About Us
The Cowan Ministerial Association brings together churches and pastors in the greater community to glorify Jesus Christ, promote Christian fellowship among the various congregations, and reach out to the community with God’s love and mercy.
Cowan churches have a long, documented history of working together and worshiping together. The first religious services in Franklin County were held at the Goshen Camp Ground near Cowan in 1807. Although Goshen was a Presbyterian gathering place, Baptists and Methodists gathered there as well. From the late 1800's through the late 1900's, Cowan churches of various denominations gathered together for shared services and partnered together for service projects.
In the late 1960's, the Rev. Carlos Sparks, pastor at Cowan First Church of the Nazarene and also the town mayor, spearheaded the effort to get the various churches and pastors together on a more regular basis. His efforts were followed by a community newspaper, the Cowan Bell, that operated between 1974 and 1980 and helped get local churches more community involved. In this timeframe the Community Thanksgiving service and the community Easter Sunrise Service grew in popularity. By the late 1980's, a dynamic team of local pastors introduced an Ash Wednesday service, a Maundy Thursday service, and a Good Friday service, all of which grew to enormous popularity through the 1990's and into the New Millennium.
The Cowan Ministerial Association formally organized in the Year 2004 with a set of basic by-laws, a small treasury, and a team of pastors and lay leaders to continue the work and legacy that is part of the town's heritage.
Cowan churches have a long, documented history of working together and worshiping together. The first religious services in Franklin County were held at the Goshen Camp Ground near Cowan in 1807. Although Goshen was a Presbyterian gathering place, Baptists and Methodists gathered there as well. From the late 1800's through the late 1900's, Cowan churches of various denominations gathered together for shared services and partnered together for service projects.
In the late 1960's, the Rev. Carlos Sparks, pastor at Cowan First Church of the Nazarene and also the town mayor, spearheaded the effort to get the various churches and pastors together on a more regular basis. His efforts were followed by a community newspaper, the Cowan Bell, that operated between 1974 and 1980 and helped get local churches more community involved. In this timeframe the Community Thanksgiving service and the community Easter Sunrise Service grew in popularity. By the late 1980's, a dynamic team of local pastors introduced an Ash Wednesday service, a Maundy Thursday service, and a Good Friday service, all of which grew to enormous popularity through the 1990's and into the New Millennium.
The Cowan Ministerial Association formally organized in the Year 2004 with a set of basic by-laws, a small treasury, and a team of pastors and lay leaders to continue the work and legacy that is part of the town's heritage.
We believe...
Cowan Ministerial Association is devoted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and stands on the solid foundation of the Old and New Testament scriptures, the Holy Bible, as the Word of God.
We believe in the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that are properly summarized in the ancient Apostles’ Creed.
Our inspiration for bringing different churches together in worship, fellowship, and good works are the words of Jesus in his prayer for the disciples "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).
Our churches have doctrinal differences, and our traditions and customs vary; however, we stand together in the essentials of the Christian faith and are drawn together by our unity in Christ.
We believe in the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that are properly summarized in the ancient Apostles’ Creed.
Our inspiration for bringing different churches together in worship, fellowship, and good works are the words of Jesus in his prayer for the disciples "that they may all be one" (John 17:21).
Our churches have doctrinal differences, and our traditions and customs vary; however, we stand together in the essentials of the Christian faith and are drawn together by our unity in Christ.
Governing By Laws
By-Laws of the Cowan Ministerial Association
Cowan, Franklin County, Tennessee
Article I
NAME
The name of this non-profit organization is the Cowan Ministerial Association, which is located in Cowan, Franklin County, Tennessee.
