Home » Constitution

Constitution

Preamble

This Church was founded in June 1929 and was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1934 as Wheaton Bible Church. This Constitution was adopted by the Church on January 25, 2009 (the Constitution). This Constitution constitutes the bylaws of the Church, as defined by section 101.80(e) of the Illinois General Not-for-Profit Act of 1986.

Article I - Purpose

Wheaton Bible Church (the Church) is organized and operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes in accord with Sec. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or a corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law). More specifically, the Church is organized to operate as an independent local congregation of God’s larger church on earth. Therefore, it accepts its part in those tasks to which Jesus Christ has called His church. We believe that we are called to love God by worshiping Him at church and at home, grow together by participating in Biblical community and reach the world by meeting needs and sharing Christ at church, in our local neighborhoods and cities and around the world.

Article II - Statement of Doctrine and Faith

The doctrinal position of the Wheaton Bible Church is based on the Holy Scriptures.

1. Scripture
   "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God," in the sense that the Holy Spirit so guided the sacred writers that the words they wrote constitute the Word of God. We believe the Bible is the final authority and is fully sufficient for all matters of faith and conduct.
   (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
2. Trinity
   The Godhead eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that these three are one God, having the same essence, nature, attributes and perfection, and are worthy of the same reverence, confidence and obedience.
   (Matt. 28:19-20; John 14:6-17, 2 Cor. 13:14; Col. 1:13-19; Heb. 1:1-3)
3. Sin
   Man was originally created in the image of God to worship and serve God in His creation; through his sin he fell from this high calling, died spiritually, lost all spiritual life and became subject to the power of the devil and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. This fallen human nature has been transmitted to all people everywhere, the man Christ Jesus excepted, so that every child of Adam is alienated from God and in need of saving grace.
   (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8; Rom. 1:18 and 3:23; Eph. 2:1-3)
4. Incarnation
   The eternal Son of God became incarnate to reveal God to mankind and reconcile men and women to God. That in historical fact He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived on earth, was crucified and buried, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven.
   (John 1:1-14: Acts 2:22-36; Phil. 2:5-11)
5. Jesus' Sacrificial Death
   Salvation for men and women has been provided by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died as our substitute, shedding His blood for the remission of our sins.
   (Rom. 5:6-21; Col. 1:12-14, 20-22; 1 Peter 1:18-23)
6. Salvation by Faith Alone
   Salvation is initiated and completed by God and received by faith; that those who trust Christ as Savior receive forgiveness and are born again by the Spirit, passing from spiritual death unto eternal life. We believe that God desires all men and women to be saved. We believe that apart from the effectual work of the Holy Spirit, no one would respond in saving faith to Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit does this saving work in connection with the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
   (John 3:1-18; Rom. 5:1-5; Eph. 2:4-10; Titus 3:4-7;2 Peter 3:9)
7. Assurance of Salvation
   All who are born again by the Spirit are assured of their salvation and this assurance is based upon the promise of God in His written Word. This saving faith produces love and obedience within us.
   (Rom. 8:15-17, 31-39; 1 John 3:7-14, 5:1-13)
8. The Church
   The true Church is composed of all who are born again; that the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers into one body, endowing the Church with the gifts needed for its work. Therefore, we make every effort to rise above all personal differences, prejudices and racial barriers to maintain the unity of the Spirit in love and peace both within this local body of Christ and the larger body of Christ around us.
   (Rom. 12:4-19; 1 Cor. 12:1-27; Eph. 4:1-16)
9. Work of the Holy Spirit
   The Holy Spirit is our abiding Comforter and Helper, strengthening faith and devotion and conforming us to the image of Christ.
   (John 16:7-15; Rom. 8:1-14;1 Cor. 6:19-20)
10. Holy Living
    We are called to holy living in obedience to the Word of God, to put away sinful desires and cultivate and bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
    (Gal. 5:16-25; Col. 3:1-17, 2 Tim. 3:14-17, 1 Peter 1:15)
11. Second Coming of Jesus Christ
    Our blessed Hope, the personal return of Christ for His Church. We also believe that at death the redeemed enter into the presence of Christ, and after the resurrection of the body at His second coming, they shall be forever with Him in His glory. Unbelievers after death await the final judgment when they shall be punished with everlasting separation from the presence of the Lord in hell.
    (1 Cor. 15:19-58; Phil. 1:20-23; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 20:11-15)
12. The Judgment
    The world is to experience the judgment of God. It will be neither converted nor perfected during the present age, but the Lord Jesus will return to earth to reign in righteousness. At the end of the millennium, He will usher in His eternal Kingdom with the creation of the new Heaven and the new earth.
    (2 Tim. 3:1-5; Isa. 11:1-9; Rev. 20-22)

Article III - Statement of Christian Lifestyle

As followers of Christ, our commitment to Christ is both total and radical. We are sinners, made righteous in Christ and privileged to glorify God in all we do. Therefore, by God’s grace, in dependence on the Holy Spirit and in the fellowship of the church, we seek to abstain from sin, submit to the Lordship of Christ, remain diligent in our obedience to the Word of God, seek God’s power in prayer, and conform ourselves to God’s will as revealed in His Word. (Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 5:22-23; Phil. 2:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 4:12-13)

Article IV - Ordinances

We recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the ordinances Christ instituted for His Church. Baptism is not a prerequisite for membership.

1. The ordinance of baptism shall be administered by the pastors or a person appointed by the pastors. We believe that baptism is a public statement of a person’s conversion to Christ. Through it the person identifies with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. We believe Christ commands all believers to be baptized.
2.  The Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly and administered by the board of elders or those appointed by them. We believe the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance and a proclamation of Christ’s work on the cross and our participation in its saving benefits. The celebration of the Lord’s Supper is open to all believers.
3. Although we do not regard the practice of family dedication as an ordinance, we encourage believing parents to make a public commitment to the Lord and the local church body, committing themselves to doing all in their power to impress the hearts of the children with a love for God, by bringing up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Article V - Membership

Section 1 - Types of Membership
While all believers are members of the Body of Christ, the church universal, as a local congregation, Wheaton Bible Church has two types of membership:

1. Members are believers eighteen (18) years of age or older who agree with the Church’s statement of doctrine and faith and who have been admitted to membership pursuant to the process set forth in Article V, Section 2 of this Constitution. Members have the right to vote. Ordained ministers may be Members without withdrawing from their denomination. The use of the term “Member” or “Members” in this Constitution does not include Associate Members.
2. Associate Members are believers eighteen (18) years of age or older who agree with the Church’s statement of doctrine and faith, who want to maintain a relationship to the Church but who cannot attend on a regular basis. Associate Members do not have the right to vote.

Section 2 - Admission to Membership

1. Persons desiring Church membership must actively participate in the membership class, agree with the Church’s statement of doctrine and faith, embrace the Covenants of Membership, support the Church with one’s time, talent and treasure and live a Biblical lifestyle, as set forth in the statement of Christian lifestyle.
2. After the completion of the membership class, the applicants will be individually interviewed by an elder or pastoral representative concerning their Christian faith.
3. Applicants will be approved for Church membership by vote of the board of elders upon recommendation of the interviewer.
4. Applicants will publicly affirm the Covenant of Membership at a convenient worship service thereafter and will then be received into the Church.

Section 3 – Public Covenants of Membership

1. Covenant for New Members (Pastor reads)
   Before God and us, your brothers and sisters in Christ, do you affirm that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, and do you commit yourself to Him to walk by His Spirit in holiness and love? (Candidate responds, “I do.”)
   Do you believe in the doctrine of the Christian faith set forth in the Constitution of this Church, and will you live consistently by those doctrines? Do you promise with God’s help to participate in the worship and work and support of this Church in a spirit of love and community? And, do you commit to pursue the mission of this Church? (Candidate responds, “I do.”)
2. Covenant for Current Members (Pastor reads)
   Will you, the current Members of Wheaton Bible Church, now commit yourselves to love and care for these new Members of our Church? Will you pray that our unity glorifies Christ, so that we might together worship Christ and further His cause both here and around the world? (Congregation responds, “We will.”)

