Constitution and General Rules

of the

Fire-Baptized Holiness

Church

1908

Constitution and General Rules

of the

Fire-Baptized Holiness Church.

ARTICLE I.

NAME.

This organization shall be called the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church.

ARTICLE II.

OBJECT AND DESIGN.

The object and purpose of this church is

threefold:

1. The deepening of the spiritual life among

ourselves, so that all of our members shall

attain the highest state of Christian exper�-

ience possible in this life.

2. The ordination and appointment of Elders,

Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries divine-

ly called, qualified and set apart to the work.

3. All our Elders, Pastors, Evangelists

and Missionaries shall be required to teach

and preach the doctrines set forth in the

basis of union.

4. All our regularly ordained Elders, Pastors, Evangelists and Missionaries shall have au�-

thority to administer the ordinances of the

Lord�s supper and baptism and to solemnize matrimony.

ARTICLE III.

BASIS OF UNION.

1. We believe that Jesus Christ shed His

blood for the remission of sins that are past

(Rom. 3: 25), and for the regeneration of

penitent sinners and for salvation from sin

and from sinning (I. John 3: 5-10; Eph. 2: 1-

10).

2 We believe, teach and firmly maintain

the Scriptural doctrine of justification by faith

alone (Rom. 5: 1).

3. We believe also that Jesus Christ shed

His blood for the complete cleansing of the

justified believer from all indwelling sin, and

from its pollution subsequent to regeneration.

4. We believe also that entire sanctification

is an instantaneous, definite, second work of

grace, obtainable by faith on the part of the

fully justified believer.

5. We believe also that the Pentecostal

baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is obtain-

able by a definite act of appropriating faith

on the part of the fully cleansed believer, and

that the initial evidence of the reception of

this experience is speaking with other tongues

as the Spirit gives utterance (Luke 11: 13;

Acts 1: 5; 2: 1-4; 8: 17; 10: 44-46; 19: 6).

6 . We believe also in divine healing as in

the atonement (Isa. 53: 4, 5; Matt. 8:16, 17;

Mark 16: 14-18; James 5: 14-16; Ex. 15: 26).

7. We believe in the imminent, personal, premillennial, second coming of our Lord

Jesus Christ (I. Thes. 4: 15-18; Titus 2: 13; II.

Peter 3: 1-14; Matt. 24: 29-44); and we love

and wait for His appearing (II. Tim. 4: 8).

8. The Fire-Baptized Holiness Church is

utterly opposed to the teaching of the so-call-

�ed Christian Scientists, Spiritualists, Unita-

�rians, Universalists and Mormons. We deny

as false and unscriptural Seventh-Day Ad�-

ventism, annihilation of the wicked, condi�-

tional immortality, antinomianism, absolute

perfection, so-called come-outism, the so-call-

�ed resurrection life, the so-called redemption

or glorification of the body in this life, and

the doctrine of the restitution of all things as

set forth in millennial dawnism, and the false

teaching that we are not born of God until we

are sanctified wholly.

9. The Lord says, �Marriage is honorable

in all, and the bed undefiled,� and the Fire-

Baptized Holiness Church firmly holds that

there are certain relations between husband

and wife which are strictly private according

to the Word of God, and into this sacred pri-

�vacy no one has any right to inquire (Heb. 13.

4; I. Cor. 7: 1-5).

10. No subsequent General Council shall

have authority to change the basis of union of

the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church, without a

full representation from the local bands.

ARTICLE IV.

GENERAL RULES.

1. No one shall be admitted to full mem�-

bership in this church who is not in full ac-

�cord with the teachings of the same as set

forth in the basis of union.

2. He must also give satisfactory evidence

aside from his own testimony that he is re-

�generated, clearly justified, sanctified wholly,

and is groaning after the fulness of the

Spirit. Provided, also, that applicants in the

enjoyment of the experience of Scriptural

justification may be received as probationers

for the period of three months. Provided,

further, that no one shall be received into

full membership nor entitled to a vote who

does not enjoy the experience of entire sancti-

�fication and is agonizing after the fulness of

the Spirit.

3. In accordance with these professions, all

who remain with us shall take as their rule

of conduct the Word of God (Gal. 6:16), and

shall conform outwardly as well as inwardly

in their daily walk and conversation to its

simple teachings.

