Apostles Creed
Children of Christ Worship Center
Bylaws
Adopted and Established:
October 12, 2004
Article I. Name
The name of this religious congregation will be Children of Christ Worship Center.
Article II. Expected Location
The expected location of Children of Christ Worship Center is to be announced.
Article III. Purpose
The purpose of the Children of Christ Worship Center is and public statures through non-traditional and educational methods. 2) to teach And preach the knowledge of the true faith of Jesus Christ to the community. 3) to create a proper worship environment for the Oklahoma City community. 4) to create a safe loving knowledgeable environment for children And teens (i.e. everyone) to develop And enrich a healthy stable value system of ethics And morals for strong future generations in Christ�s Kingdom.
Article IV. Membership
Any person can become a member of this congregation by 1) committing to the church (1. Hebrews 10:19-25), 2) to the leading of the Shepard�s as they are being lead by the Lord (Romans 10:14-15), 3) by being Saved or becoming saved (Romans 10:9, 10, 4), by paying tithes (Malachi 3:10, II Corinthians 9:7). The member must take a two day session to learn about the CCWC�S belief structure (Hosea 4: 6), And sign the membership book with Children of Christ Worship Center (the Membership book is for our annual record And will be updated by staff.
It is understood that members should have a willingness to learn biblical history And the current situation of the Children of Christ Worship Center. It is especially understood that membership is open to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, age, or national origin.
Children of Christ differentiate general membership from voting membership, to be requiring a voting member the person(s) must be 18 And up. We require all new voting member(s) typically to wait ninety days which then gives the member(s) full voting privilege.
Children of Christ�s procedure for removing a person from membership is as follows: A written request or the recommendation of the governing board or voting congregation when the member has died, moved away, or cannot be located. Also, withdrawal of membership can be made by written request to the Pastoral Secretary of the congregation. Such a notice shall be transmitted to the Board of Directors (Co-Pastors) And an exit interview will be conducted.
Article V. Denominational Affairs
This congregation is not affiliated with any other church in the state of Oklahoma. It is the intention of this congregation to make annual financial contributions equal to its full Fair Share as determined by the Biblical statues.
Article VI. Meetings
The dates of regular non-business meetings of the congregation will be determined by the congregation itself, or by any person or persons designated by it. The annual Association meetings will be held each year between the month of August And September at such time And place as shall be fixed by the Executive Committee [Standing Committee or Board of Directors]. Special business meetings may be called at the written request of any members. The business to be transacted at all meetings shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting, which shall be sent to all members by mail ten to fifteen [10-15] days before the meeting.
Article VII. Quorum
Twenty [20%] percent of the membership (or 6 members) shall constitute a quorum when needed.
Article VIII. Officers And Board of Trustees
At each annual meeting officers of the board of trustees shall be chosen, all of whom shall hold their offices for one year And until their successors have been elected And qualified, And who shall perform the duties usually pertaining to these offices. The board of Directors shall be 4 [i.e. The number is based upon the number of the heads of departments (* Note: Numbers may change at any time)] in number (Co-Pastor 1, Co- Pastor 2, Collegiate Pastor, Senior Deacon, etc). The board of trustees shall have general charge of the property of the congregation And the conduct of all its business affairs And the control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees as it may deem necessary. It may fill vacancies with persons who shall serve until the next annual meeting.
A nominating committee of three members who shall not be members of the Executive Committee shall also be chosen at the annual meeting. All officers shall be voting members of the congregation.
The decision about how leadership responsibility shall be vested will depend on the Co-Pastors And the size of the congregation. The organizational structure should not be unwieldy for the size of the congregation to maintain. In the interest of continuity, the executive committee or board of trustees may be established on a rotating basis with one or more members elected for one year, the same numbers for two years, And the same number for the following years. After the initial election, all officers may be elected for full terms so that only a portion of the executive committee or board of trustees is replaced each year.
The nominating committee is almost always included in bylaws to provide for the continuation of the democratic process in the selection of leadership. Other standing committees may also be defined as desired; however, greater flexibility is allowed when bylaws do not require certain committees.
Basic duties of officers And trustees may be spelled out in bylaws; however, by no means should the entire charge to various committees by included in bylaws. It is far more effective to have such detailed guidelines drawn up separately And reviewed regularly as needs And personnel change.