Section 4 - Church Discipline and Restoration
The pastors and the Board shall bear responsibility for all Church discipline and restoration. They will lovingly counsel Members towards repentance and restoration. The steps for restoring Members to fellowship with God and with the Body of Christ shall be consistent with the Wheaton Bible Church Restoration/Discipline Policy as adopted and amended from time to time by the Board.

Section 5 - Termination of Membership
Membership may be terminated either by request of the Member or by a vote of the board of elders. The Board may take such action when a Member has:

1. become a regular member of another church (unless the Member is or becomes an Associate Member);
2. moved away from the local area or, for any other reason, absented themselves from the services of the Church for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, except as may be determined otherwise by the Board;
3. failed to qualify for membership under this Constitution. Reinstatement is possible by action of the Board.

Article VI - Meetings of Members

Section 1 – Annual and Special Meetings
An annual meeting of the membership of the congregation shall be held in January of each year. Special meetings of the membership of the congregation may be called by the senior pastor, the Board or by at least ten (10) percent of the Members. The chairman of the board of elders or an elder appointed by him shall be the presiding officer of any annual or special meeting.

Section 2 - Quorum and Manner of Acting
Ten (10) percent of the Members of the Church shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by the Constitution, a majority vote of the Members voting at any constitutionally called annual or special meeting shall be required for action. In the conduct of annual and special meetings, any parliamentary questions not covered by this Constitution shall be decided according to the latest edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order. Absentee ballots shall be accepted in the Church office from the date that the meeting is announced until the meeting has been called to order. Absentee ballots shall not be considered in determining a quorum.

Section 3 – Business to be conducted at Annual Meeting
At the annual meeting, the budget will be approved for the coming year. The fiscal year of the Church shall close December 31 of each year. Between the end of the fiscal year, and the approval of the budget for the coming year, disbursements are authorized on the basis of the expiring budget with adjustments made as necessary after adoption of the new budget. At the annual meeting the members of the Board will be elected from a list recommended by the nominating committee. Nominations from the floor will not be accepted.

Section 4 – Notice Provisions
Notice of not less than two weeks prior to an annual or special meeting shall be given to the Members by the Board. If the annual or special meeting will consider the removal of the senior pastor; an elder; dissolution; merger; consolidation; or the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Church, the notice shall be not less than three weeks prior to the annual or special meeting. The notice shall include the date, time, place and purpose of the annual or special meeting. The notice shall be announced verbally at the worship services and may also be posted in the Church, printed in printed publications of the Church, or sent by electronic means to the last known electronic mail address of Members.

Article VII - Board of Elders

Section 1 - Church Government
The government of the Church is vested in its membership and shall be administered through a board of elders (the Board); men chosen from, elected by and responsible to the Members.

Section 2 - Composition of the Board of Elders
The board of elders shall consist of at least eleven (11) and not more than sixteen (16) members without further amendment of this Constitution. Any change in the number of elders within this range shall be initiated by the Board and approved by the congregation. The senior pastor shall be an ex officio member of the Board. The term of office of a Board member, other than the senior pastor, shall be for three (3) years, commencing upon election. No member who has served for two (2) full consecutive terms shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment to the Board for the following year.

Section 3 - Responsibilities of the Elders
The board of elders shall have oversight of Members and organizations within the Church, and of relationships with other churches and organizations outside the Church. The Board shall have supervision over all legal and fiscal affairs of the Church with power to act consistent with Article VII, Section 1, except that a majority vote of the Members shall be necessary to authorize the Board to encumber the Church with a loan secured by any interest in real property or to transfer, sell or purchase real property. The Board shall have authority to increase the expense budget by a total not to exceed five (5) percent of the approved expense budget. The Board shall consider suggestions, recommendations and grievances of any Member or organizations of the Church.

Section 4 – Quorum and Manner of Acting
Two-thirds of the Board members shall constitute a quorum. Official action shall require at least two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board members present.

Section 5 – Meetings of the Board
Regular Board meetings shall be held monthly, unless the Board shall resolve to waive a particular meeting. The time of the meetings shall be decided by a majority vote of the Board. Special meetings may be called by the chairman or by one-fourth of the members of the Board.

