New: Unified (Constitution & Bylaws)
Budget Shortfalls
Old: Forced spending cuts
New: Council can use savings
Executive Committee
Old: Informal/Not defined
New: Established for day-to-day issues
Treasurer
Old: Non-Voting
New: Voting Elder
Nominee Vetting
Old: Silent
New: Required by Nominating Comm.
Election Threshold
Old: Plurality (Highest vote)
New: Majority Vote Required
Pastor Suspension
Old: Silent
New: Allowed pending removal
Removal (Elder/Member)
Old: Unanimous (Elder)/66% (Member)
New: Standardized 75% Council Vote
Schism/Division
Old: Focus on Property
New: Mediation First
Gift Acceptance
Old: Silent on risky gifts
New: Council approval required