of the
WORLD CONFERENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES OF GOD
Article 1 Name
This organisation shall be known as the Christian Churches of God and its governing body shall be known as the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God or in short form Christian Churches of God (World Conference) and is hereinafter referred to as the World Conference. The World Conference is to be the parent or controlling conference for all Conferences of the Christian Churches of God throughout the world. The World Conference is able to be a Member of the World Conference of the Churches of God in association by agreement with churches other than the Christian Churches of God.
Article 2 Aim
The aim of the Christian Churches of God is to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations by word and example.
The various churches in conference are to be bound by the beliefs as stated in the church’s publication the Statement of Beliefs of the Christian Faith (fourth edition) or as amended and published provided no such amendment attempts to compromise the Unitarian simplicity of the faith and introduce either Trinitarian, Binitarian or Ditheist doctrine.
Article 3 Jurisdiction
(1) This Conference is without jurisdictional limitation. It is to determine regional boundaries for the coordination and licensing of national churches that are members and member churches (or prospective member churches) of the Christian Churches of God.
(2) The Conference may extend assistance to any Conference of the Church or such other Conference as requests assistance from it. Such assistance may be provided either alone or in conjunction with other Conferences.
(3) The World Conference is to appoint regional directors for the coordination of national churches who are responsible to the World Conference for the correct doctrinal and administrative functioning of their church within the official publications of the church.
(4) The World Conference is to control the world web site and media and all churches are required to adhere to the doctrine as published.
(5) National Conferences may conduct media campaigns. Such campaigns are to be in accordance with the doctrine of the church and subject to review and coordination by the World Conference.
Article 4 Composition of Conference
This Conference shall be composed of such Churches, including the Conference Church, as are or shall be received into fellowship by this Conference.
Section 1. Officers of World Conference
(1) The two controlling officers of Conference are the Coordinator General and the Deputy Coordinator General. They are to hold office for the period from the Feast of Tabernacles of the seventh year of the cycle to the Last Great Day of the Feast of Tabernacles of the next cycle. In the event of the death of either of these coordinators the replacement is to be selected by lot from the remaining elders of the conference from the regional directors and heads of national churches. The replacement requires to be endorsed for doctrinal suitability by the remaining officer either the Coordinator General or his Deputy. The incoming elder is to assume the place of the Deputy. Should both die their replacements are determined by lot from the Conference. As provided for in section 1(2) below in the event of the death of both of these coordinators, the Assistant Coordinators-General replace them and their replacements are to be determined by lot from the elders of the Conference.
(2) The Conference Executive is to be expanded and two other elders are to be selected by lot. They will assume duty as the third and fourth officers of the World Conference and be known as the Assistant Coordinator General and the Assistant Deputy Coordinator General. At the end of every seven years, in the Sabbath year all four of the coordinators-general including any outgoing coordinators-general and deputy coordinators-general are to be placed in the lot for election to office. If either existing Coordinator General is selected from that draw by lot then he continues in office for the period as extended by the new appointment.
(3) The General Secretary-Treasurer is a supplementary member of the Conference and Executive Committee. The General Secretary is to be assisted by two Assistant General Secretaries who are also members of the Executive Committee of World Conference. Compulsory retirement for the General Secretary (s) is at seventy years of age.
(4) The board of elders is to consist of regional coordinators and national coordinators provided or selected from the national churches.
(5) The heads of the national churches of each region are to comprise each regional council and such other officers as are nominated by the Coordinator-General or his Deputy.
(6) The Board of Elders is to meet as a whole at least every seventh or Sabbath year and at such other times as are determined by the Coordinators General and Executive Committee of the World Conference. Business can be conducted in subcommittee of regions as endorsed by the Coordinators General. Meetings of the Board of Elders can be by electronic means in Regions or by Committee at the direction of the Coordinators General.
