Ministry Charters

DefinitionA chartered ministry is a fully recognized Southeastern Theological Institute ministry which has been approved by the Board of Directors.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CHARTER

Southeastern Theological Institute, Inc. (SETI) intends to charter all areas of the ministry, including churches, missions, evangelistic, ministry schools, colleges, or any other not-for-profit church related work.

The church or ministry must be Pastored or led by a minister who has ministerial credentials with Southeastern Theological Institute, Inc. and said leader must continue to be a member in good standing with the Institute to be eligible to lead a SETI chartered ministry. The ministry must be set in order with by-laws to govern the ministry, and having a leader (pastor), a board, secretary, treasurer, and trustees comprising their corporate ministry board.  Additional leadership may be required depending upon the scope of the ministry.

An accurate and legal ministry record must be kept at all times that can be opened for inspection by any federal or state government official.  Chartered subordinate ministries must prove that they are actually operating as an affiliate body of Southeastern Theological Institute by being supportive in all areas including fellowship, and participation in SETII activities such as conferences, pastoral and leadership summits and trainings, youth conferences, and ministry schools.

 

All churches or ministries that are chartered by Southeastern Theological Institute, Inc.  are required:

 To preach, teach, and adhere to the Statement of Faith and Doctrine of Southeastern Theological Institute, Inc.

  1. To display the charter, which shows affiliation with Southeastern Theological Institute, Inc., in a prominent place in the ministry.
  2. To keep accurate records and fill out a complete report in duplicate, with one copy to be sent to our headquarters between January 1 and April 1 each year and the remaining copy to be retained in the church files.
  3. To obtain legal status in accordance with local laws. .

Having a SETI charter does not mean that Southeastern Theological Institute claims right to ownership of the property of a chartered entity.

The object and purpose of all chartered churches or ministries shall be to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as set forth in the Old and New Testament Scriptures, to practice and promote the Christian religion according to the Gospel of the New Testament Scriptures; to convert persons to the Christian Religion.

Our chartered churches and ministries must take care

  1. to all speak the same thing;
  2. not to use their chartered status for unrelated business or for financial gain;
  3. not to engage themselves in activities that are not in furtherance of SETI exempt purposes;
  4. not to become involved in activities to influence legislation.

 

If a chartered ministry or church decides that they no longer wish to have a charter and affiliation with Southeastern Theological Institute or if the church or church-related ministry is dissolved, said church or ministry is required to immediately return the Charter to our headquarters.

If a church or church-related organization is dissolved, the assets of the church or organization, after debts are paid, must go to another tax exempt church or other organization(s), organized and operated for similar exempt purposes and which have exemption from Federal income Tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue

Code, or such section as it may be amended.