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A church with a vision for the future.
By Laws
For
THE CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY
These By Laws are to be the official instruction guide for the operation of the Organization, Churches and Members teachings.
Officers of the Organization:
Rev. Wendell Bell ...General Overseer CEO
Claude Bell…... Secretary / Treasurer
Board Members;
Wendell Bell - Chairman
Ken Sebastian
Claude Bell
Ralph Pierce
Everett Sharp
Laura Bryant
ARTICLE I
A. The organization shall be known as the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY and shall be comprised of all persons who are members and consist of an unlimited number of churches, all of which shall be subject to the bylaws pursuant to it and shall not be dissolved while there is one dissenting church.
B. The Headquarters of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall be located at 1401 Garrard Street Covington, Kentucky 41011 unless otherwise determined by the Executive Board of Directors.
C. The purpose of the Organization is: To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God, to accept members and followers into the church and help the poor and oppressed. The Organization is organized exclusively for charitable religious, educational, and scientific purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or Corresponding Section of any future federal tax code.
ARTICLE II
A. Covenant of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY.
CHURCH COVENANT
We the members of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, being led and directed by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ and instructed by the Holy Ghost do agree to stand together with all brotherly love. Remembering each other in prayer and lifting each other up in the sight of the Lord, and in the sight of our friends in our daily conversation.
We fully believe in protecting the members of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY and always slow to take offense against any of our friends in the Lord Jesus Christ. We wish to be of help spiritually or materially to any of our fellow servants. We will earnestly strive and labor together to build the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ through our church, which we honor and esteem highly in the Lord.
We desire to be members of one body in Christ, recognizing; One God, One Son, One Holy Ghost, One Church.
B. Teachings and Bible References of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY;
CHURCH TEACHINGS
1. REGENERATION
Titus 3:5
St. John 3:4, 5
2. SANCTIFICATION FOLLOWING REGENERATION
Leviticus 20:7
St. John 17:17
I Thessalonians 4:3,4
3. BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST WITH THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN OTHER TONGUES
Acts 2:4, 19:6, 10:45, 10:46
4.WATER BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY GHOST
St. Matthew 28:19
5. HOLINESS AND CLEANLINESS
Hebrews 12:14
Leviticus 19:2
II Corinthians 7:1
6. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:22, 23
7. SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE CHURCH
I Corinthians 12:8, 9, 10
8. DIVINE HEALING
James 5:14, 15
9. SIGNS FOLLOWING THE BELIEVERS
St. Mark 16:17, 18
10. THE LORDS SUPPER AND FOOT WASHING
I Corinthians 11:24, 25, 26
St. John 13: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
11. TITHING AND GIVING
St. Matthew 23:23
12. RESTITUTION WHEN POSSIBLE
St. Luke 19:8
13. THOUSAND YEAR PEACE REIGN WITH CHRIST
Revelation 20:4
14. RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
Revelation 20:12, 13
15. ETERNAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE WICKED
Revelation 20:15
St. Matthew 25:41
16. TOTAL ABSTINENCE FROM INTOXICATING DRINKS
Leviticus 10:9
Numbers 6:2, 3
17. MEMBERS MUST DRESS MODESTLY AS BECOMETH HOLINESS
I Timothy 2:8, 9, 10
18. ANY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY BEING CALLED INTO THE ARMED SERVICES, SHALL RESERVE THE RIGHT, UNDER THE STANDARDS OF THIS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, TO MAKE AN APPEAL TO THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS TO REFRAIN FROM COMBAT DUTY.
Exodus 20:13
St. Matthew 5:43, 44
19. THE KING JAMES VERSION BE ACCEPTED SOLELY AS BIBLE AND OUR TEACHINGS
St. John 5:39, 7:17
Revelation 22:18, 19
C. The CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall have a guidebook and there in shall be listed the teachings, resolutions, rules, and bylaws which govern the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY.
