Constitution/Bylaws

& Statement of Faith

Grace Baptist Church of Mono Vista Sonora, CA

Constitution

PREAMBLE

We, the members of Grace Baptist Church, believing that this document is consistent with Scripture, our only authority, do establish it as our constitution and agree to abide by its principles. WHEREAS, it is the express purpose of God our Heavenly Father to call out of the world a saved people who shall constitute the Body of Christ, built and established on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone and, WHEREAS, the members of the Body of Christ are enjoined to assemble themselves together for worship, fellowship, counsel, instruction in the Word of God, the work of the ministry, and the exercise of those spiritual gifts and offices provided for in the New Testament, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED, that we recognize ourselves a body of Christian believers working together for the common purpose of spreading the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that under the laws of the State of California we may exercise all the rights and privileges granted to religious bodies.

ARTICLE I - Name

This congregation of believers shall be known as the Grace Baptist Church of Mono Vista.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purpose of this corporation shall be: 1. To establish and oversee places of worship under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Titus 1:5);

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2. To create departments as may be necessary in order to establish places of worship, to spread the Gospel by all necessary means locally and around the world, and to support other religious activities to further its exempt purposes (Matt 28: 19, 20); 3. To have the right to own, hold in trust, use, possess, sell, convey, mortgage, lease or dispose of such property, real or chattel, as may be needed for the furtherance of its work; 4. To license and ordain ministers of the Gospel and be their covering (Heb. 13:17); 5. To build up believers through the preaching and teaching of Scripture; 6. To administer the ordinances of believers baptism and the Lords Supper; 7. To accurately reflect the character of God in its activities, fellowship, relationships and contact with its community.

ARTICLE III - Affiliation

This church shall have sovereign control over its own affairs and shall remain unaffiliated with any denominational body, convention or association which could exercise authority over it or restrict its independence. ARTICLE IV - Membership Qualifications Qualifications for membership include a belief in Jesus Christ as personal Savior, baptism by immersion, agreement with this Constitution and Statement of Faith, and overall harmony with our position as a fundamentalist ministry. Reception After voicing a desire for membership to a pastor or deacon, the following steps will be taken in order to accomplish reception: A satisfactory interview with the pastor and deacons; Recommendation to the church by the pastor and deacons; A 2/3 majority vote of the church members present in favor of acceptance. Duties It is expected that each member be loyal to Christ, to His Word, and to this assembly in word and deed-- including attendance at a majority of services, financial support characterized by regular and willing giving from the heart, a willingness to work and use talents and spiritual gifts, and the maintenance of a positive reflection upon our church in the community. Termination When a member has not attended for six months, his/her membership shall assume an inactive (and nonvoting) status without notice. Voting status can be reactivated after resuming regular attendance for one month. Membership shall be terminated
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automatically after one year of nonattendance. Exceptions may be made for illness or special situations approved by the pastor and deacons. Membership shall automatically be terminated without notice if an individual unites in membership with another local church. Associate membership Part-time residents may be designated as associate members while maintaining their membership in another church of like faith and practice in another community. Associate members may not vote. Voting Rights This is a voting membership church. Each corporate member shall be entitled to one vote. Voting is limited to those individuals who have been fully accepted into membership and whose status is active. Votes shall be cast for the call or termination of a pastor, the election of deacons and officers, purchases that exceed a predetermined amount, approval of the annual budget, and other miscellaneous decisions deemed vote-appropriate by the board. Binding decisions made by this corporation shall be by two-thirds majority vote of the church members present.

ARTICLE V Discipline

This church will practice the Biblical procedure of discipline whereby an erring believer can be removed from membership or fellowship because of immorality, holding or promoting false doctrine, divisive behavior within the assembly, or public offense. The goals of discipline are to maintain church purity and bring about the restoration of an erring believer. 1 Cor 5:2 says, Shouldnt you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this [unrepentant immorality]? The pastor and deacons (excluding anyone under question) shall have sole authority to determine whether a members deviation from accepted doctrine or behavior should be brought before the church. Church action will be conducted at a special business meeting called for this purpose which shall be announced at least one week in advance.

