OATH TO OUR ANCESTORS
By Chief Elder Ray Hagins
(Sa Ra Ankhotep Maakheru Setep En Ra)
O Ancestors! Blacker than a thousand midnights…
Afrikan Ancestors! It is to YOU that we, your children, give respect and honor.
O Ancestors! We call upon YOU and welcome you in this place…
Afrikan Ancestors! Let your presence fill this place.
O Ancestors! Who have been purposely excluded from the history books,
so that the world would not know of your greatness…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave civilization to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave the arts to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave music to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave the sciences to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave mathematics to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave medicine to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave literature to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave philosophy to the world…
Our Afrikan Ancestors! Who gave God consciousness to the world…
O Ancestors! We thank you for devoting your life to make a future for us,
your children, grand children, and great grandchildren.
Now, stand with us; strengthen us; guide us; teach us,
and protect us from the snare of our enemies!
Rise up, O Afrikan Ancestors, and let our enemies be scattered!
And give us the wisdom and the boldness to deal with our oppressors
and those who would hinder the liberation and empowerment of our people.
Rise up, O Afrikan Ancestors, and live in us.
And we will not fail to honor you;
We will not fail to respect you;
We will not fail to hear you,
And we will NOT betray you.
Ase`
The mission of The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center is to be an African-Centered, Scripture-based ministry of Excellence whose purpose is to Evangelize, Edify, and Equip its members, through the knowledge of the Truth, to serve our community and reach diasporan Afrikans with the gospel of Afrikan liberation while striving to be compassionate in our love, excellent in our service, holy in our living, and reverently spirited in our worship.
The words of the mission statement should answer the four primary questions about The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center.
Question # 1: Who are we?
Answer: We are The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center (with national headquarters located at 3520 N. Newstead Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri). Dr. Ray Hagins (a.k.a. Sa Ra Ankhotep Maakheru Setep En Ra) is our National Chief Elder & Spiritual Leader.
Question #2: What are we?
Answer: We are an African-centered, Scripture-based ministry of Excellence.
Question # 3: What do we do?
Answer: We evangelize, edify, and equip our members, through the knowledge of the Truth, to serve our community and reach diasporan Afrikans with the gospel of Afrikan liberation.
Question # 4. How do we do what we do?
Answer: We do what we do by being compassionate in our love, excellent in our service, holy in our living, and reverently spirited in our worship.
THE AFRIKAN VILLAGE & CULTURAL CENTER COVENANT
Our church covenant is a voluntary agreement by the members of The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center whereby we promise to conduct our lives in such a way as to glorify Almighty God and our Ancestors while promoting the ongoing development of our ministry (movement). Every member should study it carefully, refer to it often, and seek to live by it. It clearly outlines the obligations of membership.
Our covenant is as follows:
Having been led by the Spirit of God within us, we do now in the presence of The Almighty God/Goddess, our Ancestors and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another.
With The Almighty being our helper, we engage to respectfully work together in love; to strive for the advancement of this organization, in knowledge, holiness, and righteousness; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its fellowship, discipline, and teachings; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of this ministry, it’s expenses; and to the spread of the gospel of Afrikan liberation for the resurrection and empowerment for our people throughout our community and the world.
We also engage to maintain personal and family devotions; to properly educate our children; to encourage the salvation (liberation) of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk cautiously in the world; to be just in our dealings with others; faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all idle gossip, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from illegal and unrighteous activities; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the rebuilding and continuity of Afrikan people.
We further engage to watch over and protect one another; to remember each other in prayer daily; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate sincere empathy and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation; and to be mindful of the teachings in our daily living and to appropriate them without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, that, as soon as possible, we will unite with another fellowship, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of Maat as taught in the Medu Neter (the Word of God).
THE CONSTITUTION &
BY-LAWS
PREAMBLE
Under the discipline of The Almighty and our Ancestors, The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center seeks
to provide for the maintenance of fellowship, the edification, liberation, resurrection and empowerment of Afrikan people. The Afrikan
Village & Cultural Center
exists in and for the community.
ARTICLE
I. DEFINITIONS
The term “Corporation” hereinafter is
synonymous with and shall mean the same as the terms “movement,”
“organization,” and “congregation.” The
term “President” or “Chief Elder” hereinafter is synonymous with and shall mean
the same as the term “President.” The
term “Secretary” hereinafter is synonymous with and shall mean the same as the
term “Clerk.” The term “Treasurer”
hereinafter is synonymous with and shall mean the same as Chairperson of
Finance or Comptroller.
ARTICLE
II. NAME
The name of the Corporation shall be “The
Afrikan Village & Cultural Center” (hereinafter called the
“Corporation”). The Corporation shall be
a sovereign entity in and of itself in all legal matters and is not to be
confused with or under the jurisdiction of any other entity or organization
which may or may not have a similar name.
ARTICLE
III. ADDRESS
The registered address of the
headquarters of this Corporation is 3520 N. Newstead
Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.
ARTICLE
IV. PURPOSES
This Corporation is a public benefit
corporation, pursuant to Chapter 355.881 RSMo.
The purposes of The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center shall be:
•
To aid in the improvement of men, women, and children spiritually, morally,
intellectually and physically by every legal means available;
•
To arrange for and hold public fellowship meetings for the spiritual and
personal growth and development of individuals and the Body collective;
•
To invest with ministerial authority those men and women who acknowledge the
divine call to the ministry of Afrikan liberation;
•
To do any and all other lawful things that its officers shall deem expedient
for the purposes stated.
Said corporation is organized
exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes,
including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding section of
any future Federal tax code).
ARTICLE
V. FINANCE & ACTIVITIES
No part of the net earnings of the
corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members,
trustees, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the
corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation
for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of
Section 501(c)(3) purposes. No
substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on
of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation
shall not participate in, or intervene in (including publishing or distribution
of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any
candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding any other provision of
these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not
permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax
under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section
of any future Federal tax code) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which
are deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or
corresponding section of any future Federal tax code).
ARTICLE
VI. DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of this
corporation assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within
the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding
section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal
government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
ARTICLE
VII. MEMBERS
The Corporation is a public benefit
organization; therefore, all persons, without regard to race, color, national
origin, or economic condition, shall be eligible to attend its fellowship
meetings, to participate in its programs, and, after meeting certain
requirements, may be admitted into its membership.
Any member in good and regular
standing, who has regularly, diligently and substantially supported the purposes,
mission and obligations of this organization, in accordance with the scriptural
principles of stewardship, shall be considered a member “in good and regular
standing.”
Any member who, due to circumstances
beyond their control, is unable to maintain their presence and support to this
organization, may be exempt from their obligation to this organization upon
informing the President and officers of said circumstances. However, this exemption shall exist only for
the duration of said circumstances.
Any member who is absent and without
report for a period of thirty (30) days shall be considered as inactive and all
rights and privileges of membership shall be withdrawn until such time as
reinstatement of membership shall occur.
Any member who shall knowingly and
willingly participate in any activity or discussions that undermine or injure
the public image or subvert the structural integrity of this organization, its
leadership, or any other member, shall forfeit their membership forthwith. Such membership may be restored upon the
public confession and apology of said member.
ARTICLE
VIII. OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall
be:
A)
THE PRESIDENT
The President shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall preside at all meetings and
public gatherings of the Corporation.
The duties of the President shall, but not be limited to, teaching,
planning, staff development, coordinating activities, delegating authority and
responsibilities to staff members, and decision making. The President is the ex-officio Chairman of
all Boards and Auxiliaries and shall be consulted on all major actions
transacted, whether present or absent.
The President shall have the power to appoint or remove any officer or
employee of the Corporation as deemed necessary for the purposes of the
Corporation herein stated.
As Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation, the President shall have veto power and be privy to any and all
information in matters pertaining to the Corporation. The President shall be the representative of
the Corporation at all events in which the Corporation is associated or a
participant.
The President shall have the control
of the all meetings and the privacy of his/her office at all times.
In the case where the President
believes that his/her purpose and work within the Corporation has been fulfilled
and has decided to terminate his/her service to the Corporation, he/she shall,
at a meeting of the Corporation, inform the members of the Corporation of his/her
intent to submit his/her resignation.
The President shall have ninety (90) days from the date of such
announcement to serve the Corporation before said resignation shall become
effective.
If the office of President shall
become vacant, the filling of this position shall become the responsibility of
the Executive Board and with the concurrence of a 2/3 majority vote of the
membership of the Corporation.
B)
THE SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be the Clerk of
the Corporation and shall attend all meetings of the Corporation when required
and shall record all votes and shall keep accurate minutes of such
meetings. The secretary shall see to it
that said records are maintained in books belonging to the Corporation and kept
in a manner and place that will prevent theft or loss of such records. The Secretary shall produce and present such
records at all meetings of the Corporation.
The Secretary shall produce copies of any and all minutes as may be
requested by the President. The
Secretary shall also see that proper notice is given as herein provided of all
meetings of the Corporation.
