Over the last several years things have changed dramatically both in our country and culture and within our church. There are 2 main reasons for these changes. 

1. To ensure that we are in compliance to gain for our church the best possible tax advantages and to continue to operate in a fashion that would honor the Lord and the country we abide in.
2. So that our bylaws reflect the structure of leadership we believe honors the Lord and His Word. By that we mean checks and balances and shared responsibility among our Senior Leadership Team.

The major changes surround the type of leadership and government of the church.

• Our current model emphasizes pastoral authority with little accountability. Over the years we have changed this practically by elevating those men who have been ordained by the church to Gospel ministry as our pastoral staff. By adopting our new bylaws we will still have a lead pastor with pastoral authority but he will be accountable to the Senior Leadership Team in his execution of duties and display of his character. The Bible teaches the need for a plurality of elders and this is a reflection of that. In our former model, the pastor was the soul authority over the church.
• Our church has always been a limited voting congregation with most of the day to day decisions carried out by the Senior Pastor. The main change in this will the authority vested in the Senior Leadership Team to vote on major decisions not reserved for the church. This does not preclude the voting of the church for the bottom line budget, ordaining deacons and pastors and voting for those who will represent them on the Senior Leadership Team.
• The reason for these changes is to provide accountability to the Lead Pastor ensuring the responsible carrying out of his duties. A recent example was the need to replace our furnaces for the Hall. The team agreed upon the course of action needed to be taken. 

No doctrine has been abandoned. Clarity has been provided and the elimination of some cultural pushback has been determined. There is a new covenant which better reflects who we are and why we are members of one another as well.

What has changed?

1. We simplified the language on abortion to simply state that we believe that life begins at conception and that we are prolife.
2. We clarified and condensed the section on Separation by eliminating some cultural prohibitions which were not supported by the Bible such as tattoos and piercings.
3. We reinforced the language on Human Sexuality, taking into consideration the current cultural confusion. (This is because our SoF is part of our bylaws needs to be protective against such confusion.)
4. We clarified that the tithe meaning 10% of our income is an example provided by the Lord. We must however purpose in our own hearts with the Lord what we shall give in support of our church and should give accordingly as we prosper.
5. Divorce and Remarriage was adjusted to include the following line “We also interpret the Scripture to apply abuse or neglect
   for consideration.”