CHARTER AND CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF ANTIOCH
BAPTIST CHURCH
PREAMBLE
We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves and our successors into a body
of baptized believers and hereby for a constituted church for the purposes and
objects hereinafter set forth, for ourselves and our successors and for their
subsequent added members under the provision of the charter and for their
successors, for the purpose of preserving and making' secure the orderly manner
consistent with accepted tenetants of Evangelistic, Fundamental, Independent,
Missionary, Premil1e~nial Baptist Churches, for the purpose of preserving the
liberties inherent in each individual member of this church, and to set forth
the relationship of this body to the bodies of the same faith. We do declare and
establish this charter and constitution.
Article I
This Church shall be known as Antioch Baptist Church of Bristol, Virginia.
Antioch Baptist Church will not support the Southern Baptist Convention.
It shall be an independent governing body of believers with Jesus Christ as
head.
Article II
Purpose: this congregation shall be joined together as a Missionary Baptist
Church and shall endeavor to:
1. Evangelize the unsaved.
2. Strengthen and build up Christians in the most Holy Faith.
3. To promote a sound, fundamental testimony and true to the Bible witness for
the glory of God.
Article III
ARTICLES OF FAITH
1. The Scriptures
We believe the Old and New Testaments to be verbally inspired by God, inerrant
in the original writings, and that they are supreme and final authority in faith
and life (II Timothy 3:16 & 17, II Peter 1:19-21).
We reject the RSV or the New English Bibles as being true translations of the
Word of God and insist that the King James Version Translation of the Bible be
used in Sunday School and from the pulpit in all meetings associated with this
church.
2. The Godhead
We believe the Godhead eternally exists in three persons...Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit...that these three are one God, having precisely the same nature,
attributes, and perfections, that each one is co-existent and co-equal and
co-eternal with the other. (Genesis 1:1;
Genesis 1:26, Matthew 3:16 & 17; Matthew 28:19 & 20; John 10:30;
II Corinthians 13:14; Romans 8:9).
3. The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in:
1. His eternal existence as God (Hebrews 1:8)
2. His incarnation by the means of the virgin birth (Luke
1:35;
Isaiah 7:14)
3. His death on the cross as substitutionary atonement for
sin (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:14)
4. His literal bodily resurrection from the dead (Luke
24:36-43;
Acts 10:40 & 41) .
5. His ministry of intercession in Heaven (Acts 1:9; I John
2:1;
Hebrews 8:1 & 2)
6. His personal return to the earth (Acts 1:11; I
Thessalonians 4:16;
Colossians 2:9; Matthew 26:64)
The doctrine of the second coming held by this church shall be that the Lord
Jesus shall descend from Heaven and the church will be raptured to meet Him in
the air. Then, approximately seven years later He will come to the earth, the
church with Him, to reign for a thousand years; thus, our belief is
premillennial, pretribulation concerning the second coming.
4. The Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, convicts men of sin
(John 16:8), regenerates, indwells, seals, and sets believers apart unto holy
life (Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 13:14;
Ephesians 4:30), that he keeps and empowers believers day by day, that He is the
teacher of the Word of God and guide for our daily life. Anyone who does not
have the Spirit living in him, is not a child of God (Romans 8:9).
5 . Man
1. We believe man was created innocent and pure (Genesis
1:26)
2. Adam fell through the sin of disobedience (Romans 5:19)
3. Thereby all men are corrupt in body, mind, and soul
(Romans 5:12)
6. Satan
We believe in the reality and personality or personal existence of Satan (Job
1:6-9; Job 2:3; Matthew 4:1-11. I Peter 5:8; James 4:7).
7. Salvation
1. We believe that salvation is solely by grace through the
blood sacrifice, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, The Son of God.
2. All who receive Him are drawn by the Holy Spirit and.
thereby, become Children of God.
3. All who are truly saved are kept forever (1 Peter 1:5;
Jude 1:24).
4. However, God cannot overlook sin in his children and will
chasten or punish and correct them in love (Hebrews 12:5-8).
8. The Church
1. We believe that the local church is composed of
regenerated baptized believers, voluntarily united together for the purpose of
worship,
edification, fellowship of
believers, spiritual growth, and service.
2. It has been commissioned by Christ to propagate the gospel
to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:8).
