SJBA Guiding Documents for the 21st Century
Guiding Documents approved October 2009
Bylaws Amended October 10, 2013
The Vision Team for the San Juan Baptist Association has been charged with the assignment to prepare the San Juan Baptist Association for effective ministry in the twenty-first century. The first step of the restructuring process was the development of a new Philosophical Premise.
We believe that the churches of the San Juan Baptist Association must take extraordinary steps in unity to resource and partner with each other to accomplish the Great Commission rather than look to the associational office for the answers and resources. God has blessed us with a Director of Missions and staff who can cast the vision to help us accomplish the original associational principle. That principle was and is to join together to do what no church can do by itself.
SJBA Mission
Serving Jesus Christ together, pursuing the spiritual transformation of San Juan County and surrounding areas
SJBA Vision
We see a day when:
¨ Every church is led by healthy, spiritually transformed leaders.
¨ Every church is a healthy, spiritually transformed church.
¨ Every person in our region is given the opportunity to respond to the Good News about Jesus.
¨ We effectively cooperate across denominational lines, where our cause is common, to expand the Kingdom of God.
¨ All of our communities are healthy, spiritually transformed communities, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ.
SJBA Core Values
We value the church-driven model of associational ministry.
This means that the local congregations collaborate to establish and implement the mission and vision of the association.
This value arises out of the following ideals:
¨ The autonomy of the local church
¨ Unity among all believers
¨ Cooperation and collaboration as a result of our unity
We value the spiritual transformation of our community.
This means that an overwhelming majority of persons in our region are born again into God’s Kingdom.
This value arises out of the following ideals:
¨ The lordship of Jesus Christ
¨ The authority of the Bible as God’s divinely inspired self-revelation
¨ Equipped leaders
¨ The Great Commission
¨ Prayer
¨ Christian fellowship
¨ The service of all believers regardless of denominational affiliation
SJBA Objectives
Our objectives are to pursue spiritual transformation by…
¨ Providing networks and resources that assist in developing godly leaders,
¨ Facilitating partnerships through which churches strengthen and revitalize one another,
¨ Encouraging churches to plant new churches cooperatively, and
¨ Communicating opportunities through which churches can influence their communities.
Structure for the SJBA Executive Branch
SJBA Executive Board
¨ Each SJBA church shall have two representatives: one pastor (can be senior pastor or associate pastor) and one lay person
¨ Ex-officio (“by virtue of office or official position”): Director of Missions, SJBA Moderator, SJBA Vice-Moderator [these may or may not be part of the local church representatives]
SJBA Executive Board Council
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council shall consist of 15 members of the SJBA Executive Board, elected annually by the Executive Board.
¨ Members shall be elected for one year terms, and no member shall serve more than three consecutive, one-year terms.
¨ There shall be four members from Farmington churches, four members from “county” churches, two members from Aztec churches, two members from Bloomfield churches, and three at-large members.
¨ Ex-officio: Director of Missions, SJBA Moderator
SJBA Executive Board Council Workgroup
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council Workgroup shall consist of 5 members of the SJBA Executive Board Council
¨ Members shall be elected for one year by the SJBA Executive Board
¨ No workgroup member shall serve more than three consecutive, one-year terms
¨ All workgroup members shall be considered at-large
Duties of the SJBA Executive Branch
SJBA Executive Board
¨ The SJBA Executive Board shall meet twice each year. Special meetings may be called by giving at least seven days notice to the SJBA churches.
¨ The SJBA Executive Board shall have complete power and authority in conducting the business of SJBA between Annual Meetings. This includes, but is not limited to, the annual budget recommendation, sale or purchase of property, Constitution & By-law recommendations, and hiring or termination of Director of Missions.
¨ The SJBA Executive Board shall supply a written report of all meetings at the Annual Meeting. Quorums shall consist of 20 members present and a simple majority vote shall be binding, unless a higher percentage is required by an approved policy or procedure.
SJBA Executive Board Council
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council shall meet monthly, when needed, to act on the behalf of the SJBA Executive Board. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Council.
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council shall supply a written report of all meetings to the SJBA Executive Board.
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council shall be responsible for all administrative needs, including but not limited to, a semi-annual review of ministry activities, possible legal actions, and the annual written performance evaluation of the Director of Missions. They shall also be responsible for supplying the SJBA Executive Board with recommendations for the annual budget, sale or purchase of property, addition or removal of churches and Constitution and By-Laws changes.
SJBA Executive Board Council Workgroup
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council Workgroup shall meet weekly, when needed, to do all work assigned by the SJBA Executive Board Council.
¨ The SJBA Executive Board Council Workgroup shall supply a written report of all activity related to the work assignments given to the Workgroup by the Council, presented at the next Council meeting.
Ministry (Transformation) Teams:
Leadership Development Team
Objective: The Leadership Development Team exists to assist, encourage and resource our SJBA churches to identify, develop, and equip spiritually transformed leaders.
This team will accomplish this mission by:
¨ Praying for God to raise up and call out transformed leaders
¨ Identifying potential leaders
¨ Connecting potential leaders with mentors
¨ Providing training opportunities for leaders and potential leaders such as, but not limited to, conferences, retreats, pulpit supply, school of theology, and a resource center
Church Strengthening Team
Objective: The Church Strengthening Team exists to assist, encourage, and resource our SJBA churches to become healthy, strong transformational congregations.
This team will accomplish this mission by:
¨ Praying for God to strengthen and revitalize our churches
¨ Facilitating ministry partnerships between our churches
¨ Identifying churches in need of strengthening and offering assistance
¨ Developing a strategy for strengthening each church identified and contacted
¨ Providing appropriate resources to assist church strengthening in areas such as, but not limited to, worship, Sunday School, evangelism, discipleship, and missions
¨ Organizing appropriate training events and conferences which strengthen churches
Church Planting Team
Objective: The Church Planting Team exists to assist, encourage, and resource our SJBA churches to plant new churches.
This team will accomplish this mission by:
¨ Praying for churches to have a Spirit-driven desire for church planting
¨ Discovering opportunities for church planting
¨ Guiding churches to identify resources and partnerships for church planting
¨ Enlisting and training our churches to plant healthy churches
¨ Discovering, assessing and training potential church planters
Community Ministry Team
Objective: The Community Ministry Team exists to assist, encourage and resource our SJBA churches and individuals to pursue missional projects leading to community transformation.
This team will accomplish this mission by:
¨ Praying for community spiritual transformation
¨ Maintaining focus on the principles of transforming communities
¨ Supporting the mission goals of each church
¨ Providing opportunities for individuals to participate in community ministries
¨ Leading and training our churches to discover and participate in community ministry opportunities
¨ Organizing our churches to cooperatively minister at major community events
Function of a Team Leader
Definition: A person passionate about leading a team that is committed to seeing God transform San Juan County and surrounding areas.
Responsibilities:
¨ Committed to the vision, mission, and objectives of the San Juan Baptist Association
¨ Actively enlists team members
¨ Regularly communicates with other team leaders, the Director of Missions, and the Executive Board Council
¨ Manages the team budget
¨ Submits the annual team budget
¨ Leads the team in developing and implementing a strategy
¨ Empowers all team members to be actively engaged in the work of the team
¨ Meeting regularly, when needed, with other Team leaders and the Director of Missions to coordinate transformational activities.
