Want to Join This Church?
Instead of members we call those who join "partners" because you are entering into a relationship where you are partnering with us in the pursuit of God and the vision of the church.
Description: His House Church is a spiritual family of servant-leaders called Partners who shall be all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or disability, who officially covenant together and agree to fulfill the mission of His House Church. The collective body of Partners shall comprise the Partnership of His House Church. The words “Partner” and "Partnership" are used in these Bylaws as terms solely reflecting the means for individuals to participate in the spiritual activities and ministries of His House Church. Please see the bylaws for more info.
Eligibility: Individuals at His House Church may become Partners in good standing if they satisfy the following criteria:
· Embrace the unifying components of His House Church:
o Salvation
o Statements of Purpose and Faith
o Strategy of Integration to Ministry
o Structure
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· Are born again and have evidence of a consistent Christian life.
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· Commit to become rooted and established in the faith, grow in Christian maturity, and ultimately discover their spiritual gifts and produce spiritual fruit that remains.
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· Agree with the vision, mission, and values of His House Church and to be governed by its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.
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· Participate regularly in the primary worship services held by His House Church.
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· Determine to live in harmony with one another.
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Contribute to the financial support of His House Church
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· Attained the age of eighteen years old for adult partners.
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· Those under the age of eighteen who give evidence of the new birth and meet the standards above shall be constituted as junior partners but cannot confirm any proposals until the age of eighteen.
Appointment and Removal:
- Appointment: Individuals who possess the above qualifications and desire to officially participate in the mission of His House Church shall attend a Partnership orientation class and subsequently sign the Partnership Covenant (see belowbit 3). Once the class has been attended, all applicants, with the exception of those on the Pastoral Leadership Team, shall be interviewed by the Lead Pastor or his designee, and upon the recommendation of the examiner, be considered by the Pastoral Leadership Team for Partnership. Those approved for Partnership shall be received into the church publicly at any of its primary services, and their names thereupon added to the Partnership roster.
- Removal: The removal of any Partner from the Partnership roster due to disciplinary reasons shall be in accordance to Paragraph 13.1 herein. Furthermore, any Partner who has decided to not participate regularly in the primary worship services held by His House Church for a period of three months, and has not expressed an acceptable reason for his absence, shall be deactivated from the Partnership roster. A de-active Partner surrenders his rights to confirm any proposals submitted by the Pastoral Leadership Team at any duly called Partner meeting.
Advice and Confirmation: Partners shall provide advice and give or withhold confirmation, as the case may be, with respect to proposals made by the Pastoral Leadership Team for the following matters that affect the spiritual health and mission of His House Church:
- The selection of the Lead Pastor.
- The appointment of Advisory Council members.
- The purchase or sale of any asset(s), real or personal, during a calendar year, in an amount that exceeds 20% of the approved operating budget, or $250,000, whichever amount is lower, for that particular year.
- Amendments to these Bylaws.
- Disaffiliation/affiliation with an affiliate network of churches.
In the event the Partners fail to confirm any of the foregoing, according to the process stipulated in Paragraph 12.3 herein, the Pastoral Leadership Team shall not execute the proposed action.
Regarding all other major decisions of His House Church, the Pastoral Leadership Team may seek non-binding advice from the Partners in whatever format they deem necessary at the time.
Prerequisite for Leadership Roles: Being a Partner in good standing is a prerequisite for serving in any of the following capacities: Pastoral Leadership Team, Advisory Council, Management Team, and Ministry Team Leader. Additionally, Partners serving in such leadership roles shall possess at all times the following qualities:
· Demonstrate the calling, character, competence, chemistry, and culture of leadership conducive to the His House Church environment.67
· Support the Pastors and refrain from divisive attitudes and behavior.68
· Have wisdom, a good reputation, exemplary conduct, and self control.69
· Be committed to a covenant relationship with his spouse if married.70
· Manage his own household wisely – being attentive to his own children, having their respect, and keeping them under control with true dignity71
· Not drink alcoholic beverage excessively and abstain from all illegal drugs.72
· Abstain from all forms of extra-marital sensual behavior.73
· Not be a new convert.74
· Hold firmly to sound Scriptural doctrine so that he will be able to exhort and encourage others to good works and disprove those who speak against the Tenets of Faith outlined in Article III herein.75
Terms of Leadership Roles:
- Appointment: The Pastoral Leadership Team shall create all leadership positions as they deem necessary to fulfill the mission of the church, and they shall appoint the individual(s) to fill such positions. However, members of the Advisory Council must be confirmed by the Partnership at a duly called meeting in accordance with Paragraph 9.2 herein. There are no term limits to any position; but the incumbent must sustain at all times the qualifications itemized in Paragraph 5.5 hereof.
- Removal: The Pastoral Leadership Team may remove any leader without any indication for cause, except the Lead Pastor, pursuant to Paragraph 6.4 herein, or a member of the Pastoral Leadership Team, pursuant to Paragraph 7.3 herein, or the Treasurer, pursuant to Article VIII herein, or an Advisor, pursuant to Paragraph 9.2 herein.
Participation of Spouses: Spouses of Pastoral Leadership Team members, Management Team members, and Ministry Team members who are active Partners are encouraged to participate in all relevant meetings, activities, and functions, unless otherwise requested by the Pastors due to the nature of the meeting, activity, or function.
Honorary Status: The Pastoral Leadership Team may recognize Honorary Partners. Honorary Partnership is available to any Partner in good standing who considers His House Church his home church, yet is physically incapable of attending services for an indefinite period of time. Honorary Partnership shall continue as long as the Partner maintains a consistent Christian life, sound doctrine, and a supportive, nondivisive attitude toward His House Church and its leadership. Such status grants confirmational privileges when major decisions are being considered by the Partnership as described in Paragraph 5.4 herein.
Partnership Covenant
Since I agree and am in accord with the vision, mission, and values of His House Church, I commit myself to the purposes of His House Church as a local church. As a Partner of His House Church, I will carry out the following with God's help: live in harmony with other Partners, follow the leadership of His House Church, share in the responsibility to fulfill the vision of His House Church, serve His House Church according to my/our God-given gifts and talents, support it financially so that it can continue to serve its purposes, and follow and honor the adopted Bylaws of His House Church.
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Partner(s) Date
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Lead Pastor Date