CONSTITUTION
Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be: “Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc.”
Article II. Objective
The purpose of Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc. shall be to glorify God by obeying Christ’s great commission to preach the gospel to every creature and make disciples of all nations in His name. Being fully committed to the system of reformed doctrine expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith, this agency desires to maintain a standard along these particular lines. It is therefore committed to the task of establishing and strengthening indigenous, self-supporting, Bible-believing churches and related institutions of this same doctrinal persuasion throughout the world. As part of this program for establishing such churches and institutions, this mission board expects that its missionaries will defend the faith of the gospel as well as propagate it and that they will maintain their separation from all unscriptural church movements. By having such standards as these this board will provide faithful missionaries a means by which they may more effectively serve God on the field. It will also provide the churches at home a means by which they may be assured that their gifts are supporting individuals and projects which are dedicated to spreading God’s Word according to truly Biblical standards.
Article III. Doctrine
The doctrinal position of Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc. is that of the Bible as summarized in the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms (as stated in The Constitution of the Bible Presbyterian Church - 1959 edition). This means that among other doctrines:
1. We believe in the verbal, plenary, divine inspiration of the Scriptures in the original languages, their consequent inerrancy and infallibility, and, as the Word of God, the supreme and final authority in faith and life.
2. We believe in one God existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; co-equal and co-eternal.
3. We believe that man was created in the image of God; that the entire human race sinned in Adam as their covenant representative; and that all human beings thereafter are consequently born in a state of sin and with a sinful, totally depraved nature.
4. We believe in the absolute deity and the real but sinless humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; and that as man He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
5. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for the sins of those whom He elected to salvation from all eternity–a substitutionary, expiatory death; and that all who are thus enabled to come to Him are freely forgiven and justified on the ground of His shed blood and imputed righteousness.
6. We believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead in the same body in which He was crucified; His ascension into the Heavens; His present work of intercession for those whom the Father gave Him; and in His personal and pre-millennial return to earth with all His saints in power and great glory.
7. We believe that individual salvation is not of works, but by grace alone; that it is the effect of the sovereign, irresistible work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration; and that it is received by faith alone, a faith which itself is the gift of God.
8. We believe that all whom God has called to salvation are justified in time, and will assuredly persevere to final glorification in heaven where they will enjoy the Lord forever; on the other hand, those who die outside of Christ will be in conscious torment throughout all eternity.
9. We believe that the church, the mystical body of Christ, includes believers of all ages whom He has redeemed by his blood; and that those who live in this present dispensation of the covenant of grace should assemble themselves together in local churches with others of like precious faith.
10. We believe that Christ through His Spirit instituted the sacraments of circumcision and the passover in the old dispensation; and that He personally instituted the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper in this present dispensation of His covenant of grace, the latter to be observed until He comes.
11. We believe in the real spiritual unity in Christ of all the redeemed and in the necessity of maintaining, according to the Word of God, the purity of the visible church in doctrine and life.
12. We believe that it is the primary task of the church in this age to fulfill Christ’s great commission in taking the gospel “to every creature” and making disciples of all nations, training them to be obedient to the “whole counsel of God.”
This doctrinal statement shall never be amended or revoked.
Article IV. The Board
Section 1. The Board shall be a self-perpetuating body with members elected in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. It shall consist of not less than seven and not more than twenty-four members. The Board shall be divided into three classes with approximately one-third of its members in each class, at least one of the members of each class being ministers of the gospel. The Board shall fill all vacancies caused by the death or resignation or incapacity of any members, such persons serving until the expiration of the terms of those whose places they are taking.
In the eventuality that the number of Board members should become less than the seven required, the remaining Board members are authorized to carry on the necessary business of the Board until such time as the number is again raised to the stipulated number. Board members should make it a matter of high priority to seek new qualified members to serve.
Section 2. The Board shall be responsible to oversee the general operation of the organization; set all policies of operation; administer all funds; expand the Board and add new officers as needed; appoint field chairmen where necessary; and screen, select, maintain, and supervise all missionary personnel.
Section 3. It shall have power to purchase, acquire, hold, own, lease, mortgage, grant, convey, and transfer real estate and other property, as its purposes may require. It shall also be vested with power to create contracts, special agreements, judgments, other legal documents, and to receive gift annuities, trusts, or gifts of property and possessions of all and any description as may be offered to the organization.
