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College
Heights Baptist Church Download
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here CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWSModified
and accepted: January 10, 1990 Revised:
July 22, 2000 Constitution and BY LAWS By the Grace of God, our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him, We the members of College Heights Baptist Church, being completely dependent on the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, in order to establish a local New Testament Church, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and By-Laws to which we voluntarily submit ourselves. ARTICLE I The
name of this local church corporation is College Heights Baptist Church
under the chart no. 00218271-01 Article 9.01 T.N.P.C.A. of the State of
Texas. ARTICLE II Having been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another, as one Body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for this advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministries of this church and the expenses of this church, the relief of the poor, and the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through all nations. We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to train our children according to the Word of God; to seek salvation of our kindred, and all of our acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting and aggressive anger, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior. We
further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember
each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to
cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be
slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful
of the rules of the Savior, to secure it without delay. We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unit with some other church of like faith, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God’s Word. ARTICLE III SUMMARY We
believe that a Bible Believing Baptist is One, who believes, In
a supernatural Bible Which
tells of a supernatural Christ: Who
had a supernatural birth Who
spoke supernatural words Who
performed supernatural miracles Who
lived a supernatural life Who
died a supernatural death Who
rose in supernatural power Who
ascended in a supernatural splendor Who
intercedes as a supernatural priest Who will one day return in a supernatural glory to establish a supernatural kingdom on the earth. ARTICLES
OF FAITH (or Statements of Faith) OF
THE SCRIPTURES We
believe that the Holy Bible was written by men supernaturally inspired;
that it has truth without any admixture of error for its matter; and
therefore is and shall remain to the end of the age, the only complete
and final revelation of the will of God to man; the true center of
Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct,
creeds, and opinions should be tried. By
"The Holy Bible" we mean that collection of sixty-six books,
from Genesis to Revelation, which as originally written does not only
contain and convey the Word of God, but IS the very Word of God. By
"inspiration’ we mean that the books of the Bible were written by
holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit, in such a
definite way that their writings were supernaturally and verbally
inspired and free from error, as no other writings have ever been or
ever will be inspired. II
Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:19-21, Acts 1:16; Acts 28:25; Psalms
119:160; Psalms 119:105; Psalms 119:130; Luke 24:25-27; John 17:17; Luke
24:44-45; Psalms 119:89; Proverbs 30:5-6; Romans 3:4; I Peter 1:23,
Revelation 22:19; John 12:48; Isaiah 8:20; Ephesians 6:17; Romans 15:4;
Luke 16:31; Psalms 19:7-11; John 5:45-47; John 5:39. OF
THE TRUE GOD We
believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God: infinite,
intelligent Spirit, the Maker and supreme ruler of heaven and earth;
inexpressibly glorious in holiness and worthy of all possible honor,
confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three
persons … the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, equal in every
divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the
great work of redemption. Exodus
20:2-3; Genesis 17:1; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6; John 4:24;
Psalms 147:5; Psalms 83:18; Psalms 90:2; Jeremiah 10:10; Exodus 15:11;
Revelation 4:11; I Timothy 1:17; Romans 11:33; Mark 12:30; Matthew
28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 12:4-6; I John 5:7; OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT That the Holy Spirit is a divine person; equal with God the Father and God the Son and of the same nature; that He was active in the creation; that in His relation to the unbelieving world He restrains the Evil one until God’s purpose is fulfilled; that He convicts of sin, of judgment and of righteousness; that He bears witness to the Truth of the Gospel in preaching and testimony; that He is the agent in the New Birth; that He seals, endues, guides, teaches, witnesses, sanctifies, and helps the believer. John
14:16-17, Matthew 28:19; Hebrews 9:14; John 14:26; Luke 1:35; Genesis
1:1-3; II Thessalonians 2:7; John 16:8-11; John 15:26-27; Acts 5:30-32;
John 3:5-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John
1:33; Acts 11:16; Luke 24:49; John 16:13; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:16; II
Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 1:2; Romans 8:26-27. OF
