Bylaws:

 Introduction

• This men's motorcycle ministry (M/M) will be from this date forward called Band of Brothers Motorcycle Ministry.

• The Band of Brothers motorcycle ministry is open to all Christian men from all churches professing Jesus Christ as Lord. (See “Statement of Faith” for further details.) 

• Everyone works in a voluntary position for which no remuneration will be paid, except as may be determined by the elder board.

• The elder board will be comprised of men willing and called to serve as the guiding force behind this ministry. Each of who will serve at the discretion of the other board members.

   Inclusion in this ministry

• The purpose of this ministry is the establishment of Band of Brothers groups: Disciple men to become followers of Jesus Christ and discover their hearts, surrendering our desire for control and abandoning ourselves to God's will. Being likeminded and bound together as brothers, to encourage each other to share their faith through servant evangelism, to minister to one another and others as the opportunity presents and to mentor, encourage, educate and hold each other accountable through this ministry. Each chapter (see new Band of Brothers chapters below) meets on at least a weekly basis and starts their inclusion in this ministry when they complete John Eldredge's book/video series Wild at Heart, accept our statement of faith, share their personal testimony (part of our patch ceremony), belong to a local church and are approved by the board of directors.

"Wild At Heart
Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul   
A Battle to fight.  An Adventure to live.  A Beauty to rescue.  This is what a man longs for. This is what makes him come alive. This is what God has written into the heart of every man.  Look at the films men love.  For that matter, look at the dreams of little boys, the games they play.  There is something fierce,  passionate, and wild in the heart of every man.   That is how he bears the image of God.  And the reason that most men "live lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau) is because men have been told that the reason God put them on earth is to be a good boy.  To be nice.

God designed men to be dangerous.  Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy:  To be a hero,  to be a warrior,  to live a life of adventure and risk.  Sadly,  most men abandon those dreams and desires— aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a nice guy. It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death. 

Now, in all your boyhood dreams growing up,  did you ever dream of becoming a nice guy?  Ladies,  was the Prince of your dreams dashing . . . or merely nice?  "We've taken away the dreams of a man's heart and told him to play the man."  As C.S. Lewis said, 'We castrate the gelding and bid him be fruitful."

This is a message about the recovery and release of a man's heart, his passions, which he has been given by God." (excerpt from Ransomed Heart website)

We believe you need a Band of Brothers who along with you are on this journey to win back their hearts and willing to fight for each others hearts. A Band of Brothers will support you, encourage you, fight with you and for you, and at the same time hold you accountable. They are brothers who know you, your strengths and your weakness, and love you regardless.

• Our ministry is a means to an end - not an end in itself. We suggest to our members that their priorities must be God, Family, Church and THEN a ministry such as Band of Brothers.

We believe in and value the local church; the bride of Christ for whom He died. Christians without regular church attendance are without the necessary care and accountability that we all need. You must have a relationship with a church (as described Eph. 2: 11-22) to join Band of Brothers. If you feel that you are an exception to this rule please contact us.

Ephesians 2

One in Christ

 11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

 

• Why Band of Brothers Does it:
  
  The one and only reason: God said to do it. (NIV) ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

   Motorcycle Ministry Colors (the patch)

• The patch is proudly worn by all members of this ministry as a sign of our commitment to our King, this ministry and each other.

• Colors are a combination of Scarlet, Yellows, Black, White and Gray.

• Colors will be sold to and worn only by members.

• Colors remain the property of the local chapter and must be surrendered by any member leaving the ministry for any reason.

• Colors should be worn to all ministry functions.

• Colors will not be defended with violence.

• Be careful to obey all traffic laws and remain respectful to law enforcement (no matter what) while riding and wearing your colors.

• Never drink or buy alcohol while wearing this patch or during sponsored activities (rides, retreats and events). For the sake of not causing another brother to stumble (1 Cor.10:31-33).

• Be courteous and helpful to all others on the road. Never engage in a “road rage” or angry exchange while riding and wearing your colors.

• While patches should be worn to all official functions and on all official rides, we encourage you to wear your patches whenever you ride as a witness for Christ and this ministry. They are a highly visible and effective witnessing tool!

• The large patch will be central on the back of your vest (leather or denim). Other patches (even from other clubs, i.e. H.O.G.) may be worn on your vest but the Band of Brothers patch must be prominent and in the proper place. Other pins and patches which do not represent Christ well, (i.e. of a vulgar or sensual nature), must never be worn on this vest.

  Moral Purity

• A member of the Band of Brothers shall be committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity. (1 Pet. 2:11; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; 1 Tim. 2:22).

• The Band of Brothers places a high value on accountability amongst each other. Therefore, should a brother fall into moral failure, the leadership of the Band of Brothers will take action as directed by the Word of God. (Mt. 18:15-18; 1 Cor. 5:1-13).

• This action will be loving and merciful by nature. It should not be understood as punishment, but rather as a means of restoring a brother back to moral purity. In 1 Cor. 5: 1-13, Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians was that they were to deliver a brother caught in immorality into the hand of Satan—not for damnation, but for restoration.

Paul said. “Stay away from this man and let him live his life of immorality away from the joy, peace, and covering of the body. And hopefully, he will become so sick of his sin that he’ll long for the days when he was in fellowship with you. 

The church at Corinth did, indeed, take Paul’s advice, and it worked to such a degree that Paul was later able to instruct them to welcome their brother back into their company. (2 Cor. 2:6-8) 

This is an important word for us. We do not serve each other well by allowing someone to live in sin.

Remember! Though you have bought and paid for these patches, they remain the property of Band of Brothers Motorcycle Ministry and may be recalled should you ever leave this ministry for any reason. Every patch represents each one of us. The standard of Jesus Christ and His Word, as well as our bylaws will be upheld.

   New Band of Brothers chapters

• A new chapter may be formed when

  • A visionary leader with the necessary time and commitment comes forth.

  • A minimum of 3 members (By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. Ecclesiastes 4:12/MSG) who have a commitment to Christ are ready.

  • Said chapter has been approved and released by the national office.

• Chapters may be developed by one or more of the following scenarios

  • An existing chapter has grown and is currently challenged by the geographical diversity of its members or the chapter size has gotten over 8 to 12 and therefore a second chapter is needed.

  • If there are members interested in starting a new chapter but are too far removed from any existing chapter.

Here's a link to the PDF version of the bylaws so you can print them out sign and turn in.

Click here to print the bylaws