​Købnerkirkens Statutes

1. The congregation’s name is Købnerkirken.

2. The congregation is domiciled in the municipality of Copenhagen.

3. The congregation is a member of the Baptist church of Denmark.

   1. I: The congregation is part of the Christian church and confesses faith in the one God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.                               II: The congregation’s task is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach about the Kingdom of God, and care for fellow human beings. III: The congregation’s primary standard for faith and Christian life is the Bible. 

4. The congregation consists of its current members. Admission of new members takes place according to established guidelines.

5. The congregation’s property belongs to the congregation as a legal entity. The congregation is liable with its property for the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by the congregation.

6. The highest authority of the congregation is the congregational meeting, which is open to all who are interested in the congregation’s work. The members of the congregation have the right to vote.

7. Ordinary congregational meetings are held three times a year, with four weeks’ notice. At the first meeting of the year, the annual accounts are presented, and at the last meeting of the year, the budget is presented. Elections for the congregational council as well as the chair of meetings, secretary, treasurer, and auditor also take place at this meeting.

8. The affairs of the congregation are decided, as far as possible, by consensus at congregational meetings. In the absence of consensus, decisions are made by simple majority among the members present.

9. Decisions regarding the purchase and sale of real estate, taking out loans, and other comparable obligations must be adopted at two consecutive congregational meetings.

10. Extraordinary congregational meetings may be held with at least seven days’ notice to members, specifying the agenda.

11. Report are kept of the congregational meeting. The reports must show the decisions made. The report must be available to the congregation’s members and approved at the next ordinary congregational meeting.

12. Once the report are approved by the congregation, a copy, confirmed by the chair of the meeting and the secretary, serves as documentation of the proceedings, both for members and third parties.

13. The leadership of the congregation, including the implementation of decisions made at congregational meetings, is carried out by a congregational council.

14. The congregational council is elected by the members of the congregation according to the election procedure established in the congregation.

15. The congregational council sets its own rules of procedure and appoints its own leader. 

16. The leader of the council and the congregation’s treasurer together are authorized to sign on behalf of the congregation in dealings with public authorities and in all financial matters, provided the matter has been adopted at a congregational meeting.

17. The congregation’s financial year follows the calendar year. The accounts are kept by a treasurer elected by the congregation and audited by an auditor also elected by the congregation.

18. The audited annual accounts with balance sheet are submitted for approval at the congregational meeting in January.

19. The congregation is liable with its property for the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by the congregation. The members are not personally liable for the congregation’s obligations.

20. If a group of members secedes from the congregation, they have no share in the congregation’s property and cannot make any claims of any kind.

21. In the event of an agreed division of the congregation, its property shall be distributed as fairly as possible through negotiations between both parties. If agreement cannot be reached, the matter shall be referred to the leadership of the Baptist church of Denmark for final decision.

22. If the membership of the congregation falls to 20 – or earlier – the Baptist church of Denmark shall be contacted to clarify the future of the congregation.

23. A decision on dissolution of the congregation or merger with another Baptist congregation requires a ¾ majority among the members present at two consecutive ordinary congregational meetings. If the congregation is dissolved without merging with another Baptist congregation, remaining assets shall be transferred to the Baptist church of Denmark.

24. he congregation’s statutes may be amended if adopted with a 2/3 majority among the members present at two consecutive ordinary congregational meetings.

Adopted at the congregational meetings on October 7, 2012, and November 25, 2012.

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Købnerkirkens election rules for the congregational council

1. The congregational council consists of 4–6 members of the congregation and the pastor.

2. Elections to the congregational council are held every year.

   • (2) The election term is two years and follows the calendar year.

   • (3) Two to three members step down each year.

   • (4) Re-election is possible.

3. The election begins with a discussion of the congregation’s current challenges and needs.

   • (2) The discussion may take place at a congregational meeting or in a similar forum open to all.

   • (3) The discussion is held at least six weeks before the year’s last ordinary congregational meeting.

4. Members of the congregation may nominate candidates for the council.

   • (2) Nominations must be sent or handed in to the council no later than four weeks before the last ordinary congregational meeting of the year.

   • (3) Candidates with two or more nominators are put forward for election.

5. The election is finalized at the year’s last ordinary congregational meeting.

   • (2) If more candidates are nominated than seats available, ballot papers with the candidates’ names are sent to the members no later than two weeks before the meeting.

   • (3) The deadline for submitting completed ballots is at the beginning of the year’s last ordinary congregational meeting.

Adopted at the congregational meeting on February 9, 2014, revised at the congregational meeting on November 15, 2020.

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