Constitution

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PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Calvary Baptist Church of Lancaster, Ohio,

do ordain and establish this constitution to which we voluntarily

subscribe and submit ourselves:

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this church shall be the Calvary Baptist Church of

Lancaster, Ohio.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this church is the salvation of souls, the

edification of Christians through the teaching of God's Word, the

world wide proclamation of God's saving grace expressed in the

shed blood and finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary, the

promotion of Godly worship, the defense of the faith, and

cooperation with Christian activity functioning in harmony with

God's Holy Word, the Bible, until He comes.

ARTICLE III - DECLARATION OF FAITH

Section I - The Scriptures

We believe that the Holy Bible, both Old and New Testament, is

supernaturally, plenarily and verbally inspired of God through the

Holy Spirit, that it is inerrant and infallible in the original

writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority in

faith and practice. We believe the Bible to be the true center of

Christian union and the ultimate standing by which all human

conduct, creeds, and opinions shall be tried.

Section II - The True God

(A) We believe that there is only one living and true God,

infinite in every excellence; that in the unity of the Godhead

there are three personal distinctions - The Father, The Son, and

The Holy Spirit - yet one in substance and every divine

perfection.

Ex. 20:2-3 I Cor. 8:6

(B) We believe in the absolute deity of the Son, the Lord Jesus

Christ - that He was and is divine as no other man can be, being

begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, having lived

a sinless life. He was and is truly God and truly man; that He

existed from all eternity, co-equal with God the Father and The

Holy Spirit; that He never ceased to be God for one instant.

John 1:1,2,14 Hebrews 1:1-3

Matt. 1:20 Luke 1:26-38

with the Father and Son and of the same nature and substance; that

He is the administrator of the things of God upon the earth during

this age; convicting of sin, righteousness and judgment, revealing

truth; is the prime source of the new birth, indwelling believers,

enduring and empowering believers in prayer and service, and

restraining evil until "He be taken out of the way." Every true

believer receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the time of

salvation.

John 14:16,17 Romans 8:14-27

II Cor. 13:14 I Cor. 12:13

Luke 24:49

(D) We believe that the Holy Spirit equips believers for service

by bestowing upon them spiritual gifts. Some gifts listed in the

New Testament, however, (such as tongues and healing) were

temporary in nature, were intended for the infancy of the church,

and are no longer being received.

I Cor. 12:4-11 I Cor. 13:8

Hebrews 2:4

Section III - The Devil, or Satan

We believe in the reality and personality of Satan, that he was

created by God as an angel but through pride and rebellion became

the enemy of his Creator, that he is the unholy god of this age,

the author of all the powers of darkness and sin, and is destined

to the judgement of eternal justice in the lake of fire.

Matt. 4:1-3 II Cor. 4:4

Rev. 20:10

Section IV - Creation

We believe that Biblical record of the creation of the angels,

physical universe, and man is literal, and not allegorical or

figurative. Christ personally created the Heaven and the Earth, He

brought forth all original matter out of nothing, He fashioned

changes in species, He ordained each species to bring forth after

its kind, and He formed man out of the dust of the ground. Man did

not evolve over a period of time, but was created in the image of

God by an instant and final action. Every creative act of God was

complete and perfect in itself; and that not one of His creations

was conditioned upon antecedent changes naturally wrought during

interminable eons of time. All men are descendents from the

historical Adam and Eve.

Genesis 1-2 John 1:3

Col. 1:16,17 Hebrews 1:1-3

Section V - The Fall of Man

We believe that man fell from his sinless and happy state by

voluntary transgression in consequence of which all men are now

sinners, not only by nature, but by choice; and therefore under

just condemnation without defense or excuse.

Genesis 1:26 Genesis 2:17

Genesis 3:16 Romans 5:10-19

Section VI - The New Birth and Redemption from Sin

(A) We believe that, because all men are totally depraved and dead

in their sins, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is

"born again"; and that no degree of reformation - however great;

no attainment in morality - however high; no culture - however

attractive; no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and

societies - however useful; no baptism or other ordinance -

however administered; can help the sinner to take even one step

toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life

implanted by the Holy Ghost, through the Word, is absolutely

essential to salvation.

Isaiah 64:6 John 1:12,13

John 3:5,18 Galatians 6:15

Phil. 3:4-9 Titus 3:5,6

I Peter 1:23

(B) We believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by

the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, and

made a curse for us, dying in our place and stead; and that no

repentance, no feeling, no faith, no resolutions, no sincere

efforts, no submission to the rules or regulations of any church,

can add in the very least to the value of that precious blood, or

to the merit of that finished work, wrought for us by Him who

united in His person true and proper divinity with proper and

sinless humanity. His blood alone is efficacious. His salvation

is wholly of grace.