THE DEVIL, OR SATAN We believe that Satan was once holy, and enjoyed heavenly honors; but through pride and ambition to be as the Almighty, fell and drew after him a host of angels; that he is now the malignant prince of the power of the air, and the unholy god of this world. We hold him to be man’s great tempter, the enemy of God and His Christ, the accuser of the saints, the author of all false religions, the chief power back of the present apostasy; the lord of the antichrist, and the author of all the powers of darkness – however, destined to final defeat at the hands of God’s own Son, and to the judgment of an eternal justice in hell, a place prepared for him and his angels. Isaiah
14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17; Revelation 12:9; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4;
Ephesians 2:2; John 14:30; I Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 4:1-3; I Peter
5:8; I John 3:8; Matthew 13:39; Luke 22:3-4; Revelation 12:10; II
Corinthians 11:13-15; Mark 13:21-22; I John 4:3; II John 7; OF
CREATION We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally, and not allegorically or figuratively; that man was created directly in God’s own image and after His own likeness; that man’s creation was not a matter of evolution or evolutionary change of species, or development through interminable periods of time from lower to higher forms; that all animals and vegetable life was made directly and God’s established law was that they should bring forth only "after their kind." Genesis 1:1; Exodus 20:11; Acts 4:24; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3; Revelation 10:6; Romans 1:20; Acts 17:23-26; Jeremiah 10-12; Nehemiah 9:6; Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:24; Genesis 2:21-23. VI.
OF THE FALL OF MAN We believe that man was created in innocence under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from his sinless and happy state, in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint, but of choice; and therefore under just condemnation without defense or excuse. Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 5:12; Romans 5:19; Romans 3:10-19; Ephesians 2:1,3; Romans 1:18; Ezekiel 18:19-20; Romans 1:32; Romans 1:20, Romans 1:28; Galatians 3:22. VII.
OF THE VIRGIN BIRTH We
believe Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous
manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can
ever be born of a woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God,
the Son. Gen.
3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1 John 1:14; Psa. 2:7;
Gal. 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47 We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace, through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God who by appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was the voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust, Christ the Lord, bearing our sins in His own body on the tree; that, having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in heaven and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection. He is every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate and all sufficient Savior. Ephesians
2:8; Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; John 3:16; Matthew 18:11; Philippians 2:7;
Hebrews 2:14; Isaiah 53:4-7; Romans 3:25; I John 4:10; I Corinthians
15:3; II Corinthians 5:21; John 10:18; Philippians 2:8; Galatians 1:4; I
Peter 2:24; I Peter 3:18; Isaiah 53:11; Hebrews 12:2; I Corinthians
15:20; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 9:12-15; IX.
OF THE GRACE IN THE NEW CREATION We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, not by culture, not by character, nor by the will of man, by wholly and solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; that is proper evidence appear in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; II Corinthians 5:17; I John 5:1; I John 3:6-7; Acts 2:41; II Peter 1:4; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1; II Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 2:13; John 1:12-13; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9. X.
OF THE FREENESS OF SALVATION We believe in God’s electing grace; that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the gospel; that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent and an obedient faith; and nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and voluntary rejection of the gospel; which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation. I Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12; I Peter 1:2; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:29-30; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13; John 6:37; Isaiah 55:6; Acts 2:38; Isaiah 53:7; John 3:15-16; I Timothy 1:15; I Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:4-5; John 5:40; John 3:18,36. XI. OF JUSTIFICATION We Believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification; that is justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life on principles of righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works or righteousness; that it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done; but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed unto us. Acts 13:39; Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah 13:1; Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 1:17; Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Romans 4:1-8; Hebrews 10:38. XII.
OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH We
believe that Repentance and Faith are solemn obligations, and also
inseparable graces, wrought in our souls by the quickening Spirit of
God; thereby, being deeply convicted of our guilt, danger and
helplessness, and of the way of salvation by Christ, we turn to God with
unfeigned contrition, confession and supplication for mercy; at the same
time heartily receiving the Lord Jesus Christ and openly confessing Him
as our only and all-sufficient Savior. Acts 20:21; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:37-38; Luke 18:13; Romans 10:13; Psalms 51:1-4; Psalms 51:7; Isaiah 55:6-7; Luke 12:8; Romans 10:9-11. XIII.
