The Constitution of
Cuba Outreach Ministry (COM)
Strathroy Ontario Canada
NAME: The name of this organization shall be: Cuba Outreach Ministry (COM) located within the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc in the Province of ONTARIO CANADA.
PURPOSE: The objective of this interdenominational evangelical Christian organization is set forth in its Statement of Faith and Member’s Covenant, church planting, Christian Education, Humanitarian Relief, and Community , evangelism- including the presentation of a corporate testimony of the gospel to the country of Cuba, and taking God’s Word as it’s only and sufficient rule of faith and practice.
This Constitution has three Parts:
Part 1- Statement of Faith
Part 2- Members Covenant
Part 3-Governace
PART 1: STATEMENT OF FAITH
Bible:
We believe the Bible to be the complete Word of God; that the sixty-six books as originally written, comprising the Old and New Testaments, were verbally inspired by the spirit of God and were entirely free from error;
That the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice, and the true basis of Christian union.
(Thessalonians 2:13; Timothy 3:16, 17; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 19:7-11)
God:
We believe in one God, Creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal, existing in three equal Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 28:19; Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:16)
Christ:
We believe in the absolute and essential deity of Jesus Christ in His eternal existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return.
(Matthew 28:6; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:1-4; 4:15; Colossians 1:15-18)
The Holy Spirit:
We believe in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, Who convinces of sin, of righteousness and of judgement; Who regenerates, sanctifies, illuminates and comforts those who believe in Jesus Christ.
(John 14:16; 16:8-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13)
Creation:
We believe that God created the universe, the seen and the unseen, from nothing by speaking creation into existence in six days, and that He rested on the seventh day.
His creative acts were good, without the stain of sin. Thus the earth was perfect before the fall of Adam and Eve, from whom all of mankind has descended.
(Genesis 1, 2; Acts 17:26)
Satan:
We believe that Satan exists as an evil personality, originator of sin, the archenemy of God and man.
(John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
Man:
We believe that mankind was divinely created in the image of God; because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, mankind sinned and became guilty before God, resulting in total depravity thereby incurring physical and spiritual death.
(Genesis 1:26, 27; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12)
Salvation:
We believe that salvation is by the sovereign, electing grace of God; that by the appointment of the Father, Christ voluntarily suffered a substitutionary death for sinners; that justification is by faith alone in the all sufficient sacrifice and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that those whom God has effectually called shall be divinely preserved and finally perfected in the image of the Lord.
(John 1:12; 5:24; 10:17, 18; Ephesians 2:8, 9; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
The Future:
We believe in the personal, bodily, imminent and glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust; in the eternal blessedness of the redeemed and the judgement and the conscious, eternal punishment of the unsaved.
(Matthew 25:31-46; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The Local Church:
We believe that a church is a family of baptized believers, called out of the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus, missional in its outreach, voluntarily associated for the ministry of the Word, the mutual edification of its members and the observance of the ordinances. We believe it is a sovereign independent body exercising its own God given gifts, precepts and privileges under the Lordship of Christ, the Great Head of the church.
(Acts 1:8; 2:41, 42; Ephesians 4:11-16)
Spiritual Gifts:
We believe that the Holy Spirit sovereignly chooses to give every believer at least one gift for service in the ministry of the local church to accomplish God’s purposes. While there are a variety of spiritual gifts described in the Bible, we recognize that the practice of the gifts of tongues, interpretation, healing and prophecy has resulted in some confusion and division. We believe that God is not limited, and can and does use these gifts as He sovereignly chooses. These gifts need to be exercised in accordance with scriptural direction. We do not see the practice of these gifts as a requirement to evidence faith in Christ, the filling of the Holy Spirit, or spiritual maturity.
(Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Peter 4:10, 11; 1 Corinthians 14)
Ordinances:
We believe that there are only two ordinances the church regularly observed in the New Testament.
Baptism, which is the immersion in water, whereby the believer obeys Christ’s command and sets forth His identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.
The Lord’s Supper, which is the memorial wherein the believer partakes of the two elements, the bread and the cup which symbolize the Lord’s body and shed blood proclaiming His death until He returns.
(Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-28)
The Lord’s Day:
We believe that the first day of the week, Sunday is the Lord’s Day, and is the day we have set apart for worship, rest, and spiritual exercise. (John 20:19-26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2)
Civil Government:
We believe that civil government is appointed by God for the good order of society and that we should fulfill faithfully our responsibilities as good citizens, and that civil authourities should be conscientiously honoured and obeyed. We believe that we must obey God rather than man in things opposed to the revealed will of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the only Lord of the conscience. We believe that the church should remain distinct and separate from the state.
(Matthew 22:20-21; Acts 5:29; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 1 Peter 2:13-14, 17)
Marriage and the Family:
We believe that God instituted the marriage relationship to be one man and one woman for life. God is against any impure relationships. We believe that children are to be nurtured in the knowledge and love of God.
(Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31-33; 6:1-4; Hebrews 13:4)
PART 2 MEMBER’S COVENANT
Having been led by the spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized we promise by God’s enabling grace:
To protect the Unity of Cuba Outreach Ministry by:
Acting in love toward others (Eph. 4:3; Rom 12:10; 15:5)
Submitting to its leadership, discipline and doctrine. (Heb. 13:17; Col. 1:28; 1 Tim. 6:3)
Refusing to participate in gossip (Eph. 4:29)
Remembering each other in prayer (Ja 5:16)
Caring for each other in sickness and distress (1 Cor. 12:25)
Speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15, 29)
Being slow to take offence, and quick to seek reconciliation (Ja 1:29; Mat 18:15-20)
To support the witness of our organization by:
Attending meetings faithfully (Heb, 10:24-25)
Giving regularly (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:7)
Living a godly life (Phil 1:27; 1 Peter 1:13-16)
To share the responsibility of Cuba Outreach Ministry by:
Praying for its effectiveness (Col. 1:9, 10)
Warmly welcoming those who visit (Heb 13:2; Rom 15:7)
Leading others to Christ (Mat 28:19, 20)
To serve in the ministry of Cuba Outreach Ministry by:
Giving of our time, talents and treasures (1 Peter 4:7-11)
Developing a servants heart (Phil 2:3-5)
Engaging in opportunities to be equipped and trained for ministry (Eph 4:11-13)
To nurture personal and family life by:
Regular personal Bible study and prayer (Deut. 6:4-7; 2 Tim 2:15; Phil 4:6, 7)
Educating our children as God entrusts them to us in the doctrines of Scripture, and Godly principles of Christian living (Prov 22:6; Ps 78:1-8)
Participating in personal and corporate worship (Ex 34:14; Ps 95:6; Luke 4:8)
Being honourable in all things, faithful in our word and loving our neighbor (Eph 5:15; Matt 22:37-40)
Participating in the ordinances of Baptism and Communion (the Lord’s Supper) (Matt 28:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-26)
PART 3 GOVERNANCE
MEMBERSHIP:
Qualification:
Membership in Cuba Outreach Ministry is open to those individuals who profess a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who have been baptized, who exhibit the fruit of the spirit, who are not under discipline by any Christian church and who are in agreement with the Constitution of Cuba Outreach Ministry which includes the Statement of Faith and Member’s Covenant.
Application:
for BOARD MEMBERSHIP shall be approved subsequent to:
Candidate completing an acceptable level of knowledge of Cuba Outreach Ministry.
Candidate sharing their personal testimony of their salvation with at least two MEMBERS of THE BOARD.
Candidate indicating in writing their agreement and understanding of the Constitution of Cuba Outreach Ministry.
Candidate demonstrating a willingness and commitment to serve.
Approval by vote at a regular Cuba Outreach Ministry meeting.
Removal:
A MEMBER OF THE BOARD in Cuba Outreach Ministry may be removed for any of the following reasons:
Member requests their withdrawal
Extended unexplained absence (7 months plus)
Discipline
Deceased
Voting Privileges:
All MEMBERS of THE BOARD eighteen (18) years of age and older and in good standing may vote on the business matters of Cuba Outreach Ministry.
The BOARD must seek approval by vote at a regular meeting of Cuba Outreach Ministry for the following matters:
Annual Cuba Outreach Ministry Operating Budget;
Any hiring or dismissal of staff;
Any purchasing or sale of buildings and land.
Any amendments to this Constitution.
