The Church of the Sons of YHVH
Constitution & By-Laws
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The Church of
the Sons of YHVH is an international, theo-political, Christian
Identity church organization governed by the will of the Creator,
our Father YHVH, outlined in His Holy Word, the Bible.
The Church of the Sons of YHVH was founded June of 2002. The church
was founded by Pastor Ray Redfeairn and Pastor Morris Gulett.
The current Senior Pastor of the church is Morris Gulett and the
Assistant Pastor is John Britton.
ARTICLE 1. MEMBERSHIP
Paragraph 1. Any person desiring membership in the Church of
the Sons of YHVH must first submit a membership application and
provide all of the data requested in said application. A person's
membership will be decided upon by the Senior and/or Assistant
Pastor after a character and background check have been completed.
Paragraph 2. A member's status can be revoked at anytime by
either the Senior Pastor or the Assistant Pastor. However, the
member has a right and a duty to seek an appeal of the Board of
Directors. If the Board of Directors sees fit to overturn the
decision to terminate said person's membership, then this should be
brought before the Senior/Assistant Pastors for examination. If the
decision to end the member's status is overturned, then a record of
the events will be placed in the members file and he/she will be
reinstated on a probationary period of 90 days.
ARTICLE 2. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. Stated Officers. The Stated Officers of this
church shall consist of Senior Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Moderator,
Clerk, Church Treasurer, Board of Directors, Board of Elders and
Board of Deacons. Other officers shall be elected at the discretion
of the church. All officers must be members of the Church.
Section 2. Authority. All decisions concerning the church are
in the ultimate authority of the Senior and Assistant Pastors. In
the absence of the Senior Pastor, the Assistant Pastor then becomes
the supreme ruling authority and Senior Pastor of the Church of the
Sons of YHVH. The Senior/Assistant Pastors have the right to
overrule any and all decisions made by any board or committee.
Section 3. Elections. Except for the Senior and Assistant
Pastor positions and the Board of Directors (three members)
appointed by them, all officers and committees shall be elected by
written ballot at the Annual Meeting, or special meeting. Unless
otherwise stated, the term of office shall be for one year or until
successors are elected, or unless otherwise specified by the
Senior/Assistant Pastors. All elections shall be by majority vote
(Moderator, Clerk, Church Treasurer, Board of Directors, Elders and
Deacons, which are appointed by the Senior/Assistant Pastors) of the
members present and voting. Vacancies of other officers, as defined
in Article 2, Section 1, which occur during the year shall be
referred by the Moderator to the Board of Directors and then voted
upon by the church at a special business meeting. Other vacancies on
boards and committees which occur mid-year will be filled by the
Elders after consulting with the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Pastors. A Pastor must scripturally qualify as a
Bishop as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; and other
scriptures. He shall shepherd the flock, preach and teach the Word,
and promote the Spiritual welfare of the church and those whom it
serves. He shall hold his office without limitation of time. The
Senior and Assistant Pastors shall without further election be
members of the Board of Elders, Board of Deacons and the Board of
Directors, excepting they may be excused from the Board when matters
concerning themselves are considered. The Senior and Assistant
Pastors shall be ex-officio members of all boards and committees.
The Senior Pastor shall make a report of the year's work at the
Annual Meeting.
The Pastors shall be the spiritual leaders of the church and be
responsible for the spiritual welfare and congregational care of its
members. They are to guard the purity of the doctrine and life of
the church, and to discipline and terminate the church members in
accordance with the Word of God.
Section 5. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall
assure the smooth operation of the church, by acting as a mediator
between the church, the moderator and its Senior/Assistant Pastors.
The Board of Directors has all authority under the Senior/Assistant
Pastors. Any decision made by the Board of Directors, which is in
protest by the church may be appealed to the Senior/Assistant
Pastors for consideration of redress.
Section 6. The Board of Elders. Elders must qualify
scripturally as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9, and other
scriptures. The maximum number of Elders is not limited. Their term
of office shall be four years, with approximately one-fourth of the
terms expiring each year. Any Elder who has served for four
consecutive years shall not be eligible for re-election to the same
office for at least one year. Excepting the Senior/Assistant Pastor,
only those who have been members of this church for two full years
shall be eligible for election as Elders. Each year, the Board shall
choose one of its members as chairman.
