Adopted Apr 28, 2008, Amended Oct 02, 2017, Amended June 1, 2025, Amended Oct 27, 2025
This body shall be called “Albert Association of Baptist Churches Inc.” (Herein referred to also as “Albert Association” or “Association”)
1) Mission – The Mission of the Albert Association of Baptist Churches Inc. is to encourage, support and promote outreach of our member churches working together in unity to:
– Evangelize our Communities (Matt 28:18-20)
– Serve our Communities (Matt 25:31-36)
– Provide Training opportunities in areas of mutual interest (Eph 4:11-16)
2) Objectives – The Albert Association commits its support to the member Albert County Baptist churches in cooperation with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada to promote the work of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in the following ways:
– Regular, Faithful Prayer
– Promote Unity
– Teach
– (See Appendix 1)
3) Doctrine: The doctrinal beliefs of this Association shall be those of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, as expressed in the Basis of Union – 1905. (See Appendix 2)
1) Delegates
2) Member Churches
Member Churches shall be Baptist Churches in the County of Albert, in the Province of New Brunswick and shall therefore be listed with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada.
3) Voting
All questions before the Association shall be decided by a majority vote, except in the instance of:
These instances shall require a two-thirds majority. These also require written application two weeks prior to a regularly called meeting.
Voting results are routinely determined by counting issued delegate cards given members at the start of all meetings.
The Directors and Officers of the Association are: Executive Director, Moderator, Treasurer, and Secretary/Clerk.
The Association Executive Team (Council) consists of the following:
It is recognized that the Association member churches have a responsibility to assist the team chairs and the nominating team in finding qualified candidates for the teams noted below in order for them to fulfill their mandates:
The role of the Council is to carry out the mandate given to it by the Albert Association of Baptist Churches Inc. as outlined in the Constitution Articles VI and VII. Acting as the agent of The AABC Inc. between business meetings, the Council is entrusted with the responsibility to:
(1) Team members shall be elected at the annual business meeting for a period of two (2) years and shall be eligible for re-election at the close of that period. No member of any Team or the holder of any Office shall serve longer than six (6) years consecutively in that position but may be re-elected after a lapse of one (1) year. Team members are eligible immediately, following their term, for nomination and election to any other Office/Team within the Association
(2) Any member of a Team who moves from a church served by the Association shall automatically cease to be a member of such Team, and a replacement shall be made by the Executive Team next in session, if not sooner replaced as hereinafter provided.
(3) Any member of a Team who has lost “good standing” or membership with his/her local church shall automatically cease to be a member of such a Team.
(4) The Executive Team (Council) reserves the right to remove any or all members of a Team by majority vote. This authority is only exercised after attempts of reconciliation have been exhausted.
(5) Process to replace vacant positions:
Any team vacancies may be filled, if it seems prudent to do so, by The Executive Team (Council), after seeking nominations from the Nominating Team. The Nominating Team must seek input on possible replacements from the respective team chairs during this process. Any persons appointed in this way will serve until the next duly called meeting of the Association, and his/her name shall be added to the report of the Nominating Team, if he/she is willing to complete the unexpired term.
(6) Notwithstanding Clause- If the process concerning electing team members and the process to replace vacant positions, as described in Articles VIII.1 and VIII.5 above, does not produce any suitable replacement candidates, the Nominating Team can override Articles VIII.1 and VIII.5 and ask the incumbent to stay in their position for an additional one (1) year term(s) until a suitable candidate is found, subject to a member vote at the next duly called meeting of the Association.
This constitution may be altered, amended or cancelled at any Association Business meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, provided notice of such intention has been given at the previous duly called meeting of the Association.
A quorum for the transaction of business at a duly called business meeting shall consist of twelve (12) Delegates representing not less than six (6) Member Churches.
