Constitution and Articles of Association

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 3 01 Constitution and Articles of Association Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | Operative only upon authorized adoption Preamble We join by mutual consent for a common religious and nonprofit purpose and adopt these Articles for THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES, abbreviated TGBC. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, which is His Body. The King James Bible is our final written authority for faith, doctrine, conduct, assembly order, and ministry. These Articles provide a private organizing instrument for our assembly and its fellowship of voluntarily affiliated assemblies. Article I Name and unincorporated status The association name is THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES. PRAECEPTORIUM, The Elders' Circle, and Circle of Elders name its internal ecclesiastical teaching and oversight body. They do not name a separate corporation, trust, or civil entity. TGBC operates as a private, voluntary, unincorporated religious assembly or fellowship of assemblies without a state certificate of formation. Adoption of these Articles does not incorporate TGBC. When the association consists of three or more members joined by mutual consent for a common nonprofit purpose, Texas Business Organizations Code Chapter 252 applies. A single member of PRAECEPTORIUM does not mean that the association itself has only one member. Unincorporated status does not establish immunity from applicable civil law, eliminate every filing obligation, or provide a special legal status through the use of an ecclesiastical title. The association preserves all applicable constitutional and statutory religious-freedom protections. Article II Purpose and ministry TGBC is organized exclusively for religious, charitable, and educational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This purpose clause does not state that TGBC has applied for, received, or needs an IRS determination letter. Our work is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, teach the Word rightly divided, edify the Body of Christ, prepare qualified men for oversight and service, establish Bible and house assemblies, distribute teaching materials, and provide benevolence consistent with our mission. Ministry may take place in homes, by electronic communication, or in other lawfully available settings. No adoption of this instrument alone authorizes the opening of a bank account, purchase or lease of property, paid employment, borrowing, or collection of organizational funds. Each such activity requires an actual written authorization under the Bylaws and applicable review of resulting obligations. Article III Scripture and foundational doctrine TGBC receives the King James Bible, Authorized Version of 1611 in its standardized 1769 textual tradition and Pure Cambridge Edition text form, as its official Bible and final written authority. Human instruments and officeholders remain subordinate to Scripture. The foundational doctrine includes the Gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJB; salvation by grace through faith apart from works; right division; Paul's distinctive apostleship and ministry; the revelation of the Mystery; the Dispensation of the Grace of God; and the distinction between Israel's prophetic program and the Body of Christ. The Statement of Faith provides the full confession.

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 4 TGBC does not impose water baptism as a condition of salvation, membership in the Body of Christ, or fellowship. It does not impose the Lord's Supper as a required ordinance for the Body of Christ. Giving, ordination, and local membership do not confer salvation. Article IV Offices and PRAECEPTORIUM TGBC recognizes the offices of bishop and deacon. Within TGBC, elder describes a qualified man recognized for the teaching and oversight work associated with the office of bishop, with Titus 1:5-9 KJB as a doctrinal foundation. Elder is not a third ordained office. Pastor is not established as a separate ecclesiastical office. Only qualified, recognized bishops or elders may be admitted to PRAECEPTORIUM. A deacon is not eligible by virtue of the deacon's office, ordination, service, or local leadership. A man serving as a deacon must first be separately examined and recognized as a bishop or elder, and then expressly admitted, before becoming a member of PRAECEPTORIUM. Ordination, ministry assignment, and admission to PRAECEPTORIUM are distinct recorded actions. They may occur on the same date, but no certificate or title substitutes for the required decision. Article V Founding Bishop Bishop Wesley Ray, identified in earlier records as Wesley Scott Ray, is the unique Founding Bishop. He is the sole initial member and presiding officer of PRAECEPTORIUM until another qualified bishop or elder is expressly admitted and recorded. His title may be stated as Founding Bishop and Sole Initial Member of PRAECEPTORIUM. This does not mean that he is the only assembly member. The Founding Bishop title and historical office belong to him for his natural life and may not be transferred, inherited, duplicated, or recreated. No internal vote or subordinate instrument may appoint another Founding Bishop, appoint a co-Founding Bishop, or deprive him of that title or office. During his natural life, the Founding Bishop directs ordinary ecclesiastical administration, approves recognition and credential actions, admits Circle members, recognizes affiliated assemblies, and approves amendments as provided in the Bylaws. He remains subject to Scripture, the adopted instruments, financial controls, safeguarding duties, and applicable civil law. Protection of his historical office does not authorize misconduct, concealment, self-approved private benefits, or interference with lawful protective action. Article VI Membership and assemblies Local fellowship membership is voluntary. Members profess faith in the Gospel of Christ, affirm the foundational doctrine, and accept the assembly's orderly fellowship. Water baptism and financial giving are not prerequisites. A member may withdraw by written notice. Membership in the spiritual Body of Christ is not created or terminated by an administrative entry. Local assemblies may affiliate by a written agreement. The agreement must identify whether the local assembly is a ministry unit of TGBC or an independently organized affiliated assembly. Affiliation alone does not transfer property, funds, debts, or authority to bind another party. Actual ownership and legal responsibility depend on the applicable instruments and law. Article VII Ecclesiastical autonomy and civil responsibilities TGBC determines its internal doctrine, worship, teaching, ordination, ecclesiastical qualifications, fellowship, and spiritual governance through its adopted religious processes. It asserts protections available under the United States and Texas Constitutions and applicable religious-freedom statutes, including Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 110.