(7) The Board consisting of the head of each National Conference and the Regional Directors of National groups and the Coordinators General and assistant Coordinators General are to be all placed in any draw for the officers of the executive Committee being either the Coordinator General and Deputy Coordinator General and/or Assistant Coordinators General. Any such lot is to be run according to proper procedure and by properly supervised draw or lot. Scrutineers are to ensure the impartiality of the draw.
Section 2: Conference Churches.
(1) Conference churches, when licensed, are to be in discrete national or linguistic groups where possible. However churches can be Regional Churches covering more than one national area until such time as national churches become licensed. All are formed within the constitution of the World Conference and derive their authority and existence as legal entities of the Christian Churches of God from and by virtue of the endorsement by receiving a licence from the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
(2) National Churches are to be subject to seven years probation from the time of their admission to prospective national membership status. They are to conduct their internal affairs under World Conference supervision and discretion and as controlled by the constitution.
Article 5 Sessions
Section 1: Regular Sessions
The World Conference is to be convened by the Coordinator General or the Deputy Coordinator General at any time or place of their choosing. In the event of their deaths the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries or such officer nominated to fill that position have the power to convene the conference which shall consist of the remaining coordinators general and the regional and national directors as the Board of Elders together with the three Secretaries General.
Regional conferences may be convened by the regional coordinator or the officers of the World Conference who shall determine their extent and composition.
Regular Sessions of national member Conferences are to be held every seven years at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall determine and promulgate by Agenda. Such meetings are to be held between The First Day of the First Month (termed 1 Abib or Nisan) and the end of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread commencing the seventh or Sabbath Year according to the published calendar of CCG. The Jubilee year is to be added to the Sabbatical cycle as an eighth year for calculation of terms of office in that cycle.
Each National Conference is to conduct an annual meeting for the purpose of providing its reports and financial statements to the World Conference and its auditors and government authorities under legislation as directed.
Section 2: Special or Emergency Sessions
(1) Special Sessions of National Conferences may be convened by the World Conference or the Executive Committee of the National Conference or any person so authorised by the World or National Conference at such time and place as the convener may determine. An Emergency Session of this World or National Conference is to be convened pursuant to a request in writing by the office holders of a majority of Churches within the jurisdiction of such Conference. Churches newly admitted are deemed prospective churches and are excluded from voting in World Conference sessions over the seven years of their probation.
(2) Business to be dealt with by a Special or Emergency Session of a National Conference is to be:
(a) The business specified in the notice convening the session; and
(b) such further business as the Special or Emergency Session may determine by resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds of those who vote thereon.
(c) A quorum is to be not less than fifty percent of eligible delegates or in the case of individual congregations not less than fifty percent of the congregation.
(3) Subject to the above a Special or Emergency Session may elect any such officers or other persons or committees and transact any such business and do any other acts as a regular session under this Constitution or the Executive Committee between sessions may elect, transact, or do.
Section 3: Notice
Notice of the time and place of every session shall be given at least three weeks or twenty-one days before the opening date thereof in such manner as the convener thereof shall determine according to law.
Section 4: Voting
Each delegate to the sessions shall have one vote on all questions. The chairman of the session shall have a deliberative vote and in case of an equality of votes shall have a casting vote. Administrative issues are to be passed by simple majority. Doctrinal issues are determined by the World Conference and published in the media. Delegates to sessions that are separated by distance from the ordinary meetings can exercise vote by proxy as sent to the chairman and secretaries of each conference and within policy as directed by the World Conference. In all other aspects each ordinary member has one vote in his or her home conference.
