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CONSTITUTION
FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES
AND MINISTERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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Article I - Name
The name of this body shall be the FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES AND MINISTERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. hereafter referred to as the FCMI
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
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 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 does not ordain ministers but recognizes the responsibility of the local church for the ordination of ministers. However, 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 and ministries 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.