Note: post-1948 additions
are marked in bold and text
deletions by strike-outs.
CONSTITUTION
AND
BY-LAWS
OF RADIO CHURCH OF GOD WORLDWIDE CHURCH OF GOD
PREAMBLE
In order to facilitate the
advancement of God's work, to which the Eternal
has graciously and graciously called us, and
which He has raised up through the ministry and
leadership of our pastor, Herbert W. Armstrong,
and which has been committed to us as co-workers
together in the service of Jesus Christ our Lord;
in order to carry out the Great Commission of
Jesus Christ to preach and publish the Gospel of
the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness;
to warn our own nation and the Democracies of
impending prophesied Judgment to fall unless we
forsake our increasing sins and return to our God
and His revealed righteous ways of living; in
order to train, educate, and prepare qualified
candidates or students for active service in this
ministry; in order to protect and preserve this
work of the Eternal, its divinely-ordained
mission, and its physical assets and property.
We, therefore, band ourselves together as an
association of called, baptized and consecrated
believers in Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and
adopt for our plan of operation and government in
the service of God the following covenant,
constitution, and by-laws. This instrument having
been ratified and accepted after prayer, due
deliberation, and full compliance with the
previous rules and regulations of this
Association, shall become effective as of this
date, and we hereby revoke all previous action
contrary thereto.
COVENANT
Having, as we believe, been called of God to
become His children and heirs, and co-heirs and
co-workers with Jesus Christ in His ministry, by
divine authority of Jesus Christ the Son of the
Creator God; and further, as we believe, and as
attested by the "fruits" borne
manifesting the direction, energizing and
approval of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
our Pastor and executive Director, Herbert W.
Armstrong, having been called through the will of
God to this special ministry for this time in the
service of Jesus Christ our Lord, we do now in
the presence of Almighty God and this assembly
most solemnly enter into COVENANT with Almighty
God our heavenly Father, and with one another, in
the name of Jesus Christ:
1) to walk together in Christian love; to
remain at all times loyal to this Church as
scripturally constituted by this instrument; to
do our individual utmost in the Spirit of Christ,
to preserve harmony and effective co-operation
among ourselves in carrying forward our
divinely-appointed mission; to abide faithfully
by the scriptural rules and regulations herein
set forth as the practice of this body, and to
defend this institution as the active ministry of
the true Church of God by our acts, our prayers,
our expressions in words, especially when in the
presence of others;
2) to do, each one, his or her part, so far as
lies within our ability, toward the divine
Commission given this Church by its Head and
Leader, Jesus Christ, by continuous earnest
prayer, by faithfully paying God's tithe and
giving offerings generously as God prospers, and
by whatever personal effort or activity which we
may be fitted and called upon to perform;
3) to walk circumspectly in the world, to be
subject to the laws and government of our nation,
to pray for the president and leaders of the
national government, to be careful to give a good
account of ourselves at all times before the
world in order that we may win, so far as within
us lies as Christians the respect and approbation
of the world, to avoid the appearance of evil or
placing a stumbling-block before others, to
practice the Great Command "thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself" with charity
toward all and malice toward none; following the
example of Jesus Christ by the faith and in the
power of His Spirit.
* * * * *
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
NAME
This association, a corporation, shall be
known as RADIO CHURCH OF GODWORLDWIDE
CHURCH OF GOD.
ARTICLE II
OBJECT
The object and purpose of this Association
shall be to carry out the active ministry,
according to the call and commission of Jesus
Christ, of the true CHURCH OF GOD and its various
local Churches with which it is associated and
from which it has come into being; which
scriptural call and commission is:
1) to preach and to publish the true Gospel of
Jesus Christ, which is the New Testament MESSAGE
which God sent by and was preached by Jesus
Christ our Lord -- the Gospel of the Kingdom of
God, in all the world as a witness unto all
nations in fulfillment of the prophecy for this
time of Matthew 24:14; 2) to effectively warn the
people of the United States, the British
Commonwealth of Nations, and the Democracies of
Northwestern Europe whom we understand to be the
descendants of the House of Israel, of the divine
judgments from Almighty God prophesied soon to
fall on our peoples in punishment unless we
repent of and turn from our increasing sins and
violations of God's laws, and return to national
and individual total reliance upon the God of our
fathers;
3) to be used of God in the conversion of
souls;
4) to minister to those whom God adds to His
Church, feeding the flock with the pure Word of
God by personal contact and by literature;
5) to establish, raise up, and maintain
according to New Testament pattern, local
churches composed of those whom God gives us;
6) to establish and conduct one or more
educational institutions or other instruments to
educate and train students for active duty in
this ministry of worldwide evangelism,
organization and conduct of local churches;
7) to minister to the material need of God's
people, by healing the sick through prayer and
faith in God's promises of healing, and whatever
other physical or material ministry we nay be
equipped to give.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Those who are recognized members of
all local churches affiliated with this
Association, together with those active
co-workers in this ministry, whether by tithes
and offerings and prayers only, or by this and
personal active full or part-time service, who
have been baptized into Jesus Christ and show
evidence by the fruits of their lives of having
received and and being now led by the Holy Spirit
of God and who keep the Commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus Christ, and who acknowledge
this as their sole and only church affiliation
shall be considered as members of the RADIO
CHURCH OF GOD.
Section 2. Reception of Members: No person can
join the Radio Church of God or any of its
affiliated local Churches of God, in the usual
sense of the word. We conceive, as revealed in
Holy Scripture, that God adds to the Church such
as are being saved, and it is by his Spirit being
received on Conversion that one is baptized or
inducted into the true Body of Christ. Any person
qualifying according to Section 1 first above, in
whom we perceive the grace of God as manifested
by the "fruits" borne in his or her
life, shall, if located near or visiting one of
the local churches, be given the right hand of
fellowship in public meeting by the local
membership; or, where not accessable to a local
congregation in our fellowship, such members,
considered as already having been added to the
Body of Christ, the true Church of God, by the
Holy Spirit, shall be if and when possible
extended the right hand of fellowship by any
authorized minister or representative of this
Body. Isolated members, however, may be
considered and recognized as members of the RADIO
CHURCH OF GOD without, or pending being extended
the right hand of fellowship in this personal
manner.
Section 3. Dismissal of Members: Since we are
warned in the New Testament that even of our own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things
to cause division and draw away disciples after
them; that "wolves" in "sheep's
clothing" making an appearance and pretence
of being true disciples or ministers will enter
in among God's true Christians for greedy
purpose; and since we are commanded to
mark them that cause division and offenses
contrary to the teaching of the Bible, and to
avoid them; and since Jesus specifically taught
that unprofitable servants shall be cast out of
the Kingdom of God; and since the Scriptures
instruct Christians in the procedure for
disfellowshipping such; therefore it shall be the
duty of every member of the Radio Church of God
to follow this scriptural instruction, by first
going to the guilty one and then if necessary
telling it to the Church (Matt 18); and the one
guilty of fomenting strife or division, or of
continuing in the breaking of any of the
Commandments of God, or persisting in a spirit of
opposition, competition, dissention, or
disloyalty to this Church, its mission and work,
or any of its institutions, shall, upon approval
of the pastor and two thirds of the members
present at any meeting be excluded from
membership and disfellowshipped by the
congregation provided, however, that two weeks'
notice of said meeting shall have been given the
one in question and the congregation in advance,
and the one involved shall have had opportunity
to appear in his or her own behalf, and provided
further that the scriptural steps pointed out in
Matthew 5 and 18 shall have been followed in a
sincere attempt to reconcile the offending
member. In the case of a member-at-large, distant
from and inaccessable to a local church, an
offending member may be excluded by the general
Pastor of this church upon approval of a majority
of the directors, but only after a full and fair
review of all the facts and evidence, the
offending member having had opportunity to
present his or her case in person or in writing
to the entire board, and after prayer. and
the authority therefore vested in the Church, if
the same be deemed expedient for the protection
or other benefit of the Church, to mark them that
cause division and offenses contrary to the
teaching of the Bible, to make a full statement
of the reasons to the congregation for doing so,
and/or disfellowship such persons and avoid them.
