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April 29,
1990
Revised January 18,
1998
PREAMBLE:
We,
the members of Cornerstone Baptist Church of Geneseo, New York, in orderly
manner do hereby establish the following principles by which we agree to be
governed in the affairs of our church.
ARTICLE
ONE: NAME
The
name of this organization as incorporated under the laws of New York State,
shall be Cornerstone Baptist Church of Geneseo, New York.
ARTICLE
TWO: PURPOSE
The
purpose of this local church shall be:
1. To carry out the great commission of Christ as given in Matthew
28:19 - 20; 2. To
administer the ordinances of the New Testament (Baptism and The Lord’s
Supper); 3. To edify the
saints of God through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God as set
forth in the Articles of Faith of this church.
The church ministries may include, but are not limited to:
worship services, evangelistic services, prayer meetings, youth
activities, various media programs, a day school, a Sunday School, a bus
ministry, missionary activities and other ministries deemed necessary by the
people of this church.
ARTICLE THREE: STATEMENT OF FAITH
INSPIRATION:
We
believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, was inspired (1) by God
and is the product of Spirit controlled men and therefore is truth without any
error (2) Therefore, it is and shall remain (3) to the end of the age the only
complete and final revelation (4) of the will of God to man, the true center
of Christian union and the supreme standard (5) by which all human conduct,
creeds (6) and opinions should be tried.
By the
Holy Bible we mean that collection of sixty-six books, from Genesis to
Revelation, which as originally written, does not contain and convey the Word
of God, but is the very Word of God.
By inspiration we mean that the books of the Bible were written by
holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit in such a definite way
that their writings were divinely inspired and free from error, as no other
writings have ever been or ever will be inspired.
(1) Inspired:
2 Peter 1:19-21
2 Timothy 3:16
Revelation 1:1
1
Corinthians 2:13
Romans 15:4
2 Samuel 23:2
Hebrews 1:1,2
(2)
Truth without error:
Psalms
119:160 Psalms 119:142
John
17:17 Psalms 19:8
Psalms
100:5
(3)
Shall remain (eternal):
Matthew
5:18
Psalms 100:5
Isaiah
40:6-8
1 Peter 1:25
(4)
Only complete and final revelation:
Galatians
1:8-12 Deuteronomy 4:2
Revelation
22:18-19
(5)
Supreme standard for human conduct:
Romans
15:4 Matthew 4:4
Deuteronomy
8:3 Isaiah 8:20
Titus
2:11-13
(6)
Standard by which creeds and opinions should be tried:
Acts
17:11 2 Thessalonians 2:15
Matthew
15:9
GODHEAD:
We believe that there is one (1)
living, eternal, and true (2) God who exists as three simultaneous persons (3)
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(1)
Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah
42:8
(2)
1 Thessalonians 1:9; Jeremiah 10:10; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20;
Revelation.
1:8; 1 Timothy 1:17; Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:15; Palms 90:2
(3)
Matthew 3:16-17, 28:18-20; 1 John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; John 15:26.
GOD THE FATHER:
We believe in God the Father, Almighty
(1) Ruler, from heaven, over heaven and earth (2).
He is unchanging (3) omniscient (4) omnipotent (5) omnipresent (6) Holy
(7) righteous (8) and the creator (9) of all things. He revealed His love by sending His only Son to die for the
sins of mankind (10). He forgives
those and only those who come to Him by His Son (11).
(1)
Genesis 17:1; Revelation 1:8
(2)
Matthew 5:16, 11:25; Psalms 59:13, 66:7; Daniel 4:17, 25, 32
(3)
James 1:17; Malachi 3:6
(4)
Matthew 6:3-8
(5)
Matthew 19:26; Ephesians 1:17-20
(6)
Psalms 139:7-10; Jeremiah 23:24; Matthew 28:20
(7)
Leviticus 19:2; John 17:11
(8)
John 17:25; Ezra 9:15; Isaiah 54:17; Daniel 9:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21
(9)
Genesis 1; Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:8-9; Malachi 2:10; Acts 14:15; Psalms
102:25; Isaiah 42:5
(10)John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8; Matthew 20:29
(11)
John 3:36, 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans
10:13; 1 John 5:12-13
GOD THE SON:
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (1).