3. That the local church has absolute right of
self-government, free from interference of any hierarchy of individuals or
organizations; and that the
one and only superintendent is Christ
through the Holy Spirit.
4. That on all matters of membership the policy of government
of the benevolence. the will of the local church is final (Acts 2:41-47; Acts
4:33-37;
Acts 5:1-20).
9. The Ordinances
We believe that Christ gave two ordinances to the church to be observed until He
comes:
1. The Lord's Supper. It was left us as an ordinance by the
Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20;
I Corinthians 11:23-25).
2. Believer's Baptism. We believe that baptism is immersion
in water. We practice baptism because of the example of our Lord Jesus while He
was
Lord on earth (Matthew 3:13), and
because of the command given by our Lord to be baptized (Matthew 28:19).
It should be made clear that there is no saving power in baptism. It is meant
for those who are already saved, giving a clear picture of the fact that the
believer is dead, buried, and raised spiritually with Jesus Christ by faith in
Him.
10. The Future
We believe the personal premillennial return of Jesus Christ:
(a) He will come for His saints to gather them unto Himself,
(b) with His saints to judge the nations and to eternal abode in the glory of
His presence.
The bodily resurrection of the unjust unto judgment and everlasting conscious
punishment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
11. Separation
We believe it is our duty to call the attention of believers to the scriptural
teachings of separation and that we should abstain from worldly practices and
live a life devoted unto the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 12:1 & 2; I Thessalonians
5:22; II Corinthians 6:14-17).
12. Missions
Because all men everywhere without Christ are lost and bound for the eternal
punishment, and because men cannot believe that we are debtors to all men and
have the responsibility of giving to them the gospel (Romans 1:18-20; Romans
10:14). Jesus left us the command that we should all be witnesses for Him (Acts
1:8). and take the good news of the gospel to every place where men are to be
found (Matthew 28:19-20i Mark 16:15. Luke 24:46-68i John 20:21). We believe that
to carry out this command. we must ourselves be witnesses by life and word to
tell all lost men about Christ and we must support by prayer and financial aid
those who go out under sound independent missionary agencies to represent us in
other parts of the world.
Article IV
MEMBERSHIP
A. Enrollment
1. Any person professing faith in the lord Jesus Christ and
g1vlng evidence of a born again experience upon reading, becoming familiar with,
and in complete accord with our
Church Covenant and Articles of Faith, may upon baptism and majority vote of the
members present, be
received into membership of this
church.
2. Members from other churches of Like Precious Faith and
order who have been baptized by immersion, upon reading, becoming familiar with,
and in complete accord with our
Church Covenant and Articles of Faith, may be received by a letter of
recommendation or the promise of such
from their respective church upon the
majority of the vote of members present.
3. Those persons who have been baptized by immersion and in
consequence of circumstance have no regular letter of admission, upon the
reading
of and becoming familiar with, and in
complete accord with our Church Covenant and Articles of Faith, and by the
majority vote of the members
present, may be received into
membership after giving satisfactory testimony of a born again experience and
scriptural faith. Members in good
standing may, at their request, and
vote of majority members present at any regular business session, receive
letters of admission to any church
of Like Faith and Order.
4. It shall be the duty of every member to be faithful in
attendance of the appointed services of the church, and thus make a contribution
(first) and
it will be his duty to contribute
financially to the support of the Gospel in proportion as the Lord has blessed
him (secondly).
B. Inactive Roll
1. Any members of the church who have been absent from the
regular worship services of the church for a period of two months or more
without
being considered by the church as
providentially hindered shall be placed on an inactive non-voting roll and shall
be sent a letter. If no word is
received from that member, their name
will be removed from the roll.
2. During the last quarter of each year, the Pastor and
Deacons . will review the church roll. Any member habitually absent from the
services of
the church without due cause, and is
negligent to the spiritual matters, shall be contacted by the Pastor or Deacons.
Members are also responsible
for trying to reclaim them for
Christ. After such person has been on the inactive roll for two (2) months their
name will be dropped from the church roll.
3. No member will be granted a letter unless they are in good
standing with the church.
C. Discipline
In case of offense requiring discipline, the offender shall be asked to meet
with the Pastor and Deacons and shall be dealt with according to Scripture.
