The name of the Church shall be True Life Bible-Presbyterian Church (hereinafter referred to as the "Church").

The place of business and address of the Church shall be 9A Gilstead Road, Singapore 309063 or such address as may be decided by the Church and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Church shall carry out its activities only in places and venues that have the prior written approval of the relevant authorities.

The objects for which the Church is established are:

3.1 The salvation of souls;

3.2 The edification of Christians through the teaching of God’s Word;

3.3 The promotion of godly worship;

3.4 The defence of "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints";

3.5 The establishment and extension of Christian missions and institutions for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom on earth;

3.6 The promotion of Christian relief for the poor and needy;

3.7 The strengthening of mutual fellowship, encouragement and unity among individual Bible-Presbyterian Churches and other Bible-believing churches of similar stand "for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 1:9).

4.1 The doctrine of the Church shall be in accordance with that system commonly called "the Reformed Faith" as expressed in the Confession of Faith as set forth by the historic Westminster Assembly together with the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.

4.2 In abbreviated form, the chief tenets of the doctrine of the Church, apart from the Apostles’ Creed, shall be as follows:

4.2.1.1 We believe in the divine, Verbal Plenary Inspiration (Autographs) and Verbal Plenary Preservation of the Scriptures (Apographs) in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and as the perfect Word of God, the Supreme and final authority in faith and life (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21; Ps 12:6-7; Matt 5:18, 24:35);

4.2.1.2 We believe the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament underlying the Authorised (King James) Version to be the very Word of God, infallible and inerrant;

4.2.1.3 We uphold the Authorised (King James) Version to be the Word of God — the best, most faithful, most accurate, most beautiful translation of the Bible in the English language, and do employ it alone as our primary scriptural text in the public reading, preaching, and teaching of the English Bible;

4.2.2 We believe in one God existing in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut 6:4; 1 John 5:7);

4.2.3 We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man in complete and direct fulfilment of Isaiah 7:14 (Matt 1:20-23; John 1:1,14; Col 2:9);

4.2.4 We believe God created the whole universe ex nihilo (out of nothing) by the Word of His mouth, and all very good, in the space of six literal or natural days (Gen 1:1; Exod 20:11; Ps 148:5; John 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 11:3);

4.2.5 We believe that man was created in the image of God, but sinned through the fall of Adam, thereby incurring not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and become sinners in thought, word and deed (Gen 1:26-27; Rom 3:19-20, 5:12, 6:23);

4.2.6 We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died a propitiatory and expiatory death as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who repent of their sins and believe in Him are justified before God on the grounds of His shed blood (Rom 5:8-11; 1 John 2:2; 1 Pet 1:18-19);

4.2.7 We believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His ascension into Heaven, and in His exaltation at the right hand of God, where He intercedes for us as our High Priest and Advocate (1 Cor 15:1-4, 15-19; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 3:1, 4:14-16);

4.2.8 We believe in the personal, visible and premillennial return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to judge this world, restore His nation Israel to greatness, and bring peace to the nations as King of kings and Lord of lords (Jer 3:17; Zech 14:9; Acts 1:6; Rev 20:1-7);

4.2.9 We believe that salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by works, and that all who repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour are born again by the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God (Rom 5:1, 8:14-16; Eph 2:8-10; 1 Tim 2:5; Tit 3:5);

4.2.10 We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to convict and regenerate the sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service (John 16:7-14; Rom 8:1-2);

4.2.11 We believe that Christ instituted the Sacrament of Baptism for believers and their children and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which sacraments shall be observed by His Church till He comes (Matt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:23-26);

4.2.12 We believe in the eternal security, bodily resurrection and eternal blessedness of the saved, and in the bodily resurrection and eternal conscious punishment of the lost (1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:13-18; Rev 20:11-15);

4.2.13 We believe in the real, spiritual unity in Christ of all redeemed by His precious blood and the necessity of faithfully maintaining the purity of the Church in doctrine and life according to the Word of God, and the principle and practice of biblical separation from the apostasy of the day being spearheaded by the Ecumenical Movement and other false movements that contradict the Holy Scriptures and the Historic Christian Faith (2 Cor 6:14-7:1; Jude 3; Rev 18:4).

The Church, in setting forth the form of government on which it maintains to be founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God, reiterates, by way of introduction, several cardinal principles that are basic to and regulative of its form of church government.

5.1 "God alone is Lord of the conscience" and "hath left it free from the doctrine and commandments of men, which are in any thing contrary to His Word, or beside it in matters of faith or worship." Therefore, we consider the rights of private judgment, in all matters that respect religion, as universal and inalienable. We do not even wish to see any religious institution aided by the civil power further than may be necessary for protection and security, and at the same time, be equal and common to all others.

5.2 In perfect consistency with the above principle of common right, every Christian Church, or union, or association of Christian churches is entitled to declare the terms of admission into its communion and the qualifications of its ministers and members, as well as the whole system of its internal government which Christ has appointed. In the exercise of this right it may, notwithstanding, err in making the terms of communion either too lax or too narrow; yet, even in this case, it does not infringe upon the liberty or the rights of others, but only makes an improper use of its own liberty and rights.

5.3 Our blessed Saviour, for the edification of the visible Church, which is His body, appointed officers not only to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments but also to exercise discipline for the preservation both of truth and duty; it is incumbent upon these officers and upon the whole Church, in whose name they act, to censure or cast out the erroneous and scandalous, observing in all cases the rules contained in the Word of God.

5.4 Truth leads to goodness. The great touchstone of truth is its tendency to promote holiness; according to our Saviour’s rule, "by their fruits ye shall know them." No opinion can be either more pernicious or more absurd than that which brings truth and falsehood upon a level and represents it as of no consequence as to what a man’s opinions are. On the contrary, we are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty; otherwise it would be of no consequence either to discover truth or to embrace it.

5.5 Under the conviction of the above principle, we think it necessary to make effectual provision that all who are admitted as teachers be sound in the faith. We also believe that there are truths and forms with respect to which men of good character and principles may differ. And in all these, we think it the duty both of private Christians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other.

5.6 Though the character, qualifications and authority of church officers are laid down in the Holy Scriptures, as well as the proper method of their investiture and institution, yet the election of persons to the exercise of this authority, in any particular society, is in that society.

5.7 All church power, whether exercised by the body in general or in the way of representation by delegated authority, is only ministerial and declarative; that is to say, the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith and conduct. No church court ought to pretend to make laws to bind the conscience in virtue of its own authority; all its decisions should be founded upon the revealed will of God. Now though it will be easily admitted, that all synods and councils may err through the frailty inseparable from humanity, yet, there is much greater danger from the usurped claim of making laws than from the right of judging upon laws already made and common to all who profess the gospel, although this right, as necessity requires in the present state, be lodged with fallible men.

5.8 If the preceding Scriptural and rational principles are steadfastly adhered to, the vigour and strictness of its discipline will continue to the glory and happiness of any church. Since ecclesiastical discipline must be purely moral or spiritual in its object and not accompanied by any civil effects, it can derive no force whatever but from its own justice, the approbation of an impartial public, and the countenance and blessing of the great Head of the Church Universal.

6.1 The doctrine of separation from sin unto God is a fundamental principle of the Bible, one grievously ignored in the church today.

6.2 This doctrine arises out of the holiness of God. Both the purity and righteousness of God (Luke 1:75) are involved. "Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Pet 1:16, also 3:11; Exod 15:11; Isa 6:3; 2 Cor 7:1)

6.3 The Bible does speak of cooperation ("be of one mind," "that they may all be one," "labourers together," "keep the unity of the Spirit," "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," also 1 Cor 12:25). However, biblical cooperation is based upon TRUTH. It involves the united effort of God’s people. This is not a cooperation borne of a spirit of undiscerning pluralism, or that of seeking "truth" in all religions.

6.4 We maintain that Scripture teaches a separation that is based on the holiness of God, producing purity in all of life, personal and ecclesiastical.

6.5 It is the duty of all true churches of the Lord Jesus Christ to make a clear testimony to their faith in Him, especially in these darkening days of apostasy in many professing churches, by which apostasy whole denominations in their official capacity, as well as individual churches, have been swept into a paganising stream of modernism under various names and in varying degrees.

6.6 There has been a notable growth of autocratic domination on the part especially of modernistic leaders by whom the rightful powers of true churches are often usurped and are now being usurped.

6.7 The commands of God to His people to be separate from all unbelief and corruption are clear and positive: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Cor 6:14; see also Matt 6:24; Rom 16:17; Gal 1; Eph 5:11; 2 Thess 3:6, 14; 2 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 3:10; 2 Pet 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7-11; Jude 3, 20-24; Rev 18:4). We reach out to those who are part of any human system which involves compromise with error, and who thus ought to "come out from among them" (2 Cor 6:17), separate themselves unto the "Father ... the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor 6:18), thus "cleansing themselves" and perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1).

