Church Rules for the Bullittsburg Baptist Church,
Boone County, Kentucky
Adopted July 6, 1805
[From the Churchbook]Agreed that the following rules be adopted as the rules of this Church
Rule 1st Church meetings shall be opened & closed by prayer.
Rule 2nd All complaints to be rec'd in the church & references attended to, before a door be opened for the reception of members.
Rule 3rd Any member who shall exhibit a complaint against another shall have no voice in the decision.
Rule 4th Any member who shall be found guilty of sin by a majority shall not be restored but by unanimous consent.
Rule 5th All private trespasses and offenses shall be delt with agreeable to the 18th of Matthew. But publick Transgressions may be handed in the Church by any member who have delt with & notify'd the transgressor that a complaint will be lodg'd against him or her at the next meeting.
Rule 6th All questions decided by the church shall be by a majority Except in the reception & restoration of members, which shall be by Unanimity.
Rule 7th Every Motion - proposition or querry made & seconded shall come under the consideration of the church, Except withdrawn by the member who made it.
Rule 8th No member shall speak more than Twice to any Matter in debate without leave [permission] of the church.
Rule 9th Any member speaking shall strickly ahear to the subject and shall not reflect on the members who spoke before him, but shall endeavor to give light on the subject.
Rule 10th Only one person shall speak at a time, who shall first rise and address the moderator, and shall not be interrupted by any unless he brake the rules of this decorum, in which case the Moderator shall or any member may call him to order, and he shall immediately take his seat.
Rule 11th No member in time of business shall address another in any other appellation than that of brother.
Rule 12 The moderator shall be intitled to the same priviledge of speech as any other member provided his seat be filled but shall not vote except the church be equilly divided.
Rule 13th At the close of business on each church meeting day the Minutes shall be publicky read by the Clerk (corrected if necessary) and approved by the Church.
Rule 14th The rules of this decorum to be read by the clerk on each church meeting day at the opening of business untill it shall be otherwise directed by the church.
adj'd till meeting in course
Edw. Webb Clrk
____________ At a Church Meeting of Bullittsburgh held first Saturday April 2d 1825
Church Rules Updated for the Bullittsburg Baptist Church,
Boone County, Kentucky
[From the Churchbook]The reference respecting our rules taken up, and Absalom Graves, one of the Committee, presented a list of rules, arranged and revised, and after investigation, is adopted as the rules for the government of this church in future; which are as follows.
1st Church meetings to be opened & closed by praise & prayer.2d All complaints to be received in the Church and attended to, and also the references touching fellowship, before a door be opened for the reception of members.
3d We adopt as our guide in treating with disorderly members (in all cases when it is practicable) the directions given by our Savious in the 18th of Matthew, that is to go & tell "him his fault between thee and him alone: if he ^ shall / hear thee thou hast gained they brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witn4esses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church: but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."
For public crimes, satisfaction cannot be had, untill a public acknowledge[ment] be made to the Church.4th Any member found guilty of sin by a Majority, shall not be restored, without Unanimous consent: the complaining member having no voice in the decision.
5th Exclusion of members, and all other questions, shall be decided by a Majority, except on the reception, or restoration and dismifsion of members: and the Appointment of Ministers & deacons, which shall be by Unanimous consent.
6th Every motion, proposition, or query, made & seconded, shall be attended to (so as to be taken up, or voted out) unlefs withdrawn by the member who made it, who may do so, before it be taken up; but not afterwards without leave of the Church.
7th Only one member shall speak at a time, who shall rise & addrefs the moderator, strictly attend to the subject, and cast no reflections, he shall not be interrupted unlefs he break the rules of this decorum, in which case it shall be the duty of the Moderator to call him to order, but should he fail to do so, any member may, and shall take his seat. - Of which point of order the Church shall decide when applied to for that purpose.
[p. 130]
8th No member in time of businefs shall addrefs another in any other appellation than that of Brother: nor speak more than twice to any matter in debate without leave of the Church.9th The moderator to give the right hand of fellowship in behalf of the Church, to all persons admitted to membership, but those by experience not to be entitled to the privileges of the Church Until baptised.
10th The moderator to have the same liberty of speech as other members, provided his seat be filled, but not to vote, unlefs the Church be equally divided.
11th At the close of business on each day, the minutes, to be read, approved by the Church, signed by the Moderator and attested by the Clerk.
____________ [This church was constituted in June, 1794. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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