1. Concerning personal offences (Matthew 18:15-16).
2. General offences against the church.
(a) Rejection of fundamental
doctrines of church set forth in the Bible, the Constitution, and the Church
Covenant (Galatians 1:8-9; II John 10 & 11;
Titus
3:10 & 11).'
(b) Serious. The New Testament
teaches that we "are to be in one accord" (Romans 16:17), "Mark them that cause
divisions and offences contrary
to the
doctrines which you have learned and avoid them."
(c) False view of church policy,
violation and disregard to the Church Covenant, Constitution, and Bylaws,
disorderly or immoral conduct
(II
Thessalonians 3:6-11: I Corinthians 5:11 & 12).
3. The church may withdraw membership for violation of the
above scripture, the Church Covenant, Constitution, and Bylaws.
4. How excluded members are to be treated (I Corinthians
5:11, II Thessalonians 3:13-14).
5. To be restored if they repent publicly (Galatians 6:1).
6. Other matters of discipline as stated here are to be
referred to the Pastor and Deacon Board, who will deal with such problems
according to
the scriptures.
7. It is vital to the testimony of this church and the Glory
of our Lord that the purity of the church be preserved and its peace protected.
With these
ends in mind, it shall be the duty of
the Pastor and Deacons to seek diligently to reclaim any member known to be
living in disregard af his
Biblical obligations. It is
specifically directed that the Pastor and Deacons move with promptness and vigor
in dealing with anyone who is obstructing
the work or disturbing the peace of
the church by slander, falsehood, gossip, conspiracy, or other unfair and
un-Christian practices. It is recognized
further, that while the minority has
the right of private opinion in all questions and the right of appeal in any
constitutional and proper manner, they
shall not have the right to engage 1n
secret or open propaganda or of deliberately disturbing the peace and
interrupting the work of the church.
It is further recognized that when
the church, by regular order and proper vote, has determined upon a course or
action, that course becomes the
duty of each and every member.
Article V
FINANCES
The policy of this church and all of its societies will be to refrain from all
means of raising money for the church of both local and for the missionaries
both at home and abroad by any other means than the freewill offering according
to the teachings of the Bible. However, this does not bind the church from using
the bond program as a means of raising finances for a construction of a new
building if the occasion should arise. There shall be no money raised by any
branch or club of the church by means of parties, plays, singspirations, bake
sales, etc. This church shall be solely supported by tithes and freewill
offerings. However, amendment has been made in order to raise monies after
receiving approval by the Deacon Board.
BUSINESS
1. The church year shall begin January 1 and end December 31.
2. This church shall hold business meetings as they are needed at which time the
spiritual and material conditions of the church may be discussed and plans
projected for progress of the church.
3. No business shall come before the body that has not first been presented at a
deacons and pastors meeting.
4. All business considered by this body shall be decided by a majority vote of
the members present, except where otherwise stated.
5. Only the men of the church shall make motions and seconds in the business
meetings of the church.
6. The church shall follow in business meetings the procedure of business
outlined by the pastor and any regularly and orderly parliamentary procedure
rules he desires, except as otherwise specified in this constitution.
7. At any of the regular meetings for worship, the church may, without special
notice, act upon the reception of members or upon the dismissal of members to
other churches.
8. Business meetings may be called by the Pastor or the chairman of the deacons
at such time as they may be needed, with reasonable notice of the time and place
of meeting given to the congregation. The Pastor shall serve as Moderator of all
business sessions of the church. In his absence, or upon his request the
chairman of the deacons, or some other person chosen may serve as Moderator.
Article VI
CHURCH WORKERS
1. The officers of this church shall consist of the following: a Pastor a Church
Clerk, a Financial Secretary, a Sunday School Superintendent, and a Deacon
Board.
2. Only members in good standing are eligible to election or appointment as
officers or leaders in any organizations of the church.
3. The Pastor of the Church shall be a believer in and a preacher of the gospel
and the fundamental doctrines of the faith that is held by this church as
Constitution and Articles of Faith. If at any time the Pastor's personal
beliefs. preaching. or teaching shall not be in full accord with the doctrinal
statement of this church, his services shall be terminated at once.
The Pastor shall have charge of the spiritual welfare of the church.
