About :: Constitution

Covenant Constitution Bylaws Structure Leadership Members

As adopted November 17, 2004.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this association shall be the "Free Grace Alliance."

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Alliance shall be to connect and encourage Free Grace Leaders and Ministries to design, promote, and implement strategies to advance Free Grace Truths throughout the world.

ARTICLE III. DOCTRINAL BASIS & COVENANT

Preamble:

As members of the Evangelical Tradition, we affirm the Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the inspired Word of God and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. Furthermore, God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory. As members of this tradition, we are concerned about the clear understanding, presentation, and advancement of the Gospel of God’s Free Grace.

We affirm the following:

  1. The Grace of God in justification is an unconditional free gift.
  2. The sole means of receiving the free gift of eternal life is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose substitutionary death on the cross fully satisfied the requirement for our justification.
  3. Faith is a personal response, apart from our works, whereby we are persuaded that the finished work of Jesus Christ has delivered us from condemnation and guaranteed our eternal life.
  4. Justification is the act of God to declare us righteous when we believe in Jesus Christ alone.
  5. Assurance of justification is the birthright of every believer from the moment of faith in Jesus Christ, and is founded upon the testimony of God in His written Word.
  6. Spiritual growth, which is distinct from justification, is God’s expectation for every believer; this growth, however, is not necessarily manifested uniformly in every believer.
  7. The Gospel of Grace should always be presented with such clarity and simplicity that no impression is left that justification requires any step, response, or action in addition to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Covenant:

In agreement with these affirmations, we covenant to work together graciously and enthusiastically to advance this Gospel of Grace, and to communicate with a positive and gracious tone toward all others, both inside and outside the Free Grace Alliance.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the Alliance shall be on both an individual and an institutional basis.

Section 2. Every member or authorized representative of an institution must subscribe in writing annually to the Doctrinal Basis / Covenant.

Section 3. Members are to be those involved in vocational Christian ministry. Associate members are those involved non-vocationally in a ministry as volunteers. In exceptional instances anyone who ministers non-vocationally, but who has made significant contributions toward the advancement of the free grace message, shall be eligible for membership.

Section 4. A member whose writings or teachings have been challenged at an annual business meeting as incompatible with the Doctrinal Basis / Covenant of the Alliance, upon majority vote, shall have his/her case referred to the executive council, before whom he/she and his accusers shall be given full opportunity to discuss his/her views and the accusations. The executive council shall then refer his/her case to the Alliance for action at the annual business meeting the following year. A Two-Thirds majority vote of those present and voting shall be necessary for dismissal from membership.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Section 1. The officers shall be members in good standing and consist of a president, a president-elect, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer, all of whom shall be elected annually.

Section 2. These five officers, together with two members-at-large, one to be elected annually, shall constitute the executive council.

Section 3. Standing committees: (a) Membership. The committee shall be composed of the secretary, who shall serve as chairperson, together with six members, two to be elected annually. (b) Program and Arrangements. The committee shall be composed of the president-elect, who shall serve as chairperson, together with two members, one to be elected annually.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

Section 1. The Alliance shall hold national meetings each year; the time, place, and general arrangements to be determined by the committee on program and arrangements.

Section 2. Other meetings, including those of a regional nature, may also be held as desired, with the concurrence of the executive council.

ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Proposed amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing to the secretary, endorsed by the executive council and distributed to the membership. A two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting at a called meeting, not sooner than six months from notification of the proposed amendment, shall be necessary for adoption.

Section 2. Amendments to Articles II and III and Section 2 of Article VII, however, shall require a four-fifths vote.