Constitution and By-Laws
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be The Baptist Bible Fellowship International (“Fellowship” or “BBFI”), which is a duly incorporated body in the State of Missouri, U.S.A.
Article II - Purpose
The purpose of this Fellowship shall be to serve Baptist pastors and their churches as they fulfill the Great Commission given by our Lord in Matthew 28:18-20.
Article III - Affiliation
Affiliation with the Baptist Bible Fellowship International is open to any Baptist pastor of a supporting Baptist church who believes in and adheres to the Word of God and agrees with the BBFI Articles of Faith. A supporting Baptist church is one that financially supports a BBFI missionary or a BBFI entity.
Article IV - Meetings
A. Annual Meeting: The Baptist Bible Fellowship International shall hold an annual meeting in September each year to conduct official Fellowship business. The Executive Committee shall determine and announce the date, time, and place of the meeting.
B. Special Meetings: Additional meetings of the BBFI may be convened by the Executive Committee as deemed necessary. Notification of any such special meeting shall be communicated by the Executive Committee at least 30 days in advance, detailing the meeting's purpose, date, time, and location.
Article V - Voting Rights
A. Voting Rights for Pastors: Each supporting church within the Fellowship shall be entitled to one vote on matters presented by the Executive Committee. This vote shall be cast by the senior pastor of the church or, if the senior pastor is unavailable, by an authorized representative designated by the senior pastor.
B. Voting Rights for Missionaries: Career missionaries approved by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International who are currently serving as the lead pastor of a local church are also granted voting rights within the Fellowship.
Article VI – National Officers
A. Executive Committee and Governance
The business and affairs of the Fellowship shall be managed by a Board of Directors, also referred to herein as the Executive Committee, of up to nine (9) in number, but no fewer than (5) in number. All elected officers shall serve as Board of Directors members. The Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Fellowship except those that are conferred upon affiliated members.
A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the Executive Committee at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. All regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee (Board of Directors) shall be held at such times and places as may be designated by the Board. Notice of all Board of Directors Meetings must be delivered to each Board member at least fourteen (14) days in advance of any such meeting.
B. List of Officers
The elected officers of the Fellowship shall include the following positions: President, Vice President of Missions, Vice President of Education, Vice President of Church Planting, Vice President of Church Development, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Committee may also appoint additional officers as needed. The Vice President of Missions also serves as the First Vice President. The immediate past President of the Fellowship will serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and may vote on matters only in the case of a tie.
No individual may hold more than one elected or appointed office simultaneously, including positions in partner or affiliate colleges of the Fellowship, such as President, Vice President(s), or Trustee roles.
C. Terms
Each officer serves a three-year term and may be re-elected once to the same office. After serving two consecutive terms, the officer must wait at least three years before being eligible to hold that same office again.
If a vacancy occurs in any office, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement to complete the remaining term.
Officers remain in their positions until the conclusion of the annual business meeting following the third national meeting or until their successors are elected and qualified.
D. Responsibilities
The President shall preside at all business meetings of the Fellowship and shall act for the Fellowship according to delegated power given him by the Fellowship and those inherent in the position. The President and the First Vice President shall be considered ex-officio members of all committees, agencies, and subsidiaries of the Fellowship. The First Vice President shall act for the President on all necessary occasions and shall assist the President whenever possible.
Each Vice President oversees the standing committee associated with their office, ensuring its goals align with the mission of the BBFI.
The Secretary shall keep all records and minutes on behalf of the Fellowship and the Executive Committee.
The Treasurer shall provide oversight of all financial matters of the Fellowship and shall provide the Executive Committee and State Representatives with an annual audit. The Treasurer shall ensure all funds are disbursed as designated by the donor or, if undesignated, as instructed by the Executive Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to maintain the integrity of all accounts.
E. Executive Committee Selection
Section 1: Nominations
The State Representatives of the Fellowship shall serve as the nominating committee for candidates for election to the Executive Committee. Nominations shall be presented during a State Representatives’ meeting, and a final ballot shall be prepared for submission to the Fellowship. All nominees must be pastors of an affiliated and supporting Baptist church, in compliance with Article III (“Affiliation”). The finalized ballot shall be approved during a specially called BBFI business meeting.
Section 2: Elections
The Executive Committee shall be elected by ballot by the Fellowship members entitled to vote, in accordance with Article V (“Voting Rights”) of these By-Laws. Voting shall commence immediately upon approval of the ballot, with ballots provided at the business meeting. Eligible voters must identify themselves on the ballot to ensure compliance with voting rights.
Pastors and missionaries who meet the voting eligibility criteria but are not in attendance may obtain a ballot from the BBFI Executive Committee by available means. Completed ballots must be submitted to the BBFI Missions Office by July 1 of the election year. The Executive Committee shall oversee the preparation and counting of the ballots.
Officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast. In the event of a tie, the outcome shall be determined by drawing lots.
Article VII - Directors
A. Appointment of Directors
The Executive Committee shall recommend candidates for the positions of Missions Director and Central Office Director, who will serve indefinite terms. These recommendations require approval by the State Representatives and the Fellowship.
B. Dismissal of Directors
If necessary, the Executive Committee holds the authority to dismiss either the Missions Director or the Central Office Director.
