ARTICLE I

This body shall be called the Edisto Baptist Association and shall maintain affiliation with the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of this Association shall be:

To provide an organization for the promotion of fellowship, love and brotherhood among the churches of our Association; and

To promote the winning of the lost and encourage Christian growth through worship, Christian piety, morality, missions, education, evangelism benevolence and social concern, all for the glory of God.

ARTICLE III

The membership of this body shall be confined to churches which are Baptist in faith and practice and which cooperate and support the agencies of the Association, the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Every church shall be entitled to one messenger at large and one for every twenty-five (25) members but not to exceed ten (10) for the annual meeting.

Churches desiring membership in the Association shall apply to the Executive Committee, and if recommended by this Committee and by the Association, shall agree to come under the watchcare of the Association for a period of one year. At the end of one year, upon recommendation of the Committee, membership within the Association shall be confirmed by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the messengers in its annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV

The officers of this Association shall be a Moderator, Vice Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Assistant Clerk and Assistant Treasurer, or a combination Clerk-Treasurer and Assistant Clerk-Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Association each year at the October Annual Meeting and shall take office on January 1 and serve until December 31. The Moderator and Vice-Moderator may serve only two (2) years in succession and then there must be a one (1) year period before serving in the same office again. The Director of Missions is an ex-officio member.

ARTICLE V

This Association disclaims any authority over the churches. It only possesses the privilege of recommending to them any measures it may be thought proper for the advancement of its objectives, of inquiring into the state of its constituent members; and if it shall appear, upon information, that any of them have departed from the faith of the Gospel as set forth in the Declaration of Faith and Articles I and II, appended to the Constitution, of withdrawing from them if, after affectionate and gospel labors to bring them back from their errors, they remain irreclaimable.

ARTICLE VI

The Association may hold correspondence or form connection with any other religious body of same faith and order for the promotion of its objectives, as yet to leave the churches that compose it free to act as they think proper.

ARTICLE VII

The Association shall have the power to make By-Laws for government.

ARTICLE VIII

The Constitution and Bylaws may be changed or amended at the Annual Edisto Baptist Association meeting in October. The proposed change or amendment will be provided to the Constitution/Bylaw committee and Executive Committee prior to the May Executive Committee meeting for study and approval. With approval, it may be presented at the Annual Edisto Baptist Association meeting. The Constitution/Bylaw change or changes or amendments will require three-fourths (3/4) majority vote and become effective immediately

ARTICLE IX

The Executive Committee shall be the Association ad interim. This committee shall consist of all pastors, one layperson elected by each church, the general officers, heads of all departments of work, the chairman of all standing committees of the Association and the Director of Missions as an ex-officio member. The Moderator, Vice Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer, elected by the Association, shall serve as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee. This Committee shall meet each quarter and at any other time as the occasion demands.

ARTICLE X

The business of this Association shall be conducted according to latest revision of Robert’s Rules of Order where not otherwise specified by this Constitution and By-Laws. The Moderator shall serve or appoint someone to serve as Parliamentarian.

ARTICLE XI

The Association shall promote the Sunday School, Discipleship Training, Music, WMU, Baptist Men and Missions Committee and all related organizations by the election of such persons to lead in these areas of work. The Association shall also promote and inform the churches in areas of Missions, Stewardship, the Baptist Homes for the Aging, Annuity Board, Evangelism, Baptist Foundation and the Obituaries, and other Southern Baptist affiliated causes.