ARTICLE VI Standard of Conduct

The behavior of anyone in fellowship with this church is of common interest to the board of directors and membership. (Gal. 6:1) This church requires every board member and congregational member to adhere to a lifestyle that is consistent with the doctrines of this church as taught in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, this church reserves the right to refuse service to any individual, whether member or not, who is not submitting his life to this Scriptural mode of conduct. This refusal includes services, benefits and any use of church assets.

ARTICLE VII Homosexuality

This church is opposed to homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. Additionally, this church holds that a homosexual lifestyle is contrary to Gods Word and purpose for humanity. The Bible instructs that it is a sin that leads to death. Moreover, this
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church is instructed to love those living such lifestyles, while abhorring their sin. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 says, Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders...will inherit the kingdom of God. Homosexual Marriage This church will not perform homosexual marriages. It will not condone nor recognize such marriages, even if the state passes laws that provide for recognition of such unions. Members and Homosexuality Members of the church are forbidden to practice homosexuality. Any member found to be in such sin and unrepentant shall be subject to dismissal.

ARTICLE VIII Ecclesiastical Power

Any disputes that arise over the interpretation of this Constitution and Bylaws shall be referred to the highest authority of this church. In this case it would be the pastor, with the advice of the Board of Deacons. The pastor shall be responsible for the day-to-day decisions and shall run the affairs of the church. In Watson v. Jones, the court ruled, Whenever the questions of discipline, faith, ecclesiastical rule, custom, or law have been decided by the highest church judicatory to which the matter has been carried, the legal tribunals must accept such decisions as final, and as binding on them. . .

ARTICLE IX Government

Officers There shall be a senior pastor/chief executive officer. There shall be a deacon/secretary. There shall be a deacon/chief financial officer. Other deacons/officers shall be added as needed. Official Board and Voting Power The official board shall consist of individuals listed above. The majority shall serve without remuneration and not be related by blood or marriage. The senior pastor/CEO shall be chairman of the board and chief executive of the corporation.

ARTICLE X Workers

All who work in any function of this church, whether paid or volunteer, whether or not they are members and regardless of the capacity in which they serve (excluding those hired as an outside service or independent contractor) shall be regarded as ministers or staff of this church and must be, in belief and conduct, in full agreement with the Statement of Faith and with the moral and spiritual standards of this
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church. In the event of any dispute regarding this article, the church shall be the only and final arbiter, and its decision shall be final. ARTICLE XI Meetings No meetings, functions or activities of this church, or ones sponsored by this church, shall, under any circumstances, be considered open public meetings, or open to the public. Visitors from outside the membership may attend only when their purposes, demeanor and conduct are, in the opinion of this church, consistent with the churchs purposes and standards of conduct. Meetings of the church include, but are not limited to: Worship Meetings Every element of the worship meetings, whether in spoken word or song, will be consistent with Scripture and the holiness of God. Worship meetings are not limited to Sundays; neither are they limited to being held on church property. Business Meetings The church shall hold a regular business meeting at least every two months and an annual business meeting each May. The Annual Business Meeting shall include the election of officers and approval of the church budget. The last day of the fiscal year shall be the last day of April. A quorum shall consist of the members present. Members must be at least 18 years old to vote. Special Business Meetings A special meeting may be called by the pastor or the deacons or by written request to the board by 1/3 of the voting members. Notice of its purpose and date must be announced from the pulpit at least one week in advance. In the event of an emergency or unusual circumstance, the one-week requirement may be suspended by a majority vote of members present.

ARTICLE XII Designated Offerings

This church may establish various funds for special projects. Those who contribute may suggest uses for their offerings, but all suggestions shall be deemed advisory rather than mandatory in nature. Though every effort will be made to follow suggested uses, all designated offerings shall remain subject to the exclusive control and discretion of the pastor and deacons.

ARTICLE XIII Legal and Tax Exempt Provisions

Private Inurement No part of the net earnings of the church shall inure to (be used for) the private benefit of or be distributed to its members, ministers, directors, officers, or any private persons, except for authorized payments for benevolence or services rendered.
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Political Involvement No substantial part of the activities of the church shall be an attempt to influence legislation or campaign in behalf of any candidate for public office. Property Rights All property, real or chattel, shall be taken, held, sold, transferred, or conveyed in the corporations name. Dissolution Upon dissolution of the church, the directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the church, dispose of all assets of the church to one or more organizations who share a similar purpose, who hold a doctrinal position in agreement with our statement of faith, and who are exempt as described in section 501(c)(3) and /or 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

ARTICLE XIV Amendments

Amendments to this constitution may be made by two-thirds vote of the corporate membership. At least two weeks prior to the vote, notice shall be posted in writing and publicly announced, and written copies of the proposed amendments shall be made available.

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Bylaws

Article I - Order
For the purpose of conducting business, the Senior Pastor/President shall preside over all of the affairs of the corporation in an orderly manner.

Article II - Finances

Withdrawals The Treasurer shall make all withdrawals from the regular corporation treasury under the supervision of the corporate membership. Salaries The Senior Pastor/President will be given a regular and reasonable salary as determined by agreement of the corporate membership each year during the Annual Business Meeting. The agreement will be in writing and will outline all salary, benefits and provisions. The salary and benefits of the pastor shall be reflective of the size of the church and scope of responsibilities. Vacation time will be according to length of employment: one to four years--two weeks; five years and over--four weeks. The pastor is also allotted three weeks per year to be involved in outside speaking engagements. Employees other than the Senior Pastor will be given a salary package as designed by the board and approved by the corporate membership. Budgets A stewardship team will gather annually for the purpose of evaluating the previous years finances and compiling a proposed budget for the new fiscal year. The team shall be comprised of the board of directors and other church members appointed by them. The proposed budget shall be distributed at the annual meeting for consideration and approval of the corporate membership.

Article III - Government and Official Functions

Senior Pastor/President
Selection - In the absence of a pastor, the deacons shall constitute the pulpit committee that is responsible for finding prospects through contacts with fundamental believers, pastors, churches and colleges. The deacons shall have the option, at their discretion, of inviting church members to assist them in their task. The pulpit committee may invite potential pastors to come fill the pulpit and meet informally before considering them as actual candidates. They will also gather and check references. Upon the majority recommendation of the pulpit committee, a man may be invited as a candidate. Candidacy will involve public preaching, a public meeting with the church for questions and answers, and a private interview
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with the pulpit committee. The church shall consider one candidate at a time.

Manner of Appointment - After a final majority recommendation of the pulpit committee, a 2/3 majority ballot vote of members present shall be necessary to extend a call.

Qualifications - In order to be considered, a candidate must meet the Scriptural qualifications of I Timothy 3, possess the call and gifts of a pastor/teacher, and agree with the constitution, bylaws, statement of faith, and fundamental position of this church. Duties - As bishop, the pastor shall be the overseer of the people, staff (including hiring and dismissal), ministries, ordinances and administration of the church. He shall preside over its meetings and shall be the president of the corporation. As pastor, he shall shepherd the flock by leading, feeding, caring for and warning them. As preacher, he shall declare the whole counsel of God. As elder, his character and spiritual maturity shall instill respect and motivate the assembly to follow his leadership.

Term of Office - The term of office of the senior pastor/president shall be evaluated every two years by the board to determine constitutional compliance. Should the senior pastor/president be found in violation of the constitution and bylaws, the corporate membership may dismiss him by a three-fourths majority vote.

Termination - Either the pastor or the church may terminate the pastoral relationship by giving one months notice. All actions to dismiss a pastor must reflect the character of Christ in attitude and word. Concerns of the members will be referred to the deacons who will coordinate all public discussion. The deacons will decide whether a vote to terminate will be brought to the floor. Termination will be by at least a 3/4 vote at a business meeting announced no less than one week in advance. The terms and conditions of severance pay will be solely at the discretion of the voting members. In the event of termination for discipline, there will be no severance pay, and pastoral responsibility and authority will end immediately.

