Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Incorporation for Church Corporation

We, the undersigned, of full age, for the purpose of forming a religious, non-profit Corporation under and pursuant to the provisions of , known as the Nonprofit Corporation Act, and laws amendatory thereto, do hereby certify that at a regular meeting of the undersigned incorporators held on the day of , 20 , at , , pursuant to the provisions of did associate ourselves as a body Corporation and did adopt the following Articles of Incorporation.

Article I   Name

The Name of the Corporation shall be .

Article II   Vision

Inspiring people to be who God created them to be. Helping them to find their place, develop their faith and live their potential.

Article III   Offices

The Corporation shall maintain a principal office at , ; the location of the registered office of this Corporation shall be , .

Article IV   Non-Profit Purposes

A. Tax Exemption. This Corporation is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (hereinafter the “Code”) pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 317A of the State Statutes Annotated, known as the State Nonprofit Corporation Act, and laws amendatory thereto, as enacted or hereinafter amended, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code. There shall be no capital stock issued, and this Corporation is not organized for profit, nor shall any person or member derive any benefit whatsoever, nor shall any pecuniary profit or benefit inure to the members of this Corporation, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes as described in Article IV.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this Corporation shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this Corporation, or is not permitted to be carried on by a Corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the purposes for which the Corporation is organized are exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

D. This Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

E. No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation 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 this Article and Article II. No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation 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 these articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other 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 of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a Corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

F. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the purposes of the Corporation in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, or educational as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United State Internal Revenue Law). Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the chancery court of the county in which the domicile of the Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article V.   Other Objectives and Purposes.

The main purpose of this Corporation shall be to establish and maintain a church modeled after the early Biblical, Christian community as recorded in the book of Acts, for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by all available means, both in local and foreign communities, and to provide Christian fellowship for those of like faith where Jesus Christ may be honored.

Article VI   Dissolution.

Dissolution means the complete disbanding of the Corporation so that it no longer functions as a corporate entity. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, its property shall be applied and distributed as follows:

A. All liabilities and obligations of the Corporation shall be paid and discharged or adequate provision shall be made therefore;

B. Pursuant to a plan adopted by the board of directors, assets shall be transferred or conveyed to one or more domestic or foreign Corporation, society, or organization that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Code and are engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the Corporation.

Article VII   Membership

Any person who gives scriptural evidence of the saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, subscribes to the Statement of Beliefs as set forth in the attached Exhibit A, and completes and adheres to the standards of the Membership Course, shall be eligible to be Members in this Corporation.

Article VIII.   Prerogatives and Oversight

A. Governance. This Church shall be a church that is pastor-led and subject to the apostolic authority of the Council of Overseers as described herein. The Pastoral Leadership Team of this Church shall act as the governing authority by providing spiritual guidance, setting its major policies, and exercising responsibility for its business and activities.

B. Officers. The officers of this Corporation shall be the Lead Pastor and members of the Pastoral Leadership Team, unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws of this Corporation. The terms of office shall be a period as designated by the Bylaws.

C. Affiliation. While maintaining its inherent rights to sovereignty in the conduct of its own affairs as herein set forth, this Church voluntarily commits to enter into fellowship and partnership with like minded and charged organizations as it sees fit or is necessary to accomplish its mission. This Corporation shall be in voluntary fellowship and affiliation with and a member of the , with headquarters at in . It shall have the right of representation at the meetings of The State District Council.

D. Autonomy. This Church is autonomous and maintains the right to govern itself and to conduct its own affairs, including without limitation, the calling of a Lead Pastor, the selection of leadership, and the implementation of its own ministries. This Church shall also have the right to purchase or acquire by gift, bequest or otherwise, either directly or as trustee, and to own, hold in trust, use, sell, convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real estate or property as may be necessary for the furtherance of its purposes, and to exercise all other powers conferred upon it by its state of , other applicable laws of the state of .

Article VII.   Tenets of Faith

The Bible shall be the rule and guide of faith as set forth in the Statement of Beliefs.

Article VIII.   Pastoral Leadership Team.

The incorporators, which constitute the first Pastoral Advisory Team of this Corporation, are: