Bylaws are the governing rules that describe how an organization is structured and how important responsibilities are carried out. It is important to understand that bylaws are not Scripture, and they do not replace Scripture. The purpose of bylaws is to establish an organizational framework that helps White Oak  carry out  our biblical mission responsibly and consistently. Bylaws are also legal documents helping meet requirements of being a religious organization. These are needed at both the state and federal, including IRS, levels for non-profit 501(3)c aspects.

Bylaws in most organizations will be amended or revised at times throughout their existence. It is a natural process brought on by adapting to changes in the world around them. White Oak started in the early 1800’s, incorporated in Ohio in the 1950’s and has always been based on the foundations of Scripture. Our bylaws have been amended previously in 1973, 1983, 2002 and, most recently, in 2018. The current bylaws have served White Oak well and White Oak has been blessed as we continued to grow, develop our multisite ministry, expand our staff and ministries, and mature our understanding of leadership and governance.  The proposed bylaws represent an effort to provide a clear and sustainable leadership framework for White Oak's future while continuing to affirm what has always been at the center·       Jesus Christ is Lord.·       Scripture is our ultimate authority.·       We are called to be His people.·       Our purpose is to faithfully participate in His mission. Additionally, there have been changes in current state and federal requirements regarding nonprofit religious organizations and how they function. With that, some additions and changes needed to occur in our bylaws to meet these requirements.

The proposed bylaws make several important changes and clarifications: First, they more clearly define Christ as the head of the Church and Scripture as the ultimate authorityfor White Oak. Second, they also more clearly define the responsibilities of the Elders and the Lead Pastor. The Elders are responsible for the ultimate spiritual and corporate oversight of White Oak, while Nathan, as lead pastor, receives delegated authority to lead the church's ministry and mission and to oversee ministerial and operational staff. Third, the proposed bylaws define membership primarily in spiritual and covenantal terms rather than, as it previously was, focused on issue voting  and procedures. Fourth, the proposed bylaws provide additional corporate and legal provisions dealing with required matters such as standards of conduct, conflicts of interest, indemnification, fiscal matters, and nonprofit governance. The purpose is not simply to change a set of rules. The purpose is to provide a clearer framework for how White Oak operates as a growing, multisite church while remaining faithful to our  biblical identity.

What  you typically experience in the day to day life at  White Oak will not change.You will still be part of the same church family. You will still worship, serve, give, grow spiritually, participate in ministry, build relationships, and join together in pursuing the mission of Christ. The proposed bylaws continue to describe membership in terms of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, confession, baptism, spiritual growth, service, unity, worship, giving and support, and participation in the mission of the church. The significant changes are about a better description of the principles of how responsibilities and decision-making authority is organized at the leadership, not membership, level at White Oak. The proposed bylaws have corporate and spiritual oversight  and corporate responsibilities entrusted to the Elders and not to individual members. In other words, your importance as a member is not changing; the way formal leadership responsibilities are organized is being more clearly defined.

The congregation's approval of the proposed bylaws will take place under the voting provisions of the current 2018 bylaws. These current bylaws specify members are those people who have faith in God and accept Jesus Christ as His Son, have expressed confession of and repentance from sin and have been baptized and have expressed a desire to be part of WOCC. The 2018 bylaws also stipulate a member must be over 18 years of age and have been considered a member for at least three months. The congregational vote on adopting the proposed bylaws will occur in services at both campuses onSunday November 15th and will be available on-line the following week.

The new bylaws do not change the identity, mission, or spiritual life of White Oak. If anything they firmly establish these aspects of our church both in the past and the future. No change to White Oak's core spiritual identity will occur in these bylaws. The proposed bylaws continue to affirm the principles on which we were founded in the early 1800’s that:·       Christ is the head of the Church.·       Scripture is the ultimate authority.·       White Oak is an autonomous church.·       White Oak remains committed to a New Testament identity. The proposed bylaws also retain the church's emphasis on making disciples, spiritual growth, worship, service, unity, and participation in Christ's mission.  They do not change who we are but are designed to clarify how we function with regards to responsibility, authority, leadership, and accountability as we continue to grow. The Elders continue with ultimate spiritual and corporate oversight. The Lead Pastor has  delegated authority for leading ministry and mission and overseeing the White Oak staff at both campuses. Members would continue to strive for spiritual growth and maturity through their God given gifts. All parts working together in their own aspect to be more Christ-like.

