Church Practice
1. There is one Church. It is not an organization but a living organism, known as the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and is made up of all born-again believers. The local expression of the Church is composed of believers in a certain locality. Although autonomous, this local gathering exists in vital union with all believers. We gather in Christ’s Name as a corporate testimony to the Lordship of Christ and to the oneness of His body. We gather specifically to learn God’s Word, for fellowship and edification, to remember the Lord by observing the Lord’s Supper, to worship together, and to collectively pray for others (Acts 2:42). In addition we also evangelize and make disciples of those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15; Acts 1:8).
2. We observe the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of every week as is the pattern we find in the Scriptures. We believe it is a privilege and duty to heed the Lord’s request: “This do in remembrance of Me.” The women participate silently (see 1 Cor. 14:34-35; 1 Tim. 2:11-14) while the men participate audibly, leading the assembly in the public giving of thanks and worship of the Lord Jesus, as directed by the Holy Spirit.
3. We practice the truth of headship in the local gathering of the Lord’s people pracitically by the women having their heads covered during the activities of the assembly. This particular truth, abandoned by some as archaic or cultural, is a beautiful expression that only the Lord’s glory (not man’s – pictured by a woman’s hair) is to seen and noticed among His people (see 1 Cor. 11:3-16).
4. We believe that the Lord has gifted certain men to take roles of leadership among His people. We believe the Scriptures teach a plurality of elders, whose primary function in the local assembly is to lead by example. These men must answer to a list of qualifications (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Ptr. 5:1-4) and have the spriitual welfare of the assembly upon their heart at all times. If any desire the work of an elder, he desires a good work!
5. We believe that the financial needs of the assembly are to be solely supported by believers who regularly attend and for that reason we do not solicite funds during our activities. Believers are to give willingly unto the Lord and His work as He has prospered them with a cheerful heart (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7).
6. We observe the Christian ordinance of baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:19-20; Rom. 6:4-6). This signifies that the believer, having died with Christ, is buried with Him in baptism and is risen with Christ to walk in newness of Life.
So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:24-26, ESV)