6.8 In loyalty to the revealed Word, we, as an organised portion of the people of God, are obliged to oppose all forms of modernism, cultism, Romanism and false religions. Dialogue for the purpose of reaching a compromise between all true Bible believers and representatives of such beliefs is impious, unbiblical, treasonous and unfaithful to the holy God, as He has revealed Himself to us in His infallible, inerrant Word.

6.9 We are opposed to all efforts to obscure or wipe out the clear line of separation between these absolutes: truth and error, light and darkness (See Isa 5:20; 2 Cor 6:14-18). We refer to such efforts by New Evangelicals, Charismatic Christians, promoters of ecumenical cooperative evangelism and of the social gospel, and all churches and other movements and organisations that are aligned with or sympathetic to the Ecumenical Movement.

The main practices of the Church are as follows:

7.1 BAPTISM: The observance of the Baptism of believers is by sprinkling on personal confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Infants of one or both the believing parents are to be baptised (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 2:38-42, 8:35-38, 10:44-48; 1 Cor 7:14).

7.2 REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Baptised infants upon coming of age in that they can satisfy the Board of Elders as to their faith shall be received into communicant membership by reaffirmation of faith.

7.3 THE LORD’S SUPPER: The remembrance of the Lord’s death through the Lord’s Supper shall be observed regularly, and normally all baptised believers (except baptised children of constituent members who have not reaffirmed their faith) whose conduct is consistent with their confession of their faith shall be received at the Lord’s Table (Luke 22:14-29; Acts 2:42, 46, 20:7; Rom 14:19, 15:7; 1 Cor 5:6-8, 11:23-26).

7.4 FELLOWSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP: Every member shall participate in fellowship, prayer and instruction with other believers and the exercise of spiritual gifts for the edification of the Church (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4:1-16; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 4:7-11).

7.5 EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS: The local Church in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, both as individual and collective witnesses, shall proclaim the Gospel to their families, neighbours, colleagues, friends, the nation as well as the regions beyond (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Pet 2:9, 3:15).

7.6 STEWARDSHIP: Every member shall have the responsibility and privilege to contribute his gifts, talents, time and resources to the work of God and the extension of His kingdom. It shall also be the responsibility and privilege of each member to tithe and contribute willingly, regularly and generously according to his ability as God enables (Rom 12:1-13; 1 Cor 6:19-20, 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8, 9).

7.7 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: The Church shall conduct a Christian Education programme to build up the members on the most holy faith (Jude 20) through Sunday School, Bible study classes, Bible study groups, Catechism classes, Christian publications, Gospel tracts and such other similar measures as the Board of Elders or the Church Session (subject to approval by the Board of Elders) may decide.

7.8 WORSHIP: All members shall meet regularly for the public worship of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and shall maintain family and personal devotions (Ps 27:4; Heb 10:24, 25; Song of Sol 1:6; Ps 122:1; Ps 1:1-3). Believing parents shall endeavour to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord and to lead them into a saving knowledge of the Lord by regular instruction of the Word of God (Prov 2:6; Deut 6:4-9; Eph 6:4).

7.9 WEDDINGS: The solemnisation of marriages between born-again believers. The groom must be a baptised believer and the bride either a baptised believer or a catechumen (2 Cor 6:14; Eph 5:21-33).

7.10 FUNERALS: The normal practice of the Bible-Presbyterian Church is to bury the dead. A Christian funeral is to be conducted only for born-again believers.

8.1 Membership of the Church shall be of two categories:

8.1.1 Communicant Members — Persons who can satisfy the Board of Elders as to their Christian faith, knowledge and manner of life, and who have been baptised or have reaffirmed their Christian faith or transferred from another Bible-Presbyterian Church or another Bible-believing Church shall be Communicant Members. They shall be eligible to vote at congregational meetings provided that they are 16 years old and above. No member under the age of 21 shall be eligible to stand for election to the Church Session. No Communicant Member shall be a member of another church.

8.1.2 Non-Communicant Members — Baptised children of Communicant Members or of Christians who have not yet acquired Communicant Membership in the Church shall be Non-Communicant Members. Non-Communicant Members shall not have any right to vote and hold office in the Church.

