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Association of Charismatic Reformed Churches:
Constitution |
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Article 1:
Name
The name of this Association shall be Association of
Charismatic Reformed Churches.
- A.
Association: We believe that local churches are to work
together and that it is appropriate for them to form
associations for that purpose (Acts 15:1-35: 2 Cor. 8; Gal.
1:2,22; Col. 4:13-18). Associational fellowship should not
become a burden which restricts ministry, but a help and
encouragement which facilitates greater ministry among churches
who share mutual respect, love and acceptance. We believe that
the local church is appointed by God to carry out the work of
the Kingdom in this age (1 Tim. 3:15; Mt. 16:18,19). We do not
believe that church councils or groups of churches have
authority over local churches.
- B.
Reformed: We stand in the tradition of the historic
Reformed Confessions of Faith. We affirm the five "Solas" of
the Reformation: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide,
Solus Christus, and Soli Deo Gloria. We embrace the
Biblical doctrines of grace: the depravity of man, sovereign
election, particular redemption, effectual call, and the
preservation of the saints.
- C.
Charismatic: We believe that the gifts of the Holy
Spirit as outlined in such passages as Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor.
12-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11 are to be operative in the life of the
church until Christ returns (1 Cor. 1:4-9; 1 Cor. 13:8-14:1).
These gifts are sovereignly distributed by the Holy Spirit as he
wills for the upbuilding of the churches.
Article 2: Purposes of this Association
- A.
Facilitating fellowship and mutual encouragement for Pastors,
Churches and Individuals that are charismatic in their
understanding of Christian experience as well as Reformed in
their Theology.
- B. That
churches of like mind may share resources and assist one another
in cooperative efforts in ministry to God's glory.
- C. That
believers may enjoy an identity and unity beyond that of their
local church by praying for and participating in the ministry
efforts of other churches, and by identifying a network of other
similar churches when they travel or move (John 17:20-26).
Article 3: The Standards of the Association
- A. The
Scriptures (the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments) are the
only ultimate and final authority in all matters of faith and
practice. All other confessions and doctrinal statements are
subordinate, fallible and amendable.
- B. Doctrinal
Standard: Members of this Association shall be in agreement with
the doctrinal statement attached to this document.
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1. The doctrinal
statement of the Association may be revised upon agreement of
three-fourths of the voting membership.
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a. Amendments
must be submitted in writing, along with reasons for the
suggested revision(s), to the Moderator who will send them to
the voting membership at least ninety days in advance of the
annual meeting.
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b. A discussion
of the proposed amendment(s) and recommended action will take
place at the Annual Association Meeting. This recommendation
will be forwarded to the membership to be voted on within sixty
days of the meeting. Voting will be in writing.
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c. If a member is
unable to attend the annual meeting they may notify the
Moderator in writing and give their input on the proposed
amendment.
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2. Churches which
differ from the revised doctrinal statement must inform the
moderator, who will then inform other member churches who will
determine whether any action is necessary.
- C.
Constitution: This Constitution shall be the governing standard
of our Association. It may be amended by a three-fourths vote of
the voting membership following a procedure similar to that in
Art.3 B 1 above.
Article 4: Membership in the Association
- A.
Application for membership:
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1. Churches
applying for membership in the Association must:
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a. Be in
agreement with the doctrinal statement of the Association. Any
exceptions must be noted when applying (see 4.A.2 below).
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b. Be recommended
by at least one member.
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c. Agree to abide
by the Constitution of the Association.
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d. Submit a
written application to the Moderator, who will circulate the
application among the Executive Board for comment and approval.
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2. Churches which
note an exception to the Association's doctrinal statement may
be admitted by the following procedure:
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a. Any exceptions
should be noted and explained at the time the church makes
application. Applications noting exceptions will be referred to
an Executive Board consisting of the Moderator, Moderator
pro tem, and Secretary.
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b. The Executive
Board will consider the exception(s) and may ask the officers of
the church to review relevant books or other materials before
the Annual Meeting.
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c. The
representatives of the church will be given opportunity to
explain their views and to answer questions at the Annual
Meeting.
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d. The church may
be received into membership upon a three-fourths vote of the
delegates of the membership at the Annual Meeting.
