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CONSTITUTION
OF THE
NOBLESVILLE NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD,
INC.
Amended 14 FEB 2010
PREAMBLE
For the purpose of establishing and maintaining a place to worship Almighty God,
our Heavenly Father; to provide Christian fellowship for those of like precious
faith where the Holy Spirit may be honored according to our distinctive
testimony; to assume our share of responsibility and exercise the privilege of
propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ by all available means, both at home and
in foreign lands; we, whose names appear as
members of this assembly under the
above
date, do hereby recognize ourselves as comprising a local assembly in
fellowship with and a part of the Indiana District Assemblies of God, Inc. and
the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
CONSTITUTION
Article I. NAME
The name of this assembly shall be Noblesville New Life Assembly of God, Inc.,
Article II. AFFILIATION
This assembly hereby voluntarily enters into the relationship of an affiliated
assembly with the General Council of the Assemblies of God, with headquarters in
Article III. PREROGATIVES
Section 3.01
This assembly shall have the right to govern itself according to the standards
of the New Testament Scriptures, "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3)
"...till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ." (Eph. 4:13)
Section 3.02
This Assembly 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 purposes; and in accordance with its
Constitution, or as it may hereafter be amended.
Article IV. TENETS OF FAITH
This assembly accepts the Holy Scripture as the revealed will of God, the
all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and for the purpose of maintaining
general unity, adopts the Statement of Fundamental Truths of the General Council
of the Assemblies of God, to wit.
Section 4.01 The Scriptures
Inspired
The Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and
are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith
and conduct. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21)
Section 4.02 The One True God
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM", the
Creator of heaven and earth, and the Redeemer of mankind.
He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of
relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10-11; Matt. 28:19; Luke 3:22)
Section 4.03 The Deity of the
Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
The scriptures declare:
(a) His virgin birth. (Matt.
1:23; Luke 1:31, 35)
(b) His sinless life. (Heb.
7:26; 1 Peter 2:22)
(c) His miracles. (Acts
2:22; 10:38)
(d) His substitutionary work on the cross. (1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21)
(e) His bodily resurrection from the dead. (Matt. 28:6; Luke 24:39;
1 Cor. 15:4)
(f) His exaltation to the right hand of God. (Acts 1:9,11; 2:33; Phil.
2:9-11;
Heb. 1-3)
Section 4.04 The Fall of Man
Man was created good and upright, for God said, "Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness." However, man
by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but
also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
(Gen. 1:26-27; 2:17; 3:6;
Section 4.05 The Salvation of
Man
Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son
of God.
(a) Conditions to Salvation:
Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the
Lord Jesus Christ. By the
washing of regeneration and renewing of the
Holy Ghost, being justified
by grace through faith, man becomes an heir
of God according to the hope of eternal life.
(Luke 24:47; John 3:3;
Rom.10:13-15; Eph. 2:8; Titus 2:11; 3:5-7)
(b) The Evidences of Salvation:
The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
(Rom. 8:16) The outward
evidence to all men is a life of righteousness
and true holiness. (Eph. 4:24; Titus 2:12)
Section
4.06 The Ordinances of the
Church
(a) Baptism in Water:
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.
(Matt. 28:19; Mark 6:16; Acts
10:45;
(b) Holy Communion:
The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements--bread and the fruit of the
vine--is the symbol expressing our
sharing the divine nature of our Lord
Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:4), a memorial of His suffering and death
(1 Cor. 11:26), a prophecy of His second coming (1 Cor. 11:26), and is
enjoined on all believers "till He come!"
Section 4.07 The Baptism in
the Holy Ghost
(a) All believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and
earnestly seek, the promise of the
Father and the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire, according to the command of
our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the
normal experience of all in the early Christian Church.
With it comes the
enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts, and
their uses in the work of the ministry.
(Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; 1 Cor. 12:1-
31)
(b) This experience is distinct from, and subsequent to, the experience
of the new birth. (Acts 8:12-17;
10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9) With the
baptism in the Holy Ghost
come such experiences as an overflowing
fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for
God (Acts 2:43; Heb. 12:28)
and a more active love for Christ, for His
Word, and for the lost. (Mark 16:20)
Section 4.08 The Evidence of
the Baptism in the Holy Ghost
The baptism of believers in the Holy Ghost is witnessed by the initial physical
sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
(Acts 2:4) The speaking in tongues,
in this instance, is the same in essence as the gift of tongues (1 Cor.
12:4-10,28), but different in purpose and use.
Section 4.09 Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and dedication
unto God. (
Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification
with Christ in His death and resurrection, by faith reckoning daily upon the
fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of
the Holy Spirit.
(
Section 4.10 The Church and
its
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with
divine appointment 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. (Eph. 1:22-23; 2:22; Heb. 12:23)
Since God's purpose concerning man is to seek and to save that which is lost, to
be worshipped by man, and to build a body of believers in the image of His Son,
the priority reason-for-being of the Assemblies of God as part of the Church is:
(a) To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world.
(Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16)
(b) To be a corporate body in which man may worship God. (1 Cor. 12:13)
(c) To be a channel of God's purpose to build a body of saints being
perfected in the image of His Son. (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 12:28; 14:12)
The Assemblies of God exists expressly to give continuing emphasis to this,
reason for being, in the New Testament apostolic pattern, by teaching and
encouraging believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
This experience:
(a)
Enables them to evangelize in the power of the Spirit with
accompanying supernatural signs. (Mark 16:15-20; Acts 4:29-31;
Heb. 2:3-4)
(b) Adds a necessary dimension to a worshipful relationship with God.
(1 Cor. 2:10-16; 1 Cor. Chapters 12, 13, and 14)
(c) Enables them to respond to the full working of the Holy Spirit in
expression of fruit, gifts, and ministries as in New Testament times for the
edifying of the body of Christ. (Gal. 5:22-26; 1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:11-12;
1 Cor. 12:28;Col.1:29)
Section 4.11 The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our
Lord
for the threefold purposes 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
(Eph 4:11-16)
Section 4.12 Divine Healing
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. (Isa.
53:4-5; Matt. 8:16-17; James 5:14-16)
Section 4.13 The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation
together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the
imminent and blessed hope of the Church.
(1 Thess. 4:16-17; Rom. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Cor. 15:51-52)
Section 4.14 The Millennial
Reign of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our
blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign
on the earth for one thousand years.
(Zech. 14;5; Matt. 24:27,30; Rev. 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6)
This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national
(Isa. 11:6-9; Psa. 72:3-8; Micah 4:3-4)
Section 4.15 The Final
Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and
judged according to their works.
Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and
his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to everlasting
punishment, in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death.
(Matt. 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Rev. 19:20; 20:11-15; 21:8)
Section 4.16 The New Heavens
and the New Earth
"We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwells righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13; Rev. chapters 21, 22)
Article V. ORDINANCES
Section 5.01 Water Baptism
The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water shall be urged upon all those who
have repented of their sins, who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to the
saving of their souls and who give clear evidence of their salvation.
(Matt.28:19;
Section 5.02 The Lord's
Supper
The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be observed at least
quarterly--preferably more frequently. (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26)
Article VI. MEMBERS AND
NONMEMBER PARTICIPANTS
Membership in this assembly shall be open to applicants aged 12 or older who
meet the standards in Section 6.02 and are approved by the Pastor and Deacons.
Section 6.01 Reception of
Members
(a) Persons desiring membership in this assembly shall inform the Pastor or a
subordinate who shall provide each one with an application form and a copy of
our constitution as amended, for study. Persons asking to transfer their
membership to this assembly from another assembly shall request a letter of
transfer from that assembly.
Completed applications, and other pertinent information, shall be considered by
the Pastor and Deacons according to standards in Section 6.02.
(b) Upon approval for membership, applicants shall be received publicly into
this assembly at any of the regular worship services.
New member services shall be conducted at least four times per year when
applicants are available.
(c) If the application is not approved, the board will return the application
along with a written explanation of the refusal.