Section 5: Powers of Session
Subject as hereinafter provided National Conferences in session shall have power to determine all matters and things for the order and good government of their Conference and the regulation of their affairs. The policies or determinations of the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God are binding on every National Conference. Should the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God seek membership of a World Conference of the Churches of God then no such resolution is binding on any conference unless ratified by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God. No such resolution can compromise the structure of the Statement of Beliefs on the Godhead and the law. No resolution will be binding on the Conference of the Christian Churches of God or members that conflicts with Biblical Law or that impugns the sovereignty of God and the Biblical exposition of the nature of God and of his Son Jesus Christ. This decision is made in the first instance by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
Article 6 Determination of Delegates to Sessions of Conference
Section 1:
(1) The World Conference is to consist of the standing officers who are the Executive Committee of conference (which may consist of up to seven members) and the Members of the Regional Conference Boards being the national heads and the regional directors. The Conference has the power to act in regions and convene in subcommittee under the supervision of the officers of the church for administrative matters. The entire board may be called for doctrinal or other issues. However the two officers of the Church as Coordinators-General may exercise a power of veto over any motion or activity which they deem to be designed to undermine the doctrinal or functional integrity of the church for which it was originally formed.
(2) National Conferences’ delegates shall be:
(a) Such delegates as shall be accredited by the churches duly authorised by the World Conference to participate in the National Conference. The churches can be accepted into Conference when the World Conference has authorised the formation of the area church and its participation in the National Conference. Each church shall be entitled to one delegate for each ten members or major fraction thereof.
(b) All members of the Executive Committee of the Conference.
(c) Those residing within the territory of the Conference and currently holding the following credentials, licences and certificates issued by this conference:
(i) Ministerial Credentials etc.,
(ii) Missionary Credentials etc.,
(iii) Editorial, Media and Literature Evangelist Credentials;
(iv) Teaching Ministry or Bible Instructor Credentials etc.
(d) A member of the World Conference present, or such other persons possessing important skills as recommended by the Executive Committee or the duly appointed committee on delegation, and accepted by vote of the delegates in session; the number of delegates thus seated shall not exceed twenty percent of the delegates duly accredited by the organised churches.
(3) The above delegates at large shall be entitled to meet with the church where their membership is currently held, and shall have full voting rights with that church in respect to all matters voted upon during the course of a duly convened and constituted session.
Article 7 Credentials, Licences and Certificates
Section 1:
(1) The World Conference through either the Coordinator-General or the Deputy Coordinator-General or their nominee either regionally or nationally has the power to ordain the ministry of the church either elders or deacons. The National Conference Executive Committees at their first meeting following the session shall determine who are approved ministers within the jurisdiction thereof, grant suitable credentials, licences and certificates to such ministers and other persons whom it shall consider suitable to serve in the cause of their Conference, and approve for ordination such men as shall have given proof of their call to the ministry and have been recommended by their Conference or a subdivisional Conference. No reordination of elders from subdivisions of the Christian Churches of God is necessary. There shall be no paid ministry. Ministers may hold other paid employment in the work. Allowances may be paid to members of the boards. No board member can also be a paid officer of the church.
(2) No member of any board may participate in the discussion of, or vote on, any matter to which they or their relatives have a fiduciary or financial interest, such relationship being to the third degree of consanguinity.
Section 2:
(1) Credentials, licences and certificates granted or issued by the National Conference Executive Committee shall remain in force and be valid until the next regular session unless previously terminated by the Executive Committee on grounds of resignation, misconduct or resolution by impeachment before a court comprised of a Special Session of the National Conference. Licences are not required to be physically reissued pursuant to the recredentialling process of each Sabbath Year. Licences are assumed to be in force unless recredentialling is refused and the credentials withdrawn.
(2) The World Conference has the right to revoke the licence of any church or national conference to act as a church or conference within the body of the Christian Churches of God. The revocation of licence may be on doctrinal or other grounds. Any church whose credentials are revoked for doctrinal or other impropriety forfeits any rights to use any material of the church or to act in any way as a member or organisation of the Christian Churches of God or to hold property or goods in the name of the Christian Churches of God in any of its conferences or organisations.
(3) The removal of credentials of an individual or church or conference is subject to the rules of natural justice. Any revocation must be made pursuant to the notification of the charge in writing. The system of redress is laid out in Article 20.
(4) Copyright of all material vests in the World Conference but no work may be suppressed by the use of copyright. In the event of such suppression, in all cases the individual, or their heirs and successors, may publish their own work in the public interest. Where such material is contrary to doctrine the work will not be published by the Conference of the Christian Churches of God. The author may be removed from office or membership on such specified grounds as a disciplinary measure. Only publications authorised by the World Conference may use the names, trademarks and logos of the Christian Churches of God. All names, trademarks, logos and copyright of the national conferences are vested in the Christian Churches of God and are licensed by the World Conference under this constitution.
Article 8 Elections
Section 1:
(1) The National Conferences in regular session shall elect:
(a) Standing Committees in harmony with principles set out in Conference Policy.
(b) Officers and assistant officers of the Conference.
(c) Members of the Executive Committee.
(d) Departmental secretaries/directors/associate and assistant directors.
(2) (a) Persons elected under this section shall hold their respective offices or appointments until the next regular session of the National Conference unless their offices or appointments are previously terminated. Termination of office may be by the National Conference in Special Session or by the Executive Committee.
(b) The World Conference has the right and power to revoke the licence of the people or church to act as a member or church within the Christian Churches of God on doctrinal or other grounds.
(c) The termination of appointments if made on doctrinal grounds is to be specified as to how the conduct, beliefs or teachings contradict the beliefs of the Christian Churches of God as set out in the Statement of Beliefs. No officer can hold office that adopts a non-Unitarian Godhead and one different from that set out within the incorporation of the church.
(d) The termination of appointments on other grounds must take into account the baptism of the person involved in the dismissal and whether the offence was committed before or after baptism. No person shall be dismissed from the church for an offence committed before baptism and forgiven on repentance. The grounds must be determined according to law. If the person is acting to the detriment of the church and refusing to obey lawful directives of the elders and leaders of the church they may be dismissed. If they are subject to criminal activity after their baptism they are also subject to dismissal. The determination is to be made in accordance with natural justice. The decision may be made at the national level and ratified by World Conference, or it may be made at the World Conference level directly at its discretion.
Section 2:
(1) The World Conference or the National Conferences in Session or their Executive Committee between sessions may establish such offices, positions, and committees as may be determined, prescribe the duties and functions thereof and elect persons thereto and vary or terminate any such office, position or committee.
(2) Prospective National Churches may conduct internal affairs during their seven-year probation period but may not take part in voting on World Conference matters. Their representatives to regional conference divisions may provide advice without voting.
(3) National Conferences are entitled to one vote per conference on any issue including the amendment of the constitution.
(4) No group of national conferences may by vote in the World Conference direct expenditure beyond any nations tithe of the tithe required of it under the constitution. All assistance in excess of the tithe of the tithe is voluntary.
Article 9 Officers
Section 1: The World Conference is as specified above.
(1) The Coordinator-General shall conduct the business of the World Conference. He may appoint and ordain officers. He and the Deputy Coordinator-General are to determine the salaries of staff on the recommendation of the regional boards bearing in mind the national wage settings of each national committee.
(2) The Deputy Coordinator-General shall assist the Coordinator-General in the execution of the day-to-day affairs of the church. They may hold other regional or national offices as is determined necessary for the sound administration of the church from time to time. Both officers are responsible for the guardianship of the doctrine of the church. They are responsible for the administration of the Church. The roles of the church officers as recorded in the Bible and especially the New Testament (e.g. at Ephesians 4:11) are vested in these officers by virtue of their position. They have the power to appoint persons to those positions for the functioning of the church.
(3) The Coordinator-General and Deputy Coordinator-General are to be assisted by two Assistant Coordinators-General who are drawn by lot. They will replace the Coordinator-General and Deputy Coordinator-General in the following Sabbath year on the Last Great Day of the feasts of the Seventh Month, providing also the existing Coordinators-General are not reelected by lot in the draws.
(4) The General Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for the correct accounting of the tithe of the tithe and other offerings and donations and the keeping of the records of the church. The Secretary-Treasurer is to provide advice to the two Coordinators-General. Such administrative assistance as is necessary is to be provided to the Secretary-Treasurer in the execution of the tasks.
(5) The General Secretary is to be assisted by two Assistant General Secretaries.
(6) These officers are to be provided an allowance at least equivalent to a National Coordinator.
(7) The Regional Coordinators are also responsible for the supervision of the nations within their region and are to be paid an allowance as determined and at least equivalent to a National Coordinator.
Section 2: National Conferences
(1) The officers of the National Conferences shall be a president or chairman of the Executive Committee, who is to be the coordinator or senior elder, the secretary and a treasurer. (The secretary and treasurer may be the one person known as secretary-treasurer). The senior elder is the senior minister of the national church.
(2) There shall be such other officers as deemed suitable and as ratified by the National Conference in session and assistant officers as the Conference in session or the Executive Committee may determine. In the absence of the President the committee may nominate a chairman.
Section 3:
(1) The president shall supervise the general work of the National Conference; open and preside at all sessions of the Conference and also at all meetings of the Executive Committee, but should he desire any member of the Executive Committee to assist him in presiding at the sessions of the Conference or meetings of the Executive Committee, he shall have power to call him to the chair.
(2) The World Conference duties vest in the Coordinator-General or his Deputy.
Section 4:
The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the session of the Conference either at World or National level and of the meetings of the Executive Committee and perform such other duties as usually pertain to this office. Secretarial duties of a Regional Committee may be conducted by a National Secretary or other officer appointed for the task.
Section 5:
(1) The treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the Conference, keep an account of the same, and disburse them as the Executive Committee shall direct and make full report thereof at all sessions of the Conference and at such other times as may be required by the Executive Committee, and perform such other duties as usually pertain to this office.
(2) National Committees are to make prompt payment of the tithe of the tithe and other levies to the World Conference.
Section 6:
(1) The departmental secretaries and/or directors and/or associate and/or assistant directors shall work under the direction of the Executive Committee through the president, and shall occupy an advisory relationship to the field.
(2) The World Conference duties are to be performed to and under the duties of the Coordinator-General or his Deputy.
Section 7:
The officers shall make provision for the proper collection and tabulations of such statistics, reports and audits of the work within the territory of their Conference as may be deemed necessary. The periods of office are as specified in the various articles and subject to the limitations placed on each conference by this constitution.
Section 8:
(1) Officers of each National Conference hold their positions at the discretion of the National Committees. Officers of the World Conference hold their posts as directed by the Coordinators-General.
(2) Dismissal is to be in accordance with the provisions of this constitution and may be on doctrinal or administrative grounds in the interest of the church.
Article 10 Appointments
(1) A National Conference in session or its Executive Committee between sessions:
(a) Shall appoint such agents, ministers, missionaries, and other persons as may be necessary to carry on the work of the National Conference, and
(b) May terminate or vary any such appointments.
(2) The World Conference through the Coordinator-General or in his absence the Deputy:
(a) Shall appoint such agents, ministers, missionaries, and other persons as may be necessary to carry on the work of the Conference, and
(b) May terminate or vary any such appointments.
Article 11 Executive Committee
Section 1:
At each regular session the National Conference shall elect an Executive Committee which shall consist of the president and the secretary and such other members as are deemed necessary to a total of ten making twelve in all. Fifty percent of the elected members of each and every committee at all levels shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2:
(1) Between sessions the Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the National Conference and may exercise such powers of the National Conference in session as under this Constitution as are not exclusively exercisable by the National Conference in session, such as the appointment of its officials for the septennium. The Executive Committee is subject to the National Conference and any directions as to policy or otherwise and any regulations given or made by the National Conference in session.
(2) Each National Conference and every officer is subject to the policy coordination of the officers of the World Conference generally or working within a region or in missionary activities.
Section 3:
The Executive Committee of each National Conference between sessions may remove from office any officer of their Conference or from the Executive Committee any member thereof, provided that such action has the consent of at least two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee expressed by personal vote or by signature to a resolution in writing submitted to all the members of the Executive Committee. Separate copies of such resolutions may be signed for this purpose. Appeals from such action are subject to review by a Special Session of the Conference which may be called for such purpose. The appeal is to be made in writing to the president who shall then take such action as is necessary to convene a Special Session of the Conference.
