LC
Covenant Member Meeting
Approved 2026 Budget:
Staff - $374,931
Operations - $247,209
Ministries - $47,460
Outreach - $80,400
Total Approved Operating Budget for 2026: $750,000
Download a PDF of the Approved Operating Budget for 2026 by clicking the button below.
APPROVED BYLAW AMENDMENT
Explanation: Our elders believe that our current practice – baptizing young people upon their profession of faith, but withholding from them the privileges of church membership – creates an unhealthy disconnect between baptism and membership in the church.
The New Testament teaches that we are baptized into Christ and into his people (cf. Rom. 6:3–4; 1 Cor. 12:13), an experience realized through belonging to a local congregation. Because baptism signifies union with Christ and incorporation into his body, these proposed changes would allow baptized believers of any age to receive the benefits of church membership, while reserving the responsibility of voting in covenant member meetings for members who are 18 and older.
AMENDMENT #1
Article 4: Membership | Section 1: Qualifications
To qualify for membership, a person shall have put his/her faith in Jesus Christ, surrendered to Him as Lord, and trusted in Him alone for salvation. Each member must make a public profession of his/her faith as a child of God through believer’s baptism by immersion in obedience to Christ’s command, affirm the vision, mission, and beliefs of Life Church as stated in the Statement of Faith, and be 18 years of age or older.
AMENDMENT #2
Article 4: Membership | Section 3: Responsibilities and Privileges of Covenant Membership
Each member shall participate in the ministry and life of the church, consistent with God’s leading, using the gifts, time, and resources each has received from God. Life Church is member-governed under the authority of Christ; therefore, it is a privilege and responsibility of members to attend and participate in meetings, voting on matters requiring that require eligible member approval as specified under Members' Meetings in Article 5, Section 3.
AMENDMENT #3
Article 5: Meetings | Section 3: Members’ Meetings
Members’ meetings shall be held for members adult members (age 18 or older) to vote based on recommendations of the elder team. The members shall vote upon: the annual church ministry investment budget; the hiring of pastoral staff; amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Church; the selection of elders; the merger or dissolution of the church; the disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the church; and the purchase of real estate or non-budgeted capital improvements greater than five percent (5%) of the annual church budget. A quorum of twenty percent (20%) of the church membership must be present for all church business meetings. Votes may not be cast by absentee ballot nor may they be cast by proxy. A motion shall be approved by a simple majority of all votes cast.