Operational Policies

Preamble
Name
Purpose
Composition and Leadership
The Council
MVMC Committees & Gatherings
Council, & Congregational Responsibilities and Relationships
Council Decision-Making
Exempt Organization Policy
Adoption and Amendments

Preamble

This document serves as an organizational guideline for our work together as an association of Mennonite congregations. We acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the teachings of Scripture as superior to any organizational guidelines.

As yoke servants of Jesus (Matthew 11:29-30), we desire to know the person of Jesus, obey His commands, and express his character. We want to form broader church relationships that will help us and our children to follow Jesus faithfully. We seek to formally associate with other Mennonite and Anabaptist congregations who have similar biblical understandings and practices in areas such as the authority of Scripture and biblical church discipline, Christian order of headship in the church and the home, permanence of Christian marriage and purity in sexual relationships, practice of peace and nonresistance, modest adornment of God's people, and vision for evangelism that calls people everywhere to a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

I. Name

The name of these Anabaptist congregations shall be the Mountain Valley Mennonite Churches (MVMC).

II. Purpose

The objectives of the MVMC are to

Provide support and encouragement for congregations to discern doctrinal and lifestyle convictions that guide their life and ministries.
Foster an environment that nurtures congregations and ministries, enabling them to carry out the mission of the church of Jesus Christ.
Offer a setting for fellowship, support, accountability, and encouragement for congregational leaders and members.
Provide a place to hold and process ministerial credentials for the representative congregations and ministries and serve as an administrative unit for church activity.
Give direction toward selecting and forming relationships with other Mennonite & Anabaptist church bodies and agencies as a means of providing accountability, fellowship, and increased program and mission opportunities.

The Mountain Valley Mennonite Churches desire to maintain an attitude that is Christ-centered, evangelical, and based on Scripture. We who are rooted in the New Testament Church and the Anabaptist Mennonite community confess our faith in these times by affirming the evangelical doctrines expressed in the Apostles Creed (AD 150) and the following confessions of faith: Schleitheim (1527), Dordrecht (1632), and the Mennonite Confession of Faith (1963).

III. Composition and Leadership Charter Members.

The following congregations compose the charter members of the MVMC:

Bethel Mennonite Church, Broadway, VA
Dayton Mennonite Church, Dayton, VA
Faith Mennonite Church, South Boston, VA
Morning View Mennonite Church, Singers Glen, VA
Salem Mennonite Church, Baker, WV

MVMC Leaders.

The following persons give leadership to the MVMC:

Moderator. The Moderator serves as the organizational leader of the Council and of the congregational gatherings.
Assistant Moderator. The Assistant Moderator aids in the work of the Moderator as needed.
Treasurer. The Treasurer receives and distributes funds for the MVMC.
Secretary. The Secretary records and preserves minutes of Council and MVMC gatherings.
Overseer. The Overseer functions as a pastor to credentialed persons in the MVMC who serve in the ministry and deaconate including those active and retired.
Assistant Overseer. The Assistant Overseer works alongside of the Overseer in carrying out ministry responsibilities.

IV. The Council

The Council functions as the administrative and spiritual authority body of the MVMC. The Council

Is sensitive and responsive to the spiritual and material needs within congregations and ministries.
Gives guidance to congregations and ministries in matters of nurture, discipline, and unity of practice.
Uses a discernment process to select persons for positions on the Council, Commissions, or as representatives of MVMC to agencies outside the MVMC.
Provides the means for mediation in cases of tension or division.

The MVMC Council includes the following persons who are voting members:

Active pastors, ministers, and deacons of the congregations of the MVMC
Elected overseer(s)
Recognized ministering lay leader(s) from each congregation if no credentialed leader is available.

The Council normally meets on the third Monday evening of the following months: September, November, January, March, May and July. Special meetings may be called by the Moderator of the Council, the Overseer, or upon the request of any four members of the Council.

The Moderator chairs the Council meetings, which include items of programming and business. At times portions of the meeting include items of leadership resourcing and nurture, which are the responsibilities of the Overseer. For decision-making purposes a quorum exists if 60% of the Council members are present. A meeting agenda is normally prepared and distributed to the Council members prior to the day of the meeting; at times the agenda is provided at the beginning of the meeting session.

Groups & Ministries.

The Council recognizes groups and ministries that relate to MVMC but are not part of a congregational leadership team. These relationships are advisory and provide accountability.

Credentialed Advisory Group. The Credentialed Advisory Group (CAG), chaired by the Overseer, consists of all ordained or credentialed persons who are currently not active in congregational leadership. The CAG meets biannually for mutual edification and counsel, encouragement, fellowship, and to carry out ministry assignments. Members are invited to attend Council meetings as non-voting participants.
Special Ministries. The Special Ministries Group (SMG), chaired by the Assistant Overseer, consists of credentialed persons who are actively involved in non-congregational ministry assignments that are recognized by the Council such as chaplaincy or evangelism. The SMG meets periodically for mutual edification, encouragement, and fellowship.

