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Church PlantingCentral District, Evangelical Free Church of America |
Jesus Christ said, "I will build my church" Matthew 16:18 kjv
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The Constitution of Life Evangelical Free Church Of Newton, Iowa Preamble We, the members of Life Evangelical Free Church of Newton, Iowa, in order to carry out more efficiently the commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church, do ordain and establish the following Constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves: Article 1 Name The name of this organization will be Life Evangelical Free Church of Newton, Iowa. Article 2 Corporate Existence and Powers A. The corporate existence of the church will begin on the date the certificate of incorporation is issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Iowa, and will continue perpetually thereafter unless dissolved as provided by law. B. The church is organized exclusively for the charitable, education, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. C. No part of the net earnings will inure to the benefit of any director or officer of the church or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the church affecting one or more of its purposes). D. No officer of the church, or any private individual will be entitled to share in the distribution of any church assets on dissolution of the church. No substantial part of the activities of the church will be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as otherwise may be permitted in 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code. The church will not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) a political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. E. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, the church will not conduct or carry on activities not permitted to be conducted or carried on by any organization exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or by any organization, contributions of which are deductible under 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. F. As a means of accomplishing the foregoing purposes, the church will have all of the general powers set forth in Chapter 504A of the Code of Iowa, and as it may hereafter be amended. These general powers will be exercised exclusively for the attainment of the charitable, education, religious, or scientific purposes of the church as set forth in this Article. Article 3 Authority and Affiliation A. Organizational authority: The congregation, at its annual, regular, and special business meetings, is the legislative and governing body of this organization. B. Affiliation: This church will be affiliated with the Central District Conference of /and the Evangelical Free Church of America, and will send delegates to their conferences, support their missions, and unite in all mutual efforts for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ in the measure that the church itself may officially decide. Article 4 Mission The mission of Life Evangelical Free Church is sharing Christ, growing for life. This mission is further described with the following acrostic: L….Love the Lord your God with all you heart, soul, mind and strength I . . . Invest in authentic relationships F….Fulfill your potential and spiritual growth in Jesus Christ E….Engage our world with the hope of Jesus Christ Article 5 Statement of Faith The Statement of Faith of this organization will be the same as the Statement of Faith of the Central District Conference and the Evangelical Free Church of America, which reads as follows: A. We believe the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. B. We believe in one God, Creator of all things infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C. We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He now is our High Priest and Advocate. D. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age to convict men, regenerate the believing sinner, and to indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service. E. We believe that man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin, and is therefore lost, and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained. F. We believe that the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and only such as receive Jesus are born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. G. We believe that the Lord's supper and Water Baptism are ordinances to be observed by the church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as means of salvation. H. We believe that the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the Body of Christ, of which He is the Head. I. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church will be eligible for membership in the local church. J. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and that every local church has the right, under Christ, to decide and govern its own affairs. K. We believe in the personal and pre-millennial and imminent coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this blessed hope has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
L. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead, of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, and of the unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment. Article 6 Membership Membership of this church will be composed of those individuals who, through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, have been born again, who manifest the fruit of a true Christian life, who subscribe to the aforementioned Statement of Faith, and who are willing to support the church by their prayers, contributions, and attendance. Article 7 Officers The corporation affairs will be overseen by a Board of Directors. The membership of this Board, which will be called the Board of Elders, their election, and their term of office is defined in the Bylaws of this church. Article 8 Property A. This church will have the power to receive, either by gift or purchase, and to hold such real, personal, or mixed property as is authorized by the laws of the State of Iowa and as is deemed necessary for the business of the church, and will have the power to dispose of such property by mortgage, deed, or otherwise. All purchases of real estate or major construction and building renovations or additions must be approved by seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote of a quorum present at an annual, regular, or special business meeting of the church. B. All debts for the corporation will be held in the name of the corporation. The personal and private property of the officers or members of this corporation will not be used in the payment of the corporate debt. C. In case of a division of the church (from which we pray God, by His mercy, will preserve us) the property of the church will belong to those who abide by its Constitution and Bylaws. If the opposing groups or divisions cannot bring resolution to the divisive issue(s), the Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America will act as arbitrator to make final determination which group retains the rights to the property of the church. D. In case of dissolution of the church organization, the property will be assigned to the Central District Conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America to enable said conference to renew the work or use the values thereof for further Gospel enterprises. The church will be considered dissolved if so decided by the organization at a duly called meeting of the membership in which the membership votes for dissolution by a two-thirds (66 2/3%) majority vote. The church will also be considered dissolved when the church has not held an annual meeting for three years. Article 9 Amendments Amendments to this Constitution must be submitted to the members in writing and adopted as a preliminary step at a regular business meeting of the church at least three months prior to the annual meeting. They must be acted upon as previously adopted and without further amendment. At the succeeding annual meeting they can be acted upon for final adoption, but must receive the affirmative vote of two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the membership present and voting.
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Phone: (515)432-9175 |
Central District, EFCA |
mail toE-mail: office@efcacentral.org |