The CGC Constitution

PREAMBLE

This Constitution and Bylaws are made to:   

  1. Preserve and secure the principles of our faith.
  2. Respect and honour each individual member of the church.
  3. Provide orderly conduct of internal affairs, in dealing with others, and of governing church members. 

The following amendment to the constitution and by-laws concerning the meeting place and mailing address was adopted and approved by a majority of the members present at the Annual General Meeting of Canadian Gujarati Christchurch, held on January 31, 2016 at Brampton, Ontario 

The name of this non-profit organization is CANADIAN GUJARATI CHRISTCHURCH (CGC), currently meeting at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 7366 Darcel Ave., Mississauga, ON, L4T 3W6  

The CrossPoint Christian Reformed Church, 444 Steeles Ave W, Brampton, Ontario L6Y 0J3.  

CGC’s mailing address is 101, Drake Blvd., Brampton, ON, L6T 3L2   

PO Box 38582, Brampton West, Ontario L6Y 4W5.  

444 Steeles Ave W, Brampton, Ontario L6Y 0J3.  

CGC shall have full power and authority to change the principle office and meeting place from one location to another. 

The purpose of this congregation

is to worship God and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, be an effective fellowship of the concerned, lovingly sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all persons. To accomplish this purpose, this congregation shall provide and maintain a place of worship; labor for the salvation of all persons, and for the edification of the believers in faith, hope, and love; preach and teach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; engage in religious, educational, charitable, and benevolent work; and assist in establishing and maintaining missionary work in the Canada and other countries. 

The purpose of CGC is: 

To establish, maintain and support a house of worship with services conducted in accordance with the tenets and doctrines of the Christian faith. 

To support and maintain missions and missionaries in order to propagate the Christian faith. 

Provide support for individual for growth in Christian faith and spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.   

In keeping with this purpose, CGC’s objective is to glorify God by obeying the Great Commandment (Matthew 22: 36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20). The process is designed to produce disciples of Jesus Christ, which involves these values and practices: 

  

Here’s What We Love (Values) 

GOD – We delight in God and follow after Jesus 

PEOPLE – Living life together as we give ourselves away 

SCRIPTURE – We love it, learn it and live it 

TRANSFORMATION – Becoming more and more in every way like Christ 

 

Here’s How We Live (Practices) 

Pray 

Study the Scriptures 

Get – To – gather for fellowship 

Serve one another and the community at large 

Talk about Jesus 

In essential beliefs we have unity 
 
“There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV) 
 
In non-essential beliefs we have freedom  
“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand…So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God…So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”  Romans 14:1, 4, 12, 22 (NIV) 
 
In all our beliefs we show love  
“A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35 (NIV) 
 
ESSENTIAL BELIEFS  

These “Essential Beliefs” of CGC are summary statements regarding the basics of evangelical Christian faith and are in harmony with the Protestant Statement of Faith. 

  

About God 

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is the head of the trinity. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  These three are co-equal and are one God. (Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; Psalm 90:2; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14). 

   

About Jesus Christ 

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We believe in the absolute and essential deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was both fully God and fully human, was born of a virgin and lived a perfect, sinless human life.  Christ, in His eternal existence with the Father in pre-incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension, mediatorial ministry and personal return. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return someday to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 8:58, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13) 

  

About the Holy Spirit 

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, co-equal with the Father and the Son. We believe in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation.  He provides the Christian with the power for living; enables understanding of Biblical truth and guides them in righteous living.  He provides every Christian with spiritual gifts for service.  As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13, 5:18; Galatians 5:25) 

  

About the Bible 

The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.  It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living.  Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture or error. (2 Timothy 1:13, 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5). We believe the bible to be the complete word of God verbally inspired by the Spirit of God and is entirely free from error. It is the final authority in all matters of faith, practice and the true basis of Christian union. 

