About Us Constitution & By-Laws       Constitution and By-Laws of The Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association Article I - Name This Association shall be known as “The Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association, Inc.” (hereafter referred to as “Association”).  Article II - Purpose The purpose of this cooperative work of churches is to encourage the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world as  commanded by Christ in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20; to establish Scriptural missions and churches; to cultivate a  deeper fraternal spirit of cooperation among the churches; and to provide a medium through which all member churches may share in  these endeavors. Article III - Principles Section 1.  This Association shall have no power to lord over God’s heritage, but it shall be considered an advisory council.      A. In all cases, when differences are between individual members or sister churches, the same rule shall be observed as laid down in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew and other Scriptures corresponding therewith.      B. No query shall be received by this Association until it shall have been taken up and acted upon in the churches where it originated,  then, if the church fails to get satisfaction, it shall be received.  Section 2.  As an Association, we do not hesitate to say that as it regards missionary institutions, we shall not be bound to contribute  to any, but will be left to act as the Scriptures may direct.  Section 3.  This Association may directly correspond with other Associations from time to time. Section 4.  This constitution may be altered or amended at any regular meeting of the Association by a majority of two-thirds present.   Any proposed amendment must be presented and discussed soon after the beginning of a meeting of messengers of the Association  and must lay over until nearing the end of said meeting to be voted on without further discussion.  Section 5.  This Association shall be governed by regular decorum. Article IV - Membership Section 1. This Association shall consist of regular Baptist Missionary Association Churches represented in annual session by  messengers who shall produce letters certifying their election. Each church shall be entitled to representation by three messengers. Section 2.  New churches may be admitted into this Association by presenting Petitionary Letters by messengers sent for that  purpose, provided that on examination, their principles be found to be orthodox and their practice orderly.  A new church may be  received by a unanimous vote of the messenger body.  Section 3. In the event of heresy in doctrine or any malpractice and the Association shall have exercised its discretion as advisory  council and failed to obtain satisfaction, it shall be the duty of this body to drop such churches from our union .  This vote shall be by  majority of two-thirds of the messenger body.  Article V - Meetings Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of messengers from the churches on the Monday evening following the fourth Sunday of  September.  The place of each annual meeting shall be determined by a majority vote of the messengers.  Section 2.   It shall be the duty of the respective church to send a letter to the Association naming their delegates, stating the numbers  received by baptism since the last Association, the number received by letter, dismisses, excluded, dead, and the total members with  the amount sent for the Associational fund.  Section 3.   This Association shall maintain a Worker’s Meeting subject to call of the chair and each church shall be entitled to one  messenger.  Their messengers shall act as an executive body to carry out the objectives of this Association between annual meetings. Article VI– Officers Section 1. The officers of this Association shall consist of a moderator, vice moderator, clerk and a treasurer, who shall be assistant  clerk, and any other officer deemed advisable.  Section 2.  It shall be the duty of the Association in the first session of each annual meeting to elect its officers who shall begin  serving at the conclusion of the annual meeting in which they are elected with the exception of the clerk who shall begin serving  immediately upon election. Section 3.  The officers of the Association shall serve as Trustees.   The trustees shall comply with the requirements of the State of  Texas pertaining to religious corporations and is so organized as a legal entity with authority to receive title to real or other property.  Section 4.  A Reporter shall be annually elected by the Association.  The duties of the reporter will be to collect and report pertaining  to the interests of the churches.  Such information would then be furnished for publication through the news media such as The Baptist  Progress and appropriate websites. Section 5.  No officer of the Association shall receive monetary compensation derived from or incidental to the management,  investment, or disbursement of properties belonging to the Dallas County Baptist  Missionary Association except for such compensation  specifically approved by vote of the Association meeting in regular or called session.  Section 6.  The officers of the Association shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of actual expenses incurred in carrying out their  duties as directed by the Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association and/or its officers.  Section 7.  At the annual Association meeting in lieu of compensation from professional services rendered a love offering from the  general fund shall be given to the clerk, reporter, and treasurer.   The amount shall be recommended by the  Property and Personnel  Committee and approved by the Association.  Section 8.  The officers of this Association must be members of churches affiliated with and in good standing with the Dallas County  Baptist Missionary Association. Article VII – Funds It shall be the duty of this Association to keep an Associational fund to defray expenses of same, including correspondence, and the  churches shall send by their delegates what voluntary contributions they think proper for that purpose.  Article VIII - Committees Section 1.  The Property and Personnel Committee.  This Committee shall be composed of seven (7) members.  Four of these are  the serving officers of the  Association, namely, Moderator, Vice Moderator, Treasurer, and Clerk.  Three of these members shall be  elected on a staggered basis, one third being elected each year. At the beginning of each new year the committee shall have an organizational meeting at which they shall elect a chairman and a clerk.    In  accordance with accepted rules of decorum, the chair may not make motions or vote, except in the case of a tie.  In such case, the  chair may cast the tie breaking vote.  The duties of this committee are: A. To investigate and bring before the Association recommendations which they feel to be in the best interest of missions.  B. To investigate the qualification of each prospective missionary and make recommendations accordingly. C.  To make salary recommendations of missionary personnel. D.  