D. The Guide Book shall contain a list of all licensed Ministers in good stranding with the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY with a note attached that any others holding credentials not on this list are not in good standing and their credentials are void because of disloyalty to the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY
ARTICLE III
Jurisdiction
The Jurisdiction of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall
encompass but shall not be restricted to anyone that is interested in the furtherment of the Gospel according to the King James Version of the Bible and the teachings of the Organization.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
A. All persons are eligible for membership in the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, provided they adhere to the teachings of the bylaws and that those restrictions, preclusion's, or teachings are not based upon race, sex, creed, national origin or age.
B. An active member is a member who works in any local church under the name of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, is a Christian and is not disrespectful of this organization, its charter, or its bylaws.
1. Any member who is no longer eligible for Active membership, may request of the General Headquarters to become a General Member, any General Member who again becomes an active member shall deposit his or her membership (General Membership card) within the local church whose jurisdiction he or she falls.
2. When a member applies for General Membership he or she must be approved by the General Executive Board and shall be advised whether said applicant has been accepted or rejected.
3. The General Members shall have the same voting rights at the convention as the Ministers, Deacons, and other Members.
4. Those wanting to be General Members must request an application from General Headquarters.
ARTICLE V
Membership rights and privileges
An active member shall enjoy all rights and privileges of membership in
their respective local church and in the organization, including the right to vote provided they are at least 18 years of age. At all regular and special meetings and to hold any local office for which they are qualified.
ARTICLE VI
Withdrawal and transfer
A. Any member may withdraw from the body at any time for any reason.
B. Persons wishing to transfer from one local church to another may do so, and the Secretary of the church shall assist and be helpful and supporting of him or her, who desires to transfer.
ARTICLE VII
General Officers
The Officers of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall consist of; a President/General Overseer, an Executive Vice President/Assistant General Overseer, A General Secretary/Treasurer, an Assistant General Secretary/Treasurer, Three (3) General Trustees, Three General Auditors, Six (6) General Board Members.
ARTICLE VIII
General Executive Board of Directors
A. There shall be Six (6) on the General Board of Directors. Those that meet the qualifications set forth in this article, shall remain on the General Board of Directors until, resignation, death, or removal at the General Convention, occurring from charges of disloyalty, or conduct inappropriate or unacceptable as set forth by the teachings, covenant, and bylaws, of the Church of God Trinity Assembly.
1. The General Board shall have the final power during the intervals between General Conventions, and shall be the highest authority of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY. The General Board is empowered to establish a code of ethical practices to insure the
honest and responsible administration of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY by the elected officers.
2. The President/General Overseer shall be authorized to convene meetings of the General Board whenever he/she deems it advisable or whenever requested by a majority vote of the board. In connection therewith, the President/General Overseer shall fix the time and place of such meetings. The President/General Overseer shall be Chairman of the General Executive Board and shall chair such meetings, provided that in his or her absence the Executive Vice President shall chair, and provided further that in the absence of both President and Executive Vice President, the General Secretary/Treasurer then serving on the General Executive Board shall chair. The Chairman shall vote where that vote, would be determinative of the outcome. A majority of the members of the General Executive Board constitute a forum for the conduct of business.
3. When the President and the General Secretary/Treasurer deem it necessary for the General Board to act promptly, the President and General Secretary/Treasurer may conduct a vote of the General Executive Board by mail, telephone, or telegraph, any such vote shall constitute official action of the General Executive Board.
B. The General Executive Board shall have power to authorize the sale of properties owned by the organization, but shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the board.
C. The General Executive Board by two-thirds (2/3) vote of its members shall have the power to call a special convention of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY to consider such questions as the General Executive Board by the same vote shall certify to it.
D. The General Executive Board by majority vote shall have the right to revoke any Ministers license and act as a court of inquiry, when a Minister or Member is referred and the decision shall be binding on such Minister or Members.
