Annapolis-Digby United Baptist Association

A Vision Statement for the Annapolis-Digby United Baptist Association
(adopted by Council on March 2, 2002)

Our unifying purpose is to glorify our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, by supporting the implementation of the Great Commission (Matt 28: 19-20). Particularly, we take up the call to mobilize the member churches of the Annapolis-Digby United Baptist Association for creative
service. As a catalyst, the Association will become a gathering point where each church is challenged to reach its kingdom potential. This challenge will come through:

1. meaningful worship experiences
2. encouragement-forming fellowship
3. relevant, inspiring knowledge
4. service with mission impact; and
5. focused leadership

Expanding the Vision:

Effective disciples need opportunities to grow. The above vision speaks to the Association having
a role in assisting the development of ministry within and beyond the scope of the local church. These are the five areas in which disciples can participate:

I. WORSHIP:

Our vision is churches of the Annapolis-Digby Association coming together to praise our great God
in love and adoration: a worship experience that will embrace all generations and employ the
gifts of disciples in stirring God's people to rejoice in His Son, the Lord Jesus.

II. FELLOWSHIP:

Our vision is to hear the joy of God's family as disciples meet together and share what it is to be the church. A growing appreciation of fellowship deepens our attachment for one another and creates prayer awareness.

III. KNOWLEDGE:

Our vision is disciples gaining the knowledge base to put in motion dynamic dreams of ministry. Linking Association churches to creative individuals and effective models will demonstrate the
"how to" of being relevant to our society. Special training events will allow disciples to explore new ways of being the church and in being more effective in current ministries.

IV. SERVICE:

Our vision is disciples reaching out to the non-churched across the generations throughout the
communities of our Association. Through new initiatives in evangelism and missions at home and beyond, among youth and young families, a renewed ownership of Association will be demonstrated by pastors and laity.

V. LEADERSHIP:

Our vision is a percolating forum on the nature and development of ministry, where disciples
contribute to the leadership core; the Council. Strategic planning will target resources for
vision priorities. The Moderator and Executive will keep Council aware of Convention initiatives. Through communication tools, anticipation for Association events will be encouraged. Development of future leadership is a key task in which to participate.

(adopted December 4, 1975 at Smith's Cove United Baptist Church, Nova Scotia and revised and adopted on April 25, 1992 at Middleton United Baptist Church, Nova Scotia)

Article I: Name ~ Article II: Members ~ Article III: Doctrine ~ Article IV: Object ~ Article V: Delegates ~ Article VI: Executive Officers ~ Article VII: Times of Association Assembly Meetings ~ Article VIII: The Council Organization ~ Article IX: Association Committees ~ Article X: Council Representatives ~ Article XI: Association Assembly Voting ~ Article XII: Membership ~ Article XIII: Association Assembly Quorum ~ Article XIV: Amendments ~ Suggested Rules of Order

Article I: Name

This body shall be known as the Annapolis-Digby United Baptist Association serving United Baptist Churches in the geographic areas covered by the counties of Annapolis and Digby in the province of Nova Scotia.

Article II: Members

All United Baptist churches already members of the Association, and those churches in future received into this continuing Association upon written application, and by a two-third majority vote of the delegates at a regularly called meeting, followed by a service of recognition shall be members of the Annapolis-Digby Association.

Article III: Doctrine

The Doctrinal Beliefs of this Association shall be those of the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces [now Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches] as expressed in the Basis of Union of 1905-1906.

Article IV: Object

The object of this Association is to promote the work of Christ's Kingdom within the Association, in harmony with the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces, including the promotion of fellowship, unity, spiritual posterity and growth among the churches comprising the Association; reaching out to meet the needs of the communities within the area, and supporting the denomination in its missionary and educational work at home and overseas.

Article V: Delegates

The following persons will be recognized as accredited delegates to the Association assembly, being in every instance a member of one of the churches of the Association.

A) Each church in the Association shall be entitled to send two delegates for the first fifty members or fraction thereof, two additional delegates for the second fifty members thereof, and a further delegate for each fifty additional members or fraction thereof, but no church shall be entitled to send more than ten delegates, and such delegates shall be officially appointed at a meeting of the church; others from the church will, however, be warmly welcomed as visitors who may participate fully in the programme and discussion, but may not vote.

B) In addition to the above, every ordained minister in good standing of the United Baptist Church to which he/she is a member, living within the bounds of this Association, shall be deemed as delegates.

C) Each licentiate in good standing serving a church within the Association shall be deemed a delegate.

D) The Association Officers and Council Members shall be recognized as delegates.

Article VI: Executive Officers

The officers of the Association shall be the Moderator, Vice-Moderator, the Clerk and Assistant-Clerk.

Article VII: Times of Association Assembly Meetings

The Association shall meet in Assembly at least twice a year. The Annual meeting or Spring Session shall be held on the last weekend in April, and the fall session on the last weekend of September, with the proviso that in extenuating circumstances that the Executive Officers shall be permitted to change the date of any Association meeting.