Section 4:
The Executive Committee shall at least annually examine and set wages of all workers for their Conference and establish a wages and allowance policy for subdivisional Conferences as established.
Section 5:
Extraordinary Meetings of an Executive Committee may be called at any time or place by the president, or in an emergency, by the secretary of a National Conference or by three members of the said committee. Fifty percent of the elected members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article 12 Trustees
Section 1
(1) The World Conference is to hold property in its own right and has the power to acquire lands, erect buildings, acquire equipment and establish such institutions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to the furtherance of its aims and duties. It is to hold these in perpetuity.
(2) National Conferences may acquire lands, and erect buildings and establish such institutions or purchase such equipment as are in accordance with its duties and responsibilities as determined by this Constitution.
(3) Of necessity, activities of the World Conference in this regard are in the national boundaries of one or the other National Conference. Where such activity occurs the property is under the control of the World Conference.
Section 2:
(1) Where a National Conference ceases to exist or is deregistered as a body of the Christian Churches of God then the remaining property and monies are to be placed in trust under World Conference supervision until the church is reactivated or the remainder of the members reform under supervision of the World Conference.
(2) Monies and property can be transferred to the World Conference within the legislation of the nations involved. The tithe of the tithe is a mandatory transference under the licence agreement of the Church.
Article 13 Ranks
(1) The ministry is to consist of those termed elders and deacons. Elders are the ministry of the church who are ordained to perform the Sacraments and hold their ordination being credentialled by the church. Elders may ordain other ministry in accordance with church policy. Deacons are ordained for one of two functions. They may undertake welfare functions of the church to allow the Elders to concentrate on matters more appropriate or the deacons may be ordained to trial their suitability for the permanent ordination of Elder.
Deacons may not ordain in their own right. Deacon Evangelists may be ordained as auxiliary bishops and conferred with the power of ordination for missionary purposes by World Conference at the discretion of the Coordinator General. They can perform the sacraments of the Church, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Elders, (and, where stated, also Deacons) may hold the following appointments:
(a) Coordinators at the World Conference and National level
(b) Evangelist in the case of heads of colleges and of media missions. Biblically deacons, such as Philip, also held this appointment (Acts 6:5; 21:8).
(c) The office of Regional President of a Subdivisional Conference is a pastoral appointment. He may be termed coordinator or pastor as is preferred. Deacons can be appointed within National Conference subdivisional areas or conferences as coordinators.
(d) The ordained ministers in each of the churches should be elders. Where more than one elder is present there shall be a coordinator or president appointed. The council of elders in each Church shall not exceed seven. Elders are not to be appointed merely because vacancies exist. All elders and deacons hold their licences to preach from Conference to Conference. They are to be re-credentialled each Sabbatical year. Elders are appointed permanently but can only preach on behalf of the Church with the Sabbatical sanction.
(e) Deacons or Deaconesses are to be appointed in each of the churches. A Diaconate is not to exceed seven in each church.
(f) Heads of missions to other nations or regions may be on appointments from (a) to (e) above.
(2) The Conferences shall lay hands on office holders. A National Conference President may ordain elders and deacons according to Conference policy between sessions. The World Conference Coordinator-General or the Deputy or a nominee may ordain at any time for any particular purpose.
Article 14 Tithes
(1) (a) Tithes as provided for in Leviticus chapter 27; Numbers chapter 18; Deuteronomy chapters 12 & 26; are to be paid to each National Conference.
(b) Accounts are to be kept and audited.
(c) Subdivisional Conferences where established are to provide a tithe of the tithe to the National Conference.
(d) Each National Conference is to pay the tithe of the tithe to the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
(e) Subdivisional conferences are only to be established with the permission of the World Conference and when numbers are such that administration at the national level is difficult.
(2) (a) Tithes are to be accounted for as both first tithe and third year welfare tithe.
