1. Member. The local Mennonite congregation is the basic organizational unit of PNMC. The congregation is God’s people with a common confession of Christ uniting in worship, nurture, fellowship, proclamation, service, discernment, reconciliation, and mutual care and discipline. It is a local group of believers whose commitment to Christ and to each other and whose proximity to each other make it possible to experience these activities on a regular and continuing basis.
2. Common Vision and Commitments. Member Congregations shall embrace the following commitments:
The vision and mission statements of Mennonite Church USA and PNMC
Common Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, as updated from time to time, as their “statement of faith for teaching and nurture in the life of the Church”
Commitment “to seek to understand and interpret Scripture in harmony with Jesus Christ as we are led by the Holy Spirit in the Church”
Commitment to participate in discerning and living out statements of Christian faith and life made by Mennonite Church USA and PNMC
Commitment to participate in the life and mission of PNMC and Mennonite Church USA through delegate representation and financial support
3. Rights and Privileges. The Member Congregation shall retain or be given certain rights and privileges as a member of PNMC, as follows:
a. The Member Congregation shall have the authority to determine the criteria and the responsibility to implement the process for membership of persons joining their congregation, which shall be done in consultation with PNMC and in consideration of expectations for membership in Mennonite Church USA.
b. The Member Congregation may manage its own affairs, including but not limited to its organization, personnel, program and management of property.
c. The Member Congregation may withdraw from PNMC, and in so doing from Mennonite Church USA.
d. Through its representatives (delegates) to Member Meetings, the Member Congregation shall participate in the planning and decision making of the larger body.
e. A Member Congregation shall have no rights to any property of PNMC.
f. Memberships may not be assigned. Congregations shall not be liable, solely because of such Membership, for the debts of PNMC.
g. The voting power of a Member Congregation is exercised by delegates designated by the congregation. Each congregation is entitled to one delegate for each twenty-five of its members, or fraction thereof. Such delegates shall be members of the congregation. In addition to any voting delegates a congregation may have by virtue of the number of its members, all ordained or licensed ministers, whose ministerial credentials have been recognized by PNMC and who are considered active, with charge, are voting delegates at conference meetings.
4. Duties. As a member of PNMC, the Member Congregation shall have a responsibility to be loyal to and support the work of the church. Specifically:
a. Each Member Congregation shall maintain a membership roster.
b. Each Member Congregation shall, insofar as it is possible, send delegate(s) to Member Meetings and shall actively seek to further the interests of PNMC during and between sessions.
c. Each Member Congregation shall, insofar as it is possible, call ministers that are certified or registered by PNMC or another member area conference of Mennonite Church USA.
d. Each Member Congregation will take seriously the need to be in open dialogue with members and leaders of PNMC, to share concerns with PNMC, and to receive representatives that come to share the programs and the perspectives of PNMC. If there is serious disagreement, either party may initiate discussion to seek a resolution.
5. Membership Procedures. Congregations may be admitted by the Member Congregations, upon recommendation by the Board. The Board shall adopt and publish to the Member Congregations a policy regarding admission and termination of congregational membership in PNMC, which shall be followed until amended by the Board, which amendments shall be published to the Member Congregations ninety (90) days prior to the effectiveness of the amended provisions.
a. Termination. Decisions about termination of a Member Congregation’s membership shall be guided by PNMC policies on inter-congregational conflict, and by the published pamphlet setting forth the principles of “Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love.” Any Member Congregation’s membership shall terminate on the occurrence of any of the following:
Voluntary resignation approved by a majority of the members of a Member Congregation, following a process consistent with Matthew 18:15-20 conducted by PNMC officers and the Member Congregation;
Dissolution;
A vote by two-thirds of the PNMC Board to terminate the Membership after ninety (90) days written notice to the Member Congregation of the Board’s intention to so act, and ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates voting at the next Member Meeting. A Member Congregation facing termination will be given an opportunity to be heard by the PNMC Board, orally or in writing, not less than five (5) days before the effective date of the termination.
