By-Laws Revisions 2025

The By-Laws were last revisited in 2013. As part of good governance, we did another review of the By-Laws and are proposing some changes to the congregation. Any change requires ⅔ majority approval at a congregational meeting, except for any change to the Statement of Faith (of which we are proposing one, Section 2.09), which requires a 90% majority approval.

We will have a Q&A on October 19 and any questions should be submitted to elders@indychinesechurch.org by October 12.

Proposed Redline of By-Laws

Reasons for Proposed Changes

Section 2.09 Statement of Faith 信仰宣言

  • Propose to remove the phrase "and pre-millennial."
  • 建議移除“和前千禧年”。
  • We do not believe the issue of pre-millennial, post-millennial or millennial is a core doctrinal issue
  • 關於前千禧年，後千禧年，或者無千禧年的爭論不關乎我們信仰的核心教義
  • (As this is a Statement of Faith issue, this amendment requires a 90% approval.)
  • 因為關係到我們的信仰，此補充條款需要至少90%的投票通過。

Section 3.06 Eligibility 會籍

  • Propose to change the standard from attending 1x every 6 months, to instead be "regular" attendance of Sunday Worship.
  • 會員參加教會主日崇拜從“至少每半年一次”修改為“按常规参加”。
  • We believe Sunday Worship is a critical part of both Christian life and also church membership. Small Groups and Fellowship activities are important but Sunday Worship should serve as the foundation.
  • 我們相信參加主日崇拜對於基督徒生活以及作為教會會員都是至關重要的一個部分。雖然小組聚會和團契活動也很重要，但是主日崇拜是根基。
  • We are intentionally not defining how to quantify "regularly", though we are comfortable it is more than 1x every 6mo. We do not think this should be a legalistic issue and we are not interested in tracking attendance. We believe we can use common sense and a reasonable interpretation.
  • 我們不具體規定“按常規”參加所指的最少出勤率，也不會統計出勤率，但是希望是遠多於每半年一次，而且相信我們可以用我們的常識來理解和判斷何為“ 按常規 ”參加。
  • We understand that from time to time, there will be certain circumstances preventing Sunday attendance, including health / mobility issues or job duties. This is another reason we do not want to define a certain # or % of attendance.
  • 我們理解每個人都會有特殊情況的時候，比如因為健康問題，行動能力受限，或者履行工作職責，不能參加主日崇拜。也因此我們不設定具體的出勤率。

Section 4.01 Meetings of Members 聚會

  • Propose to remove Sunday School from the definition of Worship Services.
  • 建議將主日學從“敬拜聚會”的定義中移除。
  • Because we are looking for “regular” attendance to Sunday Worship, we are also tightening the definition of Sunday Worship so that Sunday School attendance, though encouraged, is not a membership requirement.
  • 因為我們強調對主日崇拜的“定期”參加，所以我們也收緊了對主日崇拜的定義，因此主日學的出席雖然被鼓勵，但不作為會員資格的要求。

Section 5.02 Elders Board 長老會

  • Propose that the Scriptural standards for Elders are a requirement for qualification, not just a consideration.
  • 建議明確長老的聖經標準是任職資格的必要條件，而不僅僅是參考因素。
  • Propose that Elders need to abide by all Membership Duties.
  • 建議明確長老必須遵守所有會員職責
  • Propose that, in addition to Deacon service, meaningful service in key ministries also meets the requirements for experience.
  • 建議除了執事服事之外，參與核心事工中有意義的服事也滿足對於服事經歷的要求。

Section 6.03 Deacons Board 執事會

  • Propose that the Scriptural standards are a requirement for qualification, not just a consideration.
  • 建議明確執事的聖經標準是任職資格的必要條件，而不僅僅是參考因素。
  • Propose that Deacons need to abide by all Membership Duties.
  • 建議明確執事必須遵守所有會員職責

Section 6.07 Deacons Board 執事會

  • Propose to simplify the list of duties of Deacons, in order to give the church more latitude in the types of Deacons we have, so that the roles can adjust over time, instead of being permanently tied to these specific areas.
  • 建議簡化執事的職責清單，以便給予教會在設立不同類型執事時有更多的靈活性，使執事的分工能夠隨時調整，而不是永久地綁定在特定的職責範圍內。

Section 6.10 Deacons Board 執事會

  • Propose to make the language here match to the same section for Elders (5.07); unclear why the standard was any different.
  • 建議將此處的措辭與長老條款（5.07）保持一致；目前標準為何有所不同不夠明確。