CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF GOD
CONSTITUTION
of the
WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF GOD
Article 1 Name
This
organisation shall be known as the Christian Churches of God and its governing
body shall be known as the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God or
in short form Christian Churches of God (World Conference) and is hereinafter
referred to as the World Conference. The World Conference is to be the parent or
controlling conference for all Conferences of the Christian Churches of God
throughout the world. The World
Conference is able to be a Member of the World Conference of the Churches of
God in association by agreement with
churches other than the Christian Churches of God.
Article
2 Aim
The aim of the
Christian Churches of God is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all
nations by word and example.
The various
churches in conference are to be bound by the beliefs as stated in the church’s
publication the Statement of Beliefs of the Christian Faith (fourth edition) or
as amended and published provided no such amendment attempts to compromise the
Unitarian simplicity of the faith and introduce either Trinitarian, Binitarian
or Ditheist doctrine.
Article
3 Jurisdiction
(1) This Conference is without jurisdictional limitation. It is
to determine regional boundaries for the coordination and licensing of national
churches that are members and member churches (or prospective member churches)
of the Christian Churches of God.
(2) The Conference may extend assistance to any Conference of
the Church or such other Conference as requests assistance from it. Such
assistance may be provided either alone or in conjunction with other
Conferences.
(3) The World Conference is to appoint regional directors for
the coordination of national churches who are responsible to the World
Conference for the correct doctrinal and administrative functioning of their
church within the official publications of the church.
(4) The World Conference is to control the world web site and
media and all churches are required to adhere to the doctrine as published.
(5) National Conferences may conduct media campaigns. Such
campaigns are to be in accordance with the doctrine of the church and subject
to review and coordination by the World Conference.
Article
4 Composition of Conference
This Conference
shall be composed of such Churches, including the Conference Church, as are or
shall be received into fellowship by this Conference.
Section 1. Officers of World Conference
(1) The two controlling officers of Conference are the
Coordinator General and the Deputy Coordinator General. They are to hold office
for the period from the Feast of Tabernacles of the seventh year of the cycle
to the Last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles of the next cycle. In the event of the death of either of these
coordinators the replacement is to be selected by lot from the remaining elders
of the conference from the regional directors and heads of national churches.
The replacement requires to be endorsed for doctrinal suitability by the
remaining officer either the Coordinator General or his Deputy. The incoming
elder is to assume the place of the Deputy. Should both die their replacements
are determined by lot from the Conference. As provided for in section 1(2)
below in the event of the death of both of these coordinators, the Assistant
Coordinators- General
replace them and their replacements are to be determined by lot from the elders
of the Conference.
(2) The Conference Executive is to be expanded and two other
elders are to be selected by lot. They will assume duty as the third and fourth
officers of the World Conference and be known as the Assistant Coordinator
General and the Assistant Deputy Coordinator General. At the end of every seven
years, in the Sabbath year all four of the coordinators-general including any
outgoing coordinators-general and deputy coordinators-general are to be placed
in the lot for election to office. If either existing Coordinator General is
selected from that draw by lot then he continues in office for the period as
extended by the new appointment.
(3) The General Secretary-Treasurer is a supplementary member
of the Conference and Executive Committee. The General Secretary is to be
assisted by two Assistant General Secretaries who are also members of the
Executive Committee of World Conference. Compulsory retirement for the General
Secretary (s) is at seventy years of age.
(4) The board of elders is to consist of regional coordinators
and national coordinators provided or selected from the national churches.
(5) The heads of the national churches of each region are to
comprise each regional council and such other officers as are nominated by the
Coordinator-General or his Deputy.
(6) The Board of Elders is to meet as a whole at least every
seventh or Sabbath year and at such other times as are determined by the
Coordinators General and Executive Committee of the World Conference. Business
can be conducted in subcommittee of regions as endorsed by the Coordinators
General. Meetings of the Board of Elders can be by electronic means in Regions
or by Committee at the direction of the Coordinators General.
