Constitution - The Congregational Church in Limington
Limington, Maine

CONTENTS:

PREAMBLE - DECLARATION AND COVENANT
Limington, October 11, 1789

We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called of God into the Church State of the gospel; under an humble sense of our unworthiness of so great a mercy and with an humble reliance on the aids of Divine Grace, we now thankfully and heartily lay hold on His Covenant.

We seriously profess our firm belief of the Christian Doctrine as contained in the Holy Scriptures and generally embraced by the faithful people of God, resolving by Divine help to conform ourselves to the rules of the gospel as long as we live in the world.

We give up ourselves to the Lord Jehovah, who is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and then we avouch Him this day to be our God, our Father, our Savior, and our Sanctifier and Leader, and receive Him as our portion forever.

We give ourselves up to the blessed Jesus who is the Lord Jehovah and adhere to Him as the head of His people in the Covenant of Grace, and rely upon Him as our Prophet, Priest and King, to bring us to eternal blessedness.

We desire and design, and with dependence on His promised and powerful grace, we engage to walk together as a church of our Lord Jesus Christ in the faith and order of the gospel, so far as the same shall be revealed to us; conscientiously attending the public worship of God; the sacrament of His New Testament; the discipline of His Kingdom according to the *Platform of the Congregational Churches, with all His holy institutions; in communion with one another; and watchfully avoiding all sinful stumbling-blocks and contentions as becomes a people whom God has bound up together in a bundle of life.

We present our offspring with ourselves unto the Lord.

All this we do, flying to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the pardon of our many errors, and praying that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the great Shepherd of the sheep, would prepare and strengthen us to every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing to Him; to whom be glory forever. Amen”

Signed by:
      Francis Small
      Isaac Robinson
      Amos Chase
      Johnathan Boothby
      Daniel Dyer
      Asa Edmunds

ARTICLE I - CHURCH

Section 1 - Name - This church shall be called the Congregational Church in Limington, hereinafter referred to as “this church”.

Section 2 - Purpose - The purpose of this church shall be to glorify God through the ministry of reconciliation as set forth in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, to spread, teach and to defend the historic orthodox faith of which we are inheritors. (Matthew 28:16-20) ( 1 Timothy 3:15)

This church shall seek to minister to the flock through the preached word; through reverent, biblical, and holy worship to God; through the administration of the sacraments; through Christian education for all ages; and through fellowship whereby love, friendship, seasonal encouragement, compassion, and admonition may be given and received. All these things shall be done so that the various gifts of the flock may be discovered and developed to the end that the body of Christ may be built up and that it may reach unity and maturity in the faith. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

We believe that the reformed faith to which we hold is the most accurate and consistent interpretation of Scripture. This, coupled with the historic position of the congregational churches for appealing to a broad segment of the community, makes us especially responsible to provide outreach to the local community and to seek to minister to their physical and spiritual needs. By this we reflect our Lord’s compassion and seek to bring them into the visible church.

Of equal importance is the necessity to support missions, both foreign and domestic, so that we may fulfill our corporate and individual responsibility as members of Christ’s Universal Church, that is His body, of which He is the head forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-15; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1: 15-20)

ARTICLE II - DOCTRINE
May 7, 2005

Section 1 - This church has for a foundation of Christian faith, upon which its work shall be based and to which its public teaching shall be conformed, the Holy Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments. We believe that it is inspired of God and is totally inerrant, infallible, and authoritative in its original manuscripts. We further accept and believe that the system of doctrine taught by the Apostles Creed, statement of faith of this church, and the Confessions and Catechisms adopted by the Assembly at Westminster in England in 1643 accurately set forth this faith with the exception of Chapters 25, 30, and 31; also Chapter 23, Paragraph 3 regarding the role of the civil magistrates; and Chapter 27, Paragraph 4 regarding who may dispense the sacraments.

Section 2 - Statement of Faith

1. WE BELIEVE in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original text, that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and practice. II Timothy 3: 16-17; II Peter 1: 20-21
2. WE BELIEVE in one God eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 3: 16-17; 28:19; John 10:30; 14:9-10; Acts 5:3-4
3. WE BELIEVE that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is God and man.  Luke 1:30-33; John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11
4. WE BELIEVE that man was created in the image of God; that he sinned, and thereby incurred physical and spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all men are born with a sinful nature.   Genesis 1:26-28; 3:1-19; Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23; 5:12
5. WE BELIEVE that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice; and that those who believe in Him are justified on the ground of his sacrifice.  Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 3:21-26; II Corinthians 5:21
6. WE BELIEVE in the resurrection of the crucified body of Christ, in His Ascension into Heaven, and in His life there for us as our great High Priest. Luke 24:1-9, 36-42, 50-53; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9: 11-15
7. WE BELIEVE in the personal and imminent return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Matthew 24:44; Mark 13:32; Acts 1:11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20
8. WE BELIEVE in the bodily resurrection and judgment of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the redeemed, and the everlasting punishment of the unregenerate.  Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 20:11-15
9. WE BELIEVE that all who are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ are born into newness of life and become children of God.  Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:8-9
10. WE BELIEVE that the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and is the Comforter and Guide of all who are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.  John 14:16-18; Romans 8:9
11. WE BELIEVE the Church of Christ to be an elect company of believers united by the Holy Spirit; it mission is to preach the Gospel of Christ among all nations and to edify the saints of God.  Matthew 28:19-20; Ephesians 4:11-16

Section 3 - This church does not adhere to every detail of the Cambridge Platform of 1648.     Nevertheless, the substance and principles of the Platform is our guide in matters of church government, especially where the Platform is specifically cited in this constitution and by-laws.