Section 6 - Notice of Meetings
Notice of any meeting of the board of elders shall be given not fewer than five (5) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the scheduled meeting. If the meeting will consider the removal of the senior pastor or an elder, then the notice shall be not fewer than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days and must include the purpose of the meeting. E-mail or written notice shall be delivered to each elder at his designated address as shown by the records of the Church. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, properly posted and addressed, in a sealed envelope. At any duly convened meeting of the Board, a resolution may be approved concerning future meetings of the Board. Timely mailing or e-mailing of the Board minutes to each member of the Board may qualify as notice of the next meeting of the Board if the minute concerning the meeting is clearly set forth and concise in its composition. Notice of any meeting of the board of elders may be waived in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice either before or after the time of the meeting. The attendance of an elder at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where an elder attends a meeting for the expressed purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

Section 7 – Removal of Board Members
The Board may remove any appointed officer or appoint or discharge any committee or advisory body, when, by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the Board, such action shall be deemed to be in the best interest of the Church. Any elder may be removed involuntarily, with cause, at any time by the vote of a majority of the Members at a duly held congregational meeting. Such action requires a quorum of ten (10) percent.

Section 8 - Committees and Advisory Bodies
The Board shall have power to appoint committees or advisory bodies for the purpose of conducting certain aspects of the corporate business or advising the Board on certain issues. Committees and advisory bodies shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be dissolved at any time by the Board. Committees may act on behalf of the Church if such authority is specifically delegated to the committee by the Board and the committee consists of a minimum of two (2) elders and a majority of the committee members are elders. If a committee is not so composed it shall be an advisory body, even though it may be known as a “committee,” and its role shall be to advise the Board and not act on behalf of the Church. The nominating committee is not required to consist of elders. All committee members and advisory body members must be Members of the Church. A majority of the voting members of any committee or advisory body shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business at any meeting provided that if fewer than a majority of the voting committee members or advisory body members are present at the meeting, a majority of those present and entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice. Unless otherwise provided in this Constitution or in the resolution of the Board designating a committee or advisory body, the act of a majority of those present and entitled to vote at any duly convened committee meeting or advisory body meeting shall be the act of the committee or advisory body.

1. Executive Committee: The chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, secretary of the Board, the senior pastor and other elders selected by the Board shall constitute the executive committee. This committee shall meet as needed to handle items that need either confidential or immediate treatment, assignments from the Board, and to develop recommendations to the Board. All actions of the executive committee shall be reported to the Board as soon as it is practical.
2. Finance Committee: The treasurer and at least one other elder selected by the Board, and other appointees by the Board, shall constitute the finance committee. The treasurer, who shall be an elder, shall serve as the chairman of the finance committee. The committee’s role is to act on behalf of the Board and evaluate all material aspects of the Church’s financial report, internal controls and audit functions. The finance committee shall have oversight of all funds of the Church and shall ensure the performance of other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
3. Shepherding Committee: The shepherding committee shall be composed of elders, staff and/or lay leadership designated by the Board, and shall lead the overall shepherding responsibilities of the Church, including overall guidance and care for the congregation. Among other responsibilities, this committee under the Board will provide guidance for leadership development, spiritual growth, meeting needs and Church discipline within the body.

Section 9 - Church Nominating Committee

1. The nominating committee shall consist of twelve (12) Church Members. These committee members shall be appointed by the Board. The chairman of the committee shall be named by the Board. Church Members will be given the opportunity to nominate nominating committee members annually. At least six (6) of the members of the nominating committee shall be chosen from the list of names submitted by Church Members.
2. The term of office of this committee shall be one year. If, during the year, any member cannot serve, the Board may replace the member.
3.  The nominating committee shall present to the Church one nominee for each elective office to be filled, and it shall give careful consideration to the nominees presented to it by Members of the Church. No member of the nominating committee shall be eligible for office. The recommendations of the committee shall be published in the Church bulletin for two weeks before the annual meeting.
4.  When a vacancy occurs on the Board between terms of service, the Board may appoint a former elder to fill the open position until the next annual meeting.
5. The nominating committee shall consider the Christian maturity and qualifications of an elder nominee for each office through personal interviews with each candidate and if married, with his spouse. Whether or not being considered for re-election, nominees will be interviewed on at least the following list of questions, each of which must be satisfactorily answered by him before his name is submitted:
   