OF THE CHURCH We believe that a 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 the 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 of elders whose qualifications, claims and duties are clearly defined in the scriptures; we believe the true mission of the church is found in the Great Commission: First, to make individuals disciples; Second, to build up the church; Third, to teach and instruct as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of this order; we hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and 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; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41; Acts 2:42; I Corinthians 11:12; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:11; I Corinthians 12:4,8-11; Acts 14:23; Acts 6:5-6; Acts 15:23; Acts 20:17-28; I Timothy 3:1-13; Matthew 28:29-20; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:23-24; I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 15:22; Jude 3, 4; II Corinthians 8:23-24; I Corinthians 16:1; Malachi 3:10; Leviticus 27:32; I Corinthians 16:2; I Corinthians 6:1-3; I Corinthians 5:11-13. XIV.
OF BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER We
believe that Christian baptism is the immersion in water of a believer,
in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, with the
authority of the local church, to show forth in a solemn and beautiful
emblem our faith in the crucified, buried and risen Savior, with its
effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is
pre-requisite to the privileges of a church relation and to the Lord’s
supper in which the members of the church by the sacred use of bread and
the fruit of the vine are to commemorate together the dying love of
Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination. Acts 8:36-39; Matthew 3:6; John 3:23; Romans 6:4-5; Matthew 3:16; Matthew 28:19, 20; I Corinthians 11:23-28. XV.
OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS We
believe that such only are real believers as endure unto the end; that
their persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark which
distinguishes them from superficial professors; that a special
Providence watches over their welfare; and that they are kept by the
power of God through faith unto eternal salvation. John 8:31-32; Colossians 1:21-23; I John 2:19; Matthew 13:19-21; Romans 8:28; Psalms 121:3; Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:5; Philippians 1:6, John 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39. XVI.
OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED We believe that there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked; that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in His esteem; while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in His sight wicked and under the curse, and this distinction holds among men both in and after death, in; the everlasting felicity of the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of lost. Malachi 3:18; Genesis 18:23; Romans 6:17-18; Proverbs 11:31; I Peter 1:18; Romans 1:17; I Corinthians 15:22; Acts 10:34-35; I John 2:29; Romans 6:16; I John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; Romans 7:6; Romans 6:23; Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; Matthew 25:34, 41; John 8:21; Luke 9:26; John 12:25; Matthew 7:13-14. XVII.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT We
believe that civil government is of divine appointment for the interest
and good order of human society; that magistrates are to be prayed for,
conscientiously honored and obeyed; except only in things opposed to the
will of our Lord Jesus Christ; who is the only Lord of the conscience,
and the coming Prince of the kings of the earth. Romans 13:7; II Samuel 23:3; Exodus 18:21-22; Acts 23:5; Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; I Peter 2:13, 14; I Peter 2:17; Acts 4:19-20; Daniel 3:17-18; Matthew 10:28; Philippians 2:10-11; Psalms 72:11. XVII. OF THE RESURRECTION AND THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST AND RELATED EVENTS We believe in and accept the sacred Scriptures upon these subjects at their face and full value. Of the Resurrection, we believe that Christ rose bodily "The third day according to the Scriptures;" that He alone is our "merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God;" "that this same Jesus which is taken from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" – bodily, personally and visible; that the "dead in Christ shall rise first," that the living saints "shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump;" "that the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David;" and that "Christ shall reign a thousand years in righteousness until He hath put all enemies under His feet." Matthew
28:6-7; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; I Corinthians 15:4; Mark 16:6; Luke
24:2-7; Acts 1:9, 11; Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Revelation 3:21; Hebrews
8:1; Hebrews 12:2; Hebrews 8:6; I Timothy 2:5; I John 2:1; Hebrews 2:17;
Hebrews 5:9-10; John 14:3; XIX.
OF MISSIONS The
command to give the gospel to the world is clear and unmistakable and
this Commission was given to the churches. Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Mark 16:15, "And he said unto them, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." John 20:21, "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Romans 10:13-15, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" XX.