The determination as to which remedial procedure
is to be invoked, and whether or not the same is
`deemed expedient,' shall be within the sole and
subjective discretion of the ministers duly
authorized by the Church to make such a
determination
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND DUTIES THEREOF
Section 1. Board of Directors: The corporation
shall be controlled by a Board of Directors,
which shall consist of seventhirteen
in number, who shall also be Trustees. All
Directors except the Pastor Herbert
Armstrong, shall be appointed for a term
of one year. The Board of Directors shall consist
of A) the Pastor Herbert Armstrong,
who shall hold office perpetually by virtue of
having been called by divine authority of Jesus
Christ as evidenced by the founding, development
and growth of this work, the salvation of souls,
the raising up of local churches of those
converted by and through this ministry, the
effective proclaiming of the true Gospel to the
entire nation by word of mouth, by radio, and by
printed word, which achievements could only be
accomplished by the divine direction and the
power of God working effectually in and through
the one specially called for this mission.
B) Two elders, two deacons, and two
from the Church at large who may, or may not, be
elders or deacons.
Section 2. Executive Officers and Duties:
A) The President of the corporation, who shall
be a member of the Board of Directors, who also
is Pastor of this Church. He shall be the
Chairman of the Board of Directors. He shall, by
virtue of his office by divine calling and
direction, have power and authority to appoint
all other Directors and administrative officers,
after counsel with the other directors and
prayer.
B) A Vice-President, whose duties shall be to
act as president in the absence of the president.
C) Secretary-Treasurer, who shall keep all
minutes of Board meetings and Church meetings,
and records of the organization, and shall
account for and be responsible for all monies
received.
Section 3. Duties of the Pastor: It shall be
the duties of the Pastor to preach over the
radio, and, when feasable, by television; to
write booklets and literature; to Edit The PLAIN
TRUTH magazine; to preach before public
audiences; to preach when possible before our
local congregations; to pray for the sick; to
ordain elders and deacons; to teach or supervise
the teaching of the Bible and course of Religion
at the College training prospective ministers and
workers for the mission to which we have been
called; to have general oversight and supervision
of the Church and its work.
Section 4. Administrative Officers: The
President of the corporation shall be the
Executive Director over the active administration
of the work of evangelism; and in the conduct of
the business affairs of this active evangelistic
ministry, there shall be employed, responsible to
him, such administrative, executive, secretarial
and other help as the conduct of the purposes of
this Association may require, including, as at
present organized:
(1) A Business Manager, whose duties are to
manage and supervise all routine and ordinary
business administration, including employment and
direction of secretaries, file clerks and other
office employees; the purchase of supplies; the
payment of accounts, supervision over auditing
and keeping of books and records and reports, and
other administrative departments. The Business
Manager shall be directly responsible to, and
under direction of and in close cooperation with
the President, with whose knowledge and content
all important or out-of-the-ordinary decisions or
policies shall be made.
(2) An Office Manager, under direction of the
Business Manager, who shall supervise the routine
of the general office, maintaining and checking
the mailing list and addressing-machine system,
mimeographing, mailing of requested literature,
booklets, The PLAIN TRUTH magazine, etc. etc.
(3) An Auditor, in supervision of auditing and
bookkeeping department, who shall audit all
financial records of The RADIO CHURCH OF GOD and
its auxiliary organizations or institutions at
least once each year, and report to the
President, the Secretary-Treasury, and the Board
of Directors, their true financial condition. He
shall have access to all records of monies
received and of expenditures and amounts payable
at all times. He shall act also as adviser and
counsellor in the financial affairs of the
Church.
(4) An Executive Secretary, serving as
personal secretary to the President.
(5) A Financial Secretary, who shall be
manager of the mail opening department, and, in
supervision over trusted, trained and qualified
secretaries, shall be responsible for the opening
of mail, receiving of all monies, and turning of
those monies promptly over to the executive
secretary or auditor or whosoever the Business
Manager shall direct for entering in records and
banking. It shall be the further duty of the
Financial Secretary's office to carefully read
all incoming mail, channelling each piece into
the proper department or office for attention and
reply; marking carefully what special literature
is requested or in judgment of secretary, would
be helpful.
