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By-Laws

BYLAWS
2025 Edition

PREAMBLE

The Christian Congregation in the United States (“CCUS”) is a body of believers reborn through faith in Jesus Christ. Upon repentance for their sins, they receive salvation as they believe and trust in Jesus Christ, who is their Lord and Saviour, the Son of God, whose sacrifice on the cross provides atonement for the believer’s sin, and reconciliation to God.

These believers are united in the same Faith and Doctrine as was revealed to the New Testament church of the apostles, and was then revived through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the early 1900’s.

Originating among immigrant believers who gathered in prayer, accepted biblical baptism with full immersion in water, and the study of the Holy Scriptures, this work was confirmed by the manifestation of the gifts of God, according to the pattern of the New Testament.

The Christian Congregation in the United States was formally organized in the late 1970’s by brethren seeking to preserve the original doctrine, simplicity, and holiness of worship was established at the beginning of this movement.

The church holds the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible to be the sole authority in the English Language of the Faith and Doctrine, teaching repentance, baptism by immersion in water, and the pursuit of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as essential elements of Christian life.

The church’s mission is to glorify God through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the edification of the believers, and the practice of charity toward those in need, in humility and reverence before the Lord.

The church ministry serves without salary; appointments are confirmed by God in prayer, and worship services are conducted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit without advance preparation by the one presiding.

The Congregation does not participate in political, social, or secular interests, maintaining its focus on the spiritual welfare of souls in the unity of the Faith.

With this understanding, these Amended and Restated Bylaws are established to guide the church’s governance and administration in steadfast obedience to the eternal Word of God and respectfully observe the laws of the land.

These Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) govern the affairs of CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES (“CCUS”), a New York nonprofit religious corporation (for purposes under all applicable law, an association of churches) organized under the New York Religious Corporations Law, as amended (the “Code”).

As an association of churches, the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES generally shares common religious doctrines, principles, disciplines, and practices with other member churches of the Association of Churches with whom it is affiliated.

The Association of Churches is a nonprofit religious corporation organized under the Code and shall have all of the powers, duties, authorizations, and responsibilities as provided therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Association of Churches shall neither have nor exercise any power, nor engage directly or indirectly in any activity that would invalidate its status as an organization exempt from federal income tax as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the corresponding provision or provisions of any subsequent United States Internal Revenue law or laws (the “Internal Revenue Code of 1986”).

CHAPTER I
Name, Purpose, and Administration

Art. 1. The CCUS is an association of churches, a religious community founded on the apostolic Doctrine (Acts 2:42 and 4:33), organized under the terms of the BYLAWS of 1996, apolitical, non-profit, made up of an unlimited number of members, without distinction of sex, nationality, race, or color, having as its purpose the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, with Jesus Christ alone as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide (John 16:13).

§ 1. The CCUS has its legal personality based on the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and other pertinent legislation.

§ 2. THE CCUS does not depend on or maintain institutional subordination to other entities, either domestic or foreign. However, it maintains a spiritual communion with Christian Congregations in the United States and in other countries that profess the same Faith and Doctrine, in accordance with the principles set forth in the International Convention of Christian Congregations, a mutual statement of unity and cooperation voluntarily adopted by participating churches.

Art. 2. The CCUS will be composed of decentralized administrations throughout the national territory, each with its own legal personality, to ensure better management of the resources offered by the brotherhood, without prejudice to the unity of faith and doctrine.

§ 1. Each Administration shall have its own legal registration and jurisdiction, in accordance with the laws of the State in which it is located, but must obligatorily observe and follow the Standard Bylaws of the CCUS.

§ 2. Although administratively decentralized, the CCUS is spiritually and doctrinally united throughout the national territory.

§ 3. The creation of a new decentralized Administration shall depend on prior authorization from the Regional Council of Elders, based on divine guidance and in compliance with the formalities of these Bylaws.

§ 4. The Regional Council of Elders in accordance with Article 26 § 1 of these bylaws shall oversee Financial and Legal Compliance in order to ensure that all churches are in conformity with applicable state and federal laws, including the maintenance of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

§ 5. The decentralized structure of the CCUS shall be organized into Sector Administrations and Regional Administrations, each with its own legal personality in accordance with these Bylaws. Each Administration shall be composed of a Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, together with their respective deputies (vices), appointed by the Regional Council of Elders under the guidance of God. The distribution of deliberative authority among the sector, and regional levels shall be exercised in accordance with the complementary document “Ministerial Meetings Deliberative Flow”, which, while not part of these Bylaws, shall remain consistent with the provisions of these Bylaws and the New York Religious Corporations Law, and is subject to approval by the National Council of Elders.

Art. 3. The duration of the CCUS is indefinite.

Art. 4. The official language of the CCUS, for institutional communication, drafting of official documents, administrative records, deliberations in assemblies, and legal acts, shall be English, in accordance with the legislation in force in the United States of America.

