MEMBERSHIP

A person is a member of the Universal Church when he is born again. However for the healthy Christian growth of all believers, and for the local church to function properly, it is important for Christians to identify with, and commit themselves to, the body of Christ in the area where God has placed them.

ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURE FOR MEMBERSHIP

1) The church receives new members who have shown clear evidences of conversion, and who are presently not living in open sin or disharmony with other believers. New members should be baptised believers who are in acceptance of the beliefs and practices of the church.

2) An elder and another member of the church will meet with the proposed new member to discuss the subject of membership and to hear their testimony. This will be brought before the leadership, who in turn will bring it before the church. If both the leadership and the rest of the church are in general agreement, the brother/sister will be recommended for membership. At the next members meeting, the church will prayerfully commend the brother/sister to the Lord. The leadership will look for a consensus by a show of hands, before he/she is welcomed into membership. This will happen at the next communion service.

3) In accordance with the Scriptural pattern, e.g. Matthew 28:18 – 20-; Acts 2:41; when a person is baptised they are at the same time brought into membership of the church. Therefore it is prudent that when a person applies for baptism they should be interviewed by an elder and another church member. If the interviewers are satisfied that the candidate is truly saved the membership will be informed of the request for baptism and will be encouraged to acquaint themselves with the candidate if they have not already done so, and if they have any concerns they must bring them to the leadership promptly; all of which will be taken into account by the leadership before a decision is made to baptise.

It is important that newly baptised members are made to feel that they are part of the local body and therefore the baptismal candidate will be invited, before the date of their baptism, to give a verbal or written testimony to the church. At that time the church will be asked for a show of hands to express their support and oneness with the prospective new member.

PRIVILEGES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1) To faithfully participate in the worship, fellowship and services of the church. Of primary importance are the Sunday services, the Lord’s Supper, and mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study. The Lord’s Day is to be used for rest from secular work and worldly recreation, and for the occupation of the whole person in the worship and service of the Lord (ample allowance made for works of mercy and necessity). The day is central to the life of the church. It is a day to be kept holy, for God’s glory and for our benefit.

2) By God’s grace to seek to live a godly life. Through daily prayer and Bible study the believer will seek an ever closer walk with the Lord. Family worship is to be encouraged, as parents seek to lovingly bring every possible Gospel influence to bear upon their children.

3) To love and regard each other highly in the Lord, praying for each other, and supporting one another as each are able.

4) To respect those whom God has placed in positions of leadership, giving wholehearted support because of the work they do. Members should undertake all Christian service in consultation with, and under the guidance of, the leadership.

5) To seek unity and peace at all times, settling matters of personal offence according to the procedures laid down in Matthew 18:15 – 18, any serious difficulty being brought to the attention of the leaders at an early stage.

6) To contribute to the support of the church as God has prospered them, the biblical example of tithing being prayerfully considered, along with the principle of sacrifice and freewill.

7) To seek to live a consistent Christian life, and bear a good testimony in the community.


DISCIPLINE

Behaviour which brings the church of Jesus Christ into disrepute requires church discipline. The Bible specifies that those who deny fundamental doctrine or are guilty of particularly open sin – e.g. immorality, divisiveness, deception – fall into this category. Therefore church discipline is necessary in order to maintain the purity of the church, and to uphold the glory of Jesus Christ.

Deliberate non-attendance and non-participation in the life of the church, over a period of six months, without adequate reason, will also be regarded as a matter for church discipline.

Primary responsibility for discipline rests with the leaders of the church. The end in view must always be the purity, blessing and honour of Christ and His church, and the repentance and reconciliation of the offending brother, so much prayer, wisdom and patience is needed.

Only after attempts to restore the offending brother fail, is the leadership to recommend the withdrawal of membership. A two-thirds consensus is required by the membership in a secret ballot, either to suspend membership or to exclude permanently. Prayer is to be continually made for the restoration of the offending brother.

All matters concerning church discipline shall be regarded as confidential within the church and, in delicate situations, the leadership may believe it right before God not to disclose certain information to the rest of the church. Members should approach the leadership with their concerns. The members’ list will be reviewed annually.