(6) Manager of Printing Department, in
supervision over printing of booklets, bulletins,
letters, letter-heads, envelopes and other
literature.
(7) Manager Recording Department, who shall be
in charge of radio studio control room and whose
duties are to make all recordings of radio
programs by electrical transcription for
broadcast, packaging and air-expressing same to
various radio stations; keeping careful records
of all transcribed programs sent to each station;
and maintenance continually in best condition of
all radio and recording equipment. (8)
Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds, who
shall be directly responsible to Business Manager
who in turn is responsible to the President of
the College for maintenance and repair of
buildings, new construction supervision,
supervision over all janitor work; also for
supervision and maintenance of all grounds, lawn,
trees, shrubs, hedge, etc., and any new
installation thereof or landscaping. No new
building construction or landscape installation
may be contracted for, however, or undertaken,
unless ordered by Business Manager with consent
of the President of the College and approval of
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Pastor shall have power and
authority to appoint and dissolve any and all
committees which may be necessary in carrying out
the mission and purposes of this Church.
The Board of Directors shall be vested
with authority to appoint a ministerial committee
and adopt procedures for it. Such committee,
however, shall have no authority to suspend,
disfellowship, or reinstate a Church member who
is also a corporate member.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
Section 1. The annual business meeting shall
be held each year during the Festival of
Tabernacles, attendance at which is regarded as
divinely compulsory by the members of this
Church, on or about the 20th day following the
new moon nearest the fall equinox, September
21st. At this meeting the Pastor shall appoint or
reappoint the Directors for the following year.
The President and Pastor shall make a report
before the membership assembled on the progress
of the work during the year just past, and make
recommendations for plans and the program for the
coming year or years. The Secretary- Treasurer
shall make report of the financial condition of
the Corporation.
Section 2. Special Meetings: The President and
Pastor has power and authority to call a special
meeting whenever the need for such meeting may
arise.
Section 3. The transactions at any
meeting of the Board of Directors however called
and noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid
as if held after the proper call and notice, if a
quorum is present and, either before or after the
meeting, each absent Director signs either a
written waiver of notice, a consent to holding
the meeting, or an approval of its minutes. These
waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed
with the corporate records or made a part of the
minutes of the meeting. Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of any regular
or special board meeting need be specified in the
notice or waiver of notice of the meeting.
Section 4. The Board of Directors may
take any action without a meeting that may be
required or permitted to be taken by the Board at
a meeting, if all members of the Board
individually or collectively consent in writing
to the action. The written consent or consents
shall be filed in the minutes of the proceedings
of the Board. The action by written consent shall
have the same effect as a unanimous vote of
Directors. Any certificate or other document
filed with the minutes of the proceedings shall
state that the action was taken by unanimous
written consent of the Board without a meeting
and that the By-Laws of the corporation authorize
this action.
ARTICLE VII
AMBASSADOR COLLEGE
Section 1. Supervision and Control: For the
present Ambassador College shall remain under
ownership of the Radio Church of God, but the
College shall, prior to graduating the first
senior class, be separately incorporated as an
educational corporation under the laws of the
state of California in order to make legally
possible the conferring of degrees upon
graduating students; and when it shall thus be
separately incorporated the Constitution and By-
Laws of the College shall provide explicitly that
no person may ever become a Director on its
governing Board unless a member of this Church.
The College shall be under the overall direction
and supervision of the Board of Directors, who
shall have sole authority to set all policies,
objectives, goals, etc., and shall make final
decision as to acquirement of additional grounds
and buildings or new building construction; and
over-all supervision of finances, budgets, etc.
