ARTICLE L. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Macedonia Baptist Church of Alexander, North Carolina -Buncombe Association.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The Macedonia Baptist Church is organized for the purpose of advancing and promoting the worship of God through the reading and study of the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God, the teaching and preaching of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, conducting regular services of worship for the Spiritual training, development and benefit of each member and for the winning of souls to Jesus Christ. This church shall be missionary in spirit, extending the Gospel through our organized religious channels to the entire world. It shall promote and maintain the teachings and doctrines of that Christian denomination universally known and designated as the Missionary Baptist Denomination. It shall exist to provide regular opportunities for public worship, to sustain the ordinances, doctrines and ethics set forth in the New Testament for the church of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to channel its offerings to the support of the objects of the Kingdom of God. In order to effectively carry forward the objects and purposes set forth above, the Church will have full power and authority to purchase, lease and acquire by gift, devise or bequest and to hold, mortgage, convey and dispose of all kinds of property, both real and personal, provide that the title to all property shall be vested in the Church trustees as here-in-after set forth.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership of this church shall be composed of persons who have given evidence of regeneration by the Spirit of God, who have been baptized by immersion, and who have subscribed to the church covenant, articles of faith, and constitution of this church, and Who have been received into membership by tote of the church.

Section 2. A member of another Baptist church may be received by a vote of the church upon promise of letter of transfer from the church where membership resides. The applying member will be in a watch-care relationship until letter of transfer is received from the other church.

Section 3. Anyone who has once been a member of a Baptist church and in consequence of peculiar circumstances has lost that relationship or is not able otherwise to promise a letter of transfer may be received into the fellowship of this church upon statement to the membership and by a vote of the church.

Section 4. Application for membership under circumstances other than these described in Sections 1,2, and 3 above will be considered by the church in conference, and the decision of the church will be final in each case.

Section 5. A letter of transfer to unite with another Baptist church may be issued upon request to the church which the member is planning to join providing such member is in good standing. All such applications must be passed upon by the church in conference.

Section 6. The church, after due notice and opportunity for hearing, and every possible kindly effort to make such action unnecessary, may upon majority of vote terminate the membership of a person in this body for reasons it considers sufficient to warrant such action.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS
Section 1. This church shall hold regular meetings for Worship, teaching, training, and fellowship.

Section 2. This church shall hold regular business meetings for the disposition of "all business matters not otherwise provided for, to hear reports from the various church organizations and to consider other matters essential to the spiritual welfare and prosperity of the congregation.

Section 3. Other meetings of the church as a whole or of authorized groups within the church may be set according to the needs of the organization.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
The officers of this church shall be a pastor, and other vocational leadership as needed, deacon's, trustees, clerk, treasurer, and other officers as shall be needed to do the work of the church in any of the departments or organizations. All of these shall be elected by the church, and shall be members in good standing at the time of election except that a pastor or other vocational leader may not be a member until after his call.

ARTICLE VI. ELECTION AND DUTIES OF CHURCH OFFICERS
A. Pastor
Section 1. Call: Whenever a vacancy occurs, a pastor shall be called by the church to serve until the relationship is dissolved at the request of either the pastor or the church. In either case, at least thirty days' notice shall be given to termination of the relationship, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon, with both pastor and church seeking to follow the will of God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The call of the pastor shall take place at a meeting especially set for that purpose of which at least one week's notice has been given the membership. The election shall be upon the recommendation of a special committee recommended by the deacons and approved by the church to seek out and nominate a pastor a minister of the Gospel whose Christian character and qualifications fit him for the office. The committee shall bring only one name at a time for the consideration of the church and no nominations shall be made except by the committee. Election shall be by ballot with an affirmative vote of three-fourths of those present and voting necessary for an extension of a call. Should the minister recommended by the committee fail to receive a three-fourths vote, the committee will be instructed to seek out another minister and the meeting at which the vote was taken shall be adjourned without debate.

Section 2. Duties: The pastor shall have in charge the welfare and oversight of the church; he shall be ex-offico member of all organizations, departments and committees; he may call a special meeting of the deacons or of any committee according to procedures which are set forth in the By-laws; he shall conduct religious services on stated and on special occasions, administer the ordinances, minister to the spiritual needs of the members of the church and community; he shall perform other duties that usually pertain to that office; he shall have special charge of the pulpit ministry of the church and shall, in cooperation with the deacons, provide for pulpit supply when he is absent, and shall arrange, with the concurrence of the deacons, for ministers to assist in revival meetings and workers to assist in other special services required by the church. It shall be his special responsibility to win the lost to Christ, to minister to the spiritual needs of the members of his congregation, and through prayer and study to render effective preaching and pastoral ministries.

B. Deacons
There shall be five deacons for the first 300 members of the church and two additional deacons for each additional 100 members. The Deacons shall be elected from among those members who have proven themselves to have Scriptural qualifications according to I Timothy 3 and Titus 1. They shall be elected for a term of three years. Upon the adoption of this constitution the existing deacons of the church shall decide upon a method of determining who shall rotate off so that a complete rotation may occur within three years with a replacement of one-third the number required to make up full strength being elected each year. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to present along with other church officers the names of one man for each existing vacancy to serve a three year term as deacon. These are to be presented at a business meeting prior to July 1 of each year. Deacons retiring from active participation by rotation shall retain their title of deacon and may be called upon for services by the church at any time but shall not be eligible for re-election to the active deaconate until at least one year has elapsed following their retirement from this service.
Deacons shall at all times regard themselves as servants of the church. With the pastor, and as the Holy Spirit may direct, they are to consider and make recommendations to the church to all matters pertaining to the work and progress of the church, including oversight of the discipline of the church and establishment and maintenance of spiritual fraternal relations with all members of the church. They shall assist the pastor in the observance of the ordinances; have general over- sight over the up-keep, repair and use of property (with proper respect for the responsibilities of the trustees), supervise the financial program of the church, including the appointment from among themselves of a budget committee which shall, with other church leadership, prepare and recommend to the church an annual budget. They shall arrange for regular meetings and such committees as are necessary to the discharge of their duties. The pastor, or the chairman of the deacons may call the deacons into special meeting whenever need for such arises.

C. Trustees
Upon the adoption of this constitution the three persons now serving as trustees shall be deemed re-elected, and at all times there shall be three trustees who are to hold title to all church property for the benefit of those members of the church who adhere and subscribe to the regular order of the church and who follow the established usage, customs, doctrines, practices and organizations of the church together with its connections with other denominational bodies whether a majority or a minority of the membership. The trustees shall execute all contracts deeds, mortgages or other instruments when authorized to do so by the church in conference. The trustees shall serve for an indefinite term and until their successors are duly elected by the church in conference. Upon the death, resignation or inability of any of the trustees to serve a successor shall be elected by the church in a conference called for this purpose.

D. Clerk
The clerk shall be elected annually upon recommendation of whatever committee is established to recommend the church officers. It shall be his responsibility to attend or be represented at all church business meetings, to keep an accurate record of all business transactions, to prepare the annual associational letter and to see that it is properly transmitted to the associational clerk, and he shall notify all officers, members of committees and messengers of their election or appointment; he shall issue letters of dismission as authorized by the church, preserve all papers and valuable records and letters that belong to the church, and preserve a true history of the church, keeping same in a safe place. It shall be the duty of the clerk to see that an accurate roll of the church membership is kept. Also, the dates and methods of admission and dismissal, change in name, correct mailing address and other pertinent information about each member shall be kept.

E. Treasurer
The church shall elect a treasurer annually. One who has served previously in this position will be eligible for re-election. He shall at all times keep an itemized account of all purchase orders, and shall approve all purchases, receipts and disbursements except those purchases designated by authority of the church. He shall render an account regularly to the church to be preserved by the church clerk. All books, records and accounts kept by the treasurer shall be the property of the church. The treasurer shall upon invitation meet with the deacons, and shall be an ex-officio member of the finance and budget committee.

