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Constitution & Articles of Faith

CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE LEWISVILLE BIBLE CHURCH

 

AMENDED CONSTITUTION OF LEWISVILLE BIBLE CHURCH

 

PREAMBLE

      Being led, as we believe, by the Holy Spirit to unite in Christian fellowship for the purpose of promoting and fostering a more effective Christian testimony in harmony with the teachings of the New Testament, we, the membership of Lewisville Bible Church, do establish the following articles, to which we voluntarily submit ourselves:

 

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this church shall be called

LEWISVILLE BIBLE CHURCH

 

ARTICLE II

COVENANT

      As applicants for membership in this church sign the roll book, it is to be an indication by them that are in complete accord with the following membership covenant and that they will comply with it with no mental reservations.

      I have read the Doctrinal Statement and the constitution of Lewisville Bible Church and do solemnly assert that I am in complete agreement with its provisions and purposes.  I agree to comply with its provisions and the loving oversight of its officers.  I therefore promise, in dependence upon God who helpeth our infirmities to attend its services as faithfully as possible, to sanctify the Lord’s Day, to be faithful in private devotions, and to strive to honor my Lord in all things by a walk and conversation becoming a member of the body of Christ.  I further promise to cheerfully contribute to the financial support of this church and the Gospel Ministry, to lend every assistance to the conduct of its services and to pray for the leadership of the Holy Spirit in all things.  If at any time I find myself out of harmony with the beliefs and practices of this church, or if my conduct or doctrinal beliefs shall be called in question by the Pastor or the Elders, I agree to submit the differences to their careful consideration and to be governed by the decision as to my future relationship to this church.

 

ARTICLE III

DOCTRINE
I
THE HOLY SCRIPTURES

         We believe the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testament to be the inspired Word of God, authoritative, inerrant, in the original writings, infallible, and God-breathed.

(2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Matthew 5:18; John 16:12,13)

II
THE GODHEAD

         We believe in one Triune God, existing in three persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, eternal in being, identical in nature, equal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections.  (Deuteronomy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

III
THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN – TOTAL DEPRAVITY

         We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam’s sin the race fell, inherited a sin nature, became alienated from God, and is totally unable to retrieve his lost condition.  (Ephesians 2:12; Romans 5:12; Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:22,23)

IV
THE TWO NATURES OF THE BELIEVER

         We believe that every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural.  (Romans 6:13, 8:12,13; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 John 3:5-9)

V
THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST

         We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful man.  We believe that He accomplished our redemption through His death on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice.  We believe that our redemption is made sure to us by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead.  (John 1:1,2,12; Luke 1:35; Romans 3:24,25, 4:25; 1 Peter 1:3-5)

         We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now in heaven, exalted at the right hand of God, where as the High Priest for His people, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate.  (Hebrews 9:24, 7:25; Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1,2)

VI
THE ETERNAL SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF BELIEVERS

         We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God’s power and are thus secure in Christ forever.  (John 6:27-40, 10:27-30; Romans 8:1,38,39; 1 Peter 1:5)

         We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God’s Word; which, however, clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh or the continuous practice of evil.  (Romans 13:13,14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15)

VII
THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

         We believe that the Holy Spirit is a person who convicts the world of sin, indwells all believers in the present age, baptizes them into the body of Christ, seals them unto the day of redemption, and that it is the duty of every believer to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:13,14, 1:18)

VIII
SALVATION

         We believe that Salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.  (Ephesians 2:8-10; John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7)

IX
THE CHURCH

         We believe that the Church, which is the body and bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons of this present age, irrespective of their affiliations with Christian organizations.  (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-27; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

X
THE PERSONALITY OF SATAN

            We believe in the personality of Satan, who is the open and declared enemy of God and man; and that he shall be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire.  (Job 1:6,7; Isaiah 14:12-17; Revelation 20:10; Matthew 4:2-11)

XI
THE SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST

         We believe in the personal, imminent, pretribulation and premillennial coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His redeemed ones; and His orderly return to earth, with His saints, to establish His Millennial Kingdom.  (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Zechariah 14:4-11; Revelation 20:6, 19:11-16; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9; Revelation 3:10)

XII
THE ETERNAL STATE

         We believe that the souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation do, at death, immediately pass into His presence, and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the body at His coming, when soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in the Glory; but the souls of unbelievers remain after death in conscious misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the Lake of Fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.  (Luke 16:19-26, 23:43; Revelation 20:11-15)

XIII
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BELIEVERS

         We believe that all believers should seek to walk in such manner as not to bring reproach upon their Lord and Savior, and that separation from worldly pleasures and practices is commanded of God.  (Romans 14:13, 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 7:1)

         We believe that it is the obligation of every believer to witness by life and by word to the truths of Holy Scripture and to seek to proclaim the Gospel to all of the world.  (Acts 1:8)

         We believe that it is the responsibility of all believers to remember the work of the Lord in prayer and to support it with their means as the Lord has prospered them.

 (1 Corinthians 16:2)

XIV
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

         We believe that the gifts of evangelist, pastor, and teacher are sufficient for the perfecting of the saints today, and that apostolic signs, including speaking in tongues, and the working of miracles, gradually ceased as the New Testament Scriptures came into existence.  (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ephesians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 12:12)

         We believe that God does hear and answer the prayer of faith, in accord with His Own will, for the sick and afflicted.  (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14,15)

XV
CHURCH ORDINANCES

         We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be observed by all believers until He returns.  (Matthew 28:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP
SECTION A: QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

      The Pastor and the Elders shall examine persons desiring to unite with this church as to their faith in Christ as Savior, the basis of their faith, the consistency of their Christian life with the teaching of the Word, and their whole-hearted agreement with the doctrinal statement and this constitution.  Persons who satisfy the Pastor and the Elders and have been baptized either by immersion or by sprinkling, may be accepted into the fellowship of the church with all rights and privileges.

SECTION B: LETTERS

      Letters from other churches will not necessarily have any bearing on whether a person is acceptable for membership in this church.  All must be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in them.  (In Pet. 3:15)

SECTION C: DISMISSAL OF MEMBERS
  • By letter of dismissal. Letters of dismissal will be granted upon request providing that the member is in good standing and not subject to or under disciplinary action of the church at the time of application.  Termination of membership is effective upon the granting of such letters. 

      (2)  By letter of resignation.  Any member may present a formal letter of resignation from the membership of the Church to the Pastor or the Elders whose vote of  acceptance terminates the membership.

  • By exclusion.  It is right and in harmony with the teaching of the New

Testament to exclude from the membership of this Church any person who holds false or heretical doctrines or who lives in a manner inconsistent with a Christian profession, or who violates the Christian standard of morals, or walketh disorderly

(II Thessalonians 3:6,11,14; I Corinthians 5:11,13), or any person who would disturb the unity and peace of the Church or hinder its testimony.  Those who absent themselves from the services of the Church for a period of (6) six months without good reason, or who move away from the community and fail to keep in touch with the Church for a period of (6) six months may be dropped from the membership of the Church after due considerations by the Pastor and the Elders and by a two-thirds vote of that group.

Any name may be removed from the roll of this Church after due examination by the Pastor and the Elders according to Matthew

18: 15-17, and by a two-thirds vote of this group.

SECTION D: RIGHTS

      Such members as are in full standing, and have attained the age of sixteen years, may act and vote in the transactions of the Church.

 

ARTICLE V

GOVERNMENT

      The government of this Church, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, is vested in the body of believers who compose its membership, whose majority vote shall be final.  By the action of the Church in electing its officers, the immediate direction of the Church shall be committed to these officers as provided in Article VI.

 

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS
SECTION 1: THE OFFICERS

      The officers of the Church shall be the Pastor, Clerk, Treasurer, Elders, Superintendent of Sunday School, and Trustees.  The Church may add others.

SECTION 2: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

      The immediate direction of the Spiritual and temporal affairs of the Church shall be committed to the trust of the Executive Board composed of the Pastor, Elders and other male officers of the Church.  The usual and regular business of the Church shall be the responsibility of the Executive Board.  Matters involving large sums of money, or any change of policy shall be referred to the congregation for its approval.

SECTION 3: THE PASTOR

      The Pastor shall be recommended to the Church by a two-thirds vote of the Elders and selected by the congregation called in session for that purpose.  The Elders shall examine the candidate for the pastorate as to his Christian experience, the Biblical basis

of his faith, his spiritual, moral and educational qualifications; and secure a written statement of his unreserved acceptance of the Scriptures as the authoritative Word of God, and his complete agreement with the Doctrinal statement (Articles of Faith) and the constitution of the Church before he is heard as a candidate for the pulpit.  Only one candidate shall be recommended to the Church at one time.