OF THE GRACE OF GIVING Scriptural
giving is one of the fundamentals of faith. II Corinthians 8:7, "Therefore as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also." We are commanded to bring our gifts into the storehouse (common treasury of the church) upon the first day of the week. I
Corinthians 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of
you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no
gatherings when I come." Under
Grace we give, and do not pay, the tithe – "Abraham GAVE the
tenth of the spoils" – Hebrews 7:2,4 – and this was four
hundred years before the law, and is the New Testament; Jesus said
concerning the tithe, "These ye ought to have done" –
Matthew 23:23. We are commanded to bring the tithe into the common treasury of the church. Leviticus 27:30, "The tithe … is the Lord’s." Malachi
3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of
hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a
blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." In
the New Testament it was the common treasury of the church. Acts 4:34, 35, 37, "And brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles’ feet … Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET." XXI.
OF THE ETERNAL STATE We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the saved to eternal life with God, and the unsaved to judgment and everlasting punishment without God; that the souls of the redeemed are, at death, absent from the body and present with the Lord, where in conscious bliss they await the first resurrection, when the souls of unbelievers of unbelievers remain, after death, in conscious misery until the second resurrection, when with soul and body reunited they shall be judged and cast into the "Lake of Fire" not to be annihilated, but to suffer an everlasting conscious punishment. Matthew 18:8, 19:29, 25:41, 25:46; Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 5:1, 16:9, 19-31, 18:30; John 3:16, 36, 4:14, 5:24, 6:27, 6:40,47, 11:25, 12:50, 14:1-6; Acts 2:31, 13:46, 24:15; Romans 6:5,22, 16:26; 1 Corinthians 15:21,42;2 Corinthians 5:8; Galatians 6:8; Philippians 3:10; 2 Th 1:9, 2:16; 1 Tim 1:16, 6:16; Heb 6:2, 13:20;1 Peter 1:3; 2 Pet 1:11; Jude 1:6; Rev 14:6, 19:20, 20:6,10,14-15 XXII.
OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK FOR WORSHIP We
believe that Sunday is to be set aside for special worship in
commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ; this day was set aside for
New Testament worship by the disciples to bring the Christian into
remembrance that we the saved are no longer under the "Law"
but now are under "Grace." This day should therefore be
observed in a manner that calls the world and church to remembrance of
Him. Mat 28:1; Mark 16:2,9 Luke 24:1; John 20:1,19; Acts 20:7,18; 1 Cor 16:2; Phil 1:5 ARTICLE IV PURPOSE This
assembly is organized and maintained for the following purposes: To
edify Christians through preaching and teaching the whole council of
God. To
promote fellowship among believers. To
promote worship of God. To
encourage prayer, bible study, and Christ centered life styles. To
administer the church ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s supper. To
earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. To
fulfill the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark
16:15. Means
of Promoting the purposes: In order to fulfill these purposes, this church shall engage in activities and conduct ministries which may include, but are not limited to, worship services, evangelistic services, prayer meetings, youth activities, radio and television programs, a day school, a Sunday school, a bus ministry, a Children’s church, missionary activities, nursing homes, a Bible Institute, a college, and / or seminary. ARTICLE V Membership Admission
of New Member defined: To
be eligible for membership of this local assembly a person MUST meet the
following requirements: He
/ She MUST have received the Lord Jesus Christ as his / her personal
Savior and followed the Lord Jesus Christ in Baptist. He
/ She MUST have made or will make a public profession of his / her
salvation. He
/ She MUST have been scripturally baptized by immersion in water by a
church of like faith. He
/ She may come by a promise of a letter from another Baptist Church. He
/ She may come by statement of Faith if a letter from another Baptist
Church can NOT be obtained. He
/ She may come by "RESTORATION": any person whose membership
has been terminated may be restored only upon careful consideration; and
close examination of the evidence of that person’s repentance and
reformation; upon vote of the church, and the extending of the right
hand of Christian fellowship. DUTIES
OF MEMBERSHIP: Read
the Church Covenant and Articles of Faith at least once annually. Pray
for this church, its’ ministries and leaders regularly. Systematically
give a portion of income to this church in obedience to Scriptures. Regularly
attend services of this church. Whole-heartedly