8.2 A person wishing to join the Church should submit his particulars to the Clerk of Session on a prescribed form.

8.3 The Board of Elders will decide on the application for membership.

8.4 A copy of the Constitution shall be furnished to every approved member.

8.5 If any member is found by the Board of Elders to have acted in a manner unbecoming of a member or by his act or omission is likely to hinder the witness of the Church or render it of ill repute, the Board of Elders shall request him to appear before the Board. The Board of Elders shall have the power to admonish, rebuke, suspend, depose or excommunicate the member either in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Bible-Presbyterian Book of Discipline or other procedure as modified or adapted by the Board.

8.6 The member being excommunicated shall be entitled to appeal to a Congregational Meeting against the decision of the Board of Elders made pursuant to Article 8.5 within two (2) weeks of the receipt of the decision of the Board. A Congregational Meeting shall be convened by the Pastor or Board of Elders within two (2) months from receiving the appeal. The decision of the Congregational Meeting shall be by way of a simple majority vote which shall be final and binding on the said member. If no such notice is given within the prescribed time period, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding on the said member.

8.7 A Communicant Member shall remain a member of the Church until he dies or is transferred to another church or excommunicated.

8.8 Members are expected to strive conscientiously to live according to the light given to them by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word, and to support wholeheartedly the services and activities of the Church.

8.9 Those below 21 years of age shall not be accepted as members without the written consent of any of their parents.

9.1 The Church may establish branches subject to the approval of the Registrar of Societies.

9.2 Such branches shall be under the control of the Church and shall function in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and the rules made thereunder.

10.1 The government, administration, and discipline of the Church shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

10.2 The spiritual oversight of the Church in matters of doctrine, principles of government, church elections, admission and discipline of members, and the administrative oversight of the Church shall be the responsibilities specifically of the Board of Elders. Unless expressly provided for in this Constitution, the Church Session shall not decide on any matters reserved to the Board of Elders in this Constitution, including but not limited to this Article.

10.3 The general spiritual and administrative oversight of the Church may be delegated by the Board of Elders to the Deacons and Deaconesses.

10.4 A Board of Elders meeting is not constituted even when all members of the Board are present at a Church Session meeting.

11.1 The Church Session shall consist of the Pastor, who shall also be the Chairman of the Church Session, the Associate Pastor(s) and/or the Assistant Pastor(s), if any, and/or an Advisory Pastor or a Supervisory Pastor, when necessary, the Elder(s), the Deacon(s), and the Deaconess(es), if any. Unless with the prior approval in writing of the Registrar or an Assistant Registrar of Societies, majority of the Church Session members shall be Singapore Citizens.

11.2 The office bearers of the Church shall consist of:

A Chairman
A Clerk of Session
A Treasurer

11.3 The Church, which has no Pastor and/or an Elder of its own, may co-opt from another Bible-Presbyterian church an Honorary Pastor and/or an Elder. He/They shall have all the rights and powers in the affairs of the Church.

11.4 The Church Session shall appoint from among its members a Clerk of Session, who shall be the Secretary, and define his duties. The Church Session may also appoint from amongst its members such other office bearers as it thinks fit.

11.5 The Church Session may delegate specific powers to any one of its members, appoint such committees as it deems fit, and make such rules and standing orders to regulate the duties and powers of such persons or committees.

11.6 The Church Session may co-opt members of the Church or such other persons as it deems fit to serve on any committee.

11.7 The Church Session shall meet once a month or once in two months at such place and time as the Pastor or the Board of Elders may determine. Emergency meetings may be convened by any of the following persons in the order specified: (i) Pastor; (ii) Associate Pastor (if any, and if more than one, the more/most senior in age); (iii) Assistant Pastor (if any, and if more than one, the more/most senior in age); or (iv) the Elder appointed by the Board of Elders, in the absence of (i), (ii) and (iii). Such meetings shall be also convened, following a joint request of any two Elders, by any of the foregoing persons in the same order specified.

11.8 A simple majority of the Church Session members shall constitute a quorum for the Church Session meeting.

11.9 The Church Session shall act by consensus or by a simple majority vote when deemed necessary by the Moderator or Chairman. The Moderator or Chairman shall have only the casting vote.

11.10 The Church Session, with the prior approval of the Board of Elders, shall at the Annual Congregational Meeting of the Church present a budget for the next fiscal year or period and the previous year’s financial accounts, duly audited internally and/or externally.

