ARTICLE 4: AFFILIATION AND FELLOWSHIP
This shall have fellowship with other Bible-believing Church / Churches/ Bible Based Organizations / Chaplence Federations and individuals of like faith who express their desire to get Affiliation under us ,can apply for Affiliation , Membership .
ARTICLE 5: CONFESSION & STATEMENT OF FAITH
We accept the Biblical doctorine and Biblical Principals of The steps of Salvations , and leading a holy life under the leading of Holy Spirit till we close our eyes on this physical Earth , which is our primary confession of faith. We find this confession to be an aid in controversy, a confirmation in faith, a means of edification in righteousness and a basis for unity. We acknowledge, however, the inerrant Scriptures to be the supreme authority in all matters of faith, morals and order.
As a summary of our beliefs we teach the following fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith.
Section 1 The Holy Scriptures
The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired and divinely preserved Word of God, inerrant in the original languages, the complete authority for faith and life, infallible and God-breathed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, Mt. 5:18, John 16: 12-13)
Section 2 The Godhead
A. There is one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit … co-eternal in being, co-identical in nature, co-equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections. (Deut. 6:4, Mt. 28:19-20, 2 Cor. 13:14)
B. This Triune God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth; and He is creator of all things. (John 4:24, Luke 24:39, Ps. 90:2, Gal. 3:6, James 1:17, Is. 44:24, Rev. 9:6, 1 John 3:20, Ps. 147:5, Ps. 139:7-10, Jer. 23:24)
Section 3 The Person and Work of the Father
A. The Father, who is spirit, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, was active in creation and, along with the Son sustains the creation. He is the first cause and source of all things. (John 6:46, 1 Tim. 6:16, Gen. 1:1-2, 1 Cor. 8:6)
B. The Father willed and decreed the plan of salvation. He elects, calls, justifies, forgives, reconciles, adopts and glorifies the redeemed. (Matt 26:39, Rom. 8:28-33, Eph 1:3-6)
Section 4 The Person and Work of the Son
A. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man. (John 1:1-2, 14, Luke 1:3 5)
B. The Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His life of perfect obedience to the Law, His death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice, and our justification is made sure by His literal, physical, resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 3:24-25, 1 Peter 2:24, Eph. 1:7, 1 Pet. 1:3-5)
C. The Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate. (Acts 1:9-10, Heb. 9:24, 7:25, Rom. 8:34, 1 John 2:1-2)
Section 5 The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
A. The Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and He is the supernatural agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ, indwelling and sealing them unto the day of redemption. (John 16:8-11, 2 Cor. 3:6, 1 Cor. 12:12-14, Rom. 8:9, Eph. 1:13-14)
B. He is the Divine Teacher who guides believers into all truth; and it is the privilege and duty of all the saved to be filled with the Spirit. (John 16:13, 1 John 2:20, 27, Eph. 5:18)
Section 6 Creation, the Fall and the Depravity of Man
God created the heavens and the earth from nothing, by His Word, in seven days. Man was created in the image and likeness of God, but in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God. Man is totally depraved, and, of himself, totally unable to remedy his lost condition. The created order, declared good by God when He created it, was subjected to the effects of the fall of Man and sin. It awaits redemption in its current imperfect state. (Gen. 1:26-27, Rom. 3:22-23, 5:12, Eph. 2:1-3, 12)
Section 7 Salvation
Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace alone and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins. (Eph. 2:8-10, John 1:12, Eph. 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19)
Section 8 The Assurance of Believers
A. All the redeemed, once saved, are preserved by God’s power and are in Christ forever. (John 6:37-40, 10:27-30, Rom. 8:1, 38-39, 1 Cor. 1:4-8, 1 Peter 1:5)
B. It is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word, which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh. This privilege is contingent upon a continuing walk in the Spirit, without which such assurance is presumptuous. (Rom. 13:13- 14, Gal. 5:13, Titus 2:11-15, Rom. 8:5-14, Heb. 11:14-4:1, Heb. 10:22-29)
