1. Membership

A. Requirements for membership in the local church are the same for membership in the Church which is the Body of Christ according to the standards given in the epistles of the Apostle Paul in the Holy Scriptures.

B. Requirements for voting membership in the local church include the following:

[1] Evidence that the person is trusting the Lord Jesus as Saviour as witnessed by all of the following:

[a] Knowledge of who the Lord Jesus is. He is God (I Timothy 3:16) and He is man (I Timothy 2:5). He is our righteousness (I Corinthians 1:30).

[b] Knowledge of what the Lord Jesus has done for sinners. He lived a perfect life and died a perfect death as a substitute for sinners to satisfy God the Father with regard to our need for perfect righteousness and our penalty for sin in our failure to obey God. Romans 5:1-10, Ephesians 1:3-8, Colossians 1:12-14. This is the Gospel.

[c] Knowledge of how the sinner obtains the eternal benefits of right standing before God. It is by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:9, Romans 4:5. The foundation of eternal salvation is God's work in Christ outside of us. The means of salvation is by faith in Christ alone without any of our works at all. Titus 3:5.

[d] Knowledge of what sin is. All unrighteousness is sin, I John 5:17.

[e] Personal agreement with the Bible as to personal, total sinfulness in one's own self before God and the complete sufficiency of the Lord Jesus to save the believing sinner unto a perfect salvation.

[f] Personal trust and exclusive confidence in God's work in the Lord Jesus apart from self-dependence, works, ritual, or church membership.

[2] Complete agreement with the "Summary of Our Biblical Faith" as shown by a signature on that document at congregational meetings after an initial signing.

[3] Faithfulness in attendance and giving to the local church for at least one year immediately preceding application for voting membership as determined by a majority vote for the individual applying for voting membership.

[4] Willingness to submit to the authority of the Lord Jesus as demonstrated by a willingness to submit to a majority of the voting members of the congregation.

[5] Be at least eighteen years old and have no current membership in, or loyalty to,

any other local church, denomination, or religious group that requires attendance at formal meetings or submission to doctrine that is contrary to the the Bible as understood in the "Summary of Our Biblical Faith."
 
 

If an emergency occurs, the following exceptions to the regular order may be made:

[a] If the building is damaged, destroyed, or its use is forbidden by government intrusion or criminal acts, a majority of elders and deacons may designate another location.

[b] If urgency requires immediate attention, a majority of deacons and elders may announce the congregational meeting on the Sunday morning before the meeting with a change of time, place, or day of the week.

3. The Recognition of Deacons No person shall be recognized as a deacon in the local church until a majority of voting members have agreed that he has met the following qualifications:

[a] A man shall meet all the standards of I Timothy 3:8-13 as determined by a majority of the existing deacons and elders which shall constitute recommendation to the congregation. We understand that the words "blameless," "husbands of one wife," and "ruling . . . their own houses well" mean that deacons cannot be divorced among other things that these words mean.

[b] Attainment of consistent status as a voting member of the congregation for at least two years with a good report among believers, in his own household, and in the community.

[c] Demonstrate love for the Authorized King James Version of the Bible, loyalty to the authority of Paul's Epistles, appreciation for the sovereignty of God and the doctrine of the election of individuals to personal salvation. He shall be expected to reject the modern ecumenical movement, speaking in tongues, and new evangelicalism.
 
 

[a] A man shall meet all the standards of I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9 as determined by a majority of the existing deacons and elders which shall constitute recommendation to the congregation. Among other things, we understand the words "blameless, the husband of one wife . . . of good behaviour . . . one that ruleth well his own house" means that the elder must have never been divorced.

[b] Attainment of consistent status as a voting member of the congregation for at least two years unless there are no existing elders of the church in which case this provision may be waived.

[c] A man is expected to hold the following:

[1] Superiority of the Authorized King James Bible as the standard in English.

[2] Authority of the epistles of Paul over any Word that applies only to people outside this present Age of Grace.

[3] God's absolute sovereignty and the doctrine of personal, individual election by the Lord's choice to Eternal life.

[4] Discernment regarding and rejection of sin including, but not limited to, liberalism, new evangelicalism, worldly music, decisional regeneration (and other forms of false or superficial evangelism), ecumenical compromise, and the marriage of divorced people when they are marrying someone other than their living spouse.

[a] Holding or propagating doctrine repulsive to a majority of voting members of the congregation.

[b] Committing one or more acts of sin -- named by the Bible -- that is repulsive to a majority of the voting members of the congregation.

[c] Absence of six months or more from the meetings of the congregation (including worship or business meetings), and/or meetings of the elders and deacons unless a majority of the elders and deacons agree there is a sufficient reason. If there is no majority vote of the elders and deacons affirming sufficient reason, exclusion from office is automatic and will not require a vote of any kind. No challenge will be allowed as to whether six months has elapsed, except by the man excluded from office. This challenge shall be settled by the opening of the treasurer's records. If the records show that the man has contributed money six or more times in the six months previous to his exclusion, he shall retain his office.
 
 

A. Deacons shall serve as primary ministers of the physical well-being of the members of the congregation. Their labors shall include primary handling the church finances and building. Together with the elders they shall vote on all matters that come before the meeting of the deacons and elders. This meeting of elders and deacons may be called the board.

B. Elders shall serve as primary ministers of the spiritual well-being of the members of the congregation. Their labors shall include primary teaching and preaching of the Bible with a view to the edification of the believers.

C. Deacons and elders together will function as the leadership of the congregation to nominate men as officers, make recommendations to the congregation for business, discipline, and suggest solutions to church problems. All members are encouraged to propose items through deacons and elders for their deliberation in advance of congregational meetings. All members who are spiritual, mature, and faithful in attendance to the local church are considered counselors to the local church.

D. In the absence of a Pastor, deacons and elders together will nominate by simple majority vote, an elder whose name shall be presented to the congregation for confirmation. This man shall function as moderator of the congregation to preside at all meetings and officially represent the church at weddings, funerals, and other times when the congregation needs representation. This man may be called the chief executive officer or senior pastor with the authority to name committees, appoint Sunday school teachers and officers, or designate someone to perform these duties with the advice and consent of the other elders and deacons.

E. Harmony among members shall be expected. If there is serious discord or dispute, the issue shall be tabled unless urgency and immediate action is required. The moderator shall decide whether an issue is urgent and requires immediate action or may be postponed.

F. Spiritual, moral, or domestic failures of a serious nature should cause the pastor, elder, or deacon to resign by a written, dated, and signed letter. The cause may or may not be expressed at the discretion of the signer. If the offense or sin is public and significant, it may become subject to discipline, depending on the genuine repentance of the person.
 
 

A. The members shall endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). They shall attempt to be "kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Romans 12:10). Especially in the assembly meetings they shall "be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:2).

B. The primary purpose shall always be the glory, the praise, and the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ in our personal, family, and church life.