The Elders are given the vested authority by the congregation to
oversee all the affairs of the church. Any grievances shall be taken
first to the Board of Directors for remedy. All policies and budgets
of various boards and committees of the church shall be submitted to
the Elders for approval and then submitted to the Board of Directors
for consideration by the Senior/Assistant Pastors.
The Board of Elders shall be responsible for the custody and
maintenance of the property of the church and its financial
operations, but shall not be empowered to buy, sell, lease, mortgage
or transfer real estate without specific authority from the
Senior/Assistant Pastors and Board of Directors.
Section 7. The Board of Deacons. Consisting of Deacons, must
qualify scripturally as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and other
scriptures. There shall be no specified number of Deacons. The
Deacons shall be chosen for a term of three years, of whom shall be
appointed by the Senior/Assistant Pastors at each annual meeting.
Only those who are members of this church shall be eligible for
election to this board.
The Board of Deacons is responsible for the overall Care ministry of
this church which includes: prayer, visitation of the sick and
shut-in, providing financial counseling and giving general care for
the membership of the church. The Deacons will undertake special
projects of care and concern for the church. The Senior/Assistant
Pastors shall be ex-officio members to the Board of Deacons. The
Board of Deacons is answerable to the Board of Elders and the Board
of Elders is in turn answerable to the Board of Directors and the
Board of Directors is then answerable to the Senior/Assistant
Pastors.
Section 8. The Moderator. The Moderator shall be the
administrator of the Constitution and By-Laws and shall preside at
all business meetings. The Moderator shall be elected for a one year
term, but shall serve no more than three successive terms, except
under special circumstances outlined by the Senior/Assistant
Pastors. He shall have no power except as granted by the church
membership. The Chairman of the Board of Elders shall serve as Vice
Moderator.
Section 9. The Clerk. The Clerk shall keep a faithful record
of the proceedings of the church and deliver such record to the
appropriate staff person for safekeeping.
Section 10. The Church Treasurer. The Church Treasurer shall
oversee the custody of the bank records and expenditures of the
church. The Treasurer may also oversee the custody of other funds by
approval of the boards or committees concerned. The Treasurer will
be nominated by the Board of Directors with approval of the
Senior/Assistant Pastors and will be elected by the Church
Membership.
The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Senior/Assistant Pastors,
the Board of Directors, the Board of Elders and Church Members, for
advising/overseeing the church in its responsibility for the
administration of the proper depositing, disbursements, accounting,
and fund status reporting, for funds properly received by the church
and entrusted to his custody.
The Treasurer shall attend, as a voting member, monthly meetings of
the Senior/Assistant Pastor and Board of Directors and will oversee
the production of regular status reports, informing committee
members of any irregularities or problems foreseen by the
Senior/Assistant Pastors and will oversee the balancing of records
monthly and the annual professional audit.
Section 11. Board of Youth Ministries. The Board of Youth
Ministries shall consist of a recommended six elected members, one
third of whom shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve for
three years. No member may be elected to more than one full term
consecutively, unless otherwise specified by the Senior/Assistant
Pastors. Members chosen to fill unexpired terms shall serve only
until the expiration of such term, unless re-elected. In addition,
the Board of Elders shall designate one voting member to serve for
one year term on the Board of Youth Ministries. The staff member(s)
assigned by the Senior/Assistant Pastor shall be an ex-officio
member of this Board. The Board shall report to the Board of Elders.
It shall have the responsibility for correlating and overseeing the
church youth ministries. It shall insure that the youth ministries
are carried out in accordance with overall church policy. The Board
shall support and assist the staff member(s) assigned by the
Senior/Assistant Pastor in the conduct and coordination of the youth
ministries program. The Board of Youth Ministries shall be
responsible for the continuity of the Youth Ministries. It shall see
that the Youth program functions effectively on a continuing basis -
even during the absence of an assigned staff member.
Section 12. Other Officers. Other officers and committees may
be elected by the Church Membership at any business meeting together
with an outline of duties; provided however, that these duties do
not conflict with the stated officers and committees.