Sole Paragraph. However, the linguistic needs of members and international congregations in spiritual communion shall be respected, and complementary communications in other languages may be used when appropriate for the edification of the brethren.

Art. 5. The ministerial duty (the “Ministry”) of the CCUS is responsible for the exercise of all spiritual activities, as well as the ministering of sacred services, prohibiting any type of interference by the Administrators, who shall be responsible exclusively for the material part of the Work of God, and may not interfere in the spiritual part under penalty of annulment of the Act.

Art. 6. Board of Directors (the “Administration”) The Administration, which serves as the formal Board of Directors of the CCUS under the applicable law is made up of at least 3 (three) members (chairman, secretary, treasurer, and/or their respective vice). They shall be liable for managing the assets and administrative, banking, legal, and accounting matters, always in harmony and under the guidance of the Spiritual Ministry, in the form of these Bylaws.

§ 1. It is prohibited for the same member to hold both ministerial and administrative positions, with exceptions in cases of extreme necessity, duly justified at the relevant Regional Ministerial Meeting (RMM).

§ 2. In the event of any accumulation of ministerial and administrative positions, a replacement must be made and a new name appointed for the administrative position as soon as possible, under penalty of vacancy.

§ 3. Brothers serving in ministerial or administrative positions in the Christian Congregation in the United States must be residing in the United States in full compliance with federal and state laws. Members of the ministry or Elders who are lawfully present in the country may participate in ministerial and assembly activities during their authorized stay but shall not hold continuing administrative or legal-representative positions.

Art. 7. The CCUS, as an association of churches, has an unlimited number of houses of prayer, administrations, and branches.

Sole Paragraph. All the Administrations and houses of prayer of the CCUS are governed by the terms of these Bylaws. Cases whose interpretation and rules are not objectively written and cannot be clearly understood shall be decided by the National Council of Elders and recorded in the proper Minutes.

Art. 8. The income of the CCUS is provided by offerings and by voluntary and anonymous collections, in the local Administration or in another, at the judgment of the Ministerial Meeting provided for in Article 36 of these Bylaws.

§ 1. At the end of each fiscal year, the financial and accounting balances shall be transferred to the following fiscal year, becoming part of the church assets and, by joint decision of the Regional Council of Elders, Deacons and respective Regional or Sector Administration, the purpose of unrestricted balances may be adapted to other needs of the Work of God. However, any surplus shall remain under the administration of the original Regional or Sector unit to which it was allocated, unless otherwise agreed upon by the same joint decision.

§ 2. Due to their liberal nature, these collections and offerings do not generate rights of any kind at any time, under any pretext whatsoever.

Art. 9. Whoever accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Savior, and His Doctrine, submitting to the Holy Baptism, administered according to the Faith and Doctrine of the CCUS, is admitted as its member and undertakes a personal responsibility to God; however, there is no register of its members.

§ 1. Any member holding a position or office, whether ministerial or otherwise, shall not be entitled to any remuneration for the performance of such duties. They shall be classified as a volunteer, unless otherwise designated by an employment contract. In such cases, it must not result from the exercise of the Ministry or from holding a Statutory Administrative position.

§ 2. The CCUS may cover the costs of missionary travel, whether within the United States or abroad, provided that such travel is previously authorized by a decision of the Ministry in a meeting, and this provision shall not have a compensatory nature. Any position receiving compensation beyond reimbursement for expenses incurred in church-related activities must be governed by an employment contract that complies with U.S. labor laws, including federal and state tax obligations.

§ 3. The exercise of any voluntary activity on behalf of the CCUS shall be considered a donation and of a liberal nature, and cannot be claimed at any time, whether in legal proceedings or private matters.

§ 4. Volunteers shall not be considered employees of the church and shall not receive salaries, wages, or benefits unless explicitly approved by the National Council of Elders and in compliance with IRS guidelines for religious organizations.

§ 5. The CCUS shall comply with all applicable labor laws, including those governing employment classification, workplace protections, and ministerial exceptions under the First Amendment.

Art. 10. Members of the CCUS who hold any position or function, whether ministerial or not, may only be dismissed or removed from their position by resolution of the Regional Council of Elders, which may be reviewed by the Special Council of Elders or the National Council of Elders, which, under God’s guidance, shall make a final decision in the following cases:

  1. Upon request;
  2. Moving to another location;
  3. Undertaking commitments that are contrary to the principles of the CCUS, or that imply unavoidable absence from meetings or the impossibility of punctually meeting the requirements of the position or function;
  4. Physical, psychological, mental, or legal incapacity that prevents them from exercising the position or function;
  5. Moral or spiritual unfitness that renders them unfit for the position or function;
  6. Improbity or carelessness;
  7. Breach of fidelity to the Doctrine or ministerial discipline of the CCUS, in the judgment of the National Council of Elders.