(b) Where the social security system is adequate the payment of other assistance may be waived. World Conference is to determine any need for assistance internationally as per Article 15.
(c) Third year tithe is determined from the second tithe in the third year of the seven year cycle of the jubilee system as provided for in the Statement of Beliefs and doctrine on Tithing and published in the church calendar.
(3) Offerings are to be collected three times per year, before morning of the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread, Tabernacles and the day of Pentecost, over the three feast periods.
Article 15 Welfare
Each Conference is responsible for the welfare of its own people. Any Conference may provide assistance to other areas should the Executive Committee so resolve. Coordination is to be by the World Conference and Regional Coordinators or Directors.
Article 16 Media
(1) The production of web sites, magazines and publications is to be coordinated by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God who retain rights and control over the publications. No publication is to conflict in doctrine from that of the World Conference.
(2) National or Subdivisional Conferences may conduct local media campaigns by ordained personnel. National media is a National Conference responsibility. Campaigns in other nations are to be conducted within the areas of responsibility as agreed between the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God and the National Conference and the Regional Committee of the nation involved if any. Subdivisions may provide assistance as requested under (1) or (2) above.
(3) Copyright of all material vests in the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God except as provided for in Article 7 section 2 (4) above.
(4) National and Local Media compaigns are to be cleared with World Conference for doctrinal suitability in accordance with the Statement of Beliefs.
(5) Academic or like papers are to be reviewed by National Coordinators of the Executive Committee and sent to World Conference for examination prior to endorsement through publication by any conference.
Article 17 Feasts and Conferences
(1) The National Conference shall be responsible for the arrangement and determination, with their subdivisions, if any, of Feast and Conference sites for the Feasts of the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles as required by Deuteronomy 16:6 and Leviticus 23.
(2) Feast and conference sites are to be the responsibility of local areas and subdivisions as established. They may be held in conjunction with adjoining regions under suitable arrangements. Movement between other Conference sites is to be by arrangement with the World Conference administration.
Article 18 Timings
(1) The timings of activities or annual holy days are to be in accordance with the calendar agreed by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God in accordance with the Biblical laws governing their determination. The fixing of Holy Days is to be calculated from the astronomical observance of the New Moon by conjunction as defined.
Holy Days are to be as found in Leviticus 23 and from the texts relating to New Moons.
- a)The Sabbath is to be continued as the seventh day of the week, currently known as Saturday, in accordance with the continued calculation. Meaning from Friday at End Evening Nautical Twilight (EENT) to Saturday EENT.
- b)The Feast known as the Passover consists of two days.
The first day or Lord’s Supper falls on 14 Nisan, the second day on 15 Nisan has the Passover meal of Exodus 12, and is the First Holy Day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread which then proceeds for seven days and ends on the Last Holy Day of the Feast. No leavened bread may be eaten until the close of the Last Holy Day. - c)Pentecost is calculated from the Wave Sheaf Offering on the Sunday falling within the Feast of Unleavened Bread and it is to be on a Sunday.
- d)The Day of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths in the seventh month called Tishri are to be calculated from the New Moon of the seventh month by astronomical observance.
- e)New Moons are kept and the First Day of the First month is a day of solemn assembly to begin the Sanctification of the Church, which is the Temple of God. The Seventh Day of the First Month is the Sanctification of the Simple and Erroneous (Ezek. 45:18-20).
Article 19 General Affiliation
(1) This Conference will recognise the membership of the World Conference of the Churches of God as formed and where operating in accordance with God’s laws. Such membership will constitute a recognition of existing churches that wish to associate in that Conference.
(2) The Christian Churches of God recognises the rite of adult baptism conferred on those members where the Churches are Sabbath keeping Churches of God by adherence and those members have been baptised into the body of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, and into the power of the Holy Spirit, and not into any sect or denomination. Such recognition does not require the person to be rebaptised. Policy on specific churches is to be determined by the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God.
