Church Bylaws
Last Revised 9 February, 2003

ARTICLE I

Name

This church shall be called the

UNITED CHURCH IN WALPOLE

ARTICLE 11

Purpose

The avowed purpose of this church shall be to worship God, to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to celebrate the Sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this church and the Church Universal; to render loving service toward all people; to strive for righteousness, justice and peace; and to extend the Kingdom of Christ to the world.

ARTICLE III

Government

Its government shall be vested in its members. It recognizes the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation with the United Church of Christ on association, conference, and national levels but as an autonomous church entity, the United Church of Christ shall have no legal authority over it whatsoever. We seek fellowship with all churches which acknowledge Jesus Christ to be their Redeemer and Lord.

ARTICLE IV

Faith and covenant

FAITH - This church affirms its adherence to the following Statement of Faith revised by the United Church of Christ in 1976:

"We believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, who is made known to us in Jesus our brother, and to whose deeds we testify:

God calls the worlds into being, creates humankind in the divine image, and sets before us the ways of life and death.

God seeks in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

God judges all humanity and all nations by that will of righteousness declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord, God has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the whole creation to its Creator.

God bestows upon us the Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.                                          
ARTICLE IV (Faith and Covenant) continued

God calls us into the Church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be servants in the service of the whole human family, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

God promises to all who trust in the gospel forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in that kingdom which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God. Amen.

COVENANT

"IN THE LOVE OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, WE UNITE FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND THE SERVICE OF MAN: AND AS THE LORD'S FREE PEOPLE, WE AGREE TO WALK TOGETHER IN ALL HIS WAYS MADE KNOWN, OR TO BE MADE KNOWN TO US."

ARTICLE V

Membership

All persons who were Covenant Members of the Walpole Congregational Church and Regular Members of the First Parish Unitarian Church and of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Walpole, as certified by the Clerks of said churches, are Covenant Members.

Section I Admission: This church welcomes into membership all who seek to follow Jesus Christ. Persons desiring to become members shall assent to the Covenant of the church and shall be approved by the Pastor and the Deacons Committee. Their reception into membership shall be at a service of Holy Communion upon some Lord's Day, or at a special church service designated by the Pastor and the Deacons Committee. Any person unable to attend such a service may be received at some other time and place with the approval and by the appointment of the Pastor and the Deacons Committee.

On Confession: Persons who have been baptized and who assent to the Covenant shall be eligible for membership upon satisfactory preparation.

By Letter: Persons also may become members upon presentation of an acceptable letter of dismissal and commendation from a Christian Church or upon other satisfactory evidence of membership in a Christian Church.

On Reaffirmation of Faith: Persons who have been members of a Christian Church at some earlier time may be admitted to membership upon reaffirmation of faith.

Persons who are members of a church in another community and who wish to retain that membership may in addition become members with all the privileges and responsibilities of other members.