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Providence Evangelical Church Constitution Preamble Article I - Name
Article II - Affiliation
Article III - Purpose
Article IV - Articles of Faith
Article V - Membership
Section 1 - Requirements for Membership
Section 2 - Procedures in the Reception of New Members
Section 3 - Termination of Membership
Section 4 - Conduct Required of Members
Article VI - Church Discipline
Section 1 - Formative Discipline
Section 2 - Corrective Discipline
Article VII - Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
Section 1 - General Statement
Section 2 - Baptism
Section 3 - Lord’s Supper Article VIII - Office-Bearers
Section 1 - General Statement
Section 2 - Elders
Section 3 - Deacons
Section 4 - Appointment of Office-Bearers
Section 5 - Removal of Office-Bearers
Article IX - Congregational Business Meetings
Section 1 - General Statement
Section 2 - Notice of Meeting
Section 3 - Chairmanship of Annual Meeting
Article XI - By-Laws
Article XII - Dissolution
Article XIII - Amendments
By-Laws
PREAMBLE We, the members of Providence Evangelical Church, do ordain and establish the following Articles, to which we voluntarily submit ourselves. We believe the Scriptures to be our only infallible guide in all matters of faith and practice and intend this Constitution to be subservient to them. However, some rules of church order which are in this Constitution are not specifically prescribed in the Scriptures and were arrived at by “the light of nature, Christian prudence, and general rules of the Word of God.” ARTICLE I - NAME The name of this church shall be Providence Evangelical Church. ARTICLE II - AFFILIATION Section 1. We acknowledge no ecclesiastical authority other than our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church (Ephesians 5.23) and who directs the affairs of the church through elders chosen and ordained according to the precepts of Holy Scripture. The elders themselves at all times and in all their activities stand under the authority of Holy Scripture. Section 2. The church may cooperate with other like-minded churches in matters of mutual interest and concern. We may seek the assistance and counsel of other churches in matters of special concern to us, but the decision of no other church or group of churches shall at any time be acknowledged as binding on this church. While the decision of other churches is not binding on this church, the value of the counsel of other like minded churches should be held in a high status and not easily or lightly ignored. ARTICLE III - PURPOSE The purpose of this church is to glorify the God of Scriptures by promoting His worship, training the saints, and evangelizing the lost. Therefore we are committed to the proclamation of God’s perfect law and the glorious Gospel of His grace throughout the world and to the defense of “the faith once delivered unto all the saints” (Jude 3). ARTICLE IV - ARTICLES OF FAITH The ultimate authority in all matters of faith, order, and morals is and must be the Bible alone. For the sake of brevity we believe that the Apostle’s Creed and the Nicene Creed are accurate. Greater detail is available in both the Westminster Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 which generally provide an accurate expression of our faith. These historic documents are an excellent summary of “the things most surely believed among us” (Luke 1.1), and we find it to be an assistance in controversy, a confirmation in faith, and a means of edification in righteousness. ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Requirements for membership. Any person who professes repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, who manifests a life transformed by the power of Christ, who has been baptized upon the profession of his faith, who expresses substantial agreement with the doctrines and aims of this church, and who is willing to submit to its government shall be eligible for membership in it. Each member of the church is acknowledged to form a vital part of the body and to have a peculiar function in the life of that body (1 Corinthians 12.14- 27). All who are received into the membership of the church according to the procedures set forth in Section 2 of this Article, who continue in regular attendance at the stated meetings of the church, and who do not come under the corrective discipline of the church as set forth in Article VI shall be considered regular members in good standing and entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership in the church. Section 2. Procedures for the reception of new members. A. A person who desires to become a member of the church may apply to the elders and request to be interviewed by them. During the interview the elders will seek to determine whether that person has a credible profession of faith in Christ, has been baptized, is in substantial agreement with the doctrines of the church, and intends to give wholehearted support to its ministry and submit to its discipline. B. If the applicant is or has been a member of another church, special effort will be made to determine the person’s standing in that church and his reasons for leaving. At the discretion of the elders, a letter of inquiry concerning the person’s standing may be sent to that church before his acceptance as a member in this church is determined. C. If the elders are satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements for membership, they shall announce the same to the congregation at a stated meeting of the church. Time will be allowed for objections or questions to be raised by any member concerning the applicant’s manner of life or doctrine. (Such objections are to be brought to the elders in private.) If no objection is raised which the