As adopted at the Annual General Meeting on May 3, 2025.
Preamble
In our love for the authentic Church in the Reformed tradition, including The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and in gratitude to God for its contribution to our spiritual growth, we as believers desire to be united in common fellowship.
In prayer to Jesus Christ, as King and Head of the Church, our Saviour and Lord, we see the need, first personally and then corporately, for a rediscovery of theology and practice which adheres to orthodoxy as we seek to submit totally to our Triune God and strive to follow the commands of Christ in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Accordingly, seeking to bring glory to our sovereign God, we have banded together in common resolve and commitment.
- The Name of this Fellowship shall be “The Renewal Fellowship within The Presbyterian Church in Canada.”
- The Objects of the Fellowship shall be as follows:
(a) The establishment of means of contact and encouragement for those interested in evangelical renewal within any Reformed expression of Christ’s Church, including The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
(b) The promotion of publications and other materials that would clarify the concerns that we share, providing biblical and theological comment and encouraging practical and specific ideas for their achievement through various media.
- Membership. The Membership of this Fellowship shall be composed of individuals:
(a) who are members or adherents of any Reformed expression of Christ’s Church which upholds the trustworthiness of Scripture, and
(b) who are in agreement with the objects of this Fellowship, as stated above, and
(c) who are prepared to signify their agreement with the Statement of Faith (Appendix A) and
(d) who have contributed a membership fee of $10 to the Fellowship within the past year.
- The Board of Directors
(a) The Board shall be in agreement with Our Doctrinal Basis. The Board shall consist of six elected representatives, of whom not more than three shall be ordained teaching elders. Two of their number shall be elected at each annual meeting. The Executive Director shall be a seventh non-voting member of the Board.
(b) The Board shall have authority to conduct all business arising in the Fellowship between annual meetings. It shall meet at least three times a year, in person or by electronic means. The Board may fix in advance the day of the month in which such meetings will be held, and, in the absence of a resolution fixing such dates, the meeting shall be held at the call of the chair.
(c) Notice of all Board meetings shall be given to all members of the Board not less than one week (7 days) prior to the meeting.
(d) Four of the elected members of the Board shall be designated as officers in the following roles: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer (voting). The Executive Director (non-voting) is also a member of the Board.
(f) The officers of the Board shall constitute the officers of the Fellowship. With the exception of the Executive Director, they shall be elected to their officer positions within the Board, by the Board following each annual meeting and as required to fill vacancies.
(g) Board members will normally be appointed for three years with a possibility of being renewed once for another three-year term. Normally a year’s pause would take place before further service on the Board. Provision and management of those serving partial terms will be decided by the Board of Directors.
- Purpose of gain.
The organization shall be carried on without purpose of financial gain for its members and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used in promoting its objects.
- Banking arrangements
(a) All monies received by or on behalf of the Fellowship shall be recorded and deposited in a Bank to be named by the Treasurer and approved by the Board.
(b) All cheques issued on behalf of the Fellowship shall require just one signature, and that signature to be that of one of the Board members or the Administrative Assistant. Any cheques being issued over $1,000 will require the prior approval of the Board.
- The Head Office shall be in the Province of Ontario
- Executive Director
(a) There shall be an Executive Director of The Fellowship, who shall be hired by the Board.
(b) The Executive Director shall have the responsibility of conducting the affairs of the Fellowship in accordance with the objects herein set forth, and shall act in cooperation with, and under the oversight of, the Board.
(c) The Executive Director shall receive compensation pro-rated to at least equivalent to the minimum provided to the ministers in their denomination and subject to annual review.
- The Duties of the Officers of the Fellowship
(a) The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Fellowship and of the Board when present and shall assist the Executive Director as may be required.
(b) The Vice-Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Fellowship and of the Board in the absence of the Chairperson and shall assist the Chairperson and the Executive Director as may be required.
(c) The Treasurer shall receive all monies paid into the Fellowship, shall bank all monies received, and shall keep continuous record of all receipts and expenditures on behalf of the Fellowship. The treasurer shall present a financial statement of the Fellowship at each annual meeting and at each meeting of the Board and shall be responsible for the maintenance of a list of contributions made by the members and supporters.
(d) The Secretary shall be responsible for the recording of the minutes of the annual meetings of the Fellowship and of all meetings of the Board. The treasurer shall be responsible for conducting necessary correspondence of the Board and shall be responsible for the maintenance of a current list of members and supporters and their addresses.
(e) The Executive Director shall perform the duties outlined in Article 8 (b).
(f) The Officers of the Fellowship shall make the necessary registration agreement with the Canada Revenue Agency to enable the issuance of receipts for contributions valid for Income Tax purposes.
- Meetings
(a) The Fellowship shall meet once via online platform every year at a time to be named by the Board.
(b) Notice of all meetings of the Fellowship shall be provided to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the said meeting.
(c) Voting: Individual members whose membership fee has been received seven (7) days prior to the meeting shall be entitled to a single vote at each meeting of the Fellowship.
(d) Nominating procedure: The Board shall serve as its own Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for the Board as provided in section 4(a). Further nominations for candidates for these categories may be made from the floor at any annual meeting.
(e) Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
- Financial Review: An independent annual financial review shall be arranged by the Board.
- Amendments:
(a) Amendments to this Constitution may be made at any annual meeting of the Fellowship by a two-thirds majority vote of members present.
(b) Notice of any proposed amendment shall be in writing and shall be forwarded to all members of the Fellowship at least (30) days prior to any annual meeting at which the proposed amendment shall be considered.
- Vacancies: If the office of any officer or member of the Board becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, the vacancy may be filled by the Board until the next election.
Our Vision, Mission, and Passion
Our Vision is to experience God’s renewal of our lives, our congregations, our church courts, our theological schools and everywhere Canadian presbyterian and reformed believers connect.
Our Mission is to lead each other and The Presbyterian Church in Canada to authentic Biblical thinking, powerful Spirit-led prayer and effective Gospel witness.
Our Passion is to pray fervently for:
- the Lord to renew His church for authentic witness and consistent obedience.
- fresh power and authority for the local congregation through the breath of God in our structures and organizations.
- responsible participation in the courts of the church.
- a deep hunger for the authentic teaching of the Bible and its authority.
- a recall to lives of Biblical purity, especially on the part of those entrusted with leadership of the people of God.
- a rediscovery of the joy of adhering to lifestyles of Biblical orthodoxy in deliberate contrast to secular culture and values.
- a zeal for reaching those lost without God and without hope in the world.
- fellowship among believers to encourage a continuing evangelical reformed witness in Canada, including within The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
NOTE: A PDF version of the Constitution can be downloaded here.