Article I. Name

The name of this Church will be Word and Faith Christian Church, Inc. hereinafter, Church.

Article II Prerogatives

Section 1. The Church shall have the right to govern itself and to conduct its own affairs according to the standard of the Scriptures, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace… till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son or God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:3, 13)

Section 2. The purpose of this Church shall be to establish and maintain a place for the worship of Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, where we may:
A. Exalt His Son, Jesus Christ
B. Encourage Christian fellowship for those of like precious faith, where the Holy Spirit may be honored according to our distinctive testimony
C. Equip the members and adherents of the Church for personal ministry and to
D. Evangelize the world by assuming our share of responsibility and the privilege of propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ by all available means, both at home and in foreign lands

Section 3. The Church shall have further prerogatives to:
A. Administer the ordinances of the Church as defined in Article V of this Constitution
B. Establish and maintain such departments, institutions, service and ministries within the church for the propagation of the gospel
C. Appoint officers and committees, arrange meetings and govern itself in accordance with theses “Rules of Governances”
D. Establish and define policy, as God directs the Governing Pastor, Dr. Johnny K. Rhoda

Section 4. The Church shall have the right to purchase or acquire by gift, bequest or otherwise, either directly or as trustee, and to own, hold in trust, use, sell, convey, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of any real estate or personal property as may be necessary for the furtherance of its purposes, and to exercise all other powers conferred upon it or by the applicable nonprofit corporation law of this state; all in accordance with its rules of governance as the same may be hereafter modified or amended.

Article III Tenets of Faith

1. Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind, he was born of a virgin. He preached and taught the infallible Word of God. He was crucified, died, buried and arose in three days. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God. And, He will come again to rule and reign.

2. We are to take Dominion over the world, according to the Word of God. (Genesis 1:26)

3. The Word of God is all powerful for ALL of our needs. (Luke 4:4)

4. Our words spoken in faith, produce results. (Matthew 8:7-13; 11:22-24); (Proverbs 6:1-2) (John 14:12-14)

5. Those things we sow or give into the works of God will be accordingly blessed. (Luke 6:38, 45)

6. We are to live in Divine health. (1 John 4:4) (Psalm 91:10-11) (Proverbs 12:28)

7. We are to live in abundance. (Genesis 13:2) (John 10:10) (Deut 8:18) (3 John 2)

8. We are the children of God, the heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:14-17)

9. We are saved by the confessions of our mouth and the belief in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 10:8-13)

Article IV Ordinances

Section 1. The ordinance of baptism by immersion in water (Matthew 28:19) shall be administered to all whom have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and who give clear evidence of their salvation (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12)

Section 2. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly as ordained in the Scriptures (Luke 22:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Article V Membership

Section 1. Standard of Membership and Eligibility
Membership in the Church shall be extended to all applicants who give evidence of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12, 13; 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:18-25) and who voluntarily subscribe to the Tenants of Faith, willingly support the Church with their tithes and offerings as instructed in Scripture, refrain from activities that may be detrimental to the testimony of the Church and consent to be governed by said "Rules of Governance”.

Section 2. Membership may be extended to anyone after one month of attendance.

Section 3. Membership Recognition
A. Those individuals eligible for membership who desire to become active members of this church shall make written application to the Pastor, who shall examine the applicant according to the standard of membership.
B. The Pastor shall present the names of those who apply for membership together with his recommendation. Membership will be granted to those who receive approval by a majority of the congregation. All persons who shall have met the membership requirements and have been approved shall have their names added to the membership and shall be publicly received into the Church at any of the regular Sunday services.
C. In the event a member is absent from services for twelve months, he may be placed on an inactive status.
D. The Church will follow the disciplinary procedure set forth in Matthew 18:15-20. This procedure consists generally of the following steps:
1. The Pastor or a designated member of the Advisory Board discusses the charges with the member in an effort to resolve the matter privately;
2. If the first step does not resolve the matter, then the member shall meet the Pastor or a member of the advisory board in an effort to resolve the matter privately. The Pastor’s decision is final; however the aggrieved member may appeal to the entire board. The decision of the entire board is final with no appeal.

Article VI Leadership

Section 1. Principles of Leadership
A. God’s method by which His Church has moved forward down through the centuries, is that God selected a man to be the leader (the Pastor) and then gave the leader other people who serve as support to the leader and as fellow servants to the congregation.
B. It is understood that God has always chosen to give the leadership the vision for the work of the Lord. For a Pastor and Advisors to work together for the benefit of the Kingdom of God is a rewarding experience.
C. Ordination as a Pastor (see Article XII)

