Preamble | Name | Objectives | Statement of Basic Beliefs | Church Covenant | Polity and Relationships | Amendments
Preamble
We declare and establish this Constitution to preserve and secure the principles of our faith and to govern the Church in an orderly manner while pursuing its ministry. This Constitution will guide this Church in conducting the ministry established by Jesus Christ locally, nationally or across all borders as He leads.
Name
This Church shall be known as Ferris Baptist Fellowship of Ferris, Texas.
Objectives
To be a dynamic spiritual body empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach, baptize, and disciple as many people as possible. (Matthew 28:18-20)
To help members realize their spiritual gifts and encourage them to use these gifts in the sharing of Christ with their families, church and the kingdom of god. (1 Corinthians12)
To be a Church whose purpose is to be Christlike in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment to the Lordship of Christ. (Thessalonians 2:1-13)
To help members grow in the knowledge of God and man through Church programs of Bible Teaching, Discipleship Training and Missions Education. (2 Timothy 2:15)
To encourage to support the ministry of this Church, and Southern Baptist work at the county, state and national levels. (Acts 2:42-47)
Statement of Basic Beliefs
We affirm the Holy Bible as the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God and the basis for our beliefs. The doctrinal statement of the church is given as Article Two of the Bylaws. The doctrinal statement is accompanied by various appendices for the purpose of expanding cooperative efforts with other like-minded churches and connection to, and identification with, historic Christian beliefs. Appendix A contains the version of the Baptist Faith and Message with which we are in agreement.
A unanimous church vote is required to adopt and alter the doctrinal statement. For this reason, appendices are not considered part of the doctrinal statement but merely serve to assist, amplify and inform understanding of the doctrinal statement.
Church Covenant
Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and, on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this Church in Knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spiritually; to sustain its worship, ordinances, doctrines, and discipline; to contribute cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, towards its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor and the spread of the Gospel through the world. In case of difference of opinion in the Church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern.
We also engage to maintain family and personal devotions, to study diligently the Word of God; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith. We pledge as a Church and to each other to take a stand against the works of the flesh and live according to the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:19-26.
We further engage to watch over one another on brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to exhort and encourage each other unto every good word and work; to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other’s joy; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and Christian courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our savior to secure it without delay; to seek to live to the glory of God, Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will soon as possible unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
Polity and Relationships
The government of this church is vested in the body of believers who compose it as authorized in God’s Word. Persons duly received by the members shall constitute the membership (see Article III of the Bylaws).
All internal groups created and empowered by the Church shall report to and be accountable only to the Church, unless otherwise specified by Church action.
This Church is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it enjoys mutual counsel and cooperation which are common among Baptist churches. Insofar as is practical, this church will, in a theocratic sense, cooperate with and support the association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Amendments
Change(s) in the Constitution may be made at any business meeting of the Church provided each amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous business meeting and copies of this purposed amendment(s) shall have been furnished to each member present at the earlier meeting or upon request. Amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Church members present.
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