Constitution & By-Laws

Constitution & By-Laws of Compass Point Ministries, Inc.
A Baptist home for Christian men

Administrative Offices:
368 Lincoln Street
Abington, MA 02351
Office/Fax: (508) 427-7724
Cell Phone: (508) 941-4027

The name of the organization will be referred to herein as "Compass Point Ministries."

The residence shall be a property in Brockton, MA

Table of Contents

Explanation of Organizational Documents
Article I: Name
Article II: Purpose
Article III: General Guidelines
Article IV: Baptist Distinctives
Article V: Statement of Faith

Explanation of Organizational Documents

1) Articles of Incorporation - The Articles of Incorporation are, from a legal standpoint, a most needful element in the organization of a ministry that exists to serve a particular purpose or meet the spiritual and practical needs for a specifically designated segment of people. Incorporation allows the ministry to be recognized in the eyes of the law (federal, state, and local).

It allows the financial offerings of the ministry to be tax deductible, and avoids many legal problems that could arise if the ministry were not incorporated, Copies of the Articles of Incorporation are filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are retained by the ministry as well.

2) Constitution - The Constitution is a set of governing principles upon which a ministry is organized. These principles are basic to the ministry's existence.

3) By-Laws- The By-Laws are secondary principles, which govern and serve as the operational standard of the ministry. These principles are subject to change more often than the basic Articles of the Constitution. The By-Laws explain how the ministry carries out the basic Articles of the Constitution.

Article I: Name

Compass Point Ministries
A Baptist Home for Christian Men

Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 427-7724

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 786 - Brockton, MA 02303
 

Article II: Our Purpose

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!"
II Corinthians 5:17

The purpose of Compass Point Ministries is to provide a short-term transitional living experience for Christian ex-offenders who need temporary housing, biblical discipleship, life skills preparation and training. It will also seek available and developed job opportunity and placement for these men.

We shall seek to serve these men by sharing the good news of salvation through the life transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). The hope and encouragement that comes through the Word of God and learned disciplines will be taught to these men for a period of three months to a year until they have established employment and have a place to reside.

"..do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
Joshua 1:7b, 8

Article III: General Ministry Guidelines

To Whom Shall We Minister?

Compass Point Ministries shall minister to men who have professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. These men can come from any age group (eighteen years or older), any racial or religious background, and will be served according to the specific needs and situation of the individual. The emphasis of this ministry shall be offered primarily to ex-offenders, and then to others by way of referrals from churches, individuals, groups and programs. A limited number of individuals may be accepted who have not served time within a correctional facility.

Length of Time Period
The length of time that a man can remain at Compass Point Ministries will depend upon his individual spiritual growth and understanding and the ability to secure responsible employment and living arrangements. Generally this period shall be from three (3) months to a year. The time period may be extended by special circumstances and can be approved by the Director of Ministry and/or the Board of Directors.

The Application Process

There will be a limited amount of available openings for the ministry at any one time. An application, a testimony, and data informational forms will be a developed waiting list for individuals to participate in the program. The Board of Directors of Compass Point Ministries reserves the right, in it's sole and absolute discretion, to accept or reject any applicant.

Exceptions to our ministry program

We presently will be unable to accept any registered sex offenders or those who need intensive substance abuse counseling. There are available programs already established within the Brockton and South Shore area for these men.

Foundation of teaching

Although we shall accept men from many different religious faiths and denominations, the teaching shall be based upon the Baptist tradition. These traditions have been determined based upon the Word of God and shall be taught in its overall scope of instruction and in the application of practical life skills.

Article IV: Baptist Distinctives

The Word of God
1) The Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is the only inspired, inerrant, and infallible authority for doctrine, Christian living and practice.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
II Timothy 3:16,17

The Priesthood of Believers
2) All believers, having been saved through faith in Jesus Christ by grace alone, have a personal relationship and direct access to God alone through Christ by the Holy Spirit.

"As you come to him, the living stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him -you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
II Peter 2:4,5

Independence from Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority
3) We believe that God has ordained and created all authorities that are found in three institutions: 1) the Family 2) the church, and 3) the government.
We understand that each institution has specific authority for people and are separate in their respective biblically assigned spheres of responsibility under God. The institution of government or a denominational ecclesiastical authority has on right to infringe its views on an autonomous and independent church or ministry institution.

1) The family - Ephesians 5:22-33
2) The Church - Acts 2:42-47 and 1 Timothy 3:1-15
3) Civil Authority - Romans 13:1-7
 

Two Ordinances of the Church
4) We recognize two ordinances within the local church

Believer's Baptism. We believe that Baptism is by immersion of a believer in water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism signifies the believer's death to sin and resurrection to a new life. This baptism has no saving ability in and of itself, but is a testimony of spiritual obedience to scriptural instruction.
Mark 1:1-8; Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:3,4

The Lord's Supper. We believe that Christ instituted the Lord's Supper for the commemoration of His death. This memorial remembrance should be conducted often and participated only by believers. The elements of communion are only symbolic representations of Christ's body and blood.
Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-24

Article V: Our Statement of Faith

Compass Point Ministries, the Board of Directors, the standing committees, the staff, and volunteers affirm the following founding principles and declaration of faith:

The Word of God - We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible are the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has the supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.

II Timothy 3:16,17; II Peter 1:20-21

The Trinity - We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit; that they are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.

Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; II Corinthians 13:14; John 14:10,26

God the Father - We believe in God, the Father, and infinite, personal Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayers.

John 6:27; I Peter 1:2,33; Hebrews 12:9; James 1:17

Jesus Christ - We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal, visible and pre-millennial return to earth.

Luke 1:34-35; Titus 3:13; Hebrews 1:8; 4:14-15; I Timothy 2:5