Section 4. The Board, recognizing its cordial relationship to supporting churches and individuals, shall be open and responsive to their inquiries, suggestions, and recommendations.
Section 5. The Corporation shall hold harmless and indemnify any and all of its officers, directors, and agents from any and all acts or deeds authorized by the Corporation under its Constitution, By-Laws, Articles of Incorporation or duly enacted resolutions.
Section 6. Any Board Member who fails to attend three consecutive Board Meetings shall be removed from the Board. This is to be effective immediately unless there is a two-thirds vote of the Board to extend his membership.
Article V. Government
In order that the spiritual and temporal well being of the work be preserved and the objective of the organization be carried out efficiently, the government shall consist of the following:
Section 1. The Board shall be the ultimate governing body. This Board shall elect from its membership a President, Vice-president, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers such as may be deemed advisable. It shall also elect a General-Secretary who need not be a member of the Board.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and at least two other members of the Board. It shall be empowered to act between meetings of the Board.
Section 3. Officers:
1. The President shall be the head executive officer of the organization and shall have the normal powers pertaining thereto, including that of presiding over all sessions of the Board. He shall also process all communications to and from Board members concerning the business of the organization.
2. The Vice-President shall assume full responsibility for the duty of the President if for any reason the President is unable to act in his official capacity. He shall also assist the President in his normal duties whenever possible.
3. The Recording Secretary shall keep accurate records of all Board meetings, such records remaining the property of the organization.
4. The Treasurer shall receive all mission funds referred to him and shall deposit the same in the bank. He shall maintain a detailed account of all deposits, withdrawals, accounts payable and receivable. He shall pay all bills authorized by the Board.
5. The General Secretary shall work in close cooperation with and under the authority of the President of the Board, shall receive and process all correspondence not otherwise handled by the President, shall interview prospective missionary candidates, shall seek to promote the policies of the Board at home and on the various fields, and shall be the primary means of liaison between the work on the fields and the Board at home. He should therefore normally have as one of his qualifications missionary experience on the foreign field.
Section 4. Field Stations and a Field Mission shall be organized for each separate country occupied where there are sufficient numbers of missionaries to warrant doing so. The relationship of these bodies to the Board is defined in Article VI of the Constitution, and their various duties specified in the By-Laws.
Article VI. Field Organization
Section 1. The Board believes that there should be as much freedom given each individual missionary and each Station and Mission as is consonant with the overall objective of the organization, and it wishes as few rules as possible though all that are necessary to the faithful, orderly, and efficient prosecution of the work. When possible, it is felt that creative action should be allowed to begin at the lowest echelon possible in order that those in immediate charge may have freedom to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in the work. Nevertheless, by the very nature of the case, the Board must retain the power of review and ultimate control in all matters pertaining to its field organization.
Section 2. In order to insure that these essential operating principles will be implemented, the following system of responsibility will be in effect:
- The individual missionary, responsible to
- The Station, responsible to
- The Mission, responsible to
- The Board, through the office of the General-Secretary.
In a small Mission the Mission may not need to be subdivided into Stations, in which case there are but three rather than four bodies in the system.
Article VII. Finances
Section 1. The Board in consultation with the chairman of the Mission (see By-Laws, sec. 11, para. (c), will determine what constitutes adequate support for a missionary or missionary family in a given field of service. Each missionary will be responsible to raise his own support; including funds for administration, equipment, and travel expenses; although the Board will aid, wherever possible. in arranging meetings among interested churches and providing other ways of assistance.
Section 2. No missionaries shall be sent or returned to the field without fully pledged support, and missionaries on the field will be expected to maintain home interest and support for their work. The Board will also seek to undergird the missionaries of the field by keeping their needs before the churches.
Section 3. The operational expenses of the Board shall be supplied by freewill offerings, undesignated gifts, and, if necessary, a percentage from each missionary’s account.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall control the expenditures of the Board throughout the year according to the policies set by the Board; he will also present an independently audited financial statement of the year’s accounts at the annual meeting of the Board. The treasurer’s report at that time shall be printed and made available for public distribution.
Section 5. If this organization should ever decide to dissolve its corporation, none of the assets remaining after all just obligations have been met may inure to the benefit of any member of the Board, missionary, or person otherwise associated with the organization. All such assets, if any, shall by decision at a meeting of the Board, be turned over to an organization or organizations which are in harmony with the objective and doctrinal position stated in the Constitution of Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc.
