SOUTH COAST REFORMED FELLOWSHIP CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE AND DECLARATION
WHEREAS it has pleased Almighty God to graciously call into being a congregation of believers
in the South Coast of KZN, South Africa,
AND WHEREAS the members of this congregation recognize the hand of the Lord upon them
and desire to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,”
AND WHEREAS the members of the congregation declare and acknowledge the Lord Jesus
Christ to be their only Savior and King, whose will, revealed in the Holy Scriptures, it is their
duty and joy to obey,
WE, the members of the congregation desire to order and constitute ourselves into a more
effective organization for the glory of God.

THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1. NAME

The name of this congregation shall be South Coast Reformed Fellowship (hereafter referred to
as “this Church”).

ARTICLE 2. DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION

The Church is non-denominational, but holds to the Reformed Tradition as set forth in its
standard Confessions. It is the church plant work of two mother churches: affiliated with, but
independent and autonomous from them. The names of these churches are Calvary Covenant
Fellowship and Word of Life Community Church.

ARTICLE 3. AUTHORITY

a) Authority of Christ
We acknowledge no ecclesiastical authority other than our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
Head of the Church and who directs the affairs of the church through Elders chosen and
ordained according to the precepts of Holy Scripture. The Elders themselves at all times
and in all their activities stand under the authority of Holy Scripture.
b) Articles of Faith
The ultimate authority in all matters of faith, order and morals are the Scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments which we acknowledge to be the inspired, inerrant Word of
God. By way of definition and summary of our confession of faith we adopt the
Westminster Confession of Faith with its related Larger and Shorter Catechisms and the
Canons of Dort. We also acknowledge the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession
and the Savoy Declaration to be sound summaries of Christian belief. Our adoption of
the Westminster Confession does not prevent those who hold other views on baptism and/
or the millennium from membership or holding office.

ARTICLE 4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of this Church shall be:
a) To provide for the worship of God in accordance with the precepts and principles laid down
in Scripture;
b) To provide for the proper nurture, edification and discipline of the body of Christ, to the end
that we may be able to “present every one perfect in Christ;”
c) To carry out the Lord’s commission to his Visible Church to “go and make disciples of all
nations…” to the best of our ability, and
d) To plant and support churches, for those disciples we make, who by reason of distance
cannot fellowship with us.

ARTICLE 5. LEGAL STATUS

This Church shall, in terms of the Secular Law be a voluntary Association with full legal
personality, with perpetual succession and the power to hold property in its own name, distinct
from its members and capable of being sued and suing in its own name.
Immovable Property

a) This Church shall be entitled to:
i) Buy, sell, lease or rent immovable property.
ii) Encumber in any way, any immovable property registered or to be registered in the
name of the Church, including the registration of mortgaged bonds of the same.
iii) Borrow funds to achieve the above purposes.
b) Any resolution authorizing any of the above purposes shall be passed and signed by all the
Elders for the time being of this Church.

