Moving Beyond
The church is unique. When Jesus said to Peter, “Upon this rock, I will build my church”, he wasn’t talking about systems and structures, constitutions and bylaws. He didn’t have in mind any denominations, 501c3 qualifications, or annual business meetings. While I can’t determine exactly what he had pictured, I know it was more than an institution made up of “doctrines of men”. And yet, at this moment in history, Grace Bible Church finds itself dealing with these very things. The doctrines of man which are essential for us to operate as a church in this period of history and locale have to be discussed.
January 19th will bring to the table a discussion about the proposed Revised Church Constitution brought forth by the board of elders. This document serves many purposes for the church body.
Primarily, it serves as a theological summary of the beliefs of our local fellowship of believers. It is a call to UNITY around a core set of beliefs that we have in common. This allows the church to define what we believe is primary and non-negotiable theology. While they are written in statements that are summarized by earthly men, they are truth’s that are derived from the holy scriptures.
Secondly, the church constitution is a guide for how our church is governed. It lays out the framework for membership, leadership, and how decisions are made. The goal of these portions of the constitution once again comes down to UNITY. If everyone is working together and understanding the general process of church operations, that should lead to a smooth operation in which people work together to accomplish a common purpose.
Finally, the church constitution serves a legal purpose in our nation. It is the guide by which we declare, operate, and submit to the regulatory authorities of our nation. As a 501c3, we are held accountable to following the financial laws and regulations as well as submitting and maintaining the proper paperwork on file with our governing authorities. Jim Voth works hard to understand and follow the IRS regulations so that every transaction that we make is in line with these guidelines. Jim Sugars has worked hard to make sure that our paperwork is properly filed with the State Legislators so that we are in proper legal standing. Be sure and thank those guys for their hard work in these areas.
Unfortunately, there have been too many times in church history where churches have split, fought, divided, or whatever other descriptions there are that go the opposite direction of UNITY. Our prayer is that this moment in the history of Grace Bible Church will be a uniting moment. A time in history when we can look back and say, that was a defining moment that helped our church to move beyond a fledgling group of people who were still believing that God was doing something among them, to a group that is united around calling and purpose and moving toward the great things that God calls them to be and do.
Are the documents that are being presented perfect? No, they are not. Are there words that need to be reconsidered? Yes, there probably are. Is there information we need to add? Maybe so. These documents were put together by our elder board with a vision to set up the necessary framework of structure and order, while trying to allow the freedom of direction for where God wants to take us in the future. Our hope is that you will take the time to read the document, share your feedback, and come to the meeting with a healthy discussion that promotes UNITY and encourages and builds up the body of Christ, so that we all can work together for the equipping of one another to do the work that God calls us to.
Pastor Dwight
*Here is a link to both the current constitution and the proposed revised constitution.
Church Constitution Documents – Grace Bible Church McPherson, KS