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 5 These protections do not create a blanket exemption from civil, criminal, safety, property, employment, or tax law. Applicable obligations may attach to TGBC itself as well as to individuals. A religious-freedom objection shall be evaluated through lawful means; this instrument does not declare any government action automatically invalid. Private governance documents and records need not be filed as corporate formation documents merely because they exist. TGBC will make a filing or disclosure when a specific applicable requirement arises, while protecting religious liberty and legitimate confidentiality. Article VIII Funds and property if authorized Any funds or property actually received for TGBC belong to the lawful organizational owner, subject to accepted restrictions. They do not become personal assets of the founder, his family, any minister, or any member by reason of office or custody. No net earnings may inure to a private individual. Reasonable compensation for actual services, legitimate expense reimbursement, and genuine charitable assistance may be made only when authorized, documented, and consistent with organizational purposes and applicable requirements. Funds shall not be commingled with personal funds as an ordinary practice. Article IX Tax representations and public activities Churches and qualifying conventions or associations of churches meeting section 501(c)(3) requirements can be federally tax exempt without applying for recognition and are generally excepted from Form 990 annual reporting. TGBC shall determine its actual qualification and any separate obligations before making a tax representation. Federal church treatment does not automatically establish a Texas sales or property tax exemption. TGBC shall not undertake prohibited political campaign intervention or substantial lobbying inconsistent with its stated section 501(c)(3) purposes. These provisions do not prohibit scriptural teaching or other lawful religious expression. No title or declaration creates a tax exemption for an individual's personal income. Article X Succession and continuity Upon the Founding Bishop's death, his active founding office permanently ceases. Historical reference to him as the Founding Bishop may continue. No successor may use or inherit that title. An Overseeing Bishop shall be selected under the Succession Declaration. Existing PRAECEPTORIUM members retain their recorded authority and conduct succession. If none remain, the limited reconstitution procedure in the Bylaws and Succession Declaration applies. Deacons do not become PRAECEPTORIUM members or Overseeing Bishop merely because no bishop or elder remains. Absence or incapacity permits limited interim administration; it does not declare the founder dead, transfer the founding title, or trigger permanent succession. Death or departure of an individual does not by itself dissolve TGBC. Article XI Amendments and governing order The Constitution is the principal human organizational instrument. The Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Circle Charter, Succession Declaration, manuals, policies, agreements, and forms must be read consistently with it and with Scripture. Administrative voting does not create scriptural truth. Amendments require the written text, notice, approval, and record prescribed by the Bylaws. No amendment may create another Founding Bishop, admit a deacon to PRAECEPTORIUM without separate bishop or elder

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | PRAECEPTORIUM Edition 2026 10 03 R2 | 6 recognition, authorize private distribution of organizational assets, or silently replace the foundational Gospel or KJB authority. Article XII Dissolution and severability Dissolution requires the extraordinary approval prescribed by the Bylaws and a recorded plan to discharge lawful liabilities, safeguard records, and dispose of actual organizational assets. After liabilities are paid or provided for, remaining assets shall pass to one or more organizations qualifying for exempt purposes under section 501(c)(3), or to a federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. No surplus shall be distributed to private individuals. An invalid or inapplicable provision shall be limited to the extent required by controlling law without unnecessarily invalidating the remainder. This clause does not permit an officer to rewrite the instruments without amendment. Article XIII Adoption and signatures These Articles take effect only upon the actual authorized adoption shown below. For an initial association relying on Chapter 252, at least three actual consenting members shall sign. If TGBC already exists, use its controlling amendment process and record continuity; do not falsely declare a new entity or backdate an adoption. Founding Bishop Wesley Ray signature ________________________ Date __________ Consenting member name __________________ Signature __________________ Date __________ Consenting member name __________________ Signature __________________ Date __________ Additional consenting members may sign an attached sheet identified with this instrument and edition. Adoption date __________ Effective date __________ Prior instrument and authority __________ Custodian certification signature ________________________ Record reference __________