Doctrinal Statement of Faith of The Evangelical Free Church
of America
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 men and the
Divine and final authority for Christian faith and life.
- In one God, Creator of all things, infinitely
perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
- That Jesus Christ is true God and true man,
having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born 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 is now our High Priest and
Advocate.
- 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 indwell, guide, instruct and empower
the believer for godly living and service.
- 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.
- 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 Christ are born of the
Holy Spirit and, thus become children of God.
- That water baptism and the Lord's Supper are
ordinances to be observed by the Church during the present age. They are,
however, not to be regarded as means of salvation.
- 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.
- That only those who are, thus, members of the
true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
- 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.
- In the personal and premillennial 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.
- In the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the
believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord; of the
unbeliever to judgment and everlasting conscious punishment.
For additional information about The Evangelical Free
Church of America, please talk with anyone on the pastoral staff or contact:
The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)
901
East 78th Street
Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55420 USA
(800) 745-2202
www.efca.org
Church
Bylaws of the First Evangelical Free Church of Colorado Springs
Bylaws
Updated and approved: August 2004
ARTICLE I - Purpose and Missional Objective
Section A -
Historical Ministry Purpose Statement
1. The purpose of this church shall be:
- To
work in accordance with the teaching of God's Word for the spreading of
the Gospel of Christ, for salvation of souls, and for the edification of
the Children of God.
- To
unite believers in spiritual fellowship and service.
- To,
as far as possible, support missions at home and abroad, which are true to
God's Word.
Section B -
Missional Objective and Vision
1.
Mission: We are a worshipping
community who through Christ glorifies God by establishing believers in His Word, prayer, fellowship
and witness.
2.
Vision: Bring Help and
Hope as We Develop Fully Devoted Followers of Jesus Christ.
ARTICLE II - Membership
Section A -
Active Members
1.
Eligibility
- This congregation may receive into membership anyone who is born again
through faith in Jesus Christ and professes Him before the world, who has
reached eighteen years of age, who has a good reputation as to life and
character, who accepts the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of this
congregation.
2.
Application
- Those who desire to become members of this congregation should apply for
membership through the Pastor or an Elder.
3.
Instruction
- The Pastor and Elder Team shall be
responsible to see that applicants are adequately instructed in the history,
the doctrine, the policy of the Evangelical Free Church in general and this
church in particular and in the local membership
responsibilities and opportunities.
4.
Admission
a.
The Elder Team
shall carefully ascertain the spiritual condition and hear the verbal
testimony of the applicant, according to James 1:18, I Peter 1:3 and 3:15.
b.
The congregation upon the approval and
recommendation of the Elder Team shall
act upon the application at the annual or duly called congregational meeting.
Such applications shall be decided by 75% of the members present.
c.
Should the applicant be insufficiently known,
action on his/her application may be deferred until the knowledge of the
applicant be obtained.
Section B -
Associate Members
1.
Eligibility
- The congregation may receive into its Associate membership:
a.
Such as are born again through faith in Jesus
Christ and profess Him before the world; who have a good reputation as to their
life and character; who accept the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of this
congregation.
b.
Those who wish to actively affiliate with
this church but who wish to retain their active membership in another church.
c.
Those who wish to remain as non-resident members
and who will make written requests annually to the Church Council through the
church secretary in accordance with Article II, Section C, Paragraph 2.
2.
Application
- Application will be in accordance with Article II, Section A, Paragraph 2.
3.
Admission - Admission will
be in accordance with Article II, Section A, Paragraphs 3 & 4.
4.
Privileges - Associate
members will enjoy the privileges of regular members except that of voting.
5.
Method of Becoming Active Members
- Any Associate Member may become an Active Member if he or she meets the
requirements of Article II, Section A.
Section C –
Termination
1.
Requests - Written requests for withdrawal of membership may be made by active
members to the Elder Team who shall present the request to the Church Council
along with a recommendation from the Elder Team for action. If the withdrawing
member is subject to a disciplinary process, such withdrawal and termination of
membership will be delayed until the termination of the disciplinary process.