He shall preach the Word of God and have charge of the stated services of the
public worship. He shall administer the ordinances and perform the usual duties
of a Baptist Minister.
The Pastor shall moderate business meetings of the church. In the absence of the
Pastor (due to emergencies), the Chairman of the Deacons or someone appointed by
the church shall be the Moderator.
The Pastor shall be an ex officio of all boards, organizations, and committees.
Upon his call, he shall automatically be a member of this church.
4. The length of term of offices shall be as follows:
(a) The relation between the Pastor and the church shall be a permanent one
until dissolved by the option of either by giving one month notice. The
severance of the relation between the Pastor and the church may be considered at
any regular meeting of the Deacon Board, with the Pastor present, provided
notice to that effect shall have been given at least two weeks prior to
scheduled meeting date. To elect a new Pastor shall require a two-thirds vote of
voting members present. Candidate Pastor shall have read and endorsed without
reservation the doctrinal statements contained in this Constitution.
(b) The term of office of all officers except Pastor, Deacon, and Trustees shall
be one year at the expiration of which they may be re-elected.
(c) All elective and appointed officers shall serve their respective officers
until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
The election of officers shall occur one month preceding the .
annual business meeting.
Article VII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. Pastor's Services and Salary
The Pastor shall preach the gospel regularly, administer the ordinances,
supervise the teaching ministry of the church, tenderly watch over its
membership and spiritual interests and organize and develop its strength for the
best possible service. The Pastor shall, without reservation, occupy the pulpit.
In the event of his absence, it is his duty to secure a supplies for the pulpit.
The Pastor's salary is to be determined by the church upon recommendation from
the Deacons. His salary and vacation shall be reviewed at least once each year.
2. Duties of the Deacons
The Deacon shall assist the Pastor in promoting the spiritual welfare of the
church, in organizing and developing its strength for the best possible service.
The Deacons shall serve the elements of the observance of the Lord's Supper and
make proper provisions for it.
The Deacons shall assist the Pastor in visitation and other personal work.
The Deacons are to look over the church business and, all recommendations from
the Deacon to the church are subject to the ruling of the church body.
3. The Board of Trustees shall consist of at least three members in good
standing with the church. Their duties shall be to acquaint themselves with the
laws of the state of Virginia pertaining to church property and to see that the
church complies therewith. They shall exercise general oversight over the church
real property and shall make recommendation to the church concerning needed
repairs. Trustees are wholly subject to the will of the church regarding the
church property.
4. The Clerk shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of the church of all
baptisms, issuing of Letters and Certificates of Christian Character as directed
by the church, conduct all official correspondence "and preserve all documents,
papers and letters coming into his hands during the terms of office and to
deliver with the same all records kept by him to the successor. He shall keep an
account of any special events in the life of the church which are of historical
interest and value.
5. The Treasurer shall keep record of all funds of the church, a proper
recording of the same, and including a record of individual giving.
6. The Treasurer shall receive weekly church offerings of all funds contributed
and sh4ll dispense same as ordered by the church. He shall present a written
report of itemized disbursements monthly. There shall be an itemized report read
before the church and posted on the bulletin board monthly for the members of
the church to examine.
7. The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School shall
have supervision of the work of the Sunday School under the direction of the
Pastor. They shall endeavor to enlist hardy cooperation of the whole church in
Bible study and instruction. In counsel with the Pastor, they may recommend the
appointment of all teachers which shall be subject to the approval of the
church.
8. The Music Director shall be responsible for providing worshipful and
spiritual music for all services of the church. He is to direct the choir, or
choirs, in practice and public singing and is to cooperate with the Pastor and
other leaders in the selection of suitable music, and devising of appropriate
musical programs for all occasions where such services are needed.
9. The Pianist and Organist shall play for all public services
and shall assist the Music Director in a suitable program of music for the
church.
10. The church will have different organizations which will serve in the
outreach of our church and bind the fellowship which will use. the facilities of
the church. The Pastor shall have general oversight of all such organizations.
11. All Teachers, Directors, and Workers shall be members and in good standing
with Antioch Baptist Church or a church of like faith.
