CONSTITUTION

In order to conduct the affairs of this church in a way that honors Christ, the Lord of the Church, we set forth this Constitution to guide us as we serve Him and one another. We voluntarily submit ourselves to this Constitution.

Article I - Name

This organization shall be known as Gracepoint Church.

Article II – Purpose

Gracepoint Church is a gospel-centered church in Searcy, Arkansas and our mission is to see lost people saved, saved people matured, and matured people multiplied to the glory of God.

Article III – Core Values

At Gracepoint Church, we strive towards our Mission according to the following Core Values - characteristics and activities that express our heart and shape our ministries:

Bold Preaching - The word of God is living and active and we seek to give practical, relevant, applicable expository messages that align our daily lives with the gospel.

“..my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

Purposeful Discipleship - So many people followed him but so few were called disciples. We desire to intentionally create a disciple-making culture where the next generation of disciples is raised.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Fervent Prayer - We have been given full access to the Father through Jesus. We intend to confidently approach the throne of grace knowing that nothing great happens apart from prayer.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of Grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Authentic Worship - Worship is what we are all created for, and the Lord is worthy of our highest praise. This is also not exclusive to Sunday gatherings. God desires for us to bring our whole hearts before Him - in every season - and live a life of worship that declares His glory.

"the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise"

Isaiah 43:21

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable." Psalm 145:3

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1

Courageous Evangelism -In gentleness and humility, we want to give an account, to those God has placed in our path, of the ultimate hope found in Jesus.

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

Strategic Church Planting - From Genesis to Revelation God’s call on mankind has been to reproduce themselves. Take what you have learned from me and pass it on to others, Jesus told his disciples. What is true for individuals is true for the Church. Healthy churches will multiply as they exist for something outside themselves.

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth…” Genesis 1:28

“After this, I looked, and behold a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all the tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

Article IV – Doctrinal Statement

The Doctrinal Statement of Gracepoint Church is the published Statement of Faith as of November 2, 2024.

Article V – Church Government

Gracepoint acknowledges only the Lord Jesus Christ as its Head, and the Holy Spirit as its teacher, and the Holy Scriptures as its only infallible guide in matters of faith and practice, church order and discipline. Gracepoint is not governed by any other church body or denomination. We are affiliated with the Great Commission Collective, which is a network of like-minded churches that provides accountability and support for Gospel-Centered ministry.

A. Church Leadership

The leadership of Gracepoint shall consist of a plurality of at least three Elders. (I Timothy 3:1-13). The government of this church, under the authority of the Chief Shepherd and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, shall be vested in the Board of Elders subject to the course of action provided for in Article VIII. B. of this Constitution. The approval of additional Elders and Deacons will be the responsibility of the Board of Elders.

1- Responsibilities

a - Board of Elders

The Board of Elders are responsible to lead, feed, guard and guide the church. As those who must give an account to God (Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:17), they shall exercise oversight over the church in all its ministries and spiritual functions, including the ministry of the Word, the Lord’s Table, Baptism, and any other functions they deem useful and edifying. When necessary, they are responsible for the exercise of church discipline as taught in Matt. 18:15-17. In situations of dispute over any matter related to church practice and discipline, the decision of the Board of Elders will be final.

The Board of Elders must seek to discharge their duties as set forth in the Scriptures, particularly as in such passages as I Peter 5:1-3 and Hebrews 13:7, 17. They are not immune from correction as prescribed in Matt. 18: 15-17 and must remain open to rebuke as taught in 1 Timothy 5:19-20.

Prior to the annual congregational meeting, each Elder will be required to reaffirm in writing his support of Gracepoint’s current Doctrinal Statement and the document, Gracepoint Elder Theological Affirmations.

The Board of Elders shall serve for an indefinite period of time.

b - Deacons

As the church grows and the need for Deacons arises, the Elders will appoint Deacons as needed.

It is critical that the Deacons regularly communicate with the Board of Elders about needs within the body so they can respond together to meet those needs.

Their duties are to be discharged with spiritual grace in cooperation with and submission to the Board of Elders so that the Elders can give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.

2 - Qualifications

a - Elders

Any man desiring the office of Elder must evidence the personal, domestic, leadership, and ministerial qualifications as set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. An Elder shall have been a member of Gracepoint, in good standing, and a visible part of the church body before being eligible to be placed in nomination.

b - Deacons

Elder appointed Deacons must meet the qualifications as set forth in I Timothy 3:8-13. A Deacon shall have been a member of Gracepoint, in good standing, and a visible part of the body before being eligible to be placed in nomination.

3 - Nomination And Selection

a - Elders

As the need arises the Elders will ask the members of the church to prayerfully consider nominating qualified men as prospective new Elders. Any man who desires to serve as an Elder and sees himself as qualified is welcome to place his own name in nomination.

Within 30 days from receiving a nomination, the Elders will meet to discuss the men whose names have been put into nomination. At that point, at least two Elders will meet with each nominee to determine if he desires to serve and to help him evaluate whether he meets the qualifications for service.