Article II
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Cowan Ministerial Association brings together churches and pastors in the greater Cowan community to glorify Jesus Christ, promote Christian fellowship among the various congregations, and reach out to the community with God’s love and mercy.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
There shall be two types of membership permissible in the Cowan Ministerial Association: pastoral membership and lay membership:
Sect. 1: The basis of membership in CMA begins with one’s personal devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the solid foundation of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that are properly summarized in the ancient words of the Apostles’ Creed;
Sect. 2: Any pastor of a church located in or near the corporation of Cowan, Tennessee, may become a pastoral member of CMA by invitation or by succeeding a departing member representing the same congregation;
Sect. 3: Any retired pastor, living in or near the corporation of Cowan, may become a pastoral member of CMA provided that he or she has a meaningful relationship with a local congregation;
Sect. 4: One lay person from any church located in or near the corporation of Cowan, Tennessee, may become a lay member of CMA by invitation or by appointment by the church’s pastor or governing council;
Sect. 5: A church congregation that is officially represented on CMA and that agrees to host and participate in CMA-related activities shall hold the distinction of being a Member Church of CMA.
Article IV
LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
The pastoral members and lay members of the Cowan Ministerial Association shall comprise a leadership committee:
Sect. 1: The leadership committee shall elect a pastoral member in good standing to serve as President of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the President of CMA shall be responsible for determining the schedule of meetings, delegating responsibilities among the members of the committee, and serving as an official spokesperson for CMA;
b. the President of CMA shall call all meetings to order, preside over all meetings, and ensure that all business of CMA is conducted in a decent and orderly manner using Roberts Rules of Order as a basis for sound governance;
c. the President of CMA shall work to chart the direction of the organization and work to ensure good stewardship and meaningful fellowship among the members;
Sect. 2: The leadership committee shall elect a lay member in good standing to serve as Secretary of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes from each meeting and keeping accurate records to ensure that all business of the organization is properly maintained;
b. the Secretary shall help with the issuance of press releases and help coordinate the publicity efforts of the organization, and see that meeting announcements and service announcements are released to the general public in a timely manner;
Sec. 3: The Leadership Committee shall elect a lay member in good standing to serve as Treasurer of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the Treasurer shall maintain and oversee the finances of the organization by handling and reporting the revenue and expenses of the organization;
b. Any official treasury of CMA shall be maintained in an accredited financial institution and have a trusteeship of at least one other member of the Leadership Committee; and
c. the Treasurer shall also maintain the archives of the organization to help preserve its history and to insure the continuity and preservation of its traditions.
Sect 3: Meetings shall be held on at least a quarterly basis each calendar year;
a. the first meeting in each odd-numbered calendar year shall include officer elections for the coming two-year term;
b. the business of the organization shall only be conducted if a quorum (half or more) of one of the two orders (pastoral members or lay members) is present and at least one member of the opposite order is present;
c. meetings shall be announced at least 7 days in advance for regular quarterly meetings, or at least 24 hours in advance for emergency called meetings;
Sect 4: It is expected and anticipated that each member of the leadership committee, pastoral members and lay members, will serve as ambassadors to their churches and to the greater community so that the work of CMA can be seen, understood, and kept in line with the core purpose of the organization.
Article V
Other Actions
Sect 1: The members of CMA shall reserve the right to deny membership to any pastor, layperson, or congregation it feels could do harm to the organization or who holds beliefs and/or doctrinal practices that might conflict with the core purpose and belief of the greater CMA community;
a. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to specific pastors, laypersons, or congregations that uphold other writings as equal to as or greater than the Holy Scriptures of the New and Old Testaments;
b. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to specific pastors or laypersons who are self-appointed “apostles” or “prophets”;
c. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to ordained ministers in the community who do not have a meaningful relationship with a local church congregation;
Sect 2: Sect 1: Amendments and changes to the by-laws of the organization may only take place at regular quarterly meetings and with a quorum (half or more) of both orders present of which a simple majority of both orders vote to approve the requested changes.
Cowan, Franklin County, Tennessee
Article I
NAME
The name of this non-profit organization is the Cowan Ministerial Association, which is located in Cowan, Franklin County, Tennessee.
