Article III: Membership

Section 1: Admission

A. Qualifications. Any person may be admitted to the membership of New Covenant Chapel who:

1. Gives testimony of conversion and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Assents to the Fundamental Beliefs as recorded in Article II

3. Agrees to conduct himself/herself (1) in compliance with this document, (2) in compliance with the expressed and/or intended spirit of mutual benefit and cooperation of this organizational body, and (3) with the intention of living apart from sin as commanded by God’s Word

4. Is willing to support the work of this church in regular participation

B. Procedure. Any person desiring membership in New Covenant Chapel may make his/her request known to a church elder. The candidate shall then meet together with at least two of the elders to determine whether he/she meets the qualifications for membership. If determined qualified, the candidate shall be presented to the congregation during a regular church service for congregational approval and welcome. A three-quarters majority vote of the church quorum is required to admit a member.

Section 2: Removal

A member of New Covenant Chapel may be removed from the membership list for any of the following reasons:

A. Death.

B. Request. Removal from membership may be made based on a request from the member personally or a request for a letter from another church.

C. Absence. The membership of any individual shall be automatically terminated if the member in question has not attended regular worship services of the church in the preceding six months. The church may choose to waive this provision if it determines that there is good cause for the absence. Waiver must be approved by a three-quarters majority vote of a church quorum.

D. Persistent sinful conduct. Removal from membership may be made based on persistent sinful conduct that is clearly contrary (according to the church’s determination) to the direct teachings of the Bible (such as immorality or apostasy). Prior to removal, the church, through its members and elders, shall strive to follow the guidelines for church discipline given in Scripture (Mat. 18:15-17; I Cor. 5:11). A two-thirds majority vote of a church quorum is required for removal of a member. Any member excluded from the church in this manner may be restored upon evidence of confession and repentance acceptable to the church. Restoration shall require a vote of three-quarters majority of a church quorum.

Article 11, Section 7: Restoration

Section 7: Restoration
A. As promised, Christ will return to this earth to bring final judgment to all evil and to gather together His covenant people from among the physically dead and living to continue in complete, restored, everlasting relationship with God.

1. His return – John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 22:7, 20
2. His judgment – 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 19:11-15
3. His gathering – Matthew 24:30-31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Thanks, Brenda, for the edit. On Brenda's recommendation, I broke the point down to more manageable pieces. Each "piece" is now labeled as Purpose, Application, and Result. I also was not happy in how I added the phrase "by faith alone." It raised the question of whether we were saying a person had to believe in Christ by faith alone or had to believe that salvation was applied by faith alone. I think that the adjustment has cleared that up. But let me know.

Section 6: Salvation
A. Purpose - Salvation is the activity of God to remove the guilt of sin from people in order to reconcile them to himself for the eventual restoration of perfect and intimate relationship between God and humanity.

1. Purpose and Plan – Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:3-14; 3:7-12; Hebrews 1:1-4

B. Application - God applies Christ’s sacrificial payment for sin to the individual who through repentance and faith, believes in Christ, the revealed righteousness of God. Belief in Christ entails the acceptance of the facts that Christ is God; that the sinless Christ’s sacrificial death paid the penalty for the individual’s own sin; and that the individual has no merit of his own to be worthy of God’s grace.

1. Application of Christ’s righteousness – John 1:12; Romans 3:21-25; 5:15-21

C. Result - The believing person receives remission of sins, justification, sanctification, and adoption in everlasting relationship through the Holy Spirit.

1. Remission of sins – Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 10:12-17
2. Justification – Romans 4:23-25; 5:16-18
3. Sanctification – Romans 6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
4. Adoption – Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:4-6

Article II, Section 6: Salvation

Section 6: Salvation
A. Salvation encompasses the purpose and plan of God in removing the guilt of sin so that restoration may result in the intimate relationship between God and the crowning work of His creation—humankind.

1. 1. Purpose and Plan – Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 1:3-14; 3:7-12; Hebrews 1:1-4

B. In salvation, God manifests His grace in applying the sacrificial payment accomplished by Christ through His sinless life, death, and resurrection to the individual who by faith alone in the revealed righteousness of God through Christ (that is, in Christ’s deity, work of vicarious atonement, and application of atonement) thus receives remission of sins, justification, sanctification, and adoption in everlasting relationship through the Holy Spirit.