Deacons

Selection/Term of Office - Before each annual business meeting, nominations for deacon shall be communicated to the pastor or current deacons, who will then decide if a nominee will be placed on the ballot. Nominees shall be announced no less than two weeks before the vote. Deacons shall serve a one year term when first elected. If reelected, the second term shall be two years and a successive third term shall be three years. The deacon must then sit out for at least one year. The church at its own discretion may appoint a lifetime deacon. However, the title and office shall remain subject to the will of the current pastor and the voting members.

Qualifications - Each deacon shall be a male member for at least one year, someone who meets the qualifications set forth in I Timothy 3, and someone who shows
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spiritual maturity worthy of respect. Duties - Deacons shall be servants selected by the assembly to minister to their needs under the leadership of the pastor. In addition to those duties already outlined in this Constitution & Bylaws, deacons shall be available to assist the pastor in administering the ordinances, promoting the spiritual welfare of the church, maintaining orderly services, and practicing appropriate stewardship in the use of finances and property. The relationship of the deacons to the pastor shall not be that of employer/employee. The pastor shall maintain the office of overseer, but seek and value the counsel of deacons as they mutually serve the church

Other Officers

Selection/Term of Office - Upon nomination, agreement to serve, and approval by the pastor and deacons, a member may be elected to an office for a term of one year by a majority vote of the membership at the Annual Business Meeting. Offices shall include: Treasurer - Responsible for the disbursement of funds (as prescribed in Article II of the Bylaws), the business-like accounting of all receipts and disbursement of monies committed to his/her trust, the reconciliation of bank statements, and the creation of reports to be presented during board meetings. Day to day responsibilities of the Treasurer will be under the direction of the pastor, but the deacon/CFO shall have corporate responsibility for the tasks performed. Stewardship Secretary - Responsible for keeping detailed, but unverified, records of all funds contributed to the church, and shall present a yearly statement to all givers. Day to day responsibilities of the Stewardship Secretary will be under the direction of the pastor, but the deacon/CFO shall have corporate responsibility for the tasks performed. Church Clerk - Responsible for keeping accurate membership records, taking minutes of church business meetings, and preserving these documents during the term of service. The Church Clerk may sign official church correspondence verifying actions taken by the church. Day to day responsibilities of the Church Clerk will be under the direction of the pastor, but the deacon/secretary shall have corporate responsibility for the tasks performed.

Article IV- Other Considerations

Anything that has not been discussed in this constitution and bylaws shall be discussed and decided upon at a corporate membership meeting.

Article V- Ministers of the Gospel

Classes of Ministers This ministry shall have four classes of ministers. Each class of minister, as listed below, will have distinct rights and privileges:
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Commissioned Minister - This recognition is automatically given to all believers in fellowship with this ministry. They are not authorized to perform any sacerdotal services, but primarily assist others in the Body of Christ. Individuals in this category may include, but are not limited to, teachers, musicians, instructors, hospital and jail visitation, ministerial assistance, and lay persons. Chaplain - This recognition is for ministers of the gospel that are called by God and recognized by the Senior pastor/President to minister primarily in prisons, hospitals and government agencies. Licensed Minister - This recognition is given by the Senior pastor/President of this ministry. This recognition is for those who are somewhat seasoned in the ministry, but need further experience. These individuals may have been working in their chosen vocation, but have never entered full-time ministry. Or, they have only been in full-time ministry for less than three (3) years. Such persons are authorized to perform religious and sacerdotal functions. However, this person is not in charge of a congregation. Ordained Minister - This recognition is given by the Senior pastor/President to those persons who have an "established" or "proven" ministry. Ordained ministers are authorized to perform all functions of the Christian ministryboth religious and sacerdotal-- and must be capable of doing so. He must be capable, as determined by the senior pastor/president, to take charge of a congregation. The Senior pastor/President of this ministry shall by virtue of his office automatically be recognized as an ordained minister. Senior Pastor/Presidents Authority The Senior pastor/President of this ministry shall have ecclesiastical authority to decide who, how, or if a person will be licensed by this ministry to hold any of the four classes mentioned above.

