Updated 3-8-2016

The Ray Of Hope Church government, the polity of the congregation is published on these pages for the public to review.
The members of Ray Of Hope Church worked together over a five year period from 1996 – 2001 to develop this structure for guiding our congregation's interactions. These By-laws were developed further by action of the Congregation on September 18, 2011.  We believe you will find this model of "church" to be inspiring and very uplifting. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

These By-laws represent the motions passed at the Annual Meeting of January 2000, the Annual Meeting of January 2001, the September 2001 Congregational Meeting, and the September 18, 2011 Congregation Meeting.

It is possible to navigate using the Table of Contents below and also by using the side navigation bar on the left side of your screen.  You may use the two ways of navigating interchangeably. 

Below is the Table of Contents of the Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. By-laws. Each line of the outline will take you to sub pages where the article is written out for your study.

 

ARTICLE 1 NAME & PURPOSE

1.01 Name

ARTICLE 2 ORGANIZATION

2.01 Legal Status
2.02 Terms.
2.03 Definition of Terms for Secretary of State

ARTICLE 3 MEMBERSHIP

3.01 Membership
3.02 Inquiries Class.
3.03 Procedures Prior to Admission as a Member
3.04 Requests of Former Members for Membership
3.05 Declination of Membership Request.
3.06 Voting Rights of Members.
3.07 Attendance by Persons Not Members.
3.08 Friend of Ray Of Hope Church Status
3.09 Effect of Concurrent Membership in Other Churches
3.10 Expectations of Members
3.11 Policy of Courteous Behavior
3.12 Membership Termination
3.13 Membership List.
3.14 Unbecoming Conduct for Church Leadership
3.15 Perceived Power
3.16 Definitions. "Sexual Contact"; "Touching"; "person in a leadership position"
3.17 Policy Permitting Conduct of a Sexual Nature Between a Church Leader and Another
3.18 Unbecoming Conduct for Members and Friends
3.19 Disloyalty
3.20 Dereliction of Duty

ARTICLE 4 OFFICERS

4. 01 Designation of Titles
4.02 Election to Council Office
4.03 Resignation or Abandonment of Office by Holder.
4.04 Procedure to Fill Vacancy
4.05 Immediacy of Action to Fill Vacancy
4.06 Duties of Each Office

a. Moderator
b. Vice-Moderator
c. Clerk
d. Treasurer

4.07 Officer’s Oversight Duty
4.08 Annual Reports

ARTICLE 5 CHURCH COUNCIL

5.01 Purpose
5.02 Regular Election to Council Membership
5.03 Special Election to Fill Council Vacancy
5.04 Change of Size
5.05 Eligibility Requirements for Council Membership
5.06 Variation from Normal Procedure; Membership Concurrence
5.07 Nomination Process
5.08 Election to Council by Membership
5.09 Term of Office
5.10 Council Members to Hold But One Major Position
5.11 Conflict of Interest
5.12 Duties of Council Members
5.13 Removal From Office

ARTICLE 6 CONDUCT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS

6.01 Moderator
6.02 Regular Meetings
6.03 Place of Meetings
6.04 Special Congregational Meetings
6.05 Conduct of Meetings
6.06 Open Attendance at Council Meetings; Exception
6.07 Conduct of Meetings
6.08 Agenda
6.09 Submission of Council Agenda Items
6.10 Order of Consideration of Motions
6.11 Quorum and Unanimity in Voting

ARTICLE 7 COUNCIL COMMITTEES

7.01 Council Committees
7.02 Appointment to Chair
7.03 Request to Serve
7.04 Term of Office
7.05 Meetings With and Reports to Council
7.06 Teaching Posts
7.07 Council Committees - Areas of Concern
7.08 Local Leadership Committees

ARTICLE 8 RITES/SACRAMENTS/ORDINANCES/RITUALS

8.01 Rites/Sacraments/Ordinances/Rituals
8.02 Baptism
8.03 Holy Communion
8.05 Affirmation of Faith
8.07 Altar Call/Prayer Time/Come Forward For Prayer
8.08 Profession of Faith
8.09 Ordination
8.10 Installation/Affirmation of Appointed Clergy
8.11 Vows To Religious Life
8.12 Exorcism/Cleansing/Discernment of Spirits
8.13 Funeral/Memorial Service/Service Of Resurrection
8.14 Laying On Of Hands/Anointing With Oil.
8.15 Forgiveness/Confession/The Ministry Of Reconciliation
8.16 Blessing
8.17 Celebration Of Christ’s Work of Holy Union/(and) Holy Matrimony
8.18 Reaffirmation or Renewal of Holy Union/Holy Matrimony Vows.
8.19 Dissolution of Holy Union and Holy Matrimony

