We believe that the universal church consists of all New Testament believers from the Day of Pentecost until the Rapture, with Jesus Christ as its head. (Mat 16:18; Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 41-47; 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 1:22-23, 5:23-33; 1 Thes 4:15-17)
The local church is a congregation of immersed believers, organized and associated by a covenant of faith, observing the ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested by God’s Word. Scriptural officers are pastors and deacons. The local church has the absolute right of self-government as directed by the Holy Spirit. It is answerable only to Christ in all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline, and benevolence. (Mat 18:15-20, 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-42, 6:1-7, 15:4-16:5; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 6:1-6; Eph 1:22-23, 4:15-16; Col 1:18; 1 Tim 3; 1 Pet 5:1-3)
We believe there are two church ordinances to be administered by the local church: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that the Biblical order of the ordinances is baptism followed by the Lord’s Supper, and that participants should be immersed believers. (Mat 26:26-30, 28:18-2; Acts 2:41-42; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 11:23-32; Col 2:12)
Baptism is the single immersion of a believer in water. It is a public symbol of faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and a depiction of our death to sin and resurrection to a new life. Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership. (Mat 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:26-39; Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12)
The Lord’s Supper is a memorial service administered by the local church symbolizing the Lord’s death until His return. The Lord’s Supper should always be preceded by solemn self-examination. (1 Cor 11:23-32)