   1. Do you fully accept the statement of doctrine and faith of the Church?
   2. Have you read carefully the Constitution of this Church, and are you prepared to work in accordance with it?
   3. Do you accept as your standard the Scriptural qualifications set forth in 1 Tim. 3:1-15 and Titus 1:6-9?
   4. Do you wholeheartedly support the evangelistic, teaching and pastoral ministries of the Church?
   5. Do you maintain personal and family worship?
   6. Do you practice proportionate giving as taught in the Scriptures (Mal. 3:8-11; 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 8:1-15)

Article VIII - Officers and Other Agents

Section 1 - Officers

1. The officers of the Church, who all serve as elders, shall consist of a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer, each of whom shall be elected for a term of one (1) year by the board of elders at the first meeting following the installation of new elders. This meeting shall be chaired by the previous year’s chairman to complete the election process. Such other officers and assistant officers and agents as may be deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the elders. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person, except that the offices of chairman or secretary may not be held by the same person concurrently. For legal purposes, the chairman of the board of elders shall be designated president, the vice chairman of the Board shall be designated vice president, and the secretary and treasurer shall be so designated.
2. The chairman shall be the principal officer of the Church, and, subject to the control of the board of elders, shall preside at all meetings of the elders, the annual meeting, and any special meeting. He may sign, with the secretary or any other officer of the Church authorized by the elders, such documents and deeds of the Church as necessary or appropriate including, but not limited to, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments that the elders have authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the elders or by this Constitution to some other officer or agent of the Church, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed, and, in general, shall discharge all duties incident to the office of chairman and such other duties as may be assigned to him by the elders from time to time.
3. During the absence or disability of the chairman, the vice chairman shall exercise all of the functions of the chairman. He shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the elders.
4. The secretary (who is also the secretary of the Board) shall oversee the creation and maintenance of Church records. The secretary shall: (a) oversee the keeping of the minutes of all elders meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) oversee the giving of all notices in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution or as required by law; (c) oversee the preservation of the Church’s corporate records; and (d) in general, discharge all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the chairman or the elders.
5. The treasurer shall serve as the chairman of the finance committee. The committee’s role is to act on behalf of the Board to evaluate all material aspects of the Church’s financial position, internal controls and audit functions. He shall lead this committee in its responsibility for oversight of all funds of the Church and shall ensure the performance of other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

Section 2 - Church Clerk
The Church clerk, who is not an officer, shall be elected by the Church at an annual meeting for a term of two years, subject to re-election indefinitely. The Church clerk shall keep records of Church annual and special meetings, weddings, dedication of children, baptisms and funerals. The clerk shall maintain a register of Church Members with date of their reception and removal and shall handle related correspondence.

Article IX - Ministering Staff

Section 1 - Senior Pastor
The senior pastor shall be the leader and coordinator of all spiritual activities of the Church. The thrust of his prayers, visitation, teaching and preaching of the Word of God shall be to edify the saints and evangelize the lost. He shall normally minister the Word of God at regular Church services and administer the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He shall maintain, with the help of the Board, Church discipline among the membership.

The senior pastor shall be a member of the board of elders and executive committee and a non-voting member of all other committees. He shall be the executive administrator, directing and coordinating the work of the Church staff.

He and his wife shall become Members of the Wheaton Bible Church upon his installation as senior pastor.

Section 2 - Call of a Senior Pastor
The board of elders shall appoint a search committee to contact possible candidates and make recommendations to the Board, who will make a recommendation to the Church. The senior pastor shall be chosen by written ballot of those Members present or by absentee ballot of Members at a constitutionally called annual or special meeting. An affirmative vote by three-fourths of the Members voting shall be needed to extend a call. Members unable to attend the annual or special meeting may vote by absentee ballot.

