IBFNA Constitution

I.  Name

This shall be a fellowship of fundamental, separatist Baptists.  It shall be known as Independent Baptist Fellowship of North America.

II.  Purpose

Recognizing the need for a national fellowship of fundamentalist, separatist Baptists, we have organized for the following purposes:

A.                 To establish a nationwide fundamentalist, separatist association of Baptists to provide fellowship, counsel, a uniform standard of biblical faith and practice, and a vehicle for cooperation in promoting the evangelistic, church-planting and educational goals of the fellowship; and further

B.                 To emphasize the biblical teaching on separation from unbelievers in religious work (primary separation) and separation from believers who ignore or disobey the Bible’s teaching of primary separation (secondary separation); and

C.                 To raise a standard for personal separation from worldliness and worldly practices reflecting the truth that believers are new creatures in Christ; and

D.                 To provide information on current issues facing fundamental Baptists and others; and

E.                  To produce literature for churches and pastors who desire such materials.

III. Officers

1. Moderator

   1. To be nominated in writing from the membership and elected for a two-year term.
   2. An elected moderator may succeed himself for one term, then will not be eligible for reelection for two years.
   3. Duties:
      1. Moderate all conferences and business meetings of the Fellowship
      2. Be an ex officio member of all committees
      3. Be spokesman for the Fellowship

       

2. Secretary/Clerk

   1. To be nominated in writing from the membership and elected for a two-year term.
   2. An elected secretary/clerk may succeed himself for one term, then will not be eligible for reelection for two years.
   3. Duties
      1. Keep minutes of the business meetings
      2. Send out notices of conferences and nominations
      3. Serve as vice-moderator when needed

       

3. Treasurer

   1. To be nominated in writing from the membership and elected for a two-year term.
   2. An elected treasurer may succeed himself for one term, then will not be eligible for reelection for two years.
   3. Duties
      1. Receive and disburse any fellowship funds
      2. Keep accurate financial records

       

4. Managing Editor

   1. Shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and elected by membership at the Annual Meeting.
   2. The managing editor may succeed himself.
   3. Duty – Edit the official organ and other publications with the officers acting as an editorial committee.

    

5. All elected officers shall be the official Executive Committee of the Fellowship.

6. Standards

   1. All nominees for officers in IBFNA shall meet the qualifications for officers named in the Articles of Faith.
   2. No officer of the Fellowship shall commit the Fellowship on any matter except under the instructions of the Fellowship or Executive Committee or as he possesses evidence of the Fellowship’s position.

IV. Membership

1. A pastor or church member shall be eligible for membership if:
   1. He agrees without reservation with the constitution and articles of faith, and
   2. He is a member in good standing of an independent, fundamental, separatist, Baptist church.
2. Members are expected to pay the annual fee and to attend the annual meeting as enabled by the Lord. Voting eligibility will be given to those who have paid the current membership fee.
3. Membership will be withdrawn automatically when a member remains inactive by either failing to pay their annual fee, or attend the annual meeting for five years. Membership may be withdrawn by this Fellowship from any member by majority vote of this Fellowship after due process, according to Robert’s Rules of Order (Chapter 20).
4. A member may withdraw his membership in writing at any time for reasons sufficient to himself.

V. Agencies

1. Approval of mission boards, social agencies, and schools shall be left to the local church.
2. The Fellowship may, at its discretion, collect information useful to local churches to evaluate parachurch organizations.

VI. Conferences

1. The Fellowship shall sponsor an annual conference.
2. The conference program shall include expository Bible preaching and address current issues of concern to the churches.
3. The moderator shall appoint a program committee which shall recommend the next year’s conference program and location, to be approved by the membership.
4. Only such members who have signed affirmation of membership and paid the annual fee prior to the first business session of each annual conference shall be privileged to vote or to participate in discussions at that annual conference.

VII. Amendments

1. Proposed amendments shall be presented in writing without debate for consideration at the next annual conference.
2. Amendments shall be adopted upon 2/3’s majority approval by vote of the assembled members.

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Last modified: June 21, 2007