Upon election to the office as Pastor, he shall assume the full duties of the minister in the Spiritual leadership of the Church and shall be ex-officious member of all committees and boards or auxiliaries.

      The Pastor may be dismissed in the same manner in which he is elected.

SECTION 4: THE BOARD OF ELDERS

      Elders may be elected at the discretion of the Church, as qualified men are available.  They shall be men of proven Christian character, in full agreement with the Doctrinal Statement and the constitution of this Church.  They shall be elected for the period of (2) two years and may be eligible for re-election.  It shall be the duties of the Elders to counsel and act with the Pastor in the Spiritual direction of the Church.  They shall assist in the examination of applicants for membership, in the shepherding of the membership by giving counsel and assistance to the poor, sick, and the afflicted, and in the discipling and dismissal of members.

      In the absence of the Pastor, it shall be the duty of the Board of Elders to supply the pulpit with men whose Christian character and teaching is in accord with the Doctrinal Statement and the constitution of the Church.

SECTION 5: THE BOARD OF DEACONS

      Qualified men may be elected to the Board of Deacons as they become available and as the Church has a need for them.  For the present the Board of Elders will also fulfill the duties of the Deacons.  In that connection it shall be their duty to counsel and act with the Pastor in the direction of the temporal affairs of the Church. The deacons are servants, as the name implies, and they shall concern themselves with the financial condition of the Church and the maintenance of such property as it shall possess.

SECTION 6: TRUSTEES

      The executive Board shall appoint trustees to hold title to the property in accordance with the laws of this state.

SECTION 7: THE CLERK AND TREASURER

      The Executive Board shall appoint a Clerk and Treasurer for the period of one year. It shall be the duty of this officer to make and keep an accurate record of all business proceedings of the Church, and to receive, hold, and disburse all the funds of the Church as directed by the Executive Board. He (or she) shall keep an accurate account of the funds received and disbursed and be prepared to give a report on the first Sunday of each month.

SECTION 8: SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL

      The Superintendent of Sunday School shall be elected for the period of one year. He shall perform all the duties usually devolving upon the holder of this office. He shall work with the Pastor in the choosing and training of Sunday School teachers and in the provision of better Bible instruction for each department.

SECTION 9: SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

      The Sunday School teachers shall be recommended to the congregation by a nominating committee appointed by the Executive Board. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of the election.

SECTION 10: DISMISSAL OF OFFICERS AND TEACHERS
  • By letter of resignation: Any officer or teacher may be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board upon receipt by the Church of a letter of resignation.
  • By exclusion: Any officer or teacher may be removed from office for the following reasons:  Living in a manner inconsistent with a Christian profession, b. violation of the Christian standard of morals, c. the disturbance of the unity and peace of the Church, or hindrances of its testimony, d. The neglect of the office or the duties involved.

The removal from office shall be by the majority vote of the congregation called in session for that purpose by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board, or written by request of (10) ten percent of the Members eligible to vote.

SECTION 11: THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

      In the event any office, other than Pastor, is vacated prior to the end of the Church year, the Executive Board shall appoint a temporary officer to fill the position until the regular Church election.

SECTION 12: CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN
  1. Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be appointed by the board at the first meeting after the election of officers for a period of one year. The Chairman shall be a moderator for all board and congregational meetings held for the purpose of conducting business.

The Vice-Chairman will act as a moderator in the absence of the Chairman.

 

ARTICLE VII

CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
SECTION 1: ANNUAL MEETINGS

      The Church year shall begin ___________________. The annual business meeting shall be held as nearly as possible to that date for the purpose of hearing reports, the election of officers and teachers, and such other business as would naturally come before it.

SECTION 2: SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETINGS

      The Pastor or the Executive Board may refer legitimate matters of business to the decision of the Church at any regular Church service. The majority vote shall be final.

      The Church may be called together for the transaction of any legitimate business by the Pastor, the Elders, or by written request bearing the signature of ten (10) percent of the members eligible to vote. Notice of the purpose of special called meetings must be stated in the call, and two (2) weeks notice given preceding the day appointed to the meeting. When these provisions have been complied with, the majority vote of those attending shall be final.

 

ARTICLE VIII

      The Doctrinal Statement (Articles of Faith) is not subject to emendation or revision.

      The Church may amend or revise the Constitution by giving two (2) weeks notice (Article VII, Section 2) and submitting the changes in writing, and by a two-thirds vote of the members attending such meeting.