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Constitution
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| Constitution:
Constitution and Bylaws: (cont.) ARTICLE VI - COVENANT PARTNERS (MEMBERSHIP) II Corinthians 15:12 They entered into a covenant (agreement) to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. I Corinthians 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers Section 1. - Purpose and Goal The purpose and desired goal of Covenant Partners (membership) is to create unity, strength, and singleness of purpose for which the Lord calls believers together. To become a Covenant Partner means that we are agreeing to voluntarily cooperate and work together for the glory and honor of the Lord Jesus. The membership principles are set forth for the prayerful consideration of those who desire to become Covenant Partners (members) of this local body of believers. Section 2. - Standard of Membership (Covenant Partners) COVENANT MEMBERSHIP SHALL BE OPEN TO ALL WHO (a) Show evidence of a genuine experience in regeneration (The New Birth) (John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; I Peter 1:18-25; II Corinthians 5:17). (b) Show evidence of a consistent Christian life (Romans 6:4; 8:1-4, 13:13; Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-2, 15; I John 1:6-7). 1. A desire to abstain from the sins as listed in Galatians 5:19-21 of the Living Bible: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, spiritualism, hatred, jealousy, anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints, criticism, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group, wrong doctrine, envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, etc. 2. A desire to progress in the positive virtues of Christian living and maturity as given in the Scripture. (John 15:10, 12, 14; Galatians 5:22-23; III John 2). (c) Voluntarily subscribe to the tenants of faith and agree to subscribe to the Constitution and By-laws as herein set forth. (d) Indicate a willingness to cooperate in the labor (Promotion of the Gospel) of this local church by your faithful attendance, and to contribute to the financial support of this local church through tithing and love offerings as the Lord so prospers. 1. Faithful attendance at services (Sunday School, Sunday Morning and Evening, Mid-Week, etc.) The services of Grace Community Church are Bible based and designed to be a blessing. All are encouraged to make a quality decision to be faithful. By so doing they will be testifying to their love for Jesus, His Word, and His Church. They will be blessed and their faithfulness will strengthen the unity among the believers and be an overall blessing to the church. 2. Tithing and Offerings Grace Community Church is committed to God's financial plan for His church and people. Faithful participation in this beautiful plan is a privilege to every believer, and all are encouraged to be faithful in their personal ministry of tithing and offerings to the Lord through the local church. The Biblical system of tithing and offerings is God's ordained plan to bless His people and to also provide for the needs of the church and ministry and to reach out to the lost with the Gospel. (e) Practical Admonitions (to caution, to reprove gently, instruction) The following admonitions are not in any way intended to be a set of rules and regulations in reference to the life and conduct of the Covenant Members of Grace Community Church. They are being shared to assist the believer to more fully represent Christ in their testimony before the world. The believer is encouraged to follow the Word of God and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all areas of Christian living. In view of the alarming erosion of national and international moral standards, we reaffirm our intention of holding up biblical standards against all forms of worldliness. We urge all believers to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, (I John 2:15-16) In its teaching regarding worldliness, the Scripture warns against: participation in activity which defiles the body, or corrupts the mind and spirit; the inordinate love of, or preoccupation with pleasures, position, or possessions, which lead to their misuse; manifestation of extreme behavior, unbecoming speech, or inappropriate and immodest appearance; any fascination or association which lessens one's affection for spiritual things. Anything or place that would be detrimental to a Christian's testimony and harmful to them spiritually would be considered out of bounds for the Christian. (Luke 21:34-35; Romans 8:5-8, 12:1-2; II Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 2:8-10; 4:12; James 4:4; I John 2:15-17; Titus 2:12) Matthew 5:16, Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (read also Romans 14:1 and Romans 15:3) Section 3. - Active Members/ Covenant Partners Those who have become members of this local church and are living consistent Christian lives, and are faithful to the Standard of Membership and have passed their sixteenth birthday shall constitute the active membership of this local church. Section 4. - Inactive Membership Enrolled members who shall without good cause absent themselves from the services of the church for a period of three consecutive months or more, or who cease to contribute of their means to its support or who may be out of harmony with the Constitution and By-laws of this local church, or who shall be under charges for misconduct, or who may have fallen under condemnation through sinful or worldly practices, shall be considered as Inactive Members. Section 5. - Discipline Any discipline is to be prayerfully administered in accordance with the Scripture (Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17-18; I Corinthians 5:1-5; II Thessalonians 3:6-15; II Timothy 3:16; Galatians 6:1) Section 6. - Withdrawal or Transfer Members in good standing, who may wish to sever their relationship with this local church or may desire to be transferred to some other congregation, may apply for a letter, which shall be granted on the approval of the Pastor. Section 8. - Revision of Membership Roll The Pastor shall be authorized to revise the membership roll of this local church as is necessary, or