Article 20 Redress
Section 1:
(1) Each member of the Church shall have recourse to a system of redress of grievances. Each church is to set in place a tribunal constituted of the elders, deacons and the whole congregation or such majority as are available to hear the matter within 30 days or as agreed by all parties.
(2) Appeal is to subdivisional conferences as formed or the National Conference in Session or Special Session. Where the World Conference has initiated the process the entire structure is determined from the World Conference with the assistance of the National Conference as necessary.
Section 2:
(1) No member is to be disfellowshipped, that is, removed from membership of the church (as opposed to being simply admitted to non-voting fellowship with the church) other than on Biblical grounds which are to be provided to them in writing. Such notice must be not less than three weeks before the appointed meeting and the member has the opportunity to appear before the congregation as per section 1 above, which he/she may waive. Where a member is accused of fomenting strife or division or disloyalty to the Church it must be proved that the member is actually attempting to divide the Church and is not merely disagreeing with the interpretation of a Biblical text (other than the law and this Constitution).
(2) Each member is required to abide by the constitution which includes the by laws of the association.
(3) Dismissal from a position on non-doctrinal grounds does not entitle a person to redress under this section. The Christian Churches of God reserves the right to terminate employment on need within the contractual obligation imposed upon each party as part of the work place and probationary agreements. Where impropriety is involved then redress is available within the laws of the nation involved.
Article 21 Auditors, Finance, Accounts and Indemnity
Section 1:
(1) All Conferences are to have accounts audited on an annual basis.
(2) Annual Financial Statements are to be approved at National Conference level and sent to World Conference.
(3) Financial years run from 1 Nisan to 1 Nisan in accordance with the Calendar of the church.
(4) Documents are executed by the officers of each Conference, namely the Chairman and Secretaries.
(5) Bank accounts are to be opened by the Secretaries and Treasurers of the various conferences at the direction of the Conference officers. Churches may run local activities accounts. All other accounts are to be under the control of the Treasurers at the direction of the Executive Committees or the Coordinators-General.
(6) National Conferences are not to borrow money without the consent of the World Conference.
(7) Coordinators, Directors and Officers of the Church are to be indemnified against the activities of the conferences they serve.
(8) Each Conference is to take out public liability insurance for its functions to indemnify the church against accidental damage or injury.
(9) The liability of all members of all conferences and associated or subsidiary organisations and those in fellowship is limited to US$20.00 or its equivalent.
Section 2 The Common Seal
The Common Seal of the Church is to be kept by the General Secretary on behalf of the Coordinator-General who is to direct its use. The National Conferences may be authorised to keep common seals of their National Conferences to be used under direction of their Executive Committees in accordance with policy as established by the World Conference.
Section 3 Roll of Membership
(1) Each baptised person is eligible to be admitted to fellowship and this is to be ratified by the Executive Committee of the National Conference and as provided for within this Constitution under supervision of the World Conference. People may be accorded voting membership by invitation after a trial period which is to be not less than three full years with its full feast periods observed.
(2) A Roll of Membership is to be maintained at the National and World Conference level. Admission to fellowship does not mean admission to voting membership of the church. Records of both categories of admission are to be kept by the Secretaries at each level.
Article 22 Amendments
(1) (a) This Constitution may be amended by a resolution of the World Conference of the Christian Churches of God in session passed by a majority of not less than three quarters of the delegates who vote and subject to the power of veto of the Coordinators-General.
(b) No amendment shall be moved except with the consent of the Coordinators-General.
(c) National Constitution amendments not in conflict with this constitution may be considered with the consent of the executive committee. Notice thereof shall have been given to the secretary not later than two calendar months before the date of holding the Session and in such case the notice convening the Session shall set out any intended amendment.
(2) Before any intended amendment of Subdivisional, meaning Regional or National Conference Constitutions is submitted to a Conference in session it shall first be referred by the Executive Committee of the Subdivisional Conference (if any) to the Executive Committee of the National Conference which shall consider such amendment and report thereon in writing to the World Conference and later to any such session.
[Amended 2008]