"We, the members of the THE SOVEREIGN GRACE BIBLE CHURCH OF CEBU, INC., a non-profit organization, do ordain and establish the following articles, to which we voluntarily submit ourselves."

CONTENTS:  1  Institution  2  Membership  3  Leadership  4  Commission  5  Order  6  Congregational Meetings  7  Affiliation

SECTION 3.    DEACONS

       Paragraph A.  Duties of Deacons.

       Deacons are responsible to administer the ordinary business, secular affairs, and benevolent concerns of the church so that the elders may devote themselves without distraction to the more "spiritual" matters (Acts 6:3,4). They must fulfill the duties of their office in cooperation with and subjection to the elders (Acts 11:30 g.p.).

       Paragraph B.  Number of Deacons and Length of Term.

       The number of deacons shall not be fixed. The church shall choose as many as are needed for the work to be done from among the men who give evidence of having the scriptural qualifications for that office (Acts 6:3). Neither shall the length of their term of office be fixed by the congregation.

       Paragraph B.  Qualifications of Deacons.

       The qualifications for a man chosen to fulfill the office of deacons are particularly set forth in Acts 6:3 and 1Tim. 3:8-13. Any man called to this office must be able conscientiously to affirm his agreement with our Confession of Faith and the Constitution of the church. Should he at any time move from this position, he is under spiritual and moral obligation to make this fact known to the church.

SECTION 4.

THE RECOGNITION, INSTALLATION AND CONFIRMATION OF CHURCH OFFICERS

       Paragraph A.  The Task of Recognition.

1. The local church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is responsible to appoint men to the offices of elder and deacon. Each potential officer should have the desire to serve in that office, and the church should determine the validity of that call as it observes in the individual evidence of the graces and gifts which the Scripture requires for the particular office. In no case may a man be nominated to either office without his knowledge and prior consent.

2. This responsibility to recognize the gifts of Christ to his church is a matter of such gravity that it should be accompanied by much prayerful waiting on God for guidance, a careful perusal of the relevant passages of Scriptures, and an objective evaluation of each man considered for a particular office. These activities are the responsibility of each individual member of the church as well as the church as a whole (Acts 6:1-6; 14:2,3).

1. Nomination
   
   1a. Nominations to the offices of elder and deacon shall be made annually by a nominating committee consisting of the elders and an equal number of members in good standing chosen by the congregation. In the absence of any elders, this shall consist of three members in good standing chosen by the congregation. These shall be chosen at least one month prior to the annual business meeting of the church. After earnest prayer and careful consideration of all the potential office bearers, this committee shall place into nomination as many or as few men as it sees fit by the unanimous approval of the committee. The members of the congregation shall see it as their solemn duty to inform the committee of any men they consider to be qualified for the office. After making its report to the congregation at the annual meeting, the committee shall be automatically dissolved.
   
   1b. Only the elders may at any time during the year nominate a candidate or candidates to either office and call a special congregational meeting for their consideration. Likewise, members are free at anytime to suggest to the elders the names of men whom they consider to be potential officers.

2. Congregational Approval
   
   Any congregational meeting for the approval of office bearers so nominated shall be announced, along with the names of the nominees for each office, on four consecutive Lord's Days prior to its being held. The names of all nominees shall be separately discussed and voted upon. During the discussion the nominee under consideration shall leave the room along with any members of his immediate family who are present. The Scriptural qualifications shall be read and expounded, and the nominee's life and gifts shall be examined in the light of them and in the fear of God. After this free and full discussion, the vote shall be taken by a written ballot. The congregation shall seek unity of mind concerning each nominee, but if that is not fully realized, no less than a three-fourths majority of the members present and voting shall be required for the approval of an office bearer.

       Paragraph C.  Installation.

       Following the approval of an office bearer by the vote of the congregation, he shall be publicly installed with the prayer of the church and the laying on of the hands by the existing elders as soon as possible.

       Paragraph D.  Confirmation.

       Church officers are subject to the same rules of discipline as are other members of the church. They hold office as long as they are faithful to their calling and have the confidence of the congregation. The church shall reconfirm (or express the withdrawal of ) its confidence of each of its officers at its annual meeting Four years following the date of his installation and every Four years thereafter in the manner designated in Paragraph B2 of this section. The elders may at their discretion call for a vote of confidence on any officer at any time.

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