Eph. 2:8,9 Titus 3:5-7

Lev. 17:11 Matt. 26:28

Romans 5:6-9 II Cor. 5:21

Gal. 3:13 Eph. 1:7

I Peter 1:18,19 4

Section VI - the New Birth and Redemption from Sin cont'd:

all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as

revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of their eternal

salvation from the very moment they take Him to be their Savior;

and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery

of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in

His Word, exciting within His Children the love of God, gratitude,

and obedience to God.

John 3:16,18,36 John 5:24

John 6:37 Romans 8:28-39

II Cor.5:1 II Cor. 6-8

II Timothy 1:12 I John 5:13

(D) We believe that Christ, who in the fulness of the blessings

which He has secured by His obedience unto death, must be received

by faith alone. The moment we trust Him as our Savior, we pass out

of death unto everlasting life. Therefore, being justified from

all things, we are accepted before the Father according to the

measure of Christ's acceptance, loved as He is loved, and having

His place and portion as linked to Him, and one with Him.

John 5:24 John 17:23

Acts 13:39 Romans 5:1

Eph. 2:4-6 Eph. 2:13

I John 4:17 I John 5:11,12

Section VII - The Church

(A) We believe that what is normally referred to as the "universal

church" is in reality the body of Christ and that it is a New

Testament organism. It was established by Jesus Christ, who is

its sole Head; revealed through the apostles; empowered and

perpetuated by the Holy Spirit; composed of all born again

believers in Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile; called out from

the world and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; it is referred to in the

New Testament as both the Bride and the Body of Christ. It began

with the New Testament Saints and will be consumated at the coming

of Christ in the Rapture.

Matt. 16:18 Acts 1:8

I Cor. 12:12-28 Eph. 1:22,23

Eph. 3:21 Eph. 5:23

I Thess. 4:13-18

(B) We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed

believers, associated by 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 only scriptural officers are pastors and

deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties are clearly

defined in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus.

Matt. 18:15-17 I Cor. 1:2

Gal. 1:2 Acts 6:1-6

I Tim. 3:1-14 Titus 1:5-9

1. We believe that the true mission of the church is found in

the great commission-first, to make individual disciples;

second, to build up the church; third, to teach and instruct

as He has commanded. We do not believe in the reversal of

this order.

Matt. 28:19-20

2. We believe that the local church has the absolute right of

self-government; free from the interference of any hierarchy

of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only

Head is Christ, through the Holy Spirit; that it is

scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in

contending for the faith and in the furtherance of the

Gospel; that every church is the sole and only judge of the

measure and method of its cooperation, all matters of

doctrine, membership, policy, government, discipline and

benevolences. The will of the local church, as defined in

this Constitution is final.

Eph. 5:21-33 Romans 15:26

II Cor. 9:8-9 Romans 16:1-2

Acts 15:22 Acts 11:22,29 & 30

Section VIII - Ordinances We believe that there are two New

Testament Church ordinances - water baptism and the Lord's Supper.

These ordinances are not sacraments, but are symbolic, pointing to

the world's only Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

(A) Baptism - Water baptism is the single immersion of the

believer in water and is properly called "Believer's Baptism". It

sets forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the

crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with the effects of that

faith in our lives which produces death to sin and resurrection to

a new life. It is a prerequisite to the privileges of local church

membership and participation in the Lord's Supper, but it is not

essential to salvation.

Acts 8:36-39 Romans 6:3-5

Matt. 28:19 John 3:23

Acts 2:41 Colossians 2:12

(B) Lord's Supper - We believe that the Lord's Supper is symbolic

and is a feast of remembrance to be observed until He comes. We

believe it shows forth His death and anticipates His return and is

intended to be a time of serious self-examination and self-

judgment for the Christian.