Section 9 The Nature of the Believer
Every saved person possesses power to lead a life of Christ-like character and to bear fruit to the glory of the Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit; but claims to perfection in this life are unscriptural. (Rom. 6:13, 8:12-13, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 4:22-24, Col. 3:10, Titus 2:14, 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 2:15-17, 1 John 3:5-9, 1:8-10)
Section 10 The
A. The , which is the body and espoused Bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all the saved. (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:25-27, 1 Cor. 12: 12-14,
1 Cor. 11:12)
B. The establishment and continuance of local es is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. (Acts 14:27, 20:17, 28-32, 1 Tim. 3:1-13, Titus 1: .5-11)
Section 11 Ordinances
There are two ordinances: water baptism for believers and the Lord’s Supper. These are acts of obedience and are of great benefit to individual believers and to the body as a whole. (1 Cor. 11:23-24, Acts 8:35-37, 10:47-48, 1 Cor. 1:14, Acts 8:12)
Belivers will be Holy spirit baptised as per the divine will of God and this is purely the ordinance of Holy Spirit , The Church Pastors/ Ministers don't have the privilege to grant this gifts of Holy Spirit Baptism to their congregation members but they can only fast and pray for receiving Holy Spirit Baptism and the operation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Congregation in accordence with book of 1 Cor: 12 Chapter.
Section 12 Missions
It is the obligation of the saved to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all mankind. (Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8, 2, Cor. 5:19-20)
Section 13 Satan
Satan is a person, the author of sin and the cause of The Fall; he is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and he, the fallen angels and unsaved mankind shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. (Job 1:6-7, Isa. 14:12-17, Matt. 4:2-11, 25:41, Rev. 20:10)
Section 14 The Second Advent of Christ
We teach the personal, imminent, coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones and His eternal reign with them in the new heavens and new earth, New Jerusalem , Zion (1 Thes. 4:13-18, Rev. 21
Rev. 19:11-16, 21:1—4, 1 Thes. 1:10)
Section 15 The Eternal State
All men will be bodily resurrected, the saved to eternal life, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment. (Mt. 25:46, John 5:28-29, 11:25-26, Rev. 20:5-6, 12-13 1 Thes: 4 : 14 - 17; Rev: 20:6.)
ARTICLE 6: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 The Purpose of Membership
The New Testament presents a picture of individuals who, once committed to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, identified themselves with and committed themselves to a particular local body. In order to implement the principles of accountability and commitment to the local body of Christ, as defined in the New Testament and practiced in the early es and to achieve the purpose of this as stated in Article 2, this recognizes the need for formal membership. We also recognize that the body of Christ includes every regenerated believer, whether a member of this or not.
Section 2 Qualifications for Membership
Any person desiring to unite with this shall be 16 years of age or older, shall express personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and shall give clear evidence of having been born again and demonstrate a sincere desire to live a godly, exemplary, separated, and obedient Christian life. One of the ways such faith is often expressed is by having been baptized as a believer.
Section 3 Procedure for Receiving Members
Requests for membership shall be made to an Pastor. Upon making such a request, the person shall be given a copy of this Constitution and any other materials deemed appropriate by the Pastors. An Pastor (or Pastors) shall meet with the applicant following review of the material, answer any questions, and listen to the person’s testimony. Upon a successful interview and unanimous approval by the Pastors, the applicant shall be accepted into membership.
Section 4 Termination of Membership
A. By death.
B. By erasure, occurring either as a result of the member requesting that his or her membership be cancelled or as a result of a determination by the Pastors in response to repeated or prolonged absence and subsequent inquiry by the Pastors to determine the cause of such absence.
