Church bylaws: what to include

Bylaws are the rulebook for how your church makes decisions. Most problems that reach a board table, such as who can vote or who can sign a check, trace back to bylaws that are missing, outdated or vague.

Sections most bylaws contain

1. Name and purpose. The legal name, the religious purpose, and the tax-exempt status.
2. Statement of faith or beliefs. Often a short summary or a reference to a denominational confession.
3. Membership. How people join, who may vote, and how membership ends.
4. Governing body. Elders, deacons, session, council or trustees: how many, how chosen, term lengths, and how they are removed.
5. Officers. Duties of the moderator or president, secretary and treasurer.
6. Meetings. Annual and special meetings, who may call them, how much notice is required, and the quorum.
7. Voting and approvals. What passes by simple majority and what needs more, such as calling a pastor, buying property or amending the bylaws.
8. Committees. Which are standing, who appoints them and what authority they have.
9. Finances. Budget approval, who may sign checks, spending limits that need board approval, and annual review of the books.
10. Conflict of interest. How members disclose and step aside from decisions in which they have a personal stake.
11. Indemnification. Whether and how the church protects leaders from claims arising from their service. Have an attorney draft this part.
12. Amendments. How the bylaws can be changed, usually with notice and a higher vote.
13. Dissolution. Remaining assets go to another tax-exempt organization, not to individuals.

Check your denomination first

Many denominations have their own governing documents, and some include property-trust provisions that affect who owns the building. Your bylaws should not conflict with them. Ask your denominational office before rewriting anything.

Samples to compare

These are examples from two denominations, not templates to copy:

• Presbytery of Philadelphia sample congregational bylaws (PDF)
• Sample church bylaws from Maumee Valley (PDF)

Practical tips

• Keep bylaws short. Put details that change often, such as dollar limits, in policies the board can update.
• Read them aloud once a year at a board meeting. Mismatches between practice and paper show up quickly.
• Have an attorney who knows church law review any major rewrite, since state law governs nonprofit corporations.

Once you know your quorum and voting rules, the quorum and vote calculator helps you apply them.

Related guides

• How a church board works: three common models
• Robert's Rules of Order for church meetings, simplified
• How to run a church board meeting

Published Oct 3, 2026. General information, not legal, tax or HR advice. Rules vary by state and by church.