Article 38 - Miscellaneous Provisions

Article 38 - Miscellaneous Provisions

ARTICLE 38

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

38.1 GENERAL COUNCIL APPROVALS


Where in this Constitution, the General Council is to give approval for decisions or appointments, such approval may be given by acclamation or consensus or in any other manner as the General Council may deem fit.


38.2 MARRIAGES


(a) The Church believes in chastity before marriage


(b) Marriages shall be blessed in The Church's registered
buildings



(c) The Church encourages the registration and solemnization of customary marriages


(d) The Church does not encourage divorce, neither does it condone polygamy (Mat. 5:31-32; 19:3-11; Rom.7:l-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-15)



(e)) Homosexuality, lesbianism and other perverse sexual practices are not permitted in The Church as these are not biblically acceptable practices.



38.3 INHERITANCE


The Church upholds patrilineal inheritance.


38.4 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION


No provision of this Constitution shall be amended or deemed to have been amended or altered whether


directly or indirectly by an act or conduct of The Church unless that act or conduct shall have been approved at the General Council Meeting by two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting.



38.4.1 MODE OF AMENDMENT


(a) Any member of The Church who seeks to effect any amendment of any provision of this Constitution shall
have the same considered at the Area level. If approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Presbytery members present and voting, a notice of theproposed amendment shall be sent to the General Council meeting through the General Secretary



(b)If the proposed amendment originates from any of the National Bodies created by its Constitution tben the proposed amendment shall be communicated through the General Secretary to the General Council



(c)The General Secretary shall cause the said proposal to be circulated to General Council members at least one (1) month before the General Council meeting.



(d) The proposal shall be put on the agenda and debated and accepted if it draws two-thirds (2/3) of the votes from General Council members present and voting.



(e) Voting shall be by secret ballot or show of hands.




38.5. PATRONSFOR MINISTRIES IN DISTRICTS AND LOCALS



38.5.1.Where the District or Local Leader of a Ministry is an Elder, there shall be no Patron.



38.5.2 EXISTING OFFICES, COMMITTEES AND BOARDS
All members of existing Committees and Boards immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution shall continue in office until their terms expire.
Any person who immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution held or was acting in any office or was serving on a Committee or Board in existence immediately before the coming into force of this Constitution shall continue in office until his term expires.
This eighth amendment of the Constitution was promulgated at the 41st Session of the General Council Meetings held from May 7to May 10, 2015 at the Pentecost Convention Centre, Gomoa-Fetteh
In faith whereof the undersigned being duly authorized thereto signed this Constitution.


APOSTLE DR. OPOKU ONYINAH
CHAIRMAN,
THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST