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Constitution
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| Constitution:
Constitution and Bylaws: ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this organization shall be the Grace Community Church of Bryan, Inc. ARTICLE II - PREROGATIVES Section 1. - The purpose of this Church shall be: (a) To establish and maintain a place of worship of God, and to promote Christian fellowship, edification, and the teaching and preaching of God's Word. (b) To conduct and assume our share of responsibility, and our privilege, under the guidance of the Holy Scriptures, the work of evangelizing both home and foreign fields in obedience to the command of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20;); and in harmony with the teachings and practice of his servants, the Apostles (Acts 8:4, 5, 25, 35-40; Acts 13:1-4; Romans 15:18-21; II Corinthians 10:16; Romans 10:12-17). (c) To establish such departments and offices as may be necessary for the propagation of the Gospel locally and to support missionary activity. (d) To minister to specific individual and group needs; including counseling, financial assistance, home study groups, laity training, etc. (e) To set aside 10% of all general tithes for the express purpose of local benevolence. (f) To provide for licensing and/or ordaining of persons whose said ministry is recognized as being called of God. (g) To govern itself according to the standards of the New Testament scriptures, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:3, 13). Section 2 - Acquisition and Disposition of Property (a) In connection therewith, or incidental thereto, it shall have the right to purchase or acquire by gift, bequest, or otherwise, (either directly or as trustee) and to own, hold in trust, use, sell, convey, mortgage, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real estate or chattels as may be necessary for the furtherance of its purpose; all in accordance with its constitution and by-laws or as the same may be hereafter amended or modified. Transactions shall be in the name of the church. (b) Should this Church ever cease to function, any properties held by the local church shall be distributed to other Christian ministries by mutual agreement of the active members (majority) and the pastor. No one individual shall have the right to confiscate any existing Church properties. ARTICLE III - AFFILIATION This local Church shall maintain its inherent rights to sovereignty in the conduct of its own affairs on a non-denominational basis. We hold as scriptural and fundamental that form of church government which is a voluntary cooperative fellowship. Though, this Church is functioning on a non-denominational basis, we want to clarify that we desire the success and fellowship of all the Body of Christ, and we may, at a later date, choose to voluntarily align with a denomination or affiliation of churches. ARTICLE IV - STATEMENT OF FAITH This Church accepts the Holy Scriptures rightly divided as the revealed will of God, and therefore is our all sufficient guide for Scriptural government, faith, practice, maintaining unity, and establishing fellowship among believers (I Corinthians 1:10; Acts 2;42). 1. That the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept (II Timothy 3:15-17; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 2:21). 2. In one God eternally existing in three persons, namely: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 3. That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, and raised from the dead. That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father as the intercessor and soon coming King. The Scripture declares: (a) His virgin birth (Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, 35) 4. In the Salvation of man. That man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin is lost and powerless to save himself. That the only hope for man is to believe on Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Lord, man is redeemed by His blood. (a) Conditions of Salvation The grace of God, which brings salvation, has appeared to all men through the preaching of repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ; man is saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit; and being justified by grace through faith, he becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 2:11, 3:5-7; Romans 10:13-15; :Luke 24:47). (b) Evidence of Salvation By having faith in God's Word, the inward evidence to the believer of his salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of the Fruit of the Spirit in righteousness and true holiness. 5. In Sanctification (a) By personal commitment to God's plan for Christian living which produces the Fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:9; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 8:1-2; 12:1-2). (b) Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication to God (Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12). (c) Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection; and by faith, reckoning daily upon the fact of that union; and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-11, 13; 8:1-2, 13; Galatians 2:20; Philipians 2:13, I Peter 1:5). 6. In Water Baptism by Immersion (a) All who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit according to the command of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). (b) The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus, they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4). 7. In the Baptism of the Holy Spirit The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to (after) the New Birth, and is witnessed by the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are available to believers today and are to function in harmony with the New Testament guidelines (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 12; I Corinthians 13; I Corinthians 14). 8. In Divine Healing Divine Healing is provided for all in the Atonement. Divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the Atonement and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5: Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16). 9. In the Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) consisting of the elements-bread and the fruit of the vine-is the symbol expressing our sharing in the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (I Corinthians 2:26); and is enjoined on all believers till He comes. 10. In the Premillenial Second Coming of Christ (a) to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 3:23; Titus 2:13; I Corinthians 15:51) (b) The visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27, 30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14 20:1-6). This millenial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21-22; Zephaniah 3:19-20; Romans 11:26-27), and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalms 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4). 11. In the Bodily Resurrection (a) Eternal life for the righteous (Matthew 25:46; Luke 18:30; John 10:28; Romans 6:22; I John 5:11-13). (b) Eternal punishment for the wicked, no liberation nor annihilation (Matthew 25:41-46; Mark 3:29; II Thessalonians 1:8-9; Revelation 20:10-15, 21:8). (c) The New heavens and the New Earth (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21 and 22). 12. In the Ordained Ministry A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the threefold purpose of leading the church in: (a) Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20). (b) Worship of God (John 4:23-24). (c) Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16). 13. In the Church The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her Great Commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven (Ephesians 1:22-23; Hebrews 12:23). The priority reason for the existence of the church is: (a) To be a corporate body in which man may worship God (I Corinthians 12:13). (b) To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being conformed to the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:23; 14:12). (c) To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:10, 20; Mark 16:15-16). (d) To be the hands of God in nurturing the saints in their time of need (Galatians 6:10). 14. In the whole Bible rightly divided We believe in the harmony of Scripture-the whole Bible rightly divided. We do not believe in emphasizing one portion of Biblical truth above another or one less than the other, but believe each one to harmonize with the other which presents a harmonious whole. ***We encourage every covenant partner to be familiar with this Statement of Faith and to strive to Biblically understand the same and to actively demonstrate these truths in their daily lives.*** ARTICLE V - ORDINANCES AND PRIVILEGES ORDINANCES: Section 1. - Baptism by Immersion The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water (Matthew 28:19) shall be administered to all who have repented of their sins and who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of their souls and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12). Baptismal Formula will be in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Section 2. - The Lord's Supper The ordinance of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) shall be observed regularly as a part of public worship, as the Scripture so directs (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 1123-26). PRIVILEGES: Section 3. - Child Dedication Infants and small children may be dedicated to the Lord in the Church upon request and when the parents have received instructions as to the significance and responsibility of the parents in dedicating their children to the Lord (Mark 10:13-16 Luke 18:15-16). Section 4. - Ministering to the Sick The sick shall be ministered to and prayed for with the anointing of oil and laying on of hands upon their request (Mark 16:18; James 5:14). DHTML JavaScript Menu Courtesy of Milonic.com |
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