The Proposed & Elected Agenda Of The Alliance Constitution
The following criteria and its individual structure is hereby adopted into The Hardin Co. Mid-Eastern Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance . This adoption is presented and elected by the president, elected officers, and all active Alliance pastors/ministers of the Alliance. We as anointed ministers of God, by the aid of the Spirit of God do hereby enter into this agreement as one in Christ. Note: After each sector, there are blank lines for modifications, or adjustments.
An Established Same Location For Monthly Meetings
To ensure that all Alliance ministers will always know where we’re going to have our monthly Alliance meetings, a designated location will be established. The best location is a non-church facility. If such a facility cannot be provided, the present presiding president will use his church facility to host these meetings as long as he holds that office.
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Attendants Of Monthly Scheduled Meetings
Monthly scheduled meetings are to consist of ministers only, based on the agenda of the meeting. Only ministers are to be present when the planned agenda consists of ministerial affairs. If there is a need for a public official, or layperson to present an issue, these people alone will be allowed to attend. When an alliance pastor receives a reminder of a scheduled meeting, this is not to be a public church announcement. Because, any member of your church could receive it as an open invitation for all to attend. If a local pastor is unable to attend, he should provide a minister representing his church in his absence. If he does not have an associate minister, the corresponding secretary of the Alliance will forward the results of the meeting to the pastor(s).
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Structure Of Monthly Scheduled Meetings
The following is the basic format of the monthly alliance meetings :
Opening song ………………………………………………………………………………..…. Alliance and etc.
Scripture ………………………………………………………………………..……….. Appointed by Chaplain
Prayer ……………………………………………………………...……………………. Appointed by Chaplain
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Structure Of Monthly Scheduled Meetings – continued
Business called to order …………………………………………………….…………….…. Alliance President
Minutes of previous meeting ……………………………………………….……. Alliance Recording Secretary
Monthly alliance dues collected ………………………………………………… Alliance Recording Secretary
Financial report ………………………………………………………………………...…… Alliance Treasurer
Unfinished business …………...……( spiritual, or secular )………..…. Issues, or proposals that are pending
New business ………………..…( spiritual, or secular )………New Issues, or areas that need to be addressed
Fishers Of Men report, or plans …………………………………………………Rev. W. James, Rev. E. Fobbs
Business concluded ………………………………………………………………………….. Alliance President
A word from God to his preachers ……………………………………….…. Appointed minister for the month
Final remarks, reports of sick, hardships, etc. …………………………………………
Prayer & Benediction ………………………………………...…. Alliance Chaplain, or an appointed minister
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The Title Of The Alliance, And It’s Obligations
Due to being labeled, or called ‘ The Hardin Co. Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance ‘, we are com- pelled to share, and invite all denominational, non-denominational nationalities of ministers to be active in the mid-eastern sector of this Hardin Co. ministry. This is to show evidence of this wall of separation being torn down, especially if we’re all under the same glorified name of ‘ Jesus Christ ‘ as the only mediator between man and God. We cannot, and will not try to demand others to be enjoined with us, but, we’re simply taking down the wall. During monthly meetings, or alliance services, there will be nothing done, or said, to intimidate, discredit, nor discriminate any of God’s ministers that has a desire to work with us within the Alliance.
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Church Annual Services, Or Activities
There has been a major issue concerning annual services being in session on the same dates within a small town as Silsbee. There are at least 22 predominately Afro-American churches in Silsbee alone, and there are 4 in Kountze. There are well over 45 to 50 churches in our area, this includes all nationalities in the Kountze/Silsbee area. This clash concerning annuals has been a growing issue among the Afro-American churches. It is difficult to completely keep from clashing with all services. We want to focus on the annuals of the 26 Afro-American assemblies in the Kountze/Silsbee area, and these only consist of major annuals, such as: church anniversaries, pastoral appreciations, revivals, vacation bible school, and family and friends day. These five events should be given the utmost of ministerial courtesy and respect. It shows love, unity, and concern in our churches when we try to avoid having a service during these five events.
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Church Annual Services, Or Activities - continued
Due to we being pastor/ministers, we should be concerned enough not to take on any preaching engagement that will be on the same date as one of our Alliance pastor’s appreciation date. If God has placed you over the church you’re in, that’s the place where you’re required to preach and teach. All other outside engagements are labeled as extra curricular activities, and your pastoral ministry is not required there. God does not forbid us going outside our churches to minister. But, we are not required to do so, unless we’re led by the Spirit to do special ministering.The other four annuals should be given our respect also. But, pastoral appreciations is at top of the chart, because, we are to be ministers for each other. This is not a demand by the Alliance, nor a command from God, because, all of these extra services are traditional and a pastor/minister can come and go as he so desires. The Alliance simply asks for your ministerial courtesy. When we as ministers of God learn to be for each other first, then we’re ready to minister to the people at large. If two pastoral appreciations cannot avoid clashing, or one minister refuses to change the date to avoid clashing, the Alliance will divide in to two groups and attend both to represent the Alliance.
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Annual United Alliance Servives
Formerly, we have engaged in having annual Alliance services such as : New Years Eve Watch Meeting, or Freedom’s Eve services, pre-Easter revivals, annual crusades, etc. We have also joined in with the Martin Luther King Day celebration. All of the above are great sevices to be active in to increase our united fellowship as ministers. But, it does not show unity when we have the same services at the same time in all, or most of our churches. The Watch Meeting services are the most critical at the present time. We have large enough church facilities in the area to accommodate a large crowd of 500 and more. All of the services that’s presently active can be massed together in at least one church, no more than two, one in the Silsbee area, and one in Kountze. Let’s face it! You only have a crowd that consists of 30 to 50 people on the average in our separate services. Why not mass and save the overhead expenses, and show more unity.
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Response Required By Pastors When A Member Seeks Membership In Your Church
‘ Churchhoppin’, or relocating can be minimized if pastors would take the appropiate steps, especially if one is leaving a church to seek membership in another church in the same city. The local pastor is to require a letter to be given to him from the former pastor by the seeking member. This letter represents a positive relat- ionship between member and pastor of the previous church. This letter should be presented before the member is received. This procedure is scriptual( Romans 16:1-15 ). It is wise to aquire this letter, regardless as to whether they’re coming from an intown, or out-of-town church, due to the enemy being busy planting seeds in your assembly. It would help if there is a pastor-to-pastor conversation to see who you’re receiving.
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God’s Priority Purpose For All Ministers And The Alliance
Ephesians 4:8 – Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ( After Jesus arrived back in Heaven, by the power of the Holy Ghost, he dispersed ministerial abilities to those he chose ). Ephesians 4:11 – And he gave some apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelist, and some pastors and teachers ( One, or more of these gifts is yours, if God anointed you ). Ephesians 4:12-13 is the labor that all ministers are to pursue in unity. This purpose of God for all ministers and his churches supercedes our denominational banners, walls of divisions, man-made doctrines, and legalisms. The Alliance will seek to applicate his will for us as real called ministers of Christ.
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Offerings, Donations, Or Dues Of The Alliance
As long as there is an institution, organization, or committee that is earthly established, there must be some means of financial support. Even Jesus, while establishing his kingdom on earth had a way of handling money. In order for this Alliance to be more successful in it’s work, there is a need for a financial treasure. A monthly offering, or dues is considered. Funds are needed for such things as : Alliance scholarship fund, publicity material, MLK contribution, Alliance website, activities, Fishers Of Men contributions, etc.. There’s an old saying that states, ‘ a ministry is as big as you make it ‘, and this is true.
The Alliance is setting minimum dues at $ 5.00 each monthly meeting, this does not mean you cannot go well and above the minimum. If an allowance member cannot be present, he is obligated to send his offering, or dues by someone else. The ministerial work has to go on, regardless, as to whether you’re present, or absent. Offerings of all Alliance sponsored services will also be put into the Alliance treasure, unless funds are distributed to a guest preacher, or a love offering given to the hosting church. Donations by any person, church, business, or organization will be accepted by the Alliance. The alliance does not, and will not es- tablish a salary for any elected officer of the Alliance. All proceeds will go towards the work of the Alliance ministry.
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RequirementsFor New Pastors And The Alliance
When a newly elected pastor begins his work as a leader, the president of the Alliance, or any pastor/minister should welcome him to the city, and to the Alliance if he has a desire to work with local pastors. The new pastor is to confer with his members to see how the church existing program looks. If the former pastor was an alliance member, mostly likely he has adjusted his program to fit according to other local programs in the vicinity. The new leader should get familiar with the existing Alliance/churches program in order to adjust his new schedule to merge with the rest of us. The new leader has to realize that all of the churches, expec- ially the Afro-American churches in the Kountze/Silsbee area are biologically connected.
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Alliance Ministers That Leave Their Mother Church
Regardless, as to whom you are, or where you are, if you are a born again member in the body of Christ, you are required to do all things decent and in order. A minister under the authority of a pastor is to work with his leader if God has considered him to pastor a church. He should depart from his mother church and pastor in the bond of peace. By doing so, he leaves with God’s anointed blessings through the pastor and church. His pastor should also be the one to install him. If a minister leaves to establish a church, due to discrepancies, or any difference of opinion, without consulting God and bridging the gap, the newly established assembly will not carry the anointing. That minister should be reconciled back to his pastor and church, if he wants the anointing in his assembly. Don’t be deceived by people coming to your assembly. This is no certainty that the presence of God is there.
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Date, Time, And Length Of Monthly Alliance Meetings
The first Monday of each month is the set date for the Alliance meetings. If a national holiday is on that day, the Alliance will meet the first Tuesday. If we have to cancel, or postpone, each minister will be notified accordingly. The set time is 7:00 pm for each monthly meeting. The length of each meeting should last no longer than a maximum of one and a half hours, and no less than one hour. This is not a locked in time frame, due to meetings requiring more time. But, this is what we will aim for.
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