11.11 The Church Session, through the Clerk of Session, shall be responsible for keeping the following registers:

11.11.1 An up-to-date Register of Members with full particulars of name, address, date and place of birth, baptism, reaffirmation of faith, transfer, marriage, death or dismissal.

11.11.2 A Minute Book to enter the minutes written or recorded by the appropriate appointee(s) of Church Session, Board of Elders and Congregational Meetings.

12.1 A general election shall be held once in every three years at an Annual Congregational Meeting to elect the Pastor, Associate Pastor(s), Assistant Pastor(s), Elder(s), Deacon(s), and Deaconess(es) to form the Board of Elders and the Church Session.

12.2 By-elections may be held between general elections at an Extraordinary Congregational Meeting, if necessary, to fill vacancies that may arise from the resignation, incapacity or demise of office-bearers. Candidates elected at a by-election shall hold office until the next general election.

12.3 Candidates shall satisfy the requirements listed in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and 1 Peter 5. Additionally, and to ensure better objectivity in selection, they shall fulfill the following conditions:

12.3.1 Demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt, and over a sufficient length of time, that they are faithful and mature members of the Body of Christ and faithfully devote themselves to personal prayer and study of the Word.

12.3.2 Attend public worship and prayer meetings of the Church regularly, unless prevented from doing so by valid reasons.

12.3.3 Make a careful study of the Constitution, in particular the Principle and Practice of Biblical Separation, and fully accept it.

12.3.4 Be willing to participate wholeheartedly in the ministry of the Church with the Pastor, and to devote time, talents and resources in such ministry, including serving in various departments of the Church.

12.4 The Board of Elders shall nominate candidates for election. Nominations for deacons/deaconesses may also be submitted by any member of the congregation to the Board of Elders.

12.5 Proposals for election to any of the offices of the Church shall be carefully screened by the Board of Elders to ensure that only those with the essential qualifications and who are in full agreement with the doctrinal stand of the Church, in particular its Principle and Practice of Biblical Separation, are considered for nomination and election.

12.6 Elected Elders/Deacons/Deaconesses shall be formally installed into office at a Service of Consecration to be held on an appropriate Lord’s Day soon after election. They shall affirm their allegiance to the Word of God by taking this solemn oath at the Consecration: "I swear in the Name of the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit that I believe ‘the Bible is none other than the voice of Him that sitteth upon the throne. Every book of it, every chapter of it, every verse of it, every word of it, every syllable of it, every letter of it, is direct utterance of the Most High. The Bible is none other than the Word of God, not some part of it more, some part of it less, but all alike the utterance of Him that sitteth upon the throne, faultless, unerring, supreme.’"

13.1 The Pastor and Associate Pastor(s)/Assistant Pastor(s), if any, shall be elected by the members of the Church at an Annual Congregational Meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast and shall hold offices for a term of three years, if elected at a general election. Each of these officers shall be eligible for re-election.

13.2 No Minister shall receive the call to be the Pastor, Associate Pastor or Assistant Pastor of the Church save through the hands of the Board of Elders (1 Tim 4:14).

13.3 The Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Supervisory Pastor and Advisory Pastor shall possess the spiritual, educational and other qualifications deemed necessary by the Board of Elders.

13.4 The Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Supervisory Pastor and Advisory Pastor shall be subject to the discipline of the Board of Elders in accordance with the procedures in the Bible-Presbyterian Book of Discipline.

13.5 The Pastor shall have the general oversight of the spiritual life, regular service, ministration of the Sacraments of the Church and the ordination of Elders.

13.6 The Pastor shall be the ex-officio member and advisor of all committees connected with the Church.

13.7 The Pastor shall be the Moderator of the Church Session, except for prudential reasons when the Associate Pastor (if any, and if more than one, the more/most senior in age), the Assistant Pastor (if any, and if more than one, the more/most senior in age), or the Elder appointed by the Board of Elders, in the order specified here, shall act as Chairman of a particular meeting.

13.8 The Pastor, upon receipt of the appropriate request and with the approval of his Board of Elders, may serve in another Bible-Presbyterian Church as Supervisory Pastor, where the requesting church is without a Pastor, or as Advisory Pastor, where the requesting church has a Pastor and still wishes to have the services of an additional Pastor as advisor. Both positions are honorary.

