We are convinced by Scripture and by reason that:
The Church is the called-out assembly of believers belonging to Jesus Christ. All those in the Church have placed their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior and are committed to the Great Commission of making disciples.
What is the nature of the Church?
Each believer in the Church is called by and endowed with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to interpret Scripture, and each has the requirement to minister according to the gifts that they have been given (1 Peter 2:9-10, Romans 12:6). The Church is led by those mature believers called to the various roles of Church leadership, which primarily include elder (or bishop), and deacon (Philippians 1:1, 2 John 1:1, Titus 1:6, 1 Timothy 3:12-13, 1 Timothy 3:1-2). The Church is both a local body and the universal body of Christ, with Christ as the head (Matthew 16:18, Revelation 3:1, Ephesians 5:23). The Church is built by Christ and belongs to Christ (Matthew 16:17-19).
What is the government of the Church?
Elder: A servant/leader of spiritual maturity responsible for overseeing and shepherding in the Church through leading, feeding, encouraging, and protecting the flock. He is also responsible for preaching the truth of Christ and the Word, and for teaching and explaining the Scriptures (1 Timothy 5:7, 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:9-13, Ephesians 4:12, Acts 20:28).
Deacon: Spiritually strong servants of good standing and report within the Church who ensure that the ministries of service to the needy within the Church, such as widows and orphans, are taking place. This ministry in turn frees the elders so that they can continue in the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:1-6, 1 Timothy 3:1-13).
The Ordinances of the Church: There are two ordinances of the Church which are symbolic of the powerful work of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is the initial step of obedience that is done once and is the public declaration of a person’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is the ongoing act of obedience practiced frequently in remembrance of the price paid by Christ for our salvation.
– Baptism
The outward expression of the new life a believer has with Jesus Christ in which a person is obedient to identify with Christ through the picture of His death, burial and resurrection by immersion in water. This was commanded and demonstrated by the Lord, Himself. (Acts 2:38, Matt. 28:19, Acts 2:41, Luke 3:21-23, Romans 6:3-5, 1 Peter 3:21)
– The Lord’s Supper
The ongoing expression of one’s faith in Christ through the remembrance of His sacrifice for our sins. The fruit of the vine and the bread are partaken of symbolically, representative of the body and the blood of Christ. The Lord’s Supper strengthens the fellowship with Christ and with other believers. (1 Cor. 11:23-34, Acts 2:46-47, Matt. 26:26-29).