OFFICERS


1) PASTOR
a) The pastor is the leading elder who, under the headship of Christ, is the predominant preacher, teacher and overseer. It is his duty to preach the gospel for the salvation of sinners and, along with any other elders, to shepherd the flock of God (see 2b). It is also his responsibility to see that the ordinances of Christ are properly administered.

b) He must be in wholehearted agreement with the declaration of faith, and in general agreement with the church constitution, and be prepared to work within it’s terms. In considering a pastor, time must be given to assess his calling, character and gifts (see 2a). Upon the recommendation of the present church officers, a special church meeting will be arranged to appoint a new pastor. 75% of votes shall be required, although unanimity is desirable.

c) Apart from exceptional circumstances, at least three months’ notice should be given by the pastor if he wishes to step down. The church should also give three months’ notice if they wish the pastor to step down. A 75% majority will be necessary where notice is to be given by the church.

2) ELDERS

a) Men who display the personal qualifications laid down in 1 Timothy 3:1 – 7 and Titus 1:5 – 9 are eligible for the office of elder. They must be in wholehearted agreement with the declaration of faith and in general agreement with the church constitution.

b) The function of elders is to ensure that the church is fed with the Word of God, and to maintain purity of doctrine. Their work includes the pastoral care of the members, as under-shepherds to the Lord. They are not to rule the church with arrogance, but to serve it with tenderness and impartiality, knowing that one day they will have to give an account to God.

c) For appointments to the eldership, nominations shall be brought by the existing elders to a church meeting, with at least three weeks’ prior notice being given. 75% of votes shall be required for appointment, though unanimity is desirable. An elder should give the church three months notice if he wishes to step down. The church may ask the elder to step down due to illness, open sin, or failure to properly fulfil the role of an elder. A man’s gifts must first be evident, then in some measure exercised before he is set apart by the church.

3) DEACONS

a) Men who display the personal qualification laid down in 1 Tim 3:8 – 12 are eligible for the office of deacon. They must be in wholehearted agreement with the declaration of faith and in general agreement with the church constitution.
b) Deacons are responsible for the administration of the church. They have a relieving and supporting ministry, freeing the elders to teach and exercise pastoral care, by dealing themselves with the practical needs of the church. Deacons are also concerned with the social care and general welfare of others.

c) For appointment to the diaconate, the leadership will ask for nominations from the church. Nominations must be seconded and given in writing to the leadership. If the leadership are in agreement the nominations shall be brought to a church meeting (with at least three weeks prior notice). 75% of votes shall be required for appointment, though unanimity is desirable. Three months’ notice should be given by the deacon if he wishes to step down. The church may ask the deacon to step down due to reasons mentioned in 2c. A deacon’s gifts must first be evident, then in some measure exercised before he is set apart by the church.



GOVERNMENT

a) The elders* lead the members in seeking the will of Christ at church meetings.

These meetings are for sharing fellowship, future planning and for discussing matters of major importance. The will of Christ is to be sought through prayer, and the discussion and application of scriptural principles. The principle of these meetings is Theocracy, seeking the will of the Lord, not necessarily the will of the majority. It may be helpful to take a vote for or against a proposal, but in the New Testament no such procedure was adopted. There will be times when the majority vote must prevail, but divided opinion is often a signal that the matter should be referred back to the elders for further prayer and biblical consideration. The ideal is that the mind of the Lord be revealed by the unanimity of His people. Although church members of all ages will generally be encouraged to attend and participate in discussion at church meetings, eligibility to vote will be restricted to those who are 18 years of age or over. When issues of a particularly sensitive nature are to be discussed the leadership may, at it’s discretion, request that minors absent themselves from that part of the meeting.

* In the absence of elders read church officers

b) Church meetings shall be held three times a year. At one of these meetings an audited statement of accounts for the preceding financial year shall be presented by the treasurer.

c) Special church meetings may be called by the leadership to deal with urgent or serious matters, though adequate notice should be given if possible.

d) Matters brought to the church meeting must first have been considered by the leadership.

e) The quorum for church meetings shall be a minimum of 50%

f) All church meetings shall be chaired by an elder, and normally this will also apply to all departmental meetings.

g) Leaders of regular church activities and meetings shall normally be church members. The elders will recommend name/s to the church and after prayerful consideration these appointments will be made.

h) Normally church premises may only be used for church activities which are church-based. The elders will determine the conditions for usage.

i) Providing the doctrinal content of this document is not lessened or weakened at any point, any article may be amended or deleted or additional articles added, by a 75% majority vote of all members.