(7) The Board consisting of the head of each National
Conference and the Regional Directors of National groups and the Coordinators
General and assistant Coordinators General are to be all placed in any draw for
the officers of the executive Committee being either the Coordinator General
and Deputy Coordinator General and/or Assistant Coordinators General. Any such
lot is to be run according to proper procedure and by properly supervised draw
or lot. Scrutineers are to ensure the impartiality of the draw.
Section 2: Conference Churches.
(1) Conference churches, when licensed, are to be in discrete national or linguistic groups
where possible. However churches can be Regional Churches covering more than
one national area until such time as national churches become licensed. All are formed within the constitution of the
World Conference and derive their authority and existence as legal entities of
the Christian Churches of God from and by virtue of the endorsement by receiving a licencse from the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
(2) National Churches are to be subject to
seven years probation from the time of their admission to prospective national
membership status. They are to conduct their internal affairs under World
Conference supervision and discretion and as controlled by the constitution.
Article
5 Sessions
Section 1: Regular Sessions
Regional conferences may be convened by the regional
coordinator or the officers of the World Conference who shall determine their
extent and composition.
Regular Sessions of
national member Conferences are to be held every seven years at such time and
place as the Executive Committee shall determine and promulgate by Agenda. Such
meetings are to be held between The First Day of the First Month (termed 1 Abib
or Nisan) and the end of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread commencing
the seventh or Sabbath Year according to the published calendar of CCG. The
Jubilee year is to be added to the Sabbatical cycle as an eighth year for
calculation of terms of office in that cycle.
Each National
Conference is to conduct an annual meeting for the purpose of providing its
reports and financial statements to the World Conference and its auditors and
government authorities under legislation as directed.
Section 2: Special or Emergency Sessions
(1) Special Sessions of National Conferences may be convened by
the World Conference or the Executive Committee of the National Conference or
any person so authorised by the World or National Conference at such time and
place as the convener may determine. An Emergency Session of this World or
National Conference is to be convened pursuant to a request in writing by the
office holders of a majority of Churches within the jurisdiction of such
Conference. Churches newly admitted are deemed prospective churches and are
excluded from voting in World Conference sessions over the seven years of their
probation.
(2) Business to be dealt with by a Special
or Emergency Session of a National Conference is to be:
(a) The
business specified in the notice convening the session; and
(b) such
further business as the Special or Emergency Session may determine by
resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of those who vote
thereon.
(c) A
quorum is to be not less than fifty percent of eligible delegates or in the
case of individual congregations not less than fifty percent of the
congregation.
(3) Subject to the above a Special or Emergency Session may
elect any such officers or other persons or committees and transact any such
business and do any other acts as a regular session under this Constitution or
the Executive Committee between sessions may elect, transact, or do.
Section 3: Notice
Notice of the
time and place of every session shall be given at least three weeks or
twenty-one days before the opening date thereof in such manner as the convener
thereof shall determine according to law.
Section 4: Voting
Each delegate to
the sessions shall have one vote on all questions. The chairman of the session
shall have a deliberative vote and in case of an equality of votes shall have a
casting vote. Administrative issues are to be passed by simple majority.
Doctrinal issues are determined by the World Conference and published in the
media. Delegates to sessions that are separated by distance from the ordinary
meetings can exercise vote by proxy as sent to the chairman and secretaries of
each conference and within policy as directed by the World Conference. In all
other aspects each ordinary member has one vote in his or her home conference.
Section 5: Powers of Session
Subject as
hereinafter provided National Conferences in session shall have power to
determine all matters and things for the order and good government of their
Conference and the regulation of their affairs. The policies or determinations
of the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God are binding on every
National Conference. Should the World Conference of the Christian Churches of
God seek membership of a World Conference of the Churches of God then no such
resolution is binding on any conference unless ratified by the World Conference
of the Christian Churches of God. No such resolution can compromise the
structure of the Statement of Beliefs on the Godhead and the law. No resolution
will be binding on the Conference of the Christian Churches of God or members
that conflicts with Biblical Law or that impugns the sovereignty of God and the
Biblical exposition of the nature of God and of his Son Jesus Christ. This
decision is made in the first instance by the World Conference of the Christian
Churches of God.
Article
6 Determination of Delegates to
Sessions of Conference
Section 1:
(1) The World Conference is to consist of the standing officers
who are the Executive Committee of
conference (which may consist of up to seven members) and the Members of the
Regional Conference Boards being the national heads and the regional directors.
The Conference has the power to act in regions and convene in subcommittee
under the supervision of the officers of the church for administrative matters.
The entire board may be called for doctrinal or other issues. However the two
officers of the Church as Coordinators-General may exercise a power of veto
over any motion or activity which they deem to be designed to undermine the
doctrinal or functional integrity of the church for which it was originally
formed.
(2) National Conferences’ delegates shall be:
(a) Such
delegates as shall be accredited by the churches duly authorised by the World
Conference to participate in the National Conference. The churches can be
accepted into Conference when the World Conference has authorised the formation
of the area church and its participation in the National Conference. Each
church shall be entitled to one delegate for each ten members or major fraction
thereof.
(b) All
members of the Executive Committee of the Conference.
(c) Those
residing within the territory of the Conference and currently holding the
following credentials, licences and certificates issued by this conference:
(i) Ministerial
Credentials etc.,
(ii) Missionary
Credentials etc.,
(iii) Editorial,
Media and Literature Evangelist Credentials;
(iv) Teaching
Ministry or Bible Instructor Credentials etc.
(d) A
member of the World Conference present, or such other persons possessing
important skills as recommended by the Executive Committee or the duly
appointed committee on delegation, and accepted by vote of the delegates in
session; the number of delegates thus seated shall not exceed twenty percent of
the delegates duly accredited by the organised churches.
(3) The above delegates at large shall be entitled to meet with
the church where their membership is currently held, and shall have full voting
rights with that church in respect to all matters voted upon during the course
of a duly convened and constituted session.
Article
7 Credentials, Licences and
Certificates
Section 1:
(1) The World Conference through either the Coordinator-General
or the Deputy Coordinator-General or their nominee either regionally or
nationally has the power to ordain the ministry of the church either elders or
deacons. The National Conference Executive Committees at their first meeting following
the session shall determine who are approved ministers within the jurisdiction
thereof, grant suitable credentials, licences and certificates to such
ministers and other persons whom it shall consider suitable to serve in the
cause of their Conference, and approve for ordination such men as shall have
given proof of their call to the ministry and have been recommended by their
Conference or a subdivisional Conference. No reordination of elders from
subdivisions of the Christian Churches of God is necessary. There shall be no
paid ministry. Ministers may hold other paid employment in the work. Allowances
may be paid to members of the boards. No board member can also be a paid
officer of the church.
(2) No member of any board may participate in the discussion
of, or vote on, any matter to which they or their relatives have a fiduciary or
financial interest, such relationship being to the third degree of
consanguinity.
Section 2:
(1) Credentials, licences and certificates granted or issued by
the National Conference Executive Committee shall remain in force and be valid
until the next regular session unless previously terminated by the Executive
Committee on grounds of resignation, misconduct or resolution by impeachment
before a court comprised of a Special Session of the National Conference. Licencses are not
required to be physically reissued pursuant to the recredentialling process of
each Sabbath Year. Licencses
are assumed to be in force unless recredentialling is refused and the
credentials withdrawn.
(2) The World Conference has the right to revoke the licence of
any church or national conference to act as a church or conference within the
body of the Christian Churches of God. The revocation of licence may be on
doctrinal or other grounds. Any church whose credentials are revoked for
doctrinal or other impropriety forfeits any rights to use any material of the
church or to act in any way as a member or organisation of the Christian
Churches of God or to hold property or goods in the name of the Christian
Churches of God in any of its conferences or organisations.
(3) The removal of credentials of an individual or church or
conference is subject to the rules of natural justice. Any revocation must be
made pursuant to the notification of the charge in writing. The system of
redress is laid out in Article 20.
(4) Copyright of all material vests in the World Conference but
no work may be suppressed by the use of copyright. In the event of such
suppression, in all cases the
individual, or their heirs and successors, may publish their own work in the
public interest. Where such material is contrary to doctrine the work will not be published by the Conference
of the Christian Churches of God. The author may be removed from office or membership on such specified
grounds as a disciplinary measure. Only publications authorised by the World
Conference may use the names, trademarks and logos of the Christian Churches of
God. All names, trademarks, logos and copyright of the national conferences are
vested in the Christian Churches of God and are licensed by the World
Conference under this constitution.
Article
8 Elections
Section 1:
(1) The
National Conferences in regular session shall elect:
(a) Standing
Committees in harmony with principles set out in Conference Policy.
(b) Officers
and assistant officers of the Conference.
(c) Members
of the Executive Committee.
(d) Departmental
secretaries/directors/associate and assistant directors.
(2) (a)
Persons elected under this section shall hold their
respective offices or appointments until the next regular session of the National Conference unless their
offices or appointments are previously terminated. Termination of office may be by the
National Conference in Special Session or by the Executive Committee.
(b)
The World Conference has the right and power to revoke the licencse of the people
or church to act as a member or church within the
Christian Churches of God on doctrinal or other grounds.
(c)
The termination of appointments if made on doctrinal grounds are is to be specified as to
how the conduct, beliefs or teachings
contradict the beliefs of the Christian Churches of God as set out in the Statement of Beliefs. No
officer can hold office that adopts a non-Unitarian Godhead and one different from that set out within
the incorporation of the church.
(d) (d) The
termination of appointments on other grounds must take into account the baptism
of the person involved in the dismissal and whether the offence was committed
before or after baptism. No person shall be dismissed from the church for an
offence committed before baptism and forgiven on repentance. The grounds must
be determined according to law. If the person is acting to the detriment of the
church and refusing to obey lawful directives of the elders and leaders of the
church they may be dismissed. If they are subject to criminal activity after
their baptism they are also subject to dismissal. The determination is to be
made in accordance with natural justice. The decision may be made at the
national level and ratified by World Conference, or it may be made at the World
Conference level directly at its discretion.
Section 2:
(1) The World Conference or the National
Conferences in Session or their Executive Committee between sessions may
establish such offices, positions, and committees as may be determined,
prescribe the duties and functions thereof and elect persons thereto and vary
or terminate any such office, position or committee.
(2) Prospective National Churches may
conduct internal affairs during their seven-year probation period but may not
take part in voting on World Conference matters. Their representatives to
regional conference divisions may provide advice without voting.
(3) National Conferences are entitled to one
vote per conference on any issue including the amendment of the constitution.
(4) No group of national conferences may by
vote in the World Conference direct expenditure beyond any nations tithe of the
tithe required of it under the constitution. All assistance in excess of the
tithe of the tithe is voluntary.
Article 9 Officers
Section 1: The World Conference is as specified above.
(1)
The Coordinator-General shall conduct the business of the World Conference. He
may appoint and ordain officers. He and the Deputy Coordinator-General are to
determine the salaries of staff on the recommendation of the regional boards
bearing in mind the national wage settings of each national committee.
(2)
The Deputy Coordinator- General
shall assist the Coordinator-General in the execution of the day-to-day affairs
of the church. They may hold other regional or national offices as is
determined necessary for the sound administration of the church from time to
time. Both officers are responsible for the guardianship of the doctrine of the
church. They are responsible for the administration of the Church. The roles of
the church officers as recorded in the Bible and especially the New Testament
(e.g. at Ephesians 4:11) are vested in these officers by virtue of their position.
They have the power to appoint persons to those positions for the functioning
of the church.
(3)
The Coordinator-General and Deputy Coordinator-General are to be assisted by
two Assistant Coordinators-General who are drawn by lot. They will replace the Coordinator-General
and Deputy Coordinator-General in the following Sabbath year on the Last Great
Day of the feasts of the Seventh Month, providing also the existing
Coordinators-General are not reelected by lot in the draws.
(4)
The General Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for the correct accounting of
the tithe of the tithe and other offerings and donations and the keeping of the
records of the church. The Secretary-Treasurer is to provide advice to the two
Coordinators-General. Such administrative assistance as is necessary is to be
provided to the Secretary-Treasurer in the execution of the tasks.
(5)
The General Secretary is to be assisted by two Assistant General Secretaries.
(6)
These officers are to be provided an allowance at least equivalent to a
National Coordinator.