ARTICLE 9 MINISTRY AND CLERGY

9.01 Province
9.02 Universal Priesthood Of Believers
9.03 Authority of All Believers (Priesthood of Christ, the Body Of Christ)
9.04 Clergy Legally Recognized to Serve
9.05 Responsibilities
9.06 Qualifications
9.07 Ray Of Hope Church Vocational Ministry Training Program
9.08 Qualifications for the Director of the Vocational Ministry Training Program
9.09 Ordination Process to becoming a Clergyperson of Ray Of Hope Church
9.10 Initial Period
9.11 Review of Application #1
9.12 Entry Into Program
9.13 Assignments and Education
9.14 Participation in Vocational Ministry Colloquium
9.14.1 Absence From Required Events By Vocational Ministry Candidates
9.14.2 Suspension From The Vocational Ministry Training Program 9.15 Temporary License
9.16 Purpose of Temporary License
9.17 Authorization Granted
9.18 Steps Following Request For Ordination
9.19 Timing of Ordination
9.20 Transfer of Professional Clergy Credentials
9.21 Indications of Commitment to Service of the Lord
9.22 Deacons
9.23 Apostles/Bishops/Pastor to the Pastors
9.24 Evangelist
9.25 Prophets
9.26 Teachers
9.27 Pastors/Shepherds
9.28 Clergy Confidentiality
9.29 Other Gifts and Callings
9.30 Church as Spiritual House
9.31 Annual Clergy Credentials Renewal
9.32 House of Clergy
9.33 Sole Guardian of Church Theology
9.34 Presentation of Theology
9.35 Relationship to Vocational Ministry Program
9.36 Co-endorsement of Authorized Ministry
9.37 Discipline
9.38 Disciplinary Procedure
9.39 Judiciary Committee action
9.40 Appointed Clergy; Status as Employee or Independent Contractor
9.41 Compensation
9.42 Continuing Education Duty of Appointed Clergy

ARTICLE 10 STATEMENT OF FAITH

10.01 Short Form Statement.
10.02 Long Form Statement.
10.03 Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Statement Of Purpose
10.04 Duty to Support Theology
10.05 Open Door Policy

ARTICLE 11 LOCAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES

11.01 Appointment of Local Leadership Committees
11.02 Primary Function
11.03 Local Governing Body
11.04 Matters of Theology and Ministry
11.05 Financial Responsibility
11.06 Formation of Local Leadership Committee
11.07 Conduct of Business
11.07.1 Election Of Local Leadership Committee Members
11.08 Officer
11.09 Flow of Reports
11.10 Flow of Local Leadership Committee Reports to the Council
11.11 Monthly Time of Local Leadership Committee Meetings/Agenda
11.12 Budget
11.13 Budget Review and Adoption
11.14 Local Bank Account
11.15 Required Weekly Worship Service
11.16 Other Worship Services
11.17 Physical Space for Worship
11.18 The Liturgical Calendar

ARTICLE 12 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

12.01 Name
12.02 Annual Meeting
12.03 Special Congregational Meetings
12.04 Notice of Annual & Special Congregational Meetings
12.05 Meeting Rules of Conduct
12.06 Quorum
12.07 Order of Business
12.08 Absentee and Proxy Voting
12.09 Participation by Other Than Members At Meetings

ARTICLE 13 ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND OTHER DRUGS

13.01 Alcohol
13.02 Tobacco
13.03 Other Drugs

ARTICLE 14 CHANGES IN CHURCH POLICIES

14.01 Church Policies

ARTICLE 15 INDEMNIFICATION

15.01 Indemnification of Council Members

ARTICLE 16 FISCAL YEAR

16.01 Fiscal Year

ARTICLE 17 ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS

17.01 Adoption of By-laws
17.02 Amendments
17.03 Required Vote

 

 

Ray Of Hope

Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.

is the original Church in Central New York for

ALL People, including but not limited to

persons who are or might be:

Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,

Transgender,

Questioning,

Intersex, Queer,

Asexual, Pansexual, Hetero-flexible. 

Anyone who is human!

Married, divorced, remarried, single,

and persons of all gender expressions.

Persons of any faith / religion or

no faith, no religion, or have no idea where to start with religion.

A spiritual home for those who are "spiritual but not religious."

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO TELL Y OU IS WE ARE

the Church by us, for us, 4 U!

The Church made by you because

we  ARE  you!

Ray Of Hope Church was founded in 1983

and is serving Syracuse, Ithaca and Elmira New York.

We are in fact serving the world with live interactive worship services,

Bible enrichment sessions, and meetings

through SKYPE on the Internet.

WE  ARE  YOU!

We never held a vote to decide if we would be an INCLUSIVE church for you.

WE  ARE  YOU!

We are not an OPEN AND AFFIRMING church for you.

WE  ARE  YOU!

We are not a RECONCILING CHURCH or

RECONCILING  CONGREGATION for you.

WE  ARE  YOU!

We are not an OPEN MINDED or ACCEPTING or WELCOMING

 church where you can attend as long as you blend in quietly and discretely.

WE  ARE  YOU!

THIS is the church where YOU belong.

Ray Of Hope Church is the church

by us, for us, and made by You.