Most churches have governing documents. Few have documents that actually govern. What yours must contain, where most churches go wrong, and how to get it right.
A church constitution and bylaws exist to make decisions legible and binding before the pressure arrives, who has authority to act, how leaders are chosen and removed, and what happens when leadership and the congregation disagree. Too many churches adopt borrowed documents that describe a church that does not exist, leave the line of authority vague, or stay silent on conflict and removal.
Our free summary walks through what your governing documents must contain and where most churches go wrong, read it before you draft or revise a single line.
Read the full summary. A free PDF you can read and share with your leadership.
Everything you need to adopt governing documents without an attorney drafting them from scratch: a complete, editable Word constitution & bylaws template for non-denominational churches with a board-based structure, written in adoption-ready baseline language you can use as-is or adapt. Paired with a step-by-step implementation guide that walks your board from draft to adopted documents. Both files in one download, typically a fraction of the $1,000 to $3,000 churches spend on legal drafting.
Pastors, boards, church planters, and administrators of churches and ministry organizations working through the topics on this page.
What format does it come in?
The free summary is available to read and download as a PDF. Paid reference guides are delivered as PDFs; templates as editable Word documents; tools as spreadsheets.
Does this count as professional advice?
No. These are educational frameworks drawn from professional experience in ministry administration and governance. They do not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice, and we recommend review by a qualified professional before acting.
These resources are provided for informational and educational purposes and do not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Stewardship Advisors, LLC recommends that organizations consult qualified legal and financial professionals when making governance or financial decisions. By downloading or purchasing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.