By-Laws Revisions
Real Hope
Community Church
2026 By-Laws Revisions
APPROVED BY MEMBERS IN ANNUAL MEETING 1/25/2026
RHCC By-Laws
Summary of Changes
**APPROVED 1/25/2026**
The proposed revisions to the RHCC By-Laws are primarily
clarifying, organizational, and refining in nature. They do
not change the church’s theological position, denominational affiliation, or mission. Below is a summary of the key changes:
ORGANIZING ARTICLES
Propose reorganizing and standardizing By-Law Article and Section headings to reduce redundancy, improve clarity, and create a more logically structured document. Article headings have been simplified and centered for improved readability and consistency, making information easier to locate and understand. This formatting aligns more closely with best-practice standards for governing documents.
Additionally, bolded subsections within Articles have been formally designated with Section numbers. This change improves readability, supports clearer citation and reference, and brings the document into closer alignment with widely accepted by-law and contract formatting standards.
ADDED TERMS AND TITLES INDEX
An index of commonly used terms and titles has been added to the end of the By-Laws to clarify equivalent language used throughout the document (e.g., Senior Pastor and Lead Pastor; C&MA and The Christian and Missionary Alliance; Governing Board and Governance Authority). This addition improves clarity, reduces confusion, and helps readers quickly understand how related terms are used interchangeably.
While RHCC uses the title Lead Pastor in practice, the term Senior Pastor is retained in the By-Laws to remain consistent with denominational documents and governing standards of The Christian and Missionary Alliance.
CLARIFICATION
In Article III – Membership, Section 3 regarding Membership Roll management, the terminology has been clarified by replacing the word committee with Elders. This change removes potential confusion, as Elders are not structured or referred to as a committee within RHCC, and it more accurately reflects their defined role and responsibility in overseeing membership matters.
REDUNDANT TERMS REMOVED
A few instances where redundant words or terms existed within a sentence, they were cleaned up and removed for better readability and simplicity without changing meaning.
MOVED AROUND SOME SECTIONS
Within Articles, some sections and paragraphs were re-ordered to improve readability or understanding.
EDITORIAL CORRECTIONS
Minor editorial updates were made throughout the By-Laws, including corrections to punctuation, spelling, and grammar. These changes improve readability and clarity and correct typographical errors (such asrole/roll and
whether), without altering the meaning or intent of any provision.
FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT AND SPENDING AUTHORITY
In Article VI, Section 5, the proposed revision increases the Governing Board’s spending authority on property-related matters from $5,000 to $10,000. The previous threshold is no longer reflective of current costs and has limits the church’s ability to address routine operational needs in a timely manner.
Any expenditure exceeding $10,000 will continue to require congregational approval, ensuring that member oversight and financial accountability are fully preserved.
REMOVED LIST OF OFFICER TITLES
In Article 7 Officers, a list of different offices for the Governing Board was provided. It is proposed that having specific offices within the Governing Board is not required, except as required by State law.
TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER DUTIES
In Article IX, Section 1, several responsibilities have been added to the Treasurer’s duties to reflect best practices and to accurately document functions already being performed. These additions clarify oversight of individual giving records, reinforce confidentiality of member financial information, and specify that pass-through fund donations require Governing Board approval.
In Article IX, Section 2, certain duties have been removed from the Assistant Treasurer’s role where they have not historically been performed and instead have been carried out by the Treasurer. Additionally, language has been added to clarify that the Assistant Treasurer may assist the Treasurer as needed in the performance of their duties.