Art. 11. The CCUS does not impose legally enforceable duties nor does it grant subjective material rights to its members. It only propagates Faith, fulfilling its purpose.

Art. 12. The participation of members in religious services shall be conducted under the discernment and direction of the presider, who must act in harmony with the teachings and in reverence to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sacred services shall be ministered only by those duly authorized according to these Bylaws, and always in a manner that preserves order, unity, and edification of the congregation.

Sole Paragraph. The Special Council of Elders, under the review of the National Council of Elders, in order to protect sound Doctrine, may decide on the freedom of any member to speak during services, as well as notify the Churches to comply with this decision.

Art. 13. The CCUS shall not be held responsible for the personal actions of any of its members, even during services, on websites, or on various platforms, even if expressed in the name of the Church. All public statements made on behalf of the Church require express authorization from the National Council of Elders. The practice of advocacy or any form of action intended to influence legislative activities, whether for the preservation or change of laws or policies related to attempts to influence legislation, is strictly prohibited in the activities of the CCUS. The Church shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign in support of or opposition to any candidate for public office.

Art. 14. All assets acquired in the name of the CCUS are the result of contributions and/or voluntary actions for the benefit of the congregation, united in the apostolic Faith, in its simplicity and sincerity to God, and cannot therefore be claimed or appropriated by any dissident group or individual.

Art. 15. In the event of schism, dissension, or any type of separation, all real estate and chattel, assets of any nature, as well as immaterial and intellectual property, brands, physical or digital archives, including its liturgies of worship and sacraments, its hymns in various hymnals, methods, and books of interest to the Church, shall remain exclusively, without any reservation or right, with the CCUS, with no rights for the dissident group or individual, and the dissident shall be held accountable for any misconduct.

Art. 16. If there is no longer a brotherhood in a locality or for administrative convenience, at the discretion of the meeting held per these Bylaws, the legal entity and its assets shall be incorporated into the CCUS indicated in the Bylaws.

Art. 17. The CCUS shall be dissolved when it is proven that there are no longer believers who follow the same Faith and Doctrine throughout the national territory. In the event of dissolution, all assets of the CCUS shall be distributed to another qualified nonprofit religious organization in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Art. 18. Since the CCUS is a religious community of Apostolic Doctrine, founded on the Holy Bible, there is no hierarchy in it, respecting gifts and seniority, always honoring the guidance of the Holy Spirit through the decision of the Special Council of Elders, observing the Apostolic teaching that those who govern well, with respect for the Word of God and His Doctrine, should be held in double honor.

Sole Paragraph. Ministerial meetings shall be chaired by appointment of the National Council of Elders or the Special Council of Elders, always honoring the gifts that God has distributed to His servants and, which may be by Elder Brethren of the Christian Congregation from other nations who are present. The Special Council of Elders, provided for in Article 46, § 1, is an auxiliary body with an exceptional purpose and shall therefore always be subordinate to the National Council of Elders.

Art. 19. The CCUS provides a service of assistance to the faithful in need, entitled the Work of Piety, according to God’s guidance.

Art. 20. The CCUS is organized exclusively for religious and charitable purposes, within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, the propagation of the Gospel, the maintenance of religious worship.

Art. 21. The Association of Churches is formed for any lawful purpose or purposes not expressly prohibited under the Code, including any purpose described by the Code. The Association of Churches is organized and shall be operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Association of Churches’ purposes also include the limited participation of the Association of Churches in any other activities, including taxable activities, but only to the extent the activities would be permitted by a tax-exempt organization. More particularly, but without limitation, the purposes of this Association of Churches are:

  1. To promote the Christian faith and Biblical teachings, values, and principles by any appropriate form of expression, and in any location, through the Association of Churches’ assets, including the combined or separate formation of a church, ministry, charity, without limitation.
  2. To glorify God by teaching and educating the community about the importance of the Gospel.
  3. To provide guidance and structure to religious worship.
  4. To ordain, employ, discharge ordained ministers of the Gospel, and others to conduct and carry-on Divine services at any place of worship or authorize services outside traditional church buildings, such as homes, hospitals, prisons, outdoor gatherings, and temporary rented spaces.
  5. To collect and disburse any and all necessary funds for the maintenance of said Association of Churches and the accomplishment of its purpose within the State of New York and elsewhere.
  6. To make distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
  7. This Association of Churches is also organized to: promote, encourage, and foster any other similar religious, and charitable activities; accept, hold, invest, reinvest, and administer any gifts, legacies, bequests, devises, funds, and property of any sort or nature, and to use, expend, or donate the income or principal thereof for, and to devote the same to, the foregoing purposes of the Association of Churches; and do any and all lawful acts and things which may be necessary, useful, suitable, or proper for the furtherance of accomplishment of the purposes of this Association of Churches. Provided, however, no act may be performed which would violate Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
  8. To further the above purposes, the Association of Churches shall have full power to purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire property, support missionaries, raise funds, start churches, and to do those things necessary to promulgate the Gospel in an effective and an efficient manner.