12. This church shall have a Nominating Committee which shall consist of the
Pastor, Sunday School Superintendent. and three (3) Deacons selected by the
Deacon Board. Their duty will be to screen ,the candidates for office and post a
list of officers on the bulletin board one month in advance of voting.
Article VIII
MEETINGS AT THE CHURCH
1. Meeting for Worship
Unless otherwise provided, the church shall meet each Sunday for public worship
both morning and evening and on Wednesday for a Bible study and prayer. The
ordinance of the Lord's Supper will be observed once each quarter.
2. Meetings for Business
Congregational meetings shall be called for business upon given notice from the
pulpit or the church bulletin three regular scheduled services prior to the date
of the business session. All business meetings shall be held after service on
Sunday night.
3. The fiscal year shall begin with the first day of October and shall end at
the last day of September.
Article IX
BYLAWS
1. Each active member of the church shall be entitled to vote on all matters
excepting those pertaining to discipline of members and the purchasing or
selling of real property in which matters only members at least sixteen years of
age shall be entitled to vote.
2. All questions of order shall be settled by the customary rules governing all
deliberative bodies, as given in Roberts' Rules of Order.
3. The annual business meeting shall be the first regular business meeting after
the close of the fiscal year.
4. The bylaws may be amended at any special meeting of the church by two thirds
majority vote of members present provided an announcement has been made from the
pulpit or the church bulletin each consecutive service for two (2) weeks prior
to the date to be considered.
5. An original copy of this Constitution and Bylaws shall be
kept by the Church Clerk, which shall include the date of its approval and
witness by the signatures of its Pastor and Deacons who are active at the time
of the ratification of the Constitution.
6. The Constitution shall be read annually in its entirety to those present
during the first congregational meeting of the first month of the fiscal year.
7. Quorum must consist of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of all active
members in compliance with this Constitution.
8. Daily Vacation Bible School shall be under the direction of the Pastor and
Deacon Board unless otherwise specified by the Pastor and Deacon.
9. The Pastor may hold revivals of his choice so long as he maintains his
spiritual obligation to his church, which is his primary duty.
10. The Pastor will secure a pulpit supply 1n his absence.
11. The Sunday School shall be a graded Sunday School by age in all departments.
All members are expected to comply with the grade set up, that is to stay with
their age group and not move from one class to another unless approval is given
by the Superintendent and the Pastor. Their decision shall be final.
12. The Deacons and Ushers shall have the authority to seat the congregation and
shall see that the congregation is made as comfortable as possible and shall be
in charge of receiving the tithes and offerings at each service when offerings
are taken.
Article X
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the voting members at a
duly called meeting.
AMENDMENT I
Amendment I adopted and voted on March 18, 1998
In complete accordance with the scriptures as stated in the
1611 King James Version in Genesis 18, 19; Lev. 18:22, Rom. 1:25-28, and all the
scriptures listed on the following 2 pages, Antioch Baptist Church views
homosexuality as a sin and a perverted lifestyle. Therefore, no homosexual shall
be granted membership to this church nor allowed to hold any office in this
church.
Also, any member who falls into the sin of homosexuality shall automatically be
removed from the membership of the church, by way of biblical church discipline.
I Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
Genesis 19:5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men
which come in to thee this night'? bring them out unto us, that we may know
them.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is]
abomination.
Leviticus 20:13. If a man also Lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put: to death: their
blood [shall be] upon them.
Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man,
neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are]
abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 23:17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a
sodomite of the sons of lsrael.
Deuteronomy 25:16 For all that do such things, [and] all that do unrighteously,
[are] an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Judges 19:22 [Now] as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of
the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, [and] beat at the
door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the
man that came into thine house, that we may know him.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their
women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another: men with men working that which is
unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was
meet.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge,
God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are Ilot
convenient;
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the
spirit of God dwelleth in you?
I Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you,
and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one
should have his father's wife.
I Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or
with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters: for then must ye needs go
out of the world.
I Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the
world and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the
smallest matters?
I Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things
that pertain to this life?
I Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous; nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
I Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall
I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God
forbid.
I Corinthians 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one
body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost [which is] in you, Which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
I Corinthians 15:50 How this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Galatians 5:19 How the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]:
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are
not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ
and of God.
I Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but
for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
I Timothy 1.:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind,
for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be anY other
thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man
shall seethe Lord:
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who
for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.