CONSTITUTION
OF
ALL NATIONS COMMUNITY CHURCH
OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS
PREAMBLE
Whereas, foremost in the operation of this Church and its By-Laws is the Word of God as taught in Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible. All provisions herein are declared to be subject to the Word of God which is to every possible extent incorporated herein by reference as a whole and unless otherwise stated to be found in the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Whereas, it is the express purpose of God our Heavenly Father to call out of the world a saved people who shall contribute to the Body of Christ, built and established on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone.
Whereas, we, the membership of All Nations Community Church of Homewood hereafter referred to as ANCC, as members of one another in Christ and called to the express and distinct purposes and directives of this congregation, do hereby recognize ourselves as a sovereign and local church body. We do hereby associate ourselves as an independent religious body, not to be bound to any centralized ecclesiastical form of government outside of our congregation nor obligated by association or fellowship that in any way impinges on our autonomy and self-determination. We do, however, recognize and participate in and with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies for purposes of cooperation in ministry, mission, and spiritual accountability.
Whereas, the members of the Body of Christ are enjoined to assemble themselves together for worship, fellowship, counsel, and instruction in the Word of God and the work of the ministry and for the exercise of those spiritual gifts and offices provided for in the New Testament, therefore,
Be it Resolved: That we recognize ourselves a body of Christian believers working together for the common purpose of spreading the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that under the laws of the State of Illinois we may exercise all the rights and privileges granted to religious bodies.
Be it Resolved: The term “Council” throughout this document shall refer to the Church Council of Elders and/or Deacons, said Council consisting of the Senior Pastor, Elders, and Deacons.
Be it Resolved: We hereby extend the opportunity for attendance, fellowship, instruction and worship in ANCC, to all members, with fellow believers in accordance with these By-Laws.
ARTICLE I
NAME. The name of this organization shall be ALL NATIONS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES. The corporation is organized and shall be exclusively operated for religious, charitable or educational purposes within the meaning of §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1987, as amended (or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law) and as set forth in the bylaws of the corporation.
ARTICLE III
STATEMENT OF FAITH,AUTHORITY ANDCONVENANT
SECTION 3.1 STATEMENT OF FAITH
The programs and activities governing the form of worship of ALL NATIONS COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD, INCORPORATED shall be based upon, and at all times shall be consistent with, the following creed and beliefs:
A. THE SCRIPTURES. The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of Holy Men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine.The New King James Version of the Bible shall be the official translation, unless otherwise noted. (II Timothy 3:16; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Peter 1:21).
B.THE GODHEAD. We believe in one triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; John 14:10, 26; 2 Cor. 13:14)
C.MAN, HIS FALL AND REDEMPTION. Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one." Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil, give His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God (Romans 5:12; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:910; IJohn 3:8; Galatians 3:13,14). Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing words acceptable to God (Ephesians 2:8). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the
forgiveness of our sins. We believe that all sins, except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, are
forgivable. (Matt. 12:31-32; John 1:12; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:9)
D.ETERNAL LIFE AND NEW BIRTH. Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The new birth is necessary to all men, and when fulfilled produces eternal life (II Corinthians 7:10; IJohn 5:12; John 3:35).
E.WATER BAPTISM. Baptism in water is by immersion and is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39). The following regarding the Water Baptismal formula is adopted, to wit: "On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen."
F.BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST. The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and Fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who are believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance (Matthew 3:11; John 14:1617; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:3839; Acts 19:17; Acts 2:4).
G.SANCTIFICATION. The Bible teaches that without Holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the doctrine of sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation (Hebrews 12:14; IThessalonians 5:23; IIPeter 3:18; IICorinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:1214; ICorinthians 1:30).
H.DIVINE HEALING. Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God, through the prayer of faith, and by laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and it is the privilege of every member of the church today (Mark 16:18; James 5:1420; IPeter 2:24; Matthew 8:17; Isaiah 53:45).
I.RESURRECTION OF THE JUST AND THE RETURN OF OUR LORD. The angels said, "This same Jesus shall so come in like manner." His coming is imminent. When He comes, "The dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." (Acts 1:11; IThessalonians 4:1617).