ARTICLE 6. SHORT STATEMENT OF FAITH

While holding to these Confessions of Faith as the official declaration of faith for conduct and
teaching, this Church recognizes that not all believers have the same convictions and accordingly
requires that all candidates for membership should at least accept the following Short Statement
of Faith prior to admission as members. These are therefore what we here accept as absolutely
fundamental to the Christian faith:
a) We believe the Bible to be the complete word of God; that the sixty-six books, as originally
written, comprising the Old and New Testaments were verbally inspired by the Spirit of God
and were entirely free from error; that the Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith
and practice and the true basis of Christian union.
b) We believe in one God, the Creator of all, holy, sovereign, eternal; eternally existing in three
equal Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is incomprehensible but
knowable.
c) We believe in the absolute and essential deity of Jesus Christ, in His eternal existence with
the Father and Holy Spirit in pre-incarnate glory, in His virgin birth, true humanity, sinless
life, substitutionary death, physical resurrection from the dead, triumphant ascension,
continuing mediatorial ministry and personal return.
d) We believe in the absolute and essential deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, in his eternal
existence with the Father and the Son, who convinces of sin, righteousness, and of judgment,
who regenerates, sanctifies, illumines, comforts and abides in all who believe in Jesus Christ.
e) We believe that Satan does not exist independently of God, but was created by him good; yet
he sinned and became the originator of sin, an evil personality, the arch-enemy of God and
man; he is in no way a true and equal rival to God, and his eternal destruction has been
unchangeably ordained.
f) We believe that mankind (both male and female) was created in the image of God; they were
created as rational, moral creatures; that they, like all things created by God, were originally
good; Adam being the federal head of the human race, having disobeyed God, became guilty
before God, resulting in total depravity, thereby incurring physical and spiritual death; not
only for himself, but all he represented.
g) We believe that in Adam all have sinned and are guilty both of original sin and actual sin,
cannot keep the covenant of works and of himself man is hopelessly lost; God having mercy
on fallen humanity provided the covenant of grace, which though administered differently
throughout the ages of God’s dealing with his people, is one and the same covenant, and all
who are true members are those who possess living faith in the saving provision of God.
h) We believe that by the appointment of the Father, in the fullness of time, the Son was born
into the world, in order that by his active and passive obedience he might accomplish
redemption and purchase eternal salvation for those the Father has given him from every age.
i) We believe that God justifies a person by pardoning their sins through Christ’s atoning work
on their behalf and imputing the righteousness of Christ to them; this justification is received
by the alone instrument of faith, which is also a gift of God.
j) We believe that those whom God justifies, he also brings into his family through adoption,
and that both these are acts of God, once and for all; whereas God also conforms such a
person into the image of his Son, this is the work of God, and continues throughout the life of
the believer.
k) We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will make a personal, bodily and glorious return; there
will be a bodily resurrection of the just and unjust; and eternal blessedness for the redeemed
but judgment and conscious eternal punishment for the wicked.
l) We believe that a local church is a company of believers in Christ, who have been born again,
called out from the world, separated unto the Lord Jesus, voluntarily associated for the
ministry of the word, the mutual edification of its members, the propagation of the faith and
observance of the ordinances and sacraments. We believe it is an autonomous body in a
particular locality, exercising its own divinely awarded gifts, precepts and privileges under
the Lordship of Christ, the Head of the Church. We believe that its officers are Elders and
Deacons.
m) We believe that God created mankind, male and female; the distinction between the sexes is
to be found biologically at birth, and therefore a biological man alone is considered a man,
while a biological woman alone is considered a woman.
n) We believe that God has ordained marriage as a heterosexual relationship between a natural
man and a natural woman.

ARTICLE 7. CONDUCT OF SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATION OF SACRAMENTS

a) Public Worship
The worship of God
i) Is to be led by the Elders of the church: the presiding, reading of Scripture, pastoral
prayer, preaching, and administration of the sacraments.
ii) Is to be regulated by God’s word. Prayers made are biblical; singing will consist of
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; the Scriptures are clearly read; the word is
faithfully exposited; the sacraments are accompanied and set apart as holy by the
word and prayer.
iii) Is not to be excessive, with the exercise of supernatural gifts such as tongues and
prophecy, which we believe is no longer normative for the public worship of God
iv) May be accompanied by singers and musicians approved by the eldership to that task,
and overseen by the deaconship.
b) Baptism
i) Baptism is an initiatory sign and seal of the New Covenant, and is to be administered
once. Baptism does not save, yet it is the necessary first act of obedience to the Lord,
and is therefore necessary for membership into this church.
ii) We acknowledge the validity of a baptism – of either an adult or infant – which was
administered in a true visible church of the Lord Jesus, by an ordained minister, using
the instrument of water – the mode of which – pouring, springing or immersion, are all
alike acceptable.
iii) Any person who desires baptism must first make a credible profession of faith and
then be taken through baptism classes over a period of time deemed necessary by the
Elders. Baptism may be refused in the case of any person making a profession of faith
that is not credible or heretical.
iv) In the case of the baptism of infants, only those who are children of baptized believers
or a believer, shall receive this sacrament.
c) The Lord’s Supper
i) The Lord’s Supper is a sign and seal of our communion with the Lord, under the New
Covenant, and this church shall administer it on the first and third week of each
month, or as frequently as deemed necessary by the Elders. It is to be the benefit of
all God’s children who have made profession of faith in Christ, are baptized, and
members of a true visible church, so long as they are not under the corrective
discipline of the church.
ii) The Lord’s Supper, being a sacred meal, is to be treated with the strictest of reverence
and the ministering Elder shall instruct, encourage, admonish, and warn from God’s
word, the participants, to examine themselves and so partake worthily. The Supper is
therefore to be verbally explained and fenced by the presiding elder.
iii) The infants who have received the first sacrament of baptism are not to partake of the
Lord’s Supper until they make credible profession of faith, approved by the Eldership.

