Constitution

Revision Date: December, 2010

Preamble

God requires that a Christian congregation shall conform to His Divine Word in doctrine and practice (Psalm 119: 11, 105; Matt. 28: 18-20; Gal. 1: 6-8; 2Tim. 4:1-5) and that all things be done decently and in order (1Cor. 14:40). Therefore, we, the members of the Wilmington Chinese Evangelical Church, accept and subscribe to the following Constitution and By-Laws in accordance with which all spiritual and material affairs of our congregation shall be governed.

Article I- Name

The name of this church shall be Wilmington Community Evangelical Church.

Article II- Purpose

The purpose of this church is to preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to baptize believers, to continue in the doctrine of the Bible, to fellowship and to worship the Lord until He returns.

Article III- Doctrine

Section 1- Of the Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was verbally inspired and the product of Spirit controlled men, and therefore has truth without admixture of error for its matter. We believe that it is the true center of Christian union and the only infallible rule for all human conduct. (2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Peter 1:19-21)

Section 2- Of the True God

We believe that there is only one living and true God, infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three personal distinctions- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit- yet one in substance and equal in every divine perfection. (Exodus 20: 2-3; 1Cor. 8:6; 1Johns 5:7)

We believe in the absolute Deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; that He was divine as no other man can be, being very God of very God, existing from all eternity co-equal with the Father and the Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant and that His humiliation did not consist in laying aside His deity; that as a man He was miraculously begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. (Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-2; 1John 5:20)

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person, equal with the Father and Son and of the same substance and nature; that He convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, bears witness to the truth, is the Agent of the New Birth and that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses to, sanctifies, and helps the believer, indwelling every true child of God. (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:14-27; 2Cor. 13:14)

Section 3- Of the Creation

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth, including all life, "each after its own kind." (Gen. 1 and 2; John 1:3; Col. 1:16-17)

Section 4- Of the Devil, or Satan

We believe that there is a distinct personality called Satan, that he is the unholy god of this age, author of all darkness and sin, and is destined to the judgment of an eternal justice in the lake of fire. (Matt. 4:1-3; 2Cor. 4:4; Rev. 20:10)

Section 5- Of the Fall of Man

We believe that man, in the person of the First Adam, was created in innocence but by voluntary transgression fell into sin thus plunging the whole race into condemnation and death, so that now all mankind is born in sin and shaped in iniquity, and become willful sinners with the first expression of personal choice, and so are without excuse before God. (Gen. 3; Rom. 5:10-19)

Section 6- Of the Redemption from Sin

We believe that the only escape from the condemnation of sin is through the redemption wrought by Jesus Christ, when He voluntarily took upon Him a human body and nature, yet without sin, and by His suffering, death and resurrection made full satisfaction to the justice of God for the sin of man; that the blessings of this salvation are given on the grounds of grace to all who believe and confess that it is the immediate duty of all to accept these offers of mercy. (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:1-7; Acts 16:30-33; Heb. 10:4-14)

Section 7- Of Salvation by Grace

We believe that faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation from sin, and this salvation is wholly by grace; that no works, however good, make that salvation more secure. (Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Rom. 10:9-13)

We believe that all who take Christ as their Savior are born from above and are eternally secure in Christ. (John 10:28-29; Rom. 8:35-39; Phil. 1:6)

Section 8- Of the Church

We believe that the church is established by Jesus Christ. He is the Head of the church and the church is His body for service and His bride for glory.

We believe that the church universal is constituted of all born-again believers and is manifested through the local church, which is a congregation of baptized believers, associated by the covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in the church by His Word; that its officers are Elders (including Pastors) and Deacons; that it has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and it is answerable only to Christ, and that in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence the will of the local church is final. (Matt. 16:18, 18:15-17; Acts 2:41-47; Rom. 16:26; 1Cor. 1:2, 6:4, 7:17, 11:16, 12:12-28; Eph. 1:22-23, 3:21, 4:11-12, 5:23-33; 1Thess. 4:13-18; 1Tim. 3:1-15)

Section 9- Of the Ordinances

We believe that there are two church ordinances; Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism sets forth in a beautiful and solemn way our faith in a crucified, buried and risen Savior, with the effects of that faith in our lives as it produces death to sin and resurrection to a new life. The Lord's Supper, the commemoration of our Lord's death until He comes and our continual fellowship with Him, should be preceded by baptism and always by careful self-examination. (Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-5; 1Cor. 11:23-32)

Section 10- Of the Righteous and Wicked

We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God's esteem; while all such who continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked, and under the curse; and that this distinction holds among men both during life and after death, in the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost. (Mal. 3:18; Matt. 25:34-41; Luke 6:25; Rom. 6:17-23)

Section 11- Of the Return of Christ

We believe in the bodily, personal return of Jesus Christ. He will come to judge the living nations and to set up His kingdom on Earth. (Matt. 25:31-46; 1Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 19: 11-21)

Section 12- Of the Resurrection

We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of the dead; that believers who sleep in Jesus will be raised at the coming of Christ; and that the wicked dead will be raised at the judgment to receive their final doom. (John 5:21-30; 1Cor. 15:51-54; 1Thess. 4:16; Rev. 7:9-17, 20:11-15)

Article IV - Associations

This church may have fellowship with people of like precious faith, but shall separate itself from any form of apostasy. This church believes in and adheres to the principle of the autonomy of the local church.

Article V - Membership

The membership of this church is open to those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and declare themselves in accord with the principles, practices, and doctrines of this church.

Article VI - Officers

The officers of this church shall consist of the Pastor, the Elders and Deacons as the by-laws of this constitution may prescribe.

Article VII - Congregational Meeting

There shall be an annual congregational meeting of the members to elect church lay officers and to transact any business. Additional congregational meetings may be called as needed.

Article VIII - Amendment

This constitution may be amended at the annual congregational meeting or special meeting called for that purpose by a two-thirds (2/3) majority approval of all active members.