Article VIII: The Council Organization

A. The Council

1. Members of Council: The members of the Council shall be twenty-four in number: the four table officers: Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, Assistant Clerk; the immediate Past Moderator; the President of the Association Women's Missionary Societies, the President or representative of the Association Baptist Men, the representative of the Association Youth organization or its equivalent, the Association Youth Advisor and fifteen elected members. The Area Minister for Area II shall be an advisory member.

2. Election and Term of Office: Each year, one-third of the elected members of the Council (five members) shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to serve for a three year term. Each member so elected shall be eligible for re-election once, and shall then retire for at least one year. A person having served on the Council for six years shall be eligible for re-election as an Executive Officer without lapse of time. In the event of a vacancy occurring, a successor may be appointed by the Council until the next regular meeting of the Association. The Moderator and Vice-Moderator shall be elected for a two year term with provision for re-election once.

3. Meetings:

(a) The council shall meet four times a year on the following dates: the first Saturday in December, March and June, and on the second Saturday in September.

(b) Special Meetings of the Council may be called by the Moderator upon the written request of at least six members of the Council. Such special meetings shall be held after at least three weeks notice has been given by mail. Notice may be waived, provided seventy-five percent of the Council members are present and at least two-thirds of those present consent.

B. Commissions of the Council

1. Provision for Commissions: In order to carry out the work of the Association, the Council shall be divided into three Commissions as follows: The Christian Training Commission, the Witness and Evangelism Commission, the Mission Commission.

2. Members: Each of the three Commissions shall consist of seven or eight members of the Council; not more than five persons named to serve as co-opted members; and additional consultants as deemed necessary.

(a) Co-opted members are persons named for a one-year term by the Commission with the approval of the Council. Co-opted members shall retire at the end of the term, but shall be eligible for re-appointment. They shall be members in good standing of a constituent church. Co-opted members shall have the right to vote in Commissions but not in the plenary sessions of the Council. Costs of attendance at Commission meetings shall be paid on the same basis as Council members.

(b) Commission Consultants are persons named by the same process as co-opted members, to serve as consultants for as long as desired by the Commission. The term of office shall not be longer than one year without review. Consultants need not be members of a constituent church.

3. Naming of Members and Terms of Office: The Commissions shall be reorganized each year and the Council members shall be named to the Commissions by the officers of the Association as soon as practical, following the Annual election. The presidents of the Association WMS, the Baptist Men, and the Association Youth organization, or their representatives, shall be named to whichever Commission desirable under existing circumstances.

4. Officers of the Commissions: Each Commission shall elect its own Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.

5. Times of Meeting: The Commissions shall meet at least four times annually when the Council meets, with a schedule that includes meetings of Commissions simultaneously, followed by a meeting of the Council. A second brief meeting of the Commission may follow the Council meeting to develop plans based on matters that might be referred by the Council. The Commissions may schedule other meetings as desired.

6. Commission Substructures: The three Commissions may develop suitable sub-committees, study and research groups to facilitate thorough planning, cooperative programming, and the communication of Association and Convention policy.

7. Duties of Commissions:

(a) Training and Christian Education: The duties of the Commission shall include programmes that relate to training for Christian living and service such as Camping, Christian Education, institutions such as Acadia Divinity College, Atlantic Baptist University, Ministerial Training, and special groups such as WMS, Baptist Men and Atlantic Baptist Youth.

(b) Witness and Evangelism: The duties of the Commission shall include activities which relate to sharing the Christian Life and Faith with others, and shall include such activities as Evangelism, Radio and Television, Publications and Historical Records, Social Action, Chaplaincy, and inter-denominational relationships.

(c) Mission Commission: The duties of the Commission shall include activities which relate to our Mission in the world, such as Home Missions, Church Extension, International Missions, Stewardship, including pastors' salaries, the Canadian Baptist Federation, and the Baptist World Alliance.

Article IX: Association Committees

Committees of the Association shall include a Budget Committee, a Nomination Committee, an Association Assembly Programme Committee and a Licensing Committee.

(a) Budget and Finance Committee: The Budget Committee shall consist of the Moderator, Clerk-Treasurer, plus three persons elected by the Association. The function of this committee shall be to examine the budgets of estimated income and proposed expenditures by the various participating units of the Association, including Commissions; to prepare and present to the Association in Assembly, the estimates of receipts and disbursements for the ensuing financial year of the Association.

(b) Nomination Committee: The Nomination Committee shall be constituted with the immediate Past-Moderator as chairperson. In cases where he/she is unable to serve, the chairperson shall be appointed by Council. Four other persons shall be nominated by the current Nomination Committee, two of whom shall be non-Council members. None of these shall be eligible for re-election to the Nomination Committee for the following year. Consent to serve must be secured from the nominees. Further nominations may be made from the floor, providing consent to serve has been obtained.

