Constitution And BylawsArticle 1: Name and principle officeThe name of this corporation is Grace Life Church. The Corporation will be further referred to as the “Church”. The church office is presently located at 47 Apple St. in Torrington, Ct. 06790. The physical location of the church 485 Winsted Rd Torrington Ct. 06790 The church shall have the power and authority to change the principle location at a later date. Article 2: PurposeThe purpose of this church is to glorify God by obeying the great commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). The process is designed to produce disciples of Jesus Christ which involves the following four categories
Article 3: Statement of Faith1. The Scriptures InspiredThe Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of the Holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13) 2. The One True GodheadThe triune Godhead is comprised of 3 separate and distinct persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who are eternally self-existent, self revealed and function as one entity. Jesus Christ, who is God manifested in the flesh, is the second member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. (John 1:1; John 1:14; John 16:28; John 1:18; John 15:26) 3. Man, His Fall, and RedemptionMan was created good and upright, for God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” But man, by voluntary transgression, fell and his only hope of redemption is in Jesus Christ the Son of God. (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:1-7: Romans 5:12-21) 4. The Salvation of Mana) Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. On the cross Jesus Christ became sin and sickness providing both salvation and divine healing for all mankind (Psalm 103:3), being justified freely by His Grace through faith. “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead, though shalt be saved." “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:8-10) b) The Evidences of Salvation. The inward evidence to the believer of his salvation, is the direct witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16). The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. “And this is His commandment that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us” (I John 3:23). c) Faith and Works. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ and not by human works; however, our works will determine the rewards in eternity (Acts 16:3; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 14:10-12; and 2 Cor. 5:10) d) Jew and Gentile alike must receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and be born again before experiencing physical death. The Jew does not get a second chance to get saved after physical death with Jesus appearing to them and preaching to them. Abraham's bosom was closed and no longer exists since Jesus Christ paid for mankind's redemption in full. Today, when a Jew or Gentile is born again and experiences physical death, they are immediately in the presence of the Lord in heaven. (John 3:1-18; Ephesians 1:7-10,2:14-22; Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:5-16). 5. Baptism in WaterThe ordinance of baptism by a burial with Christ should be observed as commanded in the Scriptures by all who have really repented and in their hearts have truly believed on Christ as Savior and Lord. In so doing, they declare to the world that they have died with Jesus and that they have also been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:47-48; Romans 6:4). 6. The Lord’s Supper“And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, when he had supped, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Cor. 11:24, 25, 28). 7. The Promise of the FatherAll believers are entitled to, and should ardently expect and earnestly seek, the promise of the Father, the Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-31). This wonderful experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth (Acts 2:38; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9). The full consummation of the Baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is evidenced by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance, and by the subsequent manifestation of spiritual power in public testimony and service (Acts 1:8; 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:2-6). 8. The ChurchThe Church is: One New Man, One Body, One Holy Temple of the Living God made up of both Jew and Gentile. The church is the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and church of the first born, whose names are written in Heaven. (Ephesians 1:22; 2:11-22; Hebrews 12:23). 9. Total Prosperity
10. Blessed Hope and Resurrection of the JustJesus is coming again to gather all His Saints to Heaven. The angels said to Jesus’ disciples, “…this same Jesus…shall come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” His coming is imminent. When He comes, “…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…” (Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 1 Thess. 4:16-17; and 2 Thess. 2:1). 11. The Lake of FireThose who have not accepted the redemptive work of Jesus Christ will suffer eternal separation from the Godhead. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15). 12. The Millennial Reign of JesusThe return of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints from Heaven to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth as the Scriptures promised. (Romans 11:25, 27; 11 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:11-16; 20:1-7) After this, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev. 21) Article 4: AffiliationThe church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs independent of any denomination control, Recognizing, however the benefits of cooperation with other churches in world missions, This church voluntarily affiliates with ABEA. (Anchor Bay Evangelistic Association) Article 5: MembershipSection 1 GeneralMembership in this church shall consist of all persons who have met the requirements for membership, been approved by the Pastor and are listed in a membership role Section 2 Qualifications for membership
Section 3 Termination of membershipMembers may be removed from the church roll for the following reasons:
Article 6: Church Officers(Directors of the Corporation) Section 1:The officers of the Church will consist of a minimum of three persons. The lay officers will be appointed by the Pastor Section 2A. The Senior Pastor will serve as the President of the corporation and will be the moderator of the church. He will lead the staff and have the responsibility to appoint and dismiss as needed. In the Pastors absence one of the directors of the corporation can act as a moderator. B. The Treasurer of the corporation will oversee and cause to be kept adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the corporation, He or She will also oversee the recognition and disbursement of funds. C. The Church Clerk will serve as the Secretary of the Corporation.. Section 3The officers of the Church are hereby designated of the Corporation as the term is defined and used in the Connecticut Nonprofit Corporation Code. Section 4It shall be the duty of the Directors (Trustees) to perform Three specific tasks:
