LIFEBRIDGE CHURCH OF CYPRESS, TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

LIFEBRIDGE CHURCH OF CYPRESS, TEXAS CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I: NAME The name of the congregation shall be LifeBridge Church of Cypress, Texas, a congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. ARTICLE II: STATEMENT OF MISSION The purpose of this congregation is to live out the Great Commission in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28: 19-20. ARTICLE III: CONFESSIONAL STANDARD A. This congregation accepts the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice. B. This congregation accepts all of the Symbolic Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, contained in The Book of Concord of the year 1580, to be the true and genuine expositions of the doctrines of the Word of God. The individual symbolic books are: 1. The Ecumenical Creeds a. The Apostles' Creed b. The Nicene Creed c. The Athanasian Creed 2. The Unaltered Augsburg Confession 3. The Apology of the Augsburg Confession 4. The Smalcald Articles 5. Luther's Large Catechism 6. Luther's Small Catechism 7. The Formula of Concord

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION AND AUTHORITY A. Preface: Accountable Leadership Strategy1 is the foundation of the leadership model for LifeBridge Church, specifically the Organization and Authority structures. This strategy states that the best form of church leadership relies on holding church leaders accountable for specific objectives while giving those leaders significant latitude in driving actions to achieve these objectives.
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Accountable Leadership Strategy defined by John Edmund Kaiser in his work Winning on Purpose, How to Organize Congregations to Succeed in Their Mission. 1

B. Three Key Elements of the Accountable Leadership Strategy: Mission Principle, Boundary Principles, and Accountability Principles comprise the key elements. The makeup and management of these key elements shall be defined and updated regularly in the ByLaws of LifeBridge Church. 1. The Mission Principle clarifies why we exist and is defined by a concise mission statement and broken down into a handful of key components. Each of those components would then serve as a category of measurable goals for the congregation. 2. Boundary Principles define the limits within which the Pastor may operate. They are fundamentally a set of prohibitions rather than prescriptions defined in a boundary principle statement. 3. Accountability Principles define the operational parameters within which the Board operates. C. Organization 1. Congregation: The Congregation shall perform the ministry of LifeBridge Church seeking to serve others first. LifeBridge Church will not place any requirements on any individual who desires to be a part of the Congregation. However, certain rights will be reserved for Voters. a. Voters in the congregation shall have authority to: i. Amend the constitution (Article VI), ii. Approve any significant financial transaction (including purchases, long-term financial commitment, disposal of assets and the like) by the church which exceeds 25% of all giving to the church over the trailing twelve months, and iii. Extend or withdraw divine calls to the Senior Pastor and any other Called Worker. b. Voters are defined as those who : i. Subscribe to the beliefs and values of LifeBridge Church ii. Regularly attend Sunday worship at LifeBridge (50% of Sundays in last 6 months) iii. Are at least 18 years of age, or if younger, have been instructed and confirmed in the major teachings of the Christian faith. c. Matters for Voter decision: i. All matters to be decided by the Voters shall be decided by two-thirds majority of the total number of Voters present. ii. Notification of voting events will be made at least two weeks prior to a vote with notice being given on two prior Sunday worship services and notice being made utilizing typical means of communication with the Congregation. iii. Items for consideration at voting events may be proposed by the Board, the Senior Pastor, or by a petition of Voters with Voter signatures to equal or exceed 25 percent of average weekly attendance over the last 12 months. iv. All notification of voting events will include the substance of the items to be decided. In the event that the substance of items to be decided includes amendment to this Constitution, then the entire text of the

amendment shall be communicated to the Congregation as part of the notification. v. In the event of procedural questions during a voting event, procedure will be governed by the LifeBridge Constitution, The LifeBridge ByLaws and then by Roberts Rules of Order. 2. Senior Pastor: The Senior Pastor shall be the primary leader of LifeBridge Church, responsible for all aspects of leadership and management of the Church. The Senior Pastor will strive to achieve the Mission Principles and avoid violating the Boundary Principles. a. Selection of the Senior Pastor: The Senior Pastor will be a Called Worker selected and Called to LifeBridge Church as defined by this Constitution. b. Removal of the Senior Pastor: In Christian love and lawful order, the Senior Pastor may be removed from office by the Congregation for any of the following reasons: persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect or inability to perform the duties of office, failure to achieve the Mission Principles or failure to operate within the Boundary Principles established by the Board. If ever there is a concern, the Board shall carefully investigate charges on any of these counts. Should such charges be substantiated by clear evidence and the Board deems removal from position an appropriate action, a two-thirds vote, using secret ballot, of the Voting Members present at Voters Assembly shall be required to remove the Senior Pastor from office. Advance notice should be given to the individual before action is taken by the congregation against that person. The District also should be consulted and given advance notice. c. 3. Staff: a. Staff of the congregation shall support the ministries of LifeBridge church. Staff shall be engaged by LifeBridge Church in accordance with this Constitution, the Mission Principles, and Boundary Principles. b. Staff shall be accountable to the Senior Pastor, or to the individual assigned by the Senior Pastor, for performance in their position. c. With the exception of Called Workers, Staff may be removed from their position by the Senior Pastor in accordance with any Boundary Principles. 4. Called Workers: a. Called Workers are individuals who are rostered by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. b. Selection of Called Workers: The Board of Directors, or another set of individuals appointed by them, shall serve as the call committee. The Call Committee shall gather a list of potential candidates and present a final list of candidate(s) to the Congregation. Guidance from the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod may be sought when developing the potential candidate lists. At an official voting event, the Congregation shall approve of the candidate and issue a formal Call. This approval and the issuance of a formal Call by the Congregation shall not be delegated.

c. Removal of Workers in Called Positions other than the Senior Pastor: In Christian love and lawful order, any called worker, other than the Senior Pastor, may be removed from office by a majority vote of the Board for any of the following reasons: persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life, willful neglect or inability to perform the duties of office, failure to achieve the Mission Principles or failure to operate within the Boundary Principles established by the Board. Advance notice should be given to the individual called worker before action is taken by the congregation against that person. The District also should be consulted and given advance notice. 5. Board: The Board shall provide the governance of LifeBridge Church and be selfmanaged based on the Accountability Principles. The Board will set the spiritual tone and expectations for the Congregation. The Board will establish and regularly update the Mission Principles, Boundary Principles, and Accountability Principles. a. Board Composition: The board shall be composed of no less than three individuals who qualify as a Voter of the congregation, including the Senior Pastor who is also a voting member of the board. b. Board Selection: On an annual basis, or more frequently in the case of a shortage in Board members, the Board will review its performance and determine the need for replacement of current board members or selection of additional members. i. Board members will be selected by a majority vote of the existing Board. ii. Board members will be removed by a majority vote of the other Board members. c. Criteria for Board Service: To be considered for board service, an individual shall meet the criteria of being a Voter per Article IV of the Constitution and share the spiritual beliefs of LifeBridge Church as evaluated by the Senior Pastor. Additional guidelines for selecting Board members shall be defined in the By-Laws of LifeBridge Church. d. Official Positions: From time to time, the Board may appoint one or more of the Board members to fill specific roles in representing LifeBridge Church in official and or legal capacity or position that may be required by Texas law. (examples include Treasurer, Board Chair, etc.). Such Board Members will be designated as authorized signers of legal documents. e. Meetings: The Board will determine the frequency and venue for meetings and will conduct official business when a majority of Board members are present or represented. ARTICLE V: DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND PROPERTY RIGHTS A. If, at any time, a major dispute or division of the congregation shall take place, within this congregation, the church will: Follow Matthew 18 to exhaust all reasonable means of resolving the dispute following Christian principles. In the event that a resolution is not reached, the disputing parties shall seek dispute resolution assistance from the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod or similar Christian dispute resolution organization

B. If, despite all efforts to resolve differences in peace and love, a division into factions of the congregation shall occur, the property of the congregation and all benefits connected shall remain with the group selected by the dispute resolution organization. C. If the congregation dissolves, any assets remaining after settling all obligations will be transmitted to a non-profit Christian ministry organization that most closely mirrors the states Mission and Purpose of LifeBridge Church as agreed by a majority of the Voters of the Congregation voting on the dissolution. ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS A. Amendment Process: 1. Amendments may be proposed by the Board, the Senior Pastor, or by a petition of Voters with Voter signatures to equal or exceed 25 percent of average weekly attendance over the last 12 months. 2. Amendments to this Constitution may be approved per voting practices outlined in Article IV.C.1.a.i. 3. Upon adoption, such amendment shall be submitted to the District Committee on Constitutions for approval in accordance with the Synods Bylaws. B. Unalterable Articles The following articles of this Constitution or sections thereof shall be unalterable and irreplaceable: III (Confessional Standard) and this Article VI (B).

