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.



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