Section 2. Basic Policy: It shall be permanent
and unalterable basic policy which shall be
firmly incorporated into the Constitution and
By-Laws of the College when separately
incorporated, that Ambassador College shall
perpetually remain a Christian institution based
upon and teaching Fundamental Bible doctrine,
including the literal and special creation of
this earth and all upon it by Almighty God the
Creator; and no course shall ever be taught in
opposition or contrary thereto; and no teacher
shall ever be employed who teaches contrary
thereto, or who supports or teaches Communism, or
who is a member of the Communist Party or a
sympathetic adherer to its doctrines; and it
shall be stated in all contracts for the
employment of teachers, faculty members, or
executive officers of the college that evidence
proving violation of these provisions shall
constitute immediate dismissal and cancellation
of the contract.
Section 3. Administrative Officers: The
President of this corporation shall, as Chairman
of its Board of Directors, be Chairman of
Ambassador College. Under the over-all direction
of the Board of Directors, the College shall be
administered by:
A) The President of the College, who,
responsible to the Chairman and Board of
Directors, shall be in charge of administration
of the college, the hiring or dismissal, subject
to approval of the Board of Directors, of all
professors and other employees, the ordering of
supplies and making of other expenditures within
the budget appropriated by the Board of
Directors. He shall make a report at least once
each semester to the Board on the state of the
College. He shall make recommendation at least
once a year of plans, policies, and budget
required for the ensuing year. Within, and in
conformity to the general policies and objectives
set by the Board Of Directors, he shall have a
free hand in general administration, arrangement
of curriculum, supervision over faculty and
student body and conduct of the College.
B) Dean of Instruction, who, directly
responsible to the President of the College,
shall be in supervision over department heads,
teaching staff, and student body, and, in
conjunction with the President, over the
Registrar and Director of Research.
C) Dean of Men, responsible directly to the
President, and in supervision over men students.
D) Dean of Women, directly responsible to the
President, and in supervision over Director of
Dormitory and women students.
E) Registrar, responsible directly to Dean of
Instruction, jointly with responsibility to the
President.
F) Librarian, responsible directly to the
President, who shall supervise purchase of books
for library, and co-operate with teaching staff
and students direct.
G) Department Heads, each of which shall
supervise the teaching staff in his department
and outline the course of study in his
department, under direct supervision of the Dean
of Instruction, and of the President of the
College.
H) Director of Research, responsible directly
to the President, co-operating actively with the
Dean of Instruction and the teaching staff.
I) Business Manager, who, directly responsible
to the President of the College, shall manage and
supervise all routine and ordinary business
administration, including employment and
direction of secretaries and other employees in
the business office; the purchase of supplies;
the payment of all accounts and supervision over
auditing and keeping of books and records.
J) Health Director, directly responsible to
the President.
K) Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds,
directly responsible to the Business Manager, who
shall direct his duties in general under
direction of President of the College. Duties
outlined in detail in (8) of Sec. 4, Art. IV
above.
L) Chief Accountant, or Auditor, under direct
supervision of Business Manager, whose duties
respecting College accounts shall be same as
outlined in (3) of Sec 4, Art. IV above.
M) Director of Placement, directly responsible
to Dean of Instruction.
N) Director of Dormitory, responsible to Dean
of Women.
O) Executive Secretary, responsible jointly to
President and Chairman. P) Financial Secretary,
responsible to Business Manager, whose duties are
outlined in (5) of Sec. 4, Art. IV above.
Q) Manager Printing Department, responsible to
Business Manager and to President of the College.
R) Manager Radio Studio and Control Room,
directly responsible to Business Manager and the
Chairman, for upkeep, repair, and operation of
radio and recording facilities.
Section 4. Advisory Committee: The Chairman of
the College shall appoint five men of known
reputation and standing, not connected with this
college, to act in an advisory capacity together
with the Chairman and the President of the
College, of which five men at least one shall be
an educator, one a banker, and one a lawyer. The
purpose of this Committee shall not be the use of
influential names to add prestige to the College,
and their names shall never be used in any manner
not approved by these advisers, but the purpose
shall be purely and simply to secure the benefit
of their seasoned and experienced advice and
wisdom to assist the President and the Chairman
and the Board of this institution in making wise
decisions in the conduct and expansion of this
College.
