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Constitution of the Alliance World Fellowship
As approved by the Quadrennial Convocation 2000.

Preamble
In the providence of God, evangelical churches raised up through the ministry of The Christian & Missionary Alliance and found under a variety of names in many nations of the world are led to manifest more fully their oneness by uniting in a worldwide fellowship.

Article I. Name
The name by which this fellowship shall be known is The Alliance World Fellowship.

Article II. Mission
The mission of the AWF is to facilitate cooperation amongst its member churches as they work for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. (Quadrennial 1995)

1. To affirm our commitment to the Bible, God's Word, as His complete and authoritative written revelation to man.

2. To bear testimony to the particular truths of the Fourfold Gospel: Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King.

3. To support and encourage one another in the task of Mission and Evangelism which we understand to be the special calling of the Church.

4. To provide opportunity and encourage expression of fellowship among members of The Alliance World Fellowship.

5. To provide a non-legislative means of consultation and cooperation among the world community of the member churches

6. To share our mutual concerns and insights relating to the various crucial, spiritual, and temporal issues of the Church. .

7. To promote ministerial and missionary education.

8. To uphold one another in prayer and administer relief in times of crisis.

9. To advance unity of theological and moral standards among the members of The Alliance World Fellowship.

10. To promote the exchange of personnel in special areas of ministry.

Article IV. Statement of Faith
There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He arose from the dead according to the Scriptures. He is now at the right hand of the majesty on high as our great High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.

The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God and are a complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men. They constitute the divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God; he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The portion of the impenitent and unbelieving is existence forever in conscious torment; and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss.

Salvation has been provided through Jesus Christ for all men; and those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and become the children of God.

It is the will of God that each believer should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be Sanctified wholly, being separated from sin and the world and fully dedicated to the will of God, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. This is both a crisis and a progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer subsequent to conversion.

Provision is made in the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the healing of the mortal body. Prayer for the sick and anointing with oil are taught in the Scriptures and are privileges for the Church in this present age.

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church, which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations.
The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the gospel, and observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

There will be a bodily resurrection of the just and of the unjust; for the former, a resurrection unto life; for the latter, a resurrection unto judgment.

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is imminent and will be personal, visible, and pre-millennial. This is the believers blessed hope and is a vital truth, which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service.

Article V. Membership
Church bodies and organizations raised up through the ministry of member churches of this fellowship that accept The Alliance World Fellowship Constitution may be admitted to membership.

Other church bodies that share this same understanding of truth and purpose may be eligible for associate membership by accepting The Alliance World Fellowship Constitution. Associate membership gives full fellowship opportunities, but without privilege of election to office.

Application for associate membership of a national church body will be accepted only after consultation and approval of the member body church in that country. Final approval rests with the executive committee of The Alliance World Fellowship.

Membership in The Alliance World Fellowship does not restrict the relationship of any member church body with other churches or inter-church organizations that are known as conservative evangelicals.

Any member church body deviating in doctrine or practice from the principles of this Constitution may be subject to suspension or expulsion from The Alliance World Fellowship. Any such disciplinary action must be ratified by the Quadrennial Convocation.

1. The Quadrennial Convocation.
The Quadrennial Convocation which is made up the official voting delegates of the Member Churches and Organizations shall be the highest legislative body of the Alliance World Fellowship. Special Convocations may be called by the Executive Committee as the need may arise to deal with urgent and critical issues affecting the Fellowship (Quadrennial 2000).

The Convocation has the power to approve and amend Constitutions and By-laws, enact policies, elect the Officers of the Fellowships, and to transact business during the convocation" (Quadrennial 2000).

2. Quadrennial Meeting.
The fellowship shall have a plenary convocation quadrennially. Member churches may send qualified delegates of their choosing. Each member organization is entitled to one official delegate. Additional official delegates may be sent with the basis of representation being one additional delegate for each 5, 000 registered national church members over 10,000. No national church body is entitled to more than five (5) official delegates. An Associate Member organization is entitled to representation on the same basis.

National churches may send any number of Corresponding Delegates to the Quadrennial Convocation, but without the right to vote. All corresponding delegates will attend at their own expense. (Quadrennial 1995)

Each member organization is entitled to one official delegate at AWF expense contingent on payment of all dues. (Quadrennial 1995)

3. Quorum.
A quorum shall be constituted by 2/3 of the registered delegates at the Quadrennial Convocation.

4. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the Regional Coordinators, and the Executive Director. The Quadrennial Convocation shall elect the President and the Treasurer by a majority vote (half plus one). The Executive Committee shall elect the Vice-President and Secretary from among its members by a majority vote (half plus one).

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for all the functions of the fellowship between the meetings of the Quadrennial Convocation. It shall fill up vacancies in the Executive Committee should such vacancies occur between Quadrennial Convocations. The terms for such appointments to the vacancies are only up to the next quadrennial meeting. The Executive Committee shall meet annually, if practical, at such times and places as it may determine. Between meetings, the Committee may conduct business by postal, telecommunications and other media (Quadrennial 2000).

The executive director of the Alliance World Fellowship shall be a member ex-officio of the executive committee. (Quadrennia/1.9.95)

A. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of The Alliance World Fellowship. He is eligible for election to no more than two consecutive four-year terms. (Quadrennial 1995)

B. Vice-President. The Vice-President is appointed by the Executive Committee from among its members by a majority vote (half plus one). He shall perform the duties of the President in his absence and other duties as may be delegated to him by the President. He is eligible for election to no more than two consecutive four-year terms" (Quadrennial 2000).

C. Secretary. "The Secretary is appointed by the Executive Committee from among its members by a majority vote (half plus one). He shall keep the records of the fellowship and perform such other duties, as the executive committee shall direct. He is eligible for election to no more than two consecutive four-year terms"(Quadrennial 2000).

D. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and be accountable for all funds of the fellowship. He shall disburse funds at the direction of the executive committee. His books shall be audited at the direction of the executive committee. He is eligible for election to no more than two consecutive four-year terms.

E. Regional Coordinators. The Regional Coordinators shall be members of the Alliance World Fellowship Executive Committee (Quadrennial 2000).

F. Executive Director. The Executive Director of the Alliance World Fellowship is nominated by the executive committee and is elected at the quadrennial meeting by a two-thirds vote. He does not have the right to vote on the executive committee. (Quadrennial 1995)

5. Headquarters.
The headquarters of the Alliance World Fellowship shall be designated by its executive committee. (Quadrennial 1995)

6. Regional Members.
That the Alliance World Fellowship shall be composed of five (5) geographical regions, namely: (1) Latin America, (2) Asia and Pacific Islands, (3) Europe and the Middle East, (4) North America, and (5) Africa. The Quadrennial shall determine the member countries of each Region (Quadrennial 2000).

The Regional Conference. The Regional Conference shall be composed of the voting delegates of the Member Bodies in the Region. The Conference shall elect the Officers and members of the Regional Coordinating Committee and shall approve a Regional By-laws which is not inconsistent with the Alliance World Fellowship Constitution and By-laws. The Regional By-laws shall take effect upon approval by the Alliance World Fellowship Executive Committee (Quadrennial 2000).

Article VII. Nominations
The officers shall be elected at the Quadrennial Convocation.

A nominating committee of not less than five members shall be elected at the Quadrennial Convocation. As a principle, the nominating committee shall represent geographical areas (groupings) as follows: (1) Latin America, (2) Asia and Pacific Islands, (3) Europe and Middle East (4) North America, and (5) Africa. (Quadrennial 1995)

The nominating committee shall place in nomination one name each for the office of President and Treasurer (Quadrennial 2000). Nominations may be made from the floor. The Election shall be by secret ballot (Quadrennial 1995).

Article VIII. Budget and Finance
The work of the Alliance World Fellowship shall be financed by its participating members, each contributing by subscription according to its proportionate size and ability.

A budget shall be presented to the Quadrennial Convocation of The Alliance World Fellowship by the Executive committee. It will be effective when approved by the Quadrennial Convocation.

Article IX. Bylaws
The Alliance World Fellowship Bylaws, not in conflict with the provisions of this Constitution, may be adopted by the Quadrennial Convocation of the fellowship.

Article X. Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution may be made by a two-thirds vote of the Quadrennial Convocation of the Alliance World Fellowship. Proposed amendments must be sent in writing to member church bodies at least one year prior to the Quadrennial Convocation.

Article XI. Transitory Provisions
The position of the Executive Director will not be filled up during the Quadrennial Convocation 2000. The situation will be evaluated during the next Quadrennial.

The Quadrennial Convocation 2000 elect a qualified President who shall be seconded by his or any Organization to the Alliance World Fellowship and that he shall be both the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chief Executive officer of Alliance World Fellowship. The situation will be evaluated during the next Quadrennial.

The amendments to this Constitution shall take effect immediately upon approval by the Quadrennial Convocation 2000 (Quadrennial 2000).