Section 2. Leadership Offices
The leadership of this Church shall be vested in the Pastor, an Appointed Board of Advisors and a Secretary/Treasurer. Other officers may be added as necessary.
A. Official Board: The Pastor and Board of Advisors shall be the Official Board, herein stated as the Official Church Board.
1. There shall be a Board of Advisors of not less than two well-qualified people. They shall be selected only when they qualify according to the requirements set forth in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts :3-7. They shall be appointed from among the congregation to “serve the Church” in practical, spiritual and temporal matters. They shall serve for a two year term and occupy their office “at the will of the Pastor”.
B. Relationship of the Advisory Board
1. To the Pastor: The board member is the Pastor’s advisor, helper and prayer partner. In this position, he is a loyal supporter to the Pastor, assisting him to fulfill the vision and goals God has given him for this Church. The Pastor is the chairman and a voting member of the Official Board.
2. To each other: Board members are a team, working together within the scope of their assignment with the view toward achieving the successful advancement of the Church. Board members should seek to develop a close relationship through mutual prayer, worship and cooperative co-laboring with the Pastor and his staff.
3. To the congregation: Board members should promote goodwill in the congregation and shouldstrengthen the people’s confidence in the Pastor and his leadership. The spiritual interest and welfare of the congregation are their concern and responsibility.
4. To the community: Board members should be this Church’s public relations team in the community. Their lives should be a testimony of true Christianity, conducting themselves in a manner that will honor Christ.
C. Duties of Officers
1. Pastor
A. The Pastor is the spiritual overseer of the Church and its activities. He shall provide for all services of the Church, and shall arrange for all special meetings, conventions and revival campaigns. No person shall be invited to speak or preach in this Church unless it is in full accord with the Pastor’s wishes.
B. The Pastor serves as the chairman with voting privileges in all of the business meetings of the Church and in all board meetings. He shall appoint all standing committees, and shall serve as an ex officio member and supervisor of all committees, departments and ministries.
2. Ministerial Staff
Ministerial staff such as Associate Pastor, Student Pastor, Children’s Pastor, Music Director, Christian Education Direction, etc, shall be appointed and /or hired by the Senior Pastor and ratified by the Official Church Board. All staff members shall be amenable to the Senior Pastor.
3. Advisors
A. The Advisors, when meeting together with the Pastor, shall be the Official Board of this Church. When the Church is temporarily without a Pastor, the Office Board shall choose a chairman from its membership.
B. The Advisors shall act in an advisory capacity with the Pastor in all matters pertaining to the Church and its spiritual life, the administration of Ordinances, in considering applications for membership and also in the administration of the discipline of the Church.
C. All committees, departments and ministries shall function under the supervision of the Pastor and the Official Board.
D. The Official Board may select one of its members to serve as secretary to the Board. The Church secretary shall be custodian of the minutes.
4. Trustee Board
A Trustee Board may be appointed at a later date as the Church has need.
5. Secretary
A. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the official meetings of the Church. The secretary shall also be the custodian of the minutes of the Church Board meetings, as well as custodian for all other legal documents.
B. The secretary shall keep a record of the membership of the Church and perform any other clerical work necessary to the proper discharge of the office.
C. The office of secretary and treasurer may be held jointly.
D. The secretary shall be appointed by the Pastor and Official Board of the Church and evaluated by them as necessary.
6. Treasurer
A. The treasurer shall be entrusted with the oversight of all finances and financial records of the Church, subject to the supervision of the Official Church Board, and shall deposit all funds in a responsible bank in the name of the Church. Two officers as authorized by the Pastor and Official Board must sign all checks issued on behalf of the Church.
B. The treasurer shall keep an itemized account of receipts and disbursements and make a report at the regular meetings of the Official Board and at the annual business meetings.
C. The treasurer shall assist the Church in acquiring and maintaining available tax exemptions under state and local law.
D. The treasurer shall provide a record of all identified giving to each donor by February 1, after the year in which the contribution was made.
E. The treasurer shall be appointed by the Pastor and Official Board of the Church and evaluated by them as necessary.
7. Fiduciary Duties
The law imposes several fiduciary duties on officers and advisors, including the duties of due care and diligence, loyalty, avoidance of self-dealing, expending designed contributions for the purposes specified, and not commingling personal and corporate funds. Church funds shall be administered in accordance with these guidelines.
8. Qualifications of Church Leaders
A. Pastor: should be called by God and filled with the Holy Spirit. He must be capable of effective communications, slow to anger and with a genuine care of the body and soul of all mankind.
B. Ministerial staff: Ministerial staff such as Associate Pastor, Student Pastor, Music Director, Christian Education Direction, etc., must have a cooperative spirit and particular experience, training or giftedness in their particular area of ministry.
C. Advisory Board:
1. The Advisor must be chosen from “among you”, a lay member of the local congregation for at least one year prior to his selection.
2. The Advisor must be a person of good reputation. The confidence and trust of the congregation and community are essential.
3. The Advisor shall be filled with the Holy Spirit.
4. The Advisor is required to make decisions in practical and temporal matters and give support to the Pastor in spiritual matters, so sound direction and wise counsel needs “wisdom”.
5. The Advisor must be willing to serve in the work of God through the Church.
D. Secretary and Treasurer: shall be cooperative members of the Church for a period of at least one year prior to appointment. They shall be of honest report, have a cooperative spirit and possess the abilities to fulfill the duties of the office.