Article VI- Amendments

Amendments to the bylaws may be made by a two-thirds vote of the corporate membership. The Constitution and Bylaws adopted on this day make null and void all prior addendums and supersede and replace all previous versions voted on prior to this day. Signed and certified this _17th__ day of ___February___, 2013, to be effective immediately. Kevin Schmidt Signed: ________________________________________________ Senior pastor/President of Grace Baptist Church of Mono Vista

Herb Boucher Signed: ________________________________________________ Secretary of Grace Baptist Church of Mono Vista

Ron Seymour Signed: ________________________________________________ CFO of Grace Baptist Church of Mono Vista Original Constitution adopted November, 1970 Revised May, 1995 Constitution & Bylaws revised February, 2013

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Statement of Faith

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

We believe that the Bible is Gods written revelation to man, and thus the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy Spirit constitute the plenary (inspired equally in all parts) Word of God. The Word of God is an objective revelation, verbally inspired in every word, absolutely inerrant in the original documents, God- breathed, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. We believe that God spoke in His written Word by a process of dual authorship. The Holy Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their individual personalities and different styles of writing, they composed and recorded Gods Word to man without error in the whole or in the part. Though there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture, there is but one true interpretation. The meaning of Scripture is to be found as one diligently applies the literal grammatical-historical method of interpretation under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

GOD

We believe that there is but one living and true God, an infinite, all-knowing Spirit, perfect in all His attributes, one in excellence, eternally existing in three Persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each equally deserving worship and obedience. God the Father - We believe that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, orders and disposes all things according to His own purpose and grace. He is the creator of all things, and, as the only absolute and omnipotent ruler in the universe, He is sovereign in creation, providence, and redemption. His fatherhood involves both His designation within the Trinity and His relationship with mankind. As Creator He is Father to all men, but He is a spiritual Father only to believers. He has decreed for His own glory all things that come to pass. He continually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and events. In His sovereignty He is neither author nor approver of sin, nor does He abridge the accountability of moral, intelligent creatures. He has graciously chosen from eternity past those whom He would have as His own; He saves from sin all that come to Him through Jesus Christ. God the Son - We believe that Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, possesses all the divine excellencies, and in these He is coequal and coeternal with the Father. God the Father created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them according to His own will, through His Son, Jesus Christ, by whom all things continue in existence and in operation. In the incarnation (God becoming man) Christ surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine essence, either in degree or kind. We believe that our Lord Jesus Christ was virgin born, that He was God incarnate; and that the purpose of the incarnation was to reveal God and to redeem men. In His incarnation, the eternally existing second person of the Trinity
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accepted all the essential characteristics of humanity and so became the God-man. Jesus Christ represents humanity and deity in indivisible oneness. He accomplished our redemption through the shedding of His blood and sacrificial death on the cross. His death was voluntary, vicarious, substitutionary, propitiatory and redemptive. We believe that in the literal and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, God confirmed the deity of His Son and gave proof that God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection life for all believers. Someday He will return to receive the church, which is His body, unto Himself at the rapture and, returning with His church in glory, will establish His millennial kingdom on earth. Furthermore, we believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the one through whom God will judge all mankind; He is the mediator between God and man, the head of His body the church, and the coming universal King who will reign on the throne of David. God the Holy Spirit - We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity including intellect, emotions, will, eternality, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and truthfulness. In all the divine attributes He is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to execute the divine will with relation to all mankind. We recognize His sovereign activity in creation, the incarnation, the inspiration of Scripture, and the work of salvation. We believe that a unique work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ to initiate and complete the building of the body of Christ, which is His church. The broad scope of His divine activity includes convicting the world of sin and of the need for righteousness, as well as transforming believers into the image of Christ. He is the supernatural and sovereign agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, comforts, instructs, empowers them for service and seals them unto the day of redemption. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit. MAN We believe that man was directly and immediately created by God in His image and likeness. Man was created free of sin, but with self-determination and a free will. We believe that Gods intention in the creation of man was that man should glorify God, enjoy Gods fellowship, live his life in the will of God, and by this accomplish Gods purpose for man in the world. We believe that through Adams sin of disobedience to the revealed will and Word of God, man lost his innocence; incurred the penalty of spiritual and physical death; became subject to the wrath of God; and became inherently corrupt and utterly incapable of choosing or doing that which is acceptable to God apart from divine grace. With no recuperative powers to enable him to recover himself, man is hopelessly lost. Mans salvation is thereby wholly of Gods grace through the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that because all men were in Adam, a nature corrupted by Adams sin has been
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transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only exception. All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration

SALVATION

Regeneration - We believe that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit by which the divine nature and divine life are given. It is instantaneous and is accomplished solely by the power of the Holy Spirit through the instrumentality of the Word of God when the repentant sinner, as enabled by the Holy Spirit, responds in faith to the divine provision of salvation. Genuine regeneration is manifested when the believer shows evidence of being a new creature and demonstrates righteous attitudes and conduct. Good works will be its proper evidence and fruit, and will be experienced to the extent that the believer submits to the control of the Holy Spirit in his life through faithful obedience to the Word of God. This obedience causes the believer to be increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such conformity is climaxed in the believers glorification at Christs coming. Election - We believe that election is the act of God by which, before the foundation of the world, He chose in Christ those whom He graciously regenerates, saves, and sanctifies. Since sovereign grace includes the means of receiving the gift of salvation as well as the gift itself, sovereign election results in what God determines. All whom the Father calls to Himself will come in faith and all who come in faith the Father will receive. The unmerited favor that God grants to totally depraved sinners is not related to any initiative of their own, nor to Gods anticipation of what they might do by their own will, but is solely of His sovereign grace and mercy. We believe that sovereign election, Gods invitation to all men, and the responsibility of man to repent and trust Christ as Savior and Lord are all Scriptural truths without contradiction, but that the exact relationship between them is a mystery. Justification - We believe that justification before God is an act of God by which He declares righteous those who, through faith in Christ, repent of their sins and confess Him as sovereign Lord. This righteousness is apart from any virtue or work of man and involves the placing of our sins on Christ and the imputation of Christs righteousness to us. Sanctification - We believe that through justification every believer is sanctified (set apart) unto God and declared a saint. This sanctification is positional and instantaneous and should not be confused with progressive sanctification. This sanctification has to do with the believers standing, not his present walk or condition. We believe that there is also by the work of the Holy Spirit a progressive sanctification by which the state of the believer is brought closer to the standing the believer positionally enjoys through justification. Through obedience to the Word of God and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, the believer is able to live a life of increasing holiness in conformity to the will of God, becoming more and more like our Lord Jesus Christ. In this respect, we believe that every saved person is involved in a daily conflict - the new creation in Christ doing battle against the flesh- but
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adequate provision is made for victory through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The struggle, nevertheless, stays with the believer all through this earthly life and is never completely ended. Eradication of sin is not possible, but the Holy Spirit does provide for victory over sin. Security - We believe that all who is genuinely redeemed are kept by Gods power and are thus secure in Christ forever. We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of Gods Word. However, it clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion for sinful living and carnality. Separation - We believe that separation from sin is clearly called for throughout the Old and New Testaments, and that we are to be Gods ambassadors, doing only those things which accurately reflect His character to the world. We believe that out of deep gratitude for the undeserved grace of God granted to us and because our glorious God is so worthy of our total consecration, all those saved should live in such a manner as to demonstrate our adoring love to God so as not to bring reproach upon our Lord and Savior. We believe that there are clearly defined biblical standards of morality; that the Scriptures clearly teach that premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality, pornography and all other sexual sins are hated by God, and are totally incompatible with the Christian life and serving in the local church. We also believe that separation from any association with religious apostasy, and worldly and sinful practices is commanded of us by God.