The Association Moderator who is appointed by the executive team shall follow the “Rules of Order for the Conduct of Meetings” as written in “A Manual for Worship and Service” prepared for Canadian Baptist Churches, 1998 edition pages 151-156. (See Appendix 4)
Regular, Faithful Prayer
Promote Unity
Teach
Doctrinal Statement
The Scriptures — The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments have their authority from God alone, and are given to us by divine inspiration. They are the only perfect, supreme, infallible and sufficient standard of faith and practice.
God — There is one true and living God; He is an infinite Spirit; self-existent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, good, wise, just and merciful. He is the creator, preserver, and sovereign of the universe; He is inexpressively glorious in holiness, and worthy of all honour, confidence and love. In the Godhead there are three persons in one: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are equal in every divine perfection, and who execute distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.
Jesus Christ — Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the person of the trinity who, by virtue of His sacrificial work, is the world’s redeemer and the savior of all who believe. He is at present the intercessor of all His people at the right hand of the Father, and is to be the judge of all men.
The Holy Spirit — The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity, by whom all saving, comforting and sanctifying power is exerted upon human hearts.
State and Fall of Man — Man was created sinless. By his own disobedience he fell into sin. Through his fall into sin, an evil nature was transmitted to the whole race, revealing itself in actual transgression, and bringing all under the reign of condemnation and death.
Atonement — The perfect life, vicarious death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, have removed the obstacles in the way of the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power and of the Father’s forgiving grace being extended to the sinner, and constitute for every believing soul an all prevailing plea and sufficient ground for righteousness before God.
Regeneration — In regeneration a new life principle is begotten in the soul of man by the Holy Spirit through the word of truth, producing a disposition to joyful obedience to Christ and to holy conduct in life.
Repentance — In repentance the sinner, having seen his sin, being moved by the energy of the Holy Spirit, is led to grieve for and hate it as an offence against God, and apprehending the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he lovingly returns to God to walk in the way of His commandments.
Faith — Faith is a conviction of the intellect that God will perform all that He has promised and an implicit trust of the heart in Christ as a personal savior. It includes a hearty concurrence of the will and affections with the whole plan of salvation as revealed in the gospel, and is a condition of justification and of cleansing from the pollution of sin and of all subsequent gospel blessings.
Justification — Justification is an act of God wherein He accepts as righteous the sinner, to whom is imputed the perfect righteousness of Christ, on the condition of faith alone.
Sanctification — The Scriptures teach that sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, Christians are made partakers of His holiness; that it has its beginning in regeneration, and that it is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, in the continual use of the appointed means: the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness and prayer.
The Christian Sabbath — We believe that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day or Christian Sabbath and is to be kept sacred to religious purposes by abstaining from all secular labour and sinful recreations, by the devout observance of all means of grace, both private and public, and by preparation of that rest that remaineth for the people of God.
A Gospel Church — We believe that a church of Christ is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights and privileges invested in them by His Word. In the more general sense, the word church is used to designate all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The only scriptural officers are bishops (pastors), and deacons, whose qualifications, claims and duties are defined in the epistles of Timothy and Titus.
Baptism — This is the immersion of believers in water into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in which are represented their death to the world, the washing of their souls from the pollution of sin, their resurrection to newness of life, the burial and resurrection of Christ, their resurrection at the last day, and their engagement to serve God.
The Lord’s Supper — The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of Christ, to be observed by the churches in the manner indicated by Him in Matt. 26:26-30.
Death — At death our bodies return to dust, our souls to God who gave them. The righteous being then perfected in happiness are received to dwell with God, awaiting the full redemption of their bodies. The wicked are cast into Hades reserved unto the judgement of the great day.
Resurrection — There will be a general resurrection of the bodies of the just and of the unjust; the righteous in the likeness of Christ, but the wicked to shame and everlasting contempt.
General Judgement — There will be a judgement of quick and dead, of the just and unjust, on the principles of righteousness, by the Lord Jesus Christ, at His second coming. The wicked will be condemned to eternal punishment, and the righteous received into fullness of eternal life and joy.
