Should Your Church Change it's By-laws on Marriage?

[Revmitchell]

More specifically, if a person was to give a donation (offering) - depending on State/commonwelth law, he may than have a legal right to vote.

Best to have an attorney look at your church Constitiution.

More than that they could just claim to be a member for no reason at all. And if there is no set of by-laws that define membership then the church has no ground to say they are not.

 

[timjarrb]

any church that respects the house of God should have this in the bylaws and every Pastor should . This should keep this from happening in the church and offer more backup for the Pastor.

 

[Yeshua1]

I could not in good conscience marry this couple as I believe it violates the clear teaching of scripture. I have told the church as much and made it a matter of record. If told I must or lose "something", then I am prepared to lose that "something"

There is soon to come a dividing line between Pastors and churches NOT willing to allow the Abomination of gay marriage in the church!

MANY churches and pstors though will want to be PC, or will expose themselves for the frauds they are, and endorse it!

We will lose the right to not be taxed, but that will be the time for believers to support their churches with their wallets, not just "lip service!"

 

[go2church]

Been that way for just shy of 100 years, don't know what else to say. We have business meetings, vote on things and carry on like most any other churches, just without officially written bylaws. Previous pastor started to work on this but left before finishing.

 

[Revmitchell]

We will lose the right to not be taxed, but that will be the time for believers to support their churches with their wallets, not just "lip service!"

While churches may lose their 5013c letter churches cannot lose their tax exempt status. Churches tax exempt status is not dependent on a 5013c letter. Churches have a special exemption under the IRS code that automatically gives them tax exempt status. It cannot be lost ever.

 

[Yeshua1]

While churches may lose their 5013c letter churches cannot lose their tax exempt status. Churches tax exempt status is not dependent on a 5013c letter. Churches have a special exemption under the IRS code that automatically gives them tax exempt status. It cannot be lost ever.

Not even if the president/Congress decides to end that status?

 

[Revmitchell]

Not even if the president/Congress decides to end that status?

Ok well that is not the way I meant it but yea if they change the code by passing a new law then yes. But that is not what we are talking about here.

 

[Yeshua1]

Ok well that is not the way I meant it but yea if they change the code by passing a new law then yes. But that is not what we are talking about here.

That is what I am concerned about, that the president, bent on getting Christianity replaced by Islam, will do such a thing!

 

[righteousdude2]

Salty, Salty, Salty....

Wanted to ask why no by-laws - but as to not go off OP, I started a new thread

But back to the OP - what would you do if a hom0sexual couple asked you to marry them in your church.

....by now you should know what my answer to that would be. If you have any doubts as to how I would respond, dig into some of those older OP where Zaac and I got into the issue, tooth and nails :smilewinkgrin:




In case you can't remember, I would decline to do it, and not allow my church to be used for such a marriage. If forced to do so, or lose my license, I'd surrender my license, as, my call to the ministry is of God and doesn't depend upon a piece of paper from the denomination or the state!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

We have chosen not to be listed on the national marriage registry. Our people go to the registry office (like justice of peace) and we act as witnesses. Then we have a church ceremony.

Hence, our bylaws don't mention who we marry.

 

[sag38]

If it gets to the point where the government compels churches to perform homosexual marriages I think that will be the least of our worries. Gay marriage will only be the tip of the ice burg as to the oppression that is coming.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We have chosen not to be listed on the national marriage registry. Our people go to the registry office (like justice of peace) and we act as witnesses. Then we have a church ceremony.

Hence, our bylaws don't mention who we marry.

I think this is the way churches in the US will go. When we did a mission trip to Belgium, we learned that was what churches did there.

 

[padredurand]

Does anyone have an example of the wording for such an amendment?

 

[go2church]

Sorta on point.

If the government only recognized civil unions preformed by a Justice of the Peace type person, wouldn't churches then be in the clear? Folks could still have marriage ceremonies if they so choose.

 

[Revmitchell]

Does anyone have an example of the wording for such an amendment?

You can get it after having been vetted by an attorney here:

http://www.christianlaw.org/cla/index.php/resources/P10/