A copy of the application and the refusal notice will be kept as a part
of this assembly’s permanent records.
Section 6.02 Membership
Standard
(a) Evidence of a genuine experience in regeneration, the new birth.
(John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:18-25)
(b) Evidence of a consistent Christian life. (
Eph.4:17-32; 5:1-2, 15; 1 John 1:6-7)
(c) To fully subscribe to the tenets of faith as set forth in this constitution.
(d) Willingness to contribute regularly to the support of this Assembly
according to his or her ability and be governed by this
constitution.
Section 6.03 Voter Members
All members aged 18 or older, not excluded by Section 6.04, shall constitute the
legal voting membership of this assembly provided that they regularly take part
in the services; that they are living consistent Christian lives; and are in
agreement with our distinctive testimony.
They shall have voting and floor privileges in all business meetings of
this assembly.
Section 6.04 Nonvoter Members
The following category of members shall not have voting privileges in business
meetings of this assembly:
(a) Those aged 12 through 17, inclusive.
(b) Those unable to regularly attend services of this assembly because they are
enrolled in institutions of higher learning; or are training for the ministry;
or are serving in the ministry; or in the military; or because of advanced age
or disability.
(c) Those transferred by the Pastor and Deacons from the voter to the nonvoter
status because without good reason:
(1) they absented themselves from the services of this assembly for a period of
three consecutive months or more;
(2) they ceased to contribute of their means to its support;
(3) they may be out of harmony with its teachings or its ministries
(4) they are under charges of unscriptural or disruptive conduct; or
(5) they have fallen under condemnation through sinful and worldly
practices.
Section 6.05 Revision of
Membership Records
The standing of voter and nonvoter members shall be determined by the Pastor and
Deacons each November or December, and before any special business meeting.
They shall remove the names of persons deceased, withdrawn, or removed by
discipline.
Section 6.06 Discipline of
Members
(a) Removal of a name from any category for disciplinary reasons by the
Pastor and Deacons shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board
meeting in which the action was taken.
(b) A member whose name is removed from any category of
membership for disciplinary reasons shall be notified in writing with a
copy kept as part of this assembly's permanent records.
(c) All disciplinary action by the Pastor and Deacons shall follow the
principle of: Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5:11.
(d) A member whose name has been so removed may appeal to the
Pastor and Deacons for reconsideration and reinstatement.
(e) If reinstatement is refused the removed member may request a
hearing before the voter membership of this assembly.
Action of this
membership by a majority of all votes cast shall be
final. (
Section 6.07 Membership
Reports
Should the District Office or other proper agency seek statistical information
of membership categories other than those in this Article, the Pastor, or a
designee, may respond according to available information.
Section 6.08 Nonmember
Participants
Persons of all ages who are not eligible for membership as provided herein, or
who choose not to apply for membership, are invited to worship with this
assembly and participate in its activities in an orderly manner, but shall have
no floor nor voting rights.
Article VII. CHURCH OFFICERS
Section 7.01 Church Board
There shall be a Church Board composed of the Pastor and not less than three
Deacons, to whom shall be committed the general management of this assembly.
Additional Deacons may be added to the Board as authorized by a majority
of all votes cast in a business meeting called as in Article IX.
The Church Board shall choose each year from the voter membership (including the
Church Board itself) a Secretary and a Treasurer, who with the Pastor, shall be
the designated legal officers of this assembly and trustees in the holding and
conveying of property and signing of all instruments and legal documents.
The Secretary or Treasurer may be replaced at any time by the Pastor and
Deacons.
Section 7.02 The Pastor
Qualifications and Responsibilities
The Pastor shall:
(a) Be a credentialed minister of the Assemblies of God in good standing.
(b) Be the spiritual overseer of this assembly and shall direct all its
activities.
(c) Be an ex officio member of the Church Board and all committees,
departments and ministries.
(d) Be president of this corporation.
(e) Act as chairman of business meetings of this assembly or meetings of
the Church Board. (As
necessary, he may designate a substitute when he
can not be available.)
(f) Provide all services of this assembly, and arrange for all special
meetings, conventions, and revivals.
No person shall be invited to speak or preach in this assembly, nor at
any function without his knowledge and
approval.
(g) Invite all assistant or associate pastors, as well as any other
salaried personnel, to
serve the assembly. They shall be
directly responsible to
the pastor who shall assign their responsibilities and determine their
length of employment. None
of these positions shall be filled, or vacated,
by congregational vote or action of the Deacons.
The Pastor shall consult
with the Deacons regarding all changes in personnel, duties, and
salaries.
Prior to employment the Deacons shall have the right to reject any
potential employee of the assembly.
(h) As time permits, the Pastor will be available for personal
conferences, suggestions, counseling, and spiritual assistance.
Note: See section 8.01 and 8.04(a)
Section 7.03 Deacons
Qualifications and Responsibilities
(a) Scriptural Description: 1 Tim.
3:8-12 (NIV) “Deacons, likewise,
are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not
pursuing dishonest gain. They must
keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let
them serve as deacons. In the same
way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but
temperate and trustworthy in everything.
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children
and his household well.”
(b) Constitutional Qualifications:
Deacons shall:
(1) Be persons of mature Christian experience and knowledge who shall, as
closely as possible, meet the requirements as set forth in Acts 6:1-4; 1 Tim.
3:8-12; and Titus 1:5-9.
(2) Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age and shall have been active
voter members of this assembly for at least one year.
(3) Pay tithes into the church and agree to be faithful in attending major
church services and church board meetings.
(c) Duties: Deacons are chosen to
serve this assembly and therefore shall act in an advisory capacity with the
Pastor in matters pertaining to this assembly in its spiritual life; in the
ministry of its ordinances; and in business affairs.
They shall act in the examination of applicants for membership, and also
in the administration of discipline.
If this assembly is temporarily without a Pastor, or if the Pastor is
unable to attend, Deacons are empowered to provide a temporary chairman, if
necessary, or proceed without the Pastor in order to deal with urgent matters.
If a vacancy in the pastorate exists, the Deacons, in consultation with
the District Superintendent, shall arrange supply ministries.
See also sections 8.02 and 8.04(b)
Section 7.04 Elders
Qualifications and Responsibilities
(a)
The biblical qualifications for an Elder (Titus 1:5-9) are very similar to
those for a Deacon.
See Section 7.03 (a). But in
addition Elders should be skilled in doctrine and its defense.
They should be humble in spirit and have a servant’s heart.
(b)
If the Pastor determines that additional spiritual advice, counsel, or
assistance is needed by the pastorate, or this assembly; and that this assembly
has voter members who are qualified to provide the needed spiritual advice,
counsel, or assistance, the Pastor shall bring recommendations for discussion to
the Board prior to any appointments; then may appoint at least one Elder for a
term of one year. At the end of the
term the Pastor may reappoint the Elder(s); appoint replacements, or leave the
office open.
(c)
The Pastor may terminate an appointment at any time.
Elders are
solely responsible to the Pastor and have no administrative authority arising
from their office. In the absence
of the Pastor, Elder(s) shall follow the Church Board’s leadership.
Section 7.05 Secretary
Responsibilities
In addition to the responsibilities outlined in Section 7.01,
the Secretary shall:
(a)
Keep the minutes of the annual and special business meetings, and
the monthly board meetings.
(b) Keep records of the membership, and perform or delegate all
necessary clerical work
(c) Be custodian of all legal documents and the corporate seal, if any;
(d) Record all final decisions that are made by the Board, whether the
decision was made in a Board Meeting, via email, phone call, or by
any
other means of communication.
Section 7.06 Treasurer
Responsibilities
In addition to the responsibilities outlined in Section 7.01, the Treasurer
shall:
(a)
Be entrusted with all the finances of this assembly;
(b) Deposit funds in a responsible
bank in this assembly's name;
(c) Shall disburse funds by check as authorized by the Pastor and
Deacons.