He is true God and true man (2). He
is creator and sustainer of the universe (3), and He was crucified. He gave
Himself upon the cross (4) for our sin. The
third day He arose from the dead (5). He
is now our High Priest in heaven (6) appearing before the face of God as
Advocate and Intercessor (7). We
believe in his bodily, personal, premillennial return, and that He will come
before the seven-year tribulation to catch away His church, coming only in the
air. We further believe that He
will come with His church at the close of the tribulation to judge the living
nations and to set up His kingdom (8).
(1)
Matthew 1:20-25; Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-37
(2)
Hebrews 1:1-8; John 1:1-2, 14; Colossians
1:15-16; Philippians 2:6-8
(3)
1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; John 1:3
(4)
1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:4; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24
(5)
1 Timothy 3:16; Luke 24:5-7; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Acts 2:24; John
20:27-28
(6)
Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 8:1
(7)
1 John 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:34
(8)
See statement on Last Things for references
HOLY
SPIRIT:
We
believe in the divine person (1) and work of the Holy Spirit, who is creator
(2), who convicts (3) man of sin, brings about the new birth (4), and baptizes
believers into the body of Christ (5). He
indwells (6) and eternally seals believer’s (7), and also teaches (8),
guide’s (9), purifies (10), and empowers (11) them in life, testimony and
service.
(1)
Acts 5:3,4; 1 John 5:7
(2)
Psalms 104:30; Genesis 1:26
(3)
John 16:8-11; Acts 2:37
(4)
Titus 3:5; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:22-23
(5)
1 Corinthians 12:13; John 4:14; Romans 12:5
(6)
1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ezekiel 36:27; John 14:17; Romans 8:9
(7)
Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22
(8)
John 14:26; Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27
(9)
John 16:13; Romans 8:14; Acts 8:29-39
(10)
Galatians 5:19-26; Ephesians. 5:18
(11)
Acts 10:38; Micah 3:8; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49
MAN AND SIN:
We
believe that sin is any transgression (1) of the laws of God and originated in
the heart of Satan (2). We
believe that God created man innocent (3) for fellowship with Him (4). By Adam’s voluntary transgression (5), sin entered into the
world and death by sin (6), and so death passed upon all men (7).
Consequently, everyone is born a sinner (8), is such by nature (9) and
practice (10), and stands without excuse (11), condemned before God (12).
(1)
1 John 3:4; James 2:9-10; Romans 3:20
(2)
Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:11-15; Genesis 3:1-3
(3)
Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 5:12
(4)
Revelation 4:11; Exodus 25:22; 1 John 1:3; 1
Corinthians 1:9
(5)
Genesis 3:16-17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21
(6)
Genesis 3:19; Romans 5:12-14, 6:23
(7)
Romans 5:12, 19; Psalms. 53:3; Romans 3:9-10;
Isaiah 53:6
(8)
Psalms 51:5; Job 5:7; Galatians 3:22
(9)
Ephesians 2:3; Romans 3:23
(10)
Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:9-23; Matthew 23:27-28
(11)
Romans 1:20-21, 5:18; John 3:19-20;
(12)
John 3:18, 36; Ephesians 2:3; Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 5:18
SALVATION:
We
believe salvation is the gift of God’s grace by faith (1) through the shed
blood of Christ (2), the only sufficient payment (3) for the sins of all
mankind (4). Any who truly repent
(5) of sin and receive Christ (6) as their personal Savior are born again (7),
thereby saved from eternal damnation (8).
The very nature of God is imparted to the believer (9), who is now
justified (10), sanctified (11), eternally secure (12), and glorified (13) in
Christ, and has assurance of salvation (14).
We believe in righteous living and good works.
Good works do not produce salvation in any case, but are the proper
evidence and fruit of the new birth (15).
