PREAMBLE
We, the members of Pelican Bay Evangelical Free Church, in order to carry out more efficiently the commission given by Jesus Christ to His Church, do ordain and establish the following constitution to which we voluntarily submit ourselves:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be “Pelican Bay Evangelical Free Church”.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every way prescribed or approved by the Holy Scriptures, to engage in such religious, educational, charitable, and benevolent work as the Constitution and By-laws of this organization may determine, and to own and maintain such property and equipment as may be required to carry out the above stated purpose.
ARTICLE III
AUTHORITY AND AFFILIATION
Authority: The congregation, at its annual, semi-annual, and special meetings, is the legislative and governing body of the organization.
Affiliation: This church shall be affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and with its Western District Conference and shall, whenever possible, send delegates to their conferences, support their home and foreign missions, and unite in all mutual efforts for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ in the measure that the congregation itself may decide. Such affiliation shall in no way abrogate the autonomy of the local congregation, or its right to hold title to its own property, except for a temporary time when seeking and receiving financial aid from the Western District Conference under certain circumstances. The terms whereby the District would hold title to a church’s property shall be stipulated in writing, authorized by a duly called meeting of the congregation, and signed by the officers of the congregation.
Affiliation: This church shall be affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and with its Western District Conference and shall, whenever possible, send delegates to their conferences, support their home and foreign missions, and unite in all mutual efforts for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ in the measure that the congregation itself may decide. Such affiliation shall in no way abrogate the autonomy of the local congregation, or its right to hold title to its own property, except for a temporary time when seeking and receiving financial aid from the Western District Conference under certain circumstances. The terms whereby the District would hold title to a church’s property shall be stipulated in writing, authorized by a duly called meeting of the congregation, and signed by the officers of the congregation.
ARTICLE IV
STATEMENT OF FAITH
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:
The Evangelical Free Church of America is an association of autonomous churches united around these theological convictions:
God
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel’s promised Messiah-was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Christ’s Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
1. We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
The Bible
2. We believe that God has spoken in the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The Human Condition
3. We believe that God created Adam and Eve in His image, but they sinned when tempted by Satan. In union with Adam, human beings are sinners by nature and by choice, alienated from God, and under His wrath. Only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled and renewed.
Jesus Christ
4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus-Israel’s promised Messiah-was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
The Work of Christ
5. We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation.
The Holy Spirit
6. We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
The Church
7. We believe that the true church comprises all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the Head. The true church is manifest in local churches, whose membership should be composed only of believers. The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which visibly and tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer.
Christian Living
8. We believe that God’s justifying grace must not be separated from His sanctifying power and purpose. God commands us to love Him supremely and others sacrificially, and to live out our faith with care for one another, compassion toward the poor and justice for the oppressed. With God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ’s commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
Christ’s Return
9. We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission.
Response and Eternal Destiny
10. We believe that God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel by turning to Him in repentance and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth, to the praise of His glorious grace. Amen.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the church shall consist of persons who profess belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior; whose character, conduct and reputation conform therewith; and who will abide by the Constitution and By-laws of this church.
ARTICLE VI
PROPERTY
The members of this church who are loyal to and abide by this Constitution and the By-laws of Pelican Bay Evangelical Free Church have the right to ownership and control of the property of this church. Should any controversy arise as to whether such loyalty exists, the question shall be submitted to the Western District Board of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the decision of that Board shall be final. In the case of dissolution, the property of the church shall be assigned to the Western District of the EFCA, to enable said district to renew the work or use the values thereof for further Gospel enterprises. The church shall be considered dissolved if so decided by the congregation, or when the church has not held an annual meeting for three (3) years, or when less than five (5) members remain.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to this constitution may be introduced in writing and adopted as a preliminary step at a regular business meeting of the church. Such amendments will be considered adopted when approved by a three-fourths vote by the members present and voting. However, such amendments will not become effective unless and until a subsequent business meeting passes the amendments with an affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members present and voting. A minimum of three months must elapse from the time the amendments are first adopted to the time they are finally approved and become effective. When the amendments that are to be acted upon become effective, they must be considered as previously adopted and without further amendment.
ARTICLE VIII
PROVISIONS FOR BY-LAWS
This church shall provide By-laws for its government and administration. They shall not conflict with the Word of God or with this Constitution.
Officially adopted November 26, 1989
Learn more about Membership
Officially adopted November 26, 1989
Learn more about Membership