Church Polity
Article I — The voluntary principle underlies the whole church polity of the New Testament. Each church is independent, but the churches are interdependent. All the power the more general bodies have over the less general and the individual churches, is to advise and to enforce advice with the strongest moral motives. In case a church, or the churches composing a less general body, depart from the belief and practice of the denomination, it shall be the right of the more general body to withdraw fellowship.
Article II — Each church, as occasion may require, shall have the right to appeal to the more general body for the help of their advice and moral influence, or to call a council from other churches. If a church, torn by dissensions and heresy, declines to seek assistance of this kind, it is the right of the more general body to send a delegation to assist the church as far as this may be possible.
Article III — Any church should be careful in granting a license to preach. Every license, to be valid, must be signed by the pastor and clerk of the church granting it, and countersigned by at least two neighbouring pastors after an examination of the candidate’s qualifications. Note with regard to Article III — The local church license to preach has been replaced with the License to Minister. Also, neighbouring pastors are no longer required to countersign and examine candidates. This process has been replaced by the association License to Minister.
Article IV — When a church desires the ordination of a brother, a council from as many of the nearest churches as will secure the attendance of at least five ordained pastors, with a suitable number of laymen may be called; or the more general body may be requested to attend to the matter. Note with regard to
Article IV — In 1922, this policy was replaced by the current practice of having a convention examining council consisting predominately of association representatives. Nevertheless, ordination still continues to be the responsibility of the local church.
Team Members can be made up from any member in good standing of our Association Churches. The Teams elect a Chair who becomes a member of the Executive Team (Council) and a voting delegate. The Team Members meet and elect a chair (who may also be team leader) within 30 days of the Annual Business Meeting.
A. Nominating Team
• The Nominating Team shall be made up as a minimum the Executive Director or his / her delegate,
the Secretary / Clerk, and at least three others nominated by the Executive Team (Council) for election at the Annual Meeting.
• The Nominating Team shall prepare nominations for the Teams of the Association. They also
nominate the Association Delegate to the annual meeting of Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada Inc.
• This Team may make nominations for outside appointments as the Executive Team (Council) deems necessary from time to time.
• Nominations may also be presented from those in attendance at any duly called meeting.
B. Licensing Team
• This Team shall consist of not less than four members.
• The Licensing Team is to become thoroughly acquainted with the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada Inc. regulations regarding the Licensing of Pastors.
• This Team is to establish and maintain communications with all churches in the Association with a view to contact all persons considering a call to the pastoral ministry or are desirous of entering training for such purposes.
• This Team interviews persons annually and makes recommendations at an Association Business Meeting, to grant or renew licenses in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada.
• This team elects from its membership the Association delegate and alternate to the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada Ordination Examining Council.
C. Vision / Missions Team
• The Vision / Missions Team shall be drawn from the members of the Executive Team (Council) with power to recruit competent assistance from the Association churches.
• This Team shall consist of not less than four members one of whom is the Executive Director.
• Focus on Mission / Vision Objectives of the Association (i.e. Moncton Hospital Chaplaincy, Camp Wildwood)
• Initiate Opportunities to Help Churches be More Effective in Kingdom Building Locally and Globally
• Implement key plans and strategies (i.e. conferences, outreach opportunities, service, mission projects, etc.)
• Primary Purpose: Mission – NOT Maintenance
D. Youth and Children’s Ministry Team
• This Team shall consist of not less than four members.
• The Youth and Children Ministry Team may need to have additional ad-hoc subcommittees from time to time.
• Develop training opportunities for staff and volunteer youth leaders
• Promote local and global youth missions (i.e. Tidal Impact, BWA Youth Conference)
• Engage students in peer – peer ministry and evangelism
• Assist with the Communication between Association Churches and Area youth events.
E. Communication Team
• Team Chair – Secretary / Clerk
• This Team shall consist of not less than three members.
• Develop and maintain mailing lists, email group distribution lists and phone networks.
• Develop and maintain an Association website, resource database and calendar of events.
