BY-LAWS OF GOLDEN HEART CALVARY CHAPEL

CREATED JANUARY 8, 2026

 

ARTICLE I: Name

This fellowship, incorporated under the laws of the State of Alaska as the Golden Heart Calvary Chapel (GHCC), shall be so known.

ARTICLE II: Relationship

The Golden Heart Calvary Chapel exists for the assembling of believers in Christ Jesus for religious worship, for the promotion of scriptural holiness, for the spreading of the Gospel, by the preaching of the Word, and by personal testimony. It shall, however, maintain a home base, in Fairbanks, Alaska, for the purpose of:

(1) Headquarters for GHCC.

(2) A community church for Fairbanks, Alaska. This church shall be known as Golden Heart Calvary Chapel.

ARTICLE III: Election of Officers

Section (1) Only congregants in good standing in GHCC shall be eligible to hold office after one year of regular attendance.

Section (2) Time of Election: An annual election of officers shall be held at the Annual Business Meeting to take place no later than November 15th. Nominations to be open at least two Sundays prior to election.

Section (3) Method of Election: The officers shall be elected by a simple majority of congregation. In case of necessity, absentee ballot will be allowed.

Section (6) The GHCC Board shall consist of five members and shall be elected to serve for a period of one year.

  1. General Duties:
  2. Recommend overall Church policies.
  3. Implement policies.
  4. Pulpit Supply
  5. Making arrangement for substitute pastor.
  6. Secure pastoral candidates for approval by congregants in good standing for one year.
  7. Specific duties of Officers:

         President:

  1. a) To chair all meetings
  2. b) To call special meetings to fill board vacancies or for any call for special business
  3. c) To assign other committees as needed
  4. d) To serve as signatory on the Church bank account in the absence of the Pastor

Vice President:

  1. a) To serve as President in the absence of the elected President
  2. b) To oversee the programs of the Church
  3. c) To serve as signatory on the Church bank account

Secretary:

  1. a) To record church board minutes, church congregation meeting minutes and

         maintain an accurate recording file system

  1. b) To be responsible for correspondence pertinent to Church business to the board

         and congregation

Treasurer:

  1. a) To keep a record of all receipts; legal documents and expenditures
  2. b) To bank all monies
  3. c) To serve as signatory on the Church bank account.
  4. d) To prepare annual reports (and others as required) for Church Board and

         Congregation

  1. e) Report out Church finances to the board at each meeting
  2. f) Responsibility to work directly with external accountant supporting church

         finances

Education Director:

  1. a) To coordinate Church Educational activities
  2. b) To direct Sunday School and Youth Group activities
  3. c) Recommend to the Board for approval teachers for Sunday School
  4. d) Bring education curriculum to the Board for review and approval

Pastor:

  1. a) The Pastor of the Church shall act as ex-officio at any or all board meetings.
  2. b) The Pastor attends board meetings but does not vote.

        

Board meetings.

Section (7)

  1. a) Interim GHCC Board Seat vacancies shall be filled by GHCC Board

         appointment until the next annual election.

  1. b) Frequency, time and place of GHCC Board meetings:

                   1) Interim, monthly until all board items complete

                   2) Monthly – progress report for the board

                   3) Monthly – report out to the congregation

                   4) Quarterly – financial report to board, released to congregation

                   5) Annual – Church business meeting, include congregation

ARTICLE IV: Financial Responsibility

Section (1) The  GHCC Board shall co-operate in proposing a budget to the congregation for approval at the regular annual meeting. 

Section (2) Expenditures outside the approved budget by authorized entities shall

not exceed $1000.00 for any single outlay without GHCC Board approval.

ARTICLE V: Selection of New Pastor

Section (1) The pastor committee (GHCC Board) shall present name or names of

prospective pastors to the general congregation.

Section (2) Candidates shall be announced at least two succeeding weeks prior to election.

Section (3) A two-thirds majority of the congregation present will select the pastor.

Section (4) A new pastor will be offered a one year call, at which time a vote of

congregation shall determine the nature of an additional call.

Section (5) Pastor may be removed at any time for cause by the GHCC board; see Scriptural reference:

Galatians. 5:19, 20 & 21, 2 Peter 2:1-3, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

ARTICLE VI: Amendments

Section (1) Any revision of the by-laws shall be made after two weeks notice of proposed changes recommended by the GHCC Board.

Section (2) The constitution and by-laws shall be reviewed within 2 (two) years after the initial adoption, and thereafter at 5 (five) year intervals by the GHCC board.

ARTICLE VII: Statement of Faith

GHCC is an independent work established for the conversion of souls and edification of believers.

  • We believe in one God, creator of Heaven and earth eternal, almighty, infallible, and unchangeable, infinitely wise, just, and holy; and that God eternally, exists and manifests Himself to us in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God.
  • We believe that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, died a redeeming death, rose again, ascended into Heaven, and is coming again.
  • We believe in the Holy Spirit and that his work is to convict men of sin, regenerate, and to indwell, keep and empower the believer so he can be victorious over any known sin and live a holy life, separated from all that might dishonor God.
  • We believe that the inspired word of God, consisting of 66 books of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is the supreme and final authority for believers.
  • We believe that man is saved solely by grace through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
  • We believe that baptism and communion are biblical principles we abide by.
  • We believe that a marriage is between one man and one woman as it’s stated in the bible.
  • We practice and encourage the dedication of infants and young children.

ARTICLE VIII: GHCC Church Financials

 a) The annual accounting period for this corporation shall begin on the first day of January and shall end on the last day of December.

b) All checks and drafts, or other orders for payment of money issued in the name of the corporation shall be paid out only on checks of the corporation signed by two of the following three board members: President, Vice President and/or Treasurer.

c) The accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board of Directors. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting books and records shall be open to inspection upon the written demand to such person or party to whom access to such records must be made available under Alaska law or federal law, at any reasonable time during usual business hours, and if a donor, for a purpose reasonably related to the donor's interests as a donor.

d) Every Director, Elder and Pastor shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the corporation. Inspections by the above mentioned shall be made in person.

 ARTICLE IX: CHURCH DISCIPLINE

  1. We believe that scripture requires the Pastor and/or Elders to exercise authority and discipline over all persons who participate in fellowship at GHCC. This is necessary to ensure that, among other reasons: Sound doctrine is consistently practiced within the various ministries of GHCC; and 2. The message conveyed as a by-product of the mere association and fellowship with particular persons does not adversely impact the message intended to be presented by the Pastor and/or Elders. In other words, the practices and conduct of some individuals may significantly interfere with the reputation and/or ministry purposes of the church and those in fellowship with the church.  Scripture provides direction to the Board of Directors with regard to persons who should be disciplined because of their practices or conduct. 
  2. The Pastor and/or Elders shall, when appropriate, exercise authority and administer discipline within the church in a spirit of meekness and confidentiality. The purpose of such discipline is the restoration of the one subject to the discipline and/or the purification of the church.  The steps of discipline are private confrontation, private confrontation with witnesses, meeting with the Pastor and/or Elders (Board of Directors used in special cases) for judgment leading to restoration or excommunication from fellowship, and finally, if necessary, exposure to the congregation. ( 18:15-20; Gal. 6:1; Romans 16:17; II John 9-11; I Corinthians 5; II Corinthians 2:6-8; I Timothy 5:20).

 

CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY

 

I hereby certify that the above and foregoing bylaws are a true and correct copy of the Bylaws of the corporation as of February 19,2026

 

_______________________________

Janice L. Weikel

Office of the Secretary