support the services and activities of this church. Exercise
the gift or gifts that God has given you in the context of this church. Must
uphold and teach all the doctrines; precepts and covenant of Faith
accepted, preached and taught within this church. To
help further the gospel, build and maintain the ministries of this
church. TERMINATION
OF MEMBERSHIP: Membership
shall terminate in the event of any of the following: Death
of the member Letter
of recommendation on behalf of the member to another church of like
faith and order. After
one year of inactivity. Discipline
by church council pursuance to the terms of Article VI hereof. By
acquiring membership in another church. All
privileges of membership, including any right, title, and / or interest
in or to the church corporation or its property, shall immediately cease
on the termination of his or her membership. ARTICLE VI Discipline of Members A
board may be appointed by the Pastor to investigate a written charge
made by one or more active members of this church against another member
alleging he / she is guilty of any of the following: Manifesting
inconsistency of flagrant sin in his or her Christian life. Showing
indifference toward the Christian life and of this Church. Holding
a position or positions contrary to the Article of Faith. Showing
a disregard in the church. Causing
contention or strife within the church. Immoral
conduct. Evidencing
any other conduct contrary to the Covenant or Statement / Article of
Faith or to the Bible. If
the board finds that the charges are substantially or completely
accurate, it shall direct the LEAST DRASTIC remedial measures necessary
to rectify the matter and return the guilty member to fellowship with
the church. If
it is NOT possible to restore the member to fellowship with the Church,
the board shall recommend to the Church, as a LAST RESORT, that his /
her membership be terminated. In
the case of personal differences between members of the church, the
Pastor shall recommend that the parties endeavor to settle their
differences scripturally in the manner laid down by our Savior in Matthew
18:15-17. ARTICLE VII Government ECCLESIASTICAL
This church shall never come under the authority of any ecclesiastical body, but shall remain an independent testimony, acknowledging only the Lord Jesus Christ as its Head, the Holy Scriptures as its infallible guide and the Holy Spirit as its teacher. INTERNAL
Under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the government of this church is vested solely in the Body of the believers who compose its voting membership (hereafter referred to as the "church council"). ARTICLE VIII Officers and other Leadership Positions The
corporate officers of this church shall be the President (Pastor),
Clerk, and Treasurer. The
Pastor shall direct the church leadership as the Holy Spirit directs
him. All
church leaders and officers, regardless of position shall: Be
church members of this church. Be
faithful to all public services of the church. Have
a vital Christian testimony and demonstrate the call of God to the local
church in their specific field of service. Engaged
in soul winning. Give
a recorded record of all tithes and offerings from their income. All candidates for elected church offices or leadership positions MUST be approved by the Pastor prior to their being nominated. Any member may submit the name of another member to the Pastor for consideration as a candidate for a church office or elected leadership position. Vacancies in an elected church office or elected leadership position may be filled by appointment by the Pastor. ARTICLE IX Description of Leadership Positions CLERK
ELECTION:
The
clerk shall be elected at the annual Church Business Meeting to serve
for a period of one year. DUTIES:
He
/ She shall keep current and accurate minutes of all church business
meetings. He / She shall, upon his / her retirement or removal from office, deliver to his / her successor or the Pastor all records, files, documents, papers, or items belonging to the church and present the same with all contents complete to the date of surrender. TREASURER
ELECTION:
The
treasurer shall be elected at the annual Church Business Meeting to
serve for a period of one year. DUTIES:
He
/ She shall receive from the Pastor all funds and shall be responsible
for the crediting and banking of such funds each week to the accounts of
the church, in a bank designated by the Church. He
/ She shall disperse funds by cash or check against the bills, invoices
or statements properly approved by the Pastor or against authorized
expenditures. He
/ She shall submit a financial statement to the Pastor each month. He / She shall, upon his retirement or removal from office, deliver to the new treasurer or Pastor all records, checks, cancelled vouchers, receipts, papers or any other items held by him / her during their duration as treasurer. BOARD
OF TRUSTEES AND DEACONS
QUALIFICATIONS:
All
members of these boards shall be men at least twenty-one years of age.
