Articles of Incorporation for Solomon's Porch

2824 13^th Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407

1. Article 1 - Name
   1. Solomon's Porch
2. Article 2 - Address
   1. 2824 13^th Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407
3. Article 3 - Incorporators
   1. Doug Pagitt, 6301 Peacedale Ave, Edina, Minnesota 55424
4. Article 4 - Purpose
   1. To exist as a Holistic, Missional, Christian Community.
5. Article 5 - Membership
   1. "Members of Solomon's Porch are called "Voting Participants. Voting Participants carry the constitutional responsibilities of Solomon's Porch.
   2. Voting Participants are a subset of Covenant Participants.  A voting Participant must be a Covenant Participant in good standing.
   3. Covenant Participants Agreement
      1. Be one who seeks to live life with God in the way of Jesus.
      2. Seek to live life consistent with the generous orthodoxy, ancient creeds and Scriptures of the church.
      3. Stay reconciled with the people of the Solomon's Porch community.
      4. Involvement in the life of Solomon's Porch including Prayer, Participation and Finances.
      5. Invest in the ministry and dreams of Solomon's Porch.
   4. Voting Participants
      1. Criteria for Voting Participants
         1. Be a Covenant Participant for at least 6 months
         2. Participate in the duties for voting members
         3. Participate in the Annual meeting
         4. Be at least 18 years of age
   5. Role of Voting Participants
      1. Give approval of single budget expense increase over $50,000 or a combination of budget expense increases over $200,000.
      2. Give approval of acquisition of debt in excess of $10,000
      3. Give approval of budget increase in excess of 20% of previous years income
      4. Ratify new Voting Members
      5. Confirm Leadership Co-op Members
      6. Vote for hiring of the Pastor
      7. All votes will require no dissenters to pass
   6. Voting Participants normally will be added twice per year with the ratification of the current Voting Participants.
   7. Removal of Voting and Covenant Participants
      1. The Leadership Co-Op either at the request of the Participant or at the Covenant Participant's failure to uphold their agreement and responsibilities as outlined in Article Section 5 will remove participants.
6. Article 6 - Leadership Co-Op
   1. Criteria For Leadership Co-Op Participants
      1. Be Voting Participants.
      2. Demonstrate leadership consistent with the Biblical and Historical church
         example.
      3. Be approved by the Voting Participants
      4. Be willing and able to serve the term to which they are nominated.
      5. The Leadership Group will normally consist of 6 -12 people.
      6. Leadership Group Members will serve two-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms.
   2. Responsibilities Of Leadership Participants
      1. Issues of overall church matters of direction and emphasis
      2. Finances and in establishing and implementation of budget
      3. Staff in oversight of current staff and hiring new staff
      4. Assumes the legal responsibilities of Solomon's Porch
      5. 6.2.5.     
      6. The Senior Pastor shall always be member of the Leadership Co-Op.
      7. Leadership Co-Op shall call meetings necessary for Voting Participants to vote on pertinent issues in a way that allows for reconciled living among the participants
7. Article 7 - Finances
   1. Solomon's Porch will base its budget on income of the previous year. Budget increase of more than 20% of previous year's giving will require Voting Participant approval.
   2. Solomon's Porch will conduct an audit each calendar year.
   3. Budgets and expenditure recaps will be made publicly available.
8. Article 8 - Property
   1. All property, real or personal shall remain with those abiding by this constitution as determined by the Leadership Co-op.
9. Article 9 - Amendments
   1. Amendments to this constitution may be adopted by the Leadership Co-op with approval of Voting Participants.