1. 1. Application of Christ’s righteousness – John 1:12; Romans 3:21-25; 5:15-21
2. 2. Remission of sins – Matthew 26:28; Colossians 1:13-14; Hebrews 10:12-17
3. 3. Justification – Romans 4:23-25; 5:16-18
4. 4. Sanctification – Romans 6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13
5. 5. Adoption – Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:4-6

Article II, Section 5: Sin

Small section on sin--

Section 5: Sin
A. Sin is any impiety (attitude or action) contrary to the essence and existence of God.

1. Sin – Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 14:22; Psalm 51:4; 141:4; Proverbs 21:4; Matthew 5:27, 15:19; James 4:17
2. Transgression – A subset of sin in which the sinner violates the revealed law of God – Romans 1:20, 4:15, 5:13

B. Transgression against God results in death (separation from God).

1. Result – Genesis 2:17; 3:19; Proverbs 14:12; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 6:20-23

Article II - Section 4: People

Must we say more than this? Need we say all of this?

Section 4: People
A. God created Adam and Eve without sin.

1. Sinless Creation – Genesis 1:31 (see also Doctrine of God for why God cannot create sin)

B. Individuals are composed of material and immaterial aspects.

1. Material – Genesis 2:7; Psalm 31:9
2. Immaterial – Genesis 2:7; Psalm 31:9; Romans 8:16

C. Since all existence outside God is dependent on God, all existence outside God has a responsibility of obedience to Him

1. Responsibility – Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 2:15-16; Psalm 96:8; Hosea 6:7; Romans 9:20

D. Adam sinned against God resulting in condemnation—separation from God.

1. Adam’s Sin – Genesis 3:1-7
2. Condemnation – Genesis 3:17-19; Proverbs 11:21; Romans 6:23

E. All individuals bear the guilt of Adam’s original sin and corrupted nature.

1. Guilt of Original Sin – Romans 5:12-14, 18-19
2. Corrupted Nature – Genesis 6:5-6; Psalm 58:3; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Jeremiah 17:9

Article II, Section 3 - Christ

This section is on Christ.

A. As God, Jesus possesses all the attributes of the Godhead with control of expression.
B. As man, Jesus possessed a nature and physiology similar to man's in that he grew in wisdom and stature, he became hungry and thirsty, and he experienced fatigue, sorrow, joy, fear, and temptation.

1. Deity - Colossians 2:9; Titus 2:13
2. Humanity - Matthew 4:2; 27:46; Luke 2:52; 22:44; John 4:6; 15:11; 19:28; Hebrews 4:15

C. Jesus was virgin born and lived a sinless life.

1. Virgin Birth - Matthew 1:18-23
2. Sinless Life - Hebrews 4:15

D. Jesus atoned for the sins of humankind through the willing offer of himself, his vicarious sacrifice, and his resurrection.

1. Offer - Galatians 1:4; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14
2. Vicarious Sacrifice - Romans 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Hebrews 9:26; 10;12
3. Resurrection - Matthew 28:6; Romans 8:34; 14:9; 1 Corinthians15:14

E. Jesus continues his role of priest in his intercession for believers.

1. Intercession - Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25

Article II, Section 2 - The Bible

Section 2: Bible
A. The Bible, the original writings of the historically accepted canon of sixty-six books contained in the Old and New Testaments, is the exclusive, inspired Word of God, and, as such, it is God’s revelation as our ultimate authority for faith and practice.

1. Exclusive – 2 Timothy 3:15-16 (note: refers to those Scriptures Timothy knew as a whole from childhood, i.e., Law, Writings, Prophecy—the Old Testament); 2 Peter 3:16; I John 4:6
2. Inspired – John 10:34; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2 Peter 3:16; 1 John 4:6
3. Systematic approach – God loves his creation (John 3:16). God interposes himself in his creation (Psalm 20). God reveals himself to his creation (Romans 1-3). God requires of his creation attitude and action consistent with his revealed character (Romans 1:18-20). Therefore, considering God’s revelatory interposition upon creation and his love and infinite nature, God both could and would provide a complete communication to humankind of all he wants us to know of him and how he wants us to respond to him. Since we have a closed canon of Scripture accepted through the millennia as his Word, we may be confident that this is the complete and exclusive revelation of God to all humankind.

B. Although only the autographs were divinely inspired, God providentially keeps his Word through manuscripts and translations so that best available manuscripts and faithful translations may continue to be authoritative.