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3. A new or
prospective member church will introduce themselves at an
Association meeting to tell about themselves and to answer any
relevant questions that representatives may have.
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4. Applicant
churches which meet the qualifications for membership may be
approved by a consensus of the members of the executive
committee. Voting may be at the Annual Meeting or by other means
such as mail, fax or e-mail if an application is received during
the year. If an application is not unanimously approved, it
shall be decided by a three-fourths vote of member churches at
an Association meeting. Applications by churches noting
exceptions to the Association's doctrinal statement can only be
considered at the Annual Meeting.
- B. Withdrawal
from membership: Churches may withdraw from membership in the
Association at any time for reasons sufficient to themselves.
They shall provide written notice to the Moderator, who will
inform the other churches.
- C. Removal
from membership:
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1. A church which
no longer meets the requirements for membership in the
Association (4.A.1 above) may be removed by a two-thirds vote of
the existing membership at the meeting of the Association.
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2. A proposal for
the removal of a church from membership in the Association must
include reasons for exclusion and should be presented to the
membership at least sixty days prior to a meeting of the
Association.
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3. Such action
should only be undertaken after the Moderator and member
churches have diligently sought to resolve the issues.
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4. A church
subject to removal may circulate a rebuttal among the
membership.
- D. Individual
memberships:
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1. Individuals
from non-member churches may join as associate members.
Requirements shall be similar to those for churches given above.
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2. Individual
members may participate at the Association meetings and may vote
on Association business.
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3. Individual
members may withdraw from the Association or be removed in a
manner similar to member churches.
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4. Individual
members shall have one vote in any Association business.
However, if there are multiple individuals from any non-member
church, they will be limited to only one vote between them.
Article 5: National Structure of the Association
- A. Meetings:
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1. There shall be
at least one Annual Meeting of the Association.
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2. Each member
church may send two representatives (usually elders or deacons)
as voting representatives at the Association meetings. Churches
sending only one delegate will only have one vote. The
membership present at the annual meeting shall constitute a
quorum for the conduct of association business.
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3. In addition,
member churches may send as many non-voting attendees to
Association meetings as they wish.
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4. Business to be
conducted shall include matters such as, but not limited to:
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a. Recognition of
new members.
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b. Removing member
churches.
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c. Appointing a
Moderator.
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d. Amending the
standards of the Association.
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e. Addressing
doctrinal issues.
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f. Hearing
missionary reports (or other appeals for help in ministry
projects).
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5. The Annual
Meeting shall also include times of instruction and prayer to
teach and encourage the representatives attending.
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6. Open and closed
meetings.
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a. Ordinarily,
Association meetings will be open to all who wish to attend
(such as fraternal delegates, observers, etc.).
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b. The Association
may go into closed session (restricted to voting representatives
only) upon a majority vote of the delegates of member churches
present.
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7. Other
Association meetings may be called for a particular purpose by
agreement of at least one-half of the member churches.
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a. All member
churches must be informed at least one month in advance.
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b. A majority of
member churches must be represented to constitute a quorum
before any business can be conducted.
- B. Executive
Board - The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the
association which are the moderator, the moderator pro tem the
secretary and other board members as may be elected.
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1. The Moderator
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a. The
representatives present at the Annual Meeting shall elect a
Moderator from among themselves to serve for a two-year term.
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b. The Moderator
shall be responsible to:
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1. Make
arrangements for the Annual Meeting (including location).
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2. Preside over
the sessions of the Annual Meeting.
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3. Encourage and
maintain communication among the member churches (using the
internet, e-mail, postal service and other means of
communications).
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4. Call for
special meetings of the Association when at least one-half of
the member churches agree (see 5.A.7 above).
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5. Maintain and
publish a membership list.
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c. The Moderator
may be removed by a majority vote of the representatives. In
that case, the Moderator pro tem will fill his term.
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2. The Moderator
pro tem
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a. The
representatives present at the Annual Meeting shall elect a
Moderator pro tem from among themselves to serve for a two-year
term.
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b. The Moderator
pro tem will be responsible to:
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1. Assist the
Moderator in his functions.
