Article XXIX: Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1.
No substantial part of the activities of Grace Church shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Church shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office (including the publishing or distribution of statements).
Section 2.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, Grace 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 Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (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 Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Section 3.
If for any reason, there occurs a disagreement among the Elders of the Church which cannot be resolved and as a result of such disagreement the Elders or a portion of them decide to divide the Church or separate from the Church, then the assets and property of the Church, both real and personal, and the name of the Church shall remain with the Elder or Elders who continue to adhere to and support the Church’s constitution and doctrinal statement in full. This policy and requirement may only be modified by unanimous consent and action of the Elders.
Section 4.
The Elders shall unanimously affirm, both verbally and in writing, that during the preceding year the Church has been in compliance with the doctrinal positions and teachings as set forth in the doctrinal statement of Grace Church of DuPage which shall include the following doctrinal positions and teachings:
A. the Church teaches that the Bible is the verbally (every word) and plenary (completely) inspired Word of God (1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:19–20) as contained in the original manuscripts; that all portions of Scripture are equally inspired and contain no contradiction; that Scripture is to be the only rule of faith and practice for the believer in Jesus Christ; that each word is to be taken in its simplest, natural, normal, and customary usage (i.e., in its literal sense), unless the words, context or other related passages of Scripture make it clear that it is to be understood otherwise (culture may inform the meaning of any given text, but it will never determine the meaning of that text);
B. the Church teaches that the opening chapters of Genesis present creation in six twenty-four hour days (Genesis 1:1-31; Exodus 31:15-17), and that the creation of God is the most important singular evidence upon which all mankind will someday be held accountable before God (Romans 1:20);
C. the Church teaches that salvation is wholly of God’s sovereign election (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:3-5), on the basis of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the merit of His shed blood, and not on the basis of human merit or works (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Titus 3:5); salvation, therefore, is totally of God (John 1:12-13), who, before the foundation of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, leaving the rest in their sin to their just condemnation (Acts 13:48; Romans 9:6-24; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:1-7; 2 Timothy 1:9);
D. the church leadership (i.e., the Elders and Pastoral staff) will be male (1 Timothy 2:12; Titus 1:5-6).
Such affirmation shall be made at the Annual Business Meeting.
If, for any reason, any or all of the Elders do not so affirm, then the assets and property of the Church, both real and personal, and the name of the Church shall remain with the Elder or Elders (or when no Elders qualify, with those members) who continue to adhere to and support the doctrinal positions and teachings as shown in A-D above. (Further explanation and discussion of these positions can be found in Article III above, in the sections on The Holy Scriptures, God, and Salvation in the Doctrinal Statement, and in the Position Papers appended to this Constitution and Doctrinal Statement.)
This policy and requirements may not be modified by any action.
I, the undersigned, being the Secretary of the Elders at Grace Church of DuPage, do hereby certify that the above Constitution was adopted as the Constitution hereof on the 14th day of November, 1984, by the Elders of said Corporation in a regularly called meeting on the same date to wit, the 14th day of November 1984, and amended on the 1st day of May 1985, on the 26th day of August 1985, on the 5th day of November 1986, and again on the 4th day of March 1987, on the 10th day of October 1998, on the 11th day of March 2000, on the 30th day of September 2004, on the 20th day of March 2014, on the 2nd day of March 2018, on the 21st day of June 2021, and again on the 13th day of October 2021.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this 13th day of October 2021.
Paul S. Rupple
Secretary of the Elders