Constitution of Portage Holiness Camp

Adopted May 28, 1878

CONSTITUTION

We, the Ministers and Members of the Sandusky Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, do, for the perfecting of the Saints and for the spreading of Scriptural Holiness, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, write ourselves together in a Holiness Association, to promote the cause of Holiness within the bounds of the Sandusky Annual Conference, and wherever in the providence of God we may be called to labor.

ARTICLE I

Section 1: This Organization shall be known as the Holiness Association of the Sandusky Conference of the United Brethren Church.

Section 2: The Officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, with nine (9) other persons who shall compose a Board of Managers to take charge of the Association.

Section 3: The Board of Managers shall be elected annually by the Association. The Board shall elect from its number the Officers of the Association.

Section 4: The Association shall meet semi-annually in the months of June and November. The time being fixed by the Officers of the Association. The Board of Officers and Managers shall be elected at the meeting held in June.

ARTICLE II

Section 1: All persons who enjoy entire sanctification as a second and distinct blessing from justification received through faith in Christ, may be received as members of this Association.

Section 2: All persons thus becoming Members of this Association, shall labor for the promotion of Scriptural Holiness, both public and private and shall give their testimony in favor of full salvation whenever so impressed by the Holy Spirit.

Section 3: The Members of this Association shall hold meetings to promote the the cause of Holiness within the bounds of the Sandusky Conference in any class or society, whenever it is practical for them to do so.

Section 4: Any part of this Constitution may be changed at any Regular meeting of the Association whenever a majority of the Board is present, by giving three (3) hours notice thereof.

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NAME CHANGED: At a called meeting on March 15, 1881, the name of the Association was changed to SANDUSKY UNION HOLINESS ASSOCIATION.

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November 7, 1883: At this meeting the following CONSTITUTION and confession

of faith was adopted:

Confession of Faith

ARTICLE I

We believe in the doctrine contained in the Holy Scriptures, i.e., Follow

peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.

ARTICLE II

We believe men are justified before they are wholly sanctified.

ARTICLE III

We believe when men are justified regenerated and adopted into God's family that they are in a certain sense sanctified but not in the sense that hereditary depravity is destroyed.

ARTICLE IV

We believe that men at any time subsequent to their conversion by compliance with the condition of faith and unison of the will with the Divine may be

brought instantaneously into the enjoyment of the blessing of entire sanctification.

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CONSTITUTION (Revised Nov. 8, 1883)

Constitution of the Sandusky Union Holiness Association was Revised and Adopted November 8th, 1883.

ARTICLE I

This Association shall be called the Sandusky Union Holiness Association.

ARTICLE II

The object of this Association shall be the conversion of sinners and sanctification of believers.

ARTICLE III

The Officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and nine (9) Trustees to be elected by the Association.

ARTICLE IV

The Trustees shall meet annually on the day preceding the Annual Meeting of the Association to transact such business as may be entrusted to their care, and report the same to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE V

It shall be the duty of the Trustees to see that all the interests of the Association are maintained.

ARTICLE VI

The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be on the third (3rd) Wednesday of October at 10:00 o'clock A.M. at such place as may be determined by the Association.

ARTICLE VII

This Constitution may be amended at any Annual Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3 rds) vote of those present.

ARTICLE VIII

Any local Association by conditioning its membership in harmony with this Association may become auxiliary to this association and shall report the conditions of their association to the Annual Meeting of this Association.

ARTICLE IX

Nothing shall be enacted that will in any way set aside the confession of Faith.

ARTICLE X

The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are elected. The election shall be held at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE XI

At the first election after adopting this Constitution nine (9) Trustees shall be elected. The three (3) receiving the highest number of votes shall hold office for three (3) years, and the three (3) next highest for two years, and the three (3) next highest for 1 year. At each Annual Meeting thereafter three (3) Trustees shall be elected. The Board may fill vacancies until the ensuing Annual Meeting.

First; Any person by subscribing to the confession of faith and signing the Constitution and complying with the conditions therein set forth may become a member of this Association.

Second: Members shall exemplify their principles of holiness in all their walks of life.

Third: Any member failing to exemplify the principles of holiness in their lives shall by a vote of the Association cease to be Members, and their names shall be erased from the record of the Association.

Fourth: Persons in order to be members of this Association must be members of good standing in some branch of the Christian Church.

Fifth: The continuous effort of all must be to lead others into the enjoyment of the blessing of entire sanctification.

ARTICLE XII

Upon failure of Portage Holiness Camp aka Sandusky Union Holiness Association an unincorporated religious organization, to use the camp grounds for three consecutive years for religious services, the Board of Trustees shall, upon the dissolution of the Association, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purpose of the Association in such 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 or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U. S. Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the County in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE XIII

In the absence of an Annual Meeting, all Nine (9) Trustees shall retain their offices until the next election or until dissolution of the Association.

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ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

October 19, 1887, the Constitution was so changed that the Annual Meeting be held on the Second (2nd) Tuesday of October instead of the Third (3rd)

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ARTICLE VI - October 11, 1888 a "REVISED CONSTITUTION" was adopted (no record as to what revisions were made) other than a change of Annual Meeting date to the Second (2nd) Thursday of October.

CONSTITUTION AMENDED: October 12, 1905 By a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote the Constitution was amended in ARTICLE I so as to be Interdenominational.

ARTICLE VI was amended to change Annual Meeting to the first Thursday of September. (Minutes mistakenly say Article 4, referring to the original Constitution instead of the 1883 Rev.).

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CONSTITUTION AMENDED: August 24, 1908. ARTICLE VI to become: "The continuous effort of all must be to lead sinners to Christ and believers into the experience of entire sanctification.

CONSTITUTION AMENDED: August 18, 1919 - ARTICLE VI (Now Article IV) Annual business meeting changed to last Saturday of the Camp Meeting.

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CONSTITUTION AMENDED: August 25, 1934. ARTICLE VII to read:

"The Constitution may be amended at any 'Annual Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the Members present, except that ARTICLE I concerning the interdenominational character and organization can be changed only by a unanimous vote of the members present:.

CONSTITUTION AMENDED: August 30, 1969 . Two articles were added (to meet government requirements to be a tax-exempt organization, also for income tax deductions).

**************** CONSTITUTION AMENDED: August 18, 1984 by a 2/3 vote of the Membership.

ARTICLE I - Change name of Camp from Sandusky Union Holiness Association to Portage Holiness Camp.

ARTICLE III - Add: "Voting privilege and a voice in Annual Meeting shall be extended only to Members who have paid dues for the 3rd consecutive year. Dues must be paid annually (Not in advance nor retroactive).

ARTICLE VII - Delete entirely amendment about Auxiliary Organization. Secretary to notify absent members of Article III Amendment.

The Offices of Camp Secretary and Treasurer be combined into one (1) office.

CONSTITUTION AMENDED:  August 22, 1987  (Unanimously approved)

Offices of Secretary & Treasurer may be one (1) office or two (2) separate offices,