Constitution

ARISE AMERICA CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this body shall be ARISE AMERICA.

PREAMBLE

VISION, CORE VALUES AND MISSION

VISION: Arise America is working toward regional transformation by assisting in the advancement of the Kingdom of God in communities who desire this approach. They are committed to producing resources to help accomplish this goal. They also host bi-monthly conference calls to connect, encourage and equip catalytic leaders in their community transformation movements.

CORE VALUES: 1. Covenant Relationship

2. Servant Leadership

3. Unified Fervent Prayer

4. Seeking God’s Strategy

5. Region-wide Transformation

MISSION: Arise America is committed to:

1. Covenant Relationship

Our foundation is connected catalytic leaders in a covenant relationship. We seek the Holy Spirit to weld our hearts with his heart and with each other that we might function as the one Body of Jesus Christ throughout West Virginia. The people of God bound together in covenant with Him will give expression to the voice of God for the community resulting in immeasurable blessings.

2. Servant Leadership

Our heart’s desire is to walk humbly before God and one another. As Jesus, our example, we seek not to be served but to serve to remember that every seat of authority begins in that place of sacrificial service in the Body.

3. Unified Fervent Prayer

Our passion is to unite in fervent prayer to release the power and presence of the Kingdom of God in our midst. We believe faith-filled, fervent prayer is our primary weapon to advance the kingdom of light in defeating the kingdom of darkness.

4. Seeking God’s Strategy

Our focus is to seek God’s strategy and timing to prepare the way for transforming revival. We believe God has called us to join in His work depending on Him for our direction, strength, and strategy.

5. Region-wide Transformation

Our goal is to pray for and work toward region-wide transformational revival. We believe this transformation will occur when the values and institutions of our state are overrun by the presence and power of God. Our desire is to see every strata of our society touched and transformed by the Kingdom of God.

6. Establish Churches

Our intent is to establish and network churches in the nation and provide a platform for fellowship and cooperatively working together for the proliferation of the Gospel of the church.

ARTICLE II

NATURE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Section I – This body is and always shall remain only and solely a medium through which Arise America and ministers may work harmoniously in cooperation with each other promoting the work and objects set forth in this constitution. It is not to any degree and shall never have an ecclesiastical or hierarchical authority over its members. It shall not have or shall never attempt to exercise a single attribute of power or authority over any church or over the messengers of the churches in such ways as to limit the sovereignty of the churches under one Sovereign, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Section II – Arise America is a fellowship based on the scriptural concept that all true believers are members of the Body of which Christ is the Head: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (1 Cor. 12:12-13)

The Body of Christ, therefore, is a God-formed living organism and thus more than a man-formed organization. It was formed on the Day of Pentecost through the action of the Holy Spirit who baptizes the believers into one Body. We cannot create, change or dissolve this formed Body. Having come into existence by an act of God, it is the duty of all believers to recognize what God has done. It is also our solemn responsibility to work out ways and means by which we can secure a practical working relationship among the members that Christ has set in His church, and thus assist in the fulfillment of its divine mission on earth.

Section III – Arise America is designed to perform only those services which churches, groups of churches, and organizations of churches may be recognized in their fellowship. Each church or group of churches will be free to carry on with their own programs and missionary work and ordain or license ministers as they deem necessary.

Section IV – Although certain minimum requirements are necessary by law for voting privileges in any body recognized by the government, the great purpose of fellowship is to provide recognition of the headship of Christ and the unity of the whole Body of Christ. Therefore, it specifically delimits itself to be a fellowship of the Body of Christ rather than a closed communion.

Section V – Arise America, in recognizing the unity of the body of Christ and the ministry gifts God has set in the church as described in 1 Corinthians12, declares itself strongly for the supernatural ministry and the operation of the ministry of gifts in the assembly in accordance with the divine order of their manifestation as set forth by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14.

