Our Constitution

What Makes Us A Conference

1. Preamble
Christ Jesus has commissioned the community of faith to proclaim the Good News of salvation to all people, to nurture Christian believers and to show love to all persons. To fulfill this mandate in accordance with biblical principles, we set forth this constitution to describe the relationships and responsibilities which will guide us in our common task.

2. Our Name
The name of this church body is Active Mission Conference, hereinafter designated as AMC. The principal office is located at 903 W Jennie Ave Sublette, KS 67877

3. Our Identity
The Active Mission Conference was organized in 2014 by congregations of the EMMC Go Missions Region 5 churches in the USA. These congregations desired a common organization and fellowship for promoting the work of the church from a biblical perspective. Currently, it consists of congregations in Texas, Kansas and Iowa who subscribe to the Constitution of the AMC and make a voluntary commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior a priority.

4. Our Purpose & Vision
The Purpose of AMC is to connect churches for the purpose of: fellowship, support, growing leaders, caring for pastors and missionaries and doing missions.

We do this by:

  1. Providing vision and leadership in the church and by promoting and coordinating outreach ministries.
  2. Proclaiming the Gospel to bring people into a saving relationship with God.
  3. Fostering a mature understanding of Christ-centered lifestyles.
  4. Teaching biblical doctrines faithfully.
  5. Promoting unity within the AMC.
  6. Encouraging fellowship among believers and congregations.
  7. Developing guidelines which enable us to practice faithful stewardship of our resources.
  8. Forming affiliations with other groups within the body of Christ in order to carry out the worldwide mandate of the church.

5. Our Members
The AMC shall be composed of affiliated congregations who maintain relationship via mutual fellowship, counsel, and support as provided within the structures of AMC. Procedures for reception and termination of AMC affiliation are set forth in the Church Practices of the AMC. Individuals are recognized as members of the Conference by virtue of their membership in one of the affiliated congregations. Congregational members shall be baptized believers who have made a voluntary commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and who demonstrate their decision to walk in Christian discipleship within the fellowship of the Church. Privileges and responsibilities of individual members shall be those accorded by their respective congregations.

6. The Autonomy Of The Local Church
As AMC, we believe that each local church is structured directly under the Headship of the Lord Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture. As such it has the right to self-governing and is to be free from any religious hierarchy or outside ecclesiastical control. Each local church has the right to determine its own affairs in matters of judgment and expediency.

The word “church” is used in the New Testament in only two senses. First, it refers to the called out people of Christ in the entire world. This is the universal sense. Second, the word “church” is used in the local sense and never a denominational sense. Therefore the local church has the right to:

  1. Select its own pastors and leaders and leadership styles.
  2. Decide what responsibility it will give to the church leaders and what responsibility the congregation will hold.
  3. Govern itself within the limits of those things Christ has authorized. 1 Peter 5:1-4
  4. Determine its own program of work and selects the arrangements to carry it out. Acts 6:1-6
  5. Control the use of its own financial matters and direct other church related affairs without outside control or supervision. Philippians 4:15-16
  6. Discipline its own sinful members. 1 Corinthians 5

God also has given pastors and overseers to the local church who have the responsibility to shepherd the flocks under their care. As such they have the responsibility to administrate the different ministries in the church. 1 Peter 5:1-4; Heb.13:17; Acts 20:28

We believe that it is the responsibility of the AMC pastors to:

  1. Have a clear vision and goals to give direction to their churches.
  2. Watch and ensure that they follow and teach sound biblical doctrine in their churches and conference.
  3. Provide a simple biblical structure as a guideline for their churches to follow to enable them to function effectively.
  4. Provide mutual spiritual care to all AMC pastors and leaders for the effectiveness and longevity of their ministries.

We also believe in the priesthood of all believers and that, essentially, every believer in Christ has the responsibility and authority to be a minister of the Gospel. Given this, the authority of Christianity lies directly with the believers in Christ. Each person becomes responsible for his/her own beliefs. 1 Peter 2:9-10

The autonomy of the local church, however, does not deny the benefits of working together with other likeminded churches. We cooperate in supporting each other as churches and in carrying out our witness to the world.

7. Our Leadership & Ministries
AMC shall provide guidelines for congregational leadership, pastoral care and nurture of believers in our affiliated congregations by recommending leadership patterns consistent with a biblical model. AMC may appoint persons for special ministries and shall establish patterns of oversight for congregations when such need arises or is requested by a local church. These leaders shall be affirmed for their ministries by the AMC Council.

8. Our Conference Council
     There shall be an AMC Council to serve as the executive body, to coordinate the work of their committees, and to facilitate the activities of AMC between Council sessions. The AMC Council shall include those persons stated in the bylaws and church practices.

9. Our Non-profit Tax Exempt Status
The Active Mission Conference (AMC) is organized, and shall be operated, exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes, including, for such purposes, making 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 (the “Code”).

10. Amendments
The AMC Assembly may adopt amendments to this constitution, upon recommendation by the AMC Council, by a 75% majority vote of the delegates present and voting at any duly called meeting of the Assembly, providing that delegates have received written notice of the substance of proposed changes at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting when the amendment is to be considered.

12. Our Bylaws & Church Practices
Bylaws will be hereinafter adopted. The conditions and regulations of AMC membership and function shall be determined by the bylaws. The bylaws may be amended in whole or in part, in the manner provided therein. The bylaws are to be deemed an integral part of this constitution.