Once a request for termination, withdrawal or any other form of disassociation
from membership is approved by the Church Council, the Recording Secretary will
confirm the decision in writing to the withdrawing member and will remove the
withdrawing member’s name from the Church records of membership. This action
will be effective on the date the vote was taken, or on a date mutually
agreeable to the withdrawing member and the Church Council. This correspondence
will be incorporated in the permanent record of this church. Any rights,
privilege or responsibility that may have accrued by virtue of office or
service to that person shall cease upon effect.
2.
Forfeiture - The membership
roll shall be reviewed by the Recording Secretary once each calendar year. All members who have been absent from the
regular services of the church for a period of 6 months or who have failed to
communicate with the church within that time shall have their names presented
to the Church Council for consideration for a termination of their membership. Final action shall not be taken until
contact has been attempted or made to said members and a period of sixty days
for reply has been allowed. Final
action shall include a letter of such action informing the member of his/her
removal from membership.
3.
Dismissal - In case any
member of the church shall be discovered living or teaching in a manner
unbecoming to a Christian and contrary to the doctrine of the Word of God, the
Statement of Faith, or the Covenant of these Bylaws, then shall the church
through the Elder Team correct such a member in a kindly way. If said member shall not repent but shall
continue in the same evil way, said member shall be recommended to the
congregation for dismissal from the church membership. See texts:
Matt. 18:15-18, I Cor. 5:11-13 and II Cor. 2:5-11, 7:5-12.
4.
Restoration
- Any person who has been dismissed from the membership may again be received
into the fellowship of the church when he or she shall be restored from said
fall and walk once more in the fear of the Lord. Such restoration shall follow the rules given in Article II,
Section A.
5.
Surrender of Privilege
- Any member whose membership has been terminated for any reason thereby
surrenders all membership privileges and all right to any interest in the real
estate or personal property of this congregation.
Section D -
Membership Duties
We expect members to fulfill our mission and vision
by growing spiritually as fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ in the
following ways:
1.
Confess with your mouth that you have
received Jesus Christ as
your personal Lord and Savior and that you have eternal life. Romans 10:9, John 1:12, 1 John 5:11-13
2.
Commune with God daily through scripture reading, prayer &
following Christ. Matt
22:37, Ps 119:105, John 15:4-6, John 14:23-24, John 12:25-26, Luke 11:2, 1Thes 5:17
3.
Celebrate God and hear the preaching of God’s Word by participating in a
weekly worship service. Ps
145:7, Heb 10:25, Acts 2:42
4.
Continue to grow spiritually by learning God’s word and following God’s
will. Ps 145:4, Prov 13:20, Rom 12:1-2, Ps 119:1-4, 2 Cor
5:17
5.
Connect
with others in loving relationships
by being part of a small group, class or ministry team. Heb10: 23-25, Num 11:17,
Acts 2:42-47, 1 Thess 5:11, Gal 6:2, 1 John 4:11-12
6.
Consecrate
yourself to Christian service with
your God-given time, abilities, gifts, and desires. Eph 2:10, Rom 12:4-8, Gal 5:13, 1 Cor 12
7.
Communicate
the love of Christ by word and deed to others. Mt 5:16, Job 11:18, Col
1:10, Mk 1:17, 2 Cor 5:19-21, Acts
26:17-18, Luke 6:27-31
8.
Contribute
your God-given resources by generously
and faithfully giving financially to God’s work at our church and beyond. 2
Cor 9:7, Prov 3:9-10, Mal 3:8-10, Deut 14:22, Acts 11:29.
Also members should …
9.
Exercise
Authority -
Active members reserve the right to:
- Initiate
requests(s) at a Church council meeting. Requests, so initiated, must be
acted upon by the council by, or at, the next council meeting.
- When approved by a majority of those
members attending a properly called congregational meeting, change any and
all rules and/or decisions of the Church council, teams, and/or committees
in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.
- When
approved by a majority of those members attending a properly called
congregational meeting, nullify any and all rules and/or decisions of the
Church council, teams, and/or committees.
ARTICLE III - Church Government
Section A -
General Structure and Practices
1.