ARTICLE VIII
ORGANIZATION OF LOCAL CHURCHES
Section 1. Appointment of officers: In
the raising up and organizing of local churches
by and through this active ministry, the officers
shall consist of all or as large a part of the
following as permitted by the size of the body
and qualified persons available: A pastor;
elders, of whom the pastor shall be presiding
elder; and deacons. The New Testament pattern
shall in all cases be followed, by which the
minister or evangelist used of God in raising up
and organizing the local congregation shall,
after fasting and prayer, appoint and ordain the
local pastor, elders, and deacons. In no case
shall there be worldly politics, or voting, or
selection of these officers by the members
themselves. In the absence of a credential
minister or evangelist in the raising up and
organizing of a local church, such appointments
and ordination shall be made by the general
Pastor of this Church. The local pastor or elder
shall, in every case, appoint all Sabbath or
Bible-school officers and teachers, and other
helpers, subject to approval by the credential
organizing minister or the general Pastor of this
Church. The general plan of organization of each
church, or of its incorporation if and when
incorporated, shall follow that of the parent
local Church of God at Eugene, Oregon Pasadena,
California.
ARTICLE VIII
Upon the winding up or dissolution of
this corporation, after paying or adequately
providing for the debts and obligations of the
corporation, the remaining assets shall be
distributed toa non-profit fund, foundation or
corporation, which is organized and operated
exclusively forcharitable, educational, religous
and/or scientific purposes and which has
established its tax exempt status under section
501 /c, (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If this
corporation holdsany assets in trust, such assets
shall be disposed of in such manner as may be
directed by a decreeof the Superior Court of the
county in which this corporation's principle
office is located, upon petition therefor by the
Attorney General or any other person concerned in
the liquidation.
ARTICLE IX
ORDINATION OF MINISTERS
Section 1. How Ordained: The Pastor of this
Church, or any credential minister or evangelist
of this Church shall have authority to appoint
and ordain ministers of the Gospel, which shall
be done only after fasting and prayer, and by
laying on of hands, according to Titus 1:5 and
Acts 14:23; and he may so ordain only those
qualified according to scriptural qualifications
laid down in I Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Ability
spiritually to carry out the commission of James
5:14-15 shall be a required qualification for all
elders or ministers. He must be a qualified
student of the Bible, possessing good and broad
understanding, apt to teach, able to answer the
gainsayers in diplomatic, spiritual, and
convincing manner, possessing qualities of
leadership. It is understood by this Church that
"Bishops" are merely local elders, and
"over-seers" are also
"bishops", having oversight over
spiritual and financial affairs of the local
church (Acts 20:17,28; I Peter 5:2). Deacons
shall be appointed under same conditions as
specified above, according to qualifications in I
Tim 3:8-13. A woman may not be a pastor,
minister, elder, or deacon.
Section 2. Granting of Licence to Preach:
License to preach may be granted by this Church,
upon recommendation of the Pastor and unanimous
approval of the Directors, whose names must be
signed to such document, to any qualified elder
who has served within this Church or any of its
local churches not less than one year, of
continuous preaching, and who has demonstrated
his ability and worthiness. License may not be
issued to women.
Section 3. Granting of Credentials:
Credentials, conferring authority for every duty
of a minister of the Gospel, may be granted by
this Church, upon recommendation of the Pastor
and unanimous approval of the Directors, all of
whose names must be signed to such document, to
any fully-qualified minister or evangelist who
has served actively and continuously as a
licensed minister at least one year, and who has
demonstrated his ability and qualifications by
having been used of God in the conversion of a
goodly number of souls, and also by having raised
up not less than one fully-organized church, or
two Sabbath-schools of a minimum of twelve
members each in regular attendance, and composed
mainly of disciples brought in through his
efforts. Credentials shall not be issued to
women.Pastor. The President and
its Secretary-Treasurer should sign such
document. Credentials shall not be issued to
women.
