New Life-New England Ministry

 

 

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

Revised

September 7th 2009

Epsom New Hampshire

 

THEREFORE,  MY BELOVED BRETHREN,  BE STEADFAST,  IMMOVABLE,  ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD,
KNOWING THAT YOUR TOIL IS NOT ON VAIN IN THE LORD.
1 Corinthians 15:58 nas

 

 

 

PREAMBLE

 

Recognizing that God is now moving in the earth to restore the Church to the fullness of its original power, purity and order,  and to build up the Body of Christ for fellowship,  community, counsel and instruction in the Word of God and in the work of the ministry,  and for the exercise of spiritual gifts and apostolic offices provided for in the New Testament, and that of the Apostolic and Holy Catholic Church.  BE IT RESOLVED that we recognize our selves as a cooperative communion of apostolic succession with members in Christ of like precious faith throughout United States to promote biblical order,  worship, unity and fellowship & community in the work of the Lord,   "endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace...until we are come into a more perfect faith and knowledge of the Son of God,  unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ".  In all our deliberation,  Jesus Christ is to be honored as Head of the Body and recognized as such by each individual member.

 

 

CONTENTS

PREAMBLE

SECTION ONE  THIS COMMUNION

SECTION TWO  POLICY

SECTION THREE  THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY

APPENDEX

 

 

SECTION ONE  THIS COMMUNION

Mission:   Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the whole of the law...”  We are called to reach out to the world with the unconditional love of Christ. True Christian love must be concerned not only with reconciling souls to God, but also with meeting the needs of the poor and oppressed, healing the sick in soul and body, working for peace and social justice, protecting the environment, and promoting dialogue and understanding between people of different denominations, religions, cultures and ideologies throughout the world.  Thus, we may proclaim by our actions the good news of a salvation that offers not only eternal welfare for our souls, but also wholeness and liberation on every level. Christ deeply desires to alleviate the sufferings of this present world, and ultimately to liberate and transform all of creation as heaven and earth unite in Him who is truly the Alpha and Omega.   

 

Jesus called his disciples together and said, "You know those who exercise authority among the Gentiles lord it over them, their great ones make their importance felt, it cannot be like that with you. Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, and anyone who wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all. Such is the case with Son of Man who has come, not to be served by others but to serve, and to give his own life as a ransom for the many." ---St. Matthew 20:25-28

 

"Come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me".  ---St. Matthew 25:34-36, 40.  

 

 

Therefore, the mission of Evangelical Free Catholic Communion is to provide a Catholic community fellowship for persons who have embraced the richness and the spirit of Catholicism, apostolic succession, the first four church councils, the traditions of the Apostles and Prophets, the Sacraments, and the original one Apostolic and Holy Catholic Church of Christ begun under the Apostle Peter as the only true and faithful church, after a careful and thorough study of the scriptures and church tradition.

 

 

 
What are Evangelical Free Catholics?

We are Christian:   We acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Savior, Lord, Founder and Eternal High Priest.   

Catholic:   The Evangelical Free Catholic Communion is an independent rite of the One Apostolic and Holy Catholic Church.  It is not Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox or Protestant. Our pastors, men and women, married and single, are ordained to Holy Orders by bishops, elders and pastors who trace their ministry in the spirit through Old Landmark Baptist tradition in an unbroken line through the laying on of hands to the original apostles and, through them, to Jesus Christ himself.

 

Sacramental:   We hold that the sacraments are outward signs that confer the very grace they signify. These Mysteries ordained by Christ are seven in number: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing the Sick. We practice open Communion, welcoming to the Lord’s Table all who approach it with reverence, regardless of religious affiliation. (meaning you shall know them by the fruit of their life)

 

Charismatic:   We believe in the Release or "Baptism" of the Holy Spirit and the free exercise of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit described by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.

 

Evangelical:   We seek to lead all creatures to the direct personal experience and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Free:   We believe that the Church must seek to cultivate and to protect individual freedom of thought, conscience and choice. While gently offering guidance, it is her duty to help God’s People develop the faculty of discernment and take personal responsibility for their choices in life. Free Catholics are encouraged to think, to explore and to be true to their own conscience. We are non-dogmatic, emphasizing instead the life of the Spirit and the law of love. We do not condemn those whose ideas differ from our own, but seek to be tolerant, respectful and open to the beliefs and values of others.  

 

"You have been called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom for self-indulgence, but through love serve one another."

—St. Paul

 

Ecumenical:   We respect all parts of the one Body of Christ, whether Catholic Orthodox or Protestant; and we desire, insofar as it is possible, to be in loving communion with all, while humbly receiving what each one has to teach us. Furthermore, we believe that the Church must remain open to recognize the wisdom of the other great spiritual traditions of the world. With humility, we honor the holy people of all times and places. Recognizing the unity of God’s family on earth, we welcome to our altars all who reverently approach them, erecting no barriers based upon dogma or religious affiliation.

 

Mystical:   We believe that every person is invited to know God directly through a personal relationship with Christ and to experience the joy of abiding divine union in this life. St. Paul said that we may “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with all the fullness of God.“ Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is within you.” And the psalmist writes, “Be still and know that I am God.” With this in mind, we give particular emphasis to the cultivation of contemplative prayer and the discovery of God within.

 

 

 

 

 

1. The Way of Salvation

    Being created in the image and likeness of God, the human family has a glorious birthright which has become obscured through ignorance, doubt and sin resulting in a sense of alienation from God, from our true spiritual nature and from all of Creation. In the infinite compassion of God, Christ came forth from the heart of  the Father, to take upon himself the fullness of our human estate, to liberate us and all Creation. By his incarnation, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, a fully liberating and transforming grace was released into all Creation. In his love, He invites us to embrace this freedom and to participate in the work of redemption. By accepting and cooperating with this grace our lives are transfigured and Creation is transformed.

2. The Church

    The Mystical Body of Christ consists of all who have consciously embraced the grace of Christ. A temple built with living stones, the Church is a sacrament of Christ and a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Referred to as the pillar and ground of truth, she has been entrusted with the care of Sacred Scripture and Tradition. However, the ultimate mission of the Church is to hold forth the message of Christ’s eternal love and healing grace to all the world.

3. Scripture and Tradition

    The principal guides for Christian faith and practice are found in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. Through the inspired writings of Sacred Scripture God has revealed the Word of Life. In addition to the Christian and Hebrew Scriptures, the Church has received oral, written and liturgical traditions which come to us from apostolic times. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, Tradition is constantly nourished, renewed and expanded by the unique contributions of each generation and culture. Ever mindful that all people belong to God’s Family, the Church must remain open to recognize the wisdom of the other great spiritual traditions of the world.

4. The Creeds

    The principle doctrines of the Christian Faith are succinctly stated in what are commonly known as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. The Church looks to these ancient confessions as a standard and basis for Christian Unity

5. The Law

    Jesus said: "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." 

    Free Will is a fundamental and precious endowment given to all God’s children. The Church must seek to cultivate and to protect individual freedom of thought, conscience and choice. While gently offering guidance, it is her duty to help God’s People develop the faculty of discernment and take personal responsibility for their choices in life. 

    "You have been called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom for self-indulgence, but through love serve one another." —St. Paul

6. The Sacraments

    The sacraments are outward signs which confer the very grace they signify. These Mysteries, ordained by Christ, are seven in number, namely Baptism  (we practice immersion), Confirmation (the witness of the baptism in the Spirit), Holy Eucharist (communion), Reconciliation (confessing our sins, Jn 1:9), Anointing the Sick, Matrimony, and Holy Orders (the call to ministry).

•Baptism

    This Sacrament of Spiritual regeneration, administered by immersion or by the pouring on of water in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, imparts sanctifying grace and constitutes initiation into the Mystical Body of Christ, the royal priesthood of believers and the sacramental life of the Christian community.

•Confirmation

    The grace of Pentecost, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, administered by the successors of the apostles with Chrism and the laying on of hands, empowers Christians to participate in the apostolic mission of the Church.

