Meetings
The charter permits in-person meetings, telephone meetings, video conferences, and reliable simultaneous communication. Reasonable notice is provided whenever practicable.
Read moreAUTHORITY AND ORDER
How the governing framework works
Read the documents together, under the final written authority of the King James Bible.
The order of authority
01
King James Bible
02
Constitution and Articles of Association
03
Bylaws
04
Statement of Faith and Foundational Doctrine
05
Circle of the Elders Charter
06
Founding Bishop and Succession Declaration
07
Bishop and Deacon Qualifications and Ordination Documents
08
Local Assembly Charters and Affiliation Agreements
09
Ecclesiastical and Administrative Policies
10
Doctrinal Position Papers
11
Resolutions, Procedures, Forms and Official Records
A subordinate instrument is interpreted in harmony with the superior instrument. It cannot independently amend or contradict superior authority.
Meetings, votes, and permanent records
Ordinary actions
The charter provides majority approval by participating eligible members when a quorum exists. A majority of currently recognized voting members constitutes a quorum unless another governing instrument controls.
Read moreRecorded decisions
Significant actions are documented through minutes, resolutions, voting records, credentials, and other permanent ecclesiastical records.
Read morePolicies and accountability
Doctrine and conduct
The discipline code addresses substantial doctrinal departure and misconduct through ecclesiastical procedures.
Read the codeStewardship
The financial policy governs gifts, expenses, accounts, property, and responsible administration.
Read the policyConflicts of interest
Material personal interests are disclosed and handled through the conflict policy.
Read the policyPRAECEPTORIUM
The Elders’ Circle / Circle of Elders
PRAECEPTORIUM is the internal ecclesiastical teaching and oversight body of This Grace Bible Churches. Membership is limited to expressly admitted qualified bishops and elders. The Founding Bishop is its sole initial member. Deacons serve in their recognized office and do not enter the Circle by ordination or administrative delegation.
Read the current Circle charterTHE PRAECEPTORIUM AND THE PRAECEPTORIUS
The Order and the Founding Bishop’s exclusive title
Praeceptorium names the Circle of the Elders, the internal teaching and oversight Order within This Grace Bible Churches.
Praeceptorius is Bishop Wesley Ray’s exclusive personal ecclesiastical title. He is the original and sole Praeceptorius. Membership in the Circle, temporary appointment, incapacity, death, or succession does not confer or transfer that title.
These ecclesiastical designations create neither a separate legal entity nor a third ordained office. Sound doctrine, the Gospel of Christ, the King James Bible rightly divided, and Pauline Dispensational Doctrine govern the Order’s work.
Identity and House to House Assembly
Our identity
This Grace Bible Churches, the Circle of the Elders (the Order, the Praeceptorium), and Church in Thy House are not a denomination, are not part of a denomination, are not a religion, and are not part of Christianity. They are not Jewish and are not Catholic. They are not corruptors of the Word of God.
Our assembly and practice
We are not part of the "corporate" American Christian Church setup. We have no religious buildings, statues, baptistries, altars, or pastors, and none of the trappings of the religion known as Christianity.
Saved believers gathering house to house
This Grace Bible Churches consists of true saved believers who rightly divide the word of truth and meet house to house. Church in Thy House is the mode by which This Grace Bible Churches gathers together. The Gospel of Christ that saves today is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJB. Our standard for rightly dividing the word of truth is 2 Timothy 2:15 KJB.
King James Bible only
We use only King James Bibles: the 1769 edition of the 1611, Pure Cambridge Text. The King James Bible is our final written authority. We do not change, supposedly correct, or corrupt the Word of God.
The Order and the Bishop title
The Circle of the Elders, the Order, and the Praeceptorium name the same internal teaching and oversight body within This Grace Bible Churches. Praeceptorius is the Bishop title within that body. Bishop Wesley Ray is the original and sole Praeceptorius; admission to the Circle does not confer that title. Within This Grace Bible Churches, Bishop Wesley Ray is known as the Founding Bishop.