Constitution & Bylaws

Constitution & Bylaws of Anchor Bible College

Adopted October 24, 2024

Constitution of Anchor Bible College

Article I – Name and Organization

1. Name.  The name of this organization shall be Anchor Bible College (in this document sometimes referred to as “the college”).

2. Organization.  Anchor Bible College exists as a semi-autonomous institution as a ministry of Hope Community Church in Ypsilanti Michigan (in this document sometimes referred to as “the church”). 

Article II – Mission and Purpose

1. Mission.  The mission of Anchor Bible College is to train Christians in the knowledge of God’s Word and in ministry for His kingdom.

2. Purpose.  Anchor Bible College exists to glorify God by providing high-quality education in biblical studies, theology, Christian ministry, and more from a Bible-centric worldview. Anchor’s vision includes a pattern of discipleship by way of personal involvement from instructors to train and disciple each student in their walk with Christ. Anchor also has the goal of providing affordable tuition prices and accessible class times for a wide range of students.

Article III – Doctrinal Statement of Faith

Below are listed Anchor Bible College’s doctrinal statements of faith regarding matters of Scripture, the nature of God, the nature of man, salvation, the church, Christian conduct, authority and liberty, and the last things. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of theological topics but is designed to define a theological framework based in Scripture that any student, faculty, or staff would be willing to agree to regarding the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

1. Scripture: We believe that the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is the inspired Word of God. It was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and is therefore infallible in its original manuscripts. The Bible is our supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and life (Ps. 19:7-11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:19-21).

2. God: We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (the Trinity). The Father is God (Matt. 6:26, 30). Jesus Christ is God (Jn. 1:1; Jn. 20:28, CoI. 2:9). The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4). Each person of the Trinity shares in the same divine nature and attributes (1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 13:14). As loving creator of the universe, God continues to personally sustain, rule, and care for all He has made (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 1:3; 2 Chr. 20:6; Matt. 7:11).

3. God the Father: We believe in God the Father, an infinite, personal Spirit (John 4:24). He is perfect in holiness (Is. 6:1-4), wisdom and justice (Gen. 18:25), power (Mat 19:26), and love (1 John 4:8). We believe that He cares about our needs, hears and answers prayer (Mat 21:22), and saves from sin and eternal death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

4. God the Son: We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son. He is fully God and fully man; conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary (Lk. 1:31-35). We believe that He lived a sinless life (Heb 4:15); that He paid for our sins by dying on the cross as our substitute (Rom. 5:8); that He bodily rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:3-4, 17-20) and ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). Further, we believe that He will personally, visibly return to earth as He has promised (Matt. 25:31-33; Acts 1:11).

5. God the Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit is also fully God. He convicts people of their sin (Jn. 16:8-11), and He dwells within those who have come to salvation through Christ (Jn. 4:13; 1 Cor 3:16). Through the Holy Spirit, Christians receive power (Acts 1:8), instruction (Jn. 16:13), and Spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-7). The Spirit-controlled Christian will show evidence of an increasingly Christlike character (Gal. 5:22-26). His very presence in our lives gives us assurance that we will inherit eternal life when Christ returns (Eph. 1:13-14).

6. Mankind: We believe that God created mankind — male and female — in the image of God and free from sin (Gen. 1:27); therefore, all persons have essential dignity and worth. But the Bible also teaches that mankind fell into sin (Gen. 3:1-19); each aspect of our character is corrupted; each person is spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1), and therefore each of us is in need of salvation (Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12-21).

7. Salvation: We believe that the only way of salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift from God (Rom. 6:23). It cannot be earned through any human merit, works, or ritual (Eph. 2:8-9). Those who are saved acknowledge Christ as Lord (Rom. 10:9-1 2), serve God in this lifetime (Eph. 2:10), and have the promise of heaven for the future (Jn. 14:1-6).

