Founding Bishop and Succession Declaration

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION | KJB Page 1 THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION An Ecclesiastical Governing Declaration of This Grace Bible Churches King James Bible (KJB) - Final Written Authority Founding Bishop: Wesley Scott Ray Tyler, Texas PREAMBLE This Grace Bible Churches ("TGBC"), an independent, unincorporated religious association and Pauline Dispensational Assembly, adopts this Founding Bishop & Succession Declaration to preserve the historical office of its Founding Bishop, establish the permanent limitations upon that office and title, provide an orderly transition of ecclesiastical oversight following the Founding Bishop's natural death, and protect the continuity, doctrine, identity, records, assemblies, and ministry of TGBC. This Declaration is subordinate to the King James Bible, the Constitution and Articles of Association, the Bylaws, the Statement of Faith and Foundational Doctrine, and the Circle of the Elders Charter according to the TGBC Governing Document order. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to place any man above the Word of God. "Let all things be done decently and in order." - 1 Corinthians 14:40 KJB ARTICLE I - SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY Section 1. Final Written Authority. The King James Bible shall remain the final written authority of TGBC in all matters of faith, doctrine, ministry, conduct, assembly order, and ecclesiastical government. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15 KJB Section 2. Pauline Order. This Declaration shall be administered consistently with the Gospel of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, the revelation of the Mystery, the Dispensation of the Grace of God, the distinction between Israel and the Body of Christ, and TGBC's established Pauline Dispensational doctrine. ARTICLE II - DECLARATION OF THE FOUNDING BISHOP Section 1. Recognition. Wesley Scott Ray is the one and only Founding Bishop of This Grace Bible Churches. Section 2. Unique Historical Office. The title and office of Founding Bishop are unique to the founder of TGBC. There shall be only one Founding Bishop in the history of This Grace Bible Churches. Section 3. Lifetime Service. Wesley Scott Ray shall serve as Founding Bishop for the duration of his natural life. Section 4. Nontransferability. The title Founding Bishop belongs solely to Wesley Scott Ray. It shall never be inherited, transferred, reassigned, recreated, revived, or bestowed upon another individual. ARTICLE III - PROTECTION OF THE HISTORICAL OFFICE Section 1. No Removal. During his natural life, no Bishop, Deacon, Elder, Circle member, member, assembly, committee, congregation, policy, resolution, vote, disciplinary proceeding, or other ecclesiastical body of TGBC shall remove, replace, suspend, vote out, or deprive Wesley Scott Ray of the office or title of Founding Bishop. Section 2. No Co-Founding Bishop. No person or body may appoint, recognize, elect, or create a co-Founding Bishop or another Founding Bishop. Section 3. No Indirect Action. No subordinate document, policy, amendment, resolution, vote, administrative act, disciplinary proceeding, recusal, or interpretation may be used indirectly to accomplish an action against the Founding Bishop's office that the

