PREAMBLE

       WHEREAS, It is the duty of all true churches of the Lord Jesus Christ to make a clear testimony to their faith in Him, especially in these darkening days of apostasy in many professing churches, by which apostasy whole denominations in their official capacity, as well as individual churches, have been swept into a paganizing stream of modernism under various names and in varying degree; and

       WHEREAS, There has been a notable growth of autocratic domination especially on the part of modernistic leaders by whom the rightful powers of true churches are often usurped and are now being usurped; and

       WHEREAS, The commands of God to His people to be separate from all unbelief and corruption are clear and positive; and

       WHEREAS, We believe the times demand the formation of an agency, for fellowship and cooperation on the part of Bible-believing churches for the maintenance of a testimony pure and steadfast to the great fundamental truths of the Word of God as held by the historic Christian Church through the centuries, for the accomplishment of tasks which can better be done in cooperation than separately, and to facilitate the discharge of the obligations which inhere in the Commission of Christ to His Church.

       THEREFORE, the constituent denominations forming this Council, do now establish it as an agency, without compromise or evasion, unreservedly dedicated as a witness to “the faith once delivered unto the saints.”

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of this organization shall be The American Council of Christian Churches.

ARTICLE II
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT

Among other equally biblical truths, we believe and maintain the following:
1. The plenary divine inspiration of the Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and, as the Word of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and life;
2. The Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
3. The essential, absolute, eternal deity, and the real and proper, but sinless, humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ;
4. His birth of the Virgin Mary;
5. His substitutionary, expiatory death, in that He gave His life “a ransom for many”;
6. His resurrection from among the dead in the same body in which He was crucified, and the second coming of this same Jesus in power and great glory;
7. The total depravity of man through the Fall;
8. Salvation, the effect of regeneration by the Spirit and the Word, not by works, but by grace through faith;
9. The everlasting bliss of the saved, and the everlasting suffering of the lost;
10. The real spiritual unity in Christ of all redeemed by His precious blood;
11. The necessity of maintaining, according to the Word of God, the purity of the Church in doctrine and life.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Relationship to this Council shall be of two kinds: CONSTITUENT MEMBERS and INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

Section 2.  CONSTITUENT MEMBERS shall be of two classes;

1. General Constituent Members shall be such autonomous national churches or associations of Christians as shall be in full agreement with the purposes of this Council as expressed in its Preamble and Doctrinal Statement, and may be admitted by a three-fourths vote of the delegates of the Council present and voting at a duly called meeting.

2. Local Constituent Members shall be of such local or regional congregations, churches or associations of Christians as shall be in full agreement with the purposes of the Council as expressed by its Preamble and Doctrinal Statement, and may be admitted by a three-fourths vote of the delegates of the Council present and voting at a duly called meeting.

Section 3.  INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS shall be such individual Christians as shall be in full agreement with the purposes of the Council as expressed by its Preamble and Doctrinal Statement, and who may be admitted by majority vote of the delegates of the Council present and voting at a duly called meeting.

Section 4.   LIMITATIONS TO MEMBERSHIP: No denomination, association of churches, Bible-believing society, individual or church affiliated with, or represented in any manner by, the World Council of Churches (WCC) or any of its affiliates, such as the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) or any of its affiliates, such as the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the modern Charismatic Movement, or the Ecumenical Movement shall be considered for membership in the Council.

Section 5. Expulsion from Membership: Expulsion from membership may occur when a Constituent Body, local church or individual member does not maintain a separatist position in harmony with the ACCC doctrine and practice.  Expulsion will require prior notification of the proposed action followed by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Committee and majority approval of the Council Members at an Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE IV
VOTING POWER

Section 1.  All members in good standing shall be entitled to one vote in the business sessions at any convention or duly called business meeting. 

Section 2.  COUNCIL MEMBERS at each convention shall have one vote on the following items:

1. Elect members to the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE;
2. Elect the Officers of the Council;
3. Approve minutes of previous meetings;
4. Ratify financial reports and approve budgets;
5. Pass resolutions;
6. Change dates of annual and semi-annual conventions;
7. Accept new members into the Council;
8. Approve Constitution and By-law changes;
9. Approve Executive Committee appointment to the office of Executive Secretary;
10. Approve any indebtedness assumed by the Council and the purchase or sale of any real estate; or
11. Approve, ratify or vote upon any other business that the Executive Committee deems appropriate for full-Council action.

Section 3. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: All other business items shall be the prerogative of the elected EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

ARTICLE V
MEETINGS

Section 1.  The Council shall meet at least once in each calendar year.  Special meetings shall be called by the President if requested in writing by at least one-third of the Constituent Members.

ARTICLE VI
AUTHORITY

Section 1.  The Council shall have no authority over its members, but shall be their servant and voice in matters requiring joint testimony and united action.

Section 2.  No officer of the American Council of Christian Churches shall commit the Council on any matter except under the instructions of the Council or its Executive Committee, or as he possesses evidence of the Council’s position.

ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of the Council shall be; President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer and shall be elected annually by the Council members.

Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall consist of these officers, two members recommended from each General Constituent body and as many members-at-large as desired, all to be elected by the Council.

Section 3.  The Executive Committee shall have such powers to conduct the ad interim business of the Council as shall be stated in this Constitution, the By-Laws or by resolution of the Council.  The President of the Council shall be chairman of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII
EXPENSES

Section 1.  An Executive Secretary and other Secretaries of the Council may be chosen by the Executive Committee, which shall have power to fix their duties and salaries as well as the duties and salaries of all other employees.

Section 2.  The expenses of the Council shall be met by voluntary contributions from its members and Christian friends.

ARTICLE IX
BY-LAWS AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  By-Laws may be adopted by the Council, which shall be binding upon it and upon the Executive Committee.  By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Council.

Section 2.  This Constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of the Council at two successive annual meetings, or at one annual meeting and one other meeting held after an interval of not less than sixty days.  Notice of proposed amendments shall, after first action, be sent to the home office of each General Constituent body.  They shall officially be notified upon final passage.

BY-LAWS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
ARTICLE I

1. The council may establish departments to aid the work of the Council in specific   spheres of activity as it may from time to time authorize in these By-Laws.

2. The authorized commissions shall be:
   1. Commission on Information and Literature
   2. Commission on Missions
   3. Commission on Education
   4. The Radio and Audio-Film Commission
   5. Commission on Chaplains
   6. And other such commissions as the Council may deem advisable.

3. Members of these Commissions shall be elected annually by the Executive Committee and shall be members of the Council.

ARTICLE II

1. All members of the Executive Committee shall be members of the Council.
2. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be seven members.
3. The Executive Committee shall meet upon its own adjournment.
4. The Executive Committee annually shall recommend a budget to the Council.

ARTICLE III

1. The treasurer shall give such security for the faithful performance of his duties as the Executive Committee may determine.
2. All appointees of the Executive Committee shall be subject to its direction in the performance of their duties.
3. All officers of the Council and members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at its annual meetings and shall serve until their successors are elected.  Two members of the Executive Committee from each Constituent body shall be selected from among the delegates of that body.
4. In the event of a vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee between annual sessions, the Committee shall have power to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV

       The President shall appoint an Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer from among the members of the Executive Committee as needed.

ARTICLE V

       The President shall appoint a nominating committee of five members  at the Spring Executive Committee Meeting prior to the Annual Convention.

ARTICLE VI