IABCS Constitution
Article I – Name
The name of this non-profit organization shall be the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BIBLE COLLEGES AND SEMINARIES. The principle office of this organization shall be located in the State of Georgia.
Article II – Purposes
The Purpose of this Association shall be:
- To furnish a basis for fellowship and mutual helpfulness among Christian educational institutions of higher learning operating in the Biblical field.
- To make it possible for Christian institutions of higher education to continue their evangelical and denominational integrity and at the same time provide and maintain the highest academic standards.
- To furnish, recognize, and verify certain standardized requirements in various fields in which the representative institutions operate that will be in keeping with, and acceptable to, other accredited institutions of higher education.
- To assist the institutions in offering Christian education of postsecondary school level for effective Christian service or ministries through a program of Biblical, general and professional studies that effect student physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.
- To improve the quality of this education by carefully described criteria of institutional excellence that will encourage self-examination and stimulate healthy growth
- To provide a means of membership and certification of Bible Colleges and Seminaries, similar to that of other national and regional agencies.
ARTICLE III—BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP AND DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
- The basis of fellowship shall be mutual and cooperative.
- Institutions seeking entrance to this Association shall subscribe officially in writing to the following Doctrinal Statement.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired and the only infallible authority Word of God.
- We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Virgin Birth, in His life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death and atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal and literal second coming in power and glory.
- We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he was tempted by Satan and fell, and that, because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation.
- We believe that salvation is through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life and by whom the Church is empowered to carry out Christ’s great commission.
- We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the saved to the resurrection of life and the lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- All institutions uniting with this Association shall agree to operate in keeping with standards set up by this Association.
ARTICLE IV—MEMBERSHIP
- This Association shall be composed of Institutions which shall satisfactorily conform with the doctrinal, ethical, and scholastic standards of membership as outlined in the Constitution and By-laws of this Association, and which shall be accepted into membership by vote of the Association.
- A Bible College or Seminary shall be eligible for membership if it satisfactorily conforms to the Associational standards
- The Membership of this Association is its controlling body and the Officers of this corporation are its agents. The Officers are not to be responsible individually for torts made by the Corporation.
ARTICLE V—OFFICERS
The officers of this Association shall consist of:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary-Tresurer
- Executive Secretary
These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee
ARTICLE VI-ELECTION OF OFFICERS
All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of those present and qualified to vote at the annual meeting of this Association, and shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. The following defines term limits for the officers of this Association:
- A term will be considered as three years,
- The limit will be two terms,
- After two terms, an individual can serve again after the completion of one full term unless there is a need due to a vacancy at which time the President can appoint a replacement as stipulated in the By-Laws, Article II, Section
ARTICLE VII—MEETING
This Association shall meet annually for times of fellowship and inspiration, to discuss the business matters of the Association, to bring up new and necessary improvements in standards, to elect officers, to receive reports of and concerning the member institutions, and to consider new applications. Other meetings may be called by the President during the year as necessity may demand.
ARTICLE VIII—INCORPORATION
This Association is incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia, as a corporation not for profit, and shall function only in such capacity. B. The International Association has been recognized by the District Director, Internal Revenue Service, as of August 30, 1968, with regard to contributions made to the Association: “Contributions made to you are deductible by donors as provided in section 170 of the code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to or for your use are deductible for Federal estate and gift purposes under the provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the code.” C. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions of the payment of all the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the purpose of the corporation, in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine.
ARTICLE IX—CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
- The above ARTICLES shall form the Constitution of this Association and may be changed or amended at any annual meeting upon the approval of 2/3 majority vote, provided such amendments and changes have been furnished in writing to each member institution at least 30 days in advance.
- This Association shall set up By-Laws for governing of membership, administration, and standards as it may deem fitted to the need.