•Holy Eucharist

    The central act of worship of the People of God, in which we offer ourselves and our gifts in union with the eternal sacrifice of Christ and partake of His Real Presence under the forms of Bread and Wine, offers to us the privilege of direct Communion with our Lord Jesus Christ

•Reconciliation

    The Sacrament in which Jesus Christ, through the ministry of the church, bestows the forgiveness of sins, heals broken fellowship and imparts grace for the amendment of life.

•Anointing the Sick

    The ministers of the Church anoint the sick with sacred oil, imparting the grace of Christ to those in need of healing for body or soul.

•Matrimony

    The Mystery of Marriage corresponds to the union of Christ and his Church. Through a voluntary, mutual commitment declared before God and the Church, the marital union becomes a channel of sacramental grace.

•Holy Orders

    The Holy Spirit, though the laying on of hands and the consecratory prayer of the Bishop, ordains women and men, married or single, who are called to serve the Church, imparting to them special grace to administer the Sacraments and feed the flock of Christ.

7. The Ministry

    The Supreme High Priest and Bishop of the Church is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, from whom all Bishops (pastor and elders)  and other ministers derive their spiritual powers and jurisdiction.  (in the EFCC  we do not refer to out ministers as father our bishop, simply pastor, elder, brother or sister)

    Our Lord Jesus Christ chose and ordained apostles to guide the Church and to carry on His ministry after His Ascension. To this day, in an unbroken chain, their priesthood and ministry of oversight have continued through their successors, the bishops.

    In the exercise of their ministry, bishops are autonomous with respect to that part of the Church entrusted to their care. However, this apostolic privilege cannot be taken lightly. Each bishop should remain rooted in apostolic tradition, responsive to the collegial nature of the episcopacy, and remain ever submissive to Christ and the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

    The fullness of the ministry of Christ is shared by all the people of God. The episcopacy is complimented by various other ministries in the Church. In addition to the presbytery, which assists the bishop, there are also charismatic and lay ministries incorporating the whole priesthood of believers. 

    "Jesus called His disciples together and said: You know how those who exercise authority among the Gentiles lord it over them; their great ones make their importance felt. It cannot be like that with you. Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest, and whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all.  Such is the case with the Son of Man who has came, not to be served by others but to serve, to give his own life as a ransom for the many." 

 

SECTION TWO

 

PARTICULARS AND POLICIES

Elders & Executive Council of Elders

 The Council of Elders herein after referred to as the "Elders" is the ultimate governing authority.  They are the biblically God ordained leadership OF EFCC  with matters of faith and practice,  but not limited to them.
 
  The decision making policy of Elders shall be by consensus after having deliberated, discussed and prayed over any issue or matter before them.  No Elder shall preside over another as all are consider equal in stature and authority.( 1 Peter 5:13)  The Executive Director of the ministry shall be first among equals
.
 The Elders shall appoint a secretary for the Elders. He shall keep a record of the Elders affairs.  Elders present at any council meeting shall constitute a quorum upon which any action necessary may be taken
 All pastors of EFCC shall be elders of the communion.  .

Biblical requirements for Elders
 will possess and manifest those qualities as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.  In accordance with Scripture,  we recognize the leadership of Elders in plurality. (1 Timothy 3:1-2; Acts 14;23; 20:17, 28)  Among the functions of the office for Elder is the ability of spiritual oversight,  disciple, preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Biblical solutions for Elders
 Ministry disciple shall be handle in the following manner.  The Council shall be responsibility for all biblical disciple within the ministry as it pertains to Elders, directors, missionaries, board members,  ministry staff and associate ministries.  Pastor of local fellowship entities  shall be responsible for disciple within the local fellowship.  However,  a Pastor who desires to conferee with the Council of Elders should feel free to call upon and access the council's wisdom.  No pastor should ever feel he is alone when faced with a difficult disciple situation. 
 All disciple shall be based upon the biblical model with the intent to bring healing and restoration. It should be that which glorifies the Lord.

 

 

 Elders and Credentials
 All credentials of ministry must be signature by  persons of EFCC who are elders of the council
 Credentials of ministry for ordination to Christian Ministry shall include two or more signatures.  The signatures of at least one elder and the clerk or acting clerk will be required of all ordination certificates after May 1, 2000.

