ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
LICENSING EXAM
Local church governance - ANSWERS-Each General Council
affiliated assembly has the right of self-government under Jesus
Christ, its living Head, and shall have the power to choose or call its
pastor, elect its official board, and transact all other business
pertaining to its life as a local unit. It shall have the right to administer
discipline to its members according to the Scriptures and its
constitution or bylaws. It shall have the right to acquire and hold title
to property, either through trustees or in its corporate name as a
self-governing unit. The governance model adopted by the local
assembly shall conform to the guidelines of Constitution, Article XI,
Section 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (4). (4) Adopt Articles of
Incorporation, a constitution, or bylaws compatible with models
recommended by the district council, or district approved governance
models that provide for adequate accountability, amenability, and
safeguards so that a pastor and/or governing board cannot directly or
indirectly exert dictatorial control over a church.
Membership in secret orders - ANSWERS-Article IX of the
Assemblies of God Bylaws includes an
entire section on forbidding membership in secret orders. The stated
reasons for not allowing credentialed ministers to belong to secret
orders and for encouraging lay persons to avoid involvement with
such orders can be summarized as follows:
1. The activities of secret orders demand time and energy that divert
the servant of the Lord from efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.
,2. The binding loyalty to fellow members of the secret society-many
of whom are not fellow believers in Jesus Christ and His saving work-
is an unworthy joining
together of believers with unbelievers.
3. The spirit, philosophy, and general influence of secret orders
channel activities toward improving only the natural part of
humankind instead of changing the heart of the spiritual being.
4. Commitment to secret orders and their teachings leads one to a
wrong emphasis on salvation through good works and improving
society.
Military Service - ANSWERS-As a Movement we affirm our loyalty
to the government of the United States in war or peace. We shall
continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member
to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a
noncombatant, or a conscientious objector.
Ministry requirement for licensed ministers - ANSWERS-
Qualifications for license shall include clear evidence of a divine call,
character and preparation suitable for that calling, practical ministry
experience, and an evident purpose to devote one's life in service to
the proclamation of the gospel. The applicant must complete all
required courses before submitting the official application
Nonprofit corporate law - ANSWERS-A nonprofit corporation is a
corporation formed to carry out a charitable, educational, religious,
literary or scientific purpose. A nonprofit can raise funds by receiving
public and private grant money and donations from individuals and
companies. Certain federal, state, and local income, property and sales
, tax exemptions are available to nonprofit corporations. The federal
and state governments do not generally
tax nonprofit corporations on money they make that is related to their
nonprofit purpose, because of the benefits they contribute to society.
The most common federal tax exemption for nonprofits comes from
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which is why
nonprofits are sometimes called 501(c)(3) corporations. Tax exempt
nonprofit organizations offer donors an individual deduction for
contributions. (Private donors can claim personal federal income tax
deductions of up to 50% of adjusted gross income for donations made
to 501 (c) (3) organizations.)
Performing marriage ceremonies - ANSWERS-1) Ministerial
guidelines. We discourage any Assemblies of God minister
performing a marriage ceremony for anyone who has been divorced
and whose former spouse is still living, unless the case is included in
the
exceptional circumstances described in Bylaws. 2) Violation of
conscience not required. We realize that remarrying of such persons
included in the exceptive circumstances in the Bylaws could violate
the conscience of a minister; and if this should be the case, the
minister should not be expected to perform such ceremonies. 3)
Same-sex ceremonies. No minister shall perform any type of
marriage, cohabitation, or covenant ceremony for persons who are of
the same sex. Such ceremony would endorse homosexuality which is
a sin and strictly forbidden in God's Word. Any minister of our
Fellowship who performs a ceremony for these types of disapproved
relations, unless innocently deceived into doing so, shall be dismissed
from the Fellowship. 4) Counsel. An Assemblies of
God minister is urged to counsel applicants for marriage ceremonies
with scriptural guidelines for Christian marriage prior to performing
LICENSING EXAM
Local church governance - ANSWERS-Each General Council
affiliated assembly has the right of self-government under Jesus
Christ, its living Head, and shall have the power to choose or call its
pastor, elect its official board, and transact all other business
pertaining to its life as a local unit. It shall have the right to administer
discipline to its members according to the Scriptures and its
constitution or bylaws. It shall have the right to acquire and hold title
to property, either through trustees or in its corporate name as a
self-governing unit. The governance model adopted by the local
assembly shall conform to the guidelines of Constitution, Article XI,
Section 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (4). (4) Adopt Articles of
Incorporation, a constitution, or bylaws compatible with models
recommended by the district council, or district approved governance
models that provide for adequate accountability, amenability, and
safeguards so that a pastor and/or governing board cannot directly or
indirectly exert dictatorial control over a church.
Membership in secret orders - ANSWERS-Article IX of the
Assemblies of God Bylaws includes an
entire section on forbidding membership in secret orders. The stated
reasons for not allowing credentialed ministers to belong to secret
orders and for encouraging lay persons to avoid involvement with
such orders can be summarized as follows:
1. The activities of secret orders demand time and energy that divert
the servant of the Lord from efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.
,2. The binding loyalty to fellow members of the secret society-many
of whom are not fellow believers in Jesus Christ and His saving work-
is an unworthy joining
together of believers with unbelievers.
3. The spirit, philosophy, and general influence of secret orders
channel activities toward improving only the natural part of
humankind instead of changing the heart of the spiritual being.
4. Commitment to secret orders and their teachings leads one to a
wrong emphasis on salvation through good works and improving
society.
Military Service - ANSWERS-As a Movement we affirm our loyalty
to the government of the United States in war or peace. We shall
continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member
to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a
noncombatant, or a conscientious objector.
Ministry requirement for licensed ministers - ANSWERS-
Qualifications for license shall include clear evidence of a divine call,
character and preparation suitable for that calling, practical ministry
experience, and an evident purpose to devote one's life in service to
the proclamation of the gospel. The applicant must complete all
required courses before submitting the official application
Nonprofit corporate law - ANSWERS-A nonprofit corporation is a
corporation formed to carry out a charitable, educational, religious,
literary or scientific purpose. A nonprofit can raise funds by receiving
public and private grant money and donations from individuals and
companies. Certain federal, state, and local income, property and sales
, tax exemptions are available to nonprofit corporations. The federal
and state governments do not generally
tax nonprofit corporations on money they make that is related to their
nonprofit purpose, because of the benefits they contribute to society.
The most common federal tax exemption for nonprofits comes from
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which is why
nonprofits are sometimes called 501(c)(3) corporations. Tax exempt
nonprofit organizations offer donors an individual deduction for
contributions. (Private donors can claim personal federal income tax
deductions of up to 50% of adjusted gross income for donations made
to 501 (c) (3) organizations.)
Performing marriage ceremonies - ANSWERS-1) Ministerial
guidelines. We discourage any Assemblies of God minister
performing a marriage ceremony for anyone who has been divorced
and whose former spouse is still living, unless the case is included in
the
exceptional circumstances described in Bylaws. 2) Violation of
conscience not required. We realize that remarrying of such persons
included in the exceptive circumstances in the Bylaws could violate
the conscience of a minister; and if this should be the case, the
minister should not be expected to perform such ceremonies. 3)
Same-sex ceremonies. No minister shall perform any type of
marriage, cohabitation, or covenant ceremony for persons who are of
the same sex. Such ceremony would endorse homosexuality which is
a sin and strictly forbidden in God's Word. Any minister of our
Fellowship who performs a ceremony for these types of disapproved
relations, unless innocently deceived into doing so, shall be dismissed
from the Fellowship. 4) Counsel. An Assemblies of
God minister is urged to counsel applicants for marriage ceremonies
with scriptural guidelines for Christian marriage prior to performing