As a general rule, leaders who are elected by the membership are specified in bylaws, whereas those who are appointed need not be specified. A separate article on committees may follow the article on officers.
Article IX. The Minister(s)
Once a congregation reaches the point of calling a minister, it is helpful to include in the bylaws an article dealing with the nature of the relationship between congregation And minister, procedures for calling a minister And for terminating a relationship. A sample of such an article follows:
The minister(s) shall be responsible for the conduct of worship, auxiliaries, within the congregation, the congregation's spiritual interests And affairs. The minister(s) shall have freedom of the pulpit as well as freedom to express his or her opinion outside the pulpit.
Note that such a statement is brief And general. By no means should a full job description be included in bylaws.
The minister(s) shall be an ex-officio member of the governing board And of such committees as the board shall designate.
The minister(s) shall be called upon recommendation of The Ministerial Search Committee by a four-fifths majority of qualified members of the congregation present at any meeting legally called for the purpose, quorum for such a meeting is to be constituted by forty percent of the voting members rather than twenty percent of the voting members as called for in Article VII.
The minister(s) may be dismissed by a majority vote of the qualified members of the church present at any meeting legally called for this purpose, the quorum for such a meeting should be constituted by forty percent of the voting members rather than twenty percent of the voting members as called for in Article VII.
In the event of a minister's dismissal, his or her salary And allowance shall be continued for one to three (1-3) months after date of dismissal depending on the reason for dismissal [Please refer to biblical Reference section Matthew 18]. Should a minister offer his or her resignation, three month's notice must be given at the time the resignation is made except as the governing board may allow an interval of less time.
Our bylaws specify that the minister(s) must be in fellowship with the Children of Christ, as determined by the Ministerial Board. If additional professional staff persons are employed by the executive committee, bylaws should cover terms of their selection and dismissal as well.
The article on the minister(s) or the article committees should provide for the selection of a ministerial search committee usually composed of seven members who are elected at a special congregational meeting called for that purpose, from a slate prepared by the nominating committee, or half elected. The most important consideration in selecting a Ministerial Search Committee is that it has the full confidence of the congregation.
A minister(s) and congregation often agree to establish a Committee(s) on Ministry and may wish to define such a committee in its bylaws. If an unforeseen occurrence (i.e. death) of the Co-Pastors occur a new pastor will be selected in house (according to the ministerial secretary in position.
Article X. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of CCWC is defined and varies from one congregation to another. The Children of Christ Worship fiscal year ends the last week of July. For a discussion on this section please see the �The CCWC (Children of Christ Worship Center) Calendar," added at the end of these Bylaws.
Article XI. Dissolution
In the case of dissolution of the congregation, all of its property, real and personal, after paying all just claim upon it, shall be conveyed to and vested in the Children of Christ Worship Center or its legal successor, or to any Child of Christ related organization, and the board of trustees of the congregation shall perform all actions necessary to effectuate such conveyance.
Article XII. Amendments
These bylaws, so far as allowed by law, may be amended or replaced at any meeting of the congregation by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.
The Apostles� Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
The Creator of Heaven and Earth,
and Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord and Savior:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under the Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and now sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
when He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy spiritual church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body of true believers,
and life everlasting.
A-men.
Creed of Light (in Christ)
I know...
I am not inadiquate.
God recognizes me as His preacious child.
I AM powerful beyond measure.
I do not limit myself.
God keeps me in Order and directs my paths.
I AM able to withstand all Enemys of God.
I have found the Light (the great clear pathway).
I AM not small or minute.
The world is to small to hold my Love for Christ.
I am significant to the entire Universe.
I will continously be Enlightened (by God's Word and the Godly people I come in contact with)
The feeling of insecurity does not correct my situations or is of God, So i give these feelings to God and in replacement of it he makes me secure.
I Must use my Mind to Think Cognatively and use Soul Energy (Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Christ) to Evolve entirely.
I will SHINE as CHILDREN DO (in the Heavenly Fathers Eyes) for all to see.
I will let my LIGHT SHINE (great character)
I will give unconsciousnessly and consciousness to people.
I will LIBERATE others from their fear of an inadiquate being and feelings of insecurity.(by sharing the Gospel and my life story) .
From my presence, I will unconsiously and automatically LIBERATE Humanity.
So Mot It Be (SO BE IT). A-Men"