1. Preservation – 1 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 1:8-9; 37:31; 43:21; Ezekiel 6:8; Romans 9:27; 1 Peter 1:5

Article II, Section 1

Section 1 under our Fundamental Beliefs article is about God. What do we need to say here about which everybody in the congregation needs to agree? Here is a suggestion. What do you think?

A. God is an eternal, infinite, personal, unchanging Spirit of one essence existing in three Persons who is and acts in perfect, harmonious truth, goodness, and beauty. He created all existence apart from Himself and sustains all existence.

1. Creator – Genesis 1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 134:3; Colossians 1:16
2. Sustainer – Psalm 36:6; 55:22; Colossians 1:17
3. Eternal – Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; Romans 1:20; 16:26; Hebrews 9:14
4. Infinite – 1 Kings 8:27; Job 11:7; Psalm 139:7-12; 147:5; Jeremiah 23:23-24
5. Personal – Genesis 3; Exodus 3:6, 14; Psalm 20
6. Spirit – John 4:24; Acts 17:24; I Timothy 1:17
7. One Essence – Deuteronomy 6; Ephesians 4:5-6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6
8. Three Persons - Father (Matthew 6:9, 26, 30-32; Mark 8:38; Revelation 3:21), Son (Matthew 26:63-64; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1-3), Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:2)
9. 9. Truth – Psalm 19:7-9; Jeremiah 9:24; Romans 1:16-17
10. 10. Goodness – Psalm 118:1, 29; John 3:16; Romans 8:28
11. 11. Harmonious essence and existence – God is and acts in harmony of attributes. Thus, He acts in righteousness (including justice) in accord with His love. His love likewise does not violate His righteousness.

B. God alone is worthy of worship, and each Person of the Godhead is worthy of worship.

1. The Father – Deuteronomy 26:10; Psalm 29:2; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 4:10
2. The Son – Philippians 2:10; Revelation 5:13-14
3. The Spirit – Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 6:19

Article II: Fundamental Beliefs

Okay, we've taken care of Article I. We have a name and a purpose.
Article II identifies our fundamental beliefs. The emphasis here is on fundamental. What beliefs do we include that someone must hold to be a member? I'm going to propose seven basic subject areas.

Section 1: God
Section 2: Bible
Section 3: Christ
Section 4: Humankind
Section 5: Sin
Section 6: Salvation
Section 7: Christ's Return

So, if you are a real systematic theology fan, we have Theology, Bibliology, Christology, Anthropology, Hamartiology, Soteriology, and Eschatology. Did I leave something out that is necessary? For example, many churches also include a section on Ecclesiology (the church). Do we necessarily have to say something about that here? Obviously, having this organization and creating a constitution for it means we believe in having a church, but is there something that has to be said about it that we must insist that everyone in the church believe?

We will also go into each of these seven sections and note specifically what must be believed about each in order to be joined in fellowship. But first, any missing major categories? Anything we should exclude? Maybe someone has a question about Christ's Return. Is there something in that that we must insist everyone believe?

Article 1: Purpose

So, New Covenant Chapel it is.

Continuing with Article 1: Name, Location, and Purpose, let's develop a purpose statement. This is sort of like a mission statement with a little bit more depth. I think a purpose statement for a church should stick to the purpose of the church as a body and not add in every Christian responsibility that we glean from the Bible as individuals. This is the purpose for being together as a group of believers, not just the purpose of our Christian lives. With that in mind (unless you choose to take exception to it), see what you think of the following. Be as picky as you care to be. After all, a purpose statement within a constitution is going to last a long time. Might as well make it as good and right as possible. Suggest additions, deletions, modifications, whatever. It probably could use some editing too.

"The purpose of this organization is to provide a means whereby its members may worship God together. This united worship is defined as corporately presenting our witness of the Gospel to the world and edifying each other through (1) preaching and teaching Christian doctrine and ethics, (2) encouraging each other to love and good works, and (3) supporting each other in endurance against the infiltration of wickedness and deceit. We recognize that this purpose of our union is established by the Bible, which we affirm as our ultimate authority for all faith and practice. This purpose is accomplished through regular meetings, special meetings, education, care activities, missionary outreach, and any other ministries and activities that the church shall deem appropriate or necessary.

"New Covenant Chapel is operated as a non-profit organization exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law)."

