THE CHURCH

We believe that a local Baptist church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the gospel, said church being understood to be the citadel and propagator of Divine and Eternal Grace; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders, and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures; and we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individual disciples; Second, to build up the church; and Third, to reach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the right of self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; that the one and only Superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; and on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final.

Acts 2:41-42; I Cor. 11:2; Eph. 4:11; I Cor. 12:4; I Cor. 12:8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 20:17-28; I Tim. 3:1-13; Matt. 28:19-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23-24; I Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3:4; Lev. 27:32; II Cor. 8:23-24; I Cor. 16:1; Mal. 3:10; I Cor. 16:2; I Cor. 6:1-3; I Cor. 5:11-13