(7)
The Regional Coordinators are also responsible for the supervision of the
nations within their region and are to be paid an allowance as determined and
at least equivalent to a National Coordinator.
Section 2: National Conferences
(1) The officers of the National Conferences shall be a
president or chairman of the Executive Committee, who is to be the coordinator or senior elder, the secretary and a
treasurer. (The secretary and treasurer may be the one person known as secretary-treasurer).
The senior elder is the senior minister of the national church.
(2) There shall be such other officers as deemed suitable and
as ratified by the National Conference in session and assistant officers as the
Conference in session or the Executive Committee may determine. In the absence
of the President the committee may nominate a chairman.
Section 3:
(1) The president shall
supervise the general work of the National Conference; open and preside at all
sessions of the Conference and also at all meetings of the Executive Committee,
but should he desire any member of the Executive Committee to assist him in
presiding at the sessions of the Conference or meetings of the Executive
Committee, he shall have power to call him to the chair.
(2) The World Conference duties vest in the Coordinator-General
or his Deputy.
Section 4:
The
Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the session of the
Conference either at World or National level and of the meetings of the
Executive Committee and perform such other duties as usually pertain to this
office. Secretarial duties of a Regional Committee may be conducted by a
National Secretary or other officer appointed for the task.
Section 5:
(1) The treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the
Conference, keep an account of the same, and disburse them as the Executive
Committee shall direct and make full report thereof at all sessions of the
Conference and at such other times as may be required by the Executive
Committee, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to this office.
(2) National Committees are to make prompt payment of the tithe
of the tithe and other levies to the World Conference.
Section 6:
(1) The departmental secretaries and/or directors and/or
associate and/or assistant directors shall work under the direction of the
Executive Committee through
the president, and shall occupy an advisory relationship to the field.
(2) The World Conference duties are to be
performed to and under the duties of the Coordinator-General or his Deputy.
Section 7:
The officers
shall make provision for the proper collection and tabulations of such
statistics, reports and audits of the work within the territory of their
Conference as may be deemed necessary. The periods of office are as specified
in the various articles and subject to the limitations placed on each
conference by this constitution.
Section 8:
(1) Officers of each National Conference hold their positions
at the discretion of the National Committees. Officers of the World Conference
hold their posts as directed by the Coordinators-General.
(2) Dismissal is to be in accordance with the provisions of
this constitution and may be on doctrinal or administrative grounds in the
interest of the church.
Article 10 Appointments
(1) A
National Conference in session or its Executive Committee between sessions:
(a) Shall
appoint such agents, ministers, missionaries, and other persons as may be
necessary to carry on the work of the National Conference, and
(b) May
terminate or vary any such appointments.
(2) The World Conference through the Coordinator-General or in
his absence the Deputy:
(a) Shall
appoint such agents, ministers, missionaries, and other persons as may be
necessary to carry on the work of the Conference, and
(b) May
terminate or vary any such appointments.
Article 11 Executive Committee
Section 1:
At each regular
session the National Conference shall elect an Executive Committee which shall
consist of the president and the secretary and such other members as are deemed
necessary to a total of ten making twelve in all. Fifty percent of the elected
members of each and every committee at all levels shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2:
(1) Between sessions the Executive Committee shall manage the
affairs of the National Conference and may exercise such powers of the National
Conference in session as under this Constitution as are not exclusively
exercisable by the National Conference in session, such as the appointment of
its officials for the septennium. The Executive Committee is subject to the
National Conference and any directions as to policy or otherwise and any
regulations given or made by the National Conference in session.
(2) Each National Conference and every officer is subject to
the policy coordination of the officers of the World Conference generally or
working within a region or in missionary activities.
Section 3:
The Executive
Committee of each National Conference between sessions may remove from office
any officer of their Conference or from the Executive Committee any member
thereof, provided that such action has the consent of at least two-thirds of
the members of the Executive Committee expressed by personal vote or by
signature to a resolution in writing submitted to all the members of the
Executive Committee. Separate copies of such resolutions may be signed for this
purpose. Appeals from such action are subject to review by a Special Session of
the Conference which may be called for such purpose. The appeal is to be made
in writing to the president who shall then take such action as is necessary to
convene a Special Session of the Conference.