Senior Elder

The senior elder shall be called by the council to head and lead the ministry.   His stay shall be for and indefinite period of time.

He shall  serve as board chairman and moderate ministry business meeting  except when his compensation package is the subject matter.   He shall be  ex-official to all other boards and committees.

He shall be have the oversight for the total ministry operations including the ministry vision,  scope,  staff,  daily operations fiscal matters and fundrazing.  He may delegate to certain individuals area of responsibility for the better management of certain aspect of the ministry.

The Executive Director shall work closely with the Associate Director.   Together they shall find areas in which the Associate Directors ministry will be the most affective.

The Executive Director shall function as the spiritual head of the ministry.  He shall pray for the ministry and staff.  He shall guide,  instruct,  encourage,  and shepherd   all those connected with the ministry from time to time and as special occasions require.  He shall seek the best for individuals,  helping them to find their proper place of service.

The Executive Director shall deliver a verbal report of the ministry at each board meeting to bring the board  current on activity.   He shall deliver a written report with copies available to all members at the annual business meeting.

The Executive Director shall call together an Executive Council of Elders to review ministry credential candidates.

There shall be a compensation package to which the Executive Director and the Board of Directors have mutually agreed upon.   It shall be reviewed annually.

Associate Director/First Associate Pastor

The Associate Director shall be called by the Board of Directors.  His stay shall be for an indefinite period of time

He shall work closely with the Executive Director for the smooth and efficient operations of the ministry.  He shall make known to the Executive Director areas of ministry which he feels especially gifted.

He shall assume the Executive Directors responsibilities in his absents or when he is unavailable. 

He shall give a verbal report of his current activities at each board meeting and a written report at the annual business meeting.

He shall assist the Executive Director in the spiritual oversight of the ministry and serve on the Executive Council of Elders.

There shall be a compensation package to which the Associate Director and the Board of Directors have mutually agreed upon.   It shall be reviewed annually.
Staff Evangelists/Associate Pastors

The first order of business for the Church of Jesus Christ is the winning of the lost to Christ. The primary purpose of New Life-New England Ministry is to fulfill the Great Commission. It is with this purpose in mind the ministry has established the office of staff evangelist. The ministry shall appoint as many individual to this office as possible from among those who present themselves to the ministry for appointment and are qualified for the task according to the biblical standards of a Christian minister.

Appointment as staff evangelist shall be made by the council of elders in concert with the executive director.  The staff evangelist shall coniunte in this capcity indefinitly until he determines that God is directing his ministry in a differnt area of service or the elders determine his ministry no longer is functioning in the work of an evangelist.

 The staff evangelist shall recieve a base salary in accord with the ministry policy as determined by the board of directors for associate pastors of the ministry.      Additional support for the staff evangelist shall be based upon the thirty five percent (35%) rule use in determining financial support for pastors of Christian Fellowship Groups. Unlike fellowship groups, the administration of this support shall be through the general fund with the remaining sixty five (65%) percent allocated to staff evangelist travel expense (25%) and crusade and ministry expense (40%).

The purpose of the staff evangelist ministry is to conduct evangelistic crusades and meeting on behalf off and for New Life-New England Ministry.  He  shall seek opportunities to evangelize the lost within and without the ministry. He shall work with and work with out other staff evangelist of the ministry.

We believe evangelistic outreach to be both proclamation of the gospel and demonstration of the power of God through the gospel.

The staff evangelist shall be the principle preacher in the crusades and meeting of the ministry: but, he shall work in concert with an evangelistic team organized through the ministry.  

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Director shall be a group of men and women whom God has specifically called together to provide  oversight for the ministry of New Life-New England.

They shall be men and women of high Christian character and biblical soundness.  They shall impart wisdom and discernment in accordance with God's will for this ministry.  They shall have met all the standards of membership with this ministry.  They shall serve without compensation for an indefinite period of time. The board shall strive to maintain a diversity among it's members drawing from a cross section of the ministry churches.  There shall be no less than five members nor more than fifteen.

The board shall meet no less that once in any calendar year prior to the annual business meeting.  They shall also plan other meetings a seems wise and prudent for the smooth business operation of the ministry.