Holding membership in this church for all least six months. ELECTION:
The
trustees and deacons shall be elected at the annual church business
meeting to serve for a period of one year. TERM:
These
boards shall be composed of lay members of this church and the Pastor. These
boards shall be elected at the annual church business meeting to serve
for a period of one year. DUTIES
AND AUTHORITY: Assist
the Pastor in securing and holding in trust all property and other legal
matters. Seek
out members of the church who need assistance and use the necessary
resources of the church for their relief under the direction of the
Pastor. Perform
all other duties and acts specified in other Articles of this
Constitution but NOT specifically enumerated in the Article. MEETINGS:
The
officers shall meet whenever necessary as determined by the Pastor. Except
as otherwise provided herein the acts at a duly called meeting of the
Officers of a majority of the quorum present shall be the acts of the
Officers. COMMITTEES:
The
Pastor shall create all committees of the church. The
Pastor shall appoint the Chairman of each committee. All
committee members shall be members of this church. All
committees are responsible to the Pastor and exist at the discretion of
the Pastor. No committee or committee member has authority to act on behalf of the church except as specially authorized to do so by the Pastor, but shall only make recommendations to the Pastor and church. PASTORATE
QUALIFICATIONS:
He
shall have the gift of pastor-teacher for equipping the saints to do the
work of the ministry. He
shall have a wholehearted committal to the task of world evangelism. He
shall express his conviction that he is called of God to be the Pastor
of this church. CALL:
He
shall be interviewed by the Pulpit committee and thereafter be
recommended to the church. He
shall be extended a call only after such recommendation and a two-thirds
vote of the quorum present at a duly called church meeting. DUTIES:
He
shall assume the spiritual leadership of all areas of church life. He
shall give himself to much prayer and Bible Study. He
shall hire and supervise all ministries of the Church, which have as
their primary function spiritual goals and objectives. These persons
include, but are NOT limited to, assistant pastors, ministers of
Christian Education, youth, music, evangelism and all office personnel. He
shall serve as moderator of all church business meetings. He
shall preach the Gospel and teach the Word of God at all regular
scheduled church services, except when he is absent from the pulpit, and
then he will see that the pulpit has bee filled by someone qualified. He
shall administer the ordinances referred to in Article XIV hereof, or
appoint an assistant who is qualified. He
shall perform all other acts and duties commensurate with teaching of
the Bible with regard to the Pastor of a local New Testament Church. SALARY
Salary will be agreed upon at the time the Pastor has been called by the Church. The Pastor will approve all raises or increases. F. CHURCH STAFF 1.
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES: The
hiring and duties of the Church staff shall be the responsibility of the
Pastor. 2.
