Amendment to the Bylaws Regarding

                                Same sex marriage'

 

 

 

Amendments to Constitution

 

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at a called business meeting announced for that purpose.

 

Church’s Resolution on Same Sex Marriage

RESOLUTION ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE

Approved March 21, 2015

 

WHEREAS, Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine believes the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written Word of God; and

WHEREAS, Genesis 1:27 defines the institution of marriage as the union of one man and one woman;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the following statement shall serve to restate the position of the Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine regarding same sex marriage:

While the General Assembly of the Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine (FTCDAD) passed a proclamation clearly delineating its position on same sex marriage on March 21, 2015, the times dictate that we reaffirm that position amid the changing winds that have modified the norms of our nation.  In light of this moral shift we confidently stand on the authority of Scripture to validate the definition of marriage.

Although marriage, in a civil context, is recognized by legal authorities, we hold that God established rules governing marriage long before governments began regulating the institution.  As such, this sacred, God-ordained institution is to be a life-long, sexually exclusive relationship and divine covenant between one man and one woman.

The opening book of the Bible tells us: “A man will leave his father and his mother and he must cleave to his wife and they must become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).  The Hebrew word “wife” connotes one who is a female human being.  Jesus confirmed that those yoked together in marriage should be “male and female” (Matthew 19:4).  Therefore, God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman.  Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional, spiritual, and sexual needs and desires.

The FTCDAD holds the institution of marriage in the highest regard and strongly opposes any legal sanction of marriage outside of its biblical context.  Therefore, deviations from that context, such as the legalization of same-sex “marriage” cannot be supported by the FTCDAD as a matter of biblical principle as we hold the Word of God as our standard for faith and practice.  We therefore unequivocally affirm that marriage is a covenant relationship between a man and woman and reject all attempts to redefine marriage in terms of same-sex unions.

By restating our position on same sex marriage, we neither intend to defame or disparage any group of individuals nor are we moved by personal hatred.  Our only intent is the defense of biblical marriage.  We embrace Jesus’ command to love our neighbor and reject the notion that love requires the affirmation of that, which is in conflict with our biblical perspective.  We hold that there is no contradiction between Christian compassion and a call for biblical obedience and holy living.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the FTCDAD condemns acts of violence against and the subjugation of any person to verbal or physical harassment on the basis of their sexual practice.  Such action violates the Christian’s obligation to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that credential holders within the FTCDAD, in obedience to God’s command, will neither perform same-sex marriages, nor bless or condone such a union.  Our church properties will not be leased, rented, or loaned for any purpose related to such a union.

 

Done this 21st day of March 2015

Bishop Leonard Neal Smith, Presiding Bishop

Bishop Willie Young

Bishop Darnell Wiggs

Pastor Arneta Finney, National Mother

Evangelist Evelyn Baker, Finance Secretary

Elder Arthur Crandell, Finance Committee

Deacon Melvyn Thompson, Finance Committee

Evangelist Lisa Smith, National Secretary

Evangelist Caroline Williams, National Youth President

Missionary Jackie Crandell, Asst. National Secretary

 

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARATION AND APOLOGETIC OF MARRIAGE

(A Biblical Response to Same-Sex Marriage)

Let it be known by men everywhere, that the General Assembly of the Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine, has adopted this twenty-first day of March, year of our Lord, two-thousand fifteen, in Bridgeton, New Jersey, this Proclamation on Marriage.

We, the Presiding Bishop, the General Board and the Board of Bishops of the Faith Tabernacle of Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine, solemnly proclaim that the institution of marriage was established and ordained by God (Genesis 2:24).  Therefore “God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them” (Genesis 1:27).  He created “the woman for the man” (I Corinthians 11:9). Therefore, “marriage is honorable” (Hebrews 13:4).

We believe that since the beginning of recorded history, in most cultures around the world, marriage has been defined as the lawful union of one man and one woman.  The traditional form of marriage is one of the bedrock institutions of most societies.  We, therefore, affirm the preservation of the present definition of marriage as being the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.

We believe that, “Children are a heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”      (Psalms 127:3).  In order to provide for continuation of the species, God created within male and female the potential for bearing children.  The first commandment given to Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.” (Genesis 1:28).  Marriage between male and female provide the structure for conceiving and raising children.  Compliance with this command of God is a physical and biological impossibility in same-sex unions.  We, therefore, believe that only marriages between male and female, as ordained by God, is essential for the procreation of mankind.

We believe that the homosexual practices of same-sex couples are in violation of religious and social norms and are aberrant and deviant behavior.  We believe that these unions are sinful and in direct violation of the law of God in that they are a deviation from the natural use and purpose of the body.  “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.  For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due.” (Romans 1:26-27 NKJV).  We believe that to legalize such unions will signal ecclesiastical and social approval of homosexuality and sexual deviancy as legitimate lifestyles.

Therefore, in spite of the progressive normalization of alternative lifestyles and the growing legal acceptance of same-sex unions; we declare our opposition to any deviation from traditional marriages of male and female.  Notwithstanding the rulings of the court systems of the land in support of same-sex unions; we resolve the Faith Tabernacle Church of Deliverance of the Apostolic Doctrine stand resolutely firm and never allow the sanctioning of same-sex marriages by its clergy nor recognize the legitimacy of such unions.