E. The President shall have the authority to appoint capable men in the ministry, with the approval of the General Board Members, to serve on the General Board for a trial period of one year, and if they prove to be faithful, then they shall be elected by the convention body each year until they become qualified to serve permanently on the General Board.
F. The President and the General Executive Board members shall get their traveling expense paid by the General Treasury when traveling for the interest of the Organization.
G. The General Trustees are to be elected from the General Board Members.
1. There shall be Three (3) Trustees.
2. The Trustees will serve as the Businessmen of the Organization.
3. Either of the three (3) will be eligible to sign checks or legal papers for the Organization, and to investigate all properties and audit the deeds for all local churches and submitted to the Organization.
4. No General Business pertaining to money or property is official without the consent of the General Trustees and President.
5. A deed form shall be made up and drafted by a lawyer also inserting in that deed that no property of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall be transferred or disposed of except through the General Trustees, upon the authority of the President and General Board of Directors, however local Trustees may purchase any church property for the church and sign necessary papers.
J. Qualifications of the General Executive Board Members shall be:
1. They must have the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
2. They must be an Ordained Minister and have at least two (2) years experience in the Organization and shall have a good faithful standing in their local church.
3. They must be over 25 years of age.
4. They shall be required to have a sound mind with strong stability in the Organization for judgment in all things for the betterment and protection of the Organization.
ARTICLE IX
President/Overseer
A. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY and shall exercise supervision over the officers of the church.
B. It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all conventions, appoint all committees, unless otherwise ordered by the convention, and sign all official documents of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY.
C. The President in consultation with the General Secretary/Treasurer shall have the authority to manage and control all funds and property of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, except as otherwise provided in Article VIII of these bylaws. He/she shall have the authority between meeting of the General Executive Board to direct and approve the expenditures of the funds of the church as shall be necessary or advisable in carrying out the principles and objectives of the church, such expenditures shall be paid by check signed by the President or the General Secretary/Treasurer and not less than one (1) of the General Trustees. No expenditures of church Organization funds shall be made except upon authorization of the President except as otherwise provided in these bylaws.
D. The President shall have the authority to interpret the bylaws of the church/organization and to decide all questions relating there-to. To resolve any disputes between bodies or members there-of, or between chartered bodies and the General Headquarters, for which a remedy is not otherwise provided in these bylaws of the respective chartered bodies subject to an
appeal to the General Executive Board.
E. The President or his designated representative are authorized to visit any Church, and attend and participate in any meeting, conference, or convention including those of local bodies, in order to lend assistance to examine the records and inspect the operations or otherwise to further the objectives of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY.
F. The President may commission active members to serve on committees or assist him/her in performing the duties of office.
H. Qualifications for President/Overseer;
1. He/she must have the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and be an Ordained Minister.
2. He/she shall have a minimum of four (4) years faithful ministry with the organization assembly.
3. He/she shall have the ability to deal with legal business transactions and problems of the organization.
ARTICLE X
Executive Vice President/Assistant Overseer
A. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to render such assistance to the President as he/she may require and to perform such other work under his direction as he may request, and to render regular reports on them with respect to any duties or functions, which they have been directed to perform.
B. Qualifications for the Executive Vice President/Assistant Overseer are the same as for President/Overseer (Article IX Section H).
C. The Executive Vice President/Assistant Overseer shall assume the Presidency/General Overseer office in the event of his/her death or resignation until the next succeeding General Convention, in the event there is no Executive Vice President Officer, this would fall to the General Secretary/Treasurer.
ARTICLE XI
General Secretary/ Treasurer
A. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall be Chief Administrative Officer of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY and shall have custody of all books, papers, funds, assets, property and effects of the General Offices, and these items shall be kept securely, within the offices of the General Headquarters. He/she shall conduct all correspondence pertaining to the office and shall maintain custody of the minutes of the General Board meetings.
B. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall collect all moneys due to the General Treasury and shall deposit all funds in a responsible Bank in the name of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS. He/she shall keep accurate account between the General Headquarters and to chartered bodies.
C. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall supply the following to local churches, expenses being born by the General Treasury:
1. A standard for tithe envelops for the church.
2. Certificates of Baptism to be filled out by the Pastors.
3. Standard Guide Books, and therein shall be listed teachings, resolutions, rules, bylaws, which govern the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY INC.
4. All report forms, applications, forms and material for the transaction of business between the General Headquarters and the local churches.
D. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall have the Organization name, emblem, tax-free stamp or other indicia registered in each State, Providence, and Territory.
E. The General Secretary/Treasurer shall be furnished with a seal which shall be affixed to all official and important documents, and shall deliver to his/her successor in office all property, funds, assets, and effects in his/her possession belonging to the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY.
F. Qualifications for the General Secretary/Treasurer;
1. They must be a member in good standing.
2. He/she must have the capability of dealing with the duties
of the office, a sound mind, and desire to protect the church.
3. He/she should have at least two (2) years faithful service
and membership in the organization with stability in the work
of the Lord.
ARTICLE XII
General Auditors shall be to set up and audit the books of any church or department in the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY often times as deemed necessary and to devise means to increase the income of the organization. /three shall be elected to serve in this office each convention for one (1) year terms.
ARTICLE XIII
General Convention and fiscal year
A. The CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY shall have their General Convention each year, to be held on the 1st Saturday, in the month of September immediately following Labor Day, and all members are to be notified of the Saturday the convention is to be.
1. The General Convention shall convene on Saturday and consist of one (1) day and one (1) night meeting.
2. All churches in the organization are to close their service for this night and make every effort to attend the convention.
3. The General Convention is to be held each year at 1401 Garrard Street, Covington, Kentucky.
B. Any person receiving membership in the month of July or August preceding the convention shall not be eligible to vote in the forth-coming convention.
C. All active members who meet the qualifications set forth in Article V and Article VIII B shall have the right to vote in the business sessions.
1. Each local church is to send a list of their active members to the General Secretary/Treasurer each year before the convention. This list to be sent by July first (1st) each year of all active members and their address who are eligible to vote.
D. Our convention assembly shall elect all officers each year. For a term of 1 year, with the exception of the General Board members. Which are defined in Article VIII E and F.
E. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from September 1 thru August 31.
ARTICLE XIV
Ministers
A. All applications for license must be examined and approved by local Pastors, then sent to General Headquarters for approval of application by the President. All NEW licensed Ministers must serve as Exhorter for Six (6) months. All license renewals will be at the President's discrepancy.
B. All Ministers being considered for Ordination must be approved by the General Board before Ordination.
C. License issued to the Ordained Ministers shall be issued on a five (5) years basis. Those issued to Exhorters and Evangelist shall expire at the end of each Assembly Year.
D. All Licensed Ministers except those sixty (60) years and older are requested to send an offering of one dollar ($1.00) per month (twelve dollars ($12.00) per year) to General Headquarters Treasury for the progress of the Organization.
E. Before being Ordained, a Minister must have been a faithful Evangelist in the Organization for at least one (1) year. Must have met all required rules such as paying their tithes, Minister offering, and show interest in the Organization, (An Ordained Minister coming from another Organization with the proper credentials, does not have to be Ordained again, but an Ordained Minister, who is qualified, having prior Ordained credentials, is to receive Ordained License for a period, to be renewed each year, this is to last for a period of three (3) years (on a year to year basis).
F. Disloyal Ministers;
1. All accused persons carrying credentials shall be referred to the General Board for trial, if after an investigation by the President or
his designated investigator there appears to be substantial charges. If the accused feels their judgment is unjust, they may make an appeal to the General Board within fifteen (15) days, and ask for a reconsideration, they may appeal only once. Accused local Members shall first be referred to the Local Church for trial, then may appeal to the General Board. The decision of the General Board shall be final and binding.