Matt. 26:26-29 Luke 22:19,20

I Cor. 11:23-32 I Cor. 10:16

1. Baptism - those professing saving faith in Jesus Christ as

personal Savior shall, by the pastor or in the case of a

vacancy in the office of pastor, a deacon, authorized by the

church, be immersed in water in accordance with scriptural

teachings at any service of the church. This shall be done in

accordance with ARTICLE V, Section II, Paragraph (C). 5

2. The Lord's Supper - The Lord's Supper shall normally

be served to the church by the pastor and the deacons, and

shall be observed at least four (4) times a year at the

discretion of the pastor and the deacons. In case of a

vacancy in the office of pastor, the deacons of this church

shall serve the Lord's Supper. In cases where there are not

sufficient numbers of pastors and/or deacons present to

adequately serve the congregation, other members of the

congregation, who meet the qualifications of deacon, as

stated in ARTICLE VI, of this constitution, may, upon

approval of deacons or pastor, as appropriate, assist in

serving the Lord's Supper. If there are no pastors or deacons

present, the Lord's Supper may not be served. Since the

Lord's Supper is an ordinance of the local church, it must be

observed only in an announced service of the local church to

which all members are invited.

Section IX - Separation

(A) Personal - We believe that we are called with a holy calling

to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; that we should

not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, but the flesh, being still in

us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be kept

constantly in subjection to Christ, or it will surely manifest its

presence to the dishonor of His name.

Romans 8:12,13 Romans 13:14

Galatians 5:16-25 Ephesians 4:22-24

Colossians 3:1-10 I Peter 1:14-16

I John 3:5-9

(B) Ecclesiastical and Ecumenical - We believe not only in

separation from worldliness and apostasy, but also separation

from; the present day Charismatic movement, new-evangelicalism,

neo-orthodoxy, liberalism, cultism, modernism, and inter-

denominationalism. True faith does not seek after signs and

wonders. For, true faith does not need signs to validate it. The

only sign for this generation is the evidence of the crucified and

risen Savior. In Him, we put our trust. We believe in the

separation from the National and World Council of Churches or any

other type of involvement in the Ecumenical movement.

Hebrews 11:1-3 Hebrews 11:6

Matt. 12:38-40 Matt. 16:1-4

Section X - The Righteous and the Wicked

(A) We believe that the world is fast ripening for judgment-that

there will be a fearful apostasy in the professing Christian body

- that there is a radical and essential difference between the

righteous and the wicked; that only such as through faith are

justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified

(set apart) by the Spirit of God, are truly righteous in God's

sight.

(B) We believe that all who continue to impenitence and unbelief

are in His sight wicked and under the curse; that this distinction

holds among men both during life and after death; in the

everlasting conscious joy of the saved, and the everlasting

conscious suffering of the lost.

Malachi 3:18 II Tim. 3:1-5

II Thess. 2:3-8 Luke 17:26-30

Luke 18:8,9 Luke 6:25

John 8:21

Section XI - The Return of Christ

We believe in the bodily, personal, pre-millennial return of Jesus

Christ in the air only, before the seven year tribulation period

to catch away His church; and that He will later come with His

church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living nations

and to set up His kingdom on earth.

I Thess. 4:13-18 Matt. 25:31-46

Rev. 19:11-21

Section XII - The Resurrection

(A) Of Christ - We believe in the resurrection of the crucified

body of our Lord; in His ascension into heaven, and in His present

life there for us as High Priest and Advocate.

I Cor. 15 Acts 1:9-11

Phil. 2:9 Hebrews 9:23

I Tim. 2:5 I John 2:1,2

(B) Of Believers - We believe in the resurrection of the bodies of

the dead; that believers who have died in Jesus will be raised at

the coming of Christ for His church and caught up with transformed

living saints to meet the Lord in the air.

I Cor. 15:51-53 I Thess. 4:13-18

Rev. 20:4

raised at the close of the millennial kingdom and stand in their

bodies at the Great White Throne Judgment to receive their final

doom.

Rev. 20:11-15 Matt. 25:34-46

ARTICLE IV-CHURCH GOVERNMENT AND ASSOCIATIONS:

(A) The government of the Calvary Baptist Church is vested in its

congregation and the will of the congregation, as expressed by

vote, is final. The congregation is responsible alone to the Head

of the church, the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be outside ecclesias-

tical authority! In accordance with New Testament teaching the

local congregation is responsible to decide the extent of its

membership, to guard the doctrines of the faith, to elect its own

officers, to settle its own internal affairs, to discipline its

own members, and to conduct its own business and witness according

to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in recognition of Christ's

headship.

