GRACE IMPACT MINISTRIES CONSTITUTION ARTICLE I - NAME The name of the church is GRACE IMPACT MINISTRIES, duly registered by the Registrar General of Ghana on 5th Day of January, 2011 as a non-profit Religious Corporation located near Nungua Barrier. ARTICLE II - PURPOSE This church is organized to glorify God by conducting services, teaching and training people in the truth of God’s word, calling people to repentance from sin to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and impacting the world with the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. ARTICLE III - STATEMENT OF FAITH Impacting the world with the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP (i) Give a clear profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour. (ii) Has obeyed the Lord in believers’ baptism or will to be baptized. (iii) Go through Beginners and Foundation Class. SECTION 2 – APPLICATION FOR MEMBERS Anyone willing to join Grace Impact Ministries and has qualified shall be given a membership form to fill with the help of our Gate Keepers/Administration. SECTION 3 – RECEIVING OF NEW MEMBERS Applicants admitted to membership shall affirm membership commitment and be publicly acknowledged as members at a Sunday worship service. SECTION 4 – RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MEMBERS (i) Each member shall pursue the unity of the faith in cooperation with other members of the church and shall purpose to serve in a department of the church. (ii) Members must fulfil their obligation like payment of tithe, welfare dues, normal and project offerings, etc. SECTION 5 – REMOVAL FROM MEMBERSHIP (i) Removal of members from the church and its platforms shall be at the discretion of the Head Pastor. The following are the reasons for removal from membership: (1) Lack of regular attendance in a worship service for a period of between six to twelve months without tangible reasons and notice. (2) Request for transfer of membership to another church. (3) Exercise of the fourth stage of discipline with no demonstration of repentance. SECTION 6 – DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS The church will properly and lovingly discipline members who in the judgement of the elders, have persisted in sinful behavior without demonstration of Godly repentance – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. The purpose of the discipline is: A. (1) To seek spiritual the wellbeing of the sinning believer by calling them to biblical conduct as their way of living – Galatians 6:1. (2) To maintain purity in the local church – 1 Corinthians 5:6. (3) To deter sin and rebelliousness in other members – 1 Corinthians 5;20. B. The procedure shall be according to Matthew 18:15-17, allowing reasonable time for repentance after every effort has been made to call, exhort, and admonish the person. C. The fate of regular church members who err or engage in any conduct is determined by the Head Pastor and Elders and they shall be subjected to discipline. SECTION 7 – ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING The annual meeting of the church members shall be held in January of each year. This meeting includes report of the affairs of the church and other matters as deem fit to be brought before members and shall be determined by the Head Pastor and Elders. Matters include and not limited to affirmation of appointment of Elders Deacons and Deaconesses who shall serve for the ensuing year. SECTION 8 – SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Special meetings may be called by the Head Pastor. SECTION 9 – NOTICE OF MEETING Notice of all regular meetings shall be published in regular bulletins and platforms and announced from the pulpit for two consecutive days, prior to the meeting. SECTION 10 – QUORUM The members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all regular or special meetings of members. ARTICLE V - ELDERS SECTION 1 – RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELDERS 1. Overseeing the efficient and effective running of the designated department by working hand in hand with Heads of Departments. 2. Maintain a smooth operation of the designated department and the church as a whole. 3. Support the department through collaboration with the HODs to move the church forward in a manner consistent with the mission statement. 4. Support the members in their relationship with Christ in order to impact lives by sharing the mission and vision of the church to their designated departments and align their activities and programs. 5. (i) Help create and implement an atmosphere of love, unity and the fear of God. (ii) Create a safe, friendly and comfortable environment. 6. Collaborate with HODs to grow, expand and maintain membership by developing a system that motivates and brings out the best in members. 7. Exhibit a strong desire to serve God and the members and not to lord over them - Matthew 20:26; Mark 10:45. 8. Communicate effectively and clearly in a manner befitting a spirit-filled child of God – Col. 4:6. 9. Comfortably endeavor to shift priorities to meet church needs and emergencies as they arise – Matthew 6:33. 10. Collaborate with HODs to break down barriers of communication and attitudes among members in order to foster love and unity, and prevent division. 11. Use your God-given gifts, talents and resources to help move the ministry forward – Matthew 25:16-30. 12. Departmental reports should be submitted to the church secretary before Coordinators’ meeting. 13.You should be able to resolve challenges that arise with the HODs. In a situation when issues are unresolved, the head of the ministry will intervene. 14. Know the membership of the designated department. 15. Collaborate with HODs to develop strategies to help grow the department. 16. Help to maintain peace and order. 17. You CANNOT suspend any HOD or member of the church. It is the sole right of the head of the ministry to do so. 18. You CANNOT delete any member’s name from any church platform without the knowledge of the head of the ministry. 19. Conflict resolution can be handled at Coordinators’ level but when a major decision has to be taken, the head of the ministry should be involved. 20. Develop a motivational scheme to award hardworking members in collaboration with HODs. 21. Be responsible to your obligations to the church, in tithes, kingdom investment, welfare, etc. SECTION 2 – NUMBER OF ELDERS Thirteen (13) SECTION 3 – NOMINATION AND SELECTION OF TENURE OF OFFICE Two (2) years SECTION 4 – QUALIFICATIONS Each of the Elders must be an active member of the church – 1 Timothy 3:6-9; Titus 1:6-9. SECTION 5 – REMOVAL OF ELDERS An Elder may be removed from office by the Head Pastor if after thorough investigation by duly appointed Committee, per Article VI, Section 1 of the Constitution, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by scripture, including Matthew 18:15-18 and 1 Timothy 5:19, he is found to be spiritually unqualified (according to pertinent scriptures including 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9) or physically or mentally unable to perform the responsibilities of an elder. If an Elder is removed because of sin that disqualifies him, and if he refuses to depart from sin, the removal shall be accompanied, as described in 1 Timothy 5:20, by a public rebuke before the church at a regularly scheduled worship service. SECTION 6 – REGULAR MEETINGS Regular meetings of the Elders shall be held each month at a day and time scheduled by the Elders. SECTION 7 – DEACONS AND DEACONESSES The Head Pastor with the Committee of Elders will appoint Deacons and Deaconesses consisting of members possessing the qualifications described in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, to be inclusive of specific ministries and functions of the church. This appointment shall be affirmed by the members at annual meetings. Deacons shall serve a term of two years. They shall be accountable to the Head Pastor and Elders for the discharge of their duties. ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS This Constitution may be amended by the Founder/President. Such amendments shall become effective upon affirmation by the Council of Elders. ARTICLE IX - SUCCESSION PLAN Succession will be appointed by the Founder/President prior to her retirement.
