OCS Statement of Faith

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The Inter-denominational Church of God is a Christian Church seeking and saving those who are lost. We are a place where people can come in out of the storm, find rest and experience the transforming power of God for the expansion of His Kingdom worldwide. 

In order to fulfill the great commission as expressed in Matthew 28:19-20, the Inter-denominational Church of God exists to: 

 - Introduce people to Jesus Christ

 - Instruct them to grow in faith, 

 - Involve them with other Christians,

 - Include them in serving others, and

 - Inspire them to worship God with their lives. 

(i) to serve the Church of God by proclaiming the Evangelical Gospel of salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 

(ii) in particular, to provide opportunity for lay persons in all WCC denominations who are of suitable character, gifts and graces, and have a sense of divine called vocation to evangelical and/or missionary service of any kind. To devote themselves actively to such service for a limited period (or limited periods) of years. In Spiritual training in Theology and practical service. As and when the need and opportunity may exist or arise. Furthermore, to be sent by the executive where any such need may exist unsatisfied or such opportunity remain neglected, to encourage such persons as aforesaid to offer themselves for such service. 

(iii)to receive and accept donations for the promotion of the objects of the Order; and to finance or contribute to any activity falling within the objects of the Order; 

(iv) to do all such other things as may be deemed incidental or conducive to the attainment of the primary object aforesaid; and without limiting the generality of the aforegoing: 

(a) to acquire and hold, sell, hire, lease, or otherwise deal with immovable and/or movable property of any description; 

(b) to invest and deal with the monies of the Order, not immediately required, in such manner as may from time to time be determined; 

(c) to borrow or raise money in such manner as the Executive Committee may think fit and to secure the repayment of any money borrowed, raised or owing by mortgage or pledge of the whole or any part of the property or assets 

(d) To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue all monetary finances as permitted by the South African Reserve bank. 

(e) to institute and/or defend any legal proceedings for and in the name of the Order; 

(f) to enter into any arrangements with any W C C Church, associations, society, theological colleges and tertiary institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Order, as may seem conducive to the attainment of the objects of the Order. 

Methodism as a form of Christian belief and practice derives from a movement that began with the life and ministry of John and Charles Wesley who desired to bring a greater spiritual enthusiasm to the life of the Church of England in the 18th century. Methodist churches claim to be part of the church universal, believing in the priesthood of all believers and following a pattern of organization established by John Wesley when he organized pastoral oversight for the societies of Methodists which developed as a result of his preaching. The weekly class-meeting for "fellowship in Christian experience" played an important part in the beginnings of Methodism.  

Calvinism is the theological system associated with the Reformer John Calvin that emphasizes the rule of God over all things as reflected in its understanding of Scripture, God, humanity, salvation, and the church. In popular vernacular, Calvinism often refers to the Five Points of Calvinistic doctrine regarding salvation, which make up the acrostic TULIP. In its broader sense, Calvinism is associated with Reformed theology. 

 The Order is established as a body corporate, having a persona in law independent of its members and having perpetual succession. As such , The Order shall, inter alia, be entitled in its own name to acquire, hold and alienate property, both immovable and/or movable and in its own name to institute and/or defend any legal proceedings as aforesaid. As a body corporate the Order shall accordingly also be competent to acquire rights and incur obligations independently of its members for the time being; and the individual members of the Order shall not be liable for any of the debts, obligations and engagements of the Order. Their liability being limited to any undischarged obligations as donors or subscribers to the Order. The Executive Committee hereinafter referred to and the officers of the Order shall not have authority to contract on behalf of any member or to bind any member's credit. It is further expressly recorded that the Order is not formed for the purpose of carrying out any business that has as its object the acquisition of gain by the Order or by the individual members there of.  

So shall be carried out by the Warden or appointed executive members. The Warden shall retain the right to grant the use of Sacraments upon a field worker to perform their ministerial duties. 

Subject to the provisions of any relevant agreement:- 

(i) A member of the Order shall be entitled to resign after giving three months' written notice to the executive committee. Or such shorter period of notice as the executive committee may agree to accept from the member; 

(ii) the executive committee shall have the right, in its unchallengeable discretion, to withdraw from any member at any time the right to continue as a member of the Order; Be disciplined under the prescribed laws and Discipline of the members affiliated church. 

(iii) after two years, Home Members will be asked to reconsider the implications of their membership, and renew their support for a further two-year period. 

At least once a year, preferably in the months of February or March, the Executive Committee shall cause a meeting of members to be convened and shall lay before them for their information and comment / report on the work of the Order and statements of account in respect of the immediately preceding financial year; it being understood that, unless otherwise resolved by the Order in general meeting, its financial year shall terminate on the 31st December in each and every year.  The statements of account presented to members at the annual meeting shall comprise Revenue and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet of the assets and liabilities of the Order, in such detail as may be considered advisable by the Treasurer, and such account and Balance Sheet shall be signed by the Warden and Treasurer as well as by the auditor of the Order. 

The general management of the Order shall be conducted by an Executive Committee consisting of a Warden (who shall act as Chairman of the Executive Committee and of the Order); a Secretary, a Treasurer and five other members of the Order. 

The Rev. A. J. T. Cook is the first Warden of the Order. The Warden and Secretary and Treasurer (who shall be members of the Order) and the five other members of the Executive Committee, shall be elected by the members of the Order at the Annual Meeting of the Order.  

The Executive Committee may fill any temporary vacancy of the committee from members of the Order. The Executive Committee be given power to co-opt up to five extra members and to appoint honorary members as required.