Supervision - All officers, in accordance with Article VI, will
be under the supervision of their respective teams unless otherwise stated in
these Bylaws. All teams shall be
accountable to the Church council, and together shall be subject to the
congregational decisions of this church.
2.
Decisions - All items of business shall be decided by at least a 75% majority of
votes cast by the members present except as stipulated in other sections of
these Bylaws.
3.
Quorum - A quorum to conduct business in any council or team meeting, not
including congregational meetings, shall be 51% of its established constituted
members. A quorum to conduct business
at a congregational meeting shall be however many members attend such meeting
at the time a decision is to be made, provided notice of such meeting was
provided in writing or verbally in a regularly scheduled worship service not
less than two weeks prior to such meeting.
4.
Ex-Officio Members - An Ex-Officio Member is a member of a team by
virtue of an office he or she holds and shall not be elected to an office on
that team.
5.
Committees - The Council or each team may appoint, upon the approval of the Church
Council, other committees or personnel that may come under its jurisdiction to
fulfill efficiently the duties assigned to it.
6.
Rules
- All team leaders shall acquaint themselves with the parliamentary procedures
of Roberts Rules of Order and shall conduct all business in an orderly and
parliamentary manner.
7.
Meetings - All teams and the Church Council shall meet at least bi-monthly. Special Council meetings may be called by
the Church Chairman or team leaders, with the agreement of the Pastor or an
Elder.
8.
Duties - All officers in accordance with Article VI, teams and committees of
this church shall adhere to the duties as outlined in their respective job
descriptions as approved by the Church Council.
9.
Officers - The officers of this church shall include: Church Chairman
(President), Vice Chairman (Elder Team Leader), Recording Secretary, Treasurer
(Finance Team Leader), and Team Leaders of the ministry and structured teams
duly established and elected by the congregation to conduct the ministry,
organizational, out-reach and business affairs of this church.
10. Operating Budget - Each leadership team shall prepare, submit, and
manage an operating budget for that team in compliance with the Church Council
and Finance Team guidance for inclusion in the proposed Annual Budget.
Section B -
Congregational Meetings
1.
Members - All active members of the church are to be
regarded as voting members of this congregation. The membership of this church body shall
exercise such authority and responsibility as are vested in them in Article V,
Sections 1 and 2, of the Articles of Incorporation.
- Privilege
- Active members have the right and privilege, except as noted in these
Bylaws, to attend any and all meetings of the Church Council, to voice
thought and opinion, to participate in proceedings, make motions or
seconds to motions and vote on such matters as are brought before the
congregation. Associate Members can speak to such issues but cannot make
motions, seconds or vote for or against any question moved for consideration.
Members enjoy the right to attend duly called meetings of the Church
Council and various leadership teams, unless excluded by the presiding
officer of the Council or leadership team based on the confidential nature
of the agenda or for reasons that may prove to be for the good of the
Church. Those attending members who are not on the elected/appointed roll
of the Council or leadership team may be recognized for discussion but do
not enjoy Motion, Second or Voting privileges during Church Council meetings.
- Authority
- The Active membership of this Church retains the right to initiate
requests for consideration or inclusion on a Church Council agenda. Such
requests must be considered by the Council at that meeting or the next
regularly scheduled meeting of Church Council. A recommendation to table a
request may be honored with intent to investigate the issue fully prior to
the next regularly scheduled meeting of Church Council. Further, the membership may question
with intent to amend, reverse, or nullify any rule or decision of the
Church Council, leadership team(s) or committee at a duly called
Congregational meeting considered to be for the good of the church body.
- Responsibility
- The members, as they are able, are expected to participate in all regularly
scheduled or duly called business meetings of the Congregation. Members shall respect the
Church decisions, properly made and binding;
and, as much as in them and where conscience is not violated, encourage
and promote implementation or compliance thereof.
2.
Officially Called Meetings - A special meeting of
the Congregation may be called by:
a.
The Chairman, Senior Pastor and one other member.
b.
By a written petition of nine (9) members of the
Church Council.
c.
Upon the request of a simple majority of the Elder
Team.
d.
