I. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP |
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We recognize the need for formal membership. We ask our members to commit themselves to God’s local body of believers by signing a Membership Covenant that defines what is expected for all members. Members are not asked to do any more than what is clearly taught in the Bible. Some major responsibilities are spelled out in the Membership Covenant. However, the Bible is our guide and we seek to obey all its commands as given by God. During any of the church’s services a person may present himself or herself as a candidate for church membership. Candidates for membership may request to join the church in one of the following ways:
1. By profession of faith in Jesus Christ and following Him in obedience to His
commandment to be baptized (immersed) in water. Baptism is not a requirement
for salvation but is an act of obedience;
2. By promise of a letter of recommendation from another church with similar
doctrinal beliefs; or
3. By statement of faith in Jesus Christ and having been Scripturally baptized.
The pastor will then meet with the prospective candidate as soon as possible to teach them what it means to become a member and to go over the Membership Covenant. If candidates for membership have areas in their lives that don’t agree with the covenant statements they will not be allowed to be a member. The pastoral staff and other members will work with the candidate to assist them in meeting its requirements. Once the candidate signs the covenant and the membership has been given a minimum of one week to present concerns to the pastor, then the pastor will present the candidate for a verbal vote of the church. The pastor may call this brief conference before, during, or after any of the church’s worship services. The pastor, at that time, will sign the covenant and the candidate becomes a member.
II. STATEMENT OF FAITH REGARDING MARRIAGE, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female.
These two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. (Gen 1:26-27.) Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God within that person.
We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture. (Gen 2:18-25.) We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur only between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (1 Cor 6:18; 7:2-5; Heb 13:4.) We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; 1 Cor 6:9-10.)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of Champions Bible Church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the Champions Bible Church members and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed by Champions Bible Church in any capacity, or who serve as volunteers, agree to and abide by this Statement regarding Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality. (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16; 1 Thess 5:22.)
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11.)
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. (Mark 12:28-31; Luke 6:31.) Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of Champions Bible Church.
Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, Champions Bible Church will only recognize marriages between a biological man and a biological woman. Further, the pastors, ministers, staff, volunteers, and guests allowed to use the facilities of Champions Bible Church, shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman. Finally, the facilities and property of Champions Bible Church shall only host weddings between one man and one woman. Such weddings are considered worship services of Champions Bible Church.
III. MEMBERSHIP COVENANT
Having received Christ as my Lord and Savior and been baptized, and being in agreement with Champion Bible Church’s statements and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the Champion Bible Church family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to other members to do the following:
A. I will protect the unity of my Church
—by acting in love toward other members;
—by refusing to gossip; and
—by submitting to one another in forgiveness and reconciliation.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19 (NKJV)
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5 (NKJV)
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV)
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
B. I will share in the growth of my Church
—by praying for its growth;
—by inviting the unchurched to attend; and
—by warmly welcoming those who visit.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NKJV)
Then the master said to the servant, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”. Luke 14:23 (NKJV)
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Romans 15:7 (NKJV)
C. I will participate in the work and ministry of my Church
—by discovering my gifts and talents;
—by equipping myself to serve; and
—by pursuing areas to serve in.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:11-12 (NKJV)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:3-7 (NKJV)
D. I will support the testimony of my Church
—by attending faithfully;
—by living a Godly life; and
—by being obedient with my tithes and offerings.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 1 Timothy 2:8-10 (NKJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
E. I will support the mission activity of my Church
—by being involved personally in mission activity as God directs me;
—by supporting mission activity with my prayers and gift offerings; and
—by me and/or my family committing to pray for the lost and unchurched people groups of all nations
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NKJV)
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)
F. I further agree to abide with the doctrinal stance as written in the Church Bylaws. Following is a partial list of highlighted areas:
1. The Scriptures The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. Members are allowed to use the translation of their choice.
2. God There is one and only one living and true God. He reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit We see that the gift of tongues was always a known language and was not gibberish or an ecstatic utterance. We agree with the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 14:15 that whether we sing or pray we are to do so with understanding of what we are saying with our minds. Therefore, reference to a prayer language that is gibberish or an ecstatic language is not Biblical.
We seek to obey the Lord’s command in Eph. 4:3 to “be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizes all believers, and gives them at least one gift to be used for the edification of the church and not for ourselves. The sign gifts were given to authenticate Jesus, the apostles, and the Scriptures. The Scriptures teach that the Bible is His completed written Word, is sufficient, and thoroughly equips us for every good work. Knowing these truths, we desire to preserve the unity of the church by asking members and visitors to not openly practice or teach as doctrine the sign gifts in any of CBC’s services whether on or off campus. These practices include speaking unintelligible words and speaking new revelations of God.
4. The Baptism by the Holy Spirit We believe that the baptism by the Holy Spirit occurs once upon salvation. We are commanded to be filled by the Holy Spirit and never commanded to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.
5. Salvation Salvation is by faith alone with no involvement of works. We believe in the eternal security of the believer.
6. Last Things God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end of which no one knows the day except God the Father.
7. Stewardship We believe both the old and new testaments teach tithing, which is 10% of our gross incomes to be given to the local church. In addition, the Holy Spirit may prompt believers to give additional amounts over and above the tithe. These amounts are called offerings.
8. The Family A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Children are to honor and obey their parents.
9. Worship and Order We believe that God is a God that demands our worship in an orderly manner. Not worshipping orderly would include actions that have not been properly taught or understood such as dancing, jumping pews, or running around the sanctuary. Worshippers are allowed to praise God with their voices by saying Amen, Hallelujah, Glory, Praise the Lord, and other statements giving God glory. Worshippers are also allowed to lift their hands in praise toward God. Worshipping God with voice or with lifted hands is a private choice and should never be coerced by any other individual.
10. Additional Doctrinal Views We do not allow doctrine contrary to our beliefs to be preached or taught in any of our services except to teach the difference in what we believe and the doctrine that is contrary to our beliefs.