Section 4:
The Executive
Committee shall at least annually examine and set wages of all workers for
their Conference and establish a wages and allowance policy for subdivisional
Conferences as established.
Section 5:
Extraordinary
Meetings of an Executive Committee may be called at any time or place by the
president, or in an emergency, by the secretary of a National Conference or by
three members of the said committee. Fifty percent of the elected members of
the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
***
Article 12 Trustees
Section 1
(1) The World Conference is to hold property in its own right
and has the power to acquire lands, erect buildings, acquire equipment and
establish such institutions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to the
furtherance of its aims and duties. It is to hold these in perpetuity.
(2) National Conferences may acquire lands, and erect buildings
and establish such institutions or purchase such equipment as are in accordance
with its duties and responsibilities as determined by this Constitution.
(3) Of necessity, activities of the World Conference in this
regard are in the national boundaries of one or the other National Conference.
Where such activity occurs the property is under the control of the World
Conference.
Section 2:
(1) Where a National Conference ceases to exist or is
deregistered as a body of the Christian Churches of God then the remaining
property and monies are to be placed in trust under World Conference
supervision until the church is reactivated or the remainder of the members
reform under supervision of the World Conference.
(2)
Monies and property can be transferred to the World Conference within the
legislation of the nations involved. The tithe of the tithe is a mandatory
transference under the licence agreement of the Church.
Article 13 Ranks
(1) The ministry is to consist of those termed elders and
deacons. Elders are the ministry of the church who are ordained to perform the
Sacraments and hold their ordination being credentialled by the church. Elders
may ordain other ministry in accordance with church policy. Deacons are
ordained for one of two functions. They may undertake welfare functions of the
church to allow the Elders to concentrate on matters more appropriate or the
deacons may be ordained to trial their suitability for the permanent ordination
of Elder.
Deacons may not
ordain in their own right. Deacon Evangelists may be ordained as auxiliary bishops
and conferred with the power of ordination for missionary purposes by World
Conference at the discretion of the Coordinator General. They can perform the
sacraments of the Church, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Elders, (and,
where stated, also Deacons) may hold the following appointments:
(a) Coordinators
at the World Conference and National level
(b) Evangelist
in the case of heads of colleges and of media missions. Biblically deacons,
such as Philip, also held this appointment (Acts 6:5; 21:8).
(c) The
office of Regional President of a Subdivisional Conference is a pastoral
appointment. He may be termed coordinator or pastor as is preferred. Deacons
can be appointed within National Conference subdivisional areas or conferences
as coordinators.
(d) The
ordained ministers in each of the churches should be elders. Where more than
one elder is present there shall be a coordinator or president appointed. The council of elders in each Church shall
not exceed seven. Elders are not to be appointed merely because vacancies
exist. All elders and deacons hold their licences to preach from Conference to
Conference. They are to be re-credentialled each Sabbatical year. Elders are appointed permanently but can only preach on behalf of the
Church with the Sabbatical sanction.
(e) Deacons
or Deaconesses are to be appointed in each of the churches. A Diaconate is not
to exceed seven in each church.
(f) Heads
of missions to other nations or regions may be on appointments from (a) to (e)
above.
(2) The Conferences shall lay hands on office holders. A
National Conference President may ordain elders and deacons according to
Conference policy between sessions. The World Conference Coordinator-General or
the Deputy or a nominee may ordain at any time for any particular purpose.
Article 14 Tithes
(1) (a)
Tithes as provided for in Leviticus chapter 27; Numbers chapter 18; Deuteronomy
chapters 12 & 26; are to be paid to each National Conference.
(b) Accounts are to be kept and
audited.
(c) Subdivisional Conferences where
established are to provide a tithe of the tithe to the National Conference.
(d) Each National Conference is to pay
the tithe of the tithe to the World Conference of the Christian Churches of
God.
(e) Subdivisional conferences are only
to be established with the permission of the World Conference and when numbers
are such that administration at the national level is difficult.
(2) (a) Tithes are to be accounted for as
both first tithe and third year welfare tithe.