The board shall function by seeking a consensus among the members.  If no consensus is found the item will be tabled or dropped from the boards agenda.

The board shall appoint a secretary/clerk for the corporation who shall keep notes of all board and business meetings and provide all correspondence for the corporation.

The board shall set the official policy for the ministry.  When a dispute arises,  the board shall have the final say.

The board shall issue the credentials of ministry based upon the determination of the Executive Council of Elders. The board shall have no authority with regards to the Executive Council of Elders.

The board shall set the number and amount of salaried staff positions the ministry shall fund.   The Executive Director shall have responsibility for the staff selection.

The board shall set the standard to which Ministry Associates (Itinerant Christian Workers, Ministers and Missionaries) abide by.

No executive session of the board may be held without  the presence of the Executive Director.  If the subject matter concerns a board member, that members must also be presents or have been informed by the board in writing that such a meeting is being held.

The board shall establish an annual budget for the ministry to be voted on at the annual business meeting. This provision may be waved if there is no distinction between the board and members. The board shall establish fund  raising goals.  The board shall make provision for dedicated giving.

The Board of Directors shall  hold title to the ministry assets.  It shall buy,  handle,  and sell property. It shall receive impute from the membership concerning any major endeavor.

New board members not called to the ministry in the Executives Directors initial call  of formation shall be voted on by the membership present at the annual business meeting. They shall have been recommended to the membership by the Elders and Board of Directors having satisfactorily met the qualification to serve.  They shall  be given an opportunity to speak to the business meeting prior to the membership vote.

Furthermore, A majority of the board of directors and a majority of the members of any committee shall consist of persons who have no financial interest in the affairs of the corporation. Persons deemed to have a financial interest in the affairs of the corporation including persons receiving compensation (other than reimbursement of expenses) from the corporation, independent contractors with the  corporation, persons with a financial relationship with a for-profit independent contractor(such as owners or employees of the independent contractor), close family members of the foregoing.

If a director, office, or committee member has a financial interest conflicting with the interest of the corporation in any manner (such as whether to enter into contact with such individual or with an organization with which such individual is associated), then the individual must bring the conflict to the attention of the other directors, officers, and committee members, and refrain from deliberating or voting in any decision with respect to the matter.
CLERK

The Board of Directors shall appoint a clerk from among its members for the ministry of New Life-New England.

The Clerk shall serve for an indefinite period of time.

The Clerk shall record the minutes of the business meetings.  He or she shall keep a permanent record of the minutes on file, shall read minutes at the board meetings.

The Clerk shall keep the names and address of current board members, and general membership of New Life-New England.

The Clerk shall keep a record of participants with the Council of Elders,  their names, address,  the date and level of credential granted to each by New Life-New England.

The Clerk shall keep the corporation papers on file in the ministry office.  Shall be responsible for all official  correspondence of  ministry.

The Clerk will initiate the prayer chain when called upon.

The Clerk shall notify board members and the general ministry membership as necessary  of the place, time, and date of various meetings which pertain to those individuals.

The Clerk shall provide dual documents of all important ministry records and notes for filing in the ministry office. At the clerks discretion he or she  may maintain this file for the ministry.

Upon the resignation of the Clerk,  he or she shall surrender all the ministry  and corporation paper kept in the clerks possession to the board of directors for their keeping until a new clerk is appointed.    .

 

Official records of the clerk of the ministry

Clerk is the keeper of the listing of officially authorized ministry;

Clerk is the keeper of the official list of ministry voting members:

Clerk is the recorder of all credentials given by the ministry;

Clerk is to be the holder of or original copy of the articles of incorporation and stamped and sealed by the State of New Hampshire in the ministry office.

Clerk is the keeper of the original 501 (c) 3 determination for tax exempt status in the ministry office.

Clerk is to have a copy of the latest constitution and by-law.
Only the clerk and Executive Director will have official copies.

Clerk is to be the keeper of our official E.I.N certificate from the IRS in the ministry office.

Clerk is the recorder of the ministry business and board meeting minutes.
These should be keep neat and organized for referral back to time when a decision was made about any item. Currently we have some loose ends and these will first need sorting, organizing and review. Additional minutes of out last business meeting should be read at the next business meeting. The same hold true for the board meeting.