Following the tribulation, He shall return to earth, as King of kings and the Lord of lords, and together with His Saints, who shall be kings and priests, He shall reign a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).
J.HELL AND ETERNAL RETRIBUTION. The one who physically dies in his sins without Christ is hopelessly and eternally lost in the lake of fire and, therefore, has no further opportunity of hearing the Gospel or for repentance. The lake of fire is literal. The terms "eternal" and "everlasting" used in describing the duration of the punishment of the damned in the lake of fire, carry the same thought and meaning of endless existence as used in noting the duration of joy and ecstasy of the saints in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 19:20; Hebrews 6:12).
K.COMMUNION — THE LORD'S SUPPER. We partake of the Lord's Supper to show the Lord's death till He comes (ICorinthians 11:2331). The bread symbolizes the Lord's broken body (Isaiah 53:5; ICor. 11:24). The cup represents the new covenant in His blood which provides us forgiveness and relationship with God (Hebrews 9; ICorinthians 11:25). We judge ourselves and realize that this is our salvation and receive it (I Cor. 11:2830) for if we receive it unworthily—without giving it honor as our salvation—we are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord (I Cor. 11:27).
- LAYING ON OF HANDS. A simple belief that power or anointing or any other
necessary quality can be transmitted from one person touching another. Laying on of hands was practiced by the Levitical Priesthood. Jesus practiced it in Mark 10:1316 as a blessing, and it is our grounds for baby dedication instead of baptism. Laying on of hands for healing (Mark 5:22,23 and 41; Mark 5:2831; Acts 28:8; Acts 19:11,12); laying on of hands to confer office (Acts 6:26); laying on of hands to receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:1618); laying on of hands to believe words spoken, to receive anointing and to cultivate the anointing (ITimothy 4:14); laying on of hands for ordination to consecrate and receive the necessary ministry tools (ITimothy 4:14).
- TITHES AND OFFERINGS. The practice of tithes and offerings as taught in the
Holy Scriptures, according to Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; ICorinthians 16:12; IICor. 9:68. We believe that every Christian, as a steward of that portion of God’s wealth entrusted to him, is obligated to financially support his local church. We believe that God has established the tithe as a basis for giving, but that every Christian should also give other offerings sacrificially and cheerfully to the support of the church, the relief of those in need, and the spread of the Gospel. We believe that a Christian relinquishes all rights to direct the use of his tithe or offering once the gift has been made. (Gen. 14:20; Prov. 3:9-10; Acts 4:34-37; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; Gal. 6:6; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 1 John 3:17)
- THE CHURCH. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a body of believers who
assemble to worship, carry forth the Great Commission, and minister as the Holy Ghost leads them.
We believe that the local church, which is the body and the espoused bride of Christ, is solely
made up of born-again persons. (1 Cor. 12:12-14; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:25-27)
We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined
in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27; 20:17, 28-32; 1Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-11)
We believe in the autonomy of the local church free of any external authority or control. (Acts
13:1-4; 15:19-31; 20:28; Rom. 16:1, 4; 1 Cor. 3:9, 16; 5:4-7, 13; 1Pet. 5:1-4)
O. SEPARATION. We believe that all the saved should live in such a manner as not to bring reproach upon their Savior and Lord. God commands His people to separate from all religious apostasy, all worldly and sinful pleasures, practices, and associations, and to refrain from all immodest and immoderate appearances. (Lev. 19:28; Rom. 12:1-2; 14:13; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 John 2:15-17; 2 John 9-11
- THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN. We believe that Satan is a person, the author
ofsin and the cause of the Fall of Man; that he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7; Isa. 14:12-17; Matt. 4:2-11; 25:41; Rev. 20:10)
- CREATION. We believe that God created the universe in six days. We reject
evolution, the Gap Theory, the Day-Age Theory, and Theistic Evolution as unscriptural theories of origin. (Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11)
R. CIVIL GOVERNMENT. We believe that God has ordained and created all
authority consisting of three basic institutions: 1) the home, 2) the church, and 3) the state.