Romans 14:1 I Cor. 5:13

I Cor. 6:1-8 Rev. 2:1,7

Rev. 2:13-16

Acts 6:3,5

(B) A New Testament Church cannot join anything outside of itself,

but may affiliate with other churches on the grounds of fellowship

Therefore, this church declares itself in fellowship with the

National and State Associations of the General Association of

Regular Baptist Churches and at such time as the General

Association of Regular Baptist Churches or any of its representa-

tives seek to interfere with the autonomy of the local church, or

tends to any of the errors enumerated in ARTICLE III, Section IX,

Paragraph (B), of this constitution, this church shall declare

itself no longer in fellowship with them. Such termination of

fellowship would be determined by majority vote of members present

at the meeting of the congregation, specially called for vote on

this matter.

with such bodies of believers as are true to the Word and not

contaminated by any errors enumerated in ARTICLE III, Section IX,

of this constitution. However, such cooperation shall never be

construed as a surrender of freedom or autonomy. Any attempt to

dictate or coerce on the part of any cooperative body or its

representatives shall immediately be sufficient cause for the

termination of relationships. Any beginning or termination of such

cooperation shall be determined by majority vote of members

present at the meeting of congregation specifically called for

vote on this matter.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP:

Section I - Present Membership:

Any person accepting the views and practices of this church as set

forth above, and whose name appears on the rolls is considered a

member of this church.

Section II - Reception of Members

(A) Any person who has confessed Christ as Lord and Saviour; who

gives assurance of a sincere desire to live consistently as a

Christian; who accepts without reservation the doctrinal standards

of this church; who has received baptism by single immersion; and

who agrees to support wholeheartedly the activities, services, and

finances of this church as God enables them and who is not a

practicing homosexual, transexual, or any other type of sexual

deviate, shall be eligible for membership.

(B) Candidates may be received as members by vote of the church

upon their Baptism; or by Letter of Recommendation from a church

of like faith and order; or by their Statement of Christian

Experience with evidence of proper baptism; or by Restoration.

before the pastor and deacons who shall pass upon their

qualifications. Having been recommended by the deacons the name

shall then be submitted to the church for acceptance or rejection

- five (5) dissenting votes constituting refusal of admission, but

any member objecting may be required to present the grounds of his

objection before the deacons at their next meeting. A two-thirds

(2/3) vote of the deacons shall overrule the objection and the

name shall be submitted once more to the church.

Section III - Duties and Privileges of Members:

(A) It is the duty of each member to acquire scriptural knowledge,

to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ; to love, uphold,

support and cherish the church; to honor, esteem, and love the

Pastor, - and also to pray for him; to guard his reputation,

attend regularly upon his ministrations.

II Tim. 3:16,17

(B) It is the duty of each member to cultivate and cherish

Christian love for each other; to visit and sympathize with each

other in affliction; to pray with and for each other; guard each

other's reputation; privately and carefully admonish each other of

faults and improprieties - this is to be done in the spirit of

meekness as the scriptures admonish.

John 13:34-35 James 5:16

testimony by word of mouth and worthy manner of life to those who

are not in the faith to the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(D) It is the duty of each member to inform the church clerk of

any change of address.

(E) It is the duty of each member to attend as regularly as

possible the regular and special meetings of the church, such as

worship services, prayer meetings, evangelistic services, bible

2conferences, missionary conferences, rallies and business meetings

Hebrews 10:22-25

Section III - Duties and Privileges of Members cont'd.

(F) It is the duty of each member to remember the command in

Malachi 3:8-11, and pledge himself to the Lord, to make

contributions to the needs of the church, according to the

principle laid down in I Cor. 16:1,2.

(G) It shall be the duty of each member to practice self-

examination, and to maintain a right relationship with God, not

only at the time of the Lord's Supper, but at all times.

Titus 2:12

(H) Only active members in good standing shall be eligible to hold

positions of leadership in the church or any of its organizations,

to serve in any way in a regular church ministry, or to receive a

letter of recommendation to another church if they should so

desire.

(I) Only those members who are active and in good standing and are

at least sixteen (16) years of age may vote in church business

meetings.

Section IV - Discipline of Members:

In order to maintain its purity and peace, a local church has the

scriptural right to discipline its members who are in need of such

action.

Matt. 18:17 I Cor. 5:13

(A) Negligent members - Any member who is willfully negligent

toward his church duties and demonstrates such negligence through

absence from the services for at least four (4) consecutive months

shall be subject to removal from the membership. The pastor and

deacons shall seek to recover such members to the Lord's work by

visiting them and encouraging them to be more faithful. Failing in

this, they shall inform the member regarding the finality of his

continued negligence and recommend to the church his removal.

Every effort shall be made to assist negligent members in renewing

their walk with God.