C. Review Process for Dismissal Decisions
The responsible sub-committee shall review any dismissal decisions made by the Executive Committee, providing a recommendation to either approve or disapprove the action. This recommendation is then submitted to the State Representatives, who may overturn the Executive Committee’s decision with a two-thirds majority vote.
Article VIII - Committees
A: Election and Appointment of State Representatives
A State Representative shall be elected by each recognized State Fellowship or shall be appointed as an interim for not more than sixty days by the Executive Committee if a State Fellowship does not elect a State Representative to ensure participation by that state at a national meeting. In the event that the Executive Committee makes the appointment of a State Representative, such State Representative shall be a pastor from that state.
No State Representative shall represent a state in which he does not actively fellowship. Each State Representative shall be certified to the BBFI by authorization from his State Fellowship.
If, for any reason, a State Representative is unable to serve his unexpired term, it shall be immediately filled by the State Fellowship or as otherwise provided herein.
B. Standing Committees
The State Representatives shall be divided into necessary subcommittees for the development of policies and procedures as they relate to individual subcommittees’ responsibilities and oversight, including missions, education, church planting, church development, and any other subcommittees deemed advisable by the Executive Committee.
Any voting-eligible pastor/missionary shall possess the inalienable right to attend meetings of any committee or sub-committee of the Fellowship and may exercise the right to appeal directly to the Fellowship on any pertinent matter.
Section 1. The Missions Committee
1. Leadership: The First Vice President shall preside over the Missions Committee, which oversees all aspects of the BBFI missions program.
2. Missions Policy: The Missions Committee is responsible for developing, drafting, publishing, and revising the BBFI Missions Policy. The BBFI Missions Policy must be approved by the State Representatives. All BBFI missions activities shall comply with the published BBFI Missions Policy. This committee shall also arbitrate any unresolved issues between the mission field committee and missionaries or candidates.
3. Advisory Role of the Missions Director: The Missions Director shall advise and apprise the Missions Committee on all aspects of missions operations.
4. Mission Field Committee: The Missions Director and Missions Committee shall nominate members to serve on the Mission Field Committee, subject to election by the State Representatives. The Mission Field Committee members serve three-year terms, with one-third of the committee elected annually. Election procedures, organizational details, and operational guidelines for the Mission Field Committee shall be outlined in the Missions Policy. The Missions Director serves as the director of the Mission Field Committee. Missionaries may be approved at any National Fellowship meeting.
Section 2. The Education Committee
1. Leadership: The Second Vice President shall preside over the Education Committee, which oversees all aspects of the BBFI education program.
2. Education Policy: The Education Committee is responsible for developing, drafting, publishing, and revising the BBFI Education Policy. The BBFI Education Policy must be approved by the State Representatives. All BBFI education activities shall comply with the published BBFI Education Policy.
3. Advisory Role of the Partner Presidents: The presidents of each institution of higher education, in partnership with the BBFI, based on the Education Policy, shall advise and apprise the Education Committee on all aspects of education operations.
Section 3. The Church Planting Committee
1. Leadership: The Third Vice President shall preside over the Church Planting Committee, which oversees all aspects of the BBFI domestic church planting.
2. Church Planting Policy: The Church Planting Committee is responsible for developing, drafting, publishing, and revising the BBFI domestic Church Planting Policy. The BBFI Church Planting Policy must be approved by the State Representatives.
Section 4. The Church Development Committee
1. Leadership: The Fourth Vice President presides over the Church Development Committee. The Church Development Committee is responsible for all aspects of the BBFI church development program.
2. Church Development Policy: The Church Development Committee shall be responsible for developing, drafting, publishing, and revising the BBFI Church Development Policy. The BBFI Church Development Policy must be approved by the State Representatives. All BBFI church development work must conform to the published BBFI Church Development Policy.
Section 5. The Central Office Committee
The Executive Committee shall function as the Central Office committee and oversee all operations of the BBFI Central Office.
Article IX - Subsidiaries and Properties of the BBFI
A. The subsidiaries of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International shall operate independently of and yet in cooperation with each other. Each shall operate under duly designated authority from the Fellowship but within the framework of this Constitution.
B. All properties of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, including all foreign properties that may be acquired by it later, shall be legally registered and duly owned by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International. They shall conform to all legal requirements of the locality in which they are situated. The Secretary is responsible for providing oversight of all properties owned by the BBFI and its subsidiaries.
C. An annual audit or review of all receipts and disbursements of Fellowship subsidiaries shall be made available to the State Representatives.
Article X - Constitutional Amendments
This Constitution shall supersede any other document pertaining to any branch or institution of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, and no document pertaining to any institution or branch of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International shall set forth any rights, privileges, or powers that are in conflict with those set forth in this Constitution and By-Laws.
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at an annual meeting of the Baptist Bible Fellowship International by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided the proposed amendment has been read at a previous National meeting.
Article XI - Relationship to Churches
All New Testament Churches are autonomous and self-governing; therefore, no article in this Constitution or By-Laws shall ever be interpreted in any way as to infringe upon or jeopardize the absolute sovereignty of any local church. The property rights, the missionary policies, and the practical procedures for autonomous, self-governing churches shall never be endangered in any way by the Baptist Bible Fellowship International, its agencies, or subsidiaries.
Article XII - Dissolution
In the event that an institution or entity governed by the BBFI should cease operations, all assets should be transferred to other organizations of like faith and practice, as defined by our Articles of Faith.
Approved September 16, 2025
