Constitution of Waterdam Church - 11/96
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this church shall be "Waterdam Church, an Evangelical Free Church of America," herein referred to as "Waterdam Church."
This church was founded in the year of our Lord, 1985, and incorporated July 31, 1985, organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE II. DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
The following statement of faith, adopted at the Annual Conference of the Evangelical Free Church of America, June 13-17, 1950, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, shall be the statement of faith of Waterdam Church.
1. 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 all Christian faith and life.
2. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe 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 is our High Priest and Advocate.
4. We believe 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, indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.
5. We believe 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.
6. We believe 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 become children of God.
7. We believe 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.
8. We believe 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.
9. We believe that only those who are thus members of the true Church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
10. We believe 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.
11. We believe in the personal, 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.
12. We believe 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.
ARTICLE III. MISSION AND PURPOSE
The purpose of this church is to glorify God the Father by exalting His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This church shall administer the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, as set forth in the New Testament. It shall seek to promote the spiritual growth of its members and shall exercise New Testament discipline. It shall provide for the training of its youth in Christian living and leadership. It shall carry on a ministry of benevolence, "doing good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10)
This church shall seek to maintain an evangelistic emphasis, and make the salvation of souls a major goal of its activities.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this church shall consist of only those who testify of being born again through a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and who give evidence of the New Testament principles of Christian living. (Romans 10:9-11, Galatians 5:16-26)
ARTICLE V. DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION
This church shall be affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and, thus, shall be congregationally governed.
ARTICLE VI. CHURCH LEADERSHIP
The directing body of this church shall be the Board of Elders and Deacons, hereafter referred to as the "Board", which shall be elected annually from members conforming to the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3. The number of elders and deacons may increase or decrease from time to time, but shall never be less than five. One elder or deacon shall be elected as Church Chairman. The Senior Pastor serves as a member of the Board. Any remaining pastoral staff is not eligible to serve in elected office, but may participate in the meetings of the Board on a non-voting basis.
The members of the Board, working with each other in oneness of spirit, shall have oversight of all areas of ministry within the church and shall coordinate the work of all the committees. The areas of ministry for the church, each intended to receive balanced emphasis, are: Christian Education, Discipleship, Internal Ministry (including benevolence), Outreach (including missions), Stewardship, and Worship.
ARTICLE VII. CONGREGATIONAL BUSINESS MEETING
The congregation shall hold regularly scheduled business meetings, including as a minimum the annual election of officers, approval of the annual budget, and reception of annual reports.
Proper notice for all business meetings shall be ten days published notice in the church bulletin or written notice to the last known address of each member. A quorum at any business meeting shall be 20% of the voting membership.
The newly elected Elders, Deacons, church officers, and committee chairpersons shall begin their term of office on the first day of January.
ARTICLE VIII. RESPONSIBILITY AS TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION
(Reference: IRS Publication 557, Revision Jan. 92)
This church is organized for religious purposes as specified in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
No part of the net earnings of the church shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, officer, or other private persons except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the church.
No substantial part of the activities of the church shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, or participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public
office.
ARTICLE IX. PROPERTY
1. In the event that this church shall ever dissolve, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the church, remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more organizations operated for religious purposes as tax exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding section of any future United States tax code), in accordance with a plan of distribution adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the members age 18 and older.
2. During the existence of this church, the ownership and control of all property shall remain in that part of the congregation which adheres to the tenets and doctrines set forth in this constitution.
3. If a minority of the membership of this church shall ever secede, ownership and control of the property shall remain with the majority, subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article.
ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS
Changes and amendments of this constitution can be made only at a properly noticed business meeting of the church. Such changes must be proposed in writing to each member and discussed at a properly noticed business meeting at least one month prior to the meeting at which the vote on the change is to be taken. Amendments of this constitution will require a two-thirds majority vote of membership age 18 and older.