(Modified website posting on May 9, 2001)
Udated with the motions passed at the Annual Meeting of January 2000, and the Annual Meeting of January 2001. These revisions will be ratified at the September, 2001 Special Congregational Meeting.

This is where you can learn all about Ray Of Hope Church government.
All members of Ray Of Hope Church have worked together over a four year period to develop this structure for guiding our congregation's interactions. We believe you will find this model of "church" to be inspiring and very uplifting. Please feel free to make comments and suggestions.

Below is the "Outline" of the Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. By-laws. Each line of the outline will take you to sub pages where the article is written out for your study. At the bottom of each page click on the "RETURN TO THE OUTLINE" link to come back to this page.

ARTICLE 1 NAME & PURPOSE

1.01 Name

ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATION

2.01 Legal Status
2.02 Terms.
2.03 Definition of Terms for Secretary of State

ARTICLE 3 MEMBERSHIP

3.01 Membership
3.02 Inquiries Class.
3.03 Procedures Prior to Admission as a Member
3.04 Requests of Former Members for Membership
3.05 Declination of Membership Request.
3.06 Voting Rights of Members.
3.07 Attendance by Persons Not Members.
3.08 Friend of Ray Of Hope Church Status
3.09 Effect of Concurrent Membership in Other Churches
3.10 Expectations of Members
3.11 Policy of Courteous Behavior
3.12 Membership Termination
3.13 Membership List.
3.14 Unbecoming Conduct for Church Leadership
3.15 Perceived Power
3.16 Definitions. "Sexual Contact"; "Touching"; "person in a leadership position"
3.17 Policy Permitting Conduct of a Sexual Nature Between a Church Leader and Another
3.18 Unbecoming Conduct for Members and Friends
3.19 Disloyalty
3.20 Dereliction of Duty

ARTICLE 4 OFFICERS

4. 01 Designation of Titles
4.02 Election to Council Office
4.03 Resignation or Abandonment of Office by Holder.
4.04 Procedure to Fill Vacancy
4.05 Immediacy of Action to Fill Vacancy
4.06 Duties of Each Office

a. Moderator
b. Vice-Moderator
c. Clerk
d. Treasurer

4.07 Officer’s Oversight Duty
4.08 Annual Reports

ARTICLE 5 CHURCH COUNCIL

5.01 Purpose
5.02 Regular Election to Council Membership
5.03 Special Election to Fill Council Vacancy
5.04 Change of Size
5.05 Eligibility Requirements for Council Membership
5.06 Variation from Normal Procedure; Membership Concurrence
5.07 Nomination Process
5.08 Election to Council by Membership
5.09 Term of Office
5.10 Council Members to Hold But One Major Position
5.11 Conflict of Interest
5.12 Duties of Council Members
5.13 Removal From Office

ARTICLE 6 CONDUCT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS

6.01 Moderator
6.02 Regular Meetings
6.03 Place of Meetings
6.04 Special Congregational Meetings
6.05 Conduct of Meetings
6.06 Open Attendance at Council Meetings; Exception
6.07 Conduct of Meetings
6.08 Agenda
6.09 Submission of Council Agenda Items
6.10 Order of Consideration of Motions
6.11 Quorum and Unanimity in Voting

ARTICLE 7 COUNCIL COMMITTEES

7.01 Council Committees
7.02 Appointment to Chair
7.03 Request to Serve
7.04 Term of Office
7.05 Meetings With and Reports to Council
7.06 Teaching Posts
7.07 Council Committees - Areas of Concern
7.08 Local Leadership Committees

ARTICLE 8 RITES/SACRAMENTS/ORDINANCES/RITUALS

8.01 Rites/Sacraments/Ordinances/Rituals
8.02 Baptism
8.03 Holy Communion
8.05 Affirmation of Faith
8.07 Altar Call/Prayer Time/Come Forward For Prayer
8.08 Profession of Faith
8.09 Ordination
8.10 Installation/Affirmation of Appointed Clergy
8.11 Vows To Religious Life
8.12 Exorcism/Cleansing/Discernment of Spirits
8.13 Funeral/Memorial Service/Service Of Resurrection
8.14 Laying On Of Hands/Anointing With Oil.
8.15 Forgiveness/Confession/The Ministry Of Reconciliation
8.16 Blessing
8.17 Celebration Of Christ’s Work of Holy Union/(and) Holy Matrimony
8.18 Reaffirmation or Renewal of Holy Union/Holy Matrimony Vows.
8.19 Dissolution of Holy Union and Holy Matrimony