(1)
Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:22, 24
(2)
Hebrews 9:22; Ephesians 1:7; 1 John 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19
(3)
1 John 2:2; John 10:11, 14:6
(4)
Romans 5:18; 1 John 2:2; 2 Peter 3:9
(5)
Luke 13:3,5; Acts 3:19, 17:30; Isaiah 55:7
(6)
John 1:12; Romans 10:9; Acts 16:31
(7)
1 Peter 1:23; John 3:3-7, 1:12-13
(8)
John 5:24, 3:18, 36; Romans 8:1
(9)
2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 4:15
(10)
Romans 5:9, 4:25; Titus 3:7; Galatians 2:16; Acts13:39;
(11)1
Corinthians 1:2; Hebrews 10:10; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 6:11
(12)2
Timothy 1:12; 1 Peter 1:4-5; 1 John 5:10-13; Ephesians 4:30; John 6:39
(13)1
John 3:2; Romans 8:16-17, 29-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:10
(14)1
John 5:9-13; John 6:37; John 10:27-30; Romans 10:13
(15)Ephesians
2:8-10; Titus 3:5; John 15:1-17; Titus 2:14; Galatians 2:16;
James 2:26; John 15:1-17
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH:
We
believe the church of Jesus Christ (the body of Christ), is composed of only
born again believers (1) and so the local church should also limit its
membership to only those who are saved and have been baptized by immersion
(2). This local assembly is to
preach the gospel, baptize, teach (3), exhort (4), edify believers and glorify
God (5). It exists to provide
Christian fellowship (6), and make available opportunity for worship of God
(7), and the observance of the Lord’s Supper (8).
We believe the primary purpose of the church is to evangelize the
world, in its own Jerusalem and unto the utter most part (9).
We believe the teachings and the practices of the charismatic movement
are not scriptural. We,
therefore, will not participate in it (10).
We also believe it is essential for believers to separate themselves
from all sinful and worldly practices and alliances with unbelievers (11).
Therefore, we will not participate in any unscriptural associations
such as the ecumenical movement (12).
The
officers of this local body are pastor (elder, bishop) and deacons.
Their qualifications and duties are clearly defined in scripture (13).
We hold that the local church has the absolute right of
self-government, free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals,
organizations, or governments (14), and that the one and only superintendent
is Christ through the Holy Spirit (15).
(1)
Ephesians 1:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:13
(2)
Acts 2:41-47; Matthew 28:19-20
(3)
Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16
(4)
Hebrews 3:13, 10:25; Titus 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 11:23
(5)
Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Ephesians 4:11-12
(6)
Acts 2:41-47; Hebrew 3:13, 10:25; 1 John 1:7; Psalms 119:63
(7)
John 4:23; Acts 2:46-47; Revelation 14:3;
Philemon 3:3; 1 Corinthians 16:29
(8)
Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-30; Acts 2:42
(9)
Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19-20
(10)
1 Corinthians 14:1-40; 12:28-30, 13:8-10
(11)
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11; Isaiah 52:11; Psalms 1:1-3
(12)
Acts 2:40; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:6
(13)
1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus
1:5-9; Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 5:17-18
(14)
Acts 6:1-7; 5:29, Luke
20:25; Acts 15
(15)
Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23;
Colossians 1:18
DOCTRINE OF ANGELS:
A.
HOLY ANGELS:
We believe that angels are created beings (1), and therefore, are not
to be worshipped (2,) although they are a higher order of creation than man
(3), created to serve God and to worship Him (4).
B.
FALLEN ANGELS:
We believe that Satan (the
devil) is an angelic being (5) who rebelled against God his creator (6).
He is the unholy god of this world (7), the enemy of God (8) and the
author of all false doctrines (9). He
attempts to keep people from trusting Christ (10), and strives to ruin the
lives and testimonies of believers (11).
He is a defeated foe (12), and is eternally damned (13), destined to be
cast into the lake of fire with all his followers (14).