Article II
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Cowan Ministerial Association brings together churches and pastors in the greater Cowan community to glorify Jesus Christ, promote Christian fellowship among the various congregations, and reach out to the community with God’s love and mercy.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
There shall be two types of membership permissible in the Cowan Ministerial Association: pastoral membership and lay membership:
Sect. 1: The basis of membership in CMA begins with one’s personal devotion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the solid foundation of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and the fundamental truths of the Christian faith that are properly summarized in the ancient words of the Apostles’ Creed;
Sect. 2: Any pastor of a church located in or near the corporation of Cowan, Tennessee, may become a pastoral member of CMA by invitation or by succeeding a departing member representing the same congregation;
Sect. 3: Any retired pastor, living in or near the corporation of Cowan, may become a pastoral member of CMA provided that he or she has a meaningful relationship with a local congregation;
Sect. 4: One lay person from any church located in or near the corporation of Cowan, Tennessee, may become a lay member of CMA by invitation or by appointment by the church’s pastor or governing council;
Sect. 5: A church congregation that is officially represented on CMA and that agrees to host and participate in CMA-related activities shall hold the distinction of being a Member Church of CMA.
Article IV
LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
The pastoral members and lay members of the Cowan Ministerial Association shall comprise a leadership committee:
Sect. 1: The leadership committee shall elect a pastoral member in good standing to serve as President of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the President of CMA shall be responsible for determining the schedule of meetings, delegating responsibilities among the members of the committee, and serving as an official spokesperson for CMA;
b. the President of CMA shall call all meetings to order, preside over all meetings, and ensure that all business of CMA is conducted in a decent and orderly manner using Roberts Rules of Order as a basis for sound governance;
c. the President of CMA shall work to chart the direction of the organization and work to ensure good stewardship and meaningful fellowship among the members;
Sect. 2: The leadership committee shall elect a lay member in good standing to serve as Secretary of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes from each meeting and keeping accurate records to ensure that all business of the organization is properly maintained;
b. the Secretary shall help with the issuance of press releases and help coordinate the publicity efforts of the organization, and see that meeting announcements and service announcements are released to the general public in a timely manner;
Sec. 3: The Leadership Committee shall elect a lay member in good standing to serve as Treasurer of CMA for a two-year term;
a. the Treasurer shall maintain and oversee the finances of the organization by handling and reporting the revenue and expenses of the organization;
b. Any official treasury of CMA shall be maintained in an accredited financial institution and have a trusteeship of at least one other member of the Leadership Committee; and
c. the Treasurer shall also maintain the archives of the organization to help preserve its history and to insure the continuity and preservation of its traditions.
Sect 3: Meetings shall be held on at least a quarterly basis each calendar year;
a. the first meeting in each odd-numbered calendar year shall include officer elections for the coming two-year term;
b. the business of the organization shall only be conducted if a quorum (half or more) of one of the two orders (pastoral members or lay members) is present and at least one member of the opposite order is present;
c. meetings shall be announced at least 7 days in advance for regular quarterly meetings, or at least 24 hours in advance for emergency called meetings;
Sect 4: It is expected and anticipated that each member of the leadership committee, pastoral members and lay members, will serve as ambassadors to their churches and to the greater community so that the work of CMA can be seen, understood, and kept in line with the core purpose of the organization.
Article V
Other Actions
Sect 1: The members of CMA shall reserve the right to deny membership to any pastor, layperson, or congregation it feels could do harm to the organization or who holds beliefs and/or doctrinal practices that might conflict with the core purpose and belief of the greater CMA community;
a. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to specific pastors, laypersons, or congregations that uphold other writings as equal to as or greater than the Holy Scriptures of the New and Old Testaments;
b. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to specific pastors or laypersons who are self-appointed “apostles” or “prophets”;
c. CMA shall specifically reserve the right to deny membership to ordained ministers in the community who do not have a meaningful relationship with a local church congregation;
Sect 2: Sect 1: Amendments and changes to the by-laws of the organization may only take place at regular quarterly meetings and with a quorum (half or more) of both orders present of which a simple majority of both orders vote to approve the requested changes.