4. We are commanded in God�s Word not

to be unequally yoked together with unbeliev-

�ers, and to have no communion or fellowship

with the unfruitful works of darkness, such

as oathbound secret societies, social clubs

and corrupt partisan politics (II. Cor. 6: 14;

Eph. 5: 11); not to be conformed to this

world (Rom. 12: 2); to come out from among

them and be separate (II. Cor. 6: 17), and

even to turn away from those who have the

form of godliness, but deny the power there-

�of (II. Tim. 3: 5); to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II. Cor. 7:

1), such as the use, growth, sale or handling

of tobacco in every form, or of morphine, or

intoxicants, filthiness of speech, foolish talk-

or jesting, the use of slang language; to

abstain from all appearance of evil (I. Thes.

5: 22); and to do all we do to the glory of

God and in the name of Jesus Christ (Col.

3: 17; I. Cor. 10:31); to wear no outward

adorning, such as jewelry, gold, feathers,

flowers, costly apparel or ornamentation of

any kind (I. Tim. 2: 9; I. Pet. 3; 3); and a

practical observance of all these Scriptural re-

quirements, and a complete separation from

anything which does not tend to deepen our

own spirituality and promote the glory of

God, is hereby required of all our members.

6. To abstain from mentioning the faults

of an absent person, and refuse to listen to

those who do, except it be absolutely neces-

�sary for the glory of God and the good of the

cause, and of the person concerned.

7. The tenth is the Lord�s and shall be

recognized as such by all our members (Gen.

28: 22; Matt. 23: 23).

8. All our members are required to be

patterns of frugality, diligence, faith and

charity, taking up the cross daily, and true

to the abiding baptism of the Holy Ghost.

9. To witness on all suitable occasions,

even if it costs us our lives, to what the Lord

has done for us, especially to sanctification,

divine healing, and the baptism with the

Holy Ghost and fire.

10. All our evangelists and workers shall

cause the members to know what is expected

of them regarding everything mentioned, di-

�rectly or indirectly, in the general rules, and

shall deal faithfully with every one.

These are the general rules of the

Fire-Baptized Holiness Church, and we be-

lieve them to be in accordance with the

teachings of God�s Word, and therefore for

the good of our own souls and for the glory

of God.

ARTICLE V.

QUESTIONS FOR THE RECEPTION OF PRIVATE

MEMBERS.

1. Have you the forgiveness of your sins?

(I. Jno. 1:9.)

2. Have you peace now with God through

our Lord Jesus Christ? (Rom. 5: 1.)

3. Have you the witness of the Holy Spirit agreeing with your spirit that you are a child

of God? (Rom. 8:16.)

4. Has no sin, inward or outward, domin-

�ion over you? (Rom. 6: 14.)

5. Are you wholly sanctified according to

I Thes. 5:23?

6. Have you the personal Holy Ghost as promised in John 14: 16, 26; 15: 26; 16: 13;

Luke 11: 13 and Acts 19: 2?

7. Do you believe in divine healing as in

the atonement? and in the laying on of hands,

and in anointing with oil? (Isa. 53: 3-5;

Matt. 8: 17; Mark 16: 14-18; James 5: 14-16.)

8. Do you believe in the imminent, per-

�sonal, premillennial, second coming of our

Lord? (I. Thes. 4: 15-18; II Peter 3; 1-4.)

9. Will you faithfully and loyally witness to

all these experiences? (Acts 2: 32; Isa. 43:

10; Luke 24: 48.)

No one shall be received into full member-

ship who shall not pass satisfactory examina�-

tion upon the foregoing questions.

ARTICLE VI.

QUESTIONS TO APPLICANTS FOR THE MIN�-

ISTRY.

1. Have you been called of God to preach

the gospel, and can you say as the apostle said,

�Woe is me if I preach not the gospel?�

2. Will you �preach the Word� without

fear or favor, seeking the honor that comes

from God only, reproving, rebuking and ex-

�horting with all long-suffering and doctrine,

contending earnestly for the faith once deliv�ered

to the saints?

3. Will you take the Word of God as your

charge and only rule of conduct, and strive to

regulate your life and manner of living by

its sacred teaching? (II. Tim. 4: 1-5; I. Cor.