Article VII Meetings

Section 1. Meetings for Worship
Public worship services shall be held each Sunday and during the week as may be provided for under direction of the Pastor and the Church Board.

Section 2. Annual Business Meeting
A. There shall be an annual business meeting of the Church, at which time reports will be given by the leaders of the ministerial staff. The date and time of this meeting shall be determined by the Pastor and the Advisor Board. Due notice of the date, time and place for the annual business meeting shall be announced to insure general knowledge of all members regarding the business meeting.
B. There shall be an annual business meeting to review the financial affairs of the Church.
C. The annual business meetings may be held separately or jointly, at the discretion of the Pastor and the Advisory Board.

Section 3. Official Advisory Board Meetings
The Official Board will meet monthly or at the call of the Pastor for the transaction of regular business for the Church. The time and place are to be announced by the Pastor. A majority of the Board members present shall constitute a quorum if each member of the Board has been informed in due time of the meeting.

Section 4. Order of Business
The regular order of business for the annual business meetings and meetings of the Church Board shall be determined by the Pastor and Official Board.

Article VIII Departments

Section 1. General
A. The Church shall create and maintain such departments and ministries as may be necessary and advisable for the extension of its work. These include Christian Education, Student Ministries, Children’s Ministries, Relief Banks and Media Broadcasts.
B. All such departments and ministries shall be subordinate to the Church and shall contribute to the harmony and development of the whole.
C. Departments shall be under the general supervision of the Pastor and Official Board, and the Pastor shall be an ex officio member of all committees or departments.
D. The Pastor, in consultation with the Church Board, shall have the responsibility of appointing leaders to coordinate each ministry area.

Section 2. Christian Education
The Christian Education department shall be considered as that department of the Church, which particularly provides for the teaching ministry of the Church and provides small group and training opportunities for the entire congregation. The Church Board shall appoint a Christian Education Coordinator from among the active membership of the Church. The Pastor and the Christian Education Director shall have the right to appoint all leaders, teachers, and other workers of the Christian Education Department and, in consultation with the workers of the ministry, determine all policies and programs of the Christian Education Department.

Article IX Finance

Section 1. In General
The Voluntary contributions, tithe, and offerings of the members and friends of this church shall provide all funds for the maintenance of the Church. Offerings shall be accepted by the Church at such times and in such ways as agreed upon by the Official Advisory Board and shall be administered by the treasurer under their direction. (Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38) Internationally ordained pastors should direct a portion of their monthly tithes and offerings to the International Headquarters of Word and Faith Christian Church for the continued spreading of the Gospel. These tithes should be submitted in U. S. dollars and sent by money gram or other suitable secure means to Word and Faith Christian Church, Attention: Dr. Johnny K. Rhoda, Governing Pastor, 690 Horton Street, Clinton, AR 72031 U.S.A.

Section 2. Handling of Offerings
All offerings shall be counted by at least two authorized persons before the funds are removed from the Church building. An offering receipt form shall be signed in duplicate by those counting the offering, with one copy going to the treasurer and the other to the Pastor. A record shall be kept of all receipts and disbursements of this Church and of all individual giving. All funds shall be deposited in federally insured accounts.

Section 3. Pastoral Compensation
A. Regular Compensation
The Pastor shall be compensated for services by a salary or other means mutually agreed upon by both he and the Advisory Board. This financial support shall include salary, business expenses, parsonage / housing allowance and expense, medical expenses and Minister’s Benefit Association Retirement.
B. Reimbursement for Expenses
The Pastor shall be given consideration by the Advisory Board for expenses incurred in the regular course of Pastoral duties, continuing education, conferences by reimbursement of such expenses, according to the ability of the Church.

Article X Property

Section 1. Title
All property of the International Church Headquarters shall be deeded to the Church and held in its name, with the responsibility and benefits thereunto.
A. All associated churches in other lands, countries or locations shall own their own property.
B. The International Headquarters asks that each affiliated church place a sign identifying themselves as a “Word and Faith Christian Church”. For Example:
Examples of Sign Wording
Example 1. “Word and Faith Christian Church”, Clinton, Arkansas
Example 2. “Word and Faith Christian Church”, Mindanao, Philippines
Example 3. Faith Tabernacle a “Word and Faith Christian Church
Example 4. All Saints Cathedral a “Word and Faith Christian Church”

Article XI Amendments

These Rules of Governance may be amended at any regular or special business meeting of the Church by a majority vote of the membership present, except Article XI, which require an affirmative vote of 100 percent (100%) of the active voting members present at any annual or special business meeting called for the exclusive purpose of amending these bylaws. Article IV of these bylaws is not subject to amendment.
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