  

About People 

People are the supreme object of God’s creation, originally created in the image and likeness of God.  We believe that man was divinely created in the image of God, that he sinned and became guilty before God which resulted in total depravity therefore incurring physical and spiritual death. Humanity fell through disobedience, incurring both physical and spiritual death. All people are sinners by nature (birth) and sinners by choice and this separates them from the life of God and through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, can anyone be saved and restored to relationship with God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; 51:1-8; Isaiah 53:6, 59:1-2; Romans 3:23; 5:12) 

  

About Salvation 

Salvation is by grace through faith.  It is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it.  We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works.  Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty.  When we turn in repentance from our self-ruled life and turn to Jesus in faith, we are saved.  Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26, Romans 5:1) 

   

About Eternity 

People were created to exist forever in eternity.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation through Christ. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life in heaven. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.  (John 3:16; 17:3; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:15) 

  

About Ordinances – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper 

Jesus instructed His disciples to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the Church two visible symbols (called “ordinances”) as reminders. These two ordinances are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. While we respect all acts of spiritual obedience, the Bible teaches that Baptism is to be done by immersion, following salvation, as a one-time act of obedience and identification with Jesus Christ as Lord. Though this way of baptism is biblically recognized, we honor other forms of baptism (child baptism), but we encourage baptism through repentance.  

  

The Lord’s Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord’s death, burial, resurrection and promised return.  Each individual must decide his or her own participation in these ordinances. Regardless, we do not regard anyone’s participation in these practices as a means of salvation. (Matthew 28:18-20, 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-32, Colossians 2:12). 

  

Section 1. Baptism   

This church shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by personal faith, who professes Him publicly at any worship service, and who indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord. 

(1) Baptism shall be by immersion in water. 

(2) The pastor, or who he authorizes shall administer baptism. The leaders shall assist in the preparation for, and the observance of, baptism. 

(3) Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship service of the church. 

(4) A person who professes Christ and is not baptized after a reasonable length of time shall be counselled by the pastor and/or staff or leaders. If negative interest is ascertained on the part of the candidate, he or she shall be deleted from those awaiting baptism. 

  

Section 2. The Lord’s Supper 

The church shall observe the Lord’s Supper on regular basis. The observance shall be during the worship service. The pastor and leaders shall administer the Lord’s Supper, and the leaders will be responsible for the physical preparations. 

  

About the Lord’s Day 

We follow the New Testament precepts by setting the first day of the week aside for worship and spiritual exercise. 

   

About The Church 

The Church consists of all those who have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head the Church, whose members have been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations. The local church is an autonomous, local body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for teaching of the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship and the proclamation of the Gospel, and for observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  The local church is governed by the principles found in Scripture.  (Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews 10:25) 

  

About Satan 

We believe that Satan, the originator of sin, the archenemy of God and man exists. 

 

IN SUMMARY 

The cornerstone of our belief and faith is Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have the free gift of salvation, an eternal relationship with God, and an example of how to live our lives and love God and each other.  He is central to everything that we believe and everything that we do.  God wants us to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, keeping ourselves constantly in subjection to Christ, we must allow God’s Holy Spirit to live through us in a daily “walk” of faith.  All of us need to make sure that He is the center of our lives in every way. 

CGC is autonomous and maintains the right to govern its own affairs, independent of any denomination control. Recognizing, however, the benefits of cooperation and inter-dependence with other churches, our church voluntarily affiliates with the Protestant Church`s Association. We also embrace and support protestant Gujarati churches in India and Canada. 

The government of CGC is vested in its members. The membership retains unto itself the right of exclusive self-government in all phases of its life and organization. It recognizes the needs for mutual counsel and cooperation, which are common to protestant Gujarati churches (Church of North India, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Salvation Army). CGC will cooperate with and mutually work with gospel preaching organizations. 

CGC will maintain the following records and reports:   

  1. Adequate and correct books and records of accounts (financial records).
  2. Minutes of the proceedings of its congregational meetings and all other teams.
  3. A record of its members, giving their names and addresses.
  4. Contribution statements for contributors.
  5. Reports of annual review of all church financial books, records, and proceedings.

CGC shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used solely to promote its purposes.    

Upon dissolution and after the payment of all debts and liabilities, all remaining assets will be given to a qualified done described in subsection 149.1(1) of the Income Tax Act. Assets will be sold and the income will be combined with funds (if available) and donated to not-for-profit charitable Christian Organization only.  

This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended, provided the proposed amendment shall have been presented in writing at a regular congregational meeting and then circulated to the membership. Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws shall be by the votes of qualified members present in the congregational meeting.