V. MVMC Committees & Gatherings

Committees.

Two committees function to provide leadership and nurture for congregational life and evangelism: 1) Spiritual Discernment Committee (SDC) and 2) Nurture & Witness Committee (NWC).

Spiritual Discernment Committee. The Spiritual Discernment Committee (SDC) gives leadership in the discernment of doctrinal and lifestyle convictions affecting member congregations and ministries, provides counsel for the Overseers, and maintains credentials of ministers and deacons.
The SDC, chaired by the Overseer, consists of four members: the Overseer, the Assistant Overseer, and two other credentialed persons who may be active, inactive, or retired.
Nurture & Witness Committee. The Nurture & Witness Committee (NWC) provides congregational resourcing for Christian education, aids Youth and Young Adult ministries to carry out their programs, and encourages congregations to reach out and share the gospel of Christ through word and deed "in Jerusalem, Judea, and the uttermost parts of the world." The NWC plans and coordinates the annual Youth Retreat, the Winter Bible School or Bible Conference, as well as other nurture events for the MVMC. The NWC promotes peace education, fosters men and women fellowship groups, and encourages the development of ministry gifts among members of the MVMC. The NWC is a resource to review Sunday school & Summer Bible School curriculum materials, resource materials for church libraries and homes and to make recommendations to member congregations. The NWC encourages programs that involve member congregations in personal evangelism, mission, and service opportunities.
The NWC contains representatives from each member congregation. The Council appoints a member representative from the Council, a Youth or Young Adult representative and the Chair.

Meetings and Functions.

Members of the MVMC meet together periodically for nurture, encouragement, and discernment. A yearly gathering is scheduled during the months of June or July. All congregational members of the MVMC are invited to participate in these meetings. A "MVMC Gathering Committee," appointed by the Council with congregational representation, plans and organizes the program, which includes items of business and provides a time for spiritual input, fun, and fellowship for the families of the MVMC. Planned special programs and sessions emphasize Bible study, nurture, evangelism, and ministries involving men, women, young adults, youth, and children.

The Moderator of the Council serves as the Moderator of the MVMC gatherings. The Secretary of the Council serves as the Secretary of those gatherings. The Moderator and Assistant Moderator of the Council upon consultation with the Chairs of the MVMC Committees (SDC & NWC) set the business agenda of the MVMC sessions.

VI. Council, & Congregational Responsibilities and Relationships

Responsibilities & Relationships.

Establishing new affiliations with broader church agencies and bodies requires both Council and individual congregational discernment and approval.
The Council serves as an advisory discerning group on concerns of doctrine, lifestyle convictions, and spiritual authority to the member congregations and ministries of MVMC.
Congregations have the responsibility to support MVMC programs through congregational offerings, by participation in program activities, and through prayer and counsel.

Reception and Release of Congregations.

Additional congregations and ministries that wish to join the MVMC are required to:

Indicate their desire by sending a written letter of request to the Council Chairman
Affirm the 1963 Mennonite Confession of Faith
Be approved by an 80% affirmative voice of the Council members and 80% of the congregations.

Congregations and ministries who wish to leave the MVMC are requested to:

Indicate their desire by sending a written letter of request to the Council Moderator.
State their reason for leaving and indicate what alternative plans they have for alternative associations that provide accountability and nurture.
Be approved by a majority voice of the Council and a majority of the congregations.

VII. Council Decision-Making

Decisions are made by consensus if possible. Where consensus cannot be reached and a decision is essential, a 75% vote is required. When voting on individuals for specific offices or appointments, a simple majority vote is required. When approving pastoral candidates for initial terms of congregational ministry or overseers within MVMC, an 80% Council and Congregational vote is required. In situations where termination of a specific congregational leader is needed, a simple majority vote by the Council and Congregation is sufficient to remove a person from a congregational ministry assignment.

VIII. Exempt Organization Policy

No part of the contributions and other passive income of the MVMC shall inure to the benefit of, nor be distributed to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the MVMC shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable costs, expenses, and compensation for services rendered and to pay and distribute funds in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this constitution covenant. The purpose of this organization is not to support any secular or political agenda. While maintaining its tax-exempt status, the MVMC shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or by an organization whose contributions are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. If the MVMC group is dissolved, assets shall be equally distributed to the current member congregations.

IX. Adoption and Amendments

This constitutional covenant serves as the MVMC organizational guidelines following a 75% affirmative vote by members of the Council and affirmation by each charter congregation. A 75% affirmation vote of the Council members and the affirmation of a majority of the member congregations are required to make amendments and additions to this covenant. Each congregation determines what constitutes its own affirmation.