ARTICLE 9 MINISTRY AND CLERGY

9.01 Province
9.02 Universal Priesthood Of Believers
9.03 Authority of All Believers (Priesthood of Christ, the Body Of Christ)
9.04 Clergy Legally Recognized to Serve
9.05 Responsibilities
9.06 Qualifications
9.07 Ray Of Hope Church Vocational Ministry Training Program

9.08 Qualifications for the Director of the Vocational Ministry Training Program
9.09 Ordination Process to becoming a Clergyperson of Ray Of Hope Church
9.10 Initial Period
9.11 Review of Application #1
9.12 Entry Into Program
9.13 Assignments and Education
9.14 Participation in Vocational Ministry Colloquium
9.14.1 Absence From Required Events By Vocational Ministry Candidates
9.14.2 Suspension From The Vocational Ministry Training Program 9.15 Temporary License
9.16 Purpose of Temporary License
9.17 Authorization Granted
9.18 Steps Following Request For Ordination
9.19 Timing of Ordination
9.20 Transfer of Professional Clergy Credentials
9.21 Indications of Commitment to Service of the Lord
9.22 Deacons
9.23 Apostles/Bishops/Pastor to the Pastors
9.24 Evangelist
9.25 Prophets
9.26 Teachers
9.27 Pastors/Shepherds
9.28 Clergy Confidentiality
9.29 Other Gifts and Callings
9.30 Church as Spiritual House
9.31 Annual Clergy Credentials Renewal
9.32 House of Clergy
9.33 Sole Guardian of Church Theology
9.34 Presentation of Theology
9.35 Relationship to Vocational Ministry Program
9.36 Co-endorsement of Authorized Ministry
9.37 Discipline
9.38 Disciplinary Procedure
9.39 Judiciary Committee action
9.40 Appointed Clergy; Status as Employee or Independent Contractor
9.41 Compensation
9.42 Continuing Education Duty of Appointed Clergy

ARTICLE 10 STATEMENT OF FAITH

10.01 Short Form Statement.
10.02 Long Form Statement.
10.03 Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Statement Of Purpose
10.04 Duty to Support Theology
10.05 Open Door Policy

ARTICLE 11 LOCAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES

11.01 Appointment of Local Leadership Committees
11.02 Primary Function
11.03 Local Governing Body
11.04 Matters of Theology and Ministry
11.05 Financial Responsibility
11.06 Formation of Local Leadership Committee
11.07 Conduct of Business
11.07.1 Election Of Local Leadership Committee Members
11.08 Officer
11.09 Flow of Reports
11.10 Flow of Local Leadership Committee Reports to the Council
11.11 Monthly Time of Local Leadership Committee Meetings/Agenda
11.12 Budget
11.13 Budget Review and Adoption
11.14 Local Bank Account
11.15 Required Weekly Worship Service
11.16 Other Worship Services
11.17 Physical Space for Worship
11.18 The Liturgical Calendar

ARTICLE 12 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

12.01 Name
12.02 Annual Meeting
12.03 Special Congregational Meetings
12.04 Notice of Annual & Special Congregational Meetings
12.05 Meeting Rules of Conduct
12.06 Quorum
12.07 Order of Business
12.08 Absentee and Proxy Voting
12.09 Participation by Other Than Members At Meetings

ARTICLE 13 ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND OTHER DRUGS

13.01 Alcohol
13.02 Tobacco
13.03 Other Drugs

ARTICLE 14 CHANGES IN CHURCH POLICIES

14.01 Church Policies

ARTICLE 15 INDEMNIFICATION

15.01 Indemnification of Council Members

ARTICLE 16 FISCAL YEAR

16.01 Fiscal Year

ARTICLE 17 ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS

17.01 Adoption of By-laws
17.02 Amendments
17.03 Required Vote

BELOW ARE THE "LINKS" TO OUR OTHER PAGES.
Simply choose the page you want to go to by clicking your mouse on the name of the page. Enjoy!

| Main Page |
|Statement of Faith |
|Statement of Purpose |
|Meet the Pastor |
|Vocational Ministry Training Program |
|The Worship Of Ray Of Hope Church |
|*****Homosexuality, Bisexuality, Transgender and the Bible Page 1 UPDATED MAY, 1, 1999*****|
|Sermons Of Ray Of Hope Church|
|QUEER YOUTH PAGE|
|CLICK HERE FOR LOCATIONS AND TIMES OF RAY OF HOPE CHURCH MEETINGS|
|CHRISTIAN RESOURCES FOR YOUR EDIFICATION|

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