Art. 22. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Formation and the Bylaws, and in order to carry out the above-stated purposes, the Association of Churches shall have all those powers set forth in the Code, as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended. Moreover, the Association of Churches shall have all implied powers necessary and proper to carry out its express powers. The powers of the Association of Churches to promote the purposes set out above are limited and restricted in the following manner:

  1. The Association of Churches shall not pay dividends, and no part of the net earnings of the Association of Churches shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its organizers, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association of Churches shall be authorized and empowered to make payments and distributions (including reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the Association of Churches) in furtherance of its purposes as set forth in these Bylaws. No substantial part of the activities of the Association of Churches shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association of Churches shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Association of Churches shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by: (i) a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or (ii) a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
  2. According to the current operations of the CCUS, recognized as a church under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore not classified as a “private foundation,” in the event that this Association of Churches is determined at any time to be a “private foundation,” as defined by Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, it shall be required to distribute its income for such taxable year at such time and in such manner as not to subject it to taxation under Section 4942 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and further shall be prohibited from: (i) any act of “self-dealing” as defined in Section 4941(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; (ii) retaining any “excess business holdings” as defined by Section 4943(c); (iii) making any investments in such manner as to subject it to taxation under Section 4944; or (iv) making “taxable expenditures” as defined in Section 4945(d).
  3. The Association of Churches shall not accept any gift or grant if the gift or grant contains major conditions that would restrict or violate any of the Association of Churches’ religious, or charitable purposes or if the gift or grant would require serving a private as opposed to a public interest.

CHAPTER II
Faith and Doctrine

Art. 23. The CCUS is comprised of a community that accepts and believes in the entire Holy Bible as the infallible Word of God, being devoted to Jesus Christ, the Author, and Finisher of the Faith, founded on the Apostolic Doctrine.

Art. 24. The Faith that the CCUS propagates consists in magnifying ever more the heavenly vocation in each of its members and retaining the freedom that Jesus Christ our Lord has given us by His death and resurrection, so that He may reign Divine Grace in the hearts of the redeemed, through the Blood of the Eternal Covenant, and guide them by the Holy Spirit into all truth, in honor, praise and glory to God the Father, the Eternally Blessed. (Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: - I Peter 5:7-8).

Art. 25. The Doctrine professed in the CCUS is summarized in the following twelve POINTS OF DOCTRINE AND OF THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE GIVEN TO THE SAINTS:

1. We believe and accept the entire Bible as the infallible Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit; it is the only perfect order of our faith and manner of living, to which nothing can be added or taken away, and which is the power of God unto salvation to every believer. (II Peter 1:21; II Timothy 3:16, 17; Romans 1:16)

2. We believe there is only one living and true God, eternal, with infinite power, Creator of all things; and in the unity of Him there are three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 28:19; I John 5:7)

3. We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Word made flesh, who assumed the human nature through the virgin Mary and, so, is true God and true Man, having two natures in one Person, the divine and the human; and therefore is the only Saviour, who suffered death for the guilt of all men. (Luke 1:27, 35; John 1:14; I Peter 3:18)

4. We believe in the personal existence of the devil and his angels, evil spirits that together with him will be punished in everlasting fire. (Matthew 25:41)

5. We believe that the regeneration, or the new birth, is received only through faith in Christ Jesus who was delivered up for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. They who are in Christ Jesus (cleansed through His blood), are new creatures, and have Him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. (Romans 3:24, 25; I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:17)

6. We believe in water baptism, performed in the Name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38), with a single immersion, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, according to Christ’s commission. (Matthew 28:18, 19)

7. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. (Acts 2:4; 10:45-47; 19:6)

8. We believe in commemorating the Lord’s Supper. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19, 20; I Corinthians 11:23-25)

9. We believe it is necessary to abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, as decreed by the Holy Spirit in the general assembly held in Jerusalem. (Acts 15:28, 29; 16:4; 21:25)

10. We believe that Jesus Christ, Himself, bore all our sicknesses; and for that reason, we obey the following commandment: Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (Matthew 8:17; James 5:14, 15)

11. We believe that the Lord, Himself, (before the millennium) shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 20:6)

12. We believe that there shall be a bodily resurrection of all dead, both of the just and unjust. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Acts 24:15; Matthew 25:46)

CHAPTER III
Elders, Cooperators, Youth Cooperators, Deacons, and their Duties

Membership. The Association of Churches is a religious corporation organized under the RCL and does not have statutory corporate members as defined by law.

