CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS FELLOWSHIP OF THE C.C.C.C.
Adopted Spring 1996; Revised Spring 2006

Preamble

In gratitude to Almighty God for the gift of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ; and believing that the task of the church of Jesus Christ is threefold, i.e., the worship of God, the edification of the saints, and the evangelization of the world; and believing further, that there is a definite need among the Northern Illinois Fellowship of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference in our Area for an association of churches of unqualified loyalty to the entire Word of God written: We, therefore, as Northern Illinois Fellowship of the C.C.C.C. and ministers of the historic biblical persuasion as set forth in our Statements of Faith and Polity, humbly invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have covenanted together to form such an association.

Article I. Name

The name of this association shall be "Northern Illinois Fellowship of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference."

Article II. Purpose

  1. To promote the worship of God in our churches.
  2. To provide a means of fellowship among our churches.
  3. To encourage a faithful, biblical witness by our churches.
  4. To promote the advancement of the work of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference and its member churches within the Northern Illinois Area.

Article III. Statement of Faith

  1. We believe the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testament, to be the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
  2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
  3. We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
  4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
  5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world.
  6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
  7. We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.

Article IV. Statement of Polity and Rights of the Local Church

  1. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of His body, the Church universal, and of each local church.
  2. We believe that each local church is in itself a complete church, and therefore autonomous and possesses all rights and responsibilities of the church by the Holy Spirit as set forth in the Holy Scriptures.
  3. We believe that Jesus Christ exercises His authority in each local church by the Holy Spirit and through the Holy Scriptures.
  4. We believe that each local church is ultimately answerable only to Jesus Christ, and not to any association, conference, council, synod or any other ecclesiastical body.
  5. We believe that it is proper and beneficial for each local church to seek fellowship and counsel of other such local churches.

Article V. Membership

  1. Membership in this Fellowship shall be attained by the voluntary association of churches, ministers or other C.C.C.C. credentialed persons who are in full accord with the Statements of Faith and Polity of this Constitution, and with the practices and policies of this Fellowship.

Article VI. Officers and Committees

  1. The Officers of this Fellowship shall be a Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Secretary, Treasurer, and other such Officers as shall be provided for in the By-Laws. These Officers shall be elected annually by the Executive Committee and shall hold their office until successors are elected.
  2. The Executive Committee of this Fellowship shall consist of the pastor of each C.C.C.C. church in the Northern Illinois Area, persons residing within the Area holding full credentialed standing with the C.C.C.C., one lay delegate from each church, and the Area Representative.
  3. The Executive Committee shall meet in response to the call of the Moderator, or any Officer, and may at its sole discretion create and appoint special committees. The minutes of the Executive Committee are to be made available to the Fellowship upon request.
  4. Persons residing within the Area holding Associate credentialed standing with the C.C.C.C. are invited to express their concerns to the Executive Committee.

Article VII. Meetings

  1. The regular annual business meeting of the Fellowship will be held in the spring of the year. The time and place shall be determined by the Officers of the Executive Committee.
  2. Special business meetings may be called by the Officers of the Executive Committee.
  3. Advance notice in writing of all business meetings shall be given to all member churches and ministers. Written notice may take the form of electronic communication where available and appropriate.
  4. Between meetings of the full Executive Committee, the Officers may act on matters of a routine nature necessary to conduct the ongoing work of the Fellowship, subject to review by the next full meeting of the Executive Committee. Such action by the Officers may be taken by electronic communication where appropriate.

Article VIII. By-Laws

  1. The Fellowship shall adopt such By-Laws as it shall deem appropriate and necessary for the operation of the Fellowship. The By-Laws shall provide for the manner or amendment thereof.

Article IX. Amendments

  1. Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed in writing by submitting the same to the Secretary. The Executive Committee shall cause immediate notice of all proposed amendments to be given to all member churches, ministers and other personnel. A two-thirds favorable vote of the Executive Committee members present shall be required for adoption of any amendments except as provided in Section 2 of this article.
  2. The provisions of amendment contained in Section 1 of this article shall apply to all articles of the constitution with the exception of Articles III and IV and Article IX, section 2, which articles shall require a unanimous vote of the Executive Committee members present.

By-Laws

By-Law 1: Officers

  1. The Moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the Fellowship, and shall act as chairman of the Executive Committee.
  2. The Vice-moderator shall preside at all business meetings of the Fellowship and act as chairman of the Executive Committee in the absence of the Moderator, and perform such duties as the Fellowship or Executive Committee shall direct.
  3. The Secretary shall keep a full and accurate record of the minutes of the proceedings of the Fellowship and the Executive Committee. He/she shall keep a record of membership and attendance and shall receive official communications, send notices and take care of all correspondence as directed by the Fellowship or the Executive Committee.
  4. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the Fellowship and shall cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements. The Treasurer's books shall be audited annually as directed by the Executive Committee.
  5. The Missions Coordinator shall encourage mission and evangelistic outreach activities among the member congregations of the Fellowship, and inform the Fellowship about such activities.

By-Law 2: Financial Policy

There is to be no per capita assessment or apportionment levied by this Fellowship upon the member churches or ministers. The churches and ministers are encouraged to assume voluntarily a share in the financial responsibility of the Fellowship.

By-Law 3: Ministerial Fellowship

The Northern Illinois Fellowship encourages the regular gathering of ministers for fellowship and discussion. However, the ministerial fellowship is not to be understood as acting in the place of the Executive Committee or its Officers.

Approved by the Executive Committee of the Northern Illinois Fellowship, meeting at La Moille, Illinois on March 25, 2006