By Laws

Organizational Structure
Hill City Community Church is an independent church and is not affiliated with any denomination. (However, in the spring of 2020 HC3 is seeking inquiry about dual affiliation with the SBC for the purposes of connecting with the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board)
Hill City Community Church’s address is 2420 Memorial Avenue Lynchburg Virginia 24501

As outlined in the Constitution, the Hill City Community Church structure is built around Three teams of people:
1. The Elder Team.
2. The Leadership Team
3. The Deacons

The Elder Team

Hill City Community Church is an elder led church.
The Elder Team, acts as the Board of Directors for Hill City Community Church and has the final say in all matters concerning the overall direction of the organization. The Elder team evaluates the church and its effectiveness according to its mission, resources, and doctrine. The lead elder is responsible for the leadership and the vision for the church.
Elder Qualifications:
The qualifications of an Elder consist of being a man, being consistently engaged in the function of shepherding groups of people, and meeting the qualifications for an overseer as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:5-9. Elder Team members should be an active part of a Hill City Community Church missional communities.
Elder Selection:
A candidate for Elder must be approved unanimously by the present Elder board. Elders must be consistently engaged in the function of shepherding groups of people. In addition, each Elder must meet the qualifications for an overseer as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:5-9. All Elders must be ordained and Catechized for their biblical and pastoral competency.
Elder Team Role and Authority:
The Elder Team acts as the church’s Board of Directors and has ultimate authority over all matters concerning the overall direction of the organization, including approving the annual budget.
The Elder Team should seek to care for Hill City Community Church staff by evaluating staff health and morale. The Elder team oversees all ministries at Hill City Community Church that includes but is not limited to missional communities, outreaches, events, conferences, and our Sunday morning ministries.
The Elder Team has authority to set the requirements of church membership, or eliminate membership. If a congregational partner seeks to terminate partnership during the process of church discipline (e.g., 1 Cor. 5:1-13), Hill City Community Church may continue in the discipline process, including informing the congregation of its findings or actions and notifying any church where the former Hill City Community Church congregational partner begins attending church of the findings of or actions by Hill City Community Church.
Meetings and Voting:
The Elder Team should hold meetings no less than 10 times per year with the Lead Elder. Elders may participate in a meeting by telephone, provided the participants can hear one another.
The Elder Team shall select a Chairman and Secretary from the elder team for each meeting that requires voting. The Chairman will oversee the procedural aspects of the Elder Team and preside over meetings in which the Lead Elder is absent. The Secretary will keep minutes of meetings and ensure that corporate documents are maintained.

Agenda items are motioned and must be seconded before they become approved as a meeting item.

It is expected that all Elders are present at Elder meetings. In the rare case of an excused absence it is expected that this elder may join by phone, face time or some other means. In the very rare and extreme case that an elder is on an excused absence and is unable to attend by any such means, the remaining Elders are expected to make any necessary decisions to keep the organization moving forward.

Voting or approval of any matter not stated as unanimous by the Elder Team requires a majority vote.
Voting or approval of a new Elder and buying, renting or selling land, requires a unanimous vote of the Elder Team.
Voting on hiring a new Senior Pastor, should the position be vacated, requires unanimous vote of the total Elder Team.

With respect to the possible termination of the lead Elder, or any other Elders on the Elder team accusations toward the lead Elder will not be lightly received. The directives of Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Timothy 5:19-20 should be practiced. Credible complaints or accusations against the lead Elder should be brought to the Elder Team. If the Elder Team is considering allegations that could result in terminating the lead Elder, they shall include the lead Elder in a meeting to discuss this possibility prior to holding any formal meeting for the purpose of voting upon termination of the lead Elder. Voting on firing a lead Elder requires at unanimous vote of the total Elder Team. HC3 Members at any time have the ability and authority to bring any accusations to the entire elder team as to why “biblically” an elder should not be leading within the church.

The Leadership Team
Leadership team members can only be appointed by elders and can only be removed by elders. The Leadership Team of Hill City Community Church are the front-line leaders of the church from a daily standpoint on Sundays or in homes. They are responsible for leading various ministries and act as the supporting arms of the church. The Staff shall fulfill their primary responsibilities outlined in their job descriptions, and are accountable to the Elder Team. The Leadership team speaks into the vision, decision and outreach of the church. The Leadership team gathers monthly and helps the church stay true to its mission and vision. The Leadership team has no voting power over financial decision, mission decisions and elder appointing decisions. The Leadership team consists of, but is not limited to worship directors, kids directors, media directors, outreach directors, missional community coaches, Admin, and Missional Community leaders.
All members of the Leadership team are required to meet the general qualifications for an overseer as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:5-9.

The Deacons
Deacons can only be appointed by elders and can only be removed by elders. The Deacons at Hill City Community Church lead the church through serving the church body. Deacons speak into the vision of the church and monitor day to day Sunday tasks, as well as care for the needs of the whole organization.

Ordination, Licensing and Commissioning
Hill City Community Church reserves the right to ordain, license, or commission individuals as ministers of the gospel to perform the ordinances and ceremonies of the church including, but not limited to, marriage, baptism, communion, and funerals.
Congregational Right to Inspect Documents
Congregational members of Hill City Community Church have the right to inspect the current Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and By-Laws.
Indemnification
Hill City Community Church shall indemnify, hold harmless, and defend members of its Elder Team, Leadership Team, and its deacons against any liability or other expense arising in connection with their service to Hill City Community Church, to the extent not prohibited by law. Hill City Community Church may indemnify other staff, employees, or agents to the same or a narrower extent as determined on a case-by-case basis by the Elder Team. The Elder Team may obtain liability insurance coverage for such members or others.
Amendments to By-Laws
The Hill City Community Church Constitution, By-Laws, and Articles of Incorporation cannot be called into amendment, modification, or change without a three-fourths vote of all Elders of the Elder Team, and The new decision must be approval by a unanimous vote by the present Elder Team.
The Elder Team is solely responsible for interpreting the By-Laws.