Constitution of St. Andrew UCC

Table of Contents

Article I – Name

Article II – Purpose

Article III – Policy

Section 1 – Part of the United Church of Christ

Section 2 – Government

Article IV – Faith and Covenant

Section 1 – Faith

Section 2 – Covenant

Article V – Amendments

ST. ANDREW UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this church is St. Andrew United Church of Christ, located in the County of Sarasota, Florida.  The organization was incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida on the date of November 22, 1965 and the Articles of Incorporation were revised November 13. 1973.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to celebrate the Sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church, and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward mankind; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace.  This church is open and affirming to all people regardless of their sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, race, ethnic or cultural background, gender or age, and all are invited to participate fully in the fellowship, ministry, responsibility and leadership of this community of faith.

ARTICLE III – POLICY

Section 1 – PART OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

This church shall be a part of the United Church of Christ and it shall sustain that relationship to the United Church of Christ described in those portions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the United Church of Christ adopted July 4, 1961, and as subsequently amended, relating to local churches.

Section 2 – GOVERNMENT

The government of this church is vested in its members who exercise the right of control in all its affairs subject, however, to laws of the State of Florida relating to corporations not for profit or ecclesiastical corporations.

ARTICLE IV – FAITH AND COVENANT

Section 1 – FAITH

This church acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, the son of God and the Savior of man.  It acknowledges as persons in Christ all who share in this confession.  It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world.  It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers.  It affirms the responsibility of the church in each generation to make this faith its own.  In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two Sacraments:  Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion.

STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father, and to his deeds we testify.

He calls the worlds into being,

creates man in his own image

and sets before him the ways of life and death.

He seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

He judges men and nations by his righteous will declared 

through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord,

He has come to us

and shared our common lot,

conquering sin and death

and reconciling the world to himself.

He bestows upon us his Holy Spirit,

creating and renewing the Church of Jesus Christ,

binding in covenant faithful people of all ages,

tongues and races.

He calls us into his Church

to accept the cost and joy of discipleship

to be his servants in the service of men

to proclaim the gospel to all the world and to share the powers of evil,

to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table

to join him in his passion and victory.

He promises to all who trust him

forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,

courage in the struggle for justice and peace,

His presence in trial and rejoicing,

and eternal life in his kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto Him.  Amen.

Section 2 – COVENANT

We covenant one with another to seek and respond to the Word and the will of God.  We purpose to walk together in the ways of the Lord made known and to be made known to us.  We hold it to be the mission of the church to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world, while worshiping God, and striving for truth, justice and peace.  As did our forebears, we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead and empower us.  We pray for the coming of the kingdom, and we look with faith toward the triumph of righteousness and eternal life.

ARTICLE V – AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution may be made at the church Annual Meeting.  Written notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall be made available to members at least two Sundays before the meeting.  Adoption requires a two-thirds’ affirmative vote of all members present.