Preamble

These Constitution and Canons are intended to:

1. Preserve and secure the principles upon which the Apostolic Communion was founded.

2. Preserve the liberties of each affiliate congregation.

3. Ensure freedom of action of independence from any religious body or organization.

4. Provide for orderly conduct of internal affairs, in dealing with others, and of governing The Apostolic Communion.

 

I. Name

The name of this organization shall be The Apostolic Communion

 

II. Purpose

The purposes of The Apostolic Communion are:

1. To worship and serve God.
2. To minister to the needs of those to whom we come into contact to the best of our abilities.
3. To do any and all things related to and in connection with the carrying out of the
4. object and purpose herein above set forth.

 

III. Statement of Faith

We believe in God,

whose love Created us All

whose love was demonstrated in the Life of Jeshua ben Joseph

and All who taught Love as the Source of All

We believe in the Divinity of all souls

We ate created so that we may express Divine Love in the world

We are created to serve Divine Love in the world

We are created to teach this Love to the world

We Believe in One Divine Spirit expressing throughout all Creation

This One Spirit ,who is Love bonds all of Creation together in dance of Life

We are a Unity in Divine Consciousness ever expanding to the limitless of

Divine Expression

We Believe that when we embrace these concepts at the deepest level of our being

We will recognize that  The Kingdom is NOW

 

IV.   Core Principles

The ApostolicCommunion maintains a focus on Spiritual Development as well as Social Justice    We believe that the gospel of Christ calls us to minister to the last, the lost, the least, and the left-out of society.

We respect theological diversity.  Faith is not about concrete answers, religious absolutes, creeds, or dogma.  Faith is about the search for understanding, the raising of important questions, the open honesty of having doubt, and the realization that no one has it all completely right nor does any human hold all the answers.  We seek to follow the advice found in 1st Thessalonians 5:21, which is to “seek truth out in all things and hold firmly onto that which is good.”  Religious absolutes of dogma, legalism, and strict doctrine become stumbling blocks and “litmus tests” for who is “in” and who is “out” of the circle of God’s grace.  These false tests that Jesus never required get in the way of truly following Jesus and his teachings.

We affirm the dignity of all of God’s children and invite them to participate fully in the life of the church.

 

V. Government

The government of The Apostolic Communion is vested in its members. We believe in the autonomy of the local church. The Apostolic Communion shall manage its own affairs and shall not be subject to any other religious body or organization.  We recognize the needs for mutual counsel and cooperation, therefore each individual congregation is encouraged , to enter into cooperative agreements where they feel led.

 

VI. Nonprofit Status and Liquidation

This organization is not organized for profit. In the event of liquidation or dissolution of the Apostolic Communionall of its assets and property of every nature and description whatsoever shall be paid over and transferred at the direction of the trustees to the individual congregations.

 

VII. Amendment

This Constitution and Canons may be amended provided the proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a regular General Assembly and then circulated to the membership.

Amendments to this Constitution and Canons shall require a two-thirds vote of affiliate congregations.

 

CANONS

I. Apostolic Communion Membership

 

A. Qualifications:

1. Congregational membership in the Apostolic Communion shall consist of congregations who have expressed agreement with our Core Principles and wish to enter an affiliation with the Communion

2. Clergy affiliation with the Communion shall consist of ministers who have expressed agreement with our Core Principles and wish to enter an affiliation with the Apostolic Communion.All Ministers shall receive valid Apostolic Orders.

 

B. Reception:

1.  Congregational membership in the Apostolic Communion may be attained by majority vote of the leadership council.

2.  Clergy affiliation with the Apostolic Communion may be attained by majority vote of the leadership council.

 

C. Termination:

1.  Membership in the Apostolic Communion shall be terminated at will when a member requests a termination of membership to the leadership council.   All assets of the member congregation remain their own, regardless of membership status.

2. Membership in the Communion should not be terminated by the Apostolic Communion as long as the Member is in Agreement with Core Principals and is desirous of Continued Membership. Leadership Council may remove its Endorsement of Clergy upon majority vote of Council.

 

D. Orientation of Members:

1. Members in good standing shall have the right to a voice and vote in all Communion transactions and shall have the right and privileges to full participation in the life and work of the Communion

2. It shall be the duty of Communion members to uphold the Articles of Faith and Constitution and Canons of the Apostolic Communion.

 

II. Leadership Council Officers

 

A. Leadership council chair:

1.  Responsibilities:

(a) The Presiding Bishop shall in consultation with the Leadership Council; administer, plan, and guide the Apostolic Communion to grow and fulfill its stated purposes.

(b) Shall act to preserve the autonomy of the individual conferences wherever possible, while maintaining a focus on the stated goals of the Communion as a whole.

 

2. Election:

(a)Presiding Bishop shall be chosen and called whenever a vacancy occurs.

(b) Nominations for Leadership Council Chair shall be received by the Leadership Council

(c) The Presiding Bishop shall be elected by a majority of the Leadership Council, in consultation with their respective conferences.

 

3. Terms of Service:

(a) The chosen Presiding Bishop shall serve until the relationship is terminated by his/her request or incapacity.

 

B. Leadership Council:

1. Responsibilities:

(a) Council member shall, in consultation with their assigned conference; administer, plan, and guide the conference to grow and fulfill its stated purposes.

(b) Shall act to preserve the autonomy of the individual congregations wherever possible, while maintaining a focus on the stated goals of the conference and the Progressive Christian Alliance as a whole.

 

2. Election:

(a) The Council Member shall be chosen and called whenever a vacancy occurs.

(b) Nominations for Council Member shall be received by the Leadership Council.

(c) Council Members shall be elected by a majority of the Leadership Council, in consultation with the conference to which they are called.

 

3. Terms of Service:

(a) The chosen Council member shall serve until the relationship is terminated by either his/her request or that of a majority of the conference. In either case, at least sixty (60) days’ notice shall be given unless otherwise mutually agreed.

 

III. Licensing and Ordaining

 

A. Licensing:

Any member of a church who has shown by his life and has felt the call to the gospel ministry may by vote of the membership of the congregation may be licensed by the church to the Christian ministry; provided that he or she completes the required course of study .

 

B. Ordination:

When a congregation shall have called as its pastor a member of the congregation who possesses qualifications as defined by the congregation, and as demonstrated by his or her skills and training for ordination to the work of the gospel ministry, and shall request to the Leadership Council that he or she be ordained, the Leadership Council shall consider such request and by a vote of the majority affirm such request; as affirmation of God’s calling upon the applicant.

 

Wherever possible, this ordination shall be observed in the symbolic laying on of hands, in accordance with the long-standing traditions of the church.  When such a public gathering is not readily feasible, the applicant and leadership council may avail themselves of available technologies in order to affirm God’s call in community, in a forum containing at least 2 members of the Leadership Council along with family and friends.

 

IV. Discipline

A. Should any unhappy difference arise among members, the aggrieved member shall follow in a tender spirit, the rules given by our Lord in Matthew 18:15-17.

 

B. Should any case of gross breach of covenant, or of public scandal occur, the Leadership Council shall endeavor to resolve the conflict; and if this effort fails the Presiding Bishop shall be empowered to act in the best interest of the Apostolic Communion.

 

C. All such proceedings shall be pervaded by a spirit of Christian kindness and forbearance, but should an adverse decision be reached, the Alliance may proceed to admonish the offender.