(1)
Colossians 1:16; Acts 14:15
(2)
Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9
(3)
Hebrews 2:6-7; Psalm 8:5
(4)
Hebrews 1:6-7,14; Revelation 5:11-12; Psalms 148:2,5; Nehemiah 9:6
(5)
Ezekiel 28:13-15; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 9:11
(6)
Isaiah 14:12-14; Ezekiel 28:15; John 1:3
(7)
2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; Luke 4:5-8
(8)
Genesis 3:14-15; Ephesians 2:2; Acts 26:18
(9)
John 8:44; 1 Timothy 4:1; 1 Kings 22:22-23; Genesis 3:5
(10)
2 John 7; 2 Corinthians 4:4, 11:3, Matthew 13:3-4, 19, 37-39
(11)
Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 6:11-12; Job 1:6-2:10
(12)
Hebrews 2:14; Genesis 3:15; James 4:7; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 25:41
(13)
Revelation 20:2-3, 10; Isaiah 14:15
(14)
2 Peter 2:4; Matthew 25:41; Jude 6; Revelation 20:10,15
LAST THINGS:
We believe in the imminent, premillennial return of Christ for His
Church (1). At that moment the
dead in Christ shall be raised in glorified bodies.
The living in Christ shall be given glorified bodies without tasting
death, and all shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (2).
We believe that the Great Tribulation, the seventieth week of Daniel,
which immediately follows the Rapture of the Church (3), will be culminated by
the Revelation of Christ in power and great glory to sit upon the throne of
David and establish the Millennial reign (4).
We believe there is a radical and essential difference between the
righteous and the wicked; only those who are justified by faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ and sanctified by the Spirit of our God are truly righteous in
His esteem (5), while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in
His sight wicked and under the curse. This
distinction holds among men both in and after death, in the everlasting joy of
the saved and the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in the Lake of
Fire (6).
(1)
Revelation 2:10; Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Luke 12:40
(2)
1 Corinthians 15:51-53; Colossians 3:4; Philippians 3:20-21
(3)
Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:3-44; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation
4 thru 18
(4)
Zechariah 14:4; Acts 1:10-11; Matthew 25:31-34; Revelation
19:11-16,20:1-2
(5)
Revelation 22:4-5, 21:3-4
(6)
Mark 9:43-48; Isaiah 66:24; Revelation 14:10-11, 20:11-15, 21:8; Luke
16:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
ARTICLE FOUR
CHURCH
COVENANT
Cornerstone
Baptist church
Geneseo,
New York
Having
been led by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Savior,
and on the public confession of our faith, having been baptized by immersion,
we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, solemnly and joyfully
enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We
purpose, 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 spirituality; to attend
its services regularly; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and
doctrines; to give faithfully of time and talent in its activities; to give it
a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute
cheerfully and regularly, as God has prospered us, to the support of the
ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread
of the gospel throughout all nations.
We also purpose to maintain family and private devotions; to train our
children according to the Word of God; 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 conduct.
We also purpose to avoid all gossip, backbiting and unrighteous anger;
to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating beverages; and from all forms
of activity which dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ.
We further purpose to avoid being a cause of stumbling to a fellow
believer or a hindrance to the winning of a soul to Christ; to be zealous in
our efforts to advance the cause of Christ, our Savior, and to give Him
preeminence in all things.
We further purpose to encourage one another in the blessed hope of our
Lord’s return; to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each
other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress: to cultivate
Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take
offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the words of our
Savior to seek it without delay.
We moreover purpose that when we leave this fellowship, we will as soon
as possible, unite with some other Church of like faith and order where we can
carry out the Spirit of the covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
In the event there is no such church, we shall seek with the Lord’s
help to establish one.
BY-LAWS
OF CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH
Geneseo,
New York
ARTICLE FIVE:
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION ONE: RECEPTION OF
MEMBERS (one of the following)
A.
By baptism: upon profession of their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and
Lord, and by accepting the Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant, upon
baptism, be received into the membership.
B.
By letter, from another Baptist Church of like faith and practice.
C.
By Statement of Faith, having already professed Jesus as Savior and
having been scripturally baptized (immersed) by another Church of like faith and
practice.
D.
By restoration, excluded members may be restored to membership on
confession of their error and giving evidence of repentance.
SECTION TWO: PROCEDURE
FOR MEMBERSHIP
A.
Having received instruction concerning the church Constitution and
recommendation of the deacons, every candidate for admission to the Church shall
relate his or her Christian experience to the membership of the Church for vote.
Two Thirds (2/3) vote of members present will be required for acceptance.