(c) Association Assembly Programme Committee: The Association Assembly Programme Committee shall be formed with the Vice-Moderator as Chairperson, the officers of the Association, one representative from each of the Commissions and representative each from the Women's, Men's and Youth organizations. The programmes for both Association Assemblies during the year will be their responsibility.

(d) Licensing Committee: The Licensing Committee shall be a standing Committee responsible to the Training Commission. The Licensing Committee shall consist of three members elected by the Association Assembly, on a three year rotating basis.

Article X: Council Representatives

1. Convention Examining Council: Representatives and Alternates to the Convention Ordination Examining Council shall be nominated by the Nomination Committee and elected by the Association Assembly for a three year term in accordance with Convention regulations.

2. Camp Kingswood Committee: Representatives to the Camp Kingswood Committee shall be nominated by the Nomination Committee and elected by the Association in Assembly. The representatives will report to the Association Training Commission and one representative shall be a member or co-opted member of that Commission.

3. Area II Representatives: Representatives to the Area II Committee of the United Baptist Convention of the Atlantic Provinces shall be Moderator and Clerk-Treasurer, or alternates approved by the Association Council.

Article XI: Association Assembly Voting

All questions before the Association shall be decided by a majority vote except in the instance of changing the Constitution and admitting or dissolving connection with churches, when a two-thirds majority shall be required.

Article XII: Membership

Membership in the Annapolis-Digby United Baptist Association shall consist of United Baptist Churches in the counties of Annapolis and Digby in the province of Nova Scotia and/or churches in adjacent areas accepted and already members of the Association, or in future received into this continuing Association.

(a) Any church may be received into membership of this Association after having given written application, and by a two-thirds majority vote of the delegates at a regularly called meeting. Such acceptance shall be followed by a Service of Recognition.

(b) The Association may dissolve its connection with any church, which, after proper examination, shall be judged by the Association to have departed from the United Baptist faith and practice.

Article XIII: Association Assembly Quorum

Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at an Association meeting.

Article XIV: Amendments

This Constitution may be altered or amended at any Annual meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority vote of the delegates present, provided notice of such intended alteration or amendment has been given at the previous Association Assembly meeting.

Suggested Rules of Order

1. Every meeting shall be opened and closed with prayer.

2. Persons invited to a seat (non-delegates) may speak on all subjects, but vote on none.

3. No person shall speak more than twice on any motion, unless given permission by the body.

4. Motions made and lost shall not be recorded in the minutes, unless ordered to do so at the
time.

5. The government of the body and the regulations of its proceedings shall be strictly in
accordance with parliamentary usage.

6. Immediately after the opening of the Association meeting, these rules shall be distinctly read
from the chair.

1. The Host Church provides child care and a nursery if notified by the Council or other churches in advance of the meeting date of such a need.

2. The Host Church is responsible for an organist for hymns for the Saturday program for the General Meeting, the WMS Meeting, and the Sunday Night Rally Service. The Association WMS will arrange with the host church WMS if there is to be special music during the WMS program time.

3. The Host Church will provide ushers for taking up the offering for the Association in the afternoon, the offering at the Rally service on Sunday evening, and the morning offering for the WMS, unless the host WMS wishes to provide their own Ushers.

4. The menu of the noon meal is left up to the Host church, with the price negotiable. We try to keep the price of a cold or light lunch between $4 and $5, and a hot dinner between $5 and $6. The clerk will provide tickets to sell at registration for the dinner, unless the Host Church notifies the clerk that they wish to provide their own tickets.

5. Registration is done by designated members of the Host Church, so a large table with room for several registration sheets, is necessary. A separate table for the purchase of lunch tickets eliminates congestion while registering. All materials such as pens, registration sheets, Annual Booklets and name tags are provided by the Association and brought by the clerk to the church. The supplying of coffee, tea, juice and muffins at registration is left up to the Host Church.

6. The Host Church provides facilities for the WMS and Elective programs, but in smaller churches, if it should be necessary to use community facilities, a small rental fee will be covered by the Association.

7. The Association provides envelopes for offerings, the bulletins for the Sunday Rally Service. Costs incurred for speakers and any Honoraria are paid by the Association. In the case of active missionaries, the honoraria is paid to Canadian Baptist Ministries on behalf of the missionary.

8. The programs for the Association meetings are planned jointly by the Council Program Planning Committee, which is made up of the Past-Moderator as Chair, heads of the Commissions, Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Clerk, and the President, Vice-President and Secretary of the WMS. As well, we meet with the Pastor of the Host Church so that the Church is aware of the planning which is being done, and the role of the church in the execution of those plans.

9. The Sunday Evening Rally Service is usually held at 7:30 pm. A fellowship time may be held after the Rally Service, but this is entirely up to the Host Church.

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