elders consider to be valid, the person will be publicly received into the membership during a worship service where an affirmation of agreement with the church covenant is made. The elders may postpone the reception of a person into membership until proper investigation can be made concerning objections which in their judgment are sufficiently serious. Section 3. Termination of membership A. By physical death. When a member of the church is removed from our midst by death, his name shall automatically be removed from the membership roll. B. By transfer. When it is so requested, the elders may grant to a departing member in good standing a letter of dismissal to the fellowship of another church. No such letter may be given to a member who is at the time under the corrective discipline of this church. The elders may refuse to grant a letter of transfer to any church which is in their judgment disloyal to “the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3) or which does not exercise godly care over its members. C. By exclusion. If a member habitually absents him self from the stated meetings of the church without showing just cause, or if due to relocation he ceases to maintain a vital contact with the church, he may be excluded from the membership at the discretion of the elders. Also, any member who personally so requests may after due admonition be excluded from the member ship. In such cases no congregational approval of the action shall be needed; the elders shall simply announce to the congregation that such a person is no longer a member. If an excluded member applies again for membership, the procedures set forth in Section 3 of this Article will again be followed. D. By excommunication. According to the teaching of Holy Scripture a congregation must cut off from its fellowship and visible membership any person who teaches false and heretical doctrine, who blatantly and persistently conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with his Christian profession, or who persists in disturbing the unity or peace of the church ( Matthew 18.15 ff.; 1 Corinthians 5.1 ff.). The procedure to be followed in such excommunication is set forth in Article VI Section 2 of this Constitution Section 4. Conduct required of members (Responsibilities) A. All members agree to regularly attend meetings of the church unless providentially hindered (by illness, accident, unusual working conditions, and other such circumstances). B. The church expects its members to make use of the various other means of grace which are available to them, such as the regular daily reading of the Bible, regular private and family prayer. C. Since it is clearly taught in Scripture that Christians should support financially the work of the Lord by systematic and proportionate giving made through the local church (Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9 ), all the members of this church are expected to follow this rule of Scripture. The tithe (10 percent of one’s income) is not imposed on the people of God as a tax but is strongly urged upon each member as a reasonable expression of worship and the biblical norm for basic giving, to which should be added gifts and offerings according to one’s ability and the willingness of his heart (2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Exodus 36:2-7). D. The Scriptures are applicable to all areas of life and practice. Family life is especially important to the witness of the church. If God has appointed a man to be head of a family, the husband must rule over the household with gentleness and love but also with wisdom and firmness (Ephesians 5:25 ff.; 1 Timothy 3:4-5). The wife must be in subjection to her husband in all things according to the rule of Scripture (Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1). The husband with the wife must “nurture their children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:2), by setting a godly example before them, by instructing them consistently in the Scriptures, and by wise and firm discipline, including corporal punishment when it is needed (Proverbs 13:24, 22:15 & 29:15; Hebrews 12:7). E. Inasmuch as the church is represented in Scripture as a body having many members, each of the members having its particular function and yet having a concern for the health and protection of the whole (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:4, 11-16), this church expects that each of its members will strive for the good of the entire body. The members must actively seek to cultivate acquaintance with one another so that they may be better able to pray for one another; love, comfort, and encourage one another; and help one another materially as necessity may require. They must refrain from speaking ill of one another and must keep in strict confidence all matters of private concern to the church and not discuss them with persons outside of this fellowship. F. It is the duty of every Christian individually and as a member of a local church to labor for the extension of the kingdom of God both at home and to the ends of the earth. Therefore, every member of this church is expected prayerfully to recognize and to seize every opportunity to bear witness to his faith in Christ both by consistent Christian conduct and by the testimony of his lips. G. Each member of the church is required to render in his daily life loyal obedience to all the moral precepts established in the Word of God (Romans 8:3-4). If God has not condemned or forbidden a practice in His Word, a Christian is at liberty to participate in it. The exercise of Christian liberty, however, must at all times be governed by an earnest desire to walk in the fear of God and to glorify Him in all things (1 Peter 1:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31), a loving regard for the consciences of weaker brethren ( 1 Corinthians 8:9 ; Romans 15:1-3 ), a compassion for the lost (1 Corinthians 9:19-22), and a zealous regard for the health of one’s own soul (Romans 13:14; 1 Peter 2:16) H. All who come into the membership of this church are expected to recognize and submit to the authority of the overseers of the church (1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5: 12-13, Hebrews 13: 17). ARTICLE VI. CHURCH DISCIPLINE Section 1. Formative Discipline. Every disciple (follower) of Christ must be under His discipline (His instruction and correction), which is administered to each one through the church, according to 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and other passages. Mutual submission to one another and to the overseers whom the Lord has set over His church (Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5) will result in the sanctification of each member individually and of the whole body of the church collectively. There are occasions, however, when failure in the application of this formative discipline makes the application of corrective discipline necessary. Section 2. Corrective Discipline. A. Corrective discipline becomes necessary when heretical doctrine or disorderly or scandalous conduct appears among the members of the church. In all such cases reasonable efforts must be made to resolve difficulty, correct error, and remove offense through counsel and admonition before more drastic steps are taken (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20). The principles given to us in Matthew 18:15-16 and 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 must be carefully followed in all cases of corrective discipline. When admonition is not heeded, suspension of some of the privileges of membership may need to be imposed, and if this measure fails, excommunication from the membership of the church may be necessary. B. Suspension. (1) Any conduct on the part of a member which disturbs the peace of the church or prejudices its testimony may require that the offending brother or sister be debarred by action of the elders from participating in certain activities of the church according to the gravity of the offense. A suspension shall be announced to the congregation by the elders and shall remain in force until the suspended member gives evidence of true repentance and change of conduct. When a suspended member can be restored to full fellowship, this also shall be announced to the congregation by the elders. While a member is under such discipline, he shall be treated by the congregation according to the directions given in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15. Although such a person is considered to be walking disorderly, he must still be regarded as a member and not as one cut off from the church. (2) If a member has sinned publicly but shows hopeful signs of repentance, including submission to the admonition of the elders, it may still be necessary to suspend him for a time from some of the privileges of membership lest reproach be brought upon the church, lest others be emboldened to sin, and lest the offender himself fail to test his own soul and realize the gravity of’ his offense. Those who humbly submit to the imposed discipline shall afterwards be wholly forgiven and publicly received back into the full fellowship of the church. (3) In the case where a person is accused or suspected of gross sin and absents himself from the congregation, refusing to meet with the elders that the matter may be investigated, the elders shall announce to the congregation that the person is suspended from the membership, and such suspension shall continue in force as long as the conditions giving rise to it continue. C. Excommunication. (1) Although the people of God are never completely free of sin in this life, certain types of conduct are especially grievous, and are not consistent with a profession of faith (1 Corinthians 5:9-11, 6:9-10). A member guilty of such conduct must be cut off from the fellowship of the church (1 Corinthians 5:3-13; Matthew 18:17). In such a case the elders shall make earnest efforts to bring the offender to true repentance and reformation, but if these efforts fail, they shall report the same to the congregation at a regular service. The obligation of the church body shall be to refrain from fellowship with the sinning party, while attempting through prayer and admonition to call the sinner to repentance. (2) Likewise, some wrong opinions regarding the doctrines of Scripture are so serious that they must be categorized as “heretical” (Galatians 1:6-9; I Timothy 4:1), and a member who persists in propagating any such opinion, in spite of earnest and patient admonition by the elders, shall be excommunicated in the same manner as above. ARTICLE VII. BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER Section 1. General Statement. There are two ordinances of special significance which our Lord has commanded us to observe, namely, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. (These are sometimes referred to as “sacraments.”) Neither of them has saving merit, nor is any grace imparted to the recipient through the water of Baptism or the bread and the cup of the Supper. These ordinances are not means of “special grace,” but they are “special means of grace” and powerful aids to the faith of the believers who participate in them. Section 2. Baptism. Only confessed disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ are proper candidates for baptism, and all such persons should be baptized (Acts 2:38). At Providence Evangelical the mode of baptism is a single immersion in water and “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Believing