9: 16; I. Tim. 4: 10-16; II. Tim. 1: 1-13; Acts

20 : 17-35.)

4. Having a dispensation committed unto

you, will you undertake to preach this gospel,

not as a hireling, nor by constraint, neither

as being lords over God�s heritage, nor for

filthy lucre, but willingly, and of a ready

mind, doing all for the glory of God and the

salvation of lost men?

5. Have you counted the cost, and do you

fully commit yourself for life to the cause

of Pentecostal holiness?

In addition to the above, the Ruling Elders

shall be required to pass satisfactory exam-

�ination as to qualifications upon the following Scriptures: Titus 1: 5-9: I. Tim. 3:2-7; 1. Peter

5: 2-4.

Let all these examinations be close and

searching, and let all our workers be required

to conform strictly to these requirements.

ARTICLE VII.

GOVERNMENT.

We recognize and acknowledge our Lord

Jesus Christ as the Supreme Head and

Rightful Governor of the Fire-Baptized Holi-

�ness Church in all its various departments, and

His infallible Word as the man of our counsel

and as our only rule of faith and practice.

GENERAL OFFICERS.

1. There shall be a General Overseer,

who shall have the general oversight and

care of all the church, and whose tenure of

office shall continue during good behavior.

He shall preside at all the General Councils,

and when present, at all the state, provincial,

and territorial associations.

2. There shall be a General Secretary and

General Treasurer, appointed by the General

Overseer. The General Secretary shall keep

the minutes of each General Council, and a correct list of the membership of the church,

as furnished by the Ruling Elders. The Gen�-

eral Treasurer shall have charge of all

money contributed for the benefit of the

church at large, and pay the same by order

of the Board of Trustees.

3. There shall be a Board of Trustees, consisting of not less than three or more

than nine, appointed by the General

Overseer, who shall be chairman of the same.

They shall hold in trust and have charge of all property deeded or bequeathed to the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church.

ARTICLE VII.

RULING ELDERS.

1. The General Overseer shall appoint the Ruling Elders for the state, provincial and territorial churches, both domestic and for�-

eign, and shall have power and authority to

remove the same and appoint others, when-

ever, in his best judgment, the good of the

cause requires it.

2. It shall be the duty of the Ruling Elders

to preach the Word, giving their time, talents

and influence to the spreading of Pente-

costal holiness throughout their respective

jurisdictions. They are expected to so direct

the work in their respective territories

that the greatest possible good may be ac-

complished and the greatest number of souls

saved. They shall obtain a list of the mem-

bers of the churches in their respective ter-

ritories and report the same to the General

Secretary once each year.

3. The power to appoint pastors of the

local churches is hereby given to a stationing committee, which shall be appointed by the

state convention. Provided, further, that in

case of necessity, between state conventions,

the Ruling Elder shall supply pastors to the

local churches.

ARTICLE IX.

ORDINATION ORDINANCES, ETC.

1. The Genera] Overseer shall have power

and authority to ordain Elders and Evangel-

ists in every place where there is need of

such, and, under the immediate direction of

the Holy Ghost, to separate them unto the

work whereunto the Lord hath called them,

according to the precedent given in Acts 13:

1-3, always remembering the Scriptural re-

quirement that an elder must not be a novice,

�lest being lifted up with pride he fall into

the condemnation of the devil� (I. Tim. 3: 6),

and also that other wholesome apostolic in-�

junction, to �lay hands suddenly on no man�

(I. Tim. 5: 22).

2. The General Overseer shall have au�-

thority to delegate to any Ruling Elder or

regularly ordained Evangelist the power to

ordain Elders in special cases whenever he

may deem it wise and expedient for the pro-

�motion of the Pentecostal work

3. A certicate of ordination shall be is-

sued to each ordained minister in the connec-

�tion, officially signed by the General Over-

�seer.

4. In view of the increasing number and

efficiency of women who are evidently called

of God unto the evangelistic, missionary and

rescue work, provision is hereby made for the appointing, ordaining and sending forth of

women thus called of God, exactly the same

as men, thus placing Spirit-filled women,

called of God, upon the same footing with

our brethren of the stronger sex.

5. As the question of water baptism has

always been a subject of fruitless strife

among carnal professors, we leave it entirely

to the individual conscience, as to the mode

by which the rite shall be administered.