To investigate when a missionary’s work becomes unsatisfactory or his doctrinal beliefs or moral character becomes  questionable. E.  To serve as a planning and steering committee for a new mission works,  primarily in the development of guidelines for the  missionary and mission project. F.  To cause an annual budget to be prepared and presented to the Association for adoption at its regular annual meeting. Section 2.  The Obituary Committee.   This committee shall be composed of three who shall be appointed annually by the moderator.  Section 3.  The Resolutions Committee.  This committee shall be composed of three who shall be appointed by the moderator.   Section 4.  The Petitionary Letter Committee.  This committee shall be composed of three who shall be appointed by the moderator  at the beginning of the annual meeting as soon as business is declared.  This committee shall receive the application, investigate the  qualification of each church seeking membership in this Association, and report its findings to the messengers in regular assembly. Section 5.  The Investigations Committee.  This committee shall be composed of three who shall be appointed by the moderator  when a church is challenged as to representation and for the seating of her messengers.  This committee shall investigate the charges  and report its findings to the messenger assembly. Section 6.  The Audit Committee.  This committee of two shall be elected annually to serve the Association in auditing and reviewing  all financial records that would be received by officers of the Association.  They shall verify the accounting procedures and accuracy of  those records indicating the income and disbursement of funds as received from churches and/or individuals.  Consideration should be  given that those persons elected should be qualified in record keeping and accounting principles. Article IX - Request for Assistance By Established Churches Section 1.  Any church requesting assistance is to submit its request in writing to the Property and Personnel Committee.  This  request should state the events incurred giving rise to the request, the needs necessary to alleviate the situation, and what action the  church expects the Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association to take.  Section 2.   All requests will be taken on a first come basis, and the committee will determine according to the kind of assistance  needed, a plan of action.  Section 3.  All requests shall have a written response from the Property and  Personnel Committee within 30 days of receiving  information in Article IX, Section 1, or after additional requested information.   The Association, by recommendation of the Property and  Personnel Committee, shall make the final determination as to the action that should be taken. Section 4.  Upon acceptance of the approved recommendation by the requesting church, the church and the Property and Personnel  Committee shall proceed under the Guidelines outlined in Article X of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Dallas County Baptist  Missionary Association. Article X - Assisting An Established Church Section 1.  When a requesting church has followed the procedures in Article IX—Request for Assistance, the church shall elect a  committee, of at least three and not more than seven, that shall meet and plan with the Property and Personnel Committee or one of its  subcommittees. Section 2.  If financial assistance is needed for more than a period of three months the church shall:    A.  Vote in regular conference to disband and become a mission of Dallas County.     B.  If the church is without a pastor it shall be the duty of the joint committee (Article X, Section 1) to seek out a qualified missionary  and/or pastor.  In the interim period the committee shall seek to provide an interim pastor.     C.  If the church has a pastor, he shall submit an “Application for Missionary”  and be subject to the process of application review.     D.  The church treasurer shall submit a monthly report to the Property and Personnel Committee of all income and expenses.  The  joint committee shall establish a budget for the mission and see that it is adhered to. Section 3.  The joint committee shall design a strategy to return the mission to a thriving and functioning church as soon as possible. Article XI - Guidelines for Requesting and Establishing a Mission Point Section 1.  A church may seek assistance from the Association in establishing a mission under the following guidelines:    A.  Present to the Property and Personnel Committee a written request stating the church’s desire, resources and commitment to  establishing a mission.    B.  In turn the Property and Personnel Committee shall review the request and respond in writing within thirty days as to the feasibility  of such a joint project.     C.  A joint committee shall be established to outline the details of establishing a mission. Upon approval of the written outline plans,  by both the sponsoring church and the Property and Personnel Committee, the request can be presented to the Association for  approval.     D.  Periodic review periods shall be held by the joint committee which shall submit a written report to the Property and Personnel  Committee.  Section 2.  Other entities (local associations, BMA of Texas and BMA of America) may seek assistance from the Association in  establishing a mission under the following guidelines:    A.  Present to the Property and Personnel Committee a written request stating the church’s desire, resources and commitment to  establishing a mission.    B.  In turn the Property and Personnel Committee shall review the request and respond in writing within thirty days as to the feasibility  of such a joint project.     C.  A joint committee shall be established to outline the details of establishing a mission.  Upon approval of the written outline plans,  by both the requesting entity and the Property and Personnel Committee, the request can be  presented to the Association for approval.     D.  Periodic review periods shall be held by the joint committee which shall submit a written report to the Property and Personnel  Committee. Section 3.  The Association can establish a mission point under the following guidelines:   A.  The Property and Personnel Committee shall present to the Association a general plan for each mission project outlining the  following:  missionary/pastor, estimated budget, time scale, area of ministry and any other information the committee deems necessary  for the project.  Article XII – Dissolution of the Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association Should it become necessary to dissolve the Association, any remaining assets of the Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association  must be used exclusively to further the mission work of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas and/or the Baptist Missionary  Association of America. Note: This Constitution and By-Laws was amended and modified by over two-thirds vote in Annual Session on September 24,  2007 by official messengers from member Churches of The Dallas County Baptist Missionary Association.