Section 6. All contributions, bequests, legacies, devices or transfers as well as all assets of this organization are the responsibility of the Board. Although funds may be raised and received by an individual representative, official, or missionary of the organization, these individuals have no equity in funds raised or received.
Section 7. Missionaries under the Board should strongly encourage all those supporting them to send their contributions through the treasury of the Board. If the missionary directly receives support or donations for approved projects, he must report the same to the treasurer of the Board who will then deduct from the next regular check sent to the field. This does not affect gifts clearly marked for “personal” use.
Section 8. All contributions received for the work shall be duly receipted and be eligible for income tax deduction subject to the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.
Section 9. The Board shall annually adopt a budget to provide for its own administrative operations.
Article VIII. Constitution
Section 1. Board members, at the beginning of each three year term of office, and all missionaries, at the beginning of each new term of service, shall sign a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws, by which name this document shall be known, as a declaration that they assent without mental reservation to the doctrinal basis and policies of this Board. Inasmuch as historic Presbyterianism has granted eschatological liberty regarding the millennial question, therefore, this board also grants this liberty to its members and missionaries. Other than this, any Board member or missionary finding himself not in accord with this document is expected to withdraw.
Section 2. The Constitution, except for Article III, may be amended only by a seventy-five percent majority of a full quorum of the Board. Notice of proposed amendments must be given in writing to all Board members sixty days prior to the meeting in which the voting actually takes place. And if said amendments visibly affects any missionary or missionaries in the organization, opportunity must be given to these to voice their opinions before it is adopted.
Section 3. This section and Article III of the Constitution are unamendable and irrevocable.
BY-LAWS
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
The Board shall hold an annual meeting in the Spring of the year, preferably in May, at which time it shall receive a treasurer’s report, including an audited statement of all accounts, receive reports from each of the fields and the General-Secretary, evaluate the work of the fields, elect officers and new Board members, and conduct any other business that may come before it for consideration and action.
Section 2. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, and shall call a meeting on receipt by the President of a written request by one-third of the membership of the Board. The President will then send a circular letter to all Board members, stating not only the time and place of the meeting but also the business intended to be transacted; and this letter shall be sent at least fourteen days before the time of the meeting.
Section 3. Quorum.
A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Elections.
The Board shall choose annually from its own number a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, and a Recording Secretary. The term of the President shall be for one year, and he may succeed himself only once. In the absence of the President or the Vice-President, a person chosen by the Board may preside. The Board shall also elect a General-Secretary to serve during the pleasure of the Board.
Section 5. Candidates.
(a). All candidates to Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc. should apply first to the General-Secretary. Forms containing a series of questions and instructions will then be sent to the applicant. Candidates must then be able to give evidence of true spiritual life, a genuine calling to the field, and adequate educational preparation for the task in view. Candidates must also provide evidence of physical fitness for service abroad.
(b). If the candidate appears to possess all these qualifications he will normally appear before the Board itself for acceptance. A three-quarters majority vote of those in attendance is required. In special circumstances, however, where time is a factor the candidate may meet with the Executive Committee. And if the Executive Committee is unanimously in favor, it may on behalf of the Board accept the candidate as a missionary appointee.
(c). After acceptance by the Board, the appointee must become familiarized with the policies and operation of the Board to the full satisfaction of the General-Secretary before beginning deputation in the churches.
(d). A missionary appointee will not be sent to the field until he has fully raised the pledged support he needs for his work.
(e). The appointee will be considered a full member of the Mission upon arrival on his designated field. Membership involves the responsibility to maintain effective service in the country in which he may be serving; to demonstrate harmonious fellowship in work with other members and national workers; and to acquire effectively the language of the people to whom he will minister.
Section 6. Engagement and Marriage.
(a). Married candidates, or engaged couples contemplating missionary service together as husband and wife, will be received only when both parties have been examined and are considered acceptable. This does not mean that married women are expected to do the same work as their husbands. It is recognized that their first responsibility on the field is that of home-maker. It does mean that they, like their husbands, should be physically and spiritually qualified to fulfill their own particular role.
(b). If any missionary, regardless of time spent on the field, marries a person not acceptable to the Board, this automatically cancels his, or her, membership.