ARTICLE 8. MEMBERSHIP

Any person who professes repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ, who
manifests a life transformed by the power of Christ, who expresses substantial agreement with
the doctrines and aims of this Church and who is willing to submit to its government is eligible
for membership.
Further,
a) The members of this Church shall be at least 18 yeas of age who have applied to the Church
Council for membership and admitted as such.
b) No person shall be entitled to vote at any congregational meeting or to hold any office
whatever in this church unless he or she be a member.
c) Members’ children under the age of 18 shall be entitled to all the benefits of membership
without the right to vote.
d) We recognize as continuing members of this church those who have moved away from the
church and who cannot find a local church with which they can conscientiously unite. Such
members are nevertheless urged to seek diligently a church to which membership can be
transferred.

ARTICLE 9. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

a) New Applicants
All who qualify for membership should apply to the Elders who on being satisfied that the
applicant meets the requirements for membership shall present the same at the subsequent
Sunday services. If no objection is raised concerning the applicant’s manner of life and
doctrines that person shall be received into membership.
b) Transfer
If the applicant has been a member of another church, the Elders are required to determine
the person’s standing in their previous church and the reason for leaving before processing
the application as above.
c) Associate membership
Having regard to the times, applications for associate membership from persons who, by
reason of distance, are prevented from worshiping with us, will be sympathetically
considered. Such associate membership does not include the right to vote at any
congregational meeting.

ARTICLE 10. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership is terminated by death, transfer, exclusion or excommunication.
a) With regard to transfer, the Elders, when requested to do so, may issue a letter of transfer
to another church, in respect of the departing member being in good standing. No such
letter can be given where the individual is under the corrective discipline of the church or
where such transfer is to a church who, in their judgment, is disloyal to the “faith which
was once for all delivered to the saints” or which does not exercise godly care over its
members.
b) With regard to exclusion the Church Council shall exclude from membership, after
giving notice to such a member/s its intention to do so, any person who habitually
absents himself from the meetings of the church, who restoration has been urged and
who shows no evidence of repentance or any person who requests termination of
membership.
c) With regard to excommunication the teachings of Scripture compel a congregation to
exclude from its fellowship and membership any person who teaches or insists on
holding to heretical doctrine, or who blatantly and persistently conducts himself in a
manner inconsistent with his Christian profession or who persists in disturbing the unity
or peace of the church.
d) Purely personal matters between members shall be settled in accordance with Matthew
18:15-20. The end result of an individual or individuals refusing to repent shall be the
same as above – excommunication.

