GOSPEL OUTREACH CANADA
CONSTITUTION
Article 1
The name of this Society is Gospel Outreach Canada.
Article 2
The objects and operation of the Society are:
- Receive charitable donations that are in turn sent to Seventh-day Adventist Union Missions, Conferences or Fields that hire, train and supervise NATIONAL Bible and Health workers to spread the Gospel in villages and areas that have not heard the Gospel.
- At times the Society could also receive charitable donations for bicycles, teaching
supplies including IT equipment, or other small projects. - The Society oversees its operations overseas by sending volunteer Regional Directors from Canada or the
United States of America to audit, counsel and review progress with the Union Missions/Conferences/Fields and the Bible and Health Workers.
GOSPEL OUTREACH CANADA LEGAL STATUS
Gospel Outreach Canada is a “legal” entity as per the following three Government
Certificates:
- Gospel Outreach Canada is a registered society under the Society Act of the British
Columbia Government. - Gospel Outreach Canada is a registered corporation under the Canada Corporation Act of the Federal Government.
- Gospel Outreach Canada is registered with the Canada Revenue Agency as a charitable
organization under the Income Tax Act. As such, it has the authority to issue tax
deductible receipts for donations made to Gospel outreach Canada.
Gospel Outreach Canada Position on Dealing with Tithe Money Received
Historical Background
In 2007, Gospel Outreach Canada (GOC) was voted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) as an “Independent Supporting Ministry” (ISM) of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church.”
The GOC Bylaws stipulates clearly that all members of GOC must:
a) be a member in regular standing of a congregation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church;
b) agree to and uphold the religious teachings and fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; and
c) agree to and support the ministry’s goals and purposes of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The Concept of the Storehouse
“The tithe is the Lord’s and should be brought to the “storehouse” (Conference Treasury) though the church, in which the person’s membership is held, as an act of worship.” (GC “Tithing Principles and Guidelines”, p. 20)
The SDACC “Independent Supporting Ministries” Policy
In 2007, when GOC applied to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC) to be accepted as an ISM, the SDACC sent to GOC their policy that contained then 8 (eight) conditions that should be fulfilled by all ISM to be voted as such by the National Headquarters of the SDACC. The condition #7 read as follows:
Position on Tithe – Supporting Ministries shall not accept tithe from believers and shall state
this on their web site and in their literature. If money received is identified as tithe, the
organization will contact the donor with the following choices:
a. Allow the supporting ministry to receipt the money and forward it to the conference in
which the donor lives.
b. Return the money to the donor with the supporting ministry’s written policy on tithe.
GOC Board Action in Response to SDACC ISM Policies
GOC responded to that request by taking the following action: “The Gospel Outreach Canada Board of Directors, on Sunday, November 4, 2007, took a formal vote as follows: Gospel Outreach Canada accepts, agrees to, and pledges compliance with the terms and conditions outlined in the document “SDACC Independent Supporting Ministries Policy.”
GOC Position on Tithe
Therefore, GOC will not knowingly accept tithe money from any individual or church organization that were supposed to be sent to the local Conference or Mission.