Grace Gospel Constitution

Article I - NAME

The name of this church shall be "The Grace Gospel Church."

Article II - PURPOSE

The object of this church is the salvation of souls, the edification of believers through the teaching of God’s Word, the world-wide proclamation of God’s saving grace expressed in the shed blood and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, the promotion of Godly worship, the defense of the "faith once for all delivered" and cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with God’s Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.

Article III - DOCTRINE

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the verbally inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, inerrant in the original writings, infallible and God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

The Godhead

We believe there is one true and living God. He is eternal, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness, the Creator of all things, visible and invisible (Genesis 1:1). In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 John 5:7).

The Person and Work of Christ

  1. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, 14; Luke 1:35).

  2. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

  3. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Intercessor and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2).

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

  1. We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; and that He is the Supernatural Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ, and dwelling in them (John 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Romans 8:9).

  2. We believe that He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and that it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit (John 16:13; Ephesians 5:18).

The Total Depravity of Man

We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, and not by a process of evolution, and that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and that man is totally depraved and, of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7; Romans 3:23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3, 12).

Salvation

We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7). We believe that the blood of Jesus is sufficient for our forgiveness and salvation, and that nothing else is necessary.

Separation

We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Saviour and Lord or His Church; and that separation from all religious apostasy, all sinful pleasures, practices and associations is commanded (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

Missions

We believe it is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8).

The Ministry and Spiritual Gifts

  1. We believe that God is sovereign in the bestowment of all His gifts; and that the gifts of evangelists, and teachers are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today; and that speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures were completed and their authority became established (Ephesians 4:11-12).

  2. We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His own will, for the sick and afflicted (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15).

The Church

We believe that the Church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2).

The Second Advent of Christ

We believe in that "Blessed Hope," the personal, imminent, pre-tribulation and pre-millennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and in His subsequent return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-6).

The Eternal State

  1. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment (Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:5-6, 12-15).

  2. We believe that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the resurrection when soul and body are reunited to be glorified forever with the Lord (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

  3. We believe that the souls of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with body and soul reunited they shall appear at the Great White Throne Judgement, and shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to suffer everlasting conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-26; Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15).

Sacraments

We believe the Christian sacraments are water baptism and the Lord’s Supper, outward rites appointed by Christ to be administered in the Church, not as a means of salvation, but as visible signs of the facts and realities of salvation.a. Water baptism is to be administered to believers only and baptism by immersion is the Scriptural mode.b. The Lord’s Supper consists in partaking of the consecrated emblems of bread and unfermented wine. The Lord’s table should be open to all who are in right relationship with God, regardless of church affiliation.In obedience to the Lord’s command, every Christian should be present at the Lord’s Supper when at all possible.

The Doctrine of the church, contained in this Article III shall not be altered, or any part deleted, by any means or measures. These are the original statements of faith of The Grace Gospel Church and shall remain as they are without change.

Article IV - MEMBERSHIP

  1. Any person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting the Covenant, Doctrine, and the Constitution set forth herein may be received into membership of the church, after being interviewed by the pastor, approved at a regular business meeting, and willing to follow the Lord in baptism.

  2. Inactive members, who without reasonable excuse, fail to communicate with the church for a period of one year shall be contacted, if possible, concerning their intentions in relationship to Christ and the church.

Article V - WITHDRAWAL FROM MEMBERSHIP

  1. a. Membership may be terminated by the following ways:

    1. A letter of recommendation to another Evangelical church.

    2. A letter of request from the member to have his name removed from the church.

    3. When a member is known to be deceased or has joined another church.

  2. Membership may be terminated for disorderly conduct by three-fourths vote of members present at a regular business meeting.

Article VI - PROPERTY

  1. The property of this church is irrevocably dedicated to religious and charitable purpose, and upon liquidation, dissolution or abandonment, shall not inure to the benefit of any private person, except a fund, foundation or corporation organized and operated for religious or charitable purpose.

  2. All property of the church shall be deeded to the church in its corporate name. No property of the church shall be sold, mortgaged or leased without the same shall have been approved by a three-fourths vote of the members present at a regular meeting or special meeting which has been called for the proposal.

  3. In the event the church shall be divided over doctrinal difference, the church property shall belong to the members holding to the original tenets as set forth in the statement of faith as contained in Article III contained herein, regardless of majority.

Article VII - FINANCES

The Scriptural teaching concerning the financing of the Lord’s work is through the tithes and offerings of God’s people. Therefore, the church, or any of its organizations, shall not engage in buying and selling in any form for the financing of the church and its related activities.

Article VIII - PASTOR AND OFFICERS

  1. The pastor may be nominated by any member of the church and shall be elected by secret ballot at the regular business meeting of the church or a special meeting called for that purpose. A three-fourths vote of all votes cast shall be required to constitute an election.

  2. Any person nominated and elected to any office of the church must be an active member of the church at the time of his or her nomination or election, and in agreement with the doctrine and constitution of this church.

Article IX - VACANCIES

  1. The pastor will be called for an indefinite period of time and the tenure of his office shall be by resignation, death or disqualification.

  2. In the event of the resignation of the pastor, he shall tender his resignation in writing at least 30 days prior to the effective resignation date.

  3. In the event the church should request the resignation of the pastor, this request shall be tendered to him in writing at least 30 days prior to the proposed resignation date.

  4. The pastorate shall terminate immediately upon the pastor’s refusal to affirm the doctrine of Article III as herein set forth.

  5. Vacancies in any office shall be filled in the regular monthly business meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

Article X - AMENDMENTS

This constitution, excluding Article III – Doctrine, and Article VI – Property – Section c, may be amended or changed by a three-fourths vote of the members in attendance at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, provided due notice of such proposed change shall have been made at all the worship services on at least two Sundays immediately preceding the time of such meeting.Article III – Doctrine, which contains the original statements of faith of The Grace Gospel Church, shall not be altered, or any part deleted, by any means or measures. They shall remain as they are without change.

Article VI – Property – Section c, shall not be altered, or any part deleted, by any means or measures. This section must remain as it is without change.

 

Last Updated July 18, 2006