The meeting was called to order at 11:22AM by church moderator Marty Leewright.
Meeting opened in prayer by Pastor Irvin Wasswa.
The first order of business was the approval of the minutes from the previous business meeting held on May 31, 2026. Motion to approve minutes made by Art DeForde. Second by Cyntha Gray. Minutes APPROVED.
The second order of business was a review and answer questions regarding the proposed updates to the church constitution and by-laws. Most questions were submitted ahead of time, with no names provided on who submitted the question(s).
Bylaws Questions and Answers
Article II: Church Governance
General:
1. In the introductory paragraph, "ministers" are listed as a category of staff. However, in the "Roles and Functions" section, no role or definition is provided for ministers. Later, in Section D, "ministerial staff" is described as being comprised of both pastoral-level and ministerial-level leadership.
- Could you clarify what is meant by "ministerial-level leadership"? How does this differ from pastoral-level leadership? Additionally, what qualifications, responsibilities, or authority distinguish a minister from other staff positions under this document? A clear definition of "minister" would help ensure consistent interpretation throughout the bylaw.
- Answer: Difference between Pastor and Minister- Pastor= Ordained.
- Difference between Minister and Support Staff (Directors, Specialists) Minister= Full-Time Staff, Support Staff= Part-Time
Article V: Committees
Section C, subsection e:
2. The recommendation of a salary appears to be inconsistent with the current process being used by the Finance/Stewardship Committee in coordination with the Personnel Committee. My understanding is that the Finance Committee approves a total personnel budget line, while the Personnel Committee determines how those funds are allocated among staff positions. If that is correct, then it is unclear how an individually specified salary recommendation fits within that structure.
- Could you clarify whether this reflects a change in process, or whether additional clarification is needed to align the salary recommendation with the established responsibilities of each committee?
- Answer: Process has always been that when the budget comes, the Finance committee receives the proposed budget for the next year minus personnel budget. Meanwhile, the personnel committee is having discussions about staff salary increases/personnel budget. After committee comes to an agreement, the proposed personnel budget goes to the finance committee to figure out if/how we can make it happen.
Article IX: Amendments
3. The bullet points and amendments in red don’t seem to fit this section.
- Do these belong somewhere else?
- Answer: That was an oversight on our part. We will correct
1. My only question in the Constitution section is on page 11 (Affiliations section). The Baptist World Alliance was left out, making the final sentence confusing. I confess my ignorance of the World Alliance and if it is actually still in existence. If not, can we make the last sentence flow better with our polity/affiliations?
Answer: The SBC has disassociated themselves from the BWA back in 2004. We do not directly support them, and haven’t directly supported them.
-Dr. David Sanchez spoke to the impact of the BWA, which was helpful. I (Irvin Wasswa) am open to keeping connection with them.
Questions in By-laws
5. *Page 16 Church governance/General, first paragraph
"Officers" are I assume as those elected. I question the treasurer being included--all the officers listed have a section in the by-laws with their duties/responsibilities, but I found nothing on the treasurer. I also do not recall ever voting for the treasurer, so should treasurer be listed as an officer? If it should be listed as an officer, shouldn't the duties of the treasurer be mentioned in the by-laws?
6. Why are the pastor, church treasurer, church clerk and ministerial staff who are serving now the only ones considered elected at time the by-laws are adopted? Why not the rest of staff, moderator, deacons, trustees? Shouldn't all the listed be considered elected?
*Suggestion: Define who is considered a leader.
*Suggestion: Pastor section: "Senior Pastor may preside at meetings of the church". For clarification, maybe say "at ALL meetings of the church"?
Answer: We will make sure to clarify and add Pastor presiding at all meetings.
7. Church Staff page 19 Paragraph after 2. "...an interview committee comprised of members of the congregation." How would that committee be chosen?
*Paid Support Staff (I assume this is Section D Human Resources Team that was on Page 28)
"Paid support staff includes the role of directors and specialists."
*Suggestion: Please define "director" and "specialists"
Answer: The Personnel committee in conjunction with the pastor is formulating a Hiring Systems document which will include layers of staff, elders, personnel committee, and congregation who will be in the process.
-We want to formulate a process that has the balance of being thorough as well as efficient..
*8. Responsibility of Elders #5 page 21-22 The struck out last line about having fewer than five receiving 75% vote, then process should continue....I don't see that happening, but if it did, we would need to continue the process, right? Or is this assumed so it does not need to be written out?
Answer: Yes, it was assumed we would continue in process, that is why it was omitted, but content with keeping in bylaws.
Answers: Elders receive the budget to look at and review, however their list of to-dos was rather extensive. We took out of the bylaws to try to streamline. We wanted to make sure to communicate their overall role and responsibilities.
10. Page 33 Why are the two statements in red included at the bottom of page 33?....and two more on page 34?
Answer- Oversight on our end. Will be corrected.
10. Regarding church membership requirements, on page 14.
I see a new requirement stating that a member must be 16 years or older. I also see that the original bylaws state that completing a member orientation class is a requirement for membership. It got me thinking about all these kids who grew up in the church, made professions of faith and were baptized in the church when they were young (prior to 16 years). It has always been my understanding that if you become a Christian and are baptized into the church, you are automatically a member, and there was never anything that we were told to believe otherwise. But that is not what this states. Not saying we shouldn't have these requirements. Just wondering about how all of that works out procedurally, in practice. Member classes have always just been promoted for people joining from outside the church that want to be new members. So I think there are likely many people who think they are members but do not actually meet the requirements, according to the bylaws. If we are going to hold to these requirements, I think we need to put out some kind of statement to the church to say, if you haven't been through a member orientation class, you aren't a member, and if you want to be, you need to sign up for the next class that is offered. And for kids who get baptized before age 16, maybe issue a certificate or something that says they are eligible for church membership once they turn 16.
Answer: Until a child is 16 years old, they are under the care of their parents. They do not have voting rights as members. Though they are members, they are under advisement until they are 16 years old. Those who are a part of their family who have become members, the same applies to them. They are members under advisory until they turn 16.
Tim Fox also mentioned that upon turning the age of 16, they will go through our Next Steps Class.
11. The role of the Personnel Committee, pages 29-30.
There is no mention of their duties or roles in hiring or evaluating ministerial staff—only support staff. I do see references to their duties regarding ministerial staff in the Ministerial Staff section on page 19, but I thought they might also need to be spelled out in the Personnel Committee section?
Answer: The Personnel committee in conjunction with the pastor is formulating a Hiring Systems document which will include layers of staff, elders, personnel committee, and congregation who will be in the process.
-We want to formulate a process that has the balance of being thorough as well as efficient.
12. Next question concerns the new section regarding the congregation on page 23.
On page 21, under the Elder section, it states that the church is congregationally ruled. Irvin also mentioned this in his sermon a few weeks ago about church governance and how the pastor and elders lead, but the church is ultimately congregationally ruled. And under Section F about the congregation and its responsibilities, the bylaws indicate that one of those responsibilities is "congregational affirmation of major church decisions." At the end of that section it also says: "The congregation serves as a faithful body of believers who prayerfully affirm and participate in the direction and ministry of the church."
But where it lists decisions that the congregation has a vote on, there are some "major church decisions" that directly affect the "direction and ministry of the church" that are not included in that list. And I am thinking about things like major alterations to church ministries (like the women's ministry, for ex.), major changes to Life Groups. Also things like whether to hire a new minister or even a new staff member, whether they should be full time or part time (and how part time?), and how much their salaries should be, and when we should officially start the search, etc. etc. Those are major church decisions that should be included in the bylaws as items that the church should have a say in, by vote. I completely believe that our leaders are there to lead and cast visions, etc. but they are also accountable to the church. And unless there is confirmation and affirmation by the church that we, as a congregation, believe that yes, this is God moving us in a certain direction, then we haven't been allowed to exercise our "congregational affirmation of major church decisions" and we are not truly congregationally ruled.
To clarify and ultimately protect the congregation's responsibilities, if we are indeed going to be church ruled, we need to spell out those items more clearly in the bylaws.
