The name of this church is Edgewood United Church. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and is ecumenical in spirit, seeking to express at the parish level a consciousness of belonging to the world-wide Christian fellowship and a desire for unity with other churches.

We affirm the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith:

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify. You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image and set before each the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin. You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles. In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself. You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races. You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory. You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end. Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto God.

We affirm the Compact of Edgewood Peoples Church of 1962:

We are banded together as a Christian Church to maintain the worship of God, to proclaim the gospel of Christ and the doctrines of the Evangelical (Protestant) faith, to develop in men and women a consciousness of their relations and duties to God and humankind, and to inspire them with love for truth, passion for righteousness, and enthusiasm for service. To this end, we pledge our loyalty to Christ and covenant with each other to strive to express this spirit in our individual and corporate life; to live together as Christian persons, and to submit ourselves to the government of this church, working, giving, praying for its increase, its purity and its peace, and seeking in every way to make it a power for the building up of the Kingdom of God.

Charter members of this church are those persons who signed the original articles of association of Edgewood Peoples Church.  A person may become a member of Edgewood United Church by baptism and confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and by pledging loyalty to and support of the church. (The designation of associate member may be requested in certain cases as described by bylaw.)

The final authority over affairs of the church rests with the congregation. The Church Council is the general policymaking body of the church between meetings of the congregation. The Church Council shall defer to the congregation decisions in matters which involve a) revisions in the staffing pattern for the operation of the church; b) the calling or dismissal of the pastor(s), interim and permanent, and members of the program staff serving half time or more; c) the purchase, conveyance, or encumbrance of real property and other substantial church assets; d) building expansion or structural modifications; e) final approval of and any amendments to the annual budget; f) denominational and affiliate relationships of the church; and g) constitutional changes; h) use of the principal of the endowment. The Council may not take any action that is inconsistent with policy previously established by the congregation. Composition and powers of the Church Council shall otherwise be as provided by bylaw.

The title to all real and personal property shall be vested in Edgewood United Church, a Michigan Ecclesiastical Corporation. Encumbrances and contracts for the purchase or sale of church properties shall be executed by the moderator or other church officers as designated by the Church Council.

The government of this church is vested in its members. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes, accepts and sustains the obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation with the United Church of Christ.

In addition to its own affiliate relationship to the United Church of Christ, Edgewood United Church may have both permanent and temporary liaison relationships with other organizations designated by the congregation. All such relationships shall be subject to the general oversight of the Church Council. A representative of each such related organization shall report regarding its status and explicit concerns for Edgewood to the annual meeting of the church.

The procedure at all meetings of the congregation, Church Council, boards, committees, and other church entities, shall be governed by the provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised not inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution and its bylaws.

This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present and voting at a specifically-called special meeting of the congregation provided that a quorum is present. A quorum at a congregational meeting shall be ten percent of the membership or fifty members, whichever is greater. The proposal, including the language to be amended and the proposed new language, shall be submitted in writing by first-class mail to all members at least 30 days in advance of the meeting at which it is to be considered, and may itself be amended by a three-fourths vote of those present and voting at the time of its consideration.

Adopted January 2004