ARTICLE 11. ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

A General Meeting of the Congregation shall be held annually within four months of the end of
the financial year on a date to be decided by the Church Council. Such meeting shall be called
the Annual Congregational Meeting (A.C.M.)
a) Quorum
A quorum shall be a simple majority of Elders and Deacons plus at least 60% of the
voting members of the congregation.
b) Voting and proxies
Voting shall be by show of hands unless the meeting unanimously agrees to a ballot. A
member who is unable to attend a meeting may appoint a proxy to record his vote.
Written notice signed by the member must be in hand of the Secretary before the
meeting is duly constituted.
c) Chairman
The Annual Congregational Meeting will be chaired by one of the Elders.
d) Minutes
The Council Secretary will take proper minutes of the meeting.
e) Business/Agenda
i) The A.C.M. shall approve annually the following officers:
1. Elders.
2. Deacons.
ii) The A.C.M. shall receive, consider and adopt (or take such other actions as it may
deem advisable) reports on all aspects of the Lord’s work to be submitted by the
Elders and the Deacons. Reports shall include:
1. A report from the Eldership.
2. A report from the Deacons, which shall include an audited financial statement and
report.
iii) Any member or members may bring up any matter for the attention and/or action of
the A.C.M. provided that at least two week’s notice in writing of the intention to do
so is given to the Secretary and the nature of the business is stated concisely.
iv) Copies of the Agenda should be made available to the congregation at least two
Sundays before the meeting and should include an item for “Any Other Business.”
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f) Time and situation
Notice of the place, date and time of the Annual Congregational Meeting shall be given
by announcement at the Sunday Services for at least three consecutive weeks
commencing at least five weeks beforehand and by affixing a written notice at least five
weeks beforehand on the church notice board, by the Secretary.

ARTICLE 12. SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

A Special Meeting of the Congregation may be held at any time, provided that:
a) A notice calling for the meeting is signed by at least 7 church members of the Elders or
Deacons.
b) The nature of the business to be dealt with is clearly stated on the notice.
c) The notice is addressed to the Secretary, who shall be obliged to give notice of the
meeting to the congregation in the manner prescribed for the Annual Congregational
Meeting.

ARTICLE 13. EMERGENCY CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

In an emergency an Emergency Congregational Meeting may be called by a 75% majority of the
Church Council. Seven days notice shall be required for an Emergency Meeting, the notice of
which shall be given at every church meeting held throughout the seven day period and written
notice to be fixed to the notice board, stating clearly the nature of the emergency, to the
Secretary.