Answer: The bylaws spell out what we believe the congregation has say over. Congregationally ruled does not equate to congregation does whatever they want. The congregation has prayed and voted in the leadership of the church (Staff, Elders). Staff lead in the day to day operation of the church. We are praying for and living in the ministry day to day.
13. Why do we not form search committees for ALL paid ministerial staff positions? I think forming search committees would ensure we get the best candidate from a committee that represents the entire church. I would like to see this added to the by-laws.
Answer: Great idea- We want to make sure our process has the balance of being thorough and efficient.
Additional Discussion & Questions not covered in pre-submitted questions.
- 1. Tim Fox—page 28, Article V, number 4 regarding the staff-congregation committee. This should be removed since the Church has never had this committee and it’s never met.
- 2. David Sanchez—Spoke to the purpose and ministry of Baptist World Alliance and its relationship with Texas Baptists. He encouraged MCBC to remain in affiliation with Baptist World Alliance since we are indirectly supporting the organization through our giving to Texas Baptists.
- 3. Matt Bennett—For corrections and changes to the by-laws, will proposed constitution and by-laws be presented again before final vote is taken? YES.
- 4. Marty Leewright—Will we have a dispute resolution and peace-making team be included in the new by-laws? YES, but possibly not in this amendment, but will be considered including in future by-law amendment.
- 5. Dalton Shelby—How many elders do we have currently? FIVE, but are in the process of setting up nominations. Five is the minimum number of elders, but the by-laws allow for up to 7.
Disscussion Closed
The final order of business was the updated plans for 2026 and beyond.
1. New start times beginning August 16, 2026.
All Sunday LifeGroups will meet at 9:00AM, as will children and youth
Worship service will begin at 10:30AM (KidConnect provided)
Fellowship Time 10:15AM-10:25AM
Why?
This provides opportunity for more fellowship as well as connection with guests & visitors who are not connected. It also helps our children’s ministry because it was becoming increasingly difficult to find help during the 11:30 hour and the children were tired and hungry by the time class let out.
The upstairs rooms in the Family Center will be cleaned out and renovated (paint, carpet cleaned, set up for adults) to accommodate additional LifeGroups.
LIfeGroups also can meet at another time during the week either at church or at a member’s home.
It will be nice to have everyone at the building at the same time to transition to the service.
2. Discipleship
LifeGroups (co-ed) provide connection, care, and Christ and remain the main avenue of discipleship.
Accountability Groups—Same gender groups based on Proverbs 27:17 to challenge, encourage, and grow in Christ together. The purpose of discipleship is to take personal responsibility for our faith.
3. Wednesday Nights
New time: 6:30pm-8:00pm
Ministries Offered
Children’s Ministry in the Family Center & SID for older children.
Youth Ministry in the main foyer and sanctuary with a move to a youth service.
ESL will meet in the modular and continue the momentum and ministry to our community.
Adults are encouraged to serve in one of the areas that meet on Wednesday night.
The idea is that we are poured into on Sunday mornings and then we pour out on Wednesday nights.
Question: Marty Leewright—Will a Wednesday night meal still be offered? No, but they will look into providing snacks.
4. Men’s & Women’s Ministry
- Events 4-6 times a year on campus or off campus.
- Purpose is to provide community, connection, and fun as well as bring the church together.
5. Missions
- Jerusalem—Crowley House of Hope, local schools and colleges, Christmas 76123, and ESL
- Meadowcreek Elementary School has requested we partner with them for their fall Trunk or Treat to provide the trunks and to be present on their campus on October 29, 2026
- Judea—State partnerships
- Samaria—National partnerships
-Ends of the Earth—Hendrix family in Italy and other global partnerships.What now?
6. What now?
- Pray for church, leadership, and for God to move and work
- Trust—Change is difficult. Trust leadership here to follow God and His leading.
- Invest—Continue to serve, lead and give
- Invite—This is God’s church for us and for the community. Invite people to church!
Motion to adjourn made by Debbi Hunt. Second by Audrey Yarbough. Motion to adjourn APPROVED.
Respectfully Submitted,
Stephanie Forsyth
Church Clerk