Section 5Quorum. A majority of the Directors in office at the time shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.Section 6Removal of Directors. A. Any Director except the President may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors present at a meeting called for such purpose, at which a quorum is present at the time of such act, providing that the notice for the meeting is given to the members of the Board of Directors at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting and includes notice of the proposed removal. The Director who is the subject of removal may participate in the discussion and vote on the question of the removal of such Director from the Board of Directors. B. Any member of the Board of Directors may resign upon written notification to the President. Article 7: Records and ReportsThe Church will maintain the following records and reports:
Article 8: Corporate Responsibility(Nonprofit Status and Liquidation) The property of this corporation is dedicated to religious purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of a Director, Officer, or member of the corporation, or the benefit of any private individual. Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be donated to such other organizations which operated exclusively for religious purposes, and have established tax-exempt status under 501( c ) (3) Article 9This corporation can establish a Bible School, College and or institute at the approval of the board and the Pastor to help promote the growth of the congregation and to prepare Lay people for the ministry, and fulfill the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20 Article 10: Amendment to BylawsNew Bylaws may be adopted or these bylaws may be amended provided the proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a regular church business meeting and then circulated to the membership. Certificate of Secretary I the undersigned, certify that I am the acting secretary of Grace Life Church a Nonprofit Religious Corporation and the above Bylaws, consisting of eight pages are the Constitution and bylaws of this Corporation as adopted at 1:36 pm. This August 20, 2008 Core ValuesI. Biblical AuthorityWe take God’s word literally and it is the final authority for our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21) We value the word of God, which is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who is our teacher and reveals God to us as we meditate on God’s word, understand it, and do it, and succeed in life. (Joshua 1:8; John 1:14:26; John 15:13). II. Our Covenant with GodThe New Blood Covenant has been sealed and ratified with the shed blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13:20 AMP). It has already provided abundant provision in every area of life both spiritually and physically (Eph. 1:3, Eph 3:20 AMP). A partial list of this provision includes:
III. LoveJesus said that the first and greatest commandment is to love God with our whole being and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). Love is honest and transparent before God and man; it is the absence of pretense, giving credit when and where credit is due, an attitude of presenting the real you. Love esteems others better than himself and looks out for the interests of others (I Cor. 13:4-8; Phil. 2:3-4). IV. FaithFaith is simply trusting God. And because you do, you obey His word in all things. Without faith and obedience you cannot please God. Trusting God in all things carries with it an intimate relationship with God through worship, praise, communion, fellowship, and prayer (Heb. 11:6; James 2:26; Phil. 3:10-11 AMP; John 14:23-24; John 9:31; John 4:24). V. Covenant Relationships – People/MembershipWe strive to create an environment where people are valued, esteemed, loved, and honored. When we are connected relationally, we have/experience accountability, belonging, care, and growth (Eph 5:21 AMP; Phil. 3;1-4; Prov. 27:17; I Cor. 12:12-26). VI. Integrity in MinistryWe insist on absolute integrity in everything we do. We take responsibility for our successes and failures. We celebrate our success and see failures as opportunities for growth. (I Tim. 4:16; II Tim. 2:15; I Peter 5:1-4; II Tim. 4:7-8 AMP; Luke 8:15 AMP).
VII. Stewardship“We deem it a sacred responsibility and genuine opportunity to be faithful stewards of all God has entrusted to us: our time, our talents, and our financial resources. We view all of life as a sacred trust to be used wisely." In creation, God expected Adam and Eve to consecrate all things in the earth to Him and to manage it in a God-glorifying way, fulfilling His divine purpose (Gen. 1:28). The parable of the talents warns us that our place and service in heaven will depend on the faithfulness of our lives and services here. A talent represents our abilities, time, resources, and opportunities to serve God while on earth. These things are considered by God as a trust that we are responsible to administer in the wisest possible way (Matt. 25:14-30). VIII. Excellence in MinistryThough excellence in ministry requires personal skills, organizational proficiency, and professional competency, without a passion for the gospel and a vision for the world, there is no excellence in ministry. Ministry is about sharing in God’s excellence incarnate in Jesus Christ. Excellence is about being! Without love there can never be excellence in the Lord (I Cor. 12:31 through I Cor. 13:1-13). Daniel had an excellent spirit (Daniel 5:12). “And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].” IX. Intentional, Relevant Global Evangelism & DiscipleshipWe have been called to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations and make disciples of them (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; The VisionProverbs 29:18 (NKJV) 18 Where there is no revelation (Vision) , the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. Although the word "vision" in this verse isn't limited to goals or dreams that the Lord gives us, it specifically is referring to godly revelation of right and wrong. We at Grace Life Church believe in God’s word as being the final authority for every area of life. And though we have many visions as a body, we have listed the main vision of this church or the purpose of GLC. First Vision: Minister and teach Gods uncompromised Love and His Grace.Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. John 3:16-17 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Second Vision: Edify the BodyEphesians 4:29 (NKJV) 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ Acts 20:32 (NKJV) 32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Third Vision: Equip others to go out and do the work of the ministryMark 16:15 (NKJV) 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ 2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 4:5 (NKJV) 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. |