(d) Without diminishing the Treasurer's overall responsibility, the
Treasurer's duties may be delegated to a person having computer, or
accounting skills.
(e) Any expenditure or financial commitment falling between $250.00 and
the average monthly income for the last 12 months must be approved by
two board members; and any greater amount must be approved by two-
thirds of the voter members, except those expenditures necessary to
maintain the integrity of the church property, and meet any regular
financial obligations.
(f) The Treasurer shall account for all receipts and disbursements and
make an
itemized report at the regular meetings of the Church Board.
This report, after approval
by the Pastor and Deacons, shall be visibly
displayed monthly. There
shall also be a summarized report prepared for the annual business meeting.
Section 7.07 Audit
Accounts of this assembly shall be audited under the direction of
the Pastor and Deacons. All
findings shall be presented to the Church Board and made available to the
general membership after acceptance by the Church Board.
Article VIII. ELECTIONS,
VACANCIES, AND REMOVALS
Section 8.01
Election of Pastor
Pastors shall be elected to serve for a limitless period of time.
Prospective Pastors shall be nominated by the Deacons after
consultation with the Indiana District Officiary and presented to
the voter membership. An
election shall be by secret ballot at a special meeting called for that purpose.
A two-thirds majority of all votes cast
by voter members shall be required to constitute an election.
Section 8.02 Election of
Deacons
(a)
Deacons shall be elected from the voter membership, to serve until
replaced by a duly elected successor.
They shall be nominated by a nominating committee consisting of the
Pastor, one incumbent Deacon, and three voter members chosen by the Pastor and
Deacons from the names of the voter members who are not Deacons and who are able
and willing to serve on the committee.
(b)
The nominating committee shall be formed by the end of November.
Each person considered for nomination shall be queried concerning
attendance at Sunday School, church services and Church Board meetings.
The nominating committee shall endeavor to offer at least two names for
each office to be filled. A list of
nominees shall be made available to the membership at least two Sunday services
before the annual meeting.
(c) Deacons shall be elected for rotating terms of three years except
for vacancies created due to incomplete terms, with no more than half the terms
expiring in the same year. A person
who has served as Deacon for three years, or a person who has been elected to
serve for three years but has resigned during those three years, shall not be
re-elected until at least one year has elapsed in which that person has not
served as a Deacon.
(d)
Deacons shall be elected by a majority of all votes
cast.
If no nominee is elected on the first ballot, all names except the two
receiving the highest number of votes shall be eliminated.
Section 8.03 Ballots
(a)
A "Majority Vote" means one half plus one or more of the total
votes cast, which includes voter members' votes and absentee ballots.
(b)
A "2/3 Majority Vote" means 2/3 or more of the total votes cast,
which includes voter members' votes and absentee ballots.
(c)
All elections shall be by secret ballot cast by voter members. Voter members are
to be seated separately from other people who may be present.
(d)
Proxy ballots are not permitted at any time for any reason.
(e)
Blank ballots shall not be counted in computing percentages nor other
results.
(f) Absentee ballots of voting members shall be accepted at the annual business
meeting and special business meetings of the assembly in cases where the voting
member is unable to attend said meetings due to illness, employment during the
meeting, or is on vacation.
(g)
Absentee ballots should be marked with the word "absentee",
placed in a sealed envelope bearing the member's
name, and given to the Pastor or Secretary prior to the meeting during which the
votes are to be cast. In the case
where multiple votes are needed to only those absentee ballots will be used that
show the names of those persons still in the running.
(h)
The ballots shall be counted by the Secretary and two other tellers chosen
by the Secretary.
Section 8.04 Vacancies and Removals
A person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy in any area of the church shall
take office or assume the responsibility immediately if possible and serve for
an indefinite period of time. The
only exception is that of a Deacon.
See Section 8.02 (c).
(a) The Pastor
When the Pastorate becomes vacant the vacancy shall be filled according to
Section 8.01 If serious charges are
preferred against the Pastor, or the Pastor's ministry has ceased to be
effective in the opinion of a majority of the Deacons, the Deacons may ask for
the Pastor's resignation at any of its business meetings.
If such resignation is refused, the pastorate shall not be considered
vacant until the action of the Deacons has been confirmed by a majority vote of
voter members at a meeting called for that purpose and presided over by the
District Officiary. The District
Office shall be formally ;notified of all of such actions.
(b) Deacons
A vacancy occurring within a term of office may be filled for the remainder of
that term according to Section 8.02.
If serious charges are preferred against a Deacon, or the Deacon's
ministry has ceased to be effective in the opinion of the majority of the Board,
the Board may ask for the Deacon's resignation at any of its board meetings.
If such resignation is refused, the Deacon's position shall not be
considered vacant until the action of the Board has been confirmed by a majority
vote at a meeting called for that purpose.
(c) Other Officers and Appointees
A vacancy occurring within any department or committee of this assembly, may be
filled by the leader of that department or committee, subject to the approval of
the Pastor. If serious charges are
preferred against an Officer or Appointee, or their ministry has ceased to be
effective in the opinion of the majority of the Board, that Officer or Appointee
will be removed from their position.
Such vacancies may be filled by the Pastor and Deacons, except that a
Deacon shall be replaced according to Section 8.02.
(d) Grounds for Removal
Removal in from
any office of this assembly, its departments, or committees may be
declared by action of the Pastor and Deacons at any regular or special Church
Board meeting.
Grounds for such action shall include unscriptural conduct, doctrinal departure
from the tenets of faith, inadequacy, or excessive absenteeism.
Any person so charged shall have the right to a fair and impartial
hearing before the voter members, and will be restored or removed by majority
vote of the voter members present and voting.
Article IX. MEETINGS
Section 9.01 Meetings for
Worship
Meetings for worship shall be held on each Lord's Day and during the week as may
be provided for under the direction of the Pastor and Deacons.
Section 9.02 Annual Business
Meeting
There shall be an annual business meeting of voter members and others desiring
to attend, at which time the election of Deacons shall take place, and reports
of officers and ministries shall be given.
It shall take place as soon as possible after January 1 as determined by
the Pastor and Deacons.
Section 9.03 Special Business
Meetings
Special business meetings may be called provided the meeting has been agreed
upon by a majority of the Church Board (Pastor and Deacons).
Special meetings may also be called by petition signed by not less than
one-third of the voter members.
Such petitions are to be placed in the hands of the Pastor or Secretary for
proper announcement.
Section 9.04 Time, Place and
Purpose of Business Meetings
Notice of the time, place and purpose of all business meetings shall be provided
to the congregation in at least two Sunday services before the meeting.
Section 9.05 Quorums
Quorums for congregational business meetings shall be at least one third of the
voter members. Quorums for Church
Board meetings shall be one-half or more of the members of the Board.
Section 9.06 Church Board
Meetings
The Church Board shall meet at least monthly for the transaction of routine
business.
Section 9.07 Minutes
Minutes shall be kept of all congregational business meetings and Church Board
meetings at which quorums are present, and preserved as a part of this
assembly's permanent records. The
minutes shall be recorded by the secretary or a person designated by the board.
Section 9.08 Order of
Business
The order of business for annual congregational business meetings shall be:
(a) Devotional
(b)
(c) Treasurer's report
(d) Audit report
(e) Departmental and Ministry reports
(f) Reports by voter members
(g) Unfinished business
(h) Election of officers
(i) New business
(j) Adjournment
The chairman may dispense with inapplicable items above in special business
meetings.
Section 9.09 Reports by Voter
Members
Any voter member may request to take the floor to make a brief (3 min. maximum
in length) report.
Section 9.10 Change of
Assembly Affiliation
Any meeting at which the dissolution of this Assembly, or its merger with
another congregation, or its withdrawal from affiliation with the Assemblies of
God is discussed shall not be considered a duly called meeting unless the
District officiary has been invited and is present.