Each candidate must give verbal agreement to the Articles of Faith and
Church Constitution. New members may be voted on at any regular Church service.
B.
Any non-member wishing to participate in a teaching or helping ministry
will be subject to the following conditions:
A. Must be in agreement with
the doctrine and practice of this church. B.
Must meet with the Pastor and deacons for approval of terms.
SECTION THREE: DISMISSAL
FROM MEMBERSHIP
A.
Death
B.
Transfer: A member leaving
this church for good and proper reasons may be granted, by vote of the church, a letter of transfer to unite with
another Church
of like faith and practice.
C. Discipline:
Discipline is that procedure including Christian teaching,
training, admonition and rebuke both private and public, with the view to
helping the
individual grow in grace, mature in the faith break off from worldliness and live wholly for the Lord.
At such Time that a member shall refuse to receive such help, it will be necessary for the church to
exclude him from
the membership.
1.
Members are expected to demonstrate special loyalty and concern for one
another (1 John 3:16, John 13:34-35). When
a member becomes knowledgeable of an offense of the magnitude to hinder
spiritual growth and testimony, he is to go alone to the offending party only
after self-examination and rectification (Matthew 7:3-5), always in a spirit of
humility and with a goal of restoration (Matthew 18:15-18, Galatians 6:1).
As specified in our covenant, each member is to endeavor to make
reconciliation quickly. (Matthew
5:23-25, Ephesians 4:29-32).
2.
If reconciliation is not reached, a second member, usually a deacon or
pastor, is to accompany after following the same procedure of self-examination
and in a spirit of humility and restoration.
3.
If still unresolved, the pastor and deacons, as elected servants
Biblically responsible to put down murmuring (Acts 6) must hear the matter. If this matter remains unresolved, they must recommend to the
church that we, as individual church members, examine our own lives concerning
this area of offense and then participate in prayerful, loving and fervent
effort to restore.
4.
If the matter is still unresolved after the steps outlined in paragraphs
1,2 and 3 have been taken, such members who refuse to repent and be restored are
to be removed from the membership of the Church upon a majority vote of the
membership present at a meeting called for the purpose of considering
disciplinary action.
5.
No matter of offense may be heard unless previous Biblical steps have
been followed, except for public offenses (Galatians 2), when public repentance
and restitution are required.
6.
No information concerning parties not under discussion may be heard. No information concerning parties who have repented may be
heard. No member may be excluded
where there is genuine fruit of repentance evidenced. Exclusion is only for the reason of no repentance of no fruit
of repentance.
7.
When the unrepentant offending party is excluded from membership and the
Lord’s table, all relationships with him from that point is for the purpose of
restoration only. (Matthew 18:17, 1
Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:15) [approved by church vote January 18,
1998]
D.
Removal of unfaithful members:
1.
After repeated unsuccessful attempts to restore unfaithful members to
active participation in worship services and fellowship with the Church family,
it will be the responsibility of the deacons to recommend to the church to
remove the unfaithful members at a regular scheduled business meeting of the
church.
2.
The recommendation to remove members for non-participation, will follow
this procedure: After six months of
non-participation, the deacons “may” recommend to place those who have not
been successfully restored on an Inactive Membership Roll. After one year on inactive membership, the deacons “may”
recommend to the Church the removal of the inactive members.
3.
Inactive members are NOT considered voting members
ARTICLE SIX:
ORGANIZATION
SECTION ONE:
The
government of this church shall always be vested in its membership.
SECTION TWO:
The Biblical officers of this church shall be pastor and deacons.
SECTION THREE: PASTOR
A.
The duties of the pastor shall be the oversight of the church ministries
and all staff; administer the Word of God and the ordinances of the church;
assist the families of the church in normal pastoral duties which include:
organizing special meetings; missions conferences; counseling; leading
the church to accomplish set goals; calling ministries; making sure that the
ministries of the church meet Biblical standards; has charge of worship
services.
B.
The qualification of the pastor are those given in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus
1:5-9, and Acts 6:4. We are a
Baptist Church, therefore the pastor must be a Baptist in faith and practice and
in agreement with the doctrine and practice of this church, as stated in the
Church Constitution.