8. The Church: We believe in the “universal church,” a spiritual body consisting of all true Christians with Christ as head (Col. 1:18). We also believe in the “local church,” which is a visible assembly of believers (Heb. 10:24-25). Members of a local church have been baptized upon a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41), and they organize themselves for the purposes of evangelism (Matt. 28:18), worship  (Jn. 4:23), edifying one another (Eph. 4:16), and caring for the needy (Jam. 1:27; Acts 2:42, 46). The two ordinances of the church are the baptism of believers (Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

9. Christian Conduct: We believe that the supreme task for every believer is to glorify God in his life (1 Cor. 10:31). The Christian should seek to live blamelessly before the world (1 Pet. 1:15; Rom. 12:16-1 8), to be a faithful steward of the possessions, time and abilities that God has given each of us (Lk. 16:10-13), and to seek for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).

10. Authority and Liberty: We believe that proper authorities have been established by God in human governments (Rom. 13:1-2,7), families (Eph. 5:22,25,6:1), workplaces (Eph 6:5), and churches (Heb. 13:17). The Lord commends and rewards those who submit to such authority (Matt. 8:5-13; Eph. 6:7-8). However, the highest honor is reserved for God alone (Ex. 20:3). A Christian must not give homage to any other god or obey a human directive that contradicts God’s written Word (Dan. 3:16-18). Consequently, we believe that every church should experience religious liberty, free to obey God’s word without interference from external political or religious powers (Acts 4:18-20), and we believe each person has religious liberty in choosing a church to join.

11. The Last Things: We believe that at the time of Christ’s return, dead Christians will bodily rise from the dead, then those who are alive will be caught up to be with Him, as described in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. We also believe in the resurrection and judgment of the unsaved (Rev. 20:11-15). All people will experience eternal conscious existence either in heaven or in hell (Jn. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; 2 Cor. 5:6-10; Matt. 13:41-43; Matt. 25:46).

Article IV – Membership

The sole member of Anchor Bible College shall be Hope Community Church of Ypsilanti Michigan. Any action that requires member approval according to the constitution or bylaws of Anchor Bible College shall be taken upon the approval of the board of elders of Hope Community Church. 

Article V – Board of Trustees

The board of trustees (“the board”) of Anchor Bible College exists as an oversight body with the goal of ensuring the institutional mission of the college is effectively carried forth. The board is responsible for representing the college in all legal matters and matters of institutional governance in accordance with this constitution and bylaws.

Section 1.  Composition

The board shall be composed of not fewer than five members. It shall be comprised of individuals in accordance with the qualifications listed in section 2 of this article, and appointed in keeping with the selection, election, and orientation outlined in Article I of the bylaws of the college. The president shall serve as a trustee on the board, but may not hold any of the officer positions outlined in section 3 of this article. 

Section 2.  Qualifications

Each trustee must be elder-qualified in keeping with the personal and character qualities described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Each trustee must also affirm the mission of the college, have a credible profession of faith in Jesus Christ, bear evidence of rebirth by the Holy Spirit, be in glad agreement with the college’s doctrinal statement of faith, and be gifted by God for overseeing the mission of the college. 

Trustees cannot also be employees of the college, except for the president. Trustees must also not be close relatives of any individuals in an administration or oversight role with the college, except for the president.

Section 3.  Officers

The board shall designate from among its trustees the following officers: chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and treasurer. Their duties shall be as outlined in this constitution and bylaws. 

1. Chairman.  The chairman of the board shall preside at all board meetings. The chairman shall have responsibility for the organization, agenda, and proceedings of all board meetings. The chairman is responsible for ratifying any action taken by the board in accordance with the powers entrusted to the board by this constitution and bylaws. The chairman is also responsible for overseeing the process of assessment of the effectiveness of the board, as outlined by the college bylaws. 

2. Vice chairman.  The vice chairman shall have all responsibilities of the board chairman in the case that the chairman is unable to preside over a board meeting (e.g., due to absence, incapacity, or recusal for a conflict of interest).   

3. Secretary.  The board secretary shall be responsible for the oversight of board meeting minutes being accurately recorded, preserved, and disseminated. 