2. All persons carrying Ordained Ministers license who for some reason become disloyal in this position shall be required and demanded by the rule of this regulation after being notified by mail as to their intentions if they are willing or not to work with the Organization, to reply within ten (10) days or return their license immediately to General Headquarters office or they shall be brought before the General Board and their license revoked.
3. The General Convention grants the President and General Secretary/Treasurer the right to withhold the renewal of License for any Minister holding credentials, who has not proven active and in the working order for the past Assembly Year, for a waiting period of six (6) months, in which time the Minister must prove active in every phase of the Ministry according to the rules of the Organization, if license are to be renewed.
4. All ministers carrying credentials with the “Church of God Trinity Assembly” are to be encouraged to attend the General Convention each Year. They shall be notified 30 days prior to said Convention by mail and informed of the date, time and location of the Convention. The ministers are to reply by mail 14 days prior to the Convention as to whether they will or will not attend.
G. Special Minister Certificates may be issued by Local Church Pastors for those whose calling do not include preaching, but reach out to the community at large (such as visiting hospitals, homes etc.).
ARTICLE XV
Funding or offerings
Each church in the Organization shall send twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more each month to General Headquarters if at all possible. If that is not
possible they shall send an offering.
ARTICLE XVI
Local Churches
A. Local Churches are to operate under the direction of the wishes of its Members in the regular business of the church. However no church may leave the Organization as long as one Member wishes to stay.
B. All properties, furnishings, money, etc..... taken in under the name of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY becomes the property of said Organization. If a Church closes and no active members remain then the property may be sold and the funds go into the General Treasury.
C. Each Church shall have a Pastors election at least every two (2) years in the month of July (it may be postponed to August at the discretion of the President). The President shall be present at said election, or his designate, to see the election is carried out properly by secret ballot. To elect a Pastor, the candidates must be a Licensed Minister of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY in good standing.
D. The Pastor shall be the chief officer in the church, other officers shall be the Assistant Pastor, Secretary/Treasurer and at least two (2) Church Board Members to be elected al large by the Members. These five (5) shall constitute the Church Board, which shall be responsible for the operation of the Church and its business, subject to the approval of its Members at each business meeting to be held every three (3) months.
E. Three (3) Trustees shall be selected from the Board Members by election of the membership. These Trustees shall have the right to sign legal papers and checks for the Church and be responsible for Church finances. (It has been a long-standing practice within the Church of God Trinity Assembly that the Sect./Treas., when not elected as a trustee, has the authorization to sign checks to coincide with the business of the Church. With another authorized signer.)
F. If problems develop in the Church that it appears Members rights are
being violated or the people are bringing a reproach upon the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, the President may step in and try to help, or his designate, and report to the General Board a recommendation for proper action to be taken.
G. All Officers elected or appointed in the Local Church must be a Member in that Church. As stated in Article V.
H. All Local Churches shall work through General Headquarters for the betterment of this Organization.
I. Each Church in the Assembly is encouraged to send at least one person (preferable the Pastor) to represent their Church at the General Convention, at the church's expense.
ARTICLE XVII
Any Church who would like to work in the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY, may do so as an affiliated Church, under this charter yet keep their name, and title to their property. These Churches would not be obligated to Article XVI, Sections A, B, C.
The Members of the CHURCH OF GOD TRINITY ASSEMBLY take a stand against abortion, the willful murder of innocent unborn babies, unless it is an immediate danger to the mother’s life.
The following is a list of Active Ministers of the
Church of God Trinity Assembly.
Any Minister holding credentials issued by this
organization not on this list are considered null and void.
Executive Board Members in bold with*.
*Wendell Bell
Bobby Dalton
Garry Dalton
*Ralph Pierce
*Kenneth Sebastian
*Laura Bryant
*Everett Sharp Jr.
Mae Spurlock
Willie L. Hunter
Pamela Crowe
*Claude Bell
Fetter Lynn Wilder
Janet Sue McMullen
Peggy Sue Steinmetz
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