THE CHURCH

We believe that all that place their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately placed by the Holy Spirit into one united spiritual body, the church, the bride of Christ, of which Christ is the head. It is a unique spiritual organism designed by Christ, made up of all born-again believers in the present age. We further believe that the church, a mystery not revealed until this age, is distinct from Israel. We believe that the establishment and continuity of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures, and that the members of the one spiritual body are directed to associate and serve in local assemblies. We believe that the one supreme authority for the church is Christ and that church leadership, gifts, order, discipline, and worship are all appointed by Him and subject to His Word. The officers serving under Christ and over the assembly are pastors (males who are also called bishops, elders and pastor-teachers) and deacons, both of whom must meet biblical qualifications. Furthermore, we believe in the importance of discipleship, the mutual accountability of all believers to each other, and the need for the discipline of sinning believers in accord with the standards of Scripture. We believe in the autonomy of the local church, free from any external authority or control, with the right of self-government and freedom from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations. The purpose of the church is to glorify God by building itself up in the faith by instruction in the Word, fellowship, keeping the ordinances and by advancing and communicating the gospel to the entire world. We believe
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that two ordinances have been committed to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Christian baptism by immersion is the testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, and his union with Him in death to sin and resurrection to a new life. It is also a sign of fellowship and identification with the visible body of Christ. We believe that the Lord's Supper, open to all who profess Christ as Savior, is the commemoration and proclamation of His death until He comes, and should be always preceded by solemn self- examination.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

We believe that God, according to his own sovereign choice, gives the church spiritual gifts. First, He gives ministry gifts to men chosen for the purpose of equipping the saints. He also gives unique and special spiritual abilities to each member of the body of Christ. We believe that there were two kinds of gifts given the early church: 1. Miraculous gifts of divine revelation, healing, and tongues (languages) given temporarily in the apostolic era for the purpose of confirming the authenticity of the apostles message; 2. Ministry and motivation gifts are the various abilities and desires listed in Romans 12 which are given in order to carry out the ministry and to edify one another. With the New Testament revelation now complete, Scripture becomes the sole test of the authenticity of a mans message, and confirming gifts of a miraculous nature are no longer necessary to validate a man or his message. The only gifts in operation today are those non-revelatory equipping gifts given for edification. We believe that no one possesses the gift of healing today but that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith and will answer in accordance with His own perfect will for the sick, suffering, and afflicted. We do not support the charismatic movement, and do not believe that either Scripture or church history shows the miraculous gifts as characteristic of the lives of believers in every generation.

ANGELS

Holy Angels - We believe that angels are created beings and are therefore not to be worshiped. Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they are created to serve God and to worship Him. Fallen Angels - We believe that Satan is a created angel and the author of sin. He incurred the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator by taking numerous angels with him in his fall, and by introducing sin into the human race by his temptation of Eve. Satan is the open and declared enemy of God and man, the prince of this world who has been defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus
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Christ, and that he shall be eternally punished in the lake of fire.

LAST THINGS (ESCHATOLOGY)

Though we would not require total agreement in eschatology as a basis for fellowship or church membership, we believe that the removal of all the saints at the rapture will be the next event on Gods prophetic calendar. It will come before and initiate the tribulation period when the righteous judgments of God will be poured out upon an unbelieving world. These judgments will be climaxed by the glorious return of Christ to the earth. Christ will then establish His Messianic kingdom for a thousand years on the earth. Following the release of Satan after the thousand year reign of Christ, Satan will deceive the nations of the earth and gather them to battle against the saints and the beloved city, at which time Satan and his army will be destroyed, Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire, and the saved will enter the eternal state of glory with God.

AUTHORITY OF THIS STATEMENT OF FAITH

This Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final source of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that the foregoing Statement of Faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible, and, therefore is binding upon all members. Adopted November 1970 Revised August 1995

Constitution & Bylaws, page 16