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CHURCHMANUAL

CHURCHMANUAL19TH EDITIONREVISED 2015UPDATED 2016Published by the SecretariatGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Copyright 2016 by the Secretariat,General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Unless otherwise noted, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.Texts credited to KJV are from the King James Version.Published by the Review & Herald Publishing Association.Printed in U.S.A.15 14 13 12 ardcoverpaperbackPrinted and distributed by thePacific Press Publishing AssociationNampa, Idaho 83653-5353

Table of ContentsWhy a Church Manual?. 15Authority and Function of the Church Manual . 16Making Changes . 17Where to Get Advice . 18Terms Used in the Church Manual . 18Church of the Living God . 20No Wall of Partition. 20Supreme Object of Christ’s Regard . 21Complete in Christ . 22Organization and Authority . 24Biblical Basis for Organization . 24Importance of Organization . 25Purposes of Organization . 25The New Testament Model. 26Church Organization Today. 26Outline of Denominational Organization . 27Role of Institutions . 28Authority in the Early Church . 29General Conference the Highest Authority . 29Pastors and Other Church Employees . 31A Divinely Appointed Ministry . 31Conference President . 31Conference Departmental Directors . 31Ordained Pastors . 32Licensed Pastors . 33Bible Instructors . 33Conference Directs Church Employees . 33Credentials and Licenses . 34Expired Credentials and Licenses . 34Retired Employees . 35Former Pastors Without Credentials . 35Organizing, Uniting, and Dissolving Churches and Companies . 36Organizing a Church . 36Organizing a Company . 37Uniting Churches . 39Dissolving or Expelling Churches . 39Care of Members, Records, and Funds . 41Membership . 435

66CHURCH MANUALBaptism . 43Mode of Baptism . 44Thorough Instruction and Public Examination Before Baptism . 44Baptismal Vow and Commitment . 45Baptismal Vow . 45Baptismal Covenant . 47Voting Acceptance Subject to Baptism . 48Receiving Members Who Are Not Known . 48Baptismal Preparations . 48Rebaptism . 49Individuals From Other Christian Communions . 49Apostasy and Rebaptism . 49Inappropriate Rebaptism . 50Profession of Faith . 50Transferring Members . 51Method of Granting Letters of Transfer . 51Clerk to Prepare Letter. 52Letter Valid Six Months . 52Alternative Method for Membership Transfer . 52Membership During Transfer . 52Receiving Members Under Difficult Conditions . 53Counted in Statistical Reports . 53If Member Is Not Accepted . 53Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing . 53No Letter Without Member’s Approval . 53Church Board Cannot Grant Letters . 54Membership in the Conference Church . 54Membership Record . 55Discipline . 56General Principles . 56Dealing With Erring Members . 56God’s Plan . 56Authority of the Church . 58Church’s Responsibility . 58Unconsecrated Resist Discipline . 58Safeguarding Unity of the Church . 59Reconciliation of Differences . 59Settlement of Grievances of Members Against the Church . 61Settlement of Grievances of the Church Against Members . 61Reasons for Discipline . 62Process of Discipline . 63

TABLE OF CONTENTS7Discipline by Censure . 63Discipline by Removal From Membership . 63No Additional Tests of Fellowship . 64Timeliness of Discipline . 64Caution About Judging Character and Motive . 64At a Properly Called Meeting . 64By Majority Vote . 65Church Board Cannot Remove Members . 65Fundamental Rights of the Members . 65Lawyers Not to Represent Members . 65Transferring Members Under Censure. 65Members Not to Be Removed for Nonattendance . 66Members Moving Away and Not Reporting . 66Members Not to Be Removed for Pecuniary Reasons. 66Removing Members at Their Request . 66Notification to Those Removed From Membership . 66Reinstating Those Previously Removed From Membership . 67Right of Appeal for Reinstatement . 67Local Church Officers and Organizations . 69General Qualifications . 69Moral and Religious Fitness . 69Feeding and Guarding the Church . 70Respecting Pastors and Officers . 70Not Hurried Into Office . 71Those Opposing Unity Not Suitable for Office . 71Unsafe to Choose Those Refusing to Cooperate. 71Local Membership . 71Setting Tithing Example. 72Not Delegates Ex Officio . 72Distributing Responsibility . 72Removal and Readmission . 72Term of Office . 72Elders . 73Religious Leaders of the Church . 73Ordination of Elders . 73Relationship to the Pastor . 73Work of Elders Is Local . 74Conducting Church Services . 74Baptismal Service . 75Marriage Ceremony . 75

88CHURCH MANUALTo Foster Tithing . 75To Foster Bible Study, Prayer, and a Relationship With Jesus . 75To Foster All Lines of Work. 75To Cooperate With the Conference . 76To Foster Worldwide Work . 76Training and Equipping of Elders . 76Free to Work Effectively . 76First Elder . 76Limitation of Authority . 77Church Leaders . 77Deacons . 77Board of Deacons . 78Deacons Must Be Ordained . 78Deacons Not Authorized to Preside . 79Duties of Deacons. 79Deaconesses . 80Board of Deaconesses . 80Ordination Service for Deaconesses. 80Deaconesses Not Authorized to Preside . 80Duties of Deaconesses . 81Clerk . 81No Names Added or Removed Without Vote. 81Transferring Members . 82Corresponding With Members . 82Notice of Delegates for Conference Sessions . 82Reports to Be Furnished Promptly . 82Church Records . 82Treasurer . 82Treasurer the Custodian of All Funds . 83Conference Funds . 83Sabbath School Funds . 83Local Church Funds . 83Funds of Auxiliary Organizations . 84Safeguarding the Purpose of Funds. 84Money for Personal Literature Orders . 84Proper Method for Payment of Money by Members . 84Receipts to Members . 85Proper Method of Remitting Funds to the Conference . 85Preservation of Financial Documents . 85Books Should Be Audited . 85Relations With Members Confidential . 86