F. Financial Secretary
The church shall elect a financial secretary annually. One who has served in this position previously shall be eligible for re-election. It shall be the duty of the financial secretary to receive and keep in a bank all monies or things of value given to the church, and shall disburse by check upon proper authority all money or things of value that are given to the church in accordance with instructions from the church. He shall direct the keeping of an accurate record of each contributor and each contribution, and have pre-pared and distributed a verified record of such contributions for tax purposes.

G. Music Director
Section 1. Call:
Whenever a vacancy occurs, a music director shall be called to serve the church until the relationship is dissolved at the request of either the either the music director or the church. The deacons in cooperation with the pastor shall be responsible for- seeking out a qualified person who can serve the church in this office. They shall then recommend such a person to the church in conference. A majority vote shall be required to extend a call.
Section 2. Duties: The Music Director shall have the responsibility of providing worshipful music for all services and departments of the church. He is to direct the choir in its practice and public singing and is to co-operate with the pastor and other leaders in the selection of suitable music and the devising of appropriate music programs for all occasions where such services are needed. The Pianist and Organist will co-operate with the Music Director at all times. Assistants in each of the three named offices will assume the duties of the office when their services are needed.

ARTICLE VII. -CHURCH GOVERNMENT
Section 1.
The government of this church shall be congregational in nature and shall be vested in the membership.

Section 2. Church Conference:
A church conference shall be held on Wednesday night of each month following the regular meeting of the deacons and at such other times as may be necessary. In addition to stated conferences a conference of the church may be called at any time by the pastor and chairman of deacons, or upon the request of any five members of the church who are regular in attendance and support.

Section 3. Moderator:
The pastor of the church shall preside as church moderator; in his absence the chairman of deacons shall preside as vice- moderator; in the absence of the moderator and vice-moderator the pastor shall designate some other member in good standing to preside.

Section 4. Quorum:
A quorum shall consist of not less than fifteen percent of the resident membership of the church.

Section 5. Minutes:
The church clerk shall keep minutes of each business meeting and shall record the approximate number present, whether a quorum was present and what actions were taken by the church.

ARTICLE VIII. AFFILIATION
Section 1.
This church is a free, autonomous independent body, congregational in nature with authority to determine for itself in the manner set forth in this constitution, free of any outside control, authority or power, whether governmental otherwise, the use of its property and all church policies.

Section 2. Association:
The church recognizes the value and mutual helpfulness in the voluntary association of church Which are in such agreement in faith and practice as to make possible a spirit of fellowship and good will. It is recognized that association and co-operation between such churches will influence the missionary, education and benevolent interest of each other. The church does therefore, declare its intention as far as conscience will allow to work in mutual co-operation with other Baptist bodies.

Section 3. Affiliation:
Upon the adoption of this constitution this church shall be deemed to have affiliated in friendly co-operation with the aims of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, and of the Southern Baptist Convention as set forth in the constitution of these autonomous bodies and through duly elected messengers will participate in their deliberative assemblies, and shall as we are able support the missionary, benevolent and educational programs of each.

Section 4. Discontinuance of affiliation and/or Co-operation:
The calling of a church conference for the purpose of discontinuance of co-operation with the Baptist State Convention and/or the Southern Baptist Convention will require that written notice be sent to each resident member of the church, stating the purpose and time of said conference. Action to withdraw to be valid must be carried by vote of three-fourths of the members present and voting; in which case transferal of property shall be effected in accordance with the will of the three- fourths majority. In the event of serious rupture in fellowship at this point and the necessity of such action as above set forth, it is expected that the various factions of the church will sit down in Christian love and in the spirit of prayer seek to effectuate reconciliation or an agreeable basis of division, each being mindful of the Beatitude which says, 11Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

ARTICLE IX. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This constitution shall be considered adopted and in immediate effect if and when three-fourths of the members present and voting at the business meeting at which vote is taken shall vote in favor of same. This vote shall be taken not less than thirty days after formal presentation of the constitution to the church, and notice of such meeting in which the vote is to take place shall be given at least one week in advance.

Section 2. This constitution may be amended, altered, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular business meeting of the church providing, however, that such amendment alteration, or repeal shall have been given to the clerk in writing; and the proposed change shall have presented to the church at least thirty days prior to the time the vote is taken.