CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES

BY-LAWS
1996

The CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION is a religious brotherhood conducting worship of the one and only Heavenly God, according to the apostolic age Scriptural writings incorporating the teachings and doctrine of Jesus Christ. Said “Church” functions with the statutes and Faith, hereinafter “By-Laws” and “Doctrine,” respectively. The Church is incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of its home state. The Church exercises the rights and privileges conferred on a non-profit religious corporation by federal and state law, and only those within the law, including the power to own, dispose of, or contract for the use of real or personal property, as deemed necessary or desirable by the Church for its functions.

The extended names such as “CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,” “CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION IN CANADA,” etc., identify national segments of the Church world-wide. The Church does not have a temporal life span, its earthly existence to be translated into an eternal one when its invisible Head, the Lord Jesus Christ, presents it to Himself at His promised return.

Those who embrace the Doctrine and teachings of the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, who obey Christ’s commandment for water baptism, and walk in “newness of life,” as required in the Scriptures (Matt. 28.18,19; Rom. 6.4), being careful to maintain an honest report, not neglecting the assembling of the faithful nor the church needs, are received as full members, without regard for nationality, race, color, sex, and without limitation as to number.

Within the framework of the Doctrine and By-Laws adopted for the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, the worship and corporal affairs of the Church are governed by the ministerial body of elders. The material and financial matters are handled by administrators, who as such, do not have a spiritual ministry but operate under guidance of the elders, who are the spiritual overseers. The total affairs of the Church are thus attended to by the combination of elders and administrators, together with two other classes of officials: the deacons, who look after administering aid to the sick and needy plus the widows and orphans, and the fellow-ministers to the elders, called cooperators. All these together - elders, deacons, cooperators, and administrators – make up the Administration.

Presiding in the Administration generally falls to the senior member of the spiritual ministry, unless specific conditions, such as physical limitation, indicate that another should perform the function. Among the administrators, not less than three in number, one will be designated the chairman for the administrators, one the recording secretary, and one the treasurer, all attending to their respective duties using sound and prudent business practices, in commitment to God and without monetary remuneration.

Those who are to fill the forenamed offices from among the faithful of the Church should possess the applicable Scriptural requisites and implicit ones pertaining to the office. One to be considered for an office is normally first identified by and before the spiritual ministry, and when they indicate accord, the individual is presented in a prayer to God. He is considered approved for that office when at least two or three, divinely inspired, orally confirm the particular appointment while in prayer together. Assuming the appointee is of disposition to accept the responsibility, the individual is subsequently presented to the Church for acceptance and recognition to occupy the designated position. He then takes office and continues therein without specified period, providing he remains steadfast in the doctrine, maintaining good report and regular attendance, performing his duties faithfully and conscientiously, as being under the review of God Himself. Involuntary removal from office can be accomplished only by the spiritual ministry for failure to maintain any of the aforesaid required conduct. Should the law of the state require periodic reaffirmation of office holders, this will be attended to in a meeting convened of the membership.

The spiritual ministry, being upheld by faithful members, may withdraw or limit the privilege of expression or participation in the Church services, anyone who is deemed unruly or disorderly, if such an one remains unrepentant following due admonishment (Matt. 18.15-17), or anyone who has become a reproach (I Tim. 3.7).

Physical property acquired by the Church and all monies held in account are titled in the Church’s name, to be used exclusively for the Church’s purposes. The administrators serve as custodians of the Church property and pursue necessary measures for its upkeep and care. Church funds, regularly derived from deposit of freewill contributions, made anonymously, are also in their charge. The congregation is kept informed of the state of Church finances by periodic reports.

The members of the Church share in the ownership of the property in the sense that they, as members, have the privilege to have part in its usage, for the Church-established purposes. Should any doctrinal divergences occur, the property will remain to the body of those who uphold, follow, and who do not oppose the Doctrine and By-Laws of the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, regardless of relative numbers.

No member shall by virtue of being a member of the Church be personally responsible for the liabilities incurred by the Church; likewise, the Church will not be liable for individual acts of its officials and members.

The Church believes that a celestial calling is needed to accept and live by its faith and doctrine. This comes about through an individual’s inner response to divine enlightenment and inspiration; therefore, the Church respects the individual’s freedom of determination. Adherence to the Church’s doctrine must be voluntary, free of coercion of the individual.

Should a local Church unit be dissolved by action of the annual General Assembly of the elders of the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, taken in combination with the local Church Administration, the proceeds of the value of that unit’s property, after discharge of any and all true liabilities, will not enure to any individual(s), but rather revert to other Church units of the same name, Doctrine and By-Laws, having the identical working and purposes. Only those purposes will ultimately be served by those proceeds.

The By-Laws and Doctrine were approved by the General Assembly of the elders in the year 1996. Any amendments to these articles must be made and approved in an officially scheduled Assembly of the elders. Such amendments will then be in effect for all the local Church units of the CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION.