The Church
We believe that a New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). We believe the true mission of the church is found in the “Great Commission” which instructs us first, to make individual disciples (Matthew 28:19-20); second, to baptize the converts; and third, to teach and instruct as He 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 Christ is the Head of the church and superintends over the work of the local church through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:19-23); that it is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel (Jude 3); and 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, and that the will of the local church is final (Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 5:29; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8).
We believe that a New Testament church is a congregation of baptized believers associated by a covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers of ordination are pastors or elders and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly defined in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). We believe the true mission of the church is found in the “Great Commission” which instructs us first, to make individual disciples (Matthew 28:19-20); second, to baptize the converts; and third, to teach and instruct as He 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 Christ is the Head of the church and superintends over the work of the local church through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:19-23); that it is scriptural for the true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel (Jude 3); and 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, and that the will of the local church is final (Matthew 18:15-20; Acts 5:29; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8).