| FOCE
Constitution
Articles:
Article
1. Name Of Organization
1.1 Fellowship
of Canadian Evangelists Inc. (FOCE).
Article
2. Mission Statement
2.1 The Fellowship
of Canadian Evangelists Inc. (FOCE) exists to promote and support
the role of itinerant and resident evangelists in the proclamation
of the Gospel.
Article
3. Objectives
3.1 To promote
the spreading of the Good News that Jesus Christ died for our
sins, was raised from the dead, now reigns as Lord and offers
His forgiveness of sins to all who repent and believe in Him.
3.2 To encourage
God-called men and women to enter the field of itinerant and resident
evangelism by providing incentives and opportunities to develop
them.
3.3 To promote
the crucial and continued role of itinerant and resident evangelism
in reaching Canada for Christ by encouraging and contributing
to the Church's awareness and appreciation of such a ministry.
3.4 To facilitate
a forum for the discussion and exchange of information, ideas,
challenges and views in the field of itinerant and resident evangelism
through international, national and/or regional gatherings as
well as newsletters.
3.5 To enhance
the effectiveness and ministry skills of itinerant and resident
evangelists by providing necessary resources (training, materials
etc.) and developing appropriate ministry models relevant to the
contemporary scene.
3.6 To assist
all those involved in itinerant and resident evangelism to have
a biblically responsible ministry through the development and
implementation of standards and policies that ensure the highest
level of integrity.
Article
4. Definition Of Evangelism
The working
definition used in FOCE is the one accepted by the 1974 International
Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland.
To evangelize
is to spread the good news that Jesus died for our sins and was
raised from the dead according to the scriptures, and that as
the reigning Lord he now offers the forgiveness of sins and the
liberating gift of the Spirit to all who repent and believe.Our
Christian presence in the world is indispensable to evangelism,
and so is that kind of dialogue whose purpose is to listen sensitively
in order to understand.But evangelism itself is the proclamation
of the historical, biblical Christ as Saviour and Lord, with a
view to persuading people to come to him personally and so be
reconciled to God.In issuing the gospel invitation we have no
liberty to conceal the cost of discipleship.Jesus still calls
all who would follow him to deny themselves, take up their cross,
and identify themselves with his new community.The results of
evangelism include obedience to Christ, incorporation into his
church and responsible service in the world.
Article
5. Statement Of Faith
The Statement
of Faith of FOCE is that of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.
We believe and
adhere to:
1. The Holy
Scriptures as originally given by God, divinely inspired, infallible,
entirely trustworthy; and the only supreme authority in all matters
of faith and conduct.
2. One God,
eternally existent in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
3. Our Lord
Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His virgin birth, His
sinless human life, His divine miracles, His bodily resurrection,
His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His personal return in
power and glory.
4. The Salvation
of lost and sinful humanity through the shed blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ by faith apart from works, and regeneration by the
Holy Spirit.
5. The Holy
Spirit by whose indwelling the believer is enabled to live a holy
life to witness and work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. The Unity
in the Spirit of all true believers, the Church, the Body of Christ.
7. The Resurrection
of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection
of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
Article
6. Membership Policy
6.1 FOCE is
designed to be national in membership and interdenominational
in flavour.
6.2 Membership
in FOCE shall be comprised of all evangelists who:
6.2.1 Subscribe
to the Mission Statement, the Objectives, the Definition of
Evangelism, and the Statement of Faith of FOCE, and
6.2.2 Reside
in Canada or are involved in evangelistic ministries within
Canada or belong to an organization carrying on an evangelistic
ministry in Canada, and
6.2.3 Are
members in good standing of a local church or assembly, and
6.2.4 Are
commended in writing by the leadership of their local church/assembly,
denomination or established Christian organization, and
6.2.5 Pay
the annual membership fee.
Evangelists
include all those who are personally and directly involved in itinerant
and/or resident evangelism, whether full time or part time. Such
evangelists may include campus, crusade/mass, children's, drama,
media, music/song, youth, or missionary evangelists.
6.3 Associate
(non-voting) Members of FOCE shall include all other persons,
ministerial and lay, who:
6.3.1 Subscribe
to the Mission Statement, the Objectives, the Definition of
Evangelism, and the Statement of Faith of FOCE, and
6.3.2 Pay
the annual associate membership fee.
Associate members
enjoy all the rights and privileges of regular members, except that
of voting in business meetings of the Fellowship.
6.4 FOCE membership
and associate membership is renewed annually by payment of the
respective fee.Membership fees are to be determined biennially
by the FOCE Executive Committee.
6.5 Members
are prohibited from obtaining either direct or indirect financial
gain as a result of their membership.Any profits or gains to FOCE
are to be used in promoting its objectives.
6.6 In the
event of dissolution of FOCE, any property that may exist shall
be given to any charitable corporation with similar objectives
as the members may decide.
Article
7. Funding Policy
FOCE's primary
source of income shall be membership fees.All programs and activities
of FOCE (except for Directory and Newsletter) shall ordinarily be
self funding. Every effort shall be made to keep the expenses of
the Fellowship to a minimum.
Article
8. Government
8.1 There
shall be an Executive Committee consisting of at least four officers
includingPresident, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Editor
of Newsletter.The officers of FOCE shall be elected biennially.
8.2 Meetings
of the Executive Committee shall be at the call of the President.If
the President is not able to act, a Vice-President may call a
meeting of the Executive.
8.3 Insofar
as possible, meetings of the Executive Committee and ad hoc committees
shall be held in conjunction with the convening of the FOCE Conference.
8.4 The Executive
Committee shall maintain a fraternal relationship with corresponding
organization(s) in other countries.
Article
9. Activities Of FOCE
9.1 Conference
9.1.1 A
national conference of FOCE shall be convened at least biennially
at such time and place as determined by the Executive Committee.
The Conference could be convened in various regions of the continent.
9.1.2 In
determining the location and facilities for the Conference the
Executive Committee shall seek a reasonably modest setting.
9.1.3 During
the Conference there shall be a meeting of members for the transaction
of business and the election of officers.
9.2 Directory
9.2.2 The
Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain a current list of the names,
addresses, phone numbers and ministries of members and associate
members of the Fellowship.
9.2.3 An
updated Directory of all members and associate members shall
be furnished by the Secretary/Treasurer to all members and associate
members of the Fellowship at least biennially.
9.3 Newsletter
A newsletter
shall be published at least twice a year containing news of activities,
achievements, and events to come, in North America and around
the world which are of interest to evangelists.The newsletter
may also contain brief articles on evangelism and listings of
helpful resources.
Article
10. Amendments
10.1 Any two
members of FOCE shall have power to move an amendment to the Constitution.Such
motions and accompanying rationale must be submitted to the Executive
Committee who shall ensure that it is circulated to the membership-at-large
no later than thirty days before the biennial meeting.
10.2 Proposed
amendments to the Constitution shall be voted upon at the biennial
meeting.
10.3 Unless
otherwise specified, the amendments shall become effective immediately
upon two-thirds majority vote at the biennial meeting.
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