TREASURER

The Board of Directors shall seek and appoint a treasurer for the of ministry of New Life-New England.

The Treasurer shall serve for an indefinite period of time and shall become an official member of the board.

The board shall determine the need of compensation for the treasurer based upon current size, scope, and needs of the ministry.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping the finical records of the ministry, he or she shall be the primary signature to ministry checks, (other signatures shall be the Executive Director  and Clerk),  shall receive all ministry funds and pay all ministry bills.

The Treasurer shall deliver a verbal finical report at all board meetings and written financial report at the annual business meeting.

The Treasurer shall keep current of the ministry tax requirements and file appropriate forms with governmental authorities when due.

The Treasurer shall make known to the board any serious financial trend.

The Treasurer shall employ the services of an independent out side accounting firm to audit the ministry books when the ministry annual income exceeds seventy five thousand dollars and shall maintain standards in keeping with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

 

MEMBERSHIP

Membership with New Life-New England ministry  is  open to all professing Christian believers who are committed Christian Workers,  Ministers, Staff and fellow believers.

Qualification to join as a member are

      1.     Agreement with the theological and philosophical statement of the ministry.

      2.     Personal profession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

     3.      Experience Christian Baptism.

     4.      Demonstration of Christian character in personal life.

     5.      Recommendation by the Board of Elders to the membership at the annual       
             or quarterly meeting with a 2/3rds vote required to carry.

     6.      Engaged in a local Evangelical Christian Church.

     7.      Be engaged actively in ongoing Christian ministry.

     8.      Willingness to regularly pray for the ministry of New Life-New England.

     9.      Remembering the financial needs of New Life-New England.

     10.    Be in attendance annually to one of the fellowship quarterly gatherings.

All individuals receiving credentials of ministry from New Life-New England Ministry will automatically become members. The same holds true for officers and board members.

Individuals desiring to unite in fellowship with New Life-New England should make there interest know to the Executive Director or the Associate Director who will review the request with the Executive Council of Elders prior to their recommendation to the board which will in turn present the individual(s) to the entire membership.

Credentials for Women:

 

It is the policy of New Life-New England to grant credential of Christian ministry to both men and women. Acts 2:18

Scripture and time have both shown that God has used both very effectively in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The biblical qualification are the same.

Example of women in ministry

     Serving the Church

  Ro. 16:1  "I COMMEND UNTO  YOU PHOEBE OUR SISTER, WHICH IS A SERVANT OF THE CHURCH AT CENCHREA".

  Ro. 16:3   "GREET PRISCILLA AND AQUILA, MY FELLOW WORKERS IN CHRIST'.

     Prophetesses

   Miriam, EX 15:20  Deborah, JUD 4:4

One should conduct an extended study of the role of women in leadership.  Two qualifying entity come to light.

Women need and should seek the spiritual covering as prescribe in Christ example to His Father.  Re: Eph. 5:21-30.

Miriam serviced with authority, the authority extended to her by Moses which he received from God.

Deborah was clearly the spiritual giant yet she recognized God's order and insisted that Balak provide the ultimate leadership covering for Israel to follow into battle. 

It is the intention of New Life-New England to provide the tools for effective and purposeful ministry for women with the following limitations.

Credentialized women in ministry should always seek the spiritual covering of the Elders in the church where she serves.  If no spiritual covering exists she should withhold her ministry (re: Exective Council of Elders).     Women ordained by New Life-New England should not seek a senior pastoral position nor should they seek a position where they would be ruling over men or ruling elders. It is further understood that ordained women could not serve on the Executive Council of Elders of New Life-New England,  but would be conferred upon when a woman is seeking ordination.

     Ordained Women in fellowship with New Life-New England are free to conduct their ministry as the Holy Spirit direct
and are empowered to perform any and all duties normal and legally associated with the Christian Ministry.

     Men and Women who have received their credentials of ministry from New Life-New England should keep in mind that they are representative at all time of the Lord Jesus Christ and New Life-New England  and should conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the call.