LIFEBRIDGE CHURCH OF CYPRESS, TEXAS BY LAWS ARTICLE I: PURPOSE: The By-Laws of LifeBridge Church shall detail the Three Key Elements of the Accountable Leadership Strategy as described in Article IV.B of the LifeBridge Constitution. ARTICLE II: AMENDMENTS: These by-laws shall be maintained by the Board of LifeBridge church and may be amended by a majority of board members. ARTICLE III: MISSION STATEMENT AND KEY COMPONENTS: As defined in Article II of the LifeBridge Constitution, the purpose of this congregation is to live out the Great Commission in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28: 19-20. The following Key Components shall serve as indicators of success in this mission. A. We are regularly sending disciples into our community and world in ways that make a meaningful impact on the lives of people. 1. Marker: 25% of offering is given away through mission work conducted by the Congregation the impact of this is regularly reported and celebrated. 2. Marker: write down and share stories of lives that are touched B. Our corporate worship time is marked by the joy, the passion, and the expectancy that occurs when the Holy Spirit is present. -- Marker: People spontaneously participate in corporate worship (prayer, questions, etc.) C. We regularly see evidence of people getting connected with a church who were previously not connected. 1. Marker: non-infant baptisms 2. Marker: previously disconnected Christians getting involved 3. Marker: non-traditional church events that reach folks who dont normally respond to Sunday morning invitations D. We are consistently raising the bar by providing opportunity and expectation for existing Christians to grow in their relationship with Christ. 1. Marker: Each Christian is growing in the areas of Worship, Prayer, Study of Gods Word, Compassionate Service, Individual Evangelism, and Financial Giving.

2. Marker: We accumulate stories of growth and transformation from existing people of LifeBridge. 3. Marker: There is an intentional focus on including children as disciples. E. We are actively engaged in planting mission churches and/or schools. 1. Marker: 25% of offerings set aside for investment in a future mission church or school 2. Marker: Prayerful seeking and searching by the leadership as to when/where the next mission venture might be. 3. Marker: Endeavor to plant a new mission church or school every 4 - 5 years F. We strive to be outrageously generous as a church 1. Marker: 50% of our offering is given away . . . 25% to service/outreach and missions, and 25% set aside for future mission churches or schools. 2. Marker: Non-monetary resources are made available for Gods work as well (homes, businesses, vocations, etc.) ARTICLE IV: BOUNDARIES The following boundaries are placed around the Senior Pastor: A. The Senior Pastor cannot make decisions that do not support the Three Key Elements of the Accountable Leadership Strategy B. The Senior Pastor cannot spend or bind the church to any expenditure (single payment or long term obligation) of more than $2500 without Board approval. C. The LifeBridge Church operating account will not have less than $50,000.00 (limits established by the board on a quarterly basis.) D. The Senior Pastor will not do anything that is illegal or unbiblical. E. The Senior Pastor cannot hire any employee or worker without majority Board approval. F. No less than 25% of offerings will be set aside for service/outreach/missions. G. No less than 25% of offerings will be set aside for the planting of mission churches and/or schools. ARTICLE V: ACCOUNTABILITY PRINCIPLES: A. The Board shall assist the Pastor in matters pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the congregation. B. The Board shall determine and assure the strategic direction of the church and its mission.

C. The Board shall establish, maintain, and conduct business within the governing policies of the church. D. No less than annually, the Board shall report to the LifeBridge congregation on the spiritual, organizational and financial condition of the congregation. E. The Constitution states in Article IV that To be considered for board service, an individual shall meet the criteria of being a Voter per Article IV of the Constitution and share the spiritual beliefs of LifeBridge Church as evaluated by the Senior Pastor. Additional guidelines for selecting Board members shall be defined in the By-Laws of LifeBridge Church. The Board shall develop additional selection criteria for selecting new board members. Some suggestions include: 1. Spiritual Depth 2. Able to Hold the Spear both ways (see Winning on Purpose) 3. Passion for the Mission of LifeBridge 4. Leadership by Example 5. Leadership Interest and Qualities F. At least once per year, the Board members will prayerfully review their individual and collective Board service. Special consideration should be given to the guidelines for Board service included in the Constitution and By-Laws. This review shall include: 1. Personal evaluation and re-commitment to service on the Board 2. Review and affirmation by a majority of other Board members.