Section VI – Arise America, while not legalistic in its spirit, stands for Bible righteousness in living and personal conduct in accordance with the Scriptures. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

Section VII – Being international in character, Arise America may be extended to any country in the world.

ARTICLE III

GENERAL PURPOSES AND PROVISIONS

1. The purposes for which Arise America is formed, which is a nonstock, nonprofit corporation are:

a) Exclusively for charitable, religious and education purposes, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

b) Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

c) Educate children and adults using Christian educational methods.

d) Establish help for the needy and promote better living standards for the local community.

e) Establish churches as needed in a community.

f) To recognize Christ as the sovereign head of the church.

g) To encourage recognition of all true believers as the members of the Body of Christ.

h) To emphasize, encourage and promote apostolic ministry.

i) To assume and share the responsibility of fulfilling the Great Commission, that is the promulgation of the Gospel and the evangelization of nations.

j) To promote unity and fellowship among the members of the Body of Christ.

k) To provide means and ways by which the above objectives may be obtained.

l) To provide such services as may be necessary to the associated sovereign churches.

m) Transact and conduct any and all other legal acts of a nonprofit corporation as allowed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

2. This corporation shall operate under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for not-for-profit corporations. No part of the income or profit of which is distributable shall be distributable to the corporation’s directors or officers as such. Pursuant to KRS 273.187, this corporation shall have no voting members. The organization shall be run by its Board of Directors who have appointed officers and will hire other employees for pay as they deem fit. Any of such individuals shall not be liable on any corporate obligations merely because of their positions as such. No loans shall be made by the corporation to its directors or officers pursuant to KRS 273.241.

3. There shall be no voting members to the corporation. The corporation will be governed by the original Board of Directors and its successors as appointed.

4. The Board of Directors shall not be less than three, pursuant to KRS 273.211.

ARTICLE IV

ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL BODY

Section I – All ministers and churches, regardless of denomination, which believe in the principles, nature and purpose of ARISE AMERICA may make application to become a part of the fellowship. All applications for association or affiliation with the international body shall include an official recommendation as may be required by the Board of Directors and subject to the final approval of the Board.

Section II – Ministerial ordination and licensing shall be upon the basis of recognition of a sovereign local church or churches. Ordained and licensed ministers and exhorters shall be so recognized as qualifying for such in the international body.

Section III – Churches may be considered for association or affiliation with the fellowship by filing an official application. Such applications will indicate the type of relationship required. Only those who meet the qualifications as set forth in the Bylaws Article XVI and all other provisions herein shall be considered. Other churches who wish to have a relationship with the fellowship and are in sympathy with the principles, nature and purpose shall be accepted as associates and are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the fellowship except for the qualifications for exemption.

Section IV – The affiliated churches shall be represented by their pastor. If the church does not have a pastor, the church may be represented by a duly elected member of the church who shall serve as a delegate and representative of that church.

Section V – Names of associated and affiliated ministers and churches will be published in an annual directory and made available to each church and minister.

ARTICLE V

TENETS OF FAITH

Section I – This body recognizes that its basis of faith shall be the doctrine of Christ according to 2 John 9, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” The biblically inspired doctrinal basis of faith which lists the seven principles of the doctrine of Christ is found in Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

Thus, we see these seven principles including the following:

1. Repentance from dead works.

2. Faith toward God.

3. Doctrine of baptisms.

4. The laying on of hands.

5. The resurrection of the dead.

6. Eternal judgment.

7. Going on to perfection.

Section II – It is evident that even in the Apostolic Church, aside from the requirements of belief in the doctrine of Christ, there was not uniformity of belief in all matters including the example of circumcision (Acts 15:1). The apostles did not attempt to resolve the differences in this case. Either side was given liberty of conscience in the matter, but neither was permitted to make it an issue. Therefore, Arise America stands for apostolic liberty of conscience, but disapproval of any who would use that liberty to divide brethren. Those contemplating affliction with Arise America should prayerfully consider the significance of the above statement.