that baptism is the God-ordained door of the entrance into the visible community of the people of God, we shall receive into the member ship of the church only those who have been baptized on profession of their faith and who meet the requirements of Article V, Section 1. Under unusual circumstances and at the discretion of the elders, we may receive those who have been baptized as a believer by a mode other than immersion. Section 3. The Lord’s Supper. Whereas baptism is the initiatory ordinance by which one enters the visible church and should be observed only once by each believer, the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated frequently by the assembled church (1 Corinthians 11:26). While this is a most holy ordinance and should be observed with both solemnity and dignity and joy, the bread and the wine are and remain only symbols of the broken body and the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper shall be celebrated regularly by the church, and at least monthly. Except under unusual circumstances, those who partake of the Lord’s Supper should be baptized and members in good standing of a local church. ARTICLE VIII. OFFICE-BEARERS Section 1. General Statement. Jesus Christ alone is Head of the church (Colossians 1:18), and He governs His church through office—bearers whom He appoints and who are endowed by His Spirit with the gifts and graces needed to accomplish their work. Office—bearers in the church are of two kinds, elders (also called “bishops” or “pastors”) and deacons (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13). It is the duty of the church to seek and discover among its members those to whom Christ the Lord has impart ed the necessary gifts for office—bearing, and after formally recognizing them by common suffrage, to set them apart by united prayer, and then to submit to their authority. Section 2. Elders. A. Whereas in new or small congregations only one man may have the gifts and graces requisite to his being recognized as an elder, the Scriptures appear to indicate that normally there should be a plurality of elders in the local church (Acts 20:17; Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). These are also called “bishops” (meaning “overseers”) because they are charged with the oversight of the assembly (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). They are men who are the “pastors and teachers” given to the church “for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). B. In view of the fact that the responsibilities of this office are numerous and grave, it is highly desirable that at least one elder should devote his full time to the work of the ministry and the oversight of the church. Such elders are usually referred to as “pastors,” not to the exclusion of the others, for they all share the pastoral responsibility, but because they “labor in the word and in teaching” (1 Timothy 5:17). The church is responsible to give adequate financial support to such men (1 Corinthians 9:9-11; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). C. Elders are responsible for the spiritual ministrations of the church, the implementation of discipline, and the oversight of the souls of the church’s members “as they that shall give account” to God (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:17; I Peter 5:2-3). While every elder should be “apt to teach”, some will be more engaged in formal and public teaching, while others will be more engaged in private teaching and admonishing and governing. Gifted men who are not recognized as elders may engage in public preaching and teaching, provided they are godly in character and walk, but the exercise of their gift must be under the direction and supervision of the elders. D. While elders are overseers of the flock, they are themselves members of the flock. Therefore, each elder as an individual is under the oversight of his fellow elders and is subject to the same discipline, including Matthew 18 discipline, as are all the members of the church. E. The church should endeavor to discover and then formally to recognize all the men whom the Holy Spirit has endowed with the requisite gifts and graces and has set over the church, but only such men. Thus when men have been ordained to this office, the church will have the confidence that it has recognized the overseers whom the Holy Spirit has set over it (Acts 20:28). It is evident, therefore, that neither the number of elders nor the length of their term of office can be fixed by the church. F. The qualifications for a man chosen to fill the office of elder are clearly set forth in Scripture, particularly in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5—9. Section 3. Deacons. A. Deacons are responsible primarily to administer the benevolent concerns of the church as well as other matters which the elders may delegate to them. While the deacons are not “rulers” in the church, their office must be held in exceedingly high esteem because of its usefulness to the church and because the diaconal ministry allows the elders to give themselves more fully to the ministry of the Word and prayer and to the general care of souls. Thus these deacons must be “of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3). They must fulfill the duties of their office in cooperation with and in subjection to the elders. B. The number of deacons shall not be fixed. The church shall choose as many as are needed for the work to be done from among those who give evidence of having the scriptural qualifications for that office (Acts 6:3). C. The qualifications for those chosen to fulfill the office of deacon are particularly set forth in Acts 6:3 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Section 