EFCA Southeast District Church Adoptions

CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION: The Southeastern District shall, on behalf of the Evangelical Free Church of America, receive into affiliation churches that request affiliation and meet the following requirements:

  • Said churches shall adopt, verbatim, the Statement of Faith of the Evangelical Free Church of America as a part of their constitution.
  • Said churches shall have Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws that are consistent with the policies and practices of the Evangelical Free Church of America. The congregation, after being informed and educated about the policies and distinctives of the Evangelical Free Church of America, shall vote to seek affiliation.
  • Said churches shall have a policy consistent with congregational government defined as “that form of government wherein the highest authority under Christ in a local church resides in the corporate understanding of the mind of Christ and in which a realistic process and reasonable opportunity exists by which that understanding is determined and carried out, especially as it affects such matters as: determination of membership, selection or appointment of the principal governing board (elder, deacon, etc.), selection of the senior pastor, approval or alteration of constitution/by-laws, approval of any major purchase or dissolution.”
  • Said churches shall have read and subscribed to the most current version of “What It Means to Be an Evangelical Free Church” on file either in the Southeastern District or National EFCA offices.

Having met these requirements, the church shall be received into affiliation by vote of the Southeast District (SED) Board of Directors. This will initiate a probationary period of membership during which all rights and privileges attendant to affiliation with the EFCA applies. Permanent affiliation will be granted when the Board of Director’s decision is ratified by delegates of the member churches of the Southeastern District at the next scheduled business meeting.

PROCEDURE

Introductory Reading (via district office)

¨ “What It Means to Be a Free Church”

¨ The SED Handbook

Theological Compatibility

¨ EFCA Statement of Faith

¨ EFCA’s Noted Distinctives

Church Constitution Compatibility

¨ Note: While the form of church government is flexible, ultimate authority must rest in the congregation under Christ, the Head of the Church.

Church Health

¨ Provide mission & vision statements, and current strategic plan.

¨ Provide last two annual reports.

Pastoral Credentialing Capability

¨ Pastor’s application for EFCA credential.

Probationary Period

¨ Up to a twelve month time period.

District & Denominational Commitments

¨ Agreements to enter into the full life of the district and national ministries.