ARTICLE X
DOCTRINE, AND BASIS FOR FELLOWSHIP
Section 1. Basic Doctrine: The doctrine of
this Church shall be that of a plain and literal
understanding of the Holy Bible, believing it
means exactly what it says; -- of the Bible
alone, and not as interpreted by any other book
or person, but it is a point of basic doctrine in
this Church that we understand the Bible to
reveal a divine Creator, the Almighty God, a
divine Saviour, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who
came in the human flesh, proclaimed the Gospel of
the coming world-ruling Kingdom of God, which is
obligatory for all Christians to believe; who
died to pay the penalty of our sins in our stead;
who was raised from the dead after three days and
three nights in the grave by God the Father; who
ascended to the right hand of the Father in
heaven; who is soon coming again literally and in
Person to earth to set up the Kingdom of God, and
as King of Kings and Lord of lords to rule all
nations by this world-ruling Kingdom for one
thousand years; we believe in the Commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Section 2. Belief on Bearing Arms: It is the
conviction, and firm belief of this Church and
its membership that Christian disciples of Christ
are forbidden by Him and the Commandments of God
to kill, or in any manner directly or indirectly
to take human life by whatsoever means; and we
believe that bearing arms is directly contrary to
this fundamental doctrine of our belief; and we,
therefore, conscientiously refuse to bear arms or
to come under the military authority.
Section 3. Basis for Fellowship: The basis for
fellowship in this Church or any of its local
congregations shall be LOVE alone, plus the
adherence to and belief in the general basic
doctrine stated in Section 1 above, and the
requirement of repentance of sin (the
transgression of God's law) and the acceptance of
Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, and the
receiving of the Holy Spirit of God evidenced by
the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5) in the member's
life.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
These articles may be amended at any annual or
special business meeting called for that purpose,
upon recommendation of the changes by the
President and Pastor with the approval of a
majority of the members present.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Every person who serves as a director,
officer, or employee of the corporatlon, and
every person who serves at the written request of
the corporation (or at its oral request
subsequently confirmed in writing) as a director,
officer, or employee of another business, whether
or not incorporated, in which the corporation
owns a proprietary interest, may, in the
discretiorn of the Board of Directors, be
indemnified and held harmless by the corporation
from and against any loss, cost, liability, or
expense that may be imposed on or incurred by him
in connection with or resulting from any claim,
action, suit, or proceedlng, civil or criminal,
in whlch he may become a party or otherwise
involved because of his being or having been a
director, officer, or employee of the
corporation, or of the other business in which
the corporation may own a proprietary interest,
whether or not he has this relationship when the
loss, cost, liability, or expense was imposed or
incurred. The phrase "loss, cost, liability,
or expense" shall include all expenses
incurred in defense of the claim, action, suit,
or proceeding and the amounts of judgments, fines
or penalties levied or rendered against the
indemnified person, provided that no person shall
be entitles to indemnity under this section
unless the Board of Directors determines that he
was acting in good faith and within what he
reasonably believed the scope of his employment
or authority and for a purpose that he reasonably
believed to be in the corporation's best
interest. The determination of the Board of
Directors shall be within its sole and subjective
discretion and its decision shall be final.
Payments authorized under this section shall
include amounts paid and expenses incurred in
settling the claim, action, suit, or proceeding,
whether actually begun or only threatened.
Expenses incurred with respect to a claim,
action, suit or proceeding indemnified against
under this section may be advanced by the
corporation before final disposition of the
matter. This right of indemnification shall not
affect any other rights to which any person may
otherwise be entitled by law or contract.
* * * * *
This CONSTITUTION has been recommended by the
Pastor, and approved by the majority of the
members present at this annual meeting, this 24th
day of October, 1948.
(Signed) HERBERT W. ARMSTRONG
Pastor and President of
corporation
(Signed) BASIL WOLVERTON
Elder and Director
(Signed) LOMA D. ARMSTRONG
Vice-president
(Signed) D. T. HENION
Deacon and Director
(Signed) ESTHER OLSON
Secretary-treasurer
(Signed) JAMES A. GOTT
Deacon and Director
Document registered on
14 November 1977 at the Australian Securities
Commission.
