DEFINITIONS AND MEMBERSHIP
In this Order, unless provided for
A -The ORGANIZATION refers to the South Sudan Christians Fellowship
Constitution-means the constitution of South Sudan Christians Fellowship.in which all its members are obliged to abide by;
B-The Pastor refers to the mandatory leader of the Church.
C-The Church BOARD refers to the true believers. Who received God call to serve his congregation?
D-The CHAIR PERSON refers to the chair persons of the CHURCH BOARD.
E-The members to the congregation of the South Sudan Christians Fellowship
F-One DENOMINATION refers to all Christians of different Churches.
G- The BYLAWS refer to the Canadian laws and regulations governing societies, organizations, and associations in the Province of British Columbia
Bylaw (2) CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be subject to the following requirements:
1-The person should genuinely profess and confess Jesus Christ to be his/her Saviour {Roman 10:9-10; 1Peter.3:15}
2-The person should commit himself/herself to the body of believers by undertaking and participating in the church activities, and respecting Church principles and regulations.
3-Agreement with our Statement of our Faith and Membership Covenant
Bylaw (3)RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS
1-All members shall participate in any programmes of the church.
2-Enjoy services of the Church.
.Duties
1-Abide by the rules and regulations enshrined in the Order.
2-Assist in the execution of the programmes of the Church
3-to parities the gifts and “tithes”
Bylaw (4) THE SPIRITUAL OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
The spiritual officers {ordained persons} of the church shall be composed of:
1-The Pastor
2-Assistant Pastor
3-The secretary General
Bylaws (5) QUALIFICATIONS OF A CHURCH OFFICER
Spiritual Officers {ordained ministers}.
To become a Church Officer, a candidate shall fulfill one of the following requirements
1-The mandate should be an ordained minister, an elder or a certified Evangelist.
2-The mandate should be a graduate from a theological college.
3-The mandate should produce proven Church documents to the above requirements.
4-The mandate must meet Biblical requirements outlined in 1Tim.3:1-8.
Bylaw (6)THE DUTIES OF THE CHURCH OFFICERS
A-The Pastor
The Pastor shall exercise the following:
1- Be the mandatory leader of the Church Officers and the Church Board.
2-Perform the Holy Sacraments of the Church.
3-Preside over spiritual meetings of the Church Officers
4-Represent the Church in all his contacts with other Churches and organizations
5-Announce the event of the Church { e.g. Weddings}
6-Handle reports, suggestions, complaints, as well as applications from both the Church Officers {faithful} and the Church Board.
7-Conference/seminar/workshop
8-Choir practice
9-Gospel musical concert
10-Counselling
B-THE ASSISTANT PASTOR
The Assistant Pastor Shall:
1-Fall second in the echelon of the Church
2-Assist Pastor in the administration and activities of the Church
3-In consultation with the Pastor follow up the work of the Church
4-Take full responsibility towards the Church in case the Pastor is absent or temporarily disabled
C- THE SECRETARY GENERAL
The Secretary General shall perform the following duties
1- Fall third in the echelon of the Church officers.
2- Be in charge of the legal and constitutional affairs of the Church
3-Be the custodian of the official documents of the Church.
4-Prepares in consultation with Pastor, or assistant Pastor the agenda of the meetings.
5-Take minutes of all the meetings.
6-Announce programs of the Church.
D- In addition to the duties, the Church Officers has spiritual, administrative, and moral obligations in accordance with the Scripture and shall exercise the following duties:
1-Execise full responsibility towards the spiritual growth of itis members.
1-Accept new members to the Church, who unless otherwise testifies Jesus to be His /her saviour and must be witnessed either by Pastor of the Church or his assistant or both.
E-APPOINTMENT OR DELEGATION BY THE CHURCH OFFICERS
The Church Officers shall appoint sub-committees to run limited Church activities such as :
1-Sunday School
2-Youth and women programs
3-Finance of the Church
Bylaw (7) CHURCH BOAD
The Church Board shall be composed of the Following,
1-Chairperson of the Church Board
2-The Secretary of Finance
3-The woman affairs and Youth
B-CHURCH BOARD:
As general criteria, to be appointed as a board member, the candidate shall fulfill the Biblical Requirements Mention in 1Tim 3:1-13
Bylaw (8) THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CHURCH BOARD
1-Be mandatory leader of the Church Board
2- Preside over the meetings of the church Board
3-Be responsible for social activities of the Church
THE ASSISTANT CHAIRPERSON OF THE CHURCH BOARD
1-Take full responsibility in case the chairperson in absent
Bylaw (9) THE SECRETARY FOR FINACE OF THE CHURCH BOARD
1-Responsible for keeping the financial documents of the Church.
2-Write fundraising proposals, and prepares the Church budget in consultation with the Pastor or assistant Pastor.
3-keep the records of the funds that come through offerings, tithes ,contributions, donations, and other sources.
4-The church funds must be used only when directed by the church officers
5-The Secretary for finance shall present a financial statement {Report} at the end of every calendar .year, and at any time whenever requested by the Church Board and officers or by congregation.
Bylaw (10) THE ASSISTANT SECRETAY FOR FINANCE OF THE CHURCH BORAD.
1-Assist the Secretary for finance in running the affairs of the office
2-Take full responsibility in case the finance Secretary is absent or temporarily disabled.
Bylaw (11) THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS
1-HAVE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE CHURCH
2-IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PASTOR, ARRANGE FOR COUNSELLING
3-Organize,or assist, or delegate to members of the congregation visits to hospitals, prisons, and homes of the individual members.
4- Prepare necessary arrangements for the church occasion, such as Christmas, Easter, weddings, funerals, /memorial and anniversary services. Etc.
Bylaw (11) A-THE SECRETARY FOR YOUTH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
Directly responsible for youth spiritual and social activities:
1-Encourage the youth to participate actively.in the Church activities
2-Organize Sunday school
3-Organize both spiritual and social programs such as revivals, outreach programs, retreats, seminary/conference, sports, and picnics for the youth.
B-THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR YOUTH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL
1-Take Full responsibility in case the Secretary for youth is absent or temporarily disabled/
2-Perform others duties as assigned by the Secretary of youth.
Bylaw (12)THE SECRETARY FOR WOMAN AFFAIRS
1-Organize and be responsible for Women Ministry in the Church .
2- Report any issues concerning women activities within the Church
3-Prepares refreshments or food for the Church occasions.
Bylaw (13)THE ASSISTANTS SECRETARTY FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS
1-Assist the Secretary for women affairs in the activities of the office
2-Take full responsibility in case the Secretary for women affairs is absent or temporarily disabled.
Bylaw (14)THE SECRETARY FOR PROPERTIES
1-Be a custodian of all properties of the Church.
Bylaw (15) SOURCES OF INCOME TO THE CHEST OF THE CHURCH
The finance of the Church shall be drawn through the following;
1-Contributions and donations from the members and people of good will
2-offerings and tithes collected on Sunday Services.
3-Any other source of fund-raising agreed upon by the Church Board provided that it doesn’t violate the principles of the Church.
Bylaw (16) THE USE OF FINANCE
The funds of the Church shall be used for the purposes of developing the Church through it’s life activities as follows:
1-All the fund of the Church shall be spent on Church ministry .
2-Obtaining signatories of the Pastor, Secretary General, and the assistant Pastor
3- The Church shall keep an account with a recognized bank and all transactions shall be apparent from the passbook or bank statements:
4-Money shall only be withdrawn based on the resolution of the Church Officers
Bylaw (17) MEETINGS OF THE CHURCH BOARD OR CHURCH OFFICERS
1-The Church Board or Church Officers shall hold it’s routine meetings every month to discuss administrative , spiritual as well as social issues of the Church .
2-The Church Board meetings shall be held within the compound of the Church or any other venue prior to information passed to all members one week before the meetings.
3-The quorum for the meetings of the Church Board shall be a simple majority {50%+1} of the Board members.
4-If the first meeting falls short of the quorum; the meetings shall be called off. However; the immediate agreed meeting called on the same agenda shall be valid irrespective of the quorum.
5-Decision in meeting shall be by simple majority of the total number of the members present.
6-Any decision appropriately taken in a meeting shall be binding on the members of the church Board.
7-The shall be a no discussion on any topic not listed on the agenda of the meetings except “any other business” brought by an individual member.
Bylaw (18) PROCEDURE OF THE METTINGS OF THE CONGREGATION
1-No member is allowed to speak unless otherwise given a chance by the chairman
2-The agenda of the meeting shall be presented prior to discussion.
3-No member is allowed to interfere while another member is speaking .Only the chair person has the right to make necessary comments.