Spiritual governance of the Association of Churches is exercised by the National Council of Elders, General Assembly of Teachings (GAT) and the Regional Ministerial Meetings (RMM), in accordance with the ecclesiastical structure and spiritual practices of the Association. These governing bodies operate through prayerful consensus and acclamation (including the expression of “Amen”) and are responsible for directing all spiritual, ministerial, and organizational decisions of the Association.

The Administration, serving in the role of the Board of Directors as required under the RCL, functions solely as an administrative and fiduciary body. It does not originate or independently enact corporate policy but is responsible for lawfully implementing the decisions and directives of the Regional Council of Elders and Regional Meetings, maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and managing assets held in trust for the Association.

Individuals who associate with the Association of Churches for religious purposes may be referred to as “members” in a spiritual sense. These spiritual members do not constitute legal or statutory members under the RCL and do not possess rights to adopt resolutions or participate in corporate decision-making unless expressly provided for in these Bylaws. Any expression of agreement or participation by such members including by acclamation (such as the affirmation “Amen”) is intended solely as spiritual affirmation and does not constitute a binding corporate resolution or legal act of the Association.

Art. 26. The Ministry of the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION OF THE UNITED STATES is composed of Elders, (who together form the National Council of Elders), Deacons, Cooperators, and Youth Cooperators.

§ 1. The Regional Council of Elders shall meet at Regional Ministerial Meetings (RMM) and shall deliberate on the spiritual and material issues of the region. Material matters shall be dealt with in conjunction with the Administration, in accordance with Article 36 of these bylaws.

§ 2. The CCUS shall comply with and obey the decisions made by the National Council of Elders, which shall meet in an Annual General Assembly or, exceptionally, whenever necessary, always under the Guidance of God and in prayer, to protect spiritual unity. The National Council of Elders may review or override, in its sovereign capacity, any existing or previously adopted decision in the United States, indicating at the time the Administration responsible for carrying out any measure in accordance with the decision. The Administration shall not alter or innovate upon the decision taken under the Guidance of God.

§ 3. The Special Council of Elders may address urgent matters, and this collegial body is responsible for monitoring the doctrinal principles of the Church and the decisions of the National Council of Elders, always seeking communion with other countries that have signed the International Convention. The servants of God appointed to this Council begin exercising their duties starting from the General Assembly Teaching (GAT) or an Extraordinary Assembly in which they were appointed.

§ 4. The National Council of Elders, convened in accordance with the main provision of this Article 26, shall appoint, from among the brothers who preside over the regional meetings to form a Special Council of Elders. The Special Council of Elders shall deliberate on urgent matters of a spiritual and doctrinal nature and shall appoint, from among the Elders, those who will preside over the regional meetings, always in obedience to the principles of Faith and Doctrine that have guided the history of the Christian Congregations.

Art. 27. The Elders and Deacons are ordained (I Tim. 4:14), and the Cooperators and Youth Cooperators are presented, according to the deliberation of the National Council of Elders, according to the guidance of God by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, from among the members of the CCUS who present the virtues enshrined in the Holy Gospel (I Tim. 3:1, 7 and 8, 13; Acts 6:6; Titus 1:5, 10; I Peter 5:2, 3).

§ 1. The presentation in prayer to God for the confirmation of new brothers for the ministries of Elders and Deacons shall take place at the General Assembly of Teachings - GAT, or at any time, according to the deliberation of the Special Council of Elders.

§ 2. The ordination or presentation shall always be conducted by an Elder, from among the most senior in the Ministry, in agreement with the National Council of Elders.

Art. 28. The services of worship in the Houses of Prayer are presided over by the Elder Brothers or Cooperators, to whom they owe the vigilance of the freedom of the operation of the Holy Spirit and, in the absence of these Members, the other Members of the Ministerial body shall be allowed to preside over the services, so that nothing foreign to the Holy Gospel is manifested.

Art. 29. The sacred services of Water Baptism and Holy Supper are administered exclusively by the Elder.

Art. 30. The Deacon Brothers are responsible for the care of the Work of Piety and may be assisted by Sisters of the Work of Piety prepared by God for this purpose. In their absence, the other members of the Spiritual Ministry shall conduct these duties.

§ 1. The Deacon brothers are responsible for assisting the houses of prayer in receiving collections and offerings and for remitting the amounts that must be deposited in banks, as well as applying these funds for Piety Work and missionary trips. All records, due to their eminently confidential nature, shall be kept by the Diaconate, who shall be guided by God in everything. The accounting documents shall be forwarded to the Administration Accounting Office, after which they shall be forwarded to the Board of Auditors.

§ 2. The Deacons or brothers responsible for attending to the Work of Piety and missionary trips, by means of a specific power of attorney granted by the CCUS, shall operate a special bank account for the appropriate purposes. This bank account shall be operated by at least 3 (three) brothers and must always bear 2 (two) signatures. Where there are Deacons, they must sign.