(B) Erring members - If a member err in doctrine or conduct, those

having knowledge of such error shall inform the pastor and

deacons, in writing, above their signature. After investigation to

ascertain the truth of the allegations, and upon determining them

to be true, the pastor and deacons shall direct their efforts to

seek repentance and restoration of the erring member. Members may

be required to meet with the pastor and deacons to discuss the

matter.

settled privately according to the pattern outlined in Matt.

18:15-16. However, if the parties involved will not follow this

pattern, or if, upon following it, reconciliation has not been

reached, the pastor and deacons shall become involved to preserve

the peace of the church.

Section IV - Discipline of Members cont'd.

(D) Rebellious and divisive members - Scripture warns against the

harm of a "factious person", and of one who is "disorderly".

Persons who rebel against the spiritual leadership of the church,

who are perpetual gossips, who endeavor to influence others

against leadership, and who make constant problems and trouble in

the church, disturb its peace and are its critics, are liable to

church discipline. Such persons are to be admonished by the pastor

and deacons, in writing, but if the attitude and actions persist,

the deacons shall make a recommendation to the church body.

Titus 3:10 "heretic" II Thess. 3:6

The pastor and deacons shall act with love and grace but with

promptness to deal with any member who is obstructing the work or

disturbing the peace of the church by espousing doctrine that is

opposed to the doctrine of the church or by unscriptural conduct

such as gossip, falsehood, slander, conspiracy, immorality, or

other actions deemed detrimental to the life of the church.

(E) Accused members - If a member is accused by another member of

a violation of the church covenant or of immoral, improper, or

unchristian conduct, such charges must be submitted in writing,

above their signature, to the pastor and the deacons. When such

charges have been preferred, the pastor and the deacons shall

investigate the following:

1. Whether or not the pattern of Matthew 18:15,16 is

applicable and has been followed.

2. Whether or not the charges appear valid.

If the charges appear to be valid, the offender shall be asked to

meet with the pastor and deacons to receive a full and fair

hearing, which shall specifically include the right of the accused

to face the accuser at said meeting. Refusal of the accused to

attend such a meeting shall be considered sufficient grounds to

recommend expulsion from church membership. Refusal of the accuser

to attend such a meeting considered sufficient cause to drop all

charges, even if accused has also refused to attend the meeting.

The deacons may vote to acquit the accused if the charges appear

untrue, or if there is evidence of genuine repentance and

restitution on the part of the accused, or they may vote to

recommend to the congregation that he be expelled from the

membership. In the latter event, the accused may appeal to the

entire church for a hearing, which appeal the church may grant or

refuse. The final step in discipline shall be expulsion from

membership.

(F) Purpose and Notification of Discipline - Discipline in any

form shall have as its purpose the loving restoration of the

erring member. The church clerk shall notify in writing any member

who has been expelled. Expelled members may be restored to full

membership upon evidence of repentance and change of life, and

upon recommendation of the deacons and vote of membership as

prescribed in ARTICLE V, Section II, Paragraph (C), of this

constitution.

Gal. 6:1

Section IV - Discipline of Members con't.

(G) Loss of Rights - Persons who have been removed from the

membership of the church by whatever means shall have no right to

make claim to any church property, and shall return any such

property in their possession immediately.

Section V - Termination of Membership:

Membership in this church may be terminated in any of the

following ways by congregational vote.

(A) Death of the member (no church action required).

(B) Written request of the member.

1. Any member in good standing who desires to unite with

another church of like faith and order shall receive

a letter of transfer when a written request is

submitted by the church with which he is uniting.

2. Any member desiring to unite with a church differing

in faith and order from Calvary Baptist shall receive

a letter of dismissal (statement regarding his

standing).

(D) Discipline: A member may be removed from membership as a

result of any of the disciplinary actions described in

ARTICLE V, Section IV.

ARTICLE VI - CHURCH OFFICES:

The New Testament teaches that there are two church offices:

(A) Pastor

(B) Deacon

A church may have as many of each as its size and work demands.

Neither a pastor, pastoral staff member, deacon, nor their spouses

shall have been divorced.

Section I - The Pastor:

(A) Scriptural Qualifications - Any candidate for the pastorate of

the church shall meet the requirements as set forth in God's Word.

He shall be an ordained Baptist minister, or pursuing ordination as requested by the church according to Article 10, Section 2. He shall be a man, separated from worldly practices that would discredit the work of God. No pastor may be a member of a secret order or lodge, nor may he use tobacco, drugs (except under a physician's direction or alcoholic beverages.

I Tim. 3:1-6 Titus 1:5-9