* Note:  This refers to the “Cambridge Platform” approved in 1648 by “the elders and messengers of the churches assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England.” An authoritative text of the Platform may be found in  “The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism” by Williston Walker, pp. 194-237.

ARTICLE III - GOVERNMENT
November 22, 1985

Section 1 - This church seeks to conform its faith to the Scriptures and to base its polity on the principles of apostolic practice as presented in the Holy Bible.

Section 2 - The Head and King of the Church (both Universal and local) is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore this church recognized all churches which can give assent to the statement of faith of this church.

Section 3 - This church claims the right to direct its own affairs without being subject to the authority or control of any other ecclesiastical organization.  It also holds and will conform to the principle of the fellowship of churches, by seeking and giving sympathy, counsel, and aid in its fraternal relations with other churches.

Section 4 - The authority and responsibility to govern this church rests solely with the congregation under the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Congregational authority must be exercised prudently and within the context of civil law and the constitution and by-laws of this church, so long as each conforms to Holy Scripture as determined by the congregation.  Authority (though not ultimate responsibility) to conduct specified affairs may be delegated to the church officers.

Section 5 - The government of this church shall be divided into two branches to be known as the congregation and the corporation.

The congregation consists of all voting members of this church.

The corporation consists of all members of this church 18 years and older.

The powers of the congregation shall be subordinate to the will of the congregation.  Specifically, the corporation shall concern itself with the financial and real estate business of this church.

The affairs of the corporation shall be administered by a board of trustees, but this board shall have no authority other than that delegated to it by the corporation.

Section 6 - All the decisions of this congregation pertaining to the government and affairs of this church, made in accordance with this constitution and by-laws, are binding on all members of this church.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
November 22, 1985

Section 1 - Composition

1. The membership of this church is composed of those baptized believers, and their baptized children who have associated themselves in this church, for the maintenance of Gospel ordinances, the promotion of personal holiness, and the extension of the Redeemer’s Kingdom.

Section 2 - Categories

1. The categories of membership in this church are:
• Non-communicant
• Communicant
• Voting
2. Non-communicant members are baptized children who have not yet made a credible profession of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, have not attained the age of 18 years, and are children of a member of this church.
3. Communicant members are those who have made a credible profession of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, have given an informed affirmation of their desire to join in the fellowship of this church, and have not attained the age of 18 years.
4. Voting members are those who have made a credible profession of faith in Christ as Lord and savior, have given an informed affirmation of their desire to join in the fellowship of this church, possess a basic understanding of the doctrine and government of this church, and have attained the age of 18 years.
5. All members of this church, being equal in the sight of God, are to share equally in the privileges and responsibilities of membership according to the structure of this church and their individual abilities.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
November 22, 1985

Section 1 - The ordained officers of this church shall be pastor or pastors, elders, and deacons.  The congregation may elect other officers as it sees fit to serve at the direction of the congregation and under the supervision of the elders and appropriate officers.

All officers shall be voting members of this congregation.

Section 2 - The Pastors - The pastor of this church shall be a man who:

1. Is called by the congregation
2. Accepts the call of the congregation
3. Is ordained and installed by the congregation in accordance with the Cambridge Platform, 1648.

The pastor, a teaching elder, while equal in authority with the ruling elders, is called to a position as first among equals, due to his conspicuous position before this church and the community.

The pastor must be willing and able to serve God’s flock as a shepherd; feeding them, leading them, and guarding them.

The pastor shall be responsible for overseeing the spiritual life, the regular services, and the meetings of this church; preaching the Word of God and administering the sacraments.

Section 3 - The Elders - Elders shall be men recognized by the congregation as godly and mature (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) and willing to humbly serve this church (Matthew 20:25-28) as shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4); and are elected, ordained, and installed by the congregation.

The elders are to live among God’s people as models of his grace in the lives of sinners.  They are to lead and teach, exhort and rebuke, comfort and encourage the flock, all with the tender love of Christ.

The board of elders shall take spiritual oversight of this church by:

Administration, guarding the flock (Acts 20:28) and the pulpit, shepherding, teaching, disciplining the flock (Matthew 18:15-27 and 1 Corinthians 5; Hebrews 12:17), administering the sacraments, and encouraging each other.

The board of elders shall administer the policies and programs approved by the congregation.

Section 4 - The Deacons - The deacons shall be men recognized by the congregation as godly (1 Timothy 3:8-13) and full of wisdom and of the Spirit (Acts 6:3): elected, ordained, and installed by the congregation.

The deacons, overseen by the elders, shall be responsible for the material ministry of this church, including its real property, fiscal matters, and the material aspects of its outreach and service.             

ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
November 22, 1985

Section 1 - This constitution can be amended by a three-fourths majority vote of the quorum present.  The quorum present must represent sixty-seven percent of the voting members as defined in Article IV, Membership, Section 2

The proposed amendment must be put in writing and endorsed by at least ten percent of those who are voting members on the date of the first announcement.  The pastor or elders or deacons shall be required to announce the amendment from the pulpit during the worship services on the second and third Sundays following receipt of the proposed amendment and shall cause the proposed amendment to be sent in writing by hand-receipted delivery or by registered mail to each voting member of the congregation not less than five days prior to the first meeting.  The first meeting must be called not less than seven days nor more than twenty-two days after the second announcement from the pulpit.

Section 3 - The amendment must be discussed at the first congregational meeting but may not be brought to a vote.  At that same meeting, a date and time for a second meeting must be set at which time the proposed amendment may be discussed and must be brought to a vote.  That second meeting must follow the first by not less than twenty days but not more than sixty days.  Meetings considering amendments to this constitution must be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order, Section 4

Amendments that are passed shall be immediately in effect even though not published.

Amendments that do not pass cannot be brought before the congregation until after one calendar year from the date the proposed amendment was defeated.