CONSTITUTION OF
FIRST EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
(with changes adopted May 10, 2010)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATION
ARTICLE II - CONFESSION OF FAITH
ARTICLE III - PURPOSE
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE V - CHURCH GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE VI - PROPERTY
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
PREVIOUS VERSIONS
ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATION
The name of this Congregation shall be the First Evangelical Free Church.
This church shall be a member of the North Central District Association and shall thereby be affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, and shall, whenever possible, send delegates to their conferences, support their home and overseas missions, and unite in all mutual efforts for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ in the measure that the Congregation itself shall decide.
ARTICLE II - CONFESSION OF FAITH
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely
perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally
divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having
limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed
from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things
new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New
Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally
inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original
writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the
ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and
endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that
it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it
promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they
sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are
sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His
wrath. Only through God's saving work in Jesus Christ can we be
rescued, reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully
man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised
Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin
Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right
hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute,
shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice
for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute
the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the
Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates
sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and
adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates,
guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and
service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been
justified by God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They
are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is
the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose
membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus
mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord's Supper, which
visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means
of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these
ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God's justifying grace must not be separated
from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him
supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with
care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the
oppressed. With God's Word, the Spirit's power, and fervent
prayer in Christ's name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of
evil. In obedience to Christ's commission, we are to make
disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in
word and deed.
Christ's Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and premillennial return of our
Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God,
demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the
believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the
gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus
Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the
world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious
punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the
Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His
glorious grace. Amen.
- 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.
- We believe in one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost 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 now is our High Priest and Advocate.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 thus become children of God.
- 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.
- 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.
- We believe that only those who are thus members of the true church shall be eligible for membership in the local church.
- 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.
- We believe in the personal and pre-millennial 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.
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; of the believer to everlasting blessedness and joy with the Lord, of the unbeliever to judgement and everlasting conscious punishment.
ARTICLE III - PURPOSE
The purpose of this congregation is to worship God and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, be an effective fellowship of the concerned, lovingly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all persons. To accomplish this purpose, this congregation shall provide and maintain a place of worship; labor for the salvation of all persons, and for the edification of the believers in faith, hope, and love; preach and teach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; engage in religious, educational, charitable, and benevolent work; and assist in establishing and maintaining missionary work in the United States and other countries.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the church shall consist of persons who profess belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior; whose character, conduct and reputation conform therewith; and who will abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of this church.
ARTICLE V - CHURCH GOVERNMENT
- All authority in the church is vested in the voting membership of the church.
The church shall function in full compliance with the Articles of Incorporation, this Constitution, and the By-Laws as approved by the voting members.
There shall be no inconsistency between the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and By-Laws.
- The officers of the church shall be:
- Chairman
- Vice Chairman
- Secretary
- Treasurer
ARTICLE VI - PROPERTY
The members of this church who are loyal to and abide by this Constitution and the By-Laws of the First Evangelical Free Church have the right to ownership and control of the property of this church. Should any controversy arise as to whether such loyalty exists, the question shall be submitted to the North Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be introduced in writing at an Annual Meeting, cannot be finally acted upon until the next Annual Meeting, and must receive the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting before adoption.
PREVIOUS VERSIONS
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