The name of the organization shall be "Faith & Reason Ministries."
The object for which it is formed is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, hold and conduct services and meetings, speak and participate in other services and meetings when invited, give and receive contributions for evangelistic and missionary purposes, publish and circulate religious books and papers for the dissemination of the Gospel, engage in religious work among all people, secure a closer fellowship in the Spirit, and cooperation among workers who are in right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Christians of good character who approve the Articles of Faith as well as the spirit of the organization may become members of the organization upon written approval of the President.
Faith & Reason Ministries proclaims the deity of Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of the world, and who died upon the cross for our sins. It stresses the need for repentance (a desire to turn from sin and please God) and a dependance on God the Father through a personal relationship with his only Son, Jesus Christ, and rebirth through the work of the Holy Spirit. God is kind and loving and will always accept us despite our failings as long as we truly desire to follow Him. Salvation is not accomplished by works -- although God guided works are important -- but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and arose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. He shall one day judge all men and grant eternal life to His followers. The Church of Jesus Christ is a vital force in the world today. It must seek cooperation, empowerment by God, and guidance by the Holy Spirit in order to perfect the saints and reach the lost.
Other than faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and rebirth through the Holy Spirit there are no other requirements for a man to be right with God, and therefore the ministry is nondenominational and tolerant in nature -- embracing all true Christians. However, the importance of accepting science and reason along with the rest of society is a great need of the Church today, and it is a specific goal of this ministry. Just as our society is growing through science and reason, so too the Church must grow.
As far as this ministry is concerned, faith in Jesus Christ is based on fact. Jesus is an historical figure, and the record clearly shows Him to be exactly who He claimed to be: the Son of God and as such God incarnate. Faith in Christ is in no way considered to be "blind." Rather, it is considered to be the most reasonable solution to man's existence based on the undeniable historic and scientific facts.
Jesus comes before the Bible. The Bible does not come before Jesus; although the Bible is a great work and should remain a pillar of strength for the Church which it has always been. However, inerrancy, infallibility, and fundamentalism are rejected by the overwhelming scientific evidence against them. Rather, this scientific evidence clearly shows us a universe of billions of galaxies, billions of light-years in diameter, and billions of years old. The Earth, to the limits of our understanding, is exactly as secular scientists say it is: 4.5 billion years old, with a wide variety of life (millions of species) which have evolved over billions of years.
Within the context of our fascinating scientific understanding, the possibilities for an even deeper and more meaningful relationship with God and understanding of the universe -- both physical and spiritual -- are possible. As the Church's understanding grows it will be much better equipped to reach the world.
Upon the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the corporation, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
This organization is organized exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
John D. Callahan,
Founder and President
1989