The BOARD may seek approval by vote on other matters pertaining to Cuba Outreach Ministry at their discretion and discernment such as the following:
Any hiring or dismissal of Cuban Pastors/Missionaries;
Any change in charitable purposes or any changes in operations to accomplish those charitable purposes.
DISCIPLINE
Members who conduct themselves in a manner which, in the studied opinion of the BOARD is not in harmony with Scriptural principles, which has brought or has the potential to bring reproach upon Christ, the name of Cuba Outreach Ministry and its ministry and for which the accused does not show repentance, shall be interviewed and counseled by the BOARD after the manner clearly indicted in the Word of God.
The purpose of the discipline of Cuba Outreach Ministry is restoration of erring members and for the protection of the spiritual life and testimony of Cuba Outreach Ministry.
If a member chooses to continue in their unrepentant condition, they will be reproved before THE BOARD. If they remain unrepentant they will be removed from membership with its rights and privileges.
These actions will only be taken upon the majority vote of the BOARD.
The BOARD will prayerfully consider the following scripture in determining appropriate steps in any discipline process. Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:3; Galatians 6:1;
Additionally, the BOARD will prayerfully seek a balance between truth and love.
As Cuba Outreach Ministry (COM) is not a church it may defer to the offending member’s own church for disciplinary action.
THE BOARD:
QUALIFICATIONS:
All BOARD members shall be members in good standing of their own home church, and shall be people of exemplary Christian character, who’s moral and spiritual standards are well recognized as fitting the qualifications for the position they possess.
The BOARD shall consist of the following positions: Chairman, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and additional MEMBERS AT LARGE.
Any change in the BOARD as to personal and/or duties and responsibilities shall only be done by a majority vote of the BOARD MEMBERS.
The following shall consist of the following positions and responsibilities:
CHAIRMAN:
The position of Chairman shall be by election of the membership.
Duties shall consist of the conducting of organized prepared regular meetings of Cuba Outreach Ministry.
VICE-CHAIR:
The position of Vice-Chair shall be by election of the membership.
Duties of the Vice-Chair shall be to assist the Chair in his or her responsibilities. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice- chair shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chair.
TREASURER:
The position of Treasurer shall be by election of the membership.
Duties of the Treasurer shall be to record, maintain accurate records, and report when called upon all financial matters of Cuba Outreach Ministry (COM)
The Treasurer shall be responsible to ensure:
An accurate account of all monies received and disbursed is kept
Accounts payable is current and all payments are made in a timely manner including:
Wages, utilities, and all general operating expenses
Regular financial statements are kept as required by the BOARD for all business meetings, and any other meetings as required
All legal and government documents, as required, are filed on behalf of the Cuba Outreach Ministry, and such records as may be required for proper audits to be performed.
An Annual Budget presented to the BOARD of DIRECTORS before December 15th each year for the following Calendar Year for approval.
SECRETARY:
The position of Secretary shall by election of the membership.
Duties of the Secretary shall be to:
Record and maintain accurate records all minutes of meetings
Receive correspondence related to Cuba Outreach Ministry, report to MEMBERSHIP of the BOARD, and respond accordingly to said correspondence as directed by THE BOARD.
Any other duties relative as directed by the Chairman or his designate or the MEMBERSHIP of THE BOARD.
MEMBERS AT LARGE
The position of the additional BOARD MEMBERS shall be by election of the membership.
The BOARD shall serve as Trustees for the organization, and as such their duty and responsibility shall be to sign legal documents on behalf of Cuba Outreach Ministry as authorized.
The BOARD shall consist of additional MEMBERS whose duties and responsibilities’ shall include serving as voting members on any and all matters pertaining to the operations of Cuba Outreach Ministry pursuant to its charitable purposes.
CUBA OUTREACH MINISTRY BUSINESS MEETINGS:
There shall be at least one (1) scheduled business meeting per calendar year.
Additional meetings as required may be called by the BOARD.
Notice for all COM business meetings shall be communicated at least two (2) weeks before the day of the meeting. Such notice will clearly communicate the matters to be discussed and voted upon.
The Chairman of the BOARD or his designate shall act as moderator for all business meetings of the COM.
QUORUM:
A quorum for any Cuba Outreach Ministries meeting shall be no less 25% of the membership.
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
This Constitution may be amended by a seventy-five percent (75%) majority vote of its members.