Christ is the head of the Church. (Ephesian 1:22-23. Colossians 1:18)The proposed bylaws explicitly affirm Christ's headship and Scripture's ultimate authority. Elders have responsibility for spiritual oversight. (Acts 20: 17,28, 1Peter 5:1-3)The proposed structure places spiritual and corporate oversight in the hands of the Elders. Leadership involves both authority and responsibility. (Acts:20: 28, Hebrews 13:17)Those entrusted with leadership are also entrusted with responsibility for the health, faithfulness, and stewardship of the church. Members are called to participate in the life of the body. (1Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 4:15-16)The proposed membership provisions emphasize worship, spiritual growth, service, unity, giving, and mission. Leadership is intended to serve the church. (Romans 12:4-8, 1Peter 4:10-11)The goal of authority is not power for its own sake. Biblical leadership is intended to shepherd, equip, protect, and serve God's people.

The description of membership is word for word the same as in the bylaws from almost 50 years agoMembership starts with the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, confession, baptism and showing a desire for to be part of the White Oak community followed by steps toward spiritual growth, service, unity, worship, giving and support, and participation in the church's mission. The proposed bylaws place the emphasis of membership on belonging to the body of Christ and participating in the life and mission of the church with the purpose of bringing others to Him and developing spiritual maturity in us all. This has always been and continues to be true at White Oak. As a point of clarification, the bylaws use the terms “member” and “membership” and at White Oak we often describe these as “partners” and “partnerships”. These terms are considered interchangeable

The leadership structure of White Oak stays the same as in previous years with the proposed bylaws. The Elders have the ultimate oversight of and responsibility to the church and it’s members.  Their authority remains bound by Christ's headship, Scripture, White Oaks governing documents, the responsibilities and standards established by the Elders, their responsibility to one another, their responsibility to shepherd the congregation faithfully and appropriate financial and legal safeguards. These bylaws also establish that the  Lead Pastor receives the authority from the Elders to lead ministry and mission and to oversee ministerial and operational staff. The Elders retain and accept the responsibility for oversight of the Lead Pastor, including his evaluation. This means the Lead Pastor, by himself,  is not positioned as the final authority over the church. The proposed bylaws state that important details concerning the composition, terms, selection, and accountability of the Elders are addressed through the WOCC Governance Policies. These policies also establish the process of Lead pastor selection, evaluation and review. This distinction is important. The bylaws establish the governing framework; the Governance Policies provide the practical details concerning how that framework operates. This structure, while the same as we have always functioned, is clarified in the new bylaws and is intended to create a healthy relationship in which:·       Elders oversee.·       Lead Pastor leads.·       Staff carry out ministry.·       Members participate in the life and mission of the church. Ultimately, healthy church leadership requires more than a written document. It requires elders and leaders who are spiritually mature, humble, transparent, willing to listen, and willing to hold one another accountable.

The proposed bylaws identify financial integrity as part of the Elders ultimate oversight responsibility.This includes budget oversight, establishment of financial guardrails and organizational safeguards along with appropriate reporting and auditing for the faithful stewardship and legal responsibilities of the church's resources. At the same time, day-to-day ministry and operational responsibilities are delegated to the Lead Pastor and staff. This distinction is important as oversight does not mean that every Elder manages every financial transaction.

The revision has been a deliberate process rather than a quick rewriting of the existing document.The work has involved reviewing the existing bylaws, considering the church's current structure and ministry, examining leadership responsibilities, addressing corporate and legal considerations, and developing language that more clearly describes White Oak's governance model. The Elders have been responsible for bringing the proposed bylaws forward for consideration. The initial process started over a year ago by gathering documents, reviewing requirements and even talking with similar churches who had already made recent bylaw revisions. A subcommittee of the WOCC elders spent over 6 months developing the foundation of the proposed bylaws including information from our legal counsel. These were then further refined in discussions with the entire eldership before being approved to be presented to the White Oak congregation

Questions are an expected and important part of this process. White Oak members should consider using the opportunities provided for additional questions and discussion, including the planned in-person Q&A sessions on November 1st  at the Colerain campus and November 8th at the Ross campus If you have a question(s) while reviewing the document,  send an e-mail to elders@thewocc.com and we will get back with you. The goal of the review period is not simply to get everyone to the vote but for members to understand what is being proposed before they vote. We encourage every member to read the proposed bylaws, review this FAQ, ask questions, participate in the Q&A and prayerfully consider the proposal before the congregational vote on in services on November 15th and on-line the following week.