• Distribute minutes of Association meetings to delegates, pastors and church clerks.
• Develop weekly prayer notices to be included in local church bulletins.
• Co-ordinate active prayer chain captains for emergency prayer requests.
F. Pastoral Care Team:
• This Team shall consist of not less than three members.
• To deliberately connect and work closely with the churches and pastors of the Association. (This
will help determine where there are needs and where to focus the resources.)
• To develop a pastoral support team within the churches and to encourage its effectiveness if one is in place.
• This team includes the delegates to Albert / Westmorland-Kent Chaplaincy.
• To encourage the building of relationships with pastors and lay leaders within the Association;
both collectively and individually. This could be accomplished through personal contacts or through mentoring, retreats, social events, etc.
• To teach congregations how to be understanding and sensitive to the needs of pastors, spouses and children.
• To develop resources that will provide practical help during crisis situations; i.e. multiple funerals, pulpit replacement, conflict management, medical emergencies.
• To encourage growth in spiritual formation, education and training through seminars, extension courses and other helpful learning opportunities.
• To help pastors discover financial resources that may be available through CBAC, Universities, scholarships, etc.
G. Finance Team
• Team Leader – Association Treasurer
• This Team shall consist of not less than three members, one of whom will be appointed the Assistant Treasurer.
• To provide the banking & treasury functions for the Association.
• To provide any government reporting, as required, for the Association.
• To provide a financial report to committees on their activities at least once per fiscal period comparing actual to planned activities.
• To prepare a written annual report that summarizes the last fiscal period’s financial activities and presents the next fiscal period’s budget at the annual business meeting.
• As required, assist each committee in determining their financial budget for the next two fiscal periods.
• To assist each committee in fund raising to meet their next two years financial budget.
• Any one of the Executive Director or Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer will be the Association’s Signing Officers
Rules of Order for the Conduct of Meetings: from “A Manual for Worship and Service” prepared for
Canadian Baptist Churches 1998 edition pages 151-156
In case no other rules are adopted at the commencement of deliberations, the parliamentary rules of order commonly used in deliberative bodies are those which ought to govern churches and other religious societies in their congregational meetings. For a complete presentation of parliamentary procedures, see Rules of Order by Bourinot © 1963 by McClelland and Stewart Ltd.
The following rules of order are provided as a guide to generally accepted procedures.
Motions
• All business shall be presented by a motion, made by a member and seconded by another, and presented in writing by the mover, if so required.
• No discussion can properly be had until the motion is made, seconded, and stated by the chair, or presiding officer.
• A motion cannot be withdrawn after it has been discussed, except by the unanimous consent of the body.
• A motion having been discussed, it must be put to a vote, unless withdrawn, laid on the table, referred or postponed.
• A motion lost cannot be renewed at the same meeting, except by unanimous consent.
• A motion should contain but one distinct proposition. If it contains more, it may be divided at the request of any member.
• Not more than one question can properly be before the meeting at the same time.
• A second motion cannot be allowed to interrupt one already under debate. The only exceptions are subsidiary motions to amend, to substitute, to commit, to postpone, to lay on the table, or to adjourn.
• The subsidiary motions cannot be interrupted by any other motion, nor can any other motion be applied to them, except to amend by specifying time, place, or purpose. Subsidiary motions may not interrupt or supersede each other.
• A motion to adjourn is always in order except when a member has the floor, or when a question is being taken.
Amendments
• Amendments may be made to resolutions in three ways: by omitting, by adding, or by substituting words or sentences.
• An amendment to an amendment may be made, but is seldom necessary and should be avoided. There cannot be an amendment to the amendment to the amendment.
• No amendment should be made which essentially changes the meaning or design of the original motion; but a substitute may be offered which may change entirely the meaning of the resolution under debate.
• The amendment to the amendment (if any) must first be discussed and acted on, then the amendment, and lastly the original motion or the original motion as amended.
Speaking
• Any member desiring to speak on a question should rise and address the chair or presiding officer, confine remarks to the question, and avoid personalities and all unkind and disrespectful language.
• A speaker using improper language, introducing improper subjects, or otherwise out of order, should be called to order by the chair, and must either conform to the rules of debate governing the body or be seated.
• A member while speaking may allow others to ask questions or to make explanations; but if the floor is yielded to another, it cannot be reclaimed.
• A member is not permitted to speak more than once until all have spoken who desire to speak, nor more than twice on any question without the permission of the chair, or of the meeting.
Voting
• A question is put to vote by the chair, having first distinctly restated it. First, the affirmative, thenthe negative, is called. Whether the motion is carried or lost is then distinctly announced.
• Voting may be done by calling for the “ayes” and “nays,” by holding up the hand, by standing to be counted, or by ballot.
• If the vote as announced by the chair is doubted it is called again, usually by standing to be counted.
• All members should vote unless excused for reason, or unless under discipline, in which case they should take no part in the business.
• The chair or presiding officer does not usually vote, but in case of a tie vote, casts the deciding vote.
• When the vote is to be taken by ballot, the chair appoints tellers to distribute, collect and count the ballots.
Appeal
The chair or presiding officer announces the result of all votes, and decides all questions as to rules of procedure and order of debate. Any member, however, who is dissatisfied with the decisions of the chair may appeal them to the body. The chair then puts the question: “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?” The vote of the body, whether negative or affirmative, is final. The right to appeal should not be resorted to in matters of slight importance.
Previous Questions
• The previous question shall be in the following words. “That this question be now put.” The previous question is not debatable and must be voted on at once unless a motion to adjourn be made.
• The previous question, until it is decided, shall preclude all amendments to the main question. If the previous question be resolved in the affirmative, the original question is to be put forthwith, without any amendment or debate.
• No amendment can be proposed to a motion for the previous question nor can the previous question be proposed when an amendment is under consideration. A motion for adjournment can be made to a motion for the previous question.
• If the motion for the previous question is lost, the presiding officer cannot put any question on the main motion, and it is dropped.
Note: The previous question is used to effect one of two objects:
1. To prevent a decision on a question under consideration, in which case the members who propose and second it vote against the motion: and
2. To prevent any amendment and force a direct vote on the question, in which case the members who propose and second it vote for the motion.
To Lay on the Table
• Sometimes consideration of a question is deferred by a motion to lay it on the table, in which case it may be taken from the table for discussion at any time by order of the body; or it may be laid on the table until a specified time, to be taken from the table when that time arrives. If a question is merely laid on the table, it is usually considered disposed of.
• A motion to lay on the table must apply to a resolution or other papers. An abstract subject cannot be disposed of in this way.
Not Debatable
Motions for the previous question, indefinite postponement, to commit, to lay on the table and to adjourn, are not debatable.
However, when these motions are modified by some conditions of time, place, or purpose, they become debatable, but only in respect to the time, place or purpose which brings them within the province of debate.
To Reconsider
A motion to reconsider a motion previously disposed of must be made and seconded by persons who voted with the majority when the motion was disposed of. If the motion to reconsider a motion or resolution is carried, then the original motion stands just where it did before being considered, and may be discussed, adopted or rejected.
A vote to reconsider must be taken at the session at which the question or motion reconsidered was disposed of, and should be when there are as many members present as at first.
Point of Order
Any member who believes that a speaker is out of order, or that discussion is proceeding improperly, may at any time rise to a point of order. The point of order or objection must be distinctly and briefly stated, and then ruled on by the presiding officer.
Rule Suspended
A rule of order may be suspended for the time being by the unanimous vote of the body.
Adjournment
A simple motion to adjourn is always in order except when a member is speaking, or when taking a vote. It takes precedence of all other motions and is not debatable. A body may adjourn to a specified time, but if no time is mentioned the fixed or usual time of meeting is understood. If there is no
fixed or usual time of meeting, then an adjournment without date is equivalent to a dissolution.
