Article 10; Church Voting
A.
Local Voting
1. All voting in the church shall be carried out in this manner;
The members shall meet in the church and a ballot box shall be placed before the altar. Ballots shall then be presented to each eligible member. Booths shall be set up on the right and left side of the altar. After debate has been carried on, concerning the matter being voted on, each member in turn, shall enter the booths, mark their ballots, and deposit them in the ballot box. After all members have voted, two witnesses shall join the Speaker; one from each side of the issue. The Speaker shall open the box and in front of the witnesses and members count the ballots and announce the results.
In the case of a vote for the removal of a Speaker from office, The Church Guardian shall count the ballots with the Speaker serving as the witness on their behalf.
B. Voting For State And National Officials
On the chosen day of election the local churches shall set up their voting booths and place their ballot box before the altar. The church's Guardian Officer and Speaker shall be in attendance at the voting place for the duration of the voting, and also, a voting registrar who shall be chosen by the congregation to serve for that election. Also, witnesses representing those being voted for may not harass or interfere with voters. The church shall be open to voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. All members wishing to vote shall enter the church and present their membership card to the voting registrar. The registrar shall check their name on the church membership list. If the registrar then finds they are a legitimate member, the registrar shall present that member with a ballot. The member may then vote, and upon leaving, place their signature beside their name on the church's membership list.
After the closing of the voting, the church Speaker and Guardian Officer and registrar shall count the ballots in the presence of the witnesses, making a total of the votes cast, and, who each individual vote was cast for. They shall then count the number of persons that voted according to the church's membership list, and make sure that the number of ballots match the number of people that voted. The Guardian Officer shall then give the church Speaker a copy of the totals. They shall then place the ballots, membership list, and totals into a proper container, lock and seal it, and give it to one of their assistants for delivery to the state headquarters where they shall be stored in the event any candidate should request a re-count.
The church Speaker may then announce the results of the voting, to the state and national headquarters, and the public. If there are any irregularities in the voting, such as more ballots than members voting, or if any ballots disappear, the state and national Guardian Officer shall investigate and any candidate may call for a re-vote in that church. If no candidate in an election receives a 2/3rds majority of total membership, and not just those voting, the election shall be declared void, and re-held.
In the event that a church member is ill or for some reason unable to reach their normal voting place, they may vote by absentee ballot. They shall notify the voting registrar that they are unable to reach the voting place. The voting registrar at the day of voting, shall send an assistant to them with a ballot accompanied by two witnesses. The voter shall then make out and seal the ballot, and sign the absentee list before the assistant and witnesses. When the assistants have completed their rounds, they shall return to the meeting place, deposit the votes in the ballot box, and present the list of absentee voters to the registrar. this list shall be signed both by the assistant, and the two witnesses.
Article 11; Meetings And Services
A.
The purpose of the weekly service is to bring praise to Spirit and encouragement to Their people. It should be a time of joy with some teaching. The following is recommended as an order of service and is given to help the congregation.
1. Prelude of music to announce service.
2. Welcoming words by Speaker or Trainee.
3. First hymn.
4 Healing prayer given by a member.
5. First reading of the day by Speaker or Trainee.
6. Second Hymn.
7. Offering is taken.
8. Prayer of Thanksgiving.
9. Second reading by regular church member who take turns participating in the services.
10. Choir sings if available.
11. Sermon of the week.
12. Third hymn.
13. Closing words.
B.
Immediately after the close of worship, before the congregation is dismissed, the Speaker shall announce the church secretary, who shall give their weekly report to the congregation, announcing the following week's activities.
C.
1. At the end of the service there shall be a chance for all members to enjoy an hour of fellowship before departing the meeting hall or temple.
2. On special occasions the service may be shortened, leaving out the second reading, sermon, and third hymn. To be replaced with a group of guest singers doing modern type music of any nature, or by short plays performed either by the adults of the congregation or the children, based on the Teachings of the church.
Article 12; State Charters
A.
When any state has five or more chartered churches, they may have a state organization if they meet the following requirements.
1. They must select a town in their state, and buy there housing for the state Speaker, state secretary, state Guardian, and state treasurer, and, office space either in one building or a group of buildings in close proximity to one-another.
2. Any person seeking elected office in the state must be willing to move to those quarters and stay there for the term of their office, if elected.
3. All state officials shall be elected to terms of five years except for the state Speaker who shall be elected for an indefinite term as is a local Speaker.
* * *
The following is a list of State Officials and their duties and requirements.
Article 13; State Speakers
A.
1. The head of each state organization must be a licensed Class A Sensitive of at least five years experience.
2. His responsibility is to coordinate any projects that are taken upon by more than one church.
3. To see to the maintaining of order in the church and to the punishment of any local official who misuses their office.
4. In the event of the resignation, death, or removal of any local official, it is the state Speaker's duty to appoint a replacement until elections can be held.
Article 14; State Guardian Officer
A.
1. It is the duty of the state Guardian Officer to assist the state Speaker in the keeping of order in the churches.
2. They are to receive the complaints and investigate any local official accused of misconduct. It is also their duty to see to the safety of the state Speaker and all property belonging to the state church.
B.
1. All Guardian Officers are elected to a term of five years. They must have at least five years experience as a local Guardian.
Article 15; State Secretary
A.
1. Each state secretary shall be elected to a term of five years. They must have at least five years experience as a secretary in a local church. Their responsibilities are;
1. To assist the state Speaker in all correspondence pertaining to their office.
2. To keep accurate records of all state meetings and functions.
3. To see to the care of all state documents.
Article 16; State Treasurer
A.
Each state treasurer is elected to a five year term. They must have at least five years experience as treasurer of a local church.
1. It is their responsibility to see that each church pays its proper percentage to the state organization and its depositing to its proper account.
2. To keep accurate books of all state funds.
3. It is also their responsibility to assist the state Guardian in the investigation of any misuse of funds by local workers. They have the authority to audit any local church's books on the request of the State Speaker.
4. It is their responsibility to prepare the checks for the distributing of state funds and the paying of state bills and present them to the state Speaker for their signature.
Article 17: State Judge
A.
1. It shall be the responsibility of each state Speaker to appoint ten judges whose responsibilities are to review any appeals of church members who have undergone trial in the local church. To make sure that the rules of the church have not been violated in their case. If they feel any member has not been treated justly, they may order a new trial in their behalf.
2. They must be Sensitives or Teachers, holding a class A certificate and having experience of at least five years in a local church.
Article 18; State Representatives
A.
1. Each church shall elect a state representative whose responsibilities it shall be to carry their church's needs and recommendations to the state Speaker.
2. The representative must have been a member of the church who has belonged for five years.
3. It shall be the responsibility of the representatives to meet two times a year to draft projects for the state organization and to present these projects to the state Speaker whose responsibility it is to decide if these suggestions are within the church's laws.
4. If the state Speaker feels that there are sufficient funds available for the projects, they may approve them.
5. These representatives receive no salary, but each church should be responsible for their traveling expenses to and from meetings.