14.1 The number of Elders in the Board of Elders shall not be more than one to every 50 communicant members. Where there are less than 50 communicant members, the Board of Elders shall have only one Elder.

14.2 A candidate for election to the office of an Elder shall be a Deacon of not less than six years’ standing, duly nominated by the Board of Elders and elected by a simple majority vote of the members of the Church at the Annual Congregational Meeting, save that the Board of Elders may in its absolute discretion shorten the qualifying period.

14.3 An Elder shall hold office for a term of three years if elected at a general election and he shall be eligible for re-election.

14.4 An Elder may be elected in absentia, with his written consent.

14.5 An Elder, once elected and ordained, shall not be divested of his status as Elder when he is not re-elected or when he declines re-election. In either case, he shall not be a member of the Church Session or the Board of Elders. He may attend meetings of the Board or the Church Session on invitation without voting rights.

14.6 An Elder, with the approval of his Board of Elders, may serve in another Bible-Presbyterian Church for such duration of time as may be determined.

14.7 An Elder shall endeavour by God’s grace to serve in full conformity with the standards set forth in the Word of God (1 Tim 3:2-7 and Tit 1:6-9), joining with the Pastor in the government, administration and discipline of the Church, visiting sick and sorrowing members, investigating delinquents and endeavouring to remedy any spiritual weakness in the lives of members.

14.8 Elders shall be subject to the discipline of the Board of Elders in the same manner as applied to pastors, but with a right of appeal to a special meeting of the congregation called for the purpose of hearing his appeal.

15.1 The number of Deacons shall not be more than six or one to every 40 communicant members, whichever is the greater number.

15.2 The number of Deaconesses shall not be more than four or one to every 100 communicant members, whichever is the greater number.

15.3 A Deacon or Deaconess shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the members of the Church at the Annual Congregational Meeting, provided the candidate shall have attained 21 years of age at the time of nomination.

15.4 A Deacon or Deaconess shall hold office for a term of three years if elected at a general election and he/she may be eligible for re-election.

15.5 A Deacon or Deaconess may be elected in absentia, with his/her written consent.

15.6 Deacons and Deaconesses shall endeavour by God’s grace to serve in full conformity with the standards set forth in the Word of God (1 Tim 3:8-13).

15.7 Deacons but not Deaconesses may be requested by the Pastor or Elders to assist in the ministration of the Holy Communion.

15.8 Deacons and Deaconesses shall be subject to the discipline of the Board of Elders, as provided under Article 17.

16.1 The Board of Elders shall consist of the Pastor and Elders and, if any, the Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Supervisory Pastor or Advisory Pastor.

16.2 The Pastor shall be the Chairman of the Board of Elders. In his absence or when deemed prudent, (i) the Associate Pastor (if any), (ii) the Assistant Pastor (if any) or (iii) an Elder appointed by the Board of Elders, in the order specified here, shall act as Chairman. Where there are two or more persons for each of (i) or (ii), the more/most senior in age in (i) or (ii), whichever is applicable, shall act as Chairman.

16.3 The Board of Elders shall appoint from among its members a Clerk of the Board who shall issue notices of meetings and write minutes of the Board Meetings. Such minutes, when confirmed by the Chairman of the meeting, shall be handed to the Clerk of Session to file in the Minute Book of the Church.

16.4 The Board of Elders may appoint or invite Deacons/Deaconesses to take part in any meeting of the Board of Elders without voting rights.

16.5 The Board of Elders shall meet when necessary at a time and place to be decided by the Chairman or Acting Chairman, as appropriate. The quorum shall be a simple majority of the members of the Board.

16.6 The Board of Elders shall act by consensus or by a simple majority vote when deemed necessary by the Moderator or Chairman, unless it is acting in a disciplinary capacity pursuant to Article 17.5 when the provisions in the Bible-Presbyterian Book of Discipline shall apply.