C. By discipline. (See Article 7)
ARTICLE 7: DISCIPLINE
The threefold purpose of discipline is to glorify God by maintaining purity in the local (1 Cor. 5:6), to edify believers by deterring sin (1 Tim. 5:20), and to promote the spiritual welfare of the offending believer by calling him or her to a biblical standard of doctrine and conduct (Gal. 6:1). Members of this and all other professing Christians who regularly attend or fellowship with this who err in doctrine, or who engage in conduct that violates Scripture as determined by the Pastors, ratified by the Pastors and Bishop shall be subject to discipline, including dismissal according to Matthew 18:15-18. All disciplinary of Pastors and Bishops will come under the Senior International Governor of AUGP in charge of Judicial matters. He will be the Judicial Vicar who shall work directly under the Patriarch .
Before such dismissal:
A. It shall be the duty of any member of this who has knowledge of the erring individual’s heresy or misconduct to warn or correct such erring individual in private, seeking his or her repentance and restoration;
B. If the erring individual does not heed this warning, then the warning member shall again go to the erring individual, seeking his or her repentance, but accompanied by one or two other individuals, who shall confirm that the sin has occurred or is continuing to occur, and/or that the erring individual has been appropriately confronted and has refused to repent;
C. If the erring individual still refuses to heed this warning, then it shall be brought to the attention of the Pastors. If the Pastors determine after thorough investigation in accord with the procedures prescribed by pertinent Scripture, including Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Timothy 5:19 and Titus 3:10, that there is corroborating evidence the erring individual has sinned or is continuing to sin, that he or she has been appropriately confronted, and that he or she has refused to repent, then the Pastors shall inform the Pastors and the Bishop at a regular service in order that the may call the erring individual to repentance. If the erring individual demonstrates repentance, then notice to that effect may be given at a regular service;
D. If the erring individual does not repent in response to the in its collective call to repentance, then he or she shall be publicly dismissed from the fellowship and/or membership of the at a regular service. If the erring individual, after such dismissal, heeds the warning, demonstrates repentance, and requests reinstatement before the Pastors, then he or she shall be publicly restored to all the rights, duties, privileges, and responsibilities of fellowship and/or membership.
ARTICLE 8: GOVERNMENT
Section 1 Fiscal Year and Congregational Meetings
The fiscal year of this shall be from January 1 to December 31. There shall be an annual business meeting of the . Other meetings may be called at the discretion of the Pastors. All business meetings must be announced at the morning worship service prior to the business meeting or all resident members must be duly notified. If a vote is taken, a secret ballot vote may be requested in any business meeting by any member. Any member shall vote by absentee ballot with a written and signed request.
Section 2 Regular Business of the
The regular business of the shall be conducted by the Pastors and Pastors in accordance with Article 8, Section 3 of this Constitution. The Pastors shall be the official representatives to act for the in all legal business transactions.
Section 3 Pastors
A. Qualification of Pastors: All Pastors either males or Females , who are called of God to the task of shepherding God’s flock, who desire the office of Pastor, and whose lives meet the character qualities set forth in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
B. Responsibilities of Pastors: The Pastors shall have oversight of all persons, ministries, and functions of the . One of the Pastors shall serve as Senior Pastor for purposes of administration. Whether through the oversight of a functional area or through more direct personal ministry, the ultimate concern of all Pastors is to shepherd the flock of God among them (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2). All Pastors come under the authority of the Bishop who reports to the Patriarch.
The Pastors shall share pastoral responsibilities. Pastors should be willing to be called “pastor” as that is their role and responsibility (a title is not necessary; the point here is simply that Pastors are pastors – the terms are considered interchangeable). Although all Pastors shall be “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2) and “able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” (Titus 1:9), it is recognized that some (perhaps only one) may be especially gifted at preaching and teaching and will carry more of those responsibilities. Those who handle more of the teaching/preaching duties are to be considered “teaching Pastors.”
The Pastors may designate one of themselves, or call someone from outside of the , to be the primary teaching Pastor and pay him a salary so that he can devote himself to teaching and preaching the word.