Every person is subject to these authorities, but all (including the authorities themselves) are
answerable to God and governed by His Word. God has given each institution specific Biblical
responsibilities and balanced those responsibilities with the understanding that no institution has
the right to infringe upon the other. The home, the church, and the state are equal and sovereign
in their respective Biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. (Rom. 13:1-7; Eph.
5:22-24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 2:13-14)
S. HUMAN SEXUALITY. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between one man and one woman. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 2:24; Gen. 19:5, 13; Gen. 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1: 26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4)
We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman. (Gen.
2:24; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10; Eph. 5:22-23)
T. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. We believe that men and women are spiritually
equal in position before God but that God has ordained distinct and separate spiritual functions for
men and women in the home and the church. The husband is to be the leader of the home. (Gal.
3:28; Col. 3:18; 1 Tim. 2:8-15; 3:4-5, 12) We believe that God has ordained the family as the
foundational institution of human society. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the
church. The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church
submits to the headship of Christ. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Parents are responsible
for teaching their children spiritual and moral values and leading them, through consistent
lifestyle example and appropriate discipline, including Scriptural corporal correction. (Gen.
1:26-28; Ex. 20:12; Deut. 6:4-9; Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; Mk. 10:6-12; 1 Cor.
7:1-16; Eph. 5:21-33; 6:1-4, Col. 3:18-21; Heb. 13:4; 1 Pet. 3:1-7)
U. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids
divorce and intends marriage to last until one of the spouses dies. Divorce and remarriage is
regarded as adultery except on the grounds of fornication. Although divorced and remarried
persons or divorced persons may hold positions of service in the church and be greatly used of
God for Christian service, they may not be considered for the offices of pastor or deacon. (Mal.
2:14-17; Matt. 19:3-12; Rom. 7:1-3; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Titus 1:6)
V. ABORTION. We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn
child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn
human life. (Job 3:16; Ps. 51:5; 139:14-16; Isa. 44:24; 49:1, 5; Jer. 1:5; 20:15-18; Luke 1:44)
W. EUTHANASIA. We believe that the direct taking of an innocent human life is a
moral evil, regardless of the intention. Life is a gift of God and must be respected from
conception until natural death. Thus we believe that an act or omission which, of itself or by
intention, causes death in order to eliminate sufferingDiscontinuing medical procedures that are
extraordinary or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be a legitimate refusal of over-
zealous treatment. (Ex. 20:13, 23:7; Matt. 5:21; Acts 17:28)
X. LOVE. We believe that we should demonstrate love for others, not only toward
fellow believers, but also toward both those who are not believers, those who oppose us, and
those who engage in sinful actions. We are to deal with those who oppose us graciously, gently,
patiently, and humbly. God forbids the stirring up of strife, the taking of revenge, or the threat or
the use of violence as a means of resolving personal conflict or obtaining personal justice.
Although God commands us to abhor sinful actions, we are to love and pray for any person who
engages in such sinful actions. (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 5:44-48; Luke 6:31; John 13:34-35; Rom. 12:9-
10; 17-21; 13:8-10; Phil. 2:2-4; 2 Tim. 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1 John 3:17-18)
Y. LAWSUITS BETWEEN BELIEVERS. We believe that Christians are
prohibited from bringing civil lawsuits against other Christians or the church to resolve personal disputes. We believe the church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members. We do believe, however, that a Christian may seek compensation for injuries from another Christian’s insurance company as long as the claim is pursued without malice or slander. (1 Cor. 6:1-8; Eph. 4:31-32)
Z. MISSIONS. We believe that God has given the church a great commission to
proclaim the Gospel to all nations so that there might be a great multitude from every nation, tribe, ethnic group, and language group who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. As ambassadors of Christ we must use all available means to go to the share the gospel wherever needed and not wait for them to come to us. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:20)
Section 3.2—Authority Of Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible and, therefore, is binding upon all members. All literature used in the church shall be in complete agreement with the Statement of Faith.
Section 3.3—Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of our Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; and to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and all others; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from such worldly amusements as watching ungodly movies, and gambling, ungodly music; to be free from all oath-bound secret societies and partnerships with unbelievers; to abstain from the sale or use of tobacco in any form, narcotic drugs, or intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the Kingdom of our Savior.