Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II, Walter Sawatsky, 1981

on event to their congregations and will call for a prayer of thanks- giving for the great and praiseworthy matter of unity of all Christians in our country, who have been born again by faith. (BV, 4/57, p. 36) Appendix 3 Constitution of the ECB Church in the USSR The following constitution was approved: by a congress of delegates on December 19, 1979. The first statute or Sudliation eaced in 1548 was never published. The problematic statute of 1960; as well as the revisions suggested by the Initsiativniki in 1961 and the constitution as approved in 1963, are printed in English translation in parallel columns in Michael Bourdeaux, Religious Ferment in Russia, pp. 190-210, A major constitu tional revision. was. approved in 1966 which involved considerable: renum- bering of paragraphs, extensive additions and refinements. At the congress. in 1969 and 1979 further amendments were approved. What follows is therefore in essence the constitution of 1966 with the changes of 1969 and 1979 incorporated. Points added in 1969 are printed within square brackets [ ] while additions in 1979 are printed within diagonal brackets / /, »Other changes are explained in the footnotes, 480 Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II CONSTITUTION OF THE UNION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN-BAPTISTS IN THE USSR . A wise man knows both time and constitution. —Ecclesiastes 8:5 I. General Statutes § 1.The ECB Union in the USSR is a voluntary association of churches (congregations and groups) of the Evangelical-Baptist faith, desir- ing to have fraternal fellowship and to cooperate in the work of God. The ECB Union includes Evangelical Christians|-]Baptists, Christians of Evan- gelical Faith, and Mennonite / Brethren/. / The addition of other sister evangelical denominations is decided by the All-Union Congress. / § 2.The foundation for the doctrines, life and activities of the ECB Union is Holy Scripture—the books of the Old and New Testaments (ca- nonical). § 3. The ECB Union has the following aims and tasks: (a) To help to promote in the life ane activities of the churches / the preaching of the gospel/, the confession of faith and the principles of Evan- gelical Christian-Baptists. ! (b) To help to promote the unity of the Evangelical Christian-Baptists, Christians of Evangelical Faith and Mennonite / Brethren/? who are born again through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and have received water baptism upon confession of faith (John 17:21-23). (c) To help maintain the purity of evangelical teaching in ECB churches (Titus 2:17). Constitution of the ECB Church in the USSR 481 Il. The Leadership of the ECB Union Seeking to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. —Ephesians 4:3 § 4. The supreme organ of the ECB Union is the All-Union Congress of church representatives (Acts 15:6), / which have been elected at oblast, regional, and republ