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION | KJB Page 2 Constitution expressly prohibits. Section 4. Word of God Supreme. Protection of the historical office does not place the Founding Bishop above Scripture. Questions concerning doctrine or conduct may be addressed truthfully and scripturally according to TGBC governing documents, but such proceedings shall not alter the constitutional tenure or historical title of Founding Bishop. ARTICLE IV - FOUNDING BISHOP AND THE CIRCLE OF THE ELDERS Section 1. Presiding Role. During his natural life, the Founding Bishop shall preside over the Circle of the Elders whenever he is present and able to do so. Section 2. Circle Membership. During the Founding Bishop's lifetime, members of the Circle shall be appointed or recognized according to procedures approved by the Founding Bishop and consistent with TGBC governing documents. Section 3. Circle Limitations. The Circle shall possess no authority during the Founding Bishop's lifetime to remove, suspend, replace, vote out, create a co-Founding Bishop, create another Founding Bishop, transfer the title, or abolish the historical office. Section 4. Counsel and Continuity. The Circle shall assist in preserving doctrine, counseling ecclesiastical leadership, safeguarding records, maintaining orderly government, and preparing for continuity without claiming the authority reserved to the Founding Bishop or to superior governing instruments. ARTICLE V - NATURAL DEATH OF THE FOUNDING BISHOP Section 1. Permanent Cessation. Upon the natural death of Wesley Scott Ray, the historical office and title of Founding Bishop shall immediately and permanently cease. Section 2. Historical Recognition. TGBC may continue to identify Wesley Scott Ray historically as the Founding Bishop of This Grace Bible Churches. Such historical recognition shall not create a vacant office to be filled. Section 3. No Successor Founding Bishop. No individual shall thereafter be called, elected, appointed, installed, credentialed, or recognized as Founding Bishop. Section 4. Continuity. The death of the Founding Bishop shall not dissolve TGBC, terminate its local assemblies, invalidate its governing documents, transfer its property to private persons, or end its religious ministry. ARTICLE VI - SUCCESSION AUTHORITY OF THE CIRCLE Section 1. Assumption of Succession Responsibility. Upon the natural death of the Founding Bishop, the Circle of the Elders shall assume its constitutional responsibility for orderly succession. Section 2. Succession Meeting. The Circle shall convene a succession meeting as reasonably practicable for the purpose of confirming continuity of TGBC and selecting an Overseeing Bishop. The meeting may be held in person or through another means authorized by the Circle Charter and Bylaws. Section 3. Existing Circle. Persons formally recognized and recorded as members of the Circle immediately before the Founding Bishop's death shall constitute the initial succession body, subject to the qualifications, vacancies, conflicts, and procedures established in TGBC governing documents. Section 4. Records. The Circle shall preserve written minutes and a permanent record of the succession meeting, nominations or candidates considered, eligibility determinations, votes, selection, acceptance, and recognition of the Overseeing Bishop. ARTICLE VII - QUALIFICATIONS FOR OVERSEEING BISHOP Section 1. Qualified Candidate. A candidate for Overseeing Bishop must be qualified for the office of Bishop according to Scripture and TGBC's Bishop and Deacon Qualifications, Credentialing and Ordination documents. Section 2. Doctrinal Agreement. A candidate must affirm the foundational doctrine and governing documents of TGBC, including the King James Bible as final written authority, the Gospel of Christ identified in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, salvation by grace through faith, right division, the distinctive apostleship of Paul, the revelation of the Mystery, and the distinction between Israel and the Body of Christ.

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION | KJB Page 3 Section 3. Fidelity to TGBC Identity. A candidate must agree that the Body of Christ is not a continuation or replacement of Israel's prophetic kingdom program and must not seek to merge TGBC into a denomination or external ecclesiastical authority contrary to its Constitution. Section 4. Founding Bishop Limitation. Every candidate must acknowledge that the title Founding Bishop ended permanently with Wesley Scott Ray and may never be claimed by the Overseeing Bishop or another person. ARTICLE VIII - SELECTION OF THE OVERSEEING BISHOP Section 1. Title. The person selected shall bear the title OVERSEEING BISHOP OF THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES. Section 2. Selection by Circle. The Overseeing Bishop shall be selected by vote of the Circle of the Elders from qualified candidates. Section 3. Quorum. A majority of the currently recognized eligible voting members of the Circle shall constitute a quorum unless a superior or controlling TGBC governing document establishes a greater requirement. Section 4. Succession Vote. Because selection of the Overseeing Bishop is an extraordinary succession action, selection shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the eligible Circle members participating at a meeting at which a quorum exists. Section 5. Additional Ballots. If no candidate receives the required vote, the Circle may continue deliberation and conduct additional ballots until a qualified candidate receives the required vote. No candidate shall assume the office merely by plurality, self-appointment, seniority, inheritance, family relationship, financial influence, or prior title. Section 6. Acceptance and Record. The selected candidate shall affirm acceptance of the office and TGBC foundational doctrine in writing. The selection and acceptance shall be entered into the permanent ecclesiastical records. ARTICLE IX - AUTHORITY AND LIMITATIONS OF THE OVERSEEING BISHOP Section 1. Ecclesiastical Oversight. The Overseeing Bishop shall serve as the principal ecclesiastical overseer of TGBC following the death of the Founding Bishop and shall preserve and administer its established doctrine, Constitution, governing documents, assemblies, and ecclesiastical order. Section 2. No Founding Status. The Overseeing Bishop shall not possess the historical title, status, or unique constitutional protection of Founding Bishop. Section 3. No Rewrite of Identity. The Overseeing Bishop shall not use the office to rewrite the historical identity of TGBC, abandon its foundational Pauline Dispensational doctrine, replace the King James Bible as its final written authority, or create another Founding Bishop. Section 4. Accountability. The Overseeing Bishop remains subject to the qualifications, responsibilities, accountability, discipline, and governing procedures applicable to Bishops under Scripture and duly adopted TGBC governing documents. ARTICLE X - VACANCY AFTER SUCCESSION Section 1. Overseeing Bishop Vacancy. After the historical Founding Bishop office has ceased, a vacancy in the office of Overseeing Bishop caused by death, resignation, removal under applicable governing procedures, incapacity, or other recognized cause shall not recreate the Founding Bishop office. Section 2. Interim Continuity. During such a vacancy, the Circle of the Elders shall preserve orderly ecclesiastical government and shall not permit any individual to assume the title Founding Bishop. Section 3. New Overseeing Bishop. The Circle shall select a qualified successor Overseeing Bishop according to the succession principles and voting procedures of this Declaration and other controlling TGBC governing documents. ARTICLE XI - DOCTRINAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONTINUITY Section 1. Doctrine. Succession shall be a continuation of TGBC's established ecclesiastical government and not an occasion to establish a new religious identity.