4. Treasurer.  The board treasurer shall be responsible for the oversight of all financial matters pertaining to the college, including but not limited to regular financial statements, investments, audits, and regulatory compliance. The board treasurer shall work with the college administration to ensure the finances of the college are always in legal and regulatory compliance and are structured best to meet the mission and goals of the college.

Section 4.  Quorum

A quorum for all board meetings shall be constituted by at least two-thirds of the total membership of the board.

Section 5.  Terms of office

Members of the board of trustees shall serve a three-year term, except in the case of a vacancy or for the purpose of maintaining a staggered election. A trustee’s first appointment and corresponding term of office may be limited or extended by up to two years to maintain roughly equal staggering of terms on the board. There shall not be any term limit on the number of consecutive terms a board member may serve. 

Section 6.  Vacancies

In the case of a vacancy on the board, due to death, resignation, removal, or any other cause, that position shall be filled by the board of trustees in the manner prescribed by this constitution and bylaws. A position filled in this manner shall continue until the original term is complete.

Article VI – Amendments

This constitution may be amended by approval of the Board of Trustees in the following fashion. Written notice of a proposed amendment must be submitted to all trustees at least 30 days prior to the board meeting where an amendment vote is to be taken. A two-thirds majority vote is required to ratify any amendment. The amended document shall be marked appropriately and saved for all relevant private and public records of the college.

Article VII – Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of the college, all remaining assets shall be transferred to the church. 

Bylaws of Anchor Bible College

Article I – Board of Trustees

Section 1.  Selection

1. Nomination.  Additional or replacement trustees shall be nominated by the existing board of trustees. Recommendations for nomination shall be open for discussion at all board meetings. If the board is interested in pursuing a specific recommendation further, they shall appoint a nominating committee to begin a conversation with the prospective trustee. 

If the nominated individual is interested in becoming a trustee, the nominating committee shall arrange for an interview process. The nominating committee shall then make their findings and recommendations known to the board. If the board approves of the candidate, they shall make that nomination and recommendation known to the board of elders of the church for election.

2. Election.  Once an individual is approved by the board of trustees, that candidate shall be submitted for approval to the board of elders of the church (the sole member). If approved by the board of elders, the candidate shall then be appointed as a trustee of the college.
   
3. Orientation.  A new trustee of the college must engage in a process of orientation. All relevant documents (by-laws, minutes of meetings, college handbooks, catalogs, etc.) shall be made available to the trustee who is expected to become familiar with these resources. The trustee shall also engage with the faculty, staff, and students of the college to become familiar with the academic, ministry, and personal aspects of the life of the college. Finally, the president and chairman shall meet with the trustee to go over expectations for trustees and to answer any questions which the new trustee may have.

Section 2.  Duties

1. Engagement.  The board shall regularly engage with the college administration, faculty, staff, and students. This includes, but is not limited to, regular conversations, meetings, sitting in on classes, and review of assessment documentation.
   
2. Meetings.  The board shall meet regularly to review matters of oversight and governance of the college. Board members shall make every reasonable effort to be available for all board meetings.
   
3. Representation.  The board shall represent the college in all legal and financial matters and matters of institutional governance in accordance with this constitution and bylaws. 

Section 3.  Assessment

1. Self-Assessment.  The board shall regularly engage in a process of self-assessment. This shall take place through open meeting discussions and an individual form completed by each trustee reflecting on their personal effectiveness as a member of the board. These results shall be compiled and reviewed by the chairman who shall make both individual and group recommendations to the board.
   
2. Faculty and Staff Assessment.  The faculty and staff shall engage in regular assessment of the administration and board of the college. This shall be conducted as a survey with the results compiled and made known to the board. The board shall take action to address any concerns raised by the survey. 

Section 4.  Resignation and removal

1. Resignation.  Should a trustee decide to resign before the completion of the appointed term, the trustee shall make that decision known to the chairman. The chairman shall then make that decision known to the rest of the board and the board of elders of the church. The board shall then initiate the process of filling the vacancy.
   
2. Removal.  Any trustee may be removed, with or without cause, by the sole member (the church). This may be initiated by a majority recommendation by the board. All actions to remove a trustee must be approved by the board of elders of the church. Efforts should be taken to preserve the stability of the board. If a trustee is removed, the board shall initiate the process of filling the vacancy.

Article II – President

Section 1.  Selection

1. Nomination.  In the case of a notice of resignation or removal of the current president, the board of trustees shall form a nominating committee to select and interview candidates for president.
   
2. Election.  The nominating committee shall make their findings and recommendations known to the board. The new president shall be elected by vote of the board.
   
3. Orientation.  The new president shall engage in a process of orientation as prescribed by the board.

Section 2.  Duties

1. Role.  The president shall serve as the chief executive officer of the college. The president shall have the power to manage, supervise, and control all of the business and affairs of the college. The president shall employ administration, faculty, and staff as necessary to carry out the mission of the college.

2. Responsibilities.  The president shall be responsible for carrying out the wishes of the board. The president shall be accountable to the board and shall provide an accurate assessment of all goals and directives set forth by the board.  
   

Section 3.  Employment 

1. Term of Office.  The president shall serve until the relationship is terminated by himself or the board. The president shall give sixty days’ written notice to the board at the time of his resignation. The board may choose to remove the president at any time for any reason. 

2. Vacancy.  If the office of the president is ever vacated, the board chair shall immediately assume the office of the president and perform all duties thereof until the board of trustees installs the next president.

Article III – Administration, Faculty, and Staff 

Section 1.  Administration

1. Definition.  The college administration shall include all positions with an oversight role for the college that report directly to the president. This does not include college faculty or any staff who do not report directly to the president.
   
2. Employment.  College administrators shall be employed at the will of the president and the board.

3. Duties.  College administration shall be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the college within the scope of their role. They shall also regularly meet with and provide reports to the president and the college board.

Section 2.  Faculty

1. Definition.  The college faculty shall include all positions whose primary role is teaching. This includes both adjunct and full-time instructors as well as specialized roles such as a faculty librarian. This does not include instructors whose primary role with the college is not strictly teaching.
   
2. Employment.  College faculty shall be employed at the will of the president and the appropriate college administration.

3. Duties.  College faculty shall be responsible for teaching courses and engaging in personal discipleship of students. Faculty may also engage in various speaking, writing, or other extracurricular activities in official representation of the college.
   

Section 3.  Staff

1. Definition.  The college staff shall include all positions whose primary role is not teaching and do not report directly to the president.
   
2. Employment.  College staff shall be employed at the will of the president and the appropriate college administration.

3. Duties.  College staff shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the college in all manner of operations necessary to the function of the college.

Article IV – Indemnification

Section 1. General

Anchor Bible College shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the college against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, and settlements incurred in connection with any action, suit, or proceeding arising from their role, provided they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the college.

Section 2. Conditions

Indemnification shall not apply if the individual is adjudicated to have acted in bad faith or in a manner not in the best interests of the college. Any settlement or compromise must be approved by a majority vote of the board of trustees not involved in the proceedings.

Section 3. Advancement of Expenses

Expenses incurred in defense may be advanced by the college, subject to an undertaking by the individual to repay such amounts if it is determined they are not entitled to indemnification.

Section 4. Non-Exclusivity

The indemnification rights provided here are not exclusive and do not preclude other rights to indemnification to which a person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of the board of trustees, or otherwise.

Section 5. Continuation and Benefit

Indemnification shall continue for a person who has ceased to be a trustee, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of their heirs, executors, and administrators.

Section 6. Amendments

No amendment or repeal of this article that adversely affects the right of an indemnified person shall apply to acts or omissions occurring before such amendment or repeal.

Article V – Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by approval of the Board of Trustees in the following fashion. Written notice of a proposed amendment must be submitted to all trustees at least 30 days prior to the board meeting where an amendment vote is to be taken. A two-thirds majority vote is required to ratify any amendment. The amended document shall be marked appropriately and saved for all relevant private and public records of the college.