C. Selection of Pastors: Pastors will be responsible for appointing additional Pastors based on the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4. Names of those desiring the office of Pastor may be submitted by any member of the congregation for consideration by the Pastors. The Pastors may only appoint new Pastors after thorough and prayerful examination. The Pastors shall solicit input from the congregation by announcing or publishing the names of any men to be considered for Pastor for three weeks prior to the annual business meeting. The purpose is to give any in the congregation who may be aware of any Scriptural reasons why a prospective Pastor may not be qualified to bring it to the attention of the Pastors.
Following the examination, all candidates for Pastor who are unanimously approved by the Pastors shall be submitted to the congregation at the annual business meeting and confirmed by a three fourths (3/4) majority of all votes cast. As many qualified men as are called of God and needed may serve. Pastors shall serve as long as they meet the Scriptural qualifications and are willing to serve.
At any time any Pastors who feel the need may move to an inactive status. As Holy Spirit leads, they may move to active status again, assuming that their lives still meet the qualifications for Pastor, and subject to the unanimous approval of the other Pastors.
D. Operation of Pastors: The Pastors shall operate as a plurality. Authority is not vested in any one man. Decisions shall be made by reaching an un-coerced unanimity. The objective in any decision is to find the mind of Christ. This is best accomplished by unanimous agreement following thorough, Biblical based discussion and prayer. Christ’s mind is not divided and the decisions of the Pastors should reflect that to the body. When unanimity cannot be reached, the Pastors must wait upon the Lord until He reveals His will on the matter. The Pastors may on occasion request response or input from the congregation. This is not for the purpose of taking a vote, but only as a further means of seeking the mind of Christ. If a plurality of Pastors is lost, the remaining Pastor and/or shall seek a like-minded whose Pastors shall serve in an advisory role until a plurality is regained.
E. Discipline of Pastors: If any member has knowledge of a charge against an Pastor, the process for dealing with sin in another member as described in the section on Discipline (under Membership) shall be followed. The exception to this is that in step “C”, the accusation must be brought to the Pastors by two or three witnesses in accordance with 1 Tim. 5:19-21. The Pastor under accusation must absent himself from the vote on a matter of discipline or dismissal
F. Appointment of Deacons: To enable them to carry out their ministry more effectively, the Pastors may appoint Deacons who meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The names of prospective Deacons shall be announced or published for three weeks prior to the annual business meeting to solicit input from the congregation. Following examination and unanimous approval by the Pastors, they shall be confirmed at the annual business meeting by a three fourths (3/4) majority of all votes cast.
They shall serve as long as they meet the qualifications and are willing to serve. Responsibilities will be assigned to Deacons by the Pastors as needs arise.
The Patriarch
He is the head of the Synod/College of Bishops, Arch Bishops , the Vicar of Christ, and the Chief Pastor of the International 1 st Century New Testament under AUGP. Consequently, by virtue of his office, he has supreme, full, immediate and universal ordinary power in the , and he can always freely exercise this power.
Should it happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns from his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be freely made and properly manifested, but it is not necessary that it be accepted by anyone.
By virtue of his office, the Patriarch not only has power over the International 1 st Century New Testament under AUGP, but also has pre‚ eminent ordinary power over all particular es and their groupings worldwide. This reinforces and defends the proper, ordinary and immediate power which the Bishops have in the particular es entrusted to their care.
The Patriarch, in fulfilling his office as supreme Chief Pastor of the , is always joined in full communion with the other Bishops, Arch Bishops and indeed with the whole . He has the right, however, to determine, according to the needs of the , whether this office is to be exercised in a personal or in a collegian manner.
There is neither appeal nor recourse against a judgment or a decree of the Patriarch.