C)
THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall keep full and
accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
Corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects under the
name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depository as may be
designated by the Trustees. The
Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as ordered by the Executive
Committee, taking proper vouchers for all such disbursements and shall render
to the Executive Committee, whenever they shall require it, an account of all
his/her transactions as Treasurer and the financial condition of the
Corporation. The Treasurer shall submit
a Weekly Financial Summary Report to the President. The Weekly Financial Summary Report shall be
signed by at least two persons accountable for such report. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties
as may be requested by the Executive Committee or by the President.
D)
TRUSTEES
These officers are necessary because
state laws require their existence for holding the titles to the property of
the Corporation. They shall execute
legal papers in the name of the Corporation when a purchase, transfer or sale
has been ordered by the Corporation.
They are the custodians of Corporate property, papers and titles, but can
only exercise the power vested in them by the Corporation.
The Trustees of the Corporation shall
consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer and four other persons of
strong, moral and spiritual integrity.
The Trustees shall meet at least once every three months. Special meetings of the Trustees shall be at
the request of any member of the Trustees by the communicating of such notice
to each of the Trustees by the Secretary.
The Trustees shall have the general
management of the business affairs of the Corporation. The Trustees shall also have the care,
custody, and control of the property of the Corporation, real and
personal.
Compensation for services rendered by any
officer, member, or subcontractor of the Corporation shall be handled by the
Trustees.
No officer of the Corporation shall
have power to contract any debt or pledge the credit of the Corporation or
enter into any contract without the approval of the Trustees. No real estate shall be sold nor shall the
property, real or personal, of the Corporation be mortgaged, pledged, or
hypothecated without a 2/3 majority vote of the membership of the Corporation
at any regular meeting or special meeting of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
IX. MEETINGS
Meetings shall be as follows:
A) The ANNUAL MEETING of this Corporation shall
be held on the third Saturday in November.
Notice thereof shall be communicated by the Secretary of the Corporation
by whatever means available. At the
Annual Meeting of the Corporation there shall be appointment of officers who
shall hold office for the term of one year or until their successors shall be
appointed.
B) SPECIAL MEETINGS shall be called by the President
as deemed necessary for the transaction of any such business as may lawfully
come before the Corporation and in case of such request notice thereof shall be
communicated to the officers of the Corporation at least one week prior to the
date of such meeting.
ARTICLE X. COMMITTEES
The committees of the corporation
shall function as follows:
A)
APPOINTMENTS
The President may appoint standing
committees and other committees as deemed necessary, and shall designate their
respective chairpersons.
B)
STANDING COMMITTEES
Standing Committees shall include but
not be limited to the following:
(1) The Executive
Committee, and
(2) The Steering
Committee
C)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall be
composed of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and a Trustee and shall be
charged with the day-to-day management of the Corporation between regular meetings. The Executive Committee shall have the power
to act on behalf of the Corporation in emergency matters pertaining to the
Corporation.
D)
STEERING COMMITTEE
The Steering Committee shall be
composed of those appointed to any official and/or leadership capacity in the
Corporation and shall meet at the call of the President as deemed necessary
before or after the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE
XI. MINISTERS & ELDERS
Ministers are those persons who have demonstrated
and acknowledged their divine call to the ministry of liberation and have been
recognized and authorized to exercise their vocation. Elders are those persons who have been
appointed to serve as the vanguard for The Afrikan Village in matters of a
spiritual nature.
The duties of the Ministers and Elders
vary in that they are set apart to assist the President in the carrying out of
the mission of The Afrikan Village & Cultural Center, as directed by the President. Their primary function is to assist the President
in the maintenance of the principles of truth, justice, righteousness, harmony,
balance, reciprocity and a spiritual atmosphere within the fellowship of The Afrikan
Village & Cultural Center. They are
to strive to assure harmony within the fellowship.
ARTICLE
XII. CHECKS & DRAFTS
All checks and drafts or orders for
the payment of money shall be signed by at least two members of the Executive
Committee.
ARTICLE
XIII. CORPORATE SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall
contain the name of the Corporation, the year of its creation and such other
words as may be appropriate, which seal shall be maintained in the office of
the Corporation to be used in legal matters.
ARTICLE
XIV. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation
shall commence on the first Sunday of January and end on the last Sunday of
December of each year.
ARTICLE
XV. GOVERNMENT
The rule of government for the
Corporation shall be in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order except where
otherwise stated herein.
These Articles may be Amended at any
time by a 2/3 majority vote of the membership of the Corporation and that such
amendment, prescribing the wording of the amendment, shall be set forth in the
call for the regular or special meeting.
Ase`
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