C.
The pastor shall be a member of all organizations and committees.
The pastor shall act as the moderator in all business meetings of the
church unless the church is without a pastor, then the deacons will elect a
moderator. In difficult situations
the deacons will choose a moderator.
D.
The pastor shall be called after he has ministered in the pulpit at the
church and received an affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of those present and
voting at a business meeting called for this purpose.
Public notice must be given to the Church at least two (2) Sundays in
advance of his coming to candidate. The
business meeting to consider extending a call will be during the following week.
The pastor shall be called for an indefinite term.
The relationship may be dissolved at the option of either party by giving
one months notice or otherwise by mutual consent.
The church may terminate the ministry of the pastor by a two thirds (2/3)
vote of those present and voting at a special business meeting called for this
purpose. The moderator of this
business meeting will be a deacon chosen by the other deacons.
E.
In the event the church is without a pastor, the deacons shall act as a
pulpit committee. The church may
choose to have other members assist on this committee.
SECTION FOUR: DEACONS
A.
The duties of the deacons are to be servants to the pastor and the
church. The deacons shall appoint
one of their members to be a member of each committee of the church, preferably
as chairman of the committee. They
will assist the pastor in areas of church ordinances; developing and maintaining
ministries; decision making; goal setting; maintaining harmony in the church and
discipline. The deacons should
assist the pastor as an advisory council. They
are to serve under the pastor’s leadership to meet the needs of church
families. They are representatives
of the church membership to assist the pastor in church ministries.
They shall present a proposed budget at the annual meeting.
They shall review membership every month and follow up on all unfaithful
members.
B. Qualifications of the
deacons are those found in Acts 6:1-7, 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
They must be spiritual men. They
must hold to the same convictions as the church.
They should be men who are in agreement with the pastor and his general
plan and program for ministry. Because
of the Biblical qualifications for the office of deacon, all nominations for
deacon must come from the nominating committee.
All nominated deacons must be a member of this church for at least one
year.
C.
The term of office for deacon shall be three (3) years at which time they
may be re-elected if qualified. The
term of office should end alternately so one third (1/3) of the deacons are
elected each year.
D.
The deacons shall be trustees of the church, functioning in the legal
capacity of the trustees according to the Religious Corporation Law of New York
State.
E.
When the office of deacon is not completed, the church may elect at any
quarterly business meeting a man to fill the term of office left vacant.
ARTICLE SEVEN: MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS
SECTION ONE:
The church shall hold regular quarterly business meetings in the months
of April, July and October.
SECTION TWO:
The annual business meeting shall be held during the second full week of
January. The fiscal year of the
church will be the calendar year. The
church will elect from its membership at the annual meeting: deacons, a church clerk, treasurer, financial secretary and
committees deemed necessary and vote on the budget.
SECTION THREE:
Special business meeting may be called by the pastor, the deacons (when
the church is without a pastor), or at the written request of ten voting
members. Notice of the special
business meeting must be given from the pulpit for two consecutive Sunday
meetings dates.
SECTION FOUR: VOTING
AGE:
Those members 18 years old and over may vote.
(Inactive members can not vote).
SECTION FIVE QUORUM:
Quorum: One fourth (1/4) of
the voting membership shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.
A majority of the voting members voting at a meeting shall be necessary
to carry action, except in the case of calling or dismissing a pastor, buying,
selling or encumbering property, then two thirds (2/3) vote will be necessary
for action.
SECTION SIX: NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Church shall choose a three (3) member nominating committee in the
October quarterly business meeting. At
least one deacon should be on this committee.
SECTION SEVEN:
ELECTED POSITIONS
All positions must be held by members of Cornerstone Baptist Church.
All positions other than pastor and deacon shall be for one year, all may
succeed themselves at subsequent elections.
SECTION EIGHT:
In the event any position is vacated, the pastor and deacons may appoint
someone to fill the position for the remainder of the original term.
SECTION NINE:
Except where it is contrary to this constitution, Robert’s Rules of
Order shall govern the conduct of the business meeting.
