Church in Thy House · This Grace Bible ChurchesCircle of the Elders
The purpose, governing framework, and ministry correspondence of the Circle of the Elders.
Circle of the Elders
The Circle of the Elders serves within the ecclesiastical framework of This Grace Bible Churches. Its purpose and authority are set out in the Constitution, Bylaws, Circle Charter, and related governing instruments.
The charter describes its service in preserving doctrine, supporting orderly ministry, considering ecclesiastical matters, and maintaining the association’s records. The governing documents define the Circle’s responsibilities and limitations.
Bishop Wesley Ray
Founding Bishop
This Grace Bible Churches
Doctrine and orderly service
Our teaching centers on the Gospel of Christ, the King James Bible rightly divided, and the doctrine committed to the Apostle Paul concerning the Church, the Body of Christ. Read the complete instruments for the specific procedures governing leadership, recognition, administration, and succession.
Foundational authority
Leadership and ministry
PRAECEPTORIUM
The Elders’ Circle / Circle of Elders
PRAECEPTORIUM is the internal ecclesiastical teaching and oversight body of This Grace Bible Churches. Membership is limited to expressly admitted qualified bishops and elders. The Founding Bishop is its sole initial member. Deacons serve in their recognized office and do not enter the Circle by ordination or administrative delegation.
Read the current Circle charterTHE PRAECEPTORIUM AND THE PRAECEPTORIUS
The Order and the Founding Bishop’s exclusive title
Praeceptorium names the Circle of the Elders, the internal teaching and oversight Order within This Grace Bible Churches.
Praeceptorius is Bishop Wesley Ray’s exclusive personal ecclesiastical title. He is the original and sole Praeceptorius. Membership in the Circle, temporary appointment, incapacity, death, or succession does not confer or transfer that title.
These ecclesiastical designations create neither a separate legal entity nor a third ordained office. Sound doctrine, the Gospel of Christ, the King James Bible rightly divided, and Pauline Dispensational Doctrine govern the Order’s work.
Read the Version 6 charter
CHARTER · VERSION 6 · 10 OCTOBER 2026
The Praeceptorium: permanent doctrinal fidelity
The Circle of the Elders is the Praeceptorium, the internal teaching and oversight Order within This Grace Bible Churches. Bishop Wesley Ray, Founding Bishop, is the original and sole Praeceptorius. His personal title is exclusive and does not transfer through incapacity, death, temporary appointment, or succession.
The foremost judgment of the Order is fidelity to the Gospel of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJB, sound doctrine, the King James Bible, and Pauline Dispensational Doctrine. Article I-A sets permanent limits on every authority created by the Charter.
The Order shall not go to Greek or Hebrew for its studies or attempt to change or supposedly correct the King James Bible. It shall avoid corrupt doctrines and religious influences contrary to its foundations, and shall not practice, require, or authorize water baptism for the Church, the Body of Christ.
Membership requires separate qualification as a bishop or elder and express admission. Temporary continuity uses an accepted Acting Overseeing Bishop, a named alternate, and an administrative fallback within existing authority. Incapacity never becomes permanent succession.
Document status: Version 6 is a revised draft, operative only upon authorized adoption. Publication does not certify adoption.
Identity and House to House Assembly
Our identity
This Grace Bible Churches, the Circle of the Elders (the Order, the Praeceptorium), and Church in Thy House are not a denomination, are not part of a denomination, are not a religion, and are not part of Christianity. They are not Jewish and are not Catholic. They are not corruptors of the Word of God.
Our assembly and practice
We are not part of the "corporate" American Christian Church setup. We have no religious buildings, statues, baptistries, altars, or pastors, and none of the trappings of the religion known as Christianity.
Saved believers gathering house to house
This Grace Bible Churches consists of true saved believers who rightly divide the word of truth and meet house to house. Church in Thy House is the mode by which This Grace Bible Churches gathers together. The Gospel of Christ that saves today is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJB. Our standard for rightly dividing the word of truth is 2 Timothy 2:15 KJB.
King James Bible only
We use only King James Bibles: the 1769 edition of the 1611, Pure Cambridge Text. The King James Bible is our final written authority. We do not change, supposedly correct, or corrupt the Word of God.
The Order and the Bishop title
The Circle of the Elders, the Order, and the Praeceptorium name the same internal teaching and oversight body within This Grace Bible Churches. Praeceptorius is the Bishop title within that body. Bishop Wesley Ray is the original and sole Praeceptorius; admission to the Circle does not confer that title. Within This Grace Bible Churches, Bishop Wesley Ray is known as the Founding Bishop.
Download the identity statement