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2. Serve in cases
of the Moderator's absence, or to fill out the term of the
Moderator if the position of Moderator becomes vacant.
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c. The Moderator
pro tem may be removed by a majority vote of the
representatives.
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3. The Secretary
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a. The
representatives present at the Annual Meeting shall elect a
Secretary from among themselves to serve for a two-year term.
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b. The Secretary
shall be responsible to:
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1. Keep and
distribute records (including minutes) of Association business.
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2. Assist the
Moderator and the Moderator pro tem in their functions.
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c. The Secretary
may be removed by a majority vote of the representatives.
- C. Other board
members may be elected to serve with and assist the officers on
the Executive Board for a period of 2 years.
- D. All
officers must be in total agreement with both the Statement of
Faith and the Constitution of the association.
Article 6: Regional Associations
Local associations may form under the umbrella of the national
Association and would function in ways similar to the national
Association.
Article 7: Functions of the Association
- A.
Limitations:
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1. The Association
may not have any employees or funds.
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2. The Association
itself may not sponsor any projects or ministries (such as
missionaries). Each project or ministry must be under the
oversight and authority of a particular local church.
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3. The Association
may not interfere with the affairs of its member churches. The
only authority the Association may exercise is to remove a
church from membership in the Association (see 4.C above).
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4. Member churches
may not be restricted from joining other associations or from
having fellowship with or participating in projects with
churches outside the Association.
- B. Member
churches may facilitate prayer for one another by circulating
prayer letters to other member churches and by regularly praying
for one another in our church meetings.
- C. The
Association will facilitate the cooperation of local churches in
ministry projects.
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1. Every project
will be under the supervision of one local church.
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2. Member churches
may seek the participation of other churches at the Annual
Meeting or by letter, internet, or other means of communication.
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3. Participation
by other churches may be in the form of money, people, materials
or other resources, and prayer.
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4. Participation
by any local church shall be strictly voluntary, and may be
withdrawn with appropriate notice.
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5. Examples of
projects might be:
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a. Sending out a
full time missionary.
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b. Short-term
missions projects.
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c. Church
planting.
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d. Forming or
teaching in a pastoral training institute.
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e. Publishing and
distributing literature such as books, pamphlets, tapes or using
the internet.
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f. Ministering to
the needs of the poor.
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g. Participating
in advisory councils for ordinations of church officers.
- D. The
Association will facilitate the participation of local churches
in joint meetings and conferences.
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1. Churches in an
area may hold periodic joint services.
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2. Family camps
and conferences.
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3. Elders/pastors
meetings and conferences.
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4. One church
would sponsor any given meeting and invite others to join.
- E. The
Association may facilitate the efforts of local churches in
offering mutual assistance and sharing of resources, such as:
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1. Exchanging
pulpits.
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2. Lending
personnel to meet particular needs (e.g., internships, special
classes).
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3. Sharing
material resources (e.g., extra chairs and supplies).
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4. Developing
curricula.
- F. The
Association may assist member churches when difficulties or
differences threaten the peace, unity and edification of one
church or of the churches in general (Acts 15:1-35; Proverbs
15:22). A member church must request such assistance, and the
conclusions of a mediator or church council may not be imposed
upon the churches or their officers.
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1. Member
churches may request help from the Association in resolving such
disputes as may occur:
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a. Between member
churches (e.g., a complaint about unscriptural teaching or
practice).
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b. Among the
officers of member churches.
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c. Between church
members and their leaders (after every effort has first been
made to resolve the issue within the local church).
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2. The process
shall be as follows:
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a. One party in
the dispute shall request assistance from the Moderator in
writing (if the Moderator is himself a party in the dispute, the
request should be directed to the Moderator pro tem).
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b. The Moderator
shall make arrangements for a meeting of the affected parties
and agreed upon representatives from other member churches. The
representatives shall organize themselves as a council in an
appropriate manner to hear testimony and shall seek to effect
reconciliation consistent with truth among all parties.
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c. The
Association is able to give counsel on the matters in dispute
through its chosen representatives and to publish its findings
to all the churches concerned (Acts 15:23ff.), but the
representatives have no jurisdiction over the churches
themselves or their officers.
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