Constitution
Preamble
Recognizing that the work of God should be carried on in an orderly manner, according to the Word of God and for His glory, WE, the members of the Lincoln Community Church of Lincoln, Kansas do hereby establish and adopt this Constitution for the purpose of regulating our church life.
Article I - Name
This body shall be known as the Lincoln Community Church of Lincoln, Kansas.
Article II - Purpose
1) To provide a place to worship and experience Christian fellowship for all whodesire to make this their church home.
2) To offer spiritual nurture, an opportunity for service, and development of Christian character.
3) To promote a program for the spreading of the gospel at home and abroad.
Article III - Confession of Faith
We Believe:
1) That there is one (1) God, eternally existent in 3 persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
2) In the deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, His sinless life, His vicarious and atoning death for the sins of all men, His bodily resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His person, visible, glorious, and imminent return in power and glory.
3) In the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, and His indwelling presence in every believer whereby the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
4) That the Bible in its original writings, including both the Old and New Testaments, is theinspired and only inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God and is our only rule of faith and practice.
5) That every human being is by nature spiritually dead, separated from God, and can be restored to spiritual life and assurance of salvation only by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as personal Savior by forsaking the life of sin and serving the trueand living God. (I Thess. 1:9-10; John 14:6)
6) In the two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
7) In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost – those that are saved unto the resurrection of life and those that are lost unto the resurrection of judgment and damnation.
8) That the church is the body and bride of Christ whose duty and privilege it is to be His witness before the world in this age.
9) That the true Church is composed of all such persons who, through saving faith in Jesus Christ, have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and are united together in the body of Christ of which He is the head. Only those who are thus members of the true and invisible Church are eligible for membership in the local church.
Article IV- Mission Statement
The purpose of the Lincoln Community Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:19) who individually and corporately love and glorify God (Matt. 22:36-37; I Cor. 10:31) through worship, spiritual growth, caring for people and by communicating the gospel to others.
Our short version of the above mission statement is: “To know Christ and make Him known”
Article V- Membership
The church shall receive as members only those who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and who, in their lives, make known the fruits of true faith in God and are willing, according to ability, to support the church by their attendance, prayer, and contributions.
Article VI - Officers
The officers of this church shall be the senior pastor and the church council. These officers shall constitute the officers of the corporation and, subject to the provision of this Constitution and By-Laws, shall have charge of the conduct of the affairs of this corporation.
Article VII - Business Meetings
The annual business meeting of the church shall be held during the month of October at a time and place designated by the official board. At the annual business meeting, the election of officers and transaction of such business as concerns the work of the year shall take place.
Additional special business meetings may be held during the year as set forth in the By-Laws of the church.
Article VIII- Church Property
In case of a division of the church, from which God in His mercy preserve us, the property of the church shall belong to those who abide by this Constitution.
Article IX - Conduct of Business
This church shall have in its corporate name the power to buy, own, hold in trust, use, inherit, lease, rent, sell, and exchange or dispose of such real and personal property as may be useful and necessary for the furtherance of the Lord’s work. It shall also have the power to mortgage and encumber all or any part of the church property and to borrow and raise money or other assets of any kind for the furtherance of the Lord’s work.
All church property (real and personal) shall be held and all debts of the corporation shall be contracted by the official board in the name of the corporation. Private property of the church members and officers of the corporation shall not be subject to payment of the corporate debts.
Article X - Church Affiliation
The Lincoln Community Church shall be independent and not affiliated with any other denomination. This church shall remain its own highest authority under Christ and shall conduct its business according to this Constitution and By-Laws.
Article XI -Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any annual meeting of the church by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast, provided said proposed amendments have been proposed presented, and discussed at a special business meeting at least one month prior to the time of the annual meeting. Article III, V, VIII and XI must not be appealed or amended.
Article XII - Provision for By-Laws
By-Laws not in conflict with this Constitution may be adopted at any annual business or special meeting called for that purpose by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast. However, a proposed by-law or amendment to a by-law shall first be presented in writing at a preceding annual or special meeting for discussion.