ARTICLE 14. OFFICE BEARERS

The Lord Jesus Christ, as king and Head of His body, the church, equips every member for
service. He equips and appoints some to the office of Elder and others to the office of Deacon, so
that the body may be established and built up in the faith. While all the work of God is correctly
called spiritual, yet Scripture makes the distinction between that work which ministers to the
spiritual needs of the flock and that which ministers to their practical needs.
a) Duties of Elders
Elders are responsible to God and the congregation for the spiritual nurturing and protection
of the flock of God. The Lord Jesus appoints Elders as the need arises to administer His
Church.
It is evident from Scripture that all Elders rule and must be apt to teach, and that some Elders
are also called to full-time preaching and teaching ministry.
Elders specifically are:
i) To provide for the regular exposition of the word of God.
ii) To shepherd by teaching, prayer, counseling through visitation those souls committed to
their care.
iii) To do the work of an evangelist within the area of the local church.
iv) To deal with all allegations of misconduct or heresy brought by one member of the
church against another.
v) To consider and approve or reject, applications for membership of the church.
b) Duties of deacons
Deacons are responsible to God and the congregation:
i) For the proper and efficient care of all property and church funds belonging to, entrusted
to, or administered by, this Church.
ii) They shall appoint a Treasurer who will keep such proper books of accounts and records
as are necessary to give a true and accurate indication of the finances of the church.
iii) To seek out and provide for the material needs of all members of the congregation as they
arise.
iv) To co-ordinate, supervise and encourage all the carious ministries of the church, such as
hospital visitation, door-to-door evangelism, literature outreach, camps and conferences,
sidemen’s duties, congregational meals and refreshments, social services, Sunday school
and the like, and the practical necessities for the efficient running of all worship services
and other meetings.
c) Procedure for the Election of Officers of the Church
It is clear from Scripture that two basic principles must be adhered to:
i) Every member has the right prayerfully to “put forward” a name for the office of Deacon
or of Elder, to the Council Secretary.
ii) Elders are responsible for ensuring that only the men called of God are elected.
These principles will be adhered to as follows:
i) Any member has the right prayerfully to “put forward” a name for the office of Deacon
or of Elder, to the Council Secretary.
ii) The Elders will prayerfully examine the nominee put forward to ascertain whether he
meets the biblical qualifications required for the office and whether he has the call of
God. If he does not qualify, the reasons will be given privately to the nominator. If the
nominee does qualify, he will then be recognized as a candidate for the office of Elder or
Deacon.
iii) The banns for all the candidates will be called on three consecutive Sundays at all
worship services. Every member of the congregation will then be under obligation
prayerfully to consider the suitability of each candidate for his respective office. If any
member knows any just cause or impediment why the candidate should not be
recognized, he or she is duty bound to indicate so formally to the Elders. They will
investigate the objection in the light of Scripture. If the objection is valid, the candidate
will be asked to withdraw from the elections.
Should the objection be groundless or not on biblical grounds, the objector will be
informed. If the objector is satisfied, he will be expected to support the candidate at the
elections.
iv) A notice listing the candidates and their nominators should be placed on the church
notice board by the Secretary at least two Sundays prior to the A.C.M.
v) If there are no valid objections, every member should vote in favor of the candidate at the
congregational meeting.
vi) Each candidate must receive an 80% vote in favor of his election at the A.C.M.
d) Annual Re-examination of Officers
As the call of God to the work of the gospel is not casual but permanent, each officer will be
re-examined prayerfully each year in the procedure laid down under subheadings (c) iii), v)
and vi) above.
e) The Council and its Meetings
The Council shall consist of the Elders and Deacons and shall meet at least once a quarter. A
quorum shall be 50%. An Elder shall be elected to chair each meeting. An Agenda shall be
prepared giving notice of the meeting, and sent to each member at least fourteen days before
each meeting, by the Secretary. Any member may submit items for the Agenda. Proper
minutes and records of its proceedings shall be kept by the Secretary.
f) The Meetings of the Elders
The Elders will meet every week to co-ordinate their work and for prayer.
g) The Meetings of the Deacons
The Deacons shall meet at least once every month to plan for and co-ordinate the proper and
efficient carrying out of their official duties. They shall elect a chairman, a treasurer and a
secretary (who will also be the Council Secretary) from among their number.
i) A quorum for ordinary and special meetings shall be 50%
ii) An agenda for each Ordinary Meeting of the Deacons shall be prepared by the Secretary
and shall be posted or distributed to all Council members not less than 8 days before the
day of the meeting.
iii) The Secretary shall include on the agenda such items as any Council member may,
before the day of its distribution in writing instruct him to include.
iv) No business shall be dealt with at the meeting unless it appears on the agenda or unless a
majority of the members present at the meeting agree to its being dealt with.
v) Proper minutes and records of the meeting shall be kept by the Secretary.
vi) All Elders are entitled to attend any Deacons’ meeting as they may desire and participate
and vote on any matter whatsoever.
vii) A special Deacon’s meeting shall be called at any time at the request of three members of
the Council. Such request shall be addressed in writing to the Secretary stating the
purpose, the date and the time for which the meeting is to be called, and the Secretary
shall on receipt thereof immediately in writing notify the other members.

ARTICLE 15. ORDINATION

It is the Scriptural obligation of the congregation to publicly recognize and ordain from amongst
its members those who have been endowed with specific gifts and are likewise called of God to
minister in His Church.

ARTICLE 16. INDEMNITY

The officers of this Church shall be fully indemnified against all actions, costs, charges, losses,
damages and expenses which they or any of them shall or may incur in the execution of their
duties, except as they shall incur by their own wrongful action done intentionally or with gross
negligence.

ARTICLE 17. BY-LAWS

This Church may at an Annual Congregational Meeting frame and amend such By-laws as it may
deem necessary for administering the funds, managing the affairs of the Church, or clarifying
any part of doctrine or practice, such By-laws to be available as a supplement to the Constitution.

ARTICLE 18. ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Alterations and additions to the Constitution shall only be made at a properly constituted Annual
or Special Congregational Meeting and approved by a seventy-five percent of the members
present and entitled to vote at such a meeting. Details of the amendments proposed should be
available to the congregation and placed on the Church Notice board at least two Sundays prior
to the meeting.