1. If the nominee is not interested in serving or does not meet the biblical qualifications for service, his nomination will not move forward.

2. If the nominee is interested in serving and meets the biblical qualifications for service, he will meet with the Board of Elders and with unanimous approval, his nomination will go forward.

On at least two consecutive Sundays, the Board of Elders will present to the congregation the name of each qualified man who desires to serve. During that period, any church member who has concerns about the nominee’s qualifications should bring those concerns first to the nominee with a view toward clarification or reconciliation. If the person taking the concern to the nominee is not reconciled to, or satisfied with, the nominee’s qualifications, he/she should take any concerns to the Board of Elders. The Board of Elders will determine whether the concerns raised disqualify the man from serving as an Elder.

If no concerns are raised about an elder candidate, or once all concerns have been satisfactorily resolved, the Board of Elders, having unanimously agreed, will present the newly appointed Elder to the congregation.

b - Deacons

Deacons shall be selected for service by the Elders then presented to the congregation with time for objections in the same manner as the Elders are.

4 - Resignation/Dismissal/Leave of Absence

a - Elders

The resignation of an Elder should be submitted in writing to the Board of Elders.

The Board of Elders may, after following what is outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Timothy 5:19-20 and by a unanimous vote of the rest of the board, dismiss from his position an Elder who no longer meets the biblical qualifications to serve.

An Elder may request a leave of absence. Following his leave of absence, when/if he is ready to rejoin the Board, he will be reinstated by a unanimous vote of the Board of Elders.

b - Deacons

The resignation, dismissal, or leave of absence of a Deacon will be overseen by the Board of Elders.

5 - Church Staff

The Board of Elders may, at their discretion, determine if paid staff positions are needed for Gracepoint to be able to operate effectively and may hire people to fill those positions.

The Board of Elders may, at their discretion, delegate responsibility for hiring, supervising, evaluating, and terminating non-pastoral church staff.

The Board of Elders may, at their discretion, decide to hire a man for a pastoral position. Such a man must meet the qualifications outlined for an Elder and may, at the discretion of the Elders, be asked to attend Elder meetings as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Elders.

A paid staff member, except for the Lead Pastor, will not be considered for service as an Elder until he has served at Gracepoint for an extended season. Upon the unanimous approval of the Board of Elders, he may be set apart for service as an Elder following the process identified herein. At that time, he will participate fully as an Elder unless some matter under consideration pertains directly or specifically to him (such as salary, benefits, or other matters related to employment).

6 - Voting

Each Elder has one vote in conducting the business of the church. The Board of Elders will seek unanimity on all decisions. If there is no unanimity on an issue, the matter shall be tabled until the following Elders’ meeting(s) to allow for more prayer and discussion. At a time determined by the Chairman of the Elders, if unanimity still does not exist, a vote will be called, and a three-fourths vote shall settle the matter except in cases where a unanimous vote is required by this Constitution to settle the issue.

7 - Leadership Meetings

a - Board of Elders

The Elders shall be diligent and faithful in attendance in regular and special Elders’ meetings, regular church services, and other church events.

The Board of Elders will meet once each month or as often as called by the Chairman of the Elders.

The Board of Elders shall annually elect from its membership a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary. Paid staff members of the Board of Elders shall not be eligible to serve as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or church Treasurer unless it is decided by unanimous vote.

b - Deacons

Deacons shall be diligent and faithful in attendance in meetings, regular church services, and other church events.

8 - Finance

Stewardship of the Lord’s assets is a serious concern for God’s church. To facilitate management of these assets, a Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Elders and shall serve under its supervision. He/she must be a member of the church. The Treasurer shall be responsible for deposits, disbursements, accounting records, end-of-year reports and shall provide input on establishing and executing the annual budget.

a - Deposits

Offerings shall be deposited weekly by the Treasurer or the Treasurer’s designated representative with particular attention to proper internal control for all offerings.

b - Disbursements

If any disbursement is outside the approved budget and exceeds $1000, then approval by the Board of Elders will be required.

c - Accounting Records

Accounting will be maintained by the Treasurer in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices. Financial statements will be provided monthly to the Board of Elders and to members in good standing upon request. An informal audit of the church’s financial records shall be performed annually and shall be conducted as instructed by the Board of Elders. A formal audit will be conducted when deemed necessary by the Board of Elders.

d - Budgets

An annual budget will be reviewed and approved by the Board of Elders. This budget will be used as a guide for expenditures during the current budget year.

Article VI- Membership

A - Application For Membership

Persons desiring to unite with Gracepoint must have a profession of personal faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. They will be interviewed by an Elder as to their basis for salvation and Christian experience. They must acknowledge the Gracepoint Statement of Faith and Constitution, and give ascent to the Gracepoint Family Covenant. Concerns over any matters must be appropriately addressed with the Elders prior to admittance into membership.

B - Admittance To Membership

Once applicants have completed the membership process, the Board of Elders will meet to accept the applicants into membership. They will then be presented to the congregation and welcomed as members.

C - Termination Of Membership

Individuals may be released from this covenant of membership in the following ways:

1 - By Written Request

Individuals may request that their name be removed from membership by submitting a letter to the Gracepoint Board of Elders.

2 - By Dismissal

Individuals abstaining from the functions of this local assembly for an extended period without understandable circumstances shall be considered for dismissal. An attempt will be made to contact them in person, by letter, or by email. After due examination and approval by the Board of Elders, such persons will be removed from membership.

3 - By Exclusion

Individuals disqualifying themselves from association with this local church because of moral, ethical, or doctrinal reasons shall be excluded from the membership of this church by the disciplinary action of the Board of Elders.

4 - By Death

D - Restoration Of Membership

Individuals who have been removed from membership due to disciplinary action can be restored after meeting with the elders and unanimous approval.

ARTICLE VII- CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

The primary purpose of regular congregational meetings is for communication. The Board of Elders will call and conduct all congregational meetings whenever necessary to communicate matters to the church.

Congregational meetings will be for the members of the church. At the discretion of the Board of Elders, consensus or affirmation of the membership may be sought to determine the mind of the congregation. Open and free discussion should be encouraged in meetings (keeping appropriate issues of unity, respect, and love of the members in mind). Authority for final decisions for the church will reside with the Board of Elders unless such decisions are overruled by the church members in accordance with the procedure outlined in Article VIII, Section B of this Constitution.

Visitors may attend but are not eligible for any consensus or affirmation on the issues concerning the church and its membership.

ARTICLE VIII- Property Rights and Business Transactions

The Board of Elders shall have the power to rent, lease, purchase, own, and sell real property in its own name. The membership shall not have any equity in the real property of the church. Should the Board of Elders propose to dispose of real assets of the church (land, building and contents) with a value exceeding $100,000, the decision will require a simple majority vote of the church membership to be approved.

In the event of dissolution, all assets shall first be used to dispose of all church-related liabilities. To the extent that assets exceed liabilities, the remaining assets shall be divided proportionately among the mission organizations supported by Gracepoint, based on the church’s donations or gifts given to those mission organizations during the last twelve calendar months prior to dissolution, and/or given to another church or a Christian ministry as determined by the Board of Elders.

The Board of Elders will conduct business matters and are able to sign obligatory legal documents on behalf of and binding upon Gracepoint. The actions of the Board of Elders legally bind and obligate the church regarding all engagements, financial, or otherwise, including purchases, sales covenants, notes, leases, legal documents, and/or other obligatory business documents, transactions, or any other matters.

For all covenant or obligatory business matters requiring official documentation, the concurrent signatures of two Elders are required to consummate all business.

The church will legally indemnify and provide insurance to protect the leadership, officers, staff, and workers against legal liability and lawsuits.

Article IX - Conflict Resolution

Gracepoint is committed to resolving conflicts in a biblical manner (See Matthew 5:9, John 17:20-23, Romans 12:18, Ephesians 4:1-3).

A - Members

When a family member of this church has a conflict or concern about the behavior of another member, at the request of either party to the dispute, the Board of Elders shall make every effort to assist in resolving their differences and having their relationship reconciled.

B - Members And Leadership

Should a group of family members believe the Board of Elders is no longer fulfilling its biblical responsibilities for oversight of the church, the following process will be used to address their concerns.

The concerned member(s) shall bring to the Board of Elders, in writing, their list of concerns or grievances.
If the concerns cannot be resolved in that setting, the concerned member(s) and the Board of Elders may reach out to the leadership of the Great Commission Collective and agree to submit themselves to outside mediation.
If attempts to address the concerns through mediation fail and the parties remain at an impasse, the concerned member(s) can submit a request to the Board of Elders to call for a special membership meeting to address their concerns with all members The agenda and concerns for a member-convened church meeting shall be offered to the church members in writing at least seven days prior to the meeting.
By a two-thirds majority vote, church members can decide to remove one or more Elders or deacons from their role(s) and to install new Elders or Deacons, or to overrule decisions made by the Elders.
If the church membership does not vote to remove Elders or Deacons or to overrule decisions made by the elders, the members who raised the concerns will agree to remain as members and live at peace or to remove themselves from membership as outlined in Article V (C) 1.

C - Doctrine And Discipline

Conflicts involving church doctrine or church discipline will be addressed by the Board of Elders with a view toward correction and reconciliation.

D - Employees

Employment disputes shall be resolved according to the procedures set forth in the Personnel Policy of the church. If the church does not have a written policy the Board of Elders shall make the final decision.

Article X- Missionaries and Mission Organizations

All missionaries and mission organizations requesting or obtaining support from Gracepoint shall be approved by the Board of Elders.

Article XI- Amendments

This Constitution may be amended, modified, or rescinded by a two-thirds vote of the members of Gracepoint Church.