TERMINATION: Termination
of any member or employee of the Church shall be at the discretion of
the Pastor. The Pastor will determine salaries, benefit packages, and pay increases. ARTICLE X Missions POLICY
Any
person desiring consideration as candidate(s) for missionary support
must have received recommendation by the Pastor of this church. An
organization or person desiring support must contact the Pastor by
letter of telephone. The Pastor will review the application to determine
whether the applicant is qualified. The applicant will upon approval of
the Pastor, present his ministry to the church. If funds are available,
or can be raised, then the church will offer support of such ministry
efforts on the recommendation of the Pastor. QUALIFICATIONS
The
Pastor of this church shall determine the qualifications of Missionaries
or Mission projects. An
applicant must, or have immediate plans to, be actively engaged in the
preaching of the Gospel and the establishment of indigenous local
churches on an acceptable mission field. An
applicant shall have a vital Christian testimony and demonstrate a call
of God to his ministry and field of work. An
applicant or organization, missionary or Mission Board being supported
must maintain a sound financial policy that is readily available for
observation and study. TERMINATION
OF MISSIONARY SUPPORT Support
provided a missionary by this church does not constitute a binding
contract. Missionary support is terminable at will, by the Pastor
without due cause. ARTICLE XI Services The
Church shall meet Sunday morning and Sunday evening of every Lord’s
Day for public worship of God, prayer and Bible studies. The
Church shall meet at least once per mid-week for worship, prayer and
Bible study. The Church shall meet at other times designated by the Pastor. ARTICLE XII Business Meetings An
annual church business meeting shall be held on a Wednesday evening in
January, preferably the second Wednesday in January. In addition to any other business
which may be timely considered, annual reports shall be presented, and
elected leaders shall be voted on at this meeting. SPECIAL
BUSINESS MEETINGS Special
business meetings may be called in any of the following manners: By
the Pastor at any time. All
voting for a Pastor and changes in the Constitution or By-Laws shall be
on secret ballots. Other voting shall be by show of hands or voice vote. All
decisions are subject to the Pastor’s final approval. ARTICLE XIII The
moderator shall be the pastor. He shall keep and maintain order and
state. The
moderator shall cause the meeting to be opened and closed in prayer. The
moderator, when appropriate, shall establish a quorum and call for the
business of the church in the following order: Devotional
exercise. Read
the minutes of the previous meeting. Give the financial report and any other applicable reports. BUSINESS
PROCEDURE All
items of business handled during a congregational meeting are to be
presented by the Pastor. The
following steps will be followed: A
motion will be asked for and seconded in order to open the item up for
discussion. The
motion is then discussed and voted upon. A majority congregational vote
not in favor will cause the motion to be dropped. ARTICLE XIV Ordinances THE
CHURCH SHALL ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING TWO ORDINANCES ONLY A.
BAPTISM Baptism is to be administered only after a candidate’s profession of faith in Jesus Christ and is to be conducted by the Pastor or by an assistant appointed by the Pastor. B.
THE LORD’S SUPPER The
Lord’s Supper is to be administered by the Pastor as often as the
Pastor deems necessary with grape juice and unleavened bread. ARTICLE XV Financial Policy This church shall be supported solely by tithes and the freewill offerings of the Lord’s people. ARTICLE XVI Amendments This Constitution, other than the Covenant and Statement of Faith, may be amended at a duly organized business meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and upon the recommendation and approval of the Pastor. The Covenant set forth in ARTICLE II, The Summary set forth in ARTICLE III and the ARTICLES OF FAITH (or statements of faith I – XXII ) herefore shall NOT be repealed, amended, altered or modified in any manner whatsoever. ARTICLE XVII Miscellaneous Provisions All
church financial statements shall be kept on file and stored at the
church and made available for review by all active members during daily
office hours. This
church, including all of its ministries, shall accept no funds,
services, or benefits of any kind whatsoever from any level of
government or agency unless the church pays a fair market value for the
same. No
profit shall ever accrue to the benefit of any persons from the assets,
holdings, or other transactions in which this church corporation may
become involved. No
fees, dues or assessments shall be levied against any member of this
church. The fiscal year of this church shall be from January 1 through December 31. ARTICLE XVIII Dissolution In the event of the dissolution of this corporation, all of its debts shall be fully satisfied. None of its assets or holdings shall be divided among the members but shall be irrevocably dedicated by the Officers to such other, non-profit religious corporations as are in agreement with the letter and spirit of the Statement of Faith, and in conformity with requirements of Section 501( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1954, as amended. New Membership Application Having
been led by the Holy Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as
Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now,
in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and
joyfully enter into this covenant with one another, as one Body in
Christ. We
further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love, to remember
each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to
cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be
slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful
of the rules of the Savior, to secure it without delay. We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unit with some other church of like faith, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant, and the principles of God’s Word. I (We) am / are presenting myself / ourselves for membership with College Heights Baptist Church; therefore I / We agree and adhere to the above Covenant and Articles of Faith and have met the required guidelines for membership witnessed by our signature (s) below. New Member Name: Date Applied For Membership How to
join: Baptism
Letter Statement
Of Faith Office
use only Pastor:
______________________, Dr. Rickey Honea, Th.D., CH.
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