Section 3 - Dismissal of a Senior Pastor
Should a majority vote by the board of elders or a petition signed by at least ten (10) percent of the Members of the Church suggest that the ministry of the senior pastor may be completed, the board of elders shall call a special meeting. At least forty (40) percent of the Members shall constitute a quorum for this purpose. The chairman shall call for a vote by written ballot without public discussion. A two-thirds majority vote of the Members present shall be necessary to give a vote of confidence which shall mean continuance of the ministry of the senior pastor. Should the vote of confidence not be sustained, this fact shall be due notice to the senior pastor that his term of office is to cease at a time not more than three (3) months later. However, the board of elders shall have authority to terminate the senior pastor’s ministry at any time within the three (3) month period should the Board deem it to be in the best interest of the Church. Section 4 – Other Ministry Leadership Staff 1. The senior pastor shall recommend to the board of elders those of his choice to assist him in carrying out the ministry of Wheaton Bible Church, both full and part-time. The titles, duties and responsibilities of positions to be filled by other ministry leadership staff shall be confirmed by the Board. The specific duties will be outlined in the related position descriptions. 2. Upon commencement of employment, each pastor and ministry director and their spouses shall automatically become Members of the Church. They shall be encouraged to attend membership classes as their schedules permit. 3. The employment of any pastor or ministry director may be terminated at any time for any reason by the senior pastor with approval of the board of elders. Section 5 - Resignations and Severance Pay Should a member of the ministry staff decide to resign, a letter of resignation giving thirty (30) days notice is requested. The senior pastor shall address his resignation to the membership; others shall address his or her resignation to the senior pastor or his or her supervisor. The thirty-day notice or any part thereof may be waived by the Board/senior pastor or supervisor, should it seem in the best interest of the Church. Severance pay for the senior pastor shall be determined by two-thirds vote of the board of elders. Severance pay for other pastors or ministry directors shall be determined by the senior pastor with the approval of the elders.

Article X - Licensure and Ordination

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Church will respond to the calling of gifted men within the Church to the Gospel Ministry and will confer Licensure and Ordination with the approval of the elders. This will be done in accordance with the elder-approved procedures for Licensing and Ordination.

Additionally, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Church will respond to the calling of gifted men and women within the Church to the Gospel Ministry and will confer commissioning with the approval of the elders. This will be done in accordance with the approved procedures for commissioning approved by the elders.

Article XI - Amendments

Proposed changes in, or additions to, the Church Constitution as approved by the Board must be submitted to the Members in a letter or be published in detail in a Church bulletin at least two (2) weeks prior to the annual meeting or a constitutionally called special meeting. A two-thirds vote of the Members voting is necessary for adoption of the amendment.

Article XII - Church Status as an Exempt Organization

Section 1 - Inurement of Income
No part of the assets or property of the Church shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its Members, or other private persons except that the Church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to provide assistance to needy individuals from the Church’s benevolence fund.

Section 2 - Legislative or Political Activities
No substantial part of the activities of the Church shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Church shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Section 3 - Operational Limitations
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the Church shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on: (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law); or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law).

Section 4 - Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Church, the Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Church, dispose of all of the assets of the Church exclusively for the purposes of the Church in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law), as the Board shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county in which the principal office of the Church is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, that are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article XIII - Indemnification

Section 1 - Scope of Indemnification
The Church shall indemnify each director, officer, employee and volunteer of the Church to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of the State of Illinois, and may in its discretion purchase insurance insuring its obligations hereunder or otherwise protecting the persons intended to be protected by this Section 1. The Church shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to indemnify any agent of the Church not otherwise covered by this Section 1 to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of the State of Illinois.

Section 2 - Savings Clause; Limitation
If any provision of the Act or these bylaws dealing with indemnification shall be invalidated by any court on any ground, then the Church shall nevertheless indemnify each party otherwise entitled to indemnification hereunder to the fullest extent permitted by law or any applicable provision of the Act or these bylaws that shall not have been invalidated. Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, the Church shall neither indemnify any person nor purchase any insurance in any manner or to any extent that would jeopardize or be inconsistent with the qualification of the Church as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or that would result in the imposition of any liability under either section 4941 or section 4958 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Revised as of JANUARY 25, 2009