Writing a Church Constitution

[4everfsu]

Add belief in God's creation as detailed in the book of Genesis. Stating marriage as ordained by God is one man and one woman.

 

[bruinboy]

Any words of advice? Suggestions? Warnings? What to include? What to exclude?The door is wide open here, folks. I have written one previously, but it never hurts to get ideas.

Don't reinvent the wheel. Find a church you respect, and ask if you can use their constitution as a starting point.

If article 1 uses the words "King James Bible" or something synonymous, throw it out and find another one.

+1

 

[bruinboy]

The shorter and less specific the better.  IMHO.

 

[rsc2a]

Add belief in God's creation as detailed in the book of Genesis. Stating marriage as ordained by God is one man and one woman.

Why?

 

[4everfsu]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

 

[rsc2a]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

Just say no.

 

[Tim]

Add belief in God's creation as detailed in the book of Genesis. Stating marriage as ordained by God is one man and one woman.

Why?

Well, I would hate to have two men show up for the couples retreat.

 

[4everfsu]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

Just say no.

Oh saying no will work great in a court of law. I prefer to have an ace up my sleeve so when the federal starts pushing churches to conduct queer marriages. Have it documented as church belief,bylaw  and then when they start to threaten pull out the old liberal standard. 'Separation of church and state' Church belief vs queer marriage law.

 

[rsc2a]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

Just say no.

Oh saying no will work great in a court of law. I prefer to have an ace up my sleeve so when the federal starts pushing churches to conduct queer marriages. Have it documented as church belief,bylaw  and then when they start to threaten pull out the old liberal standard. 'Separation of church and state' Church belief vs queer marriage law.

Frankly, I don't consider the Church to be an institution of the State, so I see no reason why the Church is obligated to the State in any way.

 

[Ransom]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

And also so newcomers are without excuse as to what the church stands for, because as the definition of "marriage" becomes further eroded, it becomes all the more necessary to clearly define our terms.

My church added such a clause to its statement of faith a few years ago. The reason was one or the other; I forget which.

 

[rsc2a]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

And also so newcomers are without excuse as to what the church stands for, because as the definition of "marriage" becomes further eroded, it becomes all the more necessary to clearly define our terms.

Why stop there then? You need to spell out every single point of your doctrinal beliefs then. Calvinistic? Free willer? Something else? Pre-mil? Post? A-? Tee-totaler or no? Definitions of modesty? Sacramental views? Covenant? Dispy? Where are you on spiritual gifts? Gender roles? How theology and ecology are related (or not)? Church history? Maybe you're a Landmarker. Proper methods of Biblical interpretation?

[quote author=Ransom]My church added such a clause to its statement of faith a few years ago. The reason was one or the other; I forget which.
[/quote]

Does your church have a clause about caring for the poor? How about loving your neighbor? Anything in there about seeking justice for the downtrodden?

 

[Tim]

Because when the federal government comes and forces pastors to do queer marriages, you will have a legal leg to stand on. This is what your church believes.

And also so newcomers are without excuse as to what the church stands for, because as the definition of "marriage" becomes further eroded, it becomes all the more necessary to clearly define our terms.

Why stop there then? You need to spell out every single point of your doctrinal beliefs then. Calvinistic? Free willer? Something else? Pre-mil? Post? A-? Tee-totaler or no? Definitions of modesty? Sacramental views? Covenant? Dispy? Where are you on spiritual gifts? Gender roles? How theology and ecology are related (or not)? Church history? Maybe you're a Landmarker. Proper methods of Biblical interpretation?

[quote author=Ransom]My church added such a clause to its statement of faith a few years ago. The reason was one or the other; I forget which.

Does your church have a clause about caring for the poor? How about loving your neighbor? Anything in there about seeking justice for the downtrodden?
[/quote]

Our Church has the Constitution printed on the wall. Never really paid attention to it. Isn't a big document at all. It does mention helping the poor as a spirit lead Church. Among other things.

 

[Ransom]

Why stop there then?

So unless I'm willing to affirm every microscopic thing the church teaches, I can't affirm a subset of it?

 

[prophet]

Well we know who doesnt have the gift of governments.

Anishinaabe

 

[rsc2a]

Why stop there then?

So unless I'm willing to affirm every microscopic thing the church teaches, I can't affirm a subset of it?

If:

a) the reasoning you provided is correct ("so newcomers are without excuse as to what the church stands for")

...and...

b) you want to be consistent in your beliefs

...then yes, you should.

 

[Ransom]

Pfft.

The world is attacking, through popular culture, the media, and government, God's intent for marriage.

The world is not attacking, through popular culture, the media, or government, pre- or. postmillennialism, definitions of modesty, etc.

In other words, the former is on people's minds, and that warrants an affirmation.

 

[rsc2a]

You really think "[t]he world is not attacking, through popular culture, the media, or government" Biblical concepts concerning keeping up with the Jones (ie modesty/materialism), economic systems, empirism, the purpose of man (ie eschatology) and a host of other things?

 

[Ransom]

You really think "[t]he world is not attacking, through popular culture, the media, or government" Biblical concepts concerning keeping up with the Jones (ie modesty/materialism), economic systems, empirism, the purpose of man (ie eschatology) and a host of other things?

By your logic, we shouldn't have a doctrinal statement at all. Why affirm the Trinity or the deity of Christ, if you're not going to affirm charity to the poor and not stepping on bugs?

I reiterate: Pfft.

 

[BALAAM]

I was a deacon years ago in a church that decided to rewrite its constitution. Don't really remember all of the how's and why's but I do remember the endless meetings with church members who wanted us to put in a statement about how we felt about Billy Graham, etc. etc.  After almost a year of tedious wording and rewording of the document and countless hours spent on it, the new constitution was voted down.

At the business meeting to vote on the new constitution, and after it had been voted down, one of the members made a motion to re-do it again a little differently! I was quite young and stood up and said, "Use your head!"

I would never be involved with something like that again.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=Ransom]By your logic, we shouldn't have a doctrinal statement at all. Why affirm the Trinity or the deity of Christ, if you're not going to affirm charity to the poor and not stepping on bugs?

I reiterate: Pfft.[/quote]

Sure we should.

We believe in one God consisting of Father, Son and Spirit, in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the Substance. We believe that Jesus the Son became fully man while remaining fully divine and remains so today. We believe this Jesus was born of a virgin, performed miracles, was crucified, died and was buried. We believe on the third day, Jesus physically rose from the dead as proof He was the Christ and later ascended into heaven from where He shall one day return to judge the living and the dead. We believe in God's self-revelation through Scripture, which is a primary method by which we learn about Him. We believe in God has created a holy called out people who are identified by their obedience to the greatest commandments: love for God and love for others.  We believe in the forgiveness of sins. We believe in the physical resurrection of the dead. And we believe in life everlasting for those who are in Christ.

You know...basic creedal-type stuff, the kind of stuff that defines what Christianity actually is.

Are their particular practices by which the local church would actually be governed by? Sure...but I don't understand why our governing documents should seek to divide the body of Christ when Jesus explicitly prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one and stated that this unity would be characteristic that would make Jesus known to the world.