Disagree with me? Then you cannot possibly believe the Bible!

This may be of interest to some of you. The Patriarchal Complementarians refuse to differentiate Biblical Egalitarianism from common feminism/liberalism. Thus, according to them, every non-PC denies the authority of Scripture. Read about it along with my response here

Article I: Name, Location, Purpose

Let's start fleshing out the articles of a church constitution. The first article contains sections for name, location, and purpose. We will pass on the location since this is a theoretical church. However, I think we should go ahead and give it a name for ease of reference.

As one lovestruck teenager once asked, "What's in a name?" A church name has to give some kind of indication as to what the organization is about. I was just going to call this TruthWhys Bible Church, but my son informed me that while TruthWhys is an okay name for a website, it is too "cutesy" for a church name. I'm also thinking that using "church" in the name might be a little dull(?) for the exciting, progressive age in which we live. Hmm. On the other hand, I'd want to stay away from anything too exciting and progressive that would indicate an emergent church philosophy. So where does that leave us?

I think I'm kind of partial to something like New Covenant Chapel. Not too flashy, but not too dull. Or maybe it is (dull). However, a quick search on the internet found only one other church with that name. Does anybody have a suggestion? Again, a church name is not a vital doctrinal decision, but a good, comfortable name would be nice and satisfying. So, suggestions?

Church Constitutions - basics

Are church constitutions necessary? Okay, easy question. The answer is yes. Not necessary biblically, but in our times they're pretty necessary functionally for recognition by the state and for clarity. But how detailed must we be in church constitutions. Should they include every operational characteristic of the church? Probably most people would say no to that. So then, what is necessary?

How's this for a start? Below are nine sections (articles) I came up with for a church constitution.

1. Name, Location, and Purpose
2. Fundamental Beliefs
3. Membership
4. Operation
5. Officers
6. Financial Support Policy
7. Affiliation
8. Amendment Procedure
9. Dissolution

Okay, now, two questions: 1. Can you think of a topic that belongs in a church constitution that could not fit into one of these nine sections? (I know almost anything can fit in section 4, but is it of importance that it needs its own section?) and 2. Are any of the listed sections unnecessary?

paleoevangelical: Irreverent "Worship"

Here is a link to a short discussion concerning somebody's idea that the form of worship reveals a lack of genuine reverence. (My comment in the stream was simply ignored.) paleoevangelical: Irreverent "Worship"

Scripted Prayers

Many of us have been to multiple churches in our lives. Among evangelical/fundamental churches, services range from the highly formal (reformed denominations) to highly informal (charismatic denominations). One element of the service that can slide notably from one end of the formality range to the other is that of a pastoral or (for lack of a better term) main prayer offered during the service. In the informal services, the person praying may have thought little of preparation and be "winging" it based on whatever thought may emerge at the moment. A prayer leader in more formal services may be reading the prayer from a prepared manuscript.

I'm sure we can all think of good points and bad points for each practice. Leading a congregation through stumbling, potentially heretical mistakes of doctrine, and disjointed thought structure surely isn't the ideal. Yet prepared prayers often sound prepared which may war against the purpose and even desire for a united cry to the Lord.

What do you think is the best way for a church to conduct corporate prayer?

Is Financial Giving an Element of Corporte Worship?

Tithing and other offerings were a matter of the Law in the old covenant days. With the New Covenant, tithing (as a matter of law) ceased. People, however, have needs. Ministries have needs. We continue to give financially based on patterns of love and sacrifice shown and taught in the NT. But is there a preferred method for how these gifts should be given? Most individual churches act as collectors and administrators of financial gifts. I suppose that is a good thing as long as it doesn't psychologically separate the giver from the recipient. Churches should make sure that the givers know where each dollar is going--not just to ensure accountability by the church organization but also so the givers can take a conscious and prayerful part in the ministering effect of the gifts.

Most churches pass the plate to receive an offering as part of a Sunday morning service. Is this time involved with the offering something that, indeed, should be part of the service? Asking a question with "should" in it can mean different things. I am not asking merely is this Scripturally right, but, assuming the Bible may be silent as to the question of when and how an offering MUST be gathered, I want to know for reasons of efficiency, effectiveness, piety, etc. whether plate-passing is something you think belongs in a service or should the gathering be done differently. Some churches have receptacles in the lobbies of their church buildings for private giving. Is this a good thing? What are your impressions?