§ 3. Deacons may be assisted by an accountant in the bookkeeping of expenses arising from the exercise of their duties.

§ 4. Brothers who are Deacons and/or responsible for Piety Work and missionary trips shall be subject to the provisions of sub-paragraphs “b”, “c” and “d” of art. 40 of these Bylaws.

CHAPTER IV
General Assembly

Art. 31. The Annual Members Meeting (AMM) of the brotherhood functions as the spiritual assembly responsible for the affirmation and ratification of the appointment of the Administrators and members of the Board of Auditors of the CCUS, the acknowledgment of financial accounts, and review of the Administration’s reports. For the avoidance of doubt, such affirmations including by acclamation (by the vocal expression “Amen”) are intended as spiritual resolutions and do not confer corporate member rights or constitute corporate actions under the RCL, except to the extent that these Bylaws expressly authorize such participation for spiritual governance and ecclesiastical order.

Art. 32. The Annual Members Meeting (AMM) shall be attended by an Elder and presided over by the Chairman of the Administration, who shall be responsible for calling and promoting the Notice of Meeting, through the Secretary of the Administration, 21 days in advance, and it shall be posted at the entrance doors of the CCUS places of worship so all members are made aware. The Chairman of the Administration shall preside over the proceedings in the cases provided for in these Bylaws, except in the case of Article 34.

Art. 33. The CCUS does not register members because it believes that the bond is of a spiritual nature between the faithful and God. The decisions of the Annual Member Meeting (AMM) shall be taken by the majority of the members present, which shall be made by acclamation using the word “Amen.”

CHAPTER V
Administrations and their Duties

Art. 34. The CCUS shall be represented and its assets managed by an Administration, with three (3) members and their possible deputies (Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer) appointed by the Regional Council of Elders, under the guidance of God, presented and approved in at an Annual Members Meeting (AMM) of the local brotherhood, attended by the Elder who serves the locality and presided over by the Chairman of the Administration, or his immediate deputy.

§ 1. If needed, positions may be created, such as vice Chairman, vice Secretary, vice Treasurer, and/or Administrative Assistants, all in accordance with the head provision of this article. In the event of a vacancy, the position may be filled by means of a Special Members’ Meeting.

§ 2. The Administration is responsible for managing all estate located in one or more States. The existence of more than one Administration for the same Territory in the same State is prohibited, but subsidiaries are accepted.

§ 3. The Administration may be terminated by decision of the National Council of Elders and/or Regional Council of Elders duly guided by God, and the Annual Members Meeting (AMM) of the local brotherhood must ratify it.

§ 4. The Administration may suggest, whenever needed, the formation of specific Departments; these suggestions must always be submitted to the Regional Council of Elders for approval.

Sole Paragraph. The operational organization of the Administrations, including Sectors and Regions, and the scope of their deliberative authority shall be detailed in the complementary document “Ministerial Meetings Deliberative Flow”, approved by the Special Council of Elders, provided that such procedures remain consistent with these Bylaws and with the New York Religious Corporations Law.

Art. 35. The term of office of the members of the Administration shall be 3 years, with the possibility of reappointment to the position held or to another position, as the Regional Council of Elders sees fit.

§ 1. Officers who are appointed as replacements to fill vacant positions shall serve the unexpired term of the replaced members.

§ 2. Administrators (directors) are not deemed to have the duties of trustees of a trust with respect to the Association of Churches or with respect to any property held or administered by the Association of Churches, including property that may be subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or transferor of the property.

Art. 36. The acts of Management of the estate of the CCUS that go beyond simple management, including the acquisition and disposal of real estate, shall first be presented to God in a joint prayer of the Regional Council of Elders, Deacons, Cooperators, if present, and Administration, in order to obtain confirmation from Him, and minutes shall then be drawn up on the deliberation taken for its perfect execution.

Sole Paragraph. The construction and/or renovation of buildings shall be decided at a joint meeting of the Regional Council of Elders, Deacons, Cooperators, if present, and the Administration.

Art. 37. The CCUS may grant power of attorney to members of the same faith to represent it, with specific powers of Management and a term not exceeding one year from its granting. In such situations, a minimum of three (3) proxies must be appointed, for whose acts at least two (2) must sign, with no substitution.

Art. 38. The estate of the CCUS, in each locality, is responsible for its obligations. The brotherhood is not responsible, not even in a subsidiary way, for the entity’s obligations.

§ 1. The members of the Ministry and the Administration shall be held accountable for any illicit acts practiced that cause moral or patrimonial damage to the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION OF THE UNITED STATES or to third parties.

§ 2. All acts of acquisition or disposal of real estate must be signed by the incumbent Officers or vices, subject to the substitutions provided for in the sole paragraphs of Articles 41, 42, and 43 of these Bylaws.

