CONSTITUTION

Article I - Name

The name of this body shall be the FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES AND MINISTERS

Article 2 - Purpose

The purpose of the FCMI is to provide membership and fellowship for churches and ministers of like faith

and order who are concerned with the proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. All members

of the FCMI commit themselves to work in cooperation with each other in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of

peace to achieve the goals as set forth in the Constitution. The FCMI holds the right to suspend or cancel membership

to any minister or church who fails to maintain active membership according to the Constitution. The FCMI is

committed to respect the autonomy of each church.

Article 3 - Covenant

Having been led by the Spirit of God to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by faith, and having publicly

confessed Him by baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we freely and joyfully recognize the

covenant our Heavenly Father has established for us with Himself through the blood of His Son. We commit

ourselves, by the grace of God working in us, to walk together according to the commandments of the Lord Jesus

Christ. (I John 1:3).

We commit ourselves to maintain family and private worship, to rear our children in the nurture and Spirit

of the Lord, to seek the salvation of all members of our own families and of our acquaintances, and to strive for

maturity in ourselves and in our fellow Christians.

We commit ourselves to follow Christian principles of morality in our daily living; to be ethical in our dealings

and faithful in our commitments to promote the unity of fellowship by proper attitudes and careful speech; and to be

zealous in our efforts toward the advancement of the Kingdom of God here and throughout the world.

Article 4 - Statement of Faith

THE HOLY BIBLE

We believe in the verbal inspiration of the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. (II Timothy 3:16;

Hebrews 4:12; I Peter 1:23-25; II Peter 1:19-21 and Rev. 22:18-19).

GOD

We believe in one God revealed in three Persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew

3:16,17; John 17)

MAN

We believe that man, in his natural state, is a sinner, lost, undone, without hope, and without God. (Romans

3:19-23; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 2:1,2,12)

DIVINITY AND HUMANITY OF JESUS CHRIST

We believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is God in the flesh and that He is both divine and human. (Luke

1:26-38; John 14:1-3; Acts 2:36; Acts 3:14,15; Philippians 2:5-12; Ephesians 1:3-15)

BLOOD ATONEMENT

We believe in the saving power of the Blood of Jesus Christ and His imputed righteousness to all who believe

on Him with faith. (Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-9; 5:1-11; Ephesians 1:3-15)

ASCENSION

We believe that Jesus Christ ascended to the Father and is presently seated at the right hand of the Father

making intercession for us. (John 14: 1-6; Romans 8:34)

SECOND COMING

We believe in the visible, bodily return of Jesus Christ to this earth to gather His Church (Bride) and judge

the world. (Acts 1:10-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Thess. 1:7-10; James 5:8; Rev. 1:7) Note: It is not necessary

that we all believe alike concerning whether He is coming before, during or after the great tribulation.

SALVATION

We believe that the terms of salvation are repentance toward God for sin, and a personal, heartfelt faith in

the Lord Jesus Christ, which results in regeneration of the person. This salvation is entirely by grace of our Lord and

not of works. Works are excluded except as fruit of salvation. (Acts 3:19-20; Romans 4:1-5; 5:1; Ephesians 2:8-

10).

LOCAL CHURCH

We believe that the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a local expression of the Body of Believers who have

been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; who are under recognized, local, delegated

authorities; and who assemble to worship, carry forth the great commission and minister as the Holy Spirit leads.

(Matthew 16:18; 28:19-20; Acts 2:40-47; 20: 28; Ephesians 5:22-32; I Timothy 3:15).

ORDINANCES

We believe that the two ordinances of the church are water baptism and communion (The Lord's Supper).

(Matthew 3:15, 16; 28: 19- 20; Acts 8:30; Romans 6:1-4; Luke 22:13-20).

SEPARATED LIFE

We believe that believers should seek, as the early disciples did, to practice the separated life from the world

unto Jesus Christ and to set standards of conduct which shall exalt our Lord and His church. (Romans 12:1-3; II

Cor. 6:17; Gal 6:14; Eph. 5:11; Col. 3:17)

HEAVEN AND HELL

We believe the Holy Scriptures clearly set forth the doctrines of eternal punishment for the lost and eternal

bliss and salvation for the saved. Hell for the unsaved and heaven for the saved. (Matt. 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 16: 19-

31; John 14: 1-3; Rev. 20: 11-15).

HOLY SPIRIT

We believe the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity whose purpose in the redemption of man is to

convict him of sin, regenerate the repentant believer, guide the believer into understanding the Holy Scripture, indwell

and give gifts to believers as He wills, that they may minister as Christ would to men. We believe that the

manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in I Cor 12:8-11 shall operate in the churches today which yield to the

Lord Jesus Christ. We believe a believer can be baptized in the Holy Spirit during the time Jesus is regenerating him,

or any time subsequent to his regeneration (new birth) experience. We believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a

separate and distinct experience from regeneration.

We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit

gives utterance, is for all believers as promised by John the Baptist, was witnessed by the early disciples of Christ,

and is evidenced in the lives of many present-day believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Luke 11:13; John 7: 37-39;

14:16, 17; Acts 2:39-47; Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4,5,8; Acts 10: 44-47; 19:1-6).