Section 7. Furlough.
(a). The term of service shall be four years. A term of two years with a three and one-half month furlough is an option available to those who have had one full term on the field. Other exceptions to this rule will be at the discretion of the Board.
(b). When it is necessary for anyone to return on furlough, whether for sickness, or whatever cause, the Mission Chairman shall communicate with the General-Secretary. No one shall leave the field without the permission of the Board.
(c). Missionaries on furlough will be expected to cultivate continuing missionary interest in his supporting churches, to develop new support where it may be needed, and also to cooperate in the overall work of the Mission Board wherever possible.
Section 8. Resignation and Dismissal.
(a). A missionary who desires to resign from service under the Board must, if on the field, give six months notice to the Board through the Chairman of the Mission; if at home, one month’s notice to the Board. Such resignations must be in writing, and preferably should state the reasons for resignation. Before any resignation is made, a personal interview with the Mission Chairman or General-Secretary of the Board is desired.
(b). The first half of the missionary’s term on the field shall satisfy the Board’s investment in sending that missionary to the field. The last half of the missionary’s term of service shall warrant the Board’s expense of returning the missionary to his home.
Should a missionary resign from the Board for reasons other than health prior to having reached the mid-term, a proportionate share of the outgoing expense will be repaid to the Board by the missionary. If the missionary resigns after his mid-term, the cost of his returning home will be shared by the Board and the missionary in proportion to the amount of second half term served.
(c). The Board shall be at liberty at any time to discontinue the services of any missionary, such an action requiring a two-thirds majority vote of the Board.
Section 9. Relations to the Government.
All missionaries shall be subject to the laws and regulations of the government of the country in which they serve, except where these conflict with the will of God as revealed in the Word of God. The Chairman of the Mission is the only person to make an appeal to the government, or deal with the government in general.
Section 10. Mission Property.
(a). The missionary in charge is responsible for all Mission property at his station, a list of which shall be entered in the station account book. Everything on the station except personal effects, is included in the term, “Mission Property”, and is understood to be the property of Westminster Biblical Missions, Inc.
(b). Buildings on the Mission stations, even though built by private monies, belong to the Mission. Under no circumstances must any property, stores, vehicles, tools, medicines, etc. be disposed of without the consent of the Mission acting under the guidance of the Board.
Section 11. Station and Mission Meetings.
(a). Each Station on a given field shall have an annual meeting to conduct business and prepare reports for the annual meeting of the Mission, which is to be held shortly thereafter.
(b). At the annual meeting of the Mission, officers are to be elected with the results being forwarded to the Board. The choices for Mission chairman and Mission treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the Board.
(c). The Mission at its annual meeting shall also consider all problems concerning the general promotion and well-being of the work in its sphere. And it shall send a detailed report of these deliberations and conclusions to the Board. This report will include a plan and a budget for the activities of the upcoming year.
Section 12. Duties of the Mission Chairman.
(a). He shall preside over all meetings of the Mission and fulfill all functions as the executive responsible for his particular field according to the duties established in this Constitution and the Mission Constitution.
(b). He shall carry on the official Mission correspondence with the Board and with the government of the country in which he is working.
(c). He shall visit regularly the various Stations on his field to evaluate, advise, and report home concerning the work being done.
(d). He shall convene such meetings as may be necessary from time to time and not less than once every year.
Section 13. Duties of the Mission Treasurer.
The treasurer shall receive, account for, and disburse all Mission funds in accordance with the policies of the Board. He is responsible to the Mission Chairman and shall work in accordance with the directives of the Board Treasurer.
Section 14. By-Laws.
(a). The By-Laws may be amended only by a two-thirds majority vote of those in attendance at a duly called meeting of the Board. Notice of proposed amendments must be given in writing to all Board members at least two weeks in advance to the meeting. And if said amendment visibly affects any missionary or missionaries in the organization, opportunity must be given to these to voice their opinions before.
(b). This document, the Constitution and By-Laws, should be read carefully from time to time in order that each Board member and missionary may ever keep true to the objective of the organization, to its principles, and its methods. The exact meaning of any point contained, or any question not covered herein, shall be decided by the Board.
Revised:
- April 5, 1986
- April 11, 1987
- October 13, 1990
- October 9, 1993
- April 16, 1994
- October 19, 2002