at least annually. ARTICLE VII - RELATIONSHIP OF MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP Section 1. - Tender Loving Care To assure the Covenant Members that they will receive tender loving care Grace Community Church is committed to the New Testament directives in reference to the proper Scriptural relationship between the Members and the leadership of the local church. Section 2. - Purpose of Leadership According to the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12:27-28; Romans 12:3-8) the leadership offices of the local church (pastors, elders, deacons, etc.) are set in the church for the purpose of (1) leading the Member to become mature in the faith that they may be equipped to carry out their individual ministry and (2) assisting the Member in their time of need. Section 3. - Mutual Love and Respect The New Testament admonishes the leaders of the local church to love and respect the Members and admonishes also the Members to love and respect the leadership of the church. Mutual love and respect are necessary that love, joy, peace, and Christ-like unity may prevail. (Psalms 133:1; I Corinthians 1:10; Hebrews 13:15-17; I Peter 5:1-5) ARTICLE VIII - LEADERSHIP TEAM The Leadership Team shall constitute an official church board for any legal purposes. They shall act as a pastoral search committee and shall be empowered to hire any new Senior Pastor should the need arise. The Leadership Team shall meet at least monthly. The Leadership Team shall consist of the Senior Pastor and up to (6) lay persons. These men and/or women shall be spiritually minded, mature and meet the biblical qualifications for leadership as found in I Timothy 3:8-13 and Titus 1. They shall be covenant partners of Grace Community Church. They must be wholly and unconditionally committed to this church and faithful tithers to this ministry. The Leadership Team will select by lot one-third of the members of the (6) lay persons to drop off every year and the (7) shall then discern the gift mix needed to adequately replace the two that are coming off the leadership team. Pastor will then extend invitations to the newly selected to become part of the team. (A married couple shall never serve on the leadership team at the same time.) We see no example of voting for leadership in either the Old Testament or the New Testament so we will not hold elections, but we will trust the men and women of God who serve us on the leadership team to rightly discern the will of God. In the unlikely event that a consensus of the leadership team cannot be achieved, Pastor will appoint the new member(s) after a reasonable time. A vacancy in the leadership team can be declared for failure to comply with the constitution and by-laws or the scriptural standards for leaders. Pastor will be responsible to initiate such a procedure. ARTICLE IX - PASTOR The Pastor shall be considered as the spiritual overseer of the church and shall direct all its actives. He shall act as Chairman of all business meetings of the church. He shall be an ex-officio member of all departments and committees. No person shall be invited to speak or preach in the church without his approval. He shall have the authority to appoint any associates of this local church. He shall have full responsibility of hiring additional staff and as to when a person's tenure shall end. Pastor and Founder, Michael Kelly, shall be Senior Pastor for the duration of his life or until he resigns said position as long as he abides by the Constitution and By-Laws of Grace Community Church and complies with the Scriptural standard for the office of a Pastor. (Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:6-9; 5:2-3) The Pastor may be removed for cause by unanimous agreement of the Leadership Team. In the event of a vacancy of the office of the Pastor, the Leadership Team shall act in the capacity of a committee for the selection of a new Pastor and shall prayerfully and with counsel and full consideration to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit set forth guidelines for the selection of a new Senior Pastor. ARTICLE X - ELECTIONS AND VACANCIES As the various leadership positions become necessary in this local church, the procedure for determining qualifications, appointing, nominating, and vacating of leadership positions shall be determined by the Pastor and the Leadership Team. Such procedures (proposals) may become a part of the By-Laws of this Constitution after being considered and approved by the Leadership Team. When necessity demands, the Pastor, with the advisement of the Leadership Team, may declare any leadership position vacant. ARTICLE XI - MEETINGS There shall be an annual business meeting of the church at which time various reports of the overall ministries of the church shall be made to the active membership. Time of said meeting to be the third week of October. Place of said meeting will be designated by the Senior Pastor. A quorum shall consist of the covenant partners in attendance at such a meting. The membership may also meet at special meetings which will be called by the Pastor, who will designate the time and place of the meeting. Notice of the annual business meeting or special called meetings shall be by pulpit announcement, letter, or monthly/weekly newsletter. Any new business, recommendation, suggestions, questions of concern, etc. of any active member in reference to Grace Community Church must be submitted in writing to the Pastor and Leadership Team for prayerful screening, evaluation, timing, procedure, feasibility, value, approval, etc. before coming to the members in business sessions. ARTICLE XII - HOLY COMMUNION The Eucharist (Bread and Cup) shall be observed at least once quarterly during Sunday morning worship. Three-fold communion: Foot Washing, Love Feast, and Eucharist shall be observed at least once annually. Time and place of the observance of three-fold communion shall be determined by the Pastor. ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS Amendments to this Constitution or to the By-Laws of Grace Community Church may be made by consensus of the Leadership Team. DHTML JavaScript Menu Courtesy of Milonic.com |
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