6. In the administration of the Lord�s sup-

per only unfermented wine shall be used.

ARTICLE X.

GENERAL COUNCIL.

1. The General Council shall be composed

of the General Overseer, the Assistant Gen-

eral Overseers, the Trustees, the Ruling El�-

ders, the General Secretary, the General

Treasurer, and a delegate to be elected by

each state convention.

2. There shall be a regular meeting every

two years, provided, that in case of necessity

the General Overseer shall have authority to

convene the General Council at such time and

place as he may designate, for the transac-

�tion of such business as may properly come

before it.

3. The object of the General Council shall

be to confer together and to adopt such

measures and devise such means as shall be

deemed expedient for the promotion and

furtherance of the cause of Pentecostal

holiness.

4. In the event of the death, removal or

disability of the General Overseer, the Board

of Trustees shall have authority to call a

meeting of the General Council, who shall,

by prayer and fasting, seek to know the

mind of the Spirit with regard to filling the

vacancy, and the one plainly designated by

the Holy Ghost shall be accepted as the di-

�vinely appointed one.

5. The General Overseer and three Ruling

Elders shall constitute a quorum to transact

business.

ARTICLE XI.

MISSIONS.

1. The foreign missionary work shall be

under the general supervision of the General

Overseer, who shall have power and authori-�

ty to appoint one or more Superintendents of

Foreign Missions, as the exigencies of the

times may demand.

ARTICLE XII.

STATE CONVENTIONS.

1. Each state, provincial and territorial

church shall hold at least one Pentecostal

holiness convention each year, to be open on

all the lines of divine truth, especially on

the lines of sanctification, the baptism of the

Holy Ghost and fire, and divine healing. The

time and place of these camp meetings shall

be designated by the Ruling Elder.

2. Each state, provincial and territorial

convention shall be composed of the Ruling

Elder thereof, the Evangelists, Pastors and Missionaries within the jurisdiction of the

same.

3. The following business shall be transact-

ed at the state, provincial or territorial con-

ventions:

(1) The examination and passage of the

character of the Ruling Elder, Evangelists,

Pastors and Missionaries belonging to the

same.

(2) The examination and recommendation

of applicants for ordination.

(3) To suspend from the ministry and de-

prive of credentials persons who are ineffi-

cient or negligent of the duties assigned to

them.

(4) Evangelists who are unable to attend

the state convention shall report in writing to

the General Secretary once a year regarding

their personal experience and work.

ARTICLE XIII.

LOCAL CHURCHES.

1. Three or more persons in any commun-

�ity, having the required qualifications for membership in the local organization, may be organized into a local church by any evangel-

�ist, helper or missionary. If he deem it wise

and expedient, he shall appoint a leader, who

shall report to the Ruling Elder. Should a

vacancy occur, the society may elect a leader.

2. It is hereby provided that the Ruling

Elder or Evangelist organizing any local

church shall have authority to appoint a com�-

mittee, whose duty it shall be to attend to

the finances of the church.

3. This committee shall consist of the

leader, who shall be ex-officio chairman of the

same, a secretary, treasurer, and as many

others as he may deem necessary.

4. This committee shall report to the local

church once a quarter, and shall thereafter

be elected annually by the church.

5. In every local church meetings shall be

held when practicable, either in meeting

houses, private residences, or in the open air,

at least once every Lord�s day, and once during

the week.

ARTICLE XIV.

JUDICIARY RULES.

1. When the General Overseer shall be

accused of immoral conduct or neglect of du-

�ties assigned him, it shall be the duty of the

Ruling Elder, in or nearest whose jurisdiction

said acts of immorality may be committed,

to call together the Ruling Elders, whose

duty it shall be to thoroughly investigate the

case, and if he be found guilty, they shall

deprive him of his credentials and expel him

from the church. Three Ruling Elders may

constitute a quorum in the trial of this case.

2. When any evangelist shall be accused

of immoral conduct, the Ruling Elder shall

call to his aid a committee of not less than

three nor more than nine from among the

ordained evangelists, whose duty it shall be

to investigate the charges, and if he be

found guilty, they shall suspend him from

the ministry until the ensuing session of the

state convention, which shall make final dis�-

position of his case. Provided, further, that

in case any evangelist living in a state or