(b) Where the social security system is
adequate the payment of other assistance may be waived. World Conference is to
determine any need for assistance internationally as per Article 15.
(c) Third year tithe is determined from
the second tithe in the third year of the seven year cycle of the jubilee
system as provided for in the Statement of Beliefs and doctrine on Tithing and
published in the church calendar.
(3) Offerings are to be collected three times per year, before morning of the first Holy Day of
Unleavened Bread, Tabernacles and the day of Pentecost, over the three
feast periods.
Article 15 Welfare
Each Conference
is responsible for the welfare of its own people. Any Conference may provide
assistance to other areas should the Executive Committee so resolve.
Coordination is to be by the World Conference and Regional Coordinators or
Directors.
Article 16 Media
(1) The production of web sites, magazines and publications is
to be coordinated by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God who
retain rights and control over the publications. No publication is to conflict
in doctrine from that of the World Conference.
(2) National or Subdivisional Conferences may conduct local
media campaigns by ordained personnel.
National media is a National Conference responsibility. Campaigns in
other nations are to be conducted within the areas of responsibility as agreed
between the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God and the National
Conference and the Regional Committee of the nation involved if any.
Subdivisions may provide assistance as requested under (1) or (2) above.
(3) Copyright of all
material vests in the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God except
as provided for in Article 7 section 2 (4)
above.
(4) National and Local
Media compaigns are to be cleared with World Conference for doctrinal
suitability in accordance with the
Statement of Beliefs.
(5)
Academic or like
papers are to be reviewed by National Coordinators of the Executive Committee
and sent to World Conference for examination prior to endorsement through
publication by any conference.
Article 17 Feasts and Conferences
(1) The National Conference shall be responsible for the
arrangement and determination, with their subdivisions, if any, of Feast and
Conference sites for the Feasts of the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles as
required by Deuteronomy 16:6 and Leviticus 23.
(2) Feast and conference sites are to be the responsibility of
local areas and subdivisions as established.
They may be held in conjunction with adjoining regions under suitable
arrangements. Movement between other Conference sites is to be by arrangement
with the World Conference administration.
Article 18 Timings
(1) The timings of activities or annual holy days are to be in
accordance with the calendar agreed by the World Conference of the Christian
Churches of God in accordance with the Biblical laws governing their
determination. The fixing of Holy Days is to be calculated from the
astronomical observance of the New Moon by conjunction as defined.
Holy Days are to be as found in Leviticus
23 and from the texts relating to New Moons.
a) The
Sabbath is to be continued as the seventh day of the week, currently known as
Saturday, in accordance with the continued calculation. Meaning from Friday at End Evening Nautical Twilight (EENT) to
Saturday EENT.
b) The
Feast known as the Passover consists of two days.
The first day or Lord's Supper falls on 14 Nisan, the second day on 15 Nisan
has the Passover meal of Exodus 12, and is the First Holy Day of The Feast of
Unleavened Bread which then proceeds for seven days and ends on the Last Holy
Day of the Feast. No leavened bread may be eaten until the close of the Last
Holy Day.
c) Pentecost
is calculated from the Wave Sheaf Offering on the Sunday falling within the
Feast of Unleavened Bread and it is to be on a Sunday.
d) The
Day of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths in
the seventh month called Tishri are to be calculated from the New Moon of the
seventh month by astronomical observance.
e) New
Moons are kept and the First Day of the First month is a day of solemn assembly
to begin the Sanctification of the Church, which is the Temple of God. The
Seventh Day of the First Month is the Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous
(Ezek. 45:18-20).
Article 19 General Affiliation
(1) This Conference will recognise the membership of the World
Conference of the Churches of God as formed and where operating in accordance
with God’s laws. Such membership will
constitute a recognition of existing churches that wish to associate in that
Conference.
(2) The Christian Churches of God recognises the rite of adult
baptism conferred on those members where the Churches are Sabbath keeping
Churches of God by adherence and those members have been baptised into the body
of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, and into the power of the Holy
Spirit, and not into any sect or denomination. Such recognition does not
require the person to be rebaptised. Policy on specific churches is to be determined
by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
Article 20 Redress
Section 1:
(1) Each member of the Church shall have recourse to a system
of redress of grievances. Each church is to set in place a tribunal constituted
of the elders, deacons and the whole congregation or such majority as are
available to hear the matter within 30 days or as agreed by all parties.