Section 13. Terminations. Members of various boards or
committees or holding singular positions may be terminated from the
board, committee or position by the Board of Directors or
Senior/Assistant Pastors for sufficient misconduct after an
appropriate investigation and interview with the person involved.
Section 14. Indemnification Clause. The church shall
indemnify any and all persons who may serve or who have served at
any time as officers against any and all expenses, including amounts
paid upon judgments, counsel fees, and amounts paid in settlement
(before or after suit is commenced) actually and necessarily
incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or
settlement of any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which they,
or any of them, are made parties, or a party, or which may be
asserted against any of them or any of them, by reason of being or
having been officers, except in relation to matters as to which any
such officer or former officer shall be adjudged in any action,
suit, or proceeding to be liable for his own negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duties. Such indemnification
shall be in addition to any other rights to which those indemnified
may be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, or otherwise.
Section 15. Meetings of Boards and Committees. The
secretaries of each board or committee shall be responsible for
forwarding a copy of the minutes of each meeting to the appropriate
Board of Directors staff person for safekeeping within one month of
the meeting.
ARTICLE 3. ORDINANCES
Section 1. Communion. In accordance with our King's gracious
words in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 and other scriptures, the King's
Supper is to be observed in remembrance of Him to show forth the
King's death until He comes. The emblems of the Communion Service
are to be set forth as symbols of our King's flesh and blood. The
King's Supper shall be observed once per year and all who love the
King and confess Him before men shall be invited. The stated time
shall be announced each year before Passover. This ordinance may
also be observed on other occasions by vote of the Elders or church.
Section 2. Baptism. The ordinance of baptism shall be
administered only to those persons who have first understood the
need for water baptism. Infant baptism shall not be practiced. A
Christian may be baptized whether or not he is contemplating
membership.
ARTICLE 4. MARRIAGES
Section 1. Marriages. Marriage services shall be only for
those who are professing Christians. A marriage of unbelievers will
not be performed by a pastor, and no marriage of a professing
Christian to an unbeliever shall be performed by any pastor of the
Church of the Sons of YHVH.
ARTICLE 5. ORDAINING
Section 1. Minister. Members of the Church who are students
for the Christian ministry or some other appropriate Christian work
and who make request to the church for a Minister's Ordination or
specialized license may be granted such a license upon examination
and recommendation of the Senior/Assistant Pastor.
Section 2. Pastor. A Christian who desires to be ordained to
the Christian ministry must fulfill the scriptural qualifications of
an Elder or Bishop as set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and other
scriptures. He should not be considered unless and until the
Senior/Assistant Pastor has had opportunity to have sufficient
knowledge of his qualifications (1 Timothy 5:22). Ordination shall
be at first as Minister and then after a time of service and
qualification, member may then be ordained as Pastor.
ARTICLE 6. MEETINGS AND SERVICES
Section 1. Worship, Bible Study and Prayer Services. The
regular services of this church shall be the Sabbath morning Worship
Services. Other regular and special services may be held as the
church deems them needful or desirable.
Section 2. Business Meetings
Paragraph 1. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the Church
shall be held on the third Wednesday of June. At this meeting,
officers shall be elected, yearly reports of officers, committees
and departments shall be presented in writing, and any other
business may be transacted.
Paragraph 2. Special Business Meetings. Special business
meetings shall be called whenever the Moderator or Senior/Assistant
Pastors consider it necessary. In general, only substantive matters
will be referred to the congregation such as capital items, staff
positions, constitution and by-law amendments, vacancies in stated
officers and other business matters the by-laws do not allow the
Elders to fulfill.
Paragraph 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the church shall
end on the 31st day of May each year.
ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENTS
The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any business meeting
duly called, but only by three-fourths vote of members present and
voting, with the approval of the Senior/Assistant Pastors. Such
proposed amendments must be posted on the church bulletin board or
inserted in the church bulletin for at least two Sabbaths before the
vote. Amendments may be presented by the Pastor, Board of Elders, or
any twenty-five members by petition. All proposed amendments should
be processed through the Moderator before being posted. |