4. Appointment of office-bearers. A. The local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is responsible to appoint men to the offices of elder and deacon. Each individual involved should have an inward conviction that the Lord is calling him to the particular office, and the church should recognize that call as it observes in the individual evidence of the gifts and graces which Scripture requires for the particular office. This is a matter of such gravity that it should be accompanied by much prayerful waiting on God for guidance, a careful perusal of the relevant passages of Scripture, and a dispassionate evaluation of each man nominated to a particular office. These activities are the responsibility of each individual member of the church as well as of the church as a whole. B. Nominations, Affirmation, Installation of Elders and Deacons. (1) Recommendations to fill the office of Elder and Deacon shall be requested once a year from all church members. In September of every year, each member will be asked to prayerfully consider whether he or she thinks any qualified member should be appointed to the office of elder or deacon. The Board shall then investigate, approve, disapprove, or add to the list of nominees. The board shall publicly post the nominees approved by the Elders in alphabetical order at least three weeks prior to the annual meeting of the church members. (2) If any member believes that a nominee is not qualified for the office or if any member has serious questions about the nominee’s qualifications, he or she is encouraged to speak directly to the candidate and/or to the elders before the nomination is considered. It is not appropriate to express criticisms publicly which have not been previously addressed to the nominee in private, then to the elders privately. In issues where sin is a concern the precepts of Matthew 18 shall be followed. (3) The elders may at any time during the year nominate a candidate or candidates to either or both offices and call a special congregational meeting to affirm the decision of the Elders. (4) At the annual meeting, the slate of nominees shall be presented to the members to affirm the decision of the Elders. If the slate of nominees is affirmed, the newly elected Elders shall assume office immediately. Each Elder shall serve until the next annual meeting. Following the affirmation of an office-bearer by the congregation, he shall be publicly installed in his office at a regular worship service by the prayer of the whole church and the laying on of the hands of the existing elders. Section 5. Removal of office-bearers Any Elder or Deacon may be removed from office at any regular or special meeting of the Elders if he is found to be physically or mentally incapacitated or spiritually unqualified (according to pertinent Scripture, including 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9), after thorough corroborating investigation by the Elders, in accord with the procedures prescribed by pertinent Scripture, including Matthew 18:15-18 and 1 Timothy 5:19. When an Elder is removed because of sin that is deemed sufficient to disqualify him from shepherding, and if he refuses to repent from that sin, the removal shall be accompanied by a public rebuke, and notice shall be made before the church and the congregation thereof at a regularly-scheduled worship service as prescribed in 1 Timothy 5:20. ARTICLE IX. CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS Section 1. General Statement. There shall be an annual congregational meeting of the church for the hearing of reports, the affirmation of office-holders, and the transaction of such other -business as may properly be brought before the meeting. Special congregational meetings may be called at other times at the discretion of the elders. As the work of the church is financially dependent upon the systematic giving of the people, so should the work itself be systematic and orderly. To that end, before the annual congregational meeting, the elders and deacons shall prepare an annual budget for the coming year, and shall present said budget to the congregation. Section 2. Notice of annual meeting. Notice of the annual congregational meeting shall be given at regular worship services on two successive Lord’s Days immediately prior to the meeting. Section 3. Chairmanship of Annual Meeting. The chairman of the board of elders shall preside at all congregational meetings. In the case of his absence or inability to serve, the elders shall appoint another of their number to preside. ARTICLE X. BY-LAWS The elders shall draft and amend from time to time such bylaws as they shall deem necessary for the efficient implementation of this Constitution; but no bylaw which is in violation of any of the terms of this Constitution shall be valid. ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION Recognizing that the Lord controls providence for His own glory, it may become necessary to dissolve this church. Should such dissolution come to pass the elders shall be required to effectuate the dissolution. Any and all property and other assets, or the proceeds from the sale of such, shall then be given, granted, or conveyed to another church (or churches) of like faith and doctrine. The church (or churches) to which these assets and/or proceeds shall go will be determined by a simple majority vote of the elders at a congregational meeting called for that purpose. Such dissolution will not be considered as complete until the final disposition of’ assets and/or proceeds has been determined and carried out. ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS This Constitution may be amended by the elders acting in consensus.
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