PDF Version of This Document Button

Church Constitution 

Article I – Name

The name of this organization, a Utah non-profit corporation, shall be The Evangelical Free Church of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Article II – Standing

This church shall maintain membership with the Evangelical Free Church of America and shall not join itself to any other denomination or synod. It shall abide by the constitution of the Evangelical Free Church of America, send delegates to its conferences, give financial support to its home and foreign missions programs, and cooperate in any mutual efforts to the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It shall, however, remain as its own highest authority in matters of government, purpose and operation.

Article III – Purpose

The purpose of this church shall be:

  • The preaching of the Word of God to the mutual edification, instruction and discipline of its members and other believers.
  • The administration of the ordinances of the New Testament.
  • The spiritual care and growth of its members and other believers.
  • The winning of the unsaved to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
  • The manifestation of itself as a representative of the New Testament church according to the Word of God.

Article IV – Statement of Faith

The Statement of Faith of this church shall be the same as that set forth by the Evangelical Free Church of America.

Article V – Membership

  1. This church shall receive as members only those who have by faith accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, who by their lives manifest the fruits of a Born-Again experience and true faith in God, and who agree to adhere to the Statement of Faith, abide by the Constitution, By-Laws and policies of this church.
  2. The Board of Elders shall examine all applicants for membership to determine if they are members of the Body of Christ, and to determine if they sincerely support the purpose of this church as stated in Article III. If the Board of Elders, in its sole discretion, determines that the moral and spiritual character of an individual give evidence that he is not a member of the Body of Christ and/or that he would not support the stated purpose of this church, then his application for membership shall be rejected.
  3. No person shall be excluded from membership in this church because of sex, race, color, or national or ethnic origin.

Article VI – Property Rights

  1. This church shall have the power to buy, own, lease and sell property in its corporate name.
  2. This church shall not seek or knowingly accept any public monies or property as donations or compensation for ministerial services.
  3. The church corporation shall be sole owner of all property, personal or real, donated to or purchased by this church. No person shall retain any right, title, or interest in any such property.
  4. Conveyance or encumbrance of all or any church property may be made, provided, however, that any such action must receive at least a two-thirds majority vote of the membership of the church present at a meeting duly called pursuant to the By-Laws of this church. Instruments of conveyance or encumbrance so authorized at any such meeting shall be executed in the name of the church by the Chairman and the Secretary of the church at large.
  5. No part of the income or assets of this church shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that this church shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III hereof. No substantial part of the activities of this church shall be the carrying on of political propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and this church shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution, this church will not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code.
  6. Division: In the event of a division of the church membership, the church name and the real and personal property of the church shall belong to the body of members who adhere to the Constitution and By-Laws. Judgment of (a) the applicability of the Constitution and By-Laws to the issues causing the division, and (b) which faction adheres to the Constitution and By-Laws, shall be made by the officers of the Rocky Mountain District of the Evangelical Free Church of America. In the event said officers conclude that (a) each or none of the factions accords with the Constitution and By-Laws, or (b) the issues dividing the church are not governed by the Constitution or By-Laws, they shall award the church name and disburse the real and personal property of the church according to their sole discretion and judgment, provided such distribution shall be for exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
  7. Dissolution: In the event this church is dissolved, its real and personal property shall become the property of the Rocky Mountain District of the Evangelical Free Church of America or its successor organization to be used for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3), so long as the beliefs and practices of said District and/or its successor organization are in accord with the Statement of Faith and Article III of this Constitution, and provided that said District and/or its successor organization are and remain exempt from federal income tax according to the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Any assets not so disposed of shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose, or, shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article VII – Government

  1. Ultimate authority in this church shall reside in the membership of the congregation. They shall annually approve biblically qualified lay Elders.
  2. The Board of Elders will elect from its members the following officers each year: A Chairman who shall be the President of the corporation; a Vice-Chairman who shall be the Vice-President of the corporation; and a Secretary. These men will serve as the corporate officers of this church.
  3. The Board of Elders shall approve such ministry boards and committees, and personnel as needed to efficiently carry out the purpose of this church.

Article VIII – Meetings

There shall be quarterly meetings of the church membership for reports, election of officers, and to conduct such other business as would normally come before it.

Article IX – Amendments

Amendments to this constitution may be made at a quarterly congregational business meeting of the church when approved by three quarters of the votes cast. The proposed amendment must be presented to the congregation in writing at least two months prior to its adoption to ensure adequate time for its scrutiny and discussion.

Article X – By-Laws

A supplement to this Constitution known as the By-Laws shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

  1. Procedures for admittance to membership;
  2. The definitions, qualifications, duties, and procedures for the calling and termination of Pastoral Staff, Elders and Committees;
  3. Procedures for establishing the definitions of the working relations between the church and any of its ministries;
  4. Provision and procedures for meetings other than those mandated by the Constitution.

Proposed changes to the By-Laws shall be presented in writing to the Board of Elders for presentation to any congregational business meeting, and made a part of the By-Laws when approved by two thirds of the votes cast.