IABCS Constitution
                                                                  

                                                                    ARTICLE I—NAME

The name of this non-profit organization shall be the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BIBLE COLLEGES AND
SEMINARIES.  The principle office of this organization shall be located in the State of Georgia.

                                                              ARTICLE II—PURPOSES

  • To furnish a basis for fellowship and mutual helpfulness among Christian educational institutions of higher learning
    operating in the Biblical field.
  • To make it possible for Christian institutions of higher education to continue their evangelical and denominational
    integrity and at the same time provide and maintain the highest academic standards.
  • To furnish, recognize, and verify certain standardized requirements in various fields in which the representative
    institutions operate that will be in keeping with, and acceptable to, other accredited institutions of higher education.
  • To assist the institutions in offering Christian education of postsecondary school level for effective Christian
    service or ministries through a program of Biblical, general and professional studies that effect students physically,
    mentally, socially, and spiritually.
  • To improve the quality of this education by carefully described criteria of institutional excellence that will encourage
    self-examination and stimulate healthy growth and to provide a means of membership and certification of Bible
    Colleges and Seminaries, similar to that of other national and regional agencies.

      ARTICLE III—BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP AND DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
                   The basis of fellowship shall be mutual and cooperative.
Institutions seeking entrance to this Association shall subscribe officially in writing to the following
                                            DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
  • We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  • We believe the Bible to be the inspired and the only infallible authority Word of God.
  • We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His Virgin Birth, in His life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death
    and atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father,
    and His personal and literal second coming in power and glory.
  • We believe that man was created in the image of God, that he was tempted by Satan and fell, and that, because of
    the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation.
  • We believe that salvation is through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life
    and by whom the Church is empowered to carry out Christ’s great commission.
  • We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the saved to the resurrection of life and the
    lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

    All institutions uniting with this Association shall agree to operate in keeping with standards set up by
    this Association.

                                     ARTICLE IV—MEMBERSHIP

  • This Association shall be composed of Institutions which shall satisfactorily conform with the doctrinal, ethical, and
    scholastic standards of membership as outlined in the Constitution and By-laws of this Association, and which shall
    be accepted into membership by vote of the Association.
  • A Bible College or Seminary shall be eligible for membership if it satisfactorily conforms to the Associational
    standards
  • The Membership of this Association is its controlling body and the Officers of this corporation are its agents. The
    Officers are not to be responsible individually for torts made by the Corporation.

                                        ARTICLE V—OFFICERS

  • The officers of this Association shall consist of:
    1.   President                                     3.   Secretary- Treasurer
    2.   Vice-President                             4.   Executive Secretary
 and such other officers that may become necessary and deemed expedient.
  • These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.

                             ARTICLE VI—ELECTION OF OFFICERS

All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of those present and qualified to vote at the annual meeting of this
Association, and shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, and serve for three years. All officers may be
re-elected to office.

                                         ARTICLE VII—MEETING

This Association shall meet annually for times of fellowship and inspiration to discuss the business matters of the
Association, to bring up new and necessary improvements in standards, to elect officers, to receive reports of and
concerning the member institutions, and to consider new applications. Other meetings may be called by the President
during the year as necessity demands.

                                   ARTICLE VIII—INCORPORATION

  • This Association is incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia, as a corporation not for profit, and shall
    function only in such capacity.
  • The International Association has been recognized by the District Director, Internal Revenue Service, as of August
    30, 1968, with regard to contributions made to the Association: “Contributions made to you are deductible by
    donors as provided in section 170 of the code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to or for your use
    are deductible for Federal estate and gift purposes under the provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the
    code.”
  • Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions of the
    payment of all the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the
    purpose of the corporation, in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated
    exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt
    organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of
    any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Executive Committee shall determine.  

                       ARTICLE IX—CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

  • The above ARTICLES shall form the Constitution of this Association and may be changed or amended at any
    annual meeting upon the approval of 2/3 majority vote, provided such amendments and changes have been
    furnished in writing to each member  institution at least 30 days in advance.
  • This Association shall set up By-Laws for governing of membership, administration, and standards as it may deem
    fitted to the need.
International Association of Bible Colleges  
and Seminaries
Registered as Southern Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges