New Life Assembly of God, Noblesville, IN "Loving God ... Loving People"
|
New Life Assembly of God, Noblesville, IN "Loving God ... Loving People"
|
|
|
Word Document Link to Constitution
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
NOBLESVILLE NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, INC. Amended January 25, 2004 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..." 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. 4:3,13.) 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 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)
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.
(
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
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. 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; Rom. 6:3-5; Col.
2:12). 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. (John1:12-13; 3:3-8; 1 Peter
1:18-25) (b) Evidence of a consistent
Christian life ( (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 they absented themselves from the services of this assembly for a period
of three consecutive months or more; they ceased to contribute of their means to
its support; they may be out of harmony with its teachings or its ministries;
they are under charges of unscriptural or disruptive conduct; or 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 majority vote shall be final. (
Thess. 3:6,14.) 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 voter members voting 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 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 (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 The biblical qualifications
for an Elder (Titus 1:5-9) are very similar to those for a Deacon.
(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. 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
not Deacons, but 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. 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 The Secretary shall keep the
minutes of the annual and special business meetings; keep records of the
membership; perform or delegate all necessary clerical work; and shall be
custodian of all legal documents and the corporate seal, if any. Section 7.06
Treasurer The Treasurer shall be
entrusted with all the finances of this assembly; deposit funds in a responsible
bank in this assembly's name; and shall disburse them by check as authorized by
the Pastor and Deacons. Without
diminishing the Treasurer's overall responsibility, the Treasurer's duties may
be delegated to a person having computer, or accounting skills.
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. 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 AND VACANCIES Section 8.01
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
Deacons 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.
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. 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. Deacons shall be elected by
majority vote. If no nominee is
elected by the third ballot all names except the two receiving the highest
number of votes shall be eliminated. Section 8.03
Ballots All elections shall be by
secret ballot cast by voter members present at the meeting and seated separately
from other people who may be present.
Proxy ballots are not permitted at any time for any reason.
Blank ballots shall not be counted in computing percentages nor other
results. The ballots shall be
counted by the Secretary and two other tellers chosen by the Secretary. 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.
Absentee ballots shall be 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 eliminate candidates, absentee
ballots will be counted for all votes where the person(s) listed on the absentee
ballot are candidates. Section 8.04
Vacancies A person elected or
appointed to fill a vacancy shall take office immediately if possible.
(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. (c) Other Officers and
Appointees Subject to Section 7.02,
Subsection (g), vacancies in 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. Such vacancies
may be filled by the Pastor and Deacons,
except that a Deacon shall be
replaced according to Section 8.02. 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, 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 Youth Ministries, Men's Ministries, Women's Ministries,
Music Department, Royal Rangers, Missionettes, 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 vote of the voter members 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 vote of voter
members present and voting 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:
(1) 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. (2) 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 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 vote of the voter members present and voting 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. |
|
Send mail to
webmaster@newlife-ag.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