Subject to Article 10 of this Constitution, the Board of Elders shall:

17.1 be responsible for the spiritual welfare and ministry of the Church;

17.2 supervise all public worship and preaching services, the ministration of the Sacraments, Bible classes, prayer meetings, special meetings, and all similar efforts aimed at reaching the lost for Christ and building up Christians in the faith;

17.3 receive members into the Church by confession and reaffirmation of faith, and by transfer from other churches;

17.4 appoint Staff Workers and other office staff as it deems necessary;

17.5 exercise discipline in the Church according to the Word of God and the Bible-Presbyterian Book of Discipline (the word "Session" in the Bible-Presbyterian Book of Discipline shall be replaced by the "Board of Elders" as the Session in the U.S. Bible-Presbyterian Church is made up of elders only);

17.6 enquire into the knowledge and Christian conduct of members of the Church;

17.7 call before them offenders with witness or witnesses from within or without their congregation;

17.8 admonish and rebuke those who are found to deserve censure, suspend or exclude offenders from the Holy Sacrament;

17.9 determine by itself or, when it deems necessary, in consultation with the Deacons and Deaconesses all matters concerning the religious services and spiritual life of the Church, and the suitability of candidates for election to the Church Session.

18.1 The supreme authority of the Church in all administrative matters is vested in a general meeting of the members presided over by the Chairman. Any Congregational Meeting of the Church may be constituted as a general meeting for the transaction of business, provided announcement of the said meeting has been given from the pulpit at two regular worship services on the two preceding Lord’s Days or by two weeks’ written notice to members. In any administrative matter, the Board of Elders and the Church Session may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the Congregational Meeting without prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the Congregational Meeting.

18.2 Congregational Meetings shall be opened with Scripture reading and prayer and closed with prayer.

18.3 Congregational Meetings shall be of two kinds, namely, Annual Congregational Meeting and Extraordinary Congregational Meeting.

18.3.1 The Annual Congregational Meeting for the transaction of business pertaining to the Church shall be held in the month of April.

18.3.2 At such Meeting, the Church Session shall report on the spiritual and temporal conditions of the congregation and announce plans for the coming year.

18.3.3 Items of business shall include the Clerk of Session’s Report, the Treasurer’s Report, the Budget, election of internal Auditors, and any other matters on the agenda.

18.3.4 An Extraordinary Congregational Meeting for the transaction of particular business pertaining to the Church may be held at any time upon due notice being given by the Pastor or the Board of Elders.

18.3.5 Only such business as is specifically mentioned in the call may be considered at such a meeting.

18.3.6 The Pastor or the Board of Elders shall call an Extraordinary Congregational Meeting upon the request of one-tenth of the Communicant Members. The meeting shall be convened within two months from receiving this request.

18.3.7 If the Pastor or the Board of Elders does not within two months after the date of receipt of the written request made under Article 18.3.6 proceed to convene an Extraordinary Congregational Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary Congregational Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary Congregational Meeting by giving ten days’ notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Church’s notice board.

18.3.8 Any voting member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a Congregational Meeting may do so provided he gives written notice to the Clerk of Session ten (10) days before the meeting is due to be held.

18.4 The quorum of Congregational Meetings in the election of the Pastor, Associate Pastor(s), Assistant Pastor(s), Elder(s), Deacon(s) and Deaconess(es) and in the amendments of the Constitution shall be a simple majority of all resident voting Communicant Members in good standing. All Communicant Members are deemed to be in good standing unless decided otherwise by the Board of Elders in the exercise of its powers under Article 8.5.

18.5 The quorum of Congregational Meetings for the transaction of all other business shall be one-third of all such resident voting Communicant Members.

18.6 Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.

18.7 In the event of a lack of quorum for the Congregational Meetings, the Chairman of the Meeting shall adjourn the meeting for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall constitute the quorum but they shall have no power to alter, amend or make addition to any existing rules.

18.8 The election of the Pastor, Associate Pastor(s), Assistant Pastor(s), Elder(s), Deacon(s) and Deaconess(es) shall be by secret ballot.

18.9 Except for amendments to the Constitution which shall require a two-thirds majority vote of those present, the election of Church Session members and decisions on all other businesses of the Church shall be adopted by a simple majority vote of those present.

18.10 The Pastor shall be the Chairman of the Meeting except for prudential reasons when the Board of Elders or the Congregational Meeting shall appoint an Elder (who may be an Associate Pastor or an Assistant Pastor) as Chairman of the Meeting.

18.11 Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy shall not be allowed at all Congregational Meetings.

19.1 The Church shall have the power to acquire immovable property and such other property as the relevant authorities shall permit in its name and, subject to a declaration of trust, vest it in trustees not less than two but not exceeding four in number appointed by the members at a Congregational Meeting convened for such a purpose.

19.2 The trustees shall not effect any sale or mortgage such property without the prior approval of the Congregational Meeting of the Communicant Members.

