CONSTITUTION

THE CONSTITUTION OF

THE SOVERIGN MILITARY ORDER OF

CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

Preamble

We, the undersigned Knights, do hereby pledge ourselves before Almighty God, on our honor as Knights and vow to one another before God and His Son, Jesus Christ, that we will follow the principles proscribed in the Holy Scriptures; that we will adhere to the Divine doctrine and ethics set forth therein; that we each subscribe to the Chivalric and Noble ideals of our forebears and that we will govern our Brotherhood in an orderly and Christian manner for the benefit and protection of the Holy Christian and Apostolic Church and to the defense and protection of Christians wherever they may be found. 

The principles as set forth in this document will serve to preserve and defend the individual liberties of every Priory member and ensure the autonomy of this body in relation to other Templar Orders. 

Article I - Name 

This body shall be known as the SOVERIGN MILITARY ORDER OF CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (hereinafter called the “Order” or the “Brotherhood”).

Article II - Objectives 

The objectives of the Order and its members are: 

1.To worship God jointly, as a fellowship of believers, guided by the power of  the Holy Spirit, under the lordship of Jesus Christ. 

2.To aid and assist persecuted Christians throughout the world. 

3.To defend every denomination of the Christian Church from all enemies.

4.To minister to each other and to the entire world. 

5.To lead the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ both at home and around the world. 

6.To nurture Christian growth through preaching, teaching and fellowship.

Article III - Statement of Faith 

We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the basis for any statement of faith. Our Order subscribes to the doctrinal statements of the Nicene Creed and the Declaration of Atlanta and will be governed by these documents and our published and democratically approved bylaws.

Article IV - Relationships 

We are governed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who is the eternal titular Head of the Order, as He shall reveal His leadership to us through the Word and the Spirit of God. The Order declares it is autonomous and is not subject to any ecclesiastical or secular body except for those sovereign nations in which its Priories are established, insofar as the laws of those Nations do not come into conflict with the precepts of the Christian Faith and its teachings. We recognize and sustain the Knightly obligations of mutual counsel and cooperation, which are common among all true Templar Orders. The Order will cooperate with and support the association, state, national and international convention of Knights Templar, insofar as that support and cooperation does not abrogate the precepts of this Constitution, the Order’s Bylaws, the Declaration of Atlanta as amended or the Order’s sovereignty.

Article V - Covenant 

We, the members of THE SOVERIGN MILITARY ORDER OF CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, having been led as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ collectively and individually as our Savior and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, enter into a covenant with each other, as one body in Christ. We, therefore, agree, by the help of the Holy Spirit and with the Bible, the inspired Word of God as our guide, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Order; to promote spirituality; to sustain Christian worship, discipline and doctrine; to observe the ordinances of believers of baptism and the Lord's Supper to allow us to protect and defend the Christian faith, and the believers of that faith, in all nations. 

We agree to encourage personal and family devotions; to educate our children according to our faith; to seek the salvation of the unbeliever; to be just and chivalrous in our dealings with others as befits Knights, to be reliable in our responsibilities and to set a positive example to those around us. 

We agree to walk with one another in Christian harmony and watchfulness, giving and receiving assistance with meekness and affection; to pray for one another; to help each other in sickness and sorrow; to be slow to anger; to always be eager for reconciliation, seeking it without delay.

Article VI - Amendments

Changes in this constitution may be made at any regular business meeting of the Order as established in the Order’s Bylaws, provided that copies of each amendment have been presented in writing at the previous regular business meeting. Amendments shall be passed by two-thirds vote of all Preceptors on the Council after review of the proposed Amendment by the Grand Chaplain General. If cause can be presented as to why the proposed amendment should be rejected, rewritten or not considered, it must come from the Grand Chaplain General. 

Executive veto authority resides with the Grand Prior, or in his absence or incapacity, the Grand Chancellor. If the proposed amendment is vetoed, the proposed amendment must be sent back to the Preceptors with a written explanation for one additional review. If the Preceptors decide that the proposed amendment must be included, it will require a two-thirds vote from the Brotherhood’s entire membership. 

When passed, amendments will be incorporated into the Constitution and implemented immediately.

Article VII - Adoption

Section 1 – This constitution shall be considered adopted and in immediate effect if and when two thirds of the members present and voting at the business meeting at which the vote is taken shall vote in favor of same. This vote shall be taken not less than 30 days after formal presentation of the constitution of the Order.

Section 2 – This constitution abolishes, supersedes and takes precedence over any former document pertaining to the Order with the sole exceptions being the Declaration of Atlanta and the Bylaws as accepted and passed by the Council on June 1, 2006. 

Section 3 – A copy of this constitution and bylaws shall at all times be kept by the Grand Secretary General and another copy shall be kept by the Grand Chaplain General. All amendments and revisions shall, after passage by the vote of the membership, be prepared by the Grand Secretary General and incorporated in the constitution and bylaws and made available to members on request. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned execute this Constitution of THE SOVERIGN MILITARY ORDER OF CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR on June 1 in the Year of Our Lord, 2006.

We pray that Almighty God will bless this Order and our Brotherhood and guide its Officers and Members in our declared Holy Mission Amen