4- No member while speaking is allowed to use inappropriate words and terms that insult other members, or inappropriate in the premises of the Church.
Bylaw (19) DISCIPLINES
The Church shall consider and take discipline as a correctional measure and not as punishment.
A-CIRCUMSTANCES OF PENALTY TO CHURCH OFFICERS, BOARD AND MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION
Probation /suspension and termination/expulsion of a member shall be based on the following circumstance:
1-Indiscipline and misconduct to Christian’s behaviours
2-Failure to fulfill assigned Church obligations
3-Designing Church activities without the consent of the Board
4-Disrespect to principles and regulations of the Church as well as Board
5-leaking Church classified policies of the Church and of the Board.
6-Using Church fund and property without the consent of the Board
7-Involvement and engaging in gossiping and disunity among the members of the congregation
8-Interference of politics into religious matters
B-SPECIFIC PENALTES
A member, in violation of the principles and regulations of the Church, shall be subject to the following:
1-IF A Board member abstains from meetings of the church Board three times continuously with no appropriate reasons, he /she shall be dealt with according to the following procedures: First, he/she shall be questioned, secondly, if he /she refuses to change, he/she shall be warned; finally, if absenteeism has become a habit, the Church Board shall terminate he/she and appoint new person to substitute his /her position {Titus 3:10}
2-A member who falls into gross sin such as immorality, theft, witchcraft, idolatry, or practices that are contrary to the profession of Christians faith {1Cor 5:11:Gal.5:19-21},he /she shall be prohibited/suspended restrained from participating in Church activities. However, if he /she repents and is reinstated, he/ she shall be permitted to participate fully in the activities or affairs of the Church.
3-A member who, by sinful and ungodly act or by heresy, brings dishonour or an offence to the Church, such a member shall be prohibited. However, he/she shall first of all be dealt with in a loving and Christian manner according to the Scriptures {Titus 3:10-11; Tim 3:19-22} Mathew 18:15-18;1 Corinthians 5:11;Gal 6:1}in this way ,he/she may be reinstated or restored.
4-As a general procedure for discipline, the following steps shall be taken if a member becomes indiscipline {as stated above}
I-Counseling
Ii-Warned in writing
Iii-Suspended by the Church Board on a definite or specific period
I V-Terminated by the Church Board
V-The decision to terminate membership shall be communicated to the member concerned in writing,
VI- Prohibited/suspended/restrained from fellowship
VII- Reported to the authority in extreme situation as the last resort, for instance, when a member become a threat to the Church members , hostile, violent; and interrupts Church services as well as other programs of the Church .
Bylaw (20) ELECTIONS
A-TERMS OF OFFICE FOR THE CHURCH OFFICERS
The terms of office for the Church Officers {ordained ministers} shall be absolute until an officer retires or resigns, except when he fails to fulfill his duties and responsibilities and when he misbehaves as satiated above (20 bylaws)
B-TERMS OF OFFICE FOR THE CHURCH BOARD MEMBERS
The terms of office for the Church Board members shall be two years unless a member resigns or fails to undertake his /her duties and responsibilities
C– PROCEDURES OF THE ELECTIONS
1-The election of the Church Board members shall unless otherwise be conducted by secret ballot on the principle of one -person -one vote depending on the matter debated upon.
2-The election to the various sub-committees shall unless otherwise be conducted by secret ballot on the principle of one person one vote depending on the matter under debate.
3-The Church Board shall present its annual Report to the Church members in the month of January.
Bylaw( 21)ORDINATIONS
Church shall ordain, pastors, elders, and deacons for the Church Ministry
Dissolution
In the event of winding up or dissolution of the order, funds and assets that remain after all debts have been paid shall be transferred to Order or charitable organization with the same purposes and purposes similar to this Order, or if this cannot be done to another organization recognized by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency as Qualified under the provisions of Canadian Income Tax act. This provision is unalterable.
The objectives of the Order shall be carried out without purpose of gain for Itis members, and any profits or other accretions to Order shall be used for promoting the purposes of the Order. This provision is unalterable.
AMENDMENT OF THE CHURCH ORDER
1-The amendment of the Church Order shall be initiated by 2/3 majority of the Church members.
2-The Church Order shall only be amended when the Order falls short to fulfill various Church activities.
This Church order consists of twenty two bylaws