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION | KJB Page 4 Section 2. Governing Documents. The Constitution, Bylaws, Statement of Faith, Circle Charter, this Declaration, adopted doctrinal position papers, local assembly agreements, policies, and permanent records shall continue according to their terms unless lawfully amended under the procedures governing them. Section 3. Assemblies. Local assemblies recognized by TGBC shall continue according to their charters and affiliation agreements unless withdrawn or terminated according to those documents. Section 4. Property and Records. TGBC property, funds, credentials, intellectual property, records, and other ministry assets shall remain with TGBC and shall not become the personal property of the Founding Bishop's heirs, the Overseeing Bishop, Circle members, or other private individuals merely by reason of succession. ARTICLE XII - PROHIBITED SUCCESSION ACTIONS No succession action, vote, amendment, resolution, policy, or interpretation may: 1. Create or recognize another Founding Bishop; 2. Transfer the title Founding Bishop to another person; 3. Treat the Founding Bishop office as a hereditary office; 4. Permit an heir, relative, Bishop, Deacon, Elder, donor, or local assembly automatically to inherit ecclesiastical oversight; 5. Abandon the King James Bible as TGBC's final written authority; 6. Replace the Gospel of Christ identified by TGBC in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 7. Abandon right division or TGBC's foundational Pauline Dispensational identity; or 8. Place TGBC under external denominational or ecclesiastical control contrary to the Constitution. ARTICLE XIII - SUCCESSION RECORDS AND CERTIFICATION Section 1. Permanent Record. All material succession actions shall form part of the permanent ecclesiastical records of TGBC. Section 2. Certification. Following selection of an Overseeing Bishop, the Circle shall prepare a written certification identifying the date of the succession meeting, the authority under which the meeting was held, the person selected, confirmation of the required vote, and the candidate's written acceptance. Section 3. Master Register. The succession event and any resulting changes to governing status shall be reflected in the Master Governing Document Register and other appropriate TGBC records. ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENT AND PERMANENT LIMITATIONS Section 1. Amendment. This Declaration may be amended according to TGBC governing procedures, subject to all superior governing documents. Section 2. Permanent Founding Bishop Limitation. No amendment to this Declaration may create another Founding Bishop, transfer the title, convert the title into a continuing office, or authorize removal or replacement of Wesley Scott Ray as Founding Bishop during his natural life contrary to the Constitution. Section 3. Superior Authority. If this Declaration conflicts with a superior governing document, the superior document shall control. Nothing in this Declaration shall supersede the King James Bible as the final written authority of TGBC. ARTICLE XV - ADOPTION This Founding Bishop & Succession Declaration is adopted as an ecclesiastical governing document of This Grace Bible Churches and shall be retained among its permanent records. ADOPTED ON: ______________________________________ PLACE: Tyler, Texas FOUNDING BISHOP

THIS GRACE BIBLE CHURCHES | FOUNDING BISHOP & SUCCESSION DECLARATION | KJB Page 5 Wesley Scott Ray Founding Bishop of This Grace Bible Churches Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________ CIRCLE MEMBER Printed Name: _________________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________ CIRCLE MEMBER Printed Name: _________________________________________ Signature: ____________________________________________ Date: ________________________________________________ CERTIFICATION The undersigned certify that the foregoing Founding Bishop & Succession Declaration was duly adopted as an ecclesiastical governing document of This Grace Bible Churches and is retained among its permanent ecclesiastical records.