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Constitution

Preamble

 

Having placed our faith solely in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls; and having recognized the Lord Jesus Christ has head of this body of baptized believers according to our belief in the holy Scriptures; we therefore organize ourselves together as a New Testament Church; adopting for ourselves the form of government, plan of service, and worship according to the following Constitution and Bylaws.

 

We hereby revoke all previous constitutions and bylaws and all actions having been implemented prior to the effective date of this document that were by action or event contrary to this Constitution and Bylaws.

 

The membership of ShoutChurch is charged with reviewing this Constitution and Bylaws annually for the purpose of renewing the covenants contained herein and to identify any revisions or amendments where necessary.

 

Article I: Name

 

The name of this New Testament church shall be “ShoutChurch” Arizona (herein referred to as “Church”).

 

Article II: Purpose, Mission, and Motto

 

The purpose of the Church is to bring honor and glory to God through the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

The mission of the Church is to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ through the efforts of sharing the gospel and making disciples.

 

The motto of the Church is “Living our faith out loud.”

 

Article III: Statement of Faith

 

The Church accepts as a matter of faith and practice the following articles of our statement of faith.

 

We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired, inerrant, infallible, and complete revelation of God’s truth; the final authority for “doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16)

 

We believe the eternal triune God is revealed in His creation and His Word as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with distinct personal attributes, without division of nature, essence, or being.

 

We believe God the Father is revealed as the eternal Creator. The One and only true God, all powerful and all knowing; fatherly in truth, wisdom, patience, and understanding toward those who become children of God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Gen 1:1; John 1:12; Rom 1:18-20; 8:14-16)

 

We believe God the Son is revealed as the eternal Christ. Jesus Christ conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, crucified, buried, resurrected, and seated at the right hand of God until the day of His final revelation as the eternal King. (The Gospels; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor 15ff; Phil 2:5-11; Rev 19ff)

 

We believe God the Holy Spirit is revealed as the eternal Helper who inspired men in days of old to write the Scriptures; to understand truth, convicting us of sin, revealing the righteousness of Christ, calling mankind to repentance and salvation, effecting the regeneration of believers, indwelling believers, and uniting us together as a church to worship and serve God. (John 6:44, 14:16-17, 26, 16:5-11; 2 Pet 1:21; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4; Rom 8:9-11; 1 Cor 2:10-14, 3:16; Eph 1:13-14; Heb 9:8, 14; 1 John 5:6) 

 

We believe Man is the crowning work of God’s creation. Created in His own image as an intelligent and relational being possessing an eternal soul. With sovereignty to exercise care and stewardship over the earth’s creatures and natural resources. God created man as male and female, one adult male husband joined to one adult female wife in marriage to procreate and train their children to love and fear God. (Gen 1:26-30, 2:20-25; Deu 6:1-7; Mat 19:4-6)

 

In the beginning, man was created innocent with the freedom to make moral decisions, to choose good from evil. Acting upon the temptation of Satan, man chose to rebel against God thereby invoking God’s eternal punishment resulting in condemnation, separation from God, and death. By man’s single act of rebellion, sin corrupted both man and the earth and spread to every generation. (Gen 3ff; Rom 5:12ff)

 

We believe salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ is the only means by which man’s relationship with God is restored. Salvation is offered freely and must be accepted by repentance, confession, and faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is the regeneration of man’s eternal soul by the work of the Holy Spirit involving reconciliation, justification, redemption, adoption, sanctification, and ultimately glorification. (Rom 3:24, Eph 1:5, 2:8-10; 1 Cor 1:2,30, 6:11, 15:51-52; 2 Cor 5:16-21; Col 1:21-22) 

 

We believe the Church exists in two realities, universal and local. The church universal consists of all who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior from every nation and every language, past, present, and future. The local church is an autonomous congregation (body) of baptized believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, joined together by covenant of faith and fellowship in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, governed by God’s Word through a democratic process. Gathered for the purpose of worship, fellowship, discipleship, to celebrate the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Led by the offices of pastor, elder, and deacon as qualified by Scripture. (Mat 16:15-19, 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47, 13:3; 1 Cor 3:9-11, 7:17, 12ff; Eph 2:19-22; Col 1:18; 1 Tim 3ff; Heb 11:39-40; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Rev 5:9-10)

 

 

We believe the Great Commission was Jesus’ final command to His church. The church stands as witnesses of His resurrection, with the responsibility of making disciples by sharing the gospel with everyone beginning in our own community and striving to carry the gospel to all the people around the world. (Mat 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8)

 

We believe the return of Christ and the Day of Judgement shall occur in God’s own time as foretold in Scripture. Christ shall return physically and quickly with signs and sounds in the heavens. Christ shall return unexpectedly to those who are not watching and praying. Christ shall return to gather His bride, the church, to Himself. Christ shall return to establish His kingdom and fulfill the covenant with David by assuming His rightful position on the throne. Christ shall return to judge the nations and the people of the earth, each person according to their works. The dead are raised. The righteous are rewarded and welcomed into eternal life with Christ in heaven. The unrighteous are condemned to eternal punishment in hell. (2 Sam 7:12-16; Mat 13:37-43; 24, 25, 31; Mark 13:33; John 5:24-30, 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor 3:12-15, 15:42-58; Eph 5:25-27; 1 The 4:13-18; Jude 14-15; Rev 3:11, 19:7 20:1-22:13)

 

Article IV: Membership

 

The Church shall consist of believers in Jesus Christ having given evidence of repentance and regeneration of heart; having been baptized by immersion upon profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; having endorsed the Purpose and Mission (Article II); the Statement of Faith (Article III), and the Covenant (Article IX).

