Article V

Constitution of Covenant Baptist Church

Preamble

We, the members of Covenant Baptist Church, do ordain and establish the following articles, to which we voluntarily submit ourselves.

Section 1: Membership

The membership of this Church shall be composed of persons:

A.who are willing for it to be publicly known that they claim Jesus as absolute Lord of their life and trust His work on the Cross, alone, as the payment for their sins (Matthew 10:32-33);

B.who have been baptized by immersion as a sign of submission to Jesus as Lord and the acceptance of His gift of forgiveness (Colossians 2:12);

C.and who desire to enter into a covenant relationship with other believers for the purposes of ministry, encouragement, spiritual growth and moral accountability. The covenant will include promises:

i.to be regularly involved with other Church members in times of worship, Bible study and prayer (Hebrews 10:25);

ii.to maintain a determination to search the Scriptures for God’s answers to life’s questions (Acts 17:11);

iii.to be involved in voluntary service and/or ministry through the Church (1 Peter 4:10);

iv.to support Kingdom work through cheerful, biblical stewardship (2 Corinthians 9:7);

v.and to be devoted to living in accordance with the purpose, vision and doctrines of this Church (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Attendance in all the sessions of an orientation class that introduces potential Church members to the essential characteristics of this Church is a prerequisite of Church membership.

Membership in this church does not afford those individuals with any property, contract, or civil rights based on principles of democratic government.

We believe that when Church members have differences with one other, they have an obligation, first, to make every possible effort to work things out personally and privately, and secondly, to involve one or more of the Elders of the congregation in the process in order to mediate the dispute. We believe that the Church possesses all the resources necessary to resolve personal disputes between members, acknowledging that compensation for injuries sought from another member’s insurance company may be pursued as long as it is done without malice, greed or slander (1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 4:31-32).

Voting members shall be those members who are 16 years of age and older.

It is expected that when members move beyond commuting distance to our place of worship, they will transfer their congregational commitments to a church in their new geographic area.

Section 2: Conduct of Membership

In the Bible, our Lord has given believer instructions about their relationship with one another and the world. Those instructions include the following:

A.We will attempt to love one another as Jesus has loved us. The congregation will work to maintain an atmosphere where other members of the body are viewed as family, to be cared for (John 13:34-35; Acts 2:44; 4:32-35; Romans 12:9-10; 13:8-10).

B.Every member will view himself/herself as a minister. The entire congregation, through various gifts and personalities, will be involved in the disciple-making and pastoral ministry endeavors (John 13:34-35; Acts 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11-13).

C.We understand that it is God’s purpose for us to attempt to reach people from all ethnic groups in our community and the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

D.This congregation will look for opportunities to meet needs in the lives of those who may have been overlooked by others, in order to show compassion and urge them to come to Christ (Isaiah 58:6-7; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:10-13; Luke 10:25-37).

E.The use of personal possessions and resources for the good of the Kingdom and the Body is assumed (Acts 2:44; 4:32-35).

F.We expect of one another an appropriate response to the authority of this Church’s God-appointed leadership, recognizing their duty to administer instruction, and corrective discipline, should it ever be required (Hebrews 13:7, 17; James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

Section 3: Termination of Membership

Membership may be terminated in one of the following ways:

A.by death;

B.by transfer of membership to another church;

C.by a member’s personal, written request;

D.by willful absence from worship, without just cause, for a period of more than six months;

E.by moving beyond commuting distance to our place of worship and, within six months, failing to join another congregation;

F.by exclusion as an act of discipline.