19.3 Any trustee may resign his trusteeship.

19.4 When a trustee dies, or is found to be of unsound mind, or becomes a bankrupt, or emigrates from Singapore, or ceases membership of the Church, or is incapacitated for any reason, his trusteeship is deemed to have ceased.

19.5 When a trustee is found guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to make it undesirable for him to continue to be a trustee, the Congregational Meeting may remove him from his trusteeship.

19.6 Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy shall be given in the Church Bulletin or announced at the regular worship service two weeks preceding the Congregational Meeting to be convened for the purpose. The address of immovable properties, names of trustees and any subsequent changes must be notified to the Registrar of Societies and the Commissioner of Charities and any other authority as required by law.

20.1 The work and programme of the Church shall be supported by freewill offerings and tithes of members, gifts and donations of friends, and by such other income as may be derived by the Church according to the Holy Scriptures.

20.2 The funds of the Church shall be used in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

20.3 The Church Session shall elect one of its members as Treasurer and another member as Assistant Treasurer, if necessary. The Treasurer and/or the Assistant Treasurer shall not hold office for the same or a related post for a consecutive term. The Church Session may appoint a Finance Committee from among its members to take charge of the financial affairs of the Church. The Treasurer shall keep a cash balance of not more than $1,000/- at any one time. All monies exceeding this amount shall be deposited with a bank designated by the Church Session. All cheques shall be signed by the Treasurer or, in his absence, the Assistant Treasurer, and one other Church Session member appointed by the Church Session.

20.4 The Church Session may appoint a firm of Certified Public Accountants as external auditors to audit the accounts of the Church and shall do so, if required by law. The term of such appointment is one year and the firm shall be eligible for re-appointment.

20.5 Alternatively or in addition to the external auditors, the Church may elect two internal auditors from amongst the voting Communicant Members, who are not members of the Church Session, at the Annual Congregational Meeting of the Church.

20.6 The internal auditors shall hold office for one year and shall not be eligible for re-election for a consecutive term.

20.8 The internal auditors and/or the external auditors may be required by the Pastor to audit the Church’s accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Church Session.

20.9 The Board of Elders, or the Church Session with the prior approval of the Board of Elders, has power to authorize the monthly expenditure of a sum not exceeding the amount (specified at a Congregational Meeting of members) from the Church’s funds for the Church’s purposes. Expenditure beyond this monthly limit will have to be authorized by a Congregational Meeting of members for the purpose specified.

21.1 The Board of Elders or the Church Session may make by-laws not inconsistent with this constitution for giving effect to the provisions of this constitution for, but not limited to, the following matters:

21.1.1 The way and manner the activities of the Church business shall be administered.

21.1.2 The appointment of staff workers, paid secretaries, clerks and other personnel for the proper functioning of the Church.

22.1 No amendments to this Constitution shall be made except at a Congregational Meeting of the Church.

22.2 No amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted without at least a two-thirds majority votes cast by those present.

22.3 No amendments to the Constitution shall come into force without the prior approval of the Registrar of Societies and the Commissioner of Charities.

23.1 In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not expressly provided for in the Constitution, the Board of Elders shall decide on the matter or the necessary steps to be taken.

23.2 In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary Congregational Meeting in accordance with this Constitution.

24.1 Gambling of any kind is forbidden on the Church’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking, and the admission of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

24.2 The funds of the Church shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in Court.

24.3 The Church shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.

24.4 The Church shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, or any arrangement with, its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or services to be supplied by them, and thereby adversely affecting consumer interests.

24.5 The Church shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Church, the Board of Elders, the Church Session, any office-bearer(s) or any member(s).

24.6 The Church shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its fund and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

24.7 The Church shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purpose without the prior approval in writing of the Head, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and any other relevant authorities.

25.1 The Church shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than three-fourths of the voting members of the Church for the time being resident in Singapore expressed either in person or by proxy at a Congregational Meeting convened for the purpose.

25.2 In the event of the Church being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Church shall be fully discharged. The remaining funds shall be given to such charitable organisations registered under the Charities Act (Cap 37), as the members of the Church may determine at a Congregational Meeting, to carry out objects similar to those hereinbefore set out.

25.3 A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given to the Registrar of Societies and the Commissioner of Charities within seven days of the dissolution. Notice shall also be given to other authorities, as required by law.

Approved by the Registrar of Societies, June 21, 2004 and gazetted in the Government Gazette, Friday, July 23, 2004.