(2) Appeal is to subdivisional conferences as formed or the
National Conference in Session or Special Session. Where the World Conference
has initiated the process the entire structure is determined from the World
Conference with the assistance of the National Conference as necessary.
Section 2:
(1) No member is to be disfellowshipped,
that is, removed from membership of the church (as opposed to being simply
admitted to non-voting fellowship with the church) other than on Biblical
grounds which are to be provided to them in writing. Such notice must be not
less than three weeks before the appointed meeting and the member has the
opportunity to appear before the congregation as per section 1 above, which he/she may waive. Where a member is
accused of fomenting strife or division or disloyalty to the Church it must be
proved that the member is actually attempting to divide the Church and is not
merely disagreeing with the interpretation of a Biblical text (other than the
law and this Constitution).
(2)
Each member is required to abide by the
constitution which includes the by
laws of the association.
(3)
Dismissal from a
position on non-doctrinal grounds does not entitle a person to redress under
this section. The Christian Churches of God reserves the right to terminate
employment on need within the contractual obligation imposed upon each party as
part of the work place and probationary agreements. Where impropriety is
involved then redress is available within the laws of the nation involved.
Article
21 Auditors, Finance, Accounts and Indemnity
Section 1:
(1) All Conferences are
to have accounts audited on an annual basis.
(2) Annual Financial
Statements are to be approved at National Conference level and sent to World
Conference.
(3) Financial years run
from 1 Nisan to 1 Nisan in accordance with the Calendar of the church.
(4) Documents are
executed by the officers of each Conference, namely the Chairman and
Secretaries.
(5) Bank accounts are
to be opened by the Secretaries and Treasurers of the various conferences at
the direction of the Conference officers. Churches may run local activities
accounts. All other accounts are to be under the control of the Treasurers at
the direction of the Executive Committees or the Coordinators-General.
(6) National Conferences are not to borrow money without the
consent of the World Conference.
(7) Coordinators, Directors and Officers of the Church are to
be indemnified against the activities of the conferences they serve.
(8) Each Conference is to take out public liability insurance
for its functions to indemnify the church against accidental damage or injury.
(9) The liability of all
members of all conferences and associated or subsidiary organisations and those
in fellowship is limited to US$20.00 or its equivalent.
Section 2 The Common Seal
The Common Seal
of the Church is to be kept by the General Secretary on behalf of the Coordinator-General
who is to direct its use. The National Conferences may be authorised to keep
common seals of their National Conferences to be used under direction of their
Executive Committees in accordance with policy as established by the World
Conference.
Section 3 Roll of Membership
(1) Each baptised person is eligible to be admitted to
fellowship and this is to be ratified by the Executive Committee of the
National Conference and as provided for within this Constitution under
supervision of the World Conference. People may be accorded voting membership
by invitation after a trial period which is to be not less than three full
years with its full feast periods observed.
(2) A Roll of Membership is to be maintained at the National
and World Conference level. Admission to fellowship does not mean admission to
voting membership of the church. Records of both categories of admission are to
be kept by the Secretaries at each level.
Article 22 Amendments
(1) (a)
This Constitution may be amended by a resolution of the World
Conference of the Christian Churches
of God in session passed by a majority of not less than three quarters of the
delegates who
vote and subject to the power of veto of the Coordinators-General.
(b)
No amendment shall be moved except with the consent of the
Coordinators-General.
(c)
National Constitution amendments not in
conflict with this constitution may be considered with the consent of the
executive committee. Notice thereof shall have been given to the secretary not
later than two calendar months before the date of holding the Session and in
such case the notice convening the Session shall set out any intended
amendment.
(2) Before any intended amendment of Subdivisional, meaning Regional or National Conference
Constitutions is submitted to a Conference in session it shall first be
referred by the Executive Committee of the Subdivisional Conference (if any) to
the Executive Committee of the National Conference which shall consider such
amendment and report thereon in writing to the World Conference and later to
any such session.
[ Amended 2008]