TABLE OF CONTENTS9Interest Coordinator . 86Departments and Other Organizations . 86Children’s Ministries . 87Children’s Ministries Coordinator and Committee . 87Resources . 88Communication. 88Communication Secretary . 88Communication Committee . 89Central Communication Committee . 89Education . 89Education Secretary . 90Home and School Association . 90Church School Board . 90Family Ministries . 92Family Ministries Leader(s) . 93Family Ministries Committee . 93Resources . 93Health Ministries . 93Health Ministries Leader . 93Health Ministries Council. 94Health Ministries or Temperance Society . 94World Health Ministries Sabbath Offering . 94Resources . 94Music . 94Selecting Music Coordinators . 94Selecting Musicians . 95Public Affairs and Religious Liberty . 95Religious Liberty Leader . 95Religious Liberty Associations . 95Resources . 95Publishing Ministries . 96Selling Through Literature Evangelists . 96Giving Away (Sharing) by Church Members . 96Publishing Ministries Coordinator . 96Publishing Ministries Council . 96Resources . 96Sabbath School and Personal Ministries . 97Officers of the Sabbath School Council . 97Sabbath School Superintendent and Other Sabbath School Officers. 98

101CHURCH MANUAL0Sabbath School Division Leaders . 99Sabbath School Teachers . 99Sabbath School Offerings . 100Resources . 100Personal Ministries Council . 100Personal Ministries Officers . 101Adventist Men . 101Bible School Coordinator . 101Adventist Community Services Leader or Dorcas Society Leader. 101Ministry to People With Disabilities . 102Resources . 102Stewardship Ministries . 102Stewardship Ministries Leader . 102Resources . 103Women’s Ministries . 103Women’s Ministries Leader and Committee . 103Resources . 103Youth Ministries . 104Adventist Youth Ministries (AYM) . 104Adventist Youth Ministries Committee . 105Young Adults Ministries Committee . 106Public Campus Ministries. 106Public Campus Ministries Leader/Coordinator . 106Ambassador Ministry . 106Ambassador Committee . 107Pathfinder Club . 107Pathfinder Committee . 107Adventurer Club . 107Adventurer Committee . 108AYM Officers . 108AYM Sponsor . 108Resources . 109Induction Service . 109Elections . 110Nominating Committee and the Election Process . 110When and How the Nominating Committee Is Appointed . 110How the Process Works . 111Who Should Be Members of the Nominating Committee . 111Work of the Nominating Committee . 111Nominating Committee to Get Consent of Prospective Officers . 112

TABLE OF CONTENTS11Members May Appear Before the Nominating Committee . 112Nominating Committee Discussions Are Confidential. 112Reporting to the Church . 112Objections to the Report of the Nominating Committee . 113Filling Vacancies Between Elections . 113Delegates to Local Conference Session . 113Choosing Delegates . 114Duty of Delegates . 114Responsibility of Conference Officers . 115Conference Executive Committee . 115Services and Other Meetings . 116General Principles . 116Purpose of Services and Meetings . 116Reverence for the House of Worship . 116Teach Children Reverence . 117Decorum and Quietness in the Place of Worship . 117Hospitality . 117Place of Music in Worship. 118Power of Music . 118Sing With Spirit and Understanding . 118Pulpit Not a Forum . 118Testing New Light . 118Importance of Maintaining Unity . 120Unauthorized Speakers . 120Sabbath School and Worship Services . 121Sabbath School . 121Announcements and Departmental Promotions . 121Worship Service . 121Skill, Study, and Planning Required . 122Form of Service . 122Church Outreach (Missionary) Service . 122Public Prayer. 122Supplying Literature on Sabbath . 123Communion Service . 123Ordinance of Foot-Washing . 123The Lord’s Supper . 124Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Wine (Grape Juice) . 124A Memorial of the Crucifixion . 124A Proclamation of the Second Coming . 125Announcing the Communion Service . 125

121CHURCH MANUAL2Conducting the Communion Service. 125Who May Participate . 126Every Member Should Attend . 126Who May Conduct the Communion Service . 127Communion for Those Who Cannot Attend . 127Prayer Meeting. 127Prayer Meetings Should Be Interesting . 127Business Meetings . 128Church Board and Its Meetings . 129Definition and Function. 129Spiritual Nurture . 129Discipleship . 130Membership . 130Officers . 131Meetings . 131Work of the Board. 131Committees of the Board . 132Finance Committee . 132School Board Meetings . 133Home and School Association Meetings . 133Youth Meetings . 133Senior Youth Ministries Meetings (Ambassadors and YoungAdults) . 133Public Campus Ministries Meetings . 134Junior Youth Ministries Meetings (Adventurers and Pathfinders). 134Finance . 135Stewardship . 136Tithe . 136Systematic Benevolence and Unity . 137How Tithe Is to Be Used . 137How Tithe Is Handled . 137Church and Conference Officers to Set Example . 137Offerings . 138Sabbath School Offerings . 138Other Offerings . 138Special Gifts to Fields. 138Assisting the Poor and Needy . 138Church Budget for Local Expenses . 139General Financial Counsel . 139Regulation of Soliciting Funds . 139

TABLE OF CONTENTS13Questionable Methods for Raising Funds . 140Tithes and Offerings Not a Personal Trust Fund. 140Financing Building Plans . 140Handling and Accounting for Funds . 141Auditing . 141Standards of Christian Living . 142High Calling of God in Christ Jesus .

Ellen G. White pointed out such needs in 1875: “The church of Christ is in constant peril. Satan is seeking to destroy the people of God, and one man’s mind, one man’s judgment, is not sufficient to be trusted. Christ would have His