 

Article V: Affiliation

 

Section 1: The Church shall govern and control its own affairs according to its understanding and interpretation of holy Scripture. The church shall remain autonomous and unaffiliated with any denomination, association, fellowship, group(s), or organization. Yet for the sake of fellowship the Church may participate with other churches of like faith for the purpose of evangelism. 

 

Section 2: The Church may endorse and contribute its funds solely and voluntarily without obligation to those agencies, or organizations sharing the same Statement of Faith (Article III), Purpose and Mission (Article II). This section is not applicable to the Church’s use of a Benevolence Fund used to support individuals or families in need.

 

Article VI: Government

 

The Church recognizes the holy Scriptures as the ultimate and final governing authority over this body. The government of the Church is vested in the body of believers comprised of its members. The Church is a local autonomous body under the jurisdiction of no other ecclesiastical authority. The Church acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as its only Head and receives the holy Scriptures as its supreme guide in all matters of faith, practice, order and discipline.

 

The system of government and the officers of the Church are described in the Bylaws under Article II (Government).

 

Article VII: Order of Precedence

 

The Bylaws of the Church are adopted, ordained, and established for government, plan of worship, and service. In the event of conflict, the order of precedence for decision-making and resolution are the holy Scriptures, the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies.

 

Article VIII: Dissolution

 

Ownership of the corporation is vested in the membership. Individual members have no rights to property, assets, or funds retained by the Church with exception to those retained by the officers. Upon termination of membership members retain only those items deemed as personal property.

 

In the event of dissolution of the corporation, the property and assets of the Church are distributed as follows: All assets and real property owned or held by the corporation shall be legally transferred to an existing 501(c)(3) non-profit entity sharing the same Purpose and Mission (Article II) and Statement of Faith (Article III). All personal property, formerly owned by the officers and remaining on the property at the time of dissolution may be donated or sold and the funds donated to the aforementioned non-profit entity. No items or property owned or held by the corporation may be donated, sold, liquidated, dissolved, or abandoned for the benefit of any private individual(s).

 

Article IX: Covenant

 

Persons desiring membership are encouraged to prayerfully seek the will of God and consider carefully the decision to join the Church. This covenant or any covenant is not to be entered into lightly knowing that our eternal God remembers a covenant even after people have long forgotten.

 

Covenants between God and His people and between others are common in the holy Scriptures. This covenant is a commitment between the Church and its Members consistent with the Church’ Purpose and Mission statement (Article II) and Statement of Faith (Article III). (See also Gen 6, 9, 15; Ex 20; I Sam 18; II Sam 5; Hos 2; Jer 31; Mat 26)

 

I _____________________________, having confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, having been baptized, and having been led by the Holy Spirit, and in agreement with the Church’s Purpose and Mission statement (Article II) and the Statement of Faith (Article III) now unite myself to the fellowship of this Church.

 

In doing so, I commit myself to God and the other members of the Church that with the help guidance of the Holy Spirit I covenant:

 

  • To submit to the authority of the holy Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice (Ps 119; II Tim 3:14-17; II Pet 1:19-21).

 

  • To pursue my personal and spiritual development as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ through faithful Bible reading, prayer, fellowship and the practice of spiritual disciplines (Luke 18:1; Acts 17:11; I Cor 9:24-27; Eph 5:1-21).

 

  • To follow the command and example of Jesus by participating in the ordinances of the Church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and sharing the gospel with others (John 13:34-35; Mat 28:19; Luke 22:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Cor 11:23-29).

 

  • To faithfully participate in the fellowship and worship of the Church by attending weekly worship services, engaging in weekly Bible studies, and serving others. Participating in the fellowship of the Church includes displaying Christian love, compassion, and courage. Remembering others in prayer, comforting the ill and infirmed, encouraging the troubled, exhorting in all wisdom those in need of rebuke, being courteous in speech, slow to take offense, and quick to regard acts of reconciliation (Heb 10:23-25; Tit 3:14; II Cor 5:18).

 

  • To diligently seek the salvation of my family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone God placed into my life, through the intentional and prayerful efforts of sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mat 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8).

 

  • To steward the resources and blessings given to me by God—time, talent, skill, training, education, money, and spiritual gifts. This includes using my resources in sacrificial and voluntary service to others and cheerful giving to the Church (Mat 25:14-30; Ro 12:1-2; II Cor 8-9; I Pet 4:10-11).

 

  • To demonstrate appreciation of God’s grace through faithful obedience to Jesus Christ by the pursuit of holiness in all areas of my life (I Pet 1:13-16; 4:1-3).

 

  • To celebrate and observe my Christian freedom in ways that would not create a stumbling block for other believers (Ro 14:14-23; I Cor 8:1-13).

 

  • To confess my sins to God. If needed, to confess my sins to my pastor, or another leader within the Church, and to hear the sins of others in strict confidence so that I may put to death the sin in my body (Ro 8:13; Col 3:5; Ja 5:16; I John 1:6-10).

 

  • To submit to the appointed leaders within the Church and follow them as they follow Christ (1 Cor 11:1; Heb 13:17).

 

  • To make a diligent effort toward achieving unity and peace within the Church (Eph 4:1-3; Heb 13:17; I Pet 5:5).

 

  • To submit to and practice discipline within the Church according to the Scriptures. (Mat 18:15-20; Gal 6:1; I Cor 5:9-13; Heb 12:5-11).

 

Article X: Amendments

 

Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by three-fourths (3/4) vote of a quorum of the Church membership.

 

Section 2: All proposed amendments to this Constitution must be posted in writing and distributed among the membership as broadly as possible at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote at a regular or special business meeting.

 

Section 3: If there is a revision of, or an amendment to, the Bylaws of the Church, the revocation date of the Bylaws stated in the Preamble of the Constitution shall change accordingly.

 

Section 4: No part of this Constitution shall conflict with the Articles of Incorporation of this organization.

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