The Bishops, Arch Bishops are available to the Patriarch in the exercise of his office, to cooperate with him in various ways, among which is the synod of Bishops. Arch Bishops also assist him, as do other persons and, according to the needs of the time, various institutes; all these persons and institutes fulfill their offices in his name and by his authority, for the good of all the es, in accordance with the norms determined by law. The Patriarch will establish the rules from time to time to determine the contribution of the local es and bishops to support the International Ministry. All official expenses of International Governors in a particular territory will be looked after by the Bishops and the Pastors of such territory.
THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS
The head of the College of Bishops is the Patriarch, and its members are the Bishops by virtue of their consecration and hierarchical communion with the head of the College and its members. This College of Bishops, in which the apostolic body abides in an unbroken manner, is, in union with its head and never without this head, also the subject of supreme and full power over the .
The College of Bishops exercises its power over the in solemn form in a Council.
It exercises this same power by the united action of the Bishops dispersed throughout the world, when this action is as such proclaimed or freely accepted by the Patriarch so that it becomes a truly collegial act.
It belongs to the Patriarch to select and promote, according to the needs of the , ways in which the College of Bishops can exercise its office in respect of the in a collegial manner.
It is the prerogative of the Patriarch alone to summon an Ecumenical Council, to preside over it personally or through others, to transfer, suspend or dissolve the Council, and to approve its decrees.
It is also the prerogative of the Patriarch to determine the matters to be dealt with in the Council, and to establish the order to be observed.
THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
The synod of Bishops is a group of Bishops selected from different parts of the world, who meet together at specified times to promote the close relationship between the Patriarch and the Bishops. These Bishops, by their counsel, assist the Patriarch in the defense and development of faith and morals and in the preservation and strengthening of ecclesiastical discipline. They also consider questions concerning the mission of the in the world.
The function of the synod of Bishops is to discuss the matters proposed to it and set forth recommendations. It is not its function to settle matters or to draw up decrees, unless the Patriarch has given it deliberative power in certain cases; in this event, it rests with the Patriarch to ratify the decisions of the synod.
The synod of Bishops is directly under the authority of the Patriarch whose prerogative it is:
1 to convene the synod, as often as this seems opportune to him, and to designate the place where the meetings are to be held
2 to ratify the election of those who, in accordance with the special law of the synod, are to be elected, and to designate and appoint other members;
3 at a suitable time before the celebration of the synod, to prescribe the outlines of the questions to be discussed, in accordance with the special law;
4 to determine the agenda;
5 to preside over the synod personally or through others;
6 to conclude, transfer, suspend or dissolve the synod.
The synod of Bishops can meet in general assembly, in which matters are dealt with which directly concern the good of the ; such an assembly is either ordinary or extraordinary. It can also meet in special assembly, to deal with matters directly affecting a determined region or regions.
ARTICLE 9: DISSOLUTION
No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any donor, member, officer of the corporation or any private individual and no donor, member, or officer of the corporation or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporation assets. Upon dissolution any assets of the corporation shall be conveyed as determined by a congregational meeting, provided said conveyance complies with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE 10: ORDINATION
It shall lie within the province of this to ordain to the Gospel ministry such men as have a desire, can give a satisfactory account as to their conversion, call to the ministry, and preparation for the same. Examination of the applicant as to these matters shall be in a public meeting and shall be conducted by the Pastors or by a duly selected and qualified group of pastors assembled for this purpose. Ordination will be carried out by the Bishops and the ordinations of Bishops will be carried out by the Patriarch.
ARTICLE 11: AMENDMENTS
This Constitution shall not be changed at any time in the future by any amendment to any article or provision of this Constitution wherein it provides for the complete autonomy and self-government of this ; but this Constitution may be otherwise amended by the action of the membership assembled in congregational meetings for such purpose.
Any proposed amendment must be publicized to the congregation at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which action is taken.
Amendments to the Constitution shall require a three-fourths majority vote of members present at a congregational business
APPROVED BY THE PATRIARCH HIS EMINENCE Prof. Dr. MADHU KRISHAN
Date: 11th January' 2016
