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| CHAPTER I | THE DENOMINATION OF FRIENDS |
| CHAPTER II | THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH |
CHAPTER I - THE DENOMINATION OF FRIENDS
The Bond of Union | The
Form of Government | Admission to Membership
Positions of Leadership | A
Friends Church | Transaction of Business
The Bond of Union. The denomination of the Friends is composed of Yearly Meetings with their subordinate branches around the world. The bond of union is maintained by correspondence among them; by issuing and receiving certificates of membership in cases of removal; by joint participation in religious and benevolent enterprises. Each Yearly Meeting is independent in the transaction of its business.
The Form of Government. Friends believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and dwells in all believers. He enlightens and gives guidance so that believers may do His will. As the head of the Church, Jesus confers gifts upon members of the body which are to be used for the edification of the Church. Members have equal rights and privileges as they exercise their giftedness in faithfulness to Jesus, the head of the Church. Therefore, Friends practice both a theocratic and democratic form of government.
Admission to Membership. The Friends admit into membership all who make a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose lives testify to their union with Him, and who accept the teachings of the Gospel as held by the Friends (See Part III, Chapter I).
Positions of Leadership. Positions in the organization result from official recognition of these gifts by the body. Each member has duties to perform and special responsibilities to meet, and the business of the organization is conducted in recognition of this equality of rank in the membership. There are no distinctions in the rights, privileges, or responsibilities of the members because of sex, color or race.
A Friends Church. A Friends Church is comprised of Christians freely united by faith in Jesus Christ and mutual concern to worship, to nurture one another and to maintain a public witness to their faith.
A congregation of members, fully established, is called a local church or local meeting of Friends. (These two terms are synonymous and for the purposes of this document "local church" is used.) A local church is under the supervision of its pastor and its Elders Board.
Transaction of Business. Friends conduct their business in the framework of worship during announced meetings, called business sessions. All members are urged to participate in the business of the church. This organizational pattern is designed so that members will develop and exercise their gifts in personal ministry.
The Elders Board is the church in interim, authorized to take any action that is necessary in the interest of the church. (See Elders Board, Part II, Chapter II, Section I).
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