1. The church of Christ on earth is indispensably, intentionally, and structurally one, In includes everyone in any place who professes trust and obedience to Christ in all matters according to the Scriptures, and who demonstrates such in character and conduce. No one else can be called a Christian.

2. Although the church of Christ on earth exists in different locations, there should be no divisions among congregations. each congregation should receive the other as Christ Jesus has. That would manifest God's character before all. To facilitate this, all congregations should observe the same practices and speak the same principles.

3. In order to carry this out, nothing should be forced upon Christians except what is clearly taught in the Word of God. Nothing should be treated in the constitution and by-laws as divine authority unless it is clearly taught in the Word of God. Thus human traditions, regardless of "how long we've done it that way," cannot be our authority.

4. Although God's revealed will is expressed in both the Old and New Testament books, the New Testament books contain the immediate constitution for the worship, discipline, and government of the corporate Church and for the duties of the individual members.

5. Nothing ought to be received into the beliefs and worship of the Church nor made the test for fellowship which is not as old as the New Testament books.

No one should dictate binding directives outlining exactly how procedures have to be carried out if the New Testament is silent about such procedures.

It is enough if we fulfill the intent of those practices where procedures are not clearly spelled out.

6. The "conclusions" we arrive at from systematic Scriptural study, as doctrinally valid and valuable as they may be, should not be used as tests of fellowship. "Conclusions" result from our reasoning endeavors. But a man's faith must stand upon the power and truth of God, not in the wisdom of men.

Our "conclusions" should be used for building up those who are already Christians, not for admittance exams to those who are not.

7. Our "conclusions" will certainly vary as we systematically study the many various topics within Christianity. The more comprehensibly we study and communicate a topic, the better.

However, let us realize that the Church is made up of all levels of spiritual maturity--and understanding--spiritual babes, spiritual adolescents, spiritual young adults, spiritual adults (figuratively speaking). That means we will always have differences in our understandings and thus in our conclusions. But these differences should not be used as tests of fellowship.

8. It is not necessary that people see all God's truth exactly alike before they are added to His Church. What is necessary is that they recognize two things: (1) their lost condition and Jesus' way of salvation. And then declare their faith in Him and their willingness to obey Him in all things.

9. Anyone who has made such a declaration should consider anyone else who has made such an acknowledgement as saints of God and should love such as brothers. For such people are children of the same family, temples of the same Spirit, members of the same body, subjects of the same grace, objects of the same Divine love, bought with the same price, and joint-heirs of the same inheritance. And whom God hath joined together no man should dare to put aside.

10. Divisions among Christians is a repulsive evil filled with many tragedies, Here are three of those tragedies: (1) It is anti-Christian, because it destroys the visible unity of the body of Christ. Division suggests that Christ is divided against Himself by excluding and excommunicating a part of Himself. (2) It is anti-scriptural, because it is strictly forbidden by God. (3) It is anti-natural, because it motivates Christians to hate and oppose one another who are commanded by God to love one another as brothers. In summary,, divisions are a product of, and produce, confusion and every evil work.

11. All the past and present corruptions and divisions in the Church have resulted from two causes: (1) the partial neglect of the clearly expressed will of God; (2) the insistence that human opinions and hobby horses be accepted in the belief, life, and worship of the Church.



12. There are four practices necessary if the Church is to manifest the maturity and manners God wants: (1) That no one be admitted who does not acknowledge faith in Christ and obedience to Him. (2) That no one be kept who doesn't back up that acknowledgement with character and conduct. (3) That properly qualified preachers teach nothing other than what is clearly expressed in the Word of God. (4) That those preachers observe all the [9] Divine ordinances which the Church in the New Testament books observed--in the way that the Church observed them.

13. When the observances of the ordinances are altered due to circumstances and the alteration is essential or the observance would not have been possible (due to the circumstances) then that alteration must be seen as an human expedient only. No higher sanction can be given to it.