§ 3. Money belonging to the CCUS must be deposited on its behalf in local banks. Two (2) members of the administration shall always sign the bank transactions, one of whom must necessarily be the Treasurer or the Chairman, subject to the substitutions provided for in the sole paragraphs of Articles 41, 42, and 43 of these Bylaws.

§ 4. It is prohibited for brothers to grant personal guarantees for any purchases or loans.

§ 5. All real estate and physical assets acquired in the name of the CCUS shall be owned by the corresponding sector or regional administration responsible for the area in which the assets are located. However, in recognition of the historic practice of local stewardship, when the funds or voluntary labor for the purchase, construction, or improvement of such property originated primarily from a specific local congregation, the beneficial ownership and right of use shall remain with that local church, under the oversight and in communion with the respective Sector or Regional Administration.

§ 6. No member, officer, or individual Administrator shall have any personal right over the property of the church, and all assets shall be used exclusively for religious, charitable purposes.

§ 7. The CCUS shall comply with all local zoning laws, building codes, and property tax regulations applicable to religious institutions.

§ 8. The church shall maintain tax-exempt status on all real estate holdings in accordance with state and federal tax laws.

§ 9. Any property disputes or legal matters concerning church-owned real estate shall be resolved through mediation or arbitration before seeking civil litigation.

Art. 39. The Administration is responsible for:

  1. complying with the resolutions of the ministerial meetings, the statutory provisions, and the resolutions of the Annual Members Meetings (AMM);
  2. participating in the purchase and sale of real estate, the construction, renovation, and maintenance of houses of prayer, and in all the patrimonial and financial Management of the CCUS;
  3. preparing and submitting to the Annual Members Meeting (AMM), by the last day of March each year, a detailed report of its activities, including spiritual, such as Water Baptisms and Holy Suppers, as well as the balance sheet and accounting for the year ending December 31 of the previous year;
  4. periodically meeting with the local Ministry and, in close collaboration, examining and dealing with the material affairs of the CCUS;
  5. taking care, with all due zeal and diligence, of the amounts prepared by God in the collections and offerings;
  6. keeping all accounting, auxiliary, and minute books in perfect order, with up-to-date bookkeeping, maintaining the respective supporting documents in chronological order, including estate titles;
  7. to look after the assets of the CCUS;
  8. providing information to the authorities and government bodies, in compliance with their legal duty.

Art. 40. The Administration is strictly prohibited:

  1. to intervene in the ministry of the CCUS, and may not appoint, dismiss, or remove its members, which is the exclusive responsibility of the National or Regional Council of Elders, pursuant to Article 10 of these Bylaws.
  2. to endorse, guarantee, accommodate securities, provide sureties, or any guarantee in favor of third parties on behalf of the CCUS;
  3. to apply on behalf of the CCUS to governmental or private entities for aid or subsidies of any kind; and
  4. to use any assets or values belonging to the CCUS for purposes outside the interests of the Association of Churches.

CHAPTER VI
Duties of Officers

Art. 41. The Chairman is responsible for:

  1. calling and chairing Annual Members Meetings (AMM);
  2. representing or causing the CCUS to be represented in or out of court, as well as appointing attorneys with specific powers;
  3. presenting to the Annual Members Meeting (AMM) the spiritual and material activities, as well as the accounting statements of the CCUS; and
  4. opening, operating, and closing bank accounts jointly with the Treasurer, Secretary, or their deputies.

Sole Paragraph. In his absence, the Chairman shall be substituted by the Vice-Chairman; if there is no Vice-Chairman appointed, by any of the Officers on duty. Other ancillary duties inherent to the position are described in the specific Administrative Manual.

Art. 42. The Secretary is responsible for:

  1. supervising the work of the Office of the CCUS, proposing the administrative measures needed for its efficient organization;
  2. drafting and signing correspondence and Management documents;
  3. being responsible for keeping the Management’s archives and books up to date and in order;
  4. in the event of a vacancy in the Administration, and provided it is approved at the Elders’ Meeting, they may: Open, move, operate, and close the bank accounts jointly with the Chairman, Treasurer, or their deputies.

Sole Paragraph. In their absence, the Secretary shall be replaced by the Vice-Secretary; if there is no Vice-Secretary appointed, by any of the Officers on duty. Other ancillary duties inherent to the position are described in the specific Administrative Manual.

Art. 43. The Treasurer is responsible for:

  1. receiving, recording in its own cash book, and keeping the amounts belonging to the CCUS under their responsibility by depositing them to their account in banking establishments chosen by the Administration;
  2. presenting financial reports and all the information needed to draw up the financial statements;
  3. opening, operating, and closing the bank accounts together with the Chairman, Secretary, or their vice.

Sole Paragraph. In their absence, the Treasurer shall be substituted by the Vice-Treasurer; if there is no Vice-Treasurer appointed, by any of the Officers on duty. Other ancillary duties inherent to the position are described in the specific Administrative Manual.