Article X. DEPARTMENTS AND
AUXILIARY MINISTRIES
Section 10.01 All
Departments, Auxiliaries, and Committees
This assembly shall, in a genuine and determined manner, endeavor to create a
Youth Department, a Men’s Ministries Department, and a Women’s Ministries
Department with their activities being conducted as branches of the church.
All Departments, Auxiliaries, and Committees shall be subordinate to this
assembly; contribute to the harmony and development of the whole and be under
the general supervision of the Pastor and Deacons, with the Pastor being an ex
officio member of them. The Pastor
and Deacons shall, in consultation with these ministries, determine their
policies and programs.
These ministries shall, as much as possible, cooperate with and
participate in the equivalent ministries at the district level.
Section 10.02 Christian
Education Department
(a) The Minister of Education (if one is serving in that capacity) shall be the
director or head of the Christian Education Department.
Otherwise the Sunday School Superintendent may serve as the head or
director.
(b) The Pastor, Minister of Education (if one is serving in that
capacity) and the Deacons shall appoint the superintendent, secretary, treasurer
and any other executive officers from among the voter members and participants
of this assembly.
(c) The Pastor, Minister of Education (if one is serving in that
capacity) and Sunday School Superintendent shall appoint all teachers and
workers for the Sunday School Program.
(d) Such programs as children's church, neighborhood story hours,
vacation Bible school, children's revivals, church library, etc. shall be under
the jurisdiction of the Pastor and Deacons.
Section 10.03 Other
Departments and Auxiliaries
Other departments and auxiliaries such as the Music Department, Royal Rangers,
Mpact Girls Clubs, etc., may operate under the supervision and approval of the
Pastor and Deacons; but establishment of any atypical ministry, such as a
Daycare Center, Day School, Youth Center, Coffee House, etc., shall first be
approved by a majority of all votes cast, at a regular or special business
meeting called for consideration of that ministry.
Article XI. FINANCES
Funds for the maintenance and outreach of this assembly shall be provided by the
voluntary contributions of tithes and offerings by members and friends of the
church. Offerings shall be accepted
by this assembly, at such times and in such ways as agreed upon by the Pastor
and Deacons, and shall be disbursed by the Treasurer under their direction.
See Section 7.06
Article XII. PROPERTY
All property, real or chattel, shall be taken, held, sold, transferred, or
conveyed in the name of this Assembly.
No real property of this assembly shall be acquired, sold, leased,
mortgaged, nor otherwise alienated unless authorized by at least a two-thirds
majority of all votes cast at the business meeting which has been announced for
consideration of the proposal. The
Pastor and Secretary shall certify in such conveyance, lease, or mortgage that
the action has been duly authorized by vote of the members.
If this assembly ceases to function as an Assemblies of God church, or severs
its affiliation as described in Article II, all property, real or chattel, shall
revert to the Indiana District Assemblies of God, Inc., presently located at
Article XIII. CONGREGRATIONAL
INVOLVEMENT
Section 13.01 Special Surveys
The Pastor and Deacons may conduct special surveys at any time in such a manner
and form as they may determine.
Section 13.02 Congregational
Initiatives
The Pastor and Deacons may occasionally or continually provide suggestions boxes
at primary exits of the church building and suggestion slips at the information
tables. Slips shall be preprinted
with:
(a)
An invitation to worshipers to anonymously register their constructive
comments, favorable or unfavorable, on impressions of the services or
other
matters; suggestions for changes; or any other ideas.
(b) Instructions that the slips be dropped in the suggestions boxes or
mailed to the church office.
In addition, members of the congregation may provide input directly to the
pastor. See Section 7.02 (h).
Article XIV. DISTRICT
SUPERVISION
If voter membership of this assembly falls below twenty, or there are not at
least three voter members qualified to be Deacons, this assembly shall become a
district supervised church upon request of the congregation, or declaration of
the District Executive Presbytery.
Article XV. AMENDMENTS
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast at
any regular or special business meeting called for that purpose according to
Article IX. This provision for
amending the constitution does not apply to Article IV-Tenets of Faith, which
stands unless amended by the General Council.