ARTICLE EIGHT:
COMMITTEES AND AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
SECTION ONE:
No auxiliary group or committee shall organize without receiving
authority from the church.
SECTION TWO:
Committees to help carry out the ministries of the church shall be
developed as deemed necessary by the deacons and approved by the church.
SECTION THREE:
Every committee should meet at least four times per year or the committee
will be subject to dissolution.
SECTION FOUR:
All committees must give a written report to the church for the annual
business meeting.
SECTION FIVE:
A deacon shall be a member of every committee.
ARTICLE NINE:
CHURCH STAFF
SECTION ONE:
All church staff shall be responsible to the pastor.
SECTION TWO:
All paid staff must be recommended to the church by the pastor and
deacons for approval.
SECTION THREE:
The pastor with the deacons, can dismiss any paid staff member whenever
deemed necessary.
SECTION FOUR:
Duties of the church staff will be determined by the pastor and deacons.
A job description will be given to all staff members.
SECTION FIVE:
All paid and regular teaching staff for Sunday School, youth programs,
etc., must be members of this church and agree to any standard of conduct the
church may adopt.
ARTICLE TEN:
MISSIONARY PROCEDURE
SECTION ONE:
Prospective missionaries shall meet with the missionary committee.
They shall be interviewed as to conversion, call to missionary service,
goals, objectives on the mission field, financial needs, policies and positions
of the board under which they serve.
SECTION TWO:
Missionaries
shall be primarily involved in Biblical Evangelism of church planting or Church
planting assistants or para-church missionaries. They must be in agreement with the doctrine and practice of
this local church.
SECTION THREE:
The missionary committee shall recommend to the church, missionaries
meeting the requirements. A
majority vote shall be required to begin support.
SECTION FOUR:
All guest speakers including missionaries must be in full agreement with
the Articles of Faith of this Church. It
will be the pastor’s responsibility to schedule missionary speakers.
Pastor will take counsel from the deacons on this matter.
However; Pastor has final authority.
SECTION FIVE:
All supported missionaries must correspond with the church regularly or
support may be withheld until reports are received.
SECTION SIX:
The missionary committee will be responsible for missionary support
recommendations at the annual business meeting.
ARTICLE ELEVEN: FINANCIAL
POLICY
SECTION ONE:
All properties and equipment are property of the church. At no time may the pastor or deacons (acting trustees) sell,
mortgage, lease or transfer property without a specific vote of the church
authorizing such action.
SECTION TWO:
The Deacons (trustees) may disburse up to $500.00 per month of
non-budgeted monies for urgent situations.
All other disbursements must have church approval.
SECTION THREE:
All monies shall be raised through tithes and offerings. No unscriptural methods will be used to secure funds.
The church may borrow money for alterations or construction of buildings.
ARTICLE TWELVE:
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any regular business meeting,
provided notice has been given of the anticipated amendment.
Such notice must be presented at two regular services of the church and
also the proposed changes must be conspicuously posted in the church two weeks
in advance of the meeting. A 2/3
(two-third) vote of those present is required for action
ARTICLE THIRTEEN:
DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of this organization, proceeds shall be given
to non- profit organizations in agreement with the Articles of Faith of this
Constitution.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN:
POLICIES
As the church develops the need for other policies, they will be
discussed and voted on by the church membership.
At the annual meeting, a copy of the policies approved by the church will
be given to each Church family. A
2/3 (two-third) vote of those present is required for action.
[approved by church vote October 4, 1989].
POLICY
NUMBER ONE:
AFFILIATION
WITH THE
EMPIRE STATE
FELLOWSHIP OF REGULAR BAPTIST CHURCHES
The Cornerstone Baptist Church position with the Empire State Fellowship
of Regular Baptist Churches ESFRBC will be an “arms length: fellowship.
We desire the company of the ESFRBC believing the fellowship to be of
sound doctrine and practice.
However; our fellowship will NOT be limited to the ESFRBC only.
We will fellowship with other churches and Christian organizations that
hold to our doctrinal and separation position.
Aligning
ourselves with this fellowship does not in any manner surrender our autonomy as
an independent Baptist Church.
[approved by church vote
October 4, 1989]
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