The Character of Zion Baptist Church
Polity: Recognizing Jesus Christ as the only head of the Church, this congregation shall seek to ascertain and to obey the will of our Lord in all matters of faith and practice. Authority to reach decisions for governing the spiritual and temporal affairs of this Church being given to us by Christ, we hold that such authority and responsibility is vested in the membership of this congregation. Doctrine: This Church accepts the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired record of God’s revelatory action in human history and as the authoritative basis for its doctrine and practice. The confession of faith and covenant drawn and adopted by this Church is regarded as an expression of the essential doctrine of grace set forth in the Scriptures. Purpose: The purpose of this Church shall be the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as Christ commissioned all believers in Matthew 28: 19-20, “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The administration of the ordinances of the New Testament (Believer’s Baptism and Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper), the spiritual growth of its members, and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus-Christ throughout the world constitutes the purpose of this church. |
Member Responsibilities:
The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be devoted to brotherly love, honoring one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10). Accordingly, members of the Church shall demonstrate a maturity of understanding that membership involves more than receiving benefits and privileges. Jesus instructs us, as we have freely received, we must also freely give (Matthew 10:8). The Church is one body with many members each with distinct gifts and functions, and therefore members shall accept responsibility to submit their lives and activities (Romans 12:1) through:
|