CHAPTER VII
Board of Auditors and its Duties

Art. 44. The CCUS shall have a Board of Auditors comprised of 3 (three) members and, optionally, an alternate, with a term of office of one year, who shall be appointed by the Regional Council of Elders, under the guidance of God, presented and approved in at the Annual Members Meeting (AMM) of the local brotherhood, with reappointment permitted.

§ 1. The Board of Auditors, which may be assisted by an accountant, is responsible for examining all accounting, financial, and asset documents, and issuing the relevant opinion to be forwarded to the Annual Members Meeting (AMM). Other ancillary duties inherent to the position are described in the specific Administrative Manual.

§ 2. The Board of Auditors shall retain no corporate membership rights under applicable law.

CHAPTER VIII
Final and Transitional Provisions

Art. 45. In order to preserve spiritual unity among the people of God, there shall be held annually in the United States of America, General Assembly of Teaching - GAT of Elder Brothers, Deacons, Cooperators and Youth Cooperators of the CCUS from all over the country, when possible in person or, obligatorily, virtually, as well as those of the ministry who come from Congregations abroad and who follow the same Faith and Doctrine, as stated in § 2 of Art. 1. The deliberations make up for any omissions in these Bylaws and may take into account existing Bylaws from other countries.

Art. 46. These Bylaws may be amended only by a decision approved by the National Council of Elders during the General Assembly of Teaching (GAT), or, when necessary, during an Extraordinary Assembly of the National Council of Elders held in the United States of America.

§ 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any member of the National Council of Elders.

Art. 47. The CCUS may maintain regional distributors of bibles and hymnals, who shall be responsible for distributing said articles to houses of prayer throughout the country, necessary for the exercise of faith, worship services, in accordance with its Faith and Doctrine.

Art. 48. The Association of Churches may provide insurance, or other arrangement to effectuate this Article 48. As described herein, requests for indemnification shall not be unreasonably withheld.

  1. Mandatory Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by the Code, as amended from time to time (provided, however, that if an amendment to the Code in any way limits or restricts the indemnification rights permitted by law as of the date of adoption of these Bylaws, such amendment shall apply only to the extent mandated by law and only to activities of persons subject to indemnification under this Article 48 which occur subsequent to the effective date of such amendment), the Association of Churches shall indemnify and advance expenses to any person who is or was an Administrator (either elected or ex-officio), officer of the Association of Churches or member of the ministry, or to such person’s heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives, for the defense of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, and whether formal or informal (the “Proceeding”), to which such person was, is or is threatened to be made, a named defendant or respondent, which indemnification and advancement of expenses shall include Counsel fees actually incurred as a result of the Proceeding or any appeal thereof, reasonable expenses actually incurred with respect to the Proceeding, all fines, judgments, penalties and amounts paid in settlement thereof, subject to the following conditions:

    (1) The Proceeding was instituted by reason of the fact that such person is or was an Administrator or officer of the Association of Churches; and

    (2) The Administrator or officer and ministry that conducted himself in good faith, and he reasonably believed: (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the Association of Churches, that his conduct was in its best interest; (b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the Association of Churches; and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the Administrator or officer and ministry did not meet the standard of conduct herein described.

  2. Permissive Indemnification. The Association of Churches may, to the maximum extent permitted by the Code, as amended from time to time (provided, however, that if an amendment to the Code in any way limits or restricts the indemnification rights permitted by law as of the date of adoption of these Bylaws, such amendment shall apply only to the extent mandated by law and only to activities of persons subject to indemnification under this Article 48 which occur subsequent to the effective date of such amendment), indemnify and advance expenses in a Proceeding to any person who is or was an employee or agent of the Association of Churches, or to such person’s heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives, to the same extent as set forth in this Article 48, provided that the Proceeding was instituted by reason of the fact that such person is or was an employee or agent of the Association of Churches and met the standards of conduct set forth in this Article 48. The Association of Churches may also indemnify and advance expenses in a Proceeding to any person who is or was an employee or agent of the Association of Churches to the extent doing so is consistent with public policy or as may be provided by these Bylaws, by contract, or by general or specific action of the Administration.

Sole Paragraph. In the event of a conflict between these bylaws and U.S. regulations for nonprofit organizations, the church shall make the necessary amendments to maintain compliance, while preserving its religious and doctrinal principles.

Art. 49. Any omissions in these Bylaws shall be filed according to the deliberations of the General Assembly of Teaching (GAT), or an Extraordinary Assembly of Teaching, by means of teaching topics.

Art. 50. These Bylaws supersede all previous versions and shall take effect upon their approval by the General Assembly of Teaching (GAT), or an Extraordinary Assembly of Teaching, and their registration with the competent public authority.

Adopted by the National Council of Elders of the Christian Congregation in the United States, duly assembled on November 08, 2025.