OR Written request of 1/20th of the voting
membership.
3.
Annual Meetings - There shall be two
Annual Congregational Meetings of the church.
The first Annual Congregational Meeting shall be held on a feasible day each June, said day to be
chosen by the Pastor and Church Council.
At that meeting, the congregation shall consider and vote on:
a.
Election of Officers - The officers listed under
Article IV starting with Section F and all team members for the teams described
in Article III Sections D – N. Officers
so elected shall serve from July 1 until June 30 of the following year.
b.
New Business - New business to be considered at the
Annual Congregational Meeting should be submitted in writing to the Church
Chairman or Vice Chairman at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
A
second Annual Congregational Meeting shall be held on a feasible day each
December, said day to be chosen by the Pastor and Church Council. At that meeting, the congregation shall
consider and vote on:
c.
Annual Budget – the budget recommended by the
Finance Team for the following fiscal year.
d.
New Business - New business to be considered at the
Annual Congregational Meeting should be submitted in writing to the Church
Chairman or Vice Chairman at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
e.
Annual Report - A written report shall be made
available at the December Annual Congregational Meeting by the following: the
Pastor, the Ministry Staff, the Recording Secretary and the leader of each
team.
Section C -
Church Council
1.
Members - Church Chairman; A maximum of five elders as selected by that team;
Pastor; Associate Pastor(s); Recording Secretary, and the following team
leaders: Trustees, Christian Education, Finance, Elders, Evangelism/Missions,
Worship Ministries, Deaconess, Fellowship Activities, Women's Ministries,
Stewardship, and Prayer.
2.
Duties - It shall be responsible for the coordination of all teams/officers of
the church, except as otherwise stated in these Bylaws, and conduct an annual
policy review.
3.
Vacancy - In case a vacancy occurs in any elected office or if any elected
officer consistently neglects or is unable to perform his or her duties, the
Church Council, if it is deemed necessary, may appoint a qualified person to
fill such vacancy until the next Annual Congregational Meeting.
4.
Reports - All leaders of the teams shall be present to make their reports,
answer questions and/or highlight their previously submitted written reports,
including the reports of the committees and officers under their jurisdiction.
5.
New Teams - It shall be responsible to make any recommendations to the
congregation at a duly called congregational meeting to divide the existing
church teams or to create new teams as the Church Council deems necessary for
the efficient functioning of the church.
6.
Policies and Rules - It shall formulate and keep a separate Policy
Manual of rules not otherwise stipulated in these Bylaws which it deems wise
and essential for the efficient functioning of the church.
7.
Church Members Not on Church Council - Any church member shall be privileged to attend
any Church Council meeting to observe and voice his or her opinion.
Section D -
Elder Team
1.
Members and Term - Eight or more Elders shall serve for a term of
two years. It shall be so arranged that
one-half the terms expire each year. Members shall be limited to 3 consecutive
terms. A team leader shall be elected
by the Team, and shall serve for a one-year term, limited to 3 consecutive
one-year terms.
2.
Duties - The Elder Team shall concern itself with the spiritual welfare of the total
church. It shall also be responsible
for:
a.
The leadership of the public worship services in
absence of the Pastor;
b.
Seeing that no speaker shall present from the pulpit
anything inconsistent with the Statement of Faith of this church;
c.
Aiding the Pastor in the baptismal service, in the
Lord's Supper, in the counseling of inquirers, care of the flock, safe-guarding
the doctrines and spiritual welfare of the church;
d.
Praying for the whole church ministry and
constituency;
e.
Caring for the poor, the sick, and the needy;
f.
Assisting the Pastor in
the visitation ministry;
g.
Interviewing new member candidates and making
appropriate membership recommendations to the congregation;
h.
Nominating the at-large member of the pastor’s
Advisory council; who is then approved by the Church Council.
i.
Hearing any complaints
made against any of the church members or, if any misunderstanding arises, it
shall be the duty of this team to ascertain the facts and seek to bring about a
satisfactory reconciliation,
j.
Recommending and modeling
attendance as much as possible at all of the church services,
k.