DIVINE HEALING

We believe that God does use doctors, medicines and other material means for healing. However, we

believe that divine healing has been provided for us in the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. Divine healing may

be received through the laying on of hands by elders, laying on of hands by believers, by the prayer of an anointed

person gifted for healing the sick, by the anointing with oil and the prayer of faith, or by a direct act of faith where

the believer receives healing from the Lord Jesus Christ without ministry from anyone else. (Isaiah 5: 14-16; Mark

16:18; I Cor. 12:9; Mark 11:23).

PRIESTHOOD OF BELIEVERS

We believe that each believer is a priest of the Lord Jesus Christ and has direct access to the Father through

the Lord Jesus. Each person must believe for himself, be baptized for himself, obey for himself and answer to his

Creator for himself. (Rev. 1:6; I Peter 2:9).

GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH

We believe in the local expression of the Body of Christ as the Church and that it is administrated under the

oversight of Pastors and other leaders name to oversee the Church. No individual local church holds jurisdiction

over the FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES AND MINISTERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. nor does the FCMI

hold jurisdiction over the affairs of the local church.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

We believe that God's plan of finance for His work is by tithes and offerings and that it is a joy for His children

to acknowledge His lordship in this manner. (Malachi 3:6-12; Genesis 14: 17-20; Heb. 7:1-10; Matthew 23:23;

II Cor. 8 and 9; Acts 20:35)

Article 5 - Practice

Section I

The FCMI is established to perform only those services which individual churches and ministers cannot

provide for themselves.

Section II

An annual meeting of churches and ministers will be held at a time and place established by the Executive

Board of the FCMI. The meeting shall provide as much time as possible for fellowship and worship among the

members present.

Section III

The affiliated churches shall be represented at the annual business meeting by their pastor and one designated

member of the church. Ministries (other than churches) who are members shall designate their representative in

writing to the Secretary. Individual members shall each have one vote at the annual business meeting. Business can

also be conducted at the discretion of the Executive Board in the following manner: (1) by a called meeting allowing

30 days advance notice or (2) by mail allowing 30 days for each member to respond in writing. Mail is understood

to be by postal service, fax or E-Mail.

Section IV

Business at the annual meetings of the FCMI shall be conducted by the vote of the body. A majority vote

of those present shall carry a decision with proxy vote in writing by members who cannot be present. All church

delegates shall present letters from the secretary or pastor of the church they represent certifying that they are sent

as representative of the churches to the annual meeting.

All members of the FCMI shall receive notice of the annual meeting at least 30 days in advance. Notice shall

be given in writing to the secretary for an absentee member to give proxy voting rights to another member.

Members of the FCMI shall be furnished an annual directory of membership.

Article 6 - Membership

Application for membership in the FCMI shall be in writing to the secretary of the Presbytery.

All applications for membership made by churches shall include a recommendation by a member of the

FCMI and be subject to the final approval of the Presbytery.

All applications for membership made by ministers shall be accompanied by a character recommendation

from a church leader where the applicant is a member and approved by the Presbytery. The applicant shall be

ordained or licensed or seeking ordination through the FCMI and shall be sponsored and recommended by a

member of the FCMI subject to the final approval of the Presbytery.

Failure to pay annual dues after a three-month grace period will constitute automatic withdrawal from the

FCMI.

Article 7 - Withdrawal

A church may withdraw from membership in the FCMI by submitting a letter of withdrawal to the President

signed by the members of the governing board of the church.

A minister may withdraw from the FCMI by submitting a letter of withdrawal to the President of the

Presbytery.

Article 8 - Finances

An annual FCMI financial statement shall be presented to the Executive Board for approval. Membership

fees shall be required. The amount shall be set by the Executive Board.

Article 9 - Executive Board of the Presbytery

The Executive Board of the FCMI Presbytery shall be composed of the Founders, the President, Vice

President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President. The Executive Board members shall be the legal

representatives of the FCMI and shall be responsible for any and all matters related to the corporation. The officers

shall be recommended by the Presbytery and elected by majority vote at the annual meeting.

Article 10 - Presbytery

The Presbytery shall be composed of the Executive Board and a sufficient number of Presbyters to serve

as District Coordinators where churches and members are located. A sufficient number of at-large Presbyters shall

be named to insure that members serving in areas unattended by District Coordinators will have a Presbyter

maintaining contact with them. All Presbyters shall be named by the Executive Board.

The Presbytery shall meet with the Executive Board at least one time annually in addition to the annual meeting

to review the needs of members and to prepare a recommendation of officers to be submitted to the next annual

meeting.

Article 11- District Coordinators

The District Coordinators shall be Presbyters named by the Executive Board to give oversight and service

to member churches and ministers in their districts within the limits specified by the Constitution. They shall report

to the Executive Board and serve as members of the national presbytery.

Article 12 - Committees

The Executive Board shall name as many committees as necessary to carry on the business approved in the

annual meeting or by the Executive Board. Committee members shall serve until the assignment is completed.

Article 13 - Discipline

Discipline of a minister of the FCMI shall be conducted in the following manner: The President or someone

he designates and the Presbyter of the district where the minister resides shall talk privately with the minister to

determine if he feels the charges against the minister are warranted. If they are, the Executive Board shall prayerfully

seek the reconciliation of the member to the Lord and His church following his\her repentance through encouragement

and exhortation. If the minister fails to respond with repentant attitude, membership shall be withdrawn in a loving,

considerate manner. Care should be taken to communicate to the minister that future reconciliation is the goal of the

FCMI.

Discipline of a minister for failing to be active in the meeting of the FCMI for a period of one year, except

for health reasons, shall be conducted in the following manner: The minister shall receive notice in writing that his

inactivity represents a lack of desire to remain a member. If he/she does not respond with a commitment to support

the FCMI with his\her attention and attendance, he shall be notified that his name has been removed from the FCMI

membership rolls.

Discipline of a church for inactivity shall be conducted in the same manner as that for a minister.

Article 14 - Parliamentary Law

All proceedings of the annual meeting and meetings of the Executive Board or Presbytery shall be by Roberts

Rules of Order and in an attitude of prayer.

Article 15 - Amendments

Changes or amendments to this Constitution shall be made in annual meeting upon recommendation of the

Executive Board and by approval of the annual meeting or as indicated in Article 5, Section IV.

Article 16 - Authority

Authority of the Executive Board, Presbytery and the representatives in the annual meeting shall be limited

to that defined by the Constitution.

Article 17 - Ordination

The FCMI ordains qualified ministers who have a divine call upon their lives. Those seeking ordination

must submit their desire for ordination to the Secretary of the FCMI with a recommedation from a current member.

Requesting ministers must be a church member in regular attendance and present to the FCMI a letter stating that

they are a member in good standing in their local church.

Annual credentials shall be issued to all members in good standing with the FCMI in the following manner:

Individual members shall receive a wallet-size annual certification as a minister in good standing with the FCMI and

a certificate large enough to be displayed on a wall. The churches shall receive a certificate large enough to be

displayed on a wall indicating that they are in good standing as members of the FCMI.

Each certification shall be reviewed and renewed annually by the members of the Presbytery.

Article 18 - Yearly Oversight

Oversight of the FCMI during the year between the annual meetings shall rest with the Executive Board.

Article 19

The Executive Board shall have the responsibility of establishing boards and committees that it deems

necessary to carry out the Great Commission.

Article 20 - District Meetings

The Executive Board shall oversee the organization of district meetings throughout the USA to insure

participation among members in their respective districts. The Presbyter of the respective district shall pattern the

district organization after the model of the national body.

District meetings shall be organized in other nations where members reside until such time as the Executive

Board deems the membership in that nation to be large enough to form a national Presbytery and a U.S.A. Presbyter

shall be named to oversee the membership of each international district. Once the National Presbytery is formed,

its President shall become a member of the U.S.A. Presbytery which shall give international oversight, naming a

National Executive Board of the Presbytery to respond to any and all legal matters of the national body.

Article 21 - Tax Exemption

Section I

Members who seek recognition as a tax-exempt, non-profit organization from the United States Internal

Revenue Service shall include the following provisions in their constitution:

1) The member must be a member in good standing in the FCMI.

2) All church or ministry properties are the property of the local church or ministry, not

individually owned, and irrevocably devoted to church or ministry work.

3) Accurate minutes of business meetings and financial records must be kept by authorized or

elected officers of the church or ministry.

Section II

The following provisions are required by the Internal Revenue Service in the Articles of Incorporation or

similar creative document:

“No part of the net earnings of any church or non-profit ministry shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable

to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the church or non-profit ministry shall be

authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and

distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Three hereof. No substantial part of the activities of

the church or non-profit ministry shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence

legislation, and the church or non-profit ministry, shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or

distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any

other provision of these articles, the church or non-profit ministry shall not carry on any other activities not permitted

to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 105 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue

Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law), or (b) by a

corporation, contributions 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.)

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this church or non-profit ministry shall not, except to

any insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes

of this corporation.

Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for

the payment of all of the liabilities of the church or non-profit ministry exclusively for the purposes of the corporation

in such manner or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable,

educational, or religious purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section

501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 2954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal

Revenue law) is the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of by the Court of Common

Pleas (or similar authority if jurisdiction has none) of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then

located, exclusively for such purposes, or to such organization or organizations which are organized and operated

exclusively for such purposes as said court or authority shall determine.

Section III

Churches and evangelistic ministries of the FCMI wishing tax exemption by the U.S. Internal Revenue

Service should provide the national office of the FCMI with two copies of their constitution. If the church or ministry

is incorporated, two copies of the state charter should also be sent. The constitution of the local church or ministry

may be